AM Announcements - April 30

AM Announcements
April 30, 2009

1. Today is Day 150.

2. It is the mission of Speas Elementary School to provide its students with the tools necessary to successfully meet the challenges they will face in a diverse world.

3. Calendar items for this week:

Thursday: April 30
Review Conferences
Box Tops for Education collected

Friday: May 01
Review Conferences
NCCLAS Assessor #1 completes and hands off to Assessor #2
Kindergarten Field Trip

4. At the end of each day, please do the following:
a. CLOSE ALL BLINDS
b. TURN OFF ALL MONITORS and COMPUTERS (CPU's)

5. Yesterday, one of the anonymous comments we received regarding the BLOG item on minimizing the risk of acquiring swine flu stated the following:

"Some people work hard to make sure their tasks are done and some people don't. It would seem that admin would notice these discrepancies and do something about it."

The purpose of the BLOG is to improve communication and support the work that takes place here. I would caution individuals from passing judgment on others and their work performance since the only individuals who are aware of the all the conditions that surround a given employee's situation are Ms. Powell and me. No one else is aware of the evaluations individuals have received; which individuals are working under action plans or plans of assistance; and which may be recommended to be administratively moved between schools at the end of the year. Anonymous comments of a general nature are rarely effective in that they are deliberately vague which hampers any follow-up efforts. Comments of a constructive nature that reference specific issues are always welcome.

6. The 20 day blitz continues!

7. Upcoming dates for your calendar:
a. May 04 - Field Day
b. May 14 - EOG testing begins (survey day)
c. May 15 - Dollar Dress Down Day
d. May 15 - Night Beneath the Stars
e. May 22 - Dollar Dress Down Day
f. May 25 - No School - Memorial Day Holiday
g. May 26-29 - EOG Remediation Sessions
h. May 27-28 - Student Council Elections

8. A clarification from the Governor's office has been sent out via e-mail regarding the dates for both salary reduction and furloughs. Please let me know if you have questions.

9. "Night Beneath the Stars" tickets are on sale in the office. They are $35.00 per person.

10. The WS/FCS Spring Extravaganza Art Exhibit will be held May 1-6 at the Old Salem Visitors' Center. Everyone is encouraged to go and view the artwork our students have created under the direction of Ms. Laney.

11. Certified staff members are invited to attend a recruitment meeting for the Master of Education In Elementary Education Program at Winston-Salem State University. The meeting is May 13, 2009, 5:30 p.m. –6:30 p.m., Anderson Center Room 238, Winston-Salem State University.

12. Some classified staff members have expressed concern about getting their time sheets turned in to the office by the deadline. All classified staff members are to fill out their time sheets on a daily basis. They should access the sheet when they arrive and log their arrival time. They should then access it again at the end of the day and enter their departure time. This is not a Speas expectation. This comes from Dr. Martin and Kerry Crutchfield.

14. Major congratulations and many thanks go out to Ms. Clodfelter, Ms. Bushey Ms. Fussell and everyone else who helped out with the wonderful volunteer luncheon. What a great way to say "Thank You" to the many dedicated volunteers who give their time to help our students. You are all to be commended. (See the comment below)

13. A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B.
Fats Domino (1928 - )

The incompetent with nothing to do can still make a mess of it.
Laurence J. Peter (1919 - 1988)

A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.
Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Mansfield Park

We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.
R. D. Laing