AM Announcements - November 17

AM Announcements
November 17, 2009

1. Today is Day 57.

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:

Tuesday: November 17
ITBS - Practice Test - Grade 2 and selected Grade 5 students
Technology Staff Development - 2:40-4:15
Pre-construction meeting - 9:00-10:00 - cafeteria - Powell and Reichert

Wednesday: November 18
ITBS Testing
Title-1 Meeting - 7:30-9:00 - Location to be determined

Thursday: November 19
ITBS Testing
Student Council Field Trip - Samaritan Ministries - 9:00-10:15
Kindergarten Field trip to Salemtowne - Say - 9:30-11:00
Elementary Principals' meeting - 7:15-12:00 - Reichert off-campus
Staff Policy Committee meeting - 4:00-5:00 - Reichert off-campus

Friday: November 20
ITBS Testing
Move meeting - 8:00-9:00 - Reichert off-campus
SolEd meeting - 3:00-5:00 - Reichert off-campus

4. Upcoming Calendar Items:
a. 11/23 - Samatian Ministries Penny Drive begins
b. 11/24 - Dollar Dress Down Day
c. 11/24 - PTA/Student Council Staff Breakfast
d. 11/25-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday
e. 12/01 - Winter Concert
f. 12/04 - Dollar Dress Down Day
g. 12/04 - Speas Spelling Bee
h. 12/05 - Holiday Open House - The Reicherts
i. 12/07 - Author/Illustrator David Biedrzycki at Speas - 1:15-2:15
j. 12/10 - PTA Meeting - 6:00 PM

5. North Carolina Teacher Academy is now offering on-line courses for professional development for public school teachers across the state. Registration will begin in mid-November with classes starting in January 2010. Classes will last 10 weeks and require 20 contact hours for a total of 2.0 CEU's. To find out more and to register, log on to: http://www.teacheracademy.org/

6. Since next week is a short week, there is no need to turn in lesson plans or to do a newsletter.

7. Student Council Items:

* The holiday door contest is quickly approaching so don't forget to start working on your door ideas.

* This year we will be collecting pennies for the Samaritan Ministries. We chose a local organization, because we wanted to help a group that at some time or another has provided services for our students. The campaign will begin on Monday, November 23, 2009 - Friday, December 5, 2009. We will supply each class with a jar label to be placed on a jar that you display in your classroom. We do not have to count the pennies before we turn them in, which makes the collection process easier. Each day during the campaign there will be penny trivia on the morning broadcast. Our goal is to collect 50 lbs. of change that would provide 50 meals and five nights of shelter. The student council kids will be visiting the Samaritan Ministries on Thursday, November 19, 2009 during the school day. After their visit they will need to be allowed to speak to your class on Friday, November 20, 2009 for five to ten minutes to share with their classmates the need for the Samaritan Ministries.

8. We are still collecting social dues for the 2009-2010 school year. The Social Committee does not serve to collect money but they must collect money in order to serve. We need everyone' support in order to be able to respond when there is a need. Often there is ill will when an individual is not recognized by the staff when, in reality, they haven't paid to support the Social Committee which is charged with that recognition. Step up to the plate if you haven't paid your dues and take care of that omission today. We appreciate your support. Ms. Jonson will work with you anyway you wish to pay it.

9. There are recycling bins in the teachers' lounge. These are used to recycle paper. Please refrain from placing trash in them. Many individuals have thrown paper towels, plastic, and garbage in them. When this happens we have to clean them out before we can recycle the paper. Thanks for your cooperation.

10. It has been proposed that we move the Marzano staff-development from Tuesday, November 24 to Monday, November 23 in order to facilitate certified staff members leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday. Please click on the link and cast your vote in this matter. Votes will be tallied at 12:00 and the result announced in tomorrow's AM Announcements.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=SKUOiX0CHj_2f4oMmz3hfgLQ_3d_3d

11. Teachers in grades 2-5, please contact two parents about bringing their children to A's and Bees tutoring tonight. The personal invitation makes a big difference. Remind you students as well and have them bring their homework with them.

12. Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.
W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946)

They certainly give very strange names to diseases.
Plato (427 BC - 347 BC)

No one who cannot rejoice in the discovery of his own mistakes deserves to be called a scholar.
Donald Foster

The will to be stupid is a very powerful force, but there are always alternatives.
Lois McMaster Bujold, "Brothers in Arms"