AM Announcements - November 18

AM Announcements
November 18, 2009

1. Today is Day 58.

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:

Wednesday: November 18
ITBS Testing
3-5 AR Celebration - 8:15 AM
Title-1 Meeting - 7:30-9:00 - Career Center Dining Room - Reichert off-campus

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 TestingMove meeting - 8:00-9:00 - Reichert off-campus
SolEd meeting - 3:00-5:00 - Reichert off-campus
Coffee Friday - Out front

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. This Friday is Coffee Friday with Starbucks Coffee for sale out front for $2.00 a cup. If you're going to buy coffee anyway, why not from Student Council and support them at the same time? See you in the front parking lot any time after 7:00 AM. There will also be some of Ms. Bushey's delicious muffins for sale as well. What a way to start the day!

10. We had 5 students and 3 tutors last night at A's and Bees.

11. The vote on Survey Monkey to change the Marzano staff-development was 23 - Yes and 5 - No. We have encountered a problem with the switch however. We are working to resolve it and will keep you informed.

12. Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

I have often depended on the blindness of strangers.
Adrienne E. Gusoff

Americans detest all lies except lies spoken in public or printed lies.
Edgar Watson Howe (1853 - 1937)

If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?
Laurence J. Peter (1919 - 1988)