AM Announcements - January 06

AM Announcements
January 06, 2010

1. Today is Day 80.

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: December 16
No items at this time

Thursday: December 17
Job Site meeting - 9:00-10:00 - Reichert and Powell

Friday: December 18
No items at this tiime

4. Upcoming Calendar Items:
a. 01/11 - Interim reports go home
b. 01/12 - Staff meeting
c. 01/15-01/22 - EOQ Testing
d. 01/18 - No School - Martin Luther King Holiday
e. 01/25 - No School - RS Day for staff

5. CERTL applications are available from Ms. Rhodes. This summer camp for K-5 students works with math and science in a problem-based approach. The camp is free for all students. If you have students who would truly benefit from exposure to this kind of program, please consider discussing this with their parents. The parents must fill out an application and it must include a written teacher recommendation letter. The application deadline is February 18.

6. The minutes of yesterday's SIT meeting can be found on the Shared Volume and are posted on our web site. For information on the discussion, please talk with your grade level/group representatives.

7. The results of the vote on taking January 25 off are as follows: Yes - 32    No - 1. As a result, individuals with annual leave available can use it on January 25.

8. Books for the African Book Project can be dropped off in the media center. Please encourage your students to participate.

9. NCDPI has recently completed the first draft of the new essential standards for English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Foreign Languages. Teacher feedback on these standards is a critical component of the curriculum review and revision process. They very much desire that each school has the opportunity to comment on the standards. NCDPI is committed to reading all suggestions submitted by each district.


The attached link is for teachers to view the English/Language Arts and Social Studies standards. I will send teachers a copy of the feedback form. Should you choose to offer your comments, complete the form by February 5, 2010. English/Language Arts feedback forms may be emailed to jhcostello@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or sent to the Administrative Center through courier. Social studies feedback forms may be emailed to pgrant@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or sent to the Administrative Center through courier. The data will be compiled and submitted to NCDPI by the February 15th deadline.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/standards/phase2/

Leslie Baldwin will contact the foreign language teachers directly regarding the review and feedback process.


10. It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

(1880 - 1956)

Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune.
Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930)

If living conditions don't stop improving in this country, we're going to run out of humble beginnings for our great men.
Russell P. Askue

If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; If you would know, and not be known, live in a city.
Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832)









10. Some classrooms cannot access the higher numbered channels on their TV's. If you are one of them, please let Ms. Childers know by sending her an e-mail today. Right now the only room we are certain of is room #14, Ms. Say's class.









11. The weather suggestions for outdoor play/recess say that temperatures between 32 and 90 degrees should be "safe" for children. The temperature today, Monday 1/4, is 32 or 33 currently, but the windchill is 19 or 20. Your discretion should be used in these circumstances.







12. Teachers whoparticipated in the step challenge should return their pedometers and step challenge recordings to the office by Wednesday afternoon. Behealthy School Kids staff will stop by on Thursday to pick up these items. Please use the bag for the pedometers and envelope for the recordings that Behealthy School Kids delivered to the office before the break. Thank you!













13. I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.





Voltaire (1694 - 1778)









Both the cockroach and the bird would get along very well without us, although the cockroach would miss us most.



Joseph Wood Krutch (1893 - 1970)









There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.



William James (1842 - 1910)







Confusion is always the most honest response.



Marty Indik