AM Announcements - February 19

AM Announcements
February 19, 2010

1. Today is Day 105.

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:

Friday: February 19
Access Testing for LEP students continues
Move meeting - 8:00-9:00 - Powell and Reichert off-campus
SolEd Partnership meeting - 3:30-5:30 - Reichert off-campus

4. Upcoming Calendar Items:
a. 02/24 - Title-1 Parent Involvement Audit
b. 02/26 - Dollar Dress Down Day
c. 02/26 - Box Tops for Education Due
d. 02/27 - Title-1 Comprehensive Needs Assessment Training - 9:00-1:00

5. Concern has been expressed about the safety of the beef and veal used in our cafeterias based on the recall of meat products from the Huntington Meat Packing Company. Chartwells immediately put a hold on these products and has confirmed as of yesterday, February 17, 2010 that the beef and veal products from Huntington Meat Packing are not present in our food supply chain.
6. Books for the African Book Project can be dropped off in the front lobby until February 26.

7. Review Conferences today: None

8. You can still sign-up in the mailroom to take food or groceries or a meal to Rose Rusch and Amber. Please see Ms. Higgins if you wish to donate Annual Leave days to Rose. Your support is greatly appreciated.

9. The 2nd Quarter AR Incentive Sessions will take place next week on the following schedule:

Monday, Feb. 22 - 8:00-8:45 : Grades K/1
Tuesday, Feb. 23 - 8:00-8:45 : Grades 4/5
Wednesday, Feb. 22 - 8:00-8:45 : Grades 2/3

10. Ms. Powell and I will be off-campus this morning from 8:00-9:00 at a Move meeting downtown. The meeting is in preparation for our move into the pod on March 27. I will also be off-campus this afternoon beginning at 3:00 for a Sol Ed. Partnership meeting with Dr. Martin from 3:30-5:30.

11. NPR reported yesterday that many states' retirement plans for public workers were woefully underfunded and that unless drastic action was taken, they would be unable to meet their future financial obligations to current and former employees. North Carolina is not one of those states. Our retirement plan is currently funded at 99.3% of the amount needed and is the fifth rated plan in the country.

12. The playgrounds are now installed and the mulch layer around them should be done today or early next week. They are also going to install a temporary path so your students can stay out of the mud when going to and from the equipment. The playgrounds should be operation early next week.

13. There is a Kindergarten Fun with Fiddles presentation scheduled for next Wednesday, 2/24. Classes will not be called to the gym. Please bring your class in time for a 9:00 AM start as the group has a concert at another school immediately following our performance.

14. If you received a draft copy of the new social studies curriculum and planned to comment on it, we just received notice that the current draft is being withdrawn to be re-evaluated and rewritten. There is no need at this time for your teachers to review a Draft that is no longer being considered.

15. I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.
E. V. Lucas

If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.
Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947)

The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.
Henry Stimson (1867 - 1950)

Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)