Text Box: Keep the Book Fair Going!!! Like all PTA activities, the Book Fair is totally run by volunteers.  The next Book Fair is March 2-6, 2009, and we need daytime volunteers to help us keep the Book Fair going.  WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! If you have any flexibility during the day (even if it's for only one hour), please send an e-mail to acmcghee@verizon.net or dkndc@msn.com to volunteer. Thank you, Amelia McGhee/DeBora King, Book Fair Co-Chairs   CyberSafety         www.marchofdimes.com           www.myLunchMoney.com                   Bus Riding Rules

Text Box: Principal’s Penguin Post    I have just finished reviewing the attendance records for the month of November where we finished the month with a 95.9% attendance rate that currently meets the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirement. However, our year-to-date attendance rate is only 94.9%, just slightly above the state satisfactory standard of 94% but far below our School Improvement Plan (SIP) goal of 97.5% for the school year!  One of the most important factors that contribute to a student’s success in school is attendance. The curriculum is developed as a progressive continuum. When a student misses school, experience demonstrates that it will take the student two or three more classes to make up the work that was missed. Parents, you play a very important role in making sure that your children attend school every day, as you create early in your child’s life the habit of punctuality and school attendance. Of course, there are unforeseen circumstances, like illness, when a student is unable to attend school. In these cases, parents, you must notify the school that your child will be absent and send a note explaining the absence when the student returns to school.  In summary, we are striving for a 97.5% or better attendance rate for 2008-2009 --please help us in meeting this goal! We love seeing your children here each and every day!   Don’t forget 4th and 5th graders -- Dr. Hammond will be finishing up the Morning Multiplication Club this week through Friday!  It begins at 8:15 AM and ends at 8:50 AM. Students who ride the bus may enter the building and come to the library as soon as the bus arrives. The goal is for each student to learn their multiplication facts!   Quote of the week:  212° Life: “Know the true value of time: snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it….”…Philip Dormer Stanhope

Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: Please join us for the Winter Sing-A-Long Tuesday, December 23, 2008 From 9:30 till about 10:15 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.  Families, friends and staff are invited. Musically, Hedylajo Kilgore Text Box: Text Box: . Congratulations to Outstanding citizen for November, Shayla Overton (mistakenly identified as Jones in the last issue).   Congrats to November CELESTINE AWARD WINNERS – 5th graders -  Matthew Perez (Finley), Heranie Abera (Selvin) & Madina Olatunji (Hart).  The students were honored last week during lunchtime.  We are very proud of them!!!

 

 

Text Box: NEW DISMISSAL PROCEDURES FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER  FOR WALKERS/CAR RIDERS!  Last year’s indoor lineup worked fairly well but due to bus riders now being dismissed from the gym and the increase in the number of students getting picked up, our system needed to be revamped. Our first attempt was not as successful as we had hoped and we believe that we have come up with a smoother and more efficient indoor lineup procedure for the year. Please be patient with us as we are working on this together. If you stay in your car, your child will be dismissed from the usual side entrance. All children will be sitting along the inside hall wall and will listen for their names to be called. Since the policy is to stay in your cars, please understand that those who choose to do so will have their child brought out to them. This allows for a smooth dismissal and no need to have anyone get wet in the process. Please note that ONLY children who are getting into a car will be dismissed from the side exit. All others will need to be picked up from the side door. This eliminates the crowd and allows for those who follow the “Please stay in your car” policy to pick up their child quickly. If your child walks home, they will be dismissed from the back kindergarten door only. If you choose to park your car and pick up your child, you will need to pick them up from the back kindergarten door only. If your child walks home with a middle school child, another adult, or waits for a patrol to get off duty, they will be dismissed  from the back kindergarten door only. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Ms. Berner or Mrs. Dean.   Text Box: Important Dates Events Wednesday, December 23:  Winter Sing-Along Last Day this year                       Winter recess - 24th  - January 5th, 2009

 

Text Box: Classroom Guidance Update – I am visiting all GRADE 5 classes and we will be working on CyberSafety in December.   Through discussion, computer use, and a guest speaker, the students will be learning what cybersafety is, taking a survey, learning online safety rules, and signing an internet safety pledge (Please look for this pledge as parents need to sign it also.)  We will be visiting the website www.NetSmartz.org.   This is an appropriate site for all ages. Text Box: Meet your PTA – 2008/2009 PTA     Executive Board   President   Ms. Pat Scully Executive VP Ms. Amelia McGhee VP Ways & Means Ms. Anna Paige VP Human Relations Mr. Edwin Chavous VP Programs TBD Treasurer   Ms. Veda Russ Audit Committee Ms. Anna Paige Recording Secr Ms. Alex Skowronski Corresponding Secr Ms. Sharon McKenzie Cluster Rep. Mr. Robert Paulsen MCCPTA Rep. Mr. Edwin Chavouv   Text Box: EDITOR’S NOTE The Ice Page is distributed every Tuesday. Deadline: Thursday at 3:00 PM   Anyone can submit items: teachers, staff, parents, students, etc.  To have an item included: Leave typewritten info in The Ice Page mailbox in the school office OR send by e-mail to: Robert.Paulsen@verizon.net And acmcghee@verizon.net    Editors: Rob Paulsen, (301) 351-7139 Amelia Mcghee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Counselor's Corner