Tuesday, Dec. 18th, 2012

Today is Day 3.

*Lockdown Drill Today at 9:30 AM.

*Staff Celebration afterschool in Media Center.  Questionable entertainment will be provided.

*Grades 5, K, and 1, meet with Cook in 211.  Bring data notebooks.  

*Thank to our wonderful PTA for lunch yesterday!!!!

*Holiday shutdown- Teachers please do the following before you leave your classrooms for the break:

Note:  All plants, animals and other items, which might be damaged by the set back temperatures, should be taken home.

Turn off all nonessential electronic equipment throughout the facility.

Close and secure all windows, doors and close all blinds for insulation and security.

*As you interact with parents and students about the tragedy last week, they will have questions about our school security.  If you cannot communicate a sense of security, please direct them to the office.  It is also important that we make our kids feel safe--we will not make comments that make children feel unsafe, no matter how we feel.  We are the adults!  Our mood determines the mood of the school. 

  Please remind students and parents of the following things, copied and pasted from an email from Theo Helm:

Hello all -- I know you've probably had your share of phone calls today from parents who are worried after the shootings in Connecticut. Here are a few points to make as people call or stop in to talk. Try to keep emphasizing these things, and if that doesn't satisfy them, refer them to one of us. If I can do anything, please call.

  Middle and high schools have security officers. As for elementary schools, we have spoken to law enforcement (Winston-Salem and Kernersville police, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office) and they are increasing their patrols and presence this week.

  Every school has a safety plan that is reviewed with law enforcement. As part of this plan, every school does lockdown drills at least twice a year.

  We are going to review our safety procedures in light of what we can learn from what happened in Connecticut to see how they can be improved. 

 Above all, be empathetic with parents – they’re understandably nervous, and they need to know that you worry about their children as much as they do

Gentle Reminders:

* When planning and executing field trip plans, please keep in mind that it is against policy to require parents to accompany students on trips.  We cannot exclude students from trips for behavior, or inability to pay.

*Leading up to the break, please encourage students to read as much as they can and take AR tests. 

                                    

*Tuesday, Dec. 18th:
Grades 5, K , 1, meeting with Cook in 211.  Bring Data Folders
Lock Down Drill @ 9:30 AM

  Speas Family Christmas celebration in the Media Center  at  3:00 

*Wednesday, Dec. 19th: Cook at Meeting 
                                                  PBIS Movie Day (9-11, 3rd-5th grade) (12:30-2:00, K-2)
                                             

*Thursday, Dec. 20th: Class Party Day
                                              PTA Gift Bags go home with every student.  Thanks to 
                                              awesome Speas PTA.  
                                              School-Wide Sing Along

*Monday, Jan. 7th: SIT Meeting
                                        
*Tuesday, Jan. 8th: Progress Reports go home
                                          3rd grade Field Trip to Sci Works 9:00 AM-1:30 PM

*Wednesday, Jan. 16th: Tech Day, all grade levels meet w/D. Bates    
                                                  Schoolwide Spelling Bee 

*Wednesday, Feb. 13th: Tech Day, all grade levels meet w/D. Bates 

*Tuesday, March 5th: 4th grade trip to Raleigh 6:30 AM-5:00 PM

Friday, March 8th: 1st grade to WSSU 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
                           
*Wednesday, March 20th: Tech Day, all grade levels meet w/D. Bates 

*Wednesday, April 10th: Tech Day, all grade levels meet w/D. Bates 

*Friday, April 12th: 5th grade to Sci Works 9:00 AM-1:30 Pm

*Tuesday, April 23: Kinder trip to Children's Museum 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

*Wednesday, April 24: Third grade trip to Tanglewood 9:00 AM-1:00 PM