Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Upcoming Events and Changes!

The second week has really been going well. We are really seeing students in classes getting an established routine and doing some really nice work. Our media center has been bustling as students are listening to Mr. Frame tell stories and then checking out some good books. I love to see students excited about reading!! I have been excited about seeing our 5th graders using some of the new technology to teach lessons. Our most seasoned dragons are up at the Promethean Board using the pens to move place value cubes all electronically is pretty cool!!! I don't think the 5th graders will admit it, but they think it is cool to learn that way as well.

I am also really encouraged by the parent volunteer coordinators who have stepped up to help get our volunteer program going. If you have not been contacted by one of them, and you can help out, please let me know and I will get you hooked up with someone. We have some volunteer opportunities coming up at the end of the month, so if you want to help out just let us know.

We do have some important events coming up. Tomorrow (Thursday, August 13th) from 6:00-7:15 is our Curriculum Night. This is the best opportunity to come and learn about what your child(ren) will be learning in their classroom. You will hear about the GPS (Georgia Performance Standards) they will be responsible for learning as well as how they will be assessed. The teachers will also share their expectations for homework as well. Please come out and invest the time in your child's education. On Friday, August 21st we will be having our 3rd annual Kindergarten Family Night. There will be free food and games for kindergartners and their families.

We do have a change coming up as well. Starting next Monday (August 17th) we will be starting school at 7:40 instead of 7:45. This is to make up for the furlough days that will be coming in November. With that being said, I would like to apologize for my miscommunication on our school information. In the literature we sent home, it states that school starts at 7:45, but it does not state that we expect students to be in their seats in the class at 7:45. If your child is walking into the building right at 7:45, they are considered "tardy" for the day. That was NOT stated clearly in our information packets, and I apologize for that. I want you to know that we are doing everything we can to make sure we communicate clearly our expectations so that we can best take care of your children, but sometimes we are not clear in stating those so everyone can understand. I will be relaying this information in a more clear and concise manner in the upcoming Kennedy Connection newsletter.

Once again thank you for your support of Kennedy Elementary and for sending us wonderful students to work with each and every day. As I stated in our parents' meetings and will state tomorrow night at curriculum night, I want Kennedy to be a REMARKABLE school with REMARKABLE teachers and students and REMARKABLE test scores, but I know we don't produce test takers. We produce REMARKABLE young men and women who will be the future of this great country. That is why my number 1 priority as the principal of Kennedy is to make sure that your child is loved, cared for, and respected. When my REMARKABLE teachers do that (which I think they do better than any other school) the test scores and everything else will take care of itself.

Thanks again and see you at Curriculum Night

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