March 2012 - Davidson Elementary School PTO

n
Let Me Run Prepares for 5K
Do you have a boy who likes to run? For the
3 rd year in a row, DES will have a Let Me Run
(LMR) program. LMR is very similar to the popular
Girls on the Run, except LMR is specifically
designed for boys. Through running and lively
group activities, the program encourages positive
communication and team interactions designed
to help boys develop important tools needed to
lead a balanced and fulfilling life — emotionally,
physically, mentally, and socially.
Let Me Run practices will be Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons after school from 3:45 — 5 pm,
starting April 17. The program culminates with a
5K road race on Saturday, June 2. Coaches for
LMR will be Mr. Rabb (PE teacher), Mrs. Kenning
(1 st grade teacher) and Mrs. Boykin (instructional
assistant).
Online registration for the DES Let Me Run
program is March 5 — March 16 (or until full).
The program is open to the first 15 4 th and 5 th
grade boys to register. The program costs $100
and includes materials, T-shirt and race
registration.Scholarships
are available.
Register at www.letmerun.org.
SLT AT WORK
The School Leadership Team (SLT)
conducted a survey of Davidson Elementary
School parents and guardians to better
understand how the school is perceived.
More than 290 families completed the
survey, representing 47% of the school’s
population. The SLT is extremely pleased
with the response and is currently working
to analyze the data. Members of the SLT will
work with administrators to effectively
communicate the results of the survey along
with an action plan in the coming months.
The SLT continues to look for opportunities
to enhance educational opportunities and
support the goals of the School Improvement
Plan. An information and curriculum night is
planned March 22 from 6 — 7 pm for
Davidson Elementary’s ESL (English as a
Second Language) families, and the team
is excited to collaborate with Mr. Jarrett as
he begins his tenure as the principal of our
school.
Our PTO Mission
The Davidson Elementary School PTO
(DES PTO) is a volunteer-based
non-profit organization whose purpose
is to promote and support the
instructional focus of our teachers and
administrators and to advocate for
all of our children, through consistent
communication, parent and teacher
involvement, and fundraising activities.
MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE
n
n
CALLING ALL PERFORMERS!
This year, we will incorporate a “live performers” component to Artfest!
The lower level rotunda (near the carpool drop off door) will take on a new flair as
“South Street Square” joins Davidson Elementary’s Artfest celebration. The Square will feature
musicians, poets, actors and singers of all ages, allowing our students to
showcase their talents throughout the evening.
If your child is interested in singing a song (only age appropriate songs, please J),
playing an instrument that they study outside of school (i.e., piano, string or wind instrument),
reading aloud a poem of their own or another’s making, or acting out a scene from a play
or favorite story, please email Amy Klett at amyklett@mac.com.
Time slots for each grade will be limited and are expected to fill quickly.
If your child is eager to participate, please contact Amy Klett as soon as possible.
We will make every effort to accommodate each child’s schedule and their performance
will not interfere with their Musical Performance commitment in the gym.
Deadline to apply for a time slot is Friday, March 16th!
3 rd Annual
Run Too Overcome
March 17, 8 a m • Hough High
Run Too Overcome is a 5k, 10k and
Fun Run to benefit the exceptional children (EC)
classes, including the ones at DES. The race will be
held at Hough High at 8 a m March 17. This is a fun,
family-friendly race that should be an exciting way
for the kids to show off their running skills. Have your
family run together, have your kids run with their
classmates, have your kids challenge their teacher to
try to beat them in the 5k, or up your race distance
to a 10k. Register online at queencitytiming.com or
use the registration card that came home in Thursday
Folders on February 16. We will also have a table to
register during family night at the book fair. We have
set a school goal of 200 runners. That is just 5 per
class. Can we make it? Questions? Email Julie
Zimmerman at juleswzim@yahoo.com.
MAKING YOUR
SPRING BREAK
TRAVEL PLANS?
Please remember to book your travel through the
Box Tops portal to earn money for DES!
Check out www.btfe.com/marketplace!
Contact us!
PTO BOARD MEMBERS
Tammy Forthofer, President
tforthofer@mi-connection.com
Stephanie Shryock, President Elect
shryockclan@yahoo.com
Denise Arisian, VP Fundraising
denisearisian@yahoo.com
Gennine Davis, VP Fundraising
gennine@bellsouth.net
Cat Serrin Niekro, VP Communication
caniekro@davidson.edu
Missy Johnstone, VP Community
Building Events
missyjohnstone@att.net
Greta Wolff, Secretary
gretawolff@bellsouth.net
Debbie Barteldt, Treasurer
debbiebarteldt@yahoo.com
Krista Riley, Member at Large
kristaelliottriley@gmail.com
Kristen Coupal, Member at Large
kmcoupal@hotmail.com
Beth Cashion, Member at Large
bethcashion@gmail.com
Dana R. Jarrett, Principal
Newsletter designer
Katie Barker
katie_kgb@hotmail.com
n
March 2012
SCHOOL
DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY NEWS
635 South Street • Davidson, NC 28036 • 980-343-3900 www.davidsonpto.org
THE PRINCIPAL’S CORNER
Dear Parents,
It is truly my pleasure
and honor to accept
the position as
Principal of
Davidson Elementary
School. I am nothing
less than totally
impressed with the
history and pride so
obvious in the Davidson community.
Many are wondering where this Mr. Jarrett
came from. I was born and raised in Kannapolis,
attended the schools in the Kannapolis City
School district, college at UNCC and eventually
settled into what became a 20-year career
with Food Lion. Realizing my passion had not
been fulfilled with this career, I embarked to
complete my degree in education. I primarily
taught 4 th grade in addition to periods in 1 st ,
2 nd and 5 th grades. I received my master’s in
school administration as an NC Principal Fellow
at UNCC, which has led me into a deeper
role with schools. Children are my passion as I
strive to assist each, individually, to find
success in their true abilities.
I am married, for 31+ years, to my wife, Kelly.
We have two children, a son Brenton and his
wife Torrie, and a daughter, Shanna and her
husband Travis. They have blessed us with two
grandchildren, Reese, 2, and Bentley, 3 months.
I understand the role of effective parenting and
strive to coach today’s parents, leaning on my
own experience. Grandchildren remind me of
the innocence of children and the delight in their
eyes as they learn and explore new horizons daily.
Noting the DES Mission Statement, “The
Davidson Elementary School community will
work together to develop responsible citizens
and individual thinkers committed to lifelong
learning,” I recognize the shared passion of
responsibility and individuality in our students.
It is truly my sincere goal to see each student
succeed, be challenged, and be pushed to new
heights in education, preparing them as
responsible citizens for the Davidson community.
I look forward to working in partnership with
all of you to build the brightest future
possible together here at Davidson Elementary.
One student relayed to me once, “We can
always call 1-800-J-A-R-R-E-T-T.” I consider this
statement a real compliment as students can
always find me approachable, anytime.
For the present and the future,
Mr. Dana R. Jarrett, Principal
NEWS FROM YOUR PTO
Dear DES Friends,
It’s a time of transition for us here at DES this
month. We have been very blessed to have Dr. Ann
Nivens lead our school for the past two months
and we are very thankful to her for keeping things
running smoothly while we’ve searched for our next
principal. At the same time, we are very excited
to welcome Principal Jarrett to our school and look
forward to a long and productive partnership.
Just like we tune in to the “State of the Union”
address every winter, this month seems to be the
right time to share the “State of the PTO” and to
give you an update regarding our activity so far this
year.
When school started back in August, my top
priority as PTO President was to make everyone in
the Davidson family feel like they are welcome, they
have a voice, and that they have a role to play in
their child’s education and in our school community.
We’ve taken concrete steps in support of that
mission. For example, for the first time ever, 100%
of our families are members of the PTO. In addition,
we have recruited a record number of PTO
Committee Chairs who make all of the great
programs at DES happen with 69 committee
leaders. Of those 69 people, 29 of them (42%) are
first-time committee chairs. We couldn’t accomplish
all that we do without their willingness to step out of
their comfort zone and lead the charge. Even at our
Executive Board level we are benefitting from new
leadership, with nearly half of our eleven members
in their first year of service to the PTO Board.
A close second, in terms of priorities, was to
continue the level of service in 2011/2012 that you
have come to expect from the PTO. We have all felt
the crunch economically within the past year. I am
very proud, however, of the fact that all of our PTO
leaders (board members as well as committee
chairs) have been very efficient in using your
donations. They have stretched those dollars until
they can’t stretch any farther! We’ve expanded our
partnership with Latta Nature Center to include two
visits for every classroom, plus implementation of
our day-long Earth Day program. We’ve been able
to bring a second cultural arts performance to all of
our children. We’ve spruced up garden plots, added
a very fun Bingo Night to our fall calendar, and
supported the music department in showcasing the
talents of all of our students throughout the year.
With PTO support, Mrs. Dunbar has been able to
replace a number of our well-loved books. We have
so many strong readers that the books were wearing
out! In addition, we’ve been able to provide an
initial investment in research materials that will stay
directly in the classrooms — dictionaries,
thesauruses, and encyclopedias.
We’ve also been able to secure funding from Lowe’s
and the CMS Northeast Learning Zone to help us
purchase a total of 12 SRA/DRA Kits to help
students with their End-of-Grade reading test. These
kits are skill-specific reading laboratories that will
help each child master reading skills based on
where they are at that moment. They can use the
materials individually or in small groups, and they
are able to progress at their own pace.
Community and services, though, are only two
elements that are key to our success. The last piece
of the puzzle is you. I encourage each of you to stay
committed to being present in your child’s education
and in our school in the coming months. We still
have programs yet to be implemented this year and
we desperately need volunteers to help us provide
these experiences for our children. They cannot
happen without you. When you see the calls for
help, please consider stepping forward. We
welcome each of you to join us for as much as you
can, in whatever way that you can.
So as we look to the future and make our transitions,
I am very proud of what we have been able to
accomplish together so far this year. It makes me
feel even more proud when I think of what all we
can accomplish together in the future.
Wishing you all the best…
Tammy Forthofer, DES PTO President
SCHOOL TOURS CONTINUE
Tuesdays at 9:15 am and Wednesdays 1 pm through April • Departs from the Front Office
No need to sign up for a tour. Please share tour information with families
interested in learning more about Davidson Elementary School.
Remember: We are already accepting enrollment for new Kindergarten students.
Each child registered by May 11 will receive a special Tiger Tee.
Existing DES families can also register rising Kindergarteners during Artfest on April 12.

DES WELCOMES MUSIC TEACHER
DENISE MAYES
We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Denise Mayes to the DES community
as our new full-time music teacher. Mrs. Mayes comes to Davidson with
more than 14 years teaching experience in North Carolina, including time
spent coaching students in Choral Music, Band, Theater Arts, Latin, and as
a 1 st -grade teacher. In addition, Mrs. Mayes has served as her church’s
pianist for 16 years, and is a private voice and piano instructor.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful school like Davidson
Elementary,” says Mrs. Mayes. “The faculty, staff, parents, and students have been so gracious
and have made me feel very welcome!” When asked about her first impression of DES, she
says: “The students are intelligent, energetic, fun, and very polite!”
Mrs. Mayes, who lives in Mooresville, graduated from Meredith College in
Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education K-12 and Piano
Pedagogy. She is married to Craig (a mechanical engineer with a local
race team) and has two children — Salem, age 14, and Grant, age 10.
Along with caring for her chocolate lab and crazy cats, Mrs. Mayes enjoys
scrapbooking, landscaping/gardening, photography, and painting.
DES Fifth Graders to Tour Washington, DC
As this newsletter goes to print, more than 160 5 th -grade students are preparing for the annual field
trip to Washington, DC. Buses will depart Wednesday morning, February 29, for a whirlwind
three-day tour of the nation’s capitol.
The students, along with more than 50 parent chaperones, will tour highlights such as the Natural
History Museum, the National Archives, Air and Space Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and the
FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials. They will also meet
with Congressman Mel Watt on the Capitol steps, followed by tours of the Capitol Visitor Center, the
Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court building. A highlight of the trip will be a visit to Arlington
Cemetery, at which students will place a wreath at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In preparation of the trip, students have been researching
interesting facts about each of the stops on the itinerary
and putting that information into “tour books”. They have
also been researching important figures in Washington,
DC history and will present their findings in the form of a
“wax museum” in front of their classmates.
Shown here are last year’s 5 th -grade students posing in
front of The White House. The DES PTO provides
scholarship assistance for this trip so that all 5 th -graders
are able to participate if they are interested.
CONGRATULATIONS LINDA DESUTTER
DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S
TEACHER OF THE YEAR!
Ms. DeSutter exemplifies a love of teaching and
learning everyday as she creates multiple levels of
lesson plans and activities for her students who range
in grade levels with varying abilities. She has
creatively organized and established an engaging
and structured environment where her students know what is expected of
them and continuously rise to the occasion. One can see the excitement
on her face when a student masters a difficult concept or overcomes a
difficult behavior. Ms. DeSutter shows amazing grace and a continuous
positive attitude in even the most difficult and stressful situations with her
students. She is a leader within our school who has provided other
teachers with a wealth of information, encouragement, and support.
Ms. DeSutter is an outstanding educator who cares deeply about her
students and is committed to their success. We are delighted that she
is the Davidson Elementary 2012 Teacher of the Year!
“Live performers”
feature added to our
heartfelt celebration of the
arts at Davidson Elementary!
Mark your calendar and plan to join us
April 12, from 6 — 8:30 pm as we:
SHOWCASE OUR ART! Stroll
the Gallery and enjoy more than 800
pieces of classroom artwork on display
by each one of our students. In addition,
we will showcase a variety of 3-D and
photographic creations submitted by
students.
SHARE OUR VERSE! Each grade will
share its study of the world of poetry and
expose its incredible voice with their own.
SING OUR HEARTS OUT! The
voices of our children will take over the
gym throughout the evening. Additionally,
a concert by the 4 th and 5 th grades and
their recorders will be given:
6 pm Kindergarten
6:30 pm 1 st grade and K/1
7 pm 2 nd grade
7:30 pm 3 rd grade
8pm 4 th and 5 th grade recorder concert
AUCTION AND GRAND PRIZE
RAFFLE! Bid on student and local
artwork, performance packages, big prize
raffles and much more!
SAVOR SOME SWEETS! Stroll the art
galleries, listen to the songs and watch live
performances by our students while
enjoying petite treats and sipping punch.
NEW FEATURE! CALLING ALL
PERFORMERS! Students will take their
musical, poetic, dramatic and melodic
talents “to the street” (South Street, that
is!) as they perform “live” throughout the
evening in the lower level rotunda. See
page 4 for details.
VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS
NEEDED! Please contact your PTO Room
Rep if you can help or contact Artfest
volunteer coordinator Krista Riley at
kristaelliottriley@gmail.com.
TOTP Guest month!
March is Guest Month for Tigers on the Prowl.
Family and friends are invited and encouraged to
come to the school to walk or run with their favorite
DES Tiger. After signing in at the front office, guests
can meet the children and help their class earn
“guest laps.” Teachers will record the number of laps
that parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and
neighbors run with the students. At the end of the
month, the two classes (one from grades K — 2 nd ,
one from 3 rd — 5 th and AU) with the most guest
laps will win parties. Teachers will send home their
TOTP running times so you can plan your visit to the
school.
Many thanks to Artisan Custom Homes, Cashion’s,
the Families of CrossFit Davidson, Julie Lopez, Mary
Lib Richards and McIntosh Law Firm for their
continued support of Tigers on the Prowl.
March 2012
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
BILLY JONAS VISITS
GRADES K-2
2:15 pm GYM
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
SLT MEETING
4:15 - 5:15 pm
MEDIA CENTER
Please join us
3-on-3 basketball
tournament 3 rd grade
3:45 - 6 pm GYM
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
TARADIDDLE PLAYERS
GRADES 3-5
1:30 pm GYM
TOTP
GUEST LAP
MONTH!
school tours 9:15 a m front office school tours 1pm front office
mock eogs: grades 3-5 mock eogs: grades 3-5 mock eogs: grades 3-5
3-on-3 basketball
tournament 4 th grade
3:45 - 6 pm GYM
school tours 9:15 a m front office
school tours 9:15 a m front office
3-on-3 basketball
tournament 5 th grade
3:45 - 6 pm GYM
school tours 1pm front office
school tours 1pm front office
school tours 9:15 a m front office school tours 1pm front office
Looking ahead . . .
4/1 - 6 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
4/12 Artfest, 6 — 8:30 pm, DES
4/16 SLT Meeting, 4:15 — 5:15 pm, Media Center
4/17 Report Cards Issued
4/18 Staff Appreciation: Dessert Bar
SPRING BOOK FAIR:
WED 8 a m — 8 p m & FRI 8 a m — 4:30 p m
mid-quarter progress reports
5 th grade trip washington, dc 5 th grade trip washington, dc
PTO MEETING &
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
6 - 7:30 pm
GYM
spanish speaking
family NIGHT
6 - 7 pm
MEDIA CENTER
SPRING PICTURES
EARTH DAY
celebration
end of 3 rd quarter
4/19 TENTATIVE: Charity Challenge Basketball Game at
davidson College (time not confirmed at present)
4/20 Acrofitness Performance - 9:15 & 10 a m, Gym
4/25 Staff Appreciation: Administrative Staff Lunch
4/26 PTO Meeting (with multi-age/looping meeting),
6 - 7:30 pm, Media Center
4/26-27 Latta Visits 1 ST grade, Green & Growing Lesson
STAFF APPRECIATION:
TAKE & BAKE
Teacher
Workday
NO SCHOOL
Odyssey of the mind
Competition
wingate university
9 a m - NOON
Run Too
Overcome
Hough High 8 am
9 a m - NOON
Summer camp registration
with the Town of Davidson Parks and
Recreation begins March 19.
Register online at
www.d-Recs.org or call their
office at 704/892-3349.
Earth Day is coming March 29!
To celebrate the spirit of Earth Day, we
have invited the Latta Plantation
staff to return this year to create a day
full of exciting and informative
environmental activities. A three-part
curriculum will be tailored to your child’s specific grade level
and will complement what they have been learning in their individual
classrooms. During our Earth Day celebration, the Latta Plantation
staff, along with parent volunteers, will cycle students
through three learning stations that explore environmental issues like
recycling, composting, erosion, and water cycles.
If you are interested in volunteering on Earth Day, please contact
Shelley Suter Notte at sasserskip@gmail.com.