October 2010 - Davidson Elementary School PTO
October 2010 - Davidson Elementary School PTO
October 2010 - Davidson Elementary School PTO
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>October</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY<br />
SCHOOL<br />
NEWS<br />
635 South Street • <strong>Davidson</strong>, NC 28036 • 980-343-3900 http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/davidsonpta/<br />
The principal’s corner<br />
Dear Parents/Guardians,<br />
The school year is off to<br />
a great start. As I walk<br />
around visiting classrooms,<br />
I see students engaged in<br />
the lessons and eagerly<br />
participating in classroom<br />
discussions. The turnout<br />
at last week’s curriculum<br />
night was fantastic. Parents were provided an<br />
overview of the curriculum to be studied this year<br />
and information regarding classroom procedures<br />
and expectations.<br />
We are proud to announce that the school made<br />
significant academic gains last year. <strong>Davidson</strong><br />
<strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>School</strong> has earned the Honor <strong>School</strong> of<br />
Excellence designation, and achieved high growth<br />
status in all content areas. We met 17 out of 17<br />
targets on the North Carolina’s ABC report card.<br />
The overall school composite score increased to<br />
94.6% of our third through fifth grade students<br />
performing at or above grade level.<br />
As we turn our focus to this school year, we renew<br />
our commitment to ensuring academic success<br />
for each and every student. Our faculty and staff<br />
recognize that we must pull together as a team<br />
if we are to achieve our goal of making certain<br />
that all students gain at least one year’s academic<br />
growth in one year’s time. With the help of our<br />
parents and community businesses, we know that<br />
we will continue to move towards excellence.<br />
Our before and after school clubs are part of what<br />
makes the <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>School</strong> experience<br />
unique. Information will be sent home next week<br />
regarding sign up requirements, dates and meeting<br />
times for each of the club opportunities. Some of<br />
the clubs offered this year include: Turning Tigers,<br />
Chess Club, Odyssey of the Mind, Girls on the<br />
Run, Let Me Run, Spanish Club, Yearbook Club,<br />
Newspaper Club, Morning Muralist and Afternoon<br />
Artists, and Technology Club.<br />
We will continue our “HIP” character education<br />
program this year. Our students continue to work<br />
hard to be helpful, have integrity, and show pride<br />
in their school. Our first celebration rewarding<br />
positive behavior choices will be held this Friday.<br />
I look forward to a year filled with excitement and<br />
learning. Thank you in advance for your ongoing<br />
support.<br />
Terry C. Hall, Principal<br />
News from your <strong>PTO</strong><br />
Dear Parents, Staff and Friends,<br />
With the leaves turning and the sky so clear, it seems<br />
as though our schedules are finally beginning to move<br />
towards a much needed rhythm. After the hustle and<br />
bustle of that first crazy month, with endless streams<br />
of paperwork and filling out forms for what seemed<br />
the hundredth time (!!!), I am glad to see the dust is<br />
settling.<br />
During Curriculum Night, due to the nature of our<br />
fiscal year structure, I focused on our budget and<br />
the fund-raising aspects of our <strong>PTO</strong>. We covered<br />
the incredible success of the Tiger Fund which has<br />
raised over $33,280 to date and how our children’s<br />
elementary school experience would be so lacking if<br />
we didn’t pull together as one….putting our money<br />
and energy behind this school and therefore, helping<br />
our teachers and administrators purchase the tools they<br />
need to push our children to the potential they are truly<br />
capable of….each and every day. We could not do it<br />
without you and without each other!<br />
”Pulling together as one.” The people power of<br />
<strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> is infectious and humbling at the<br />
same time. Our <strong>PTO</strong> is now 526 members strong. We<br />
have hundreds of volunteers who have committed their<br />
time to support our events. We have a virtual army<br />
of parents who also help out in the classrooms, the<br />
Media Center and sometimes, at the drop off a hat,<br />
make copies, proctoring or trimming up the Eco Trail<br />
paths if that is what is needed.<br />
I have been fortunate enough to experience this power<br />
of “pulling together as one” so often over the past few<br />
weeks: whether it is opening an envelope to find that<br />
Betty Carraway and each one of our tireless cafeteria<br />
staff have filled out a membership form to join our<br />
<strong>PTO</strong>; whether it is seeing, J.J., our school custodian,<br />
stop his own work, pick up a shovel and with great<br />
resolve go to help a few sweaty, frustrated parents<br />
release a stubborn stump of growth from the teacher’s<br />
garden they were clearing out; whether it is watching<br />
a mother, balancing her preschooler on her hip, lean<br />
over and pick up a crumpled straw wrapper off our<br />
front side walk, which had innocently strayed from a<br />
little one’s lunch box; whether it is admiring a teacher,<br />
who, knowing a little boy is new to town, makes an<br />
introduction to another parent so that they might find<br />
their way more quickly to friendships found by joining<br />
a local Cub Scouts pack.<br />
This is indeed our power. It is what makes us, and<br />
keeps us, unique and strong as a school. This is a<br />
message I am so grateful that my three boys are<br />
receiving day in and day out through the actions of<br />
their teachers, their classmates and everyone who<br />
makes up our DES family.<br />
If you have an idea, an itch, a “what if” or a “way<br />
to go!”, I hope you will not hesitate to call me or one<br />
of our Board Members. Or come to our next “family<br />
meeting”, the <strong>PTO</strong> Board meeting (the third Thursday<br />
of every month at 6pm)! We can make wonderful<br />
things happen and open great doors for<br />
our children….pulling together as one!<br />
Krista Riley, <strong>PTO</strong> President<br />
<strong>PTO</strong> BOARD MEMBERS<br />
Krista Riley, President<br />
kristariley@bellsouth.net<br />
Tammy Forthofer, Vice President<br />
tforthofer@mi-connection.com<br />
Kristen Coupal, VP Fund-raising<br />
kmcoupal@hotmail.com<br />
Gennine Davis, VP Fund-raising<br />
gennine@bellsouth.net<br />
Jackie Noble, VP Communication<br />
jacob97@bellsouth.net<br />
Michele Trovato, VP Community<br />
Building Events<br />
mctrovato@hotmail.com<br />
Greta Wolff, Secretary<br />
gretawolff1@gmail.com<br />
Debbie Barteldt, Treasurer<br />
debbiebarteldt@yahoo.com<br />
Beth Cashion, Member at Large<br />
bethcashion@gmail.com<br />
Terry Bentley, Member at Large<br />
terrykbentley@yahoo.com<br />
Juliet Bowden, Technology Advisor<br />
jbpta678@gmail.com<br />
Terry Hall, Principal DES<br />
terryc.hall@cms.k12.nc.us<br />
Newsletter designer<br />
Katie Barker<br />
katie_kgb@hotmail.com<br />
Our <strong>PTO</strong> Mission<br />
The <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>PTO</strong> (DES <strong>PTO</strong>) is a volunteer-based<br />
non-profit organization whose purpose<br />
is to promote and support the<br />
instructional focus of our teachers and<br />
administrators and to advocate for<br />
all of our children, through consistent<br />
communication, parent and teacher<br />
involvement and fund-raising activities.
Have you heard about the 212˚ Attitude?<br />
211˚ is certainly HOT, but add just one degree and you’ve hit the boiling point…that additional one degree can make all the difference!<br />
Here are 3 of our magnificent <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> Staff who took the challenge to push themselves that one extra degree towards Excellence!<br />
Kristie Land, Literacy Facilitator<br />
Kristie Land is happy to<br />
know that many of her<br />
colleagues will reap the<br />
benefits of her detailed<br />
planning and extra effort<br />
this past summer, ultimately<br />
making their jobs a bit<br />
easier! Beginning her<br />
third year as <strong>Davidson</strong><br />
<strong>Elementary</strong>’s Academic Facilitator, Ms. Land<br />
best describes herself as a “teacher coach.” She<br />
quietly works behind-the-scenes setting grade-level<br />
curriculum, developing schedules and training<br />
teachers accordingly — in addition to anything else<br />
she may be asked to do! Not much falls outside of<br />
her role and she likens herself to an “extra set of<br />
hands” for staff and parents alike, whenever a need<br />
arises.<br />
While many of us were enjoying the lazy days of<br />
summer, Ms. Land spent much of her “vacation” time<br />
planning new curriculum and developing schedules<br />
for our wonderful teaching staff to ensure a smooth<br />
and seamless transition into the new academic year.<br />
Furthermore, she did it with a great attitude and with<br />
a smile! It is this willingness to go above and beyond<br />
(at any time) and her “extra degree” of effort that<br />
have earned her many kudos and thanks from Mrs.<br />
Hall, her fellow teachers and staff!<br />
In addition to tackling literacy and math curriculum<br />
development, Ms. Land will be facilitating science<br />
and social studies curriculums this year — a<br />
new challenge she accepts with enthusiasm. She<br />
enjoys working with <strong>Davidson</strong>’s wonderful staff of<br />
professionals and students but especially enjoys<br />
the dynamic nature of her job which delivers new<br />
experiences and challenges daily. Although not<br />
regularly present in the classroom, her efforts impact<br />
the lives of all <strong>Davidson</strong> students either directly<br />
through curriculum or indirectly through her work<br />
with teachers. So, next time you see Ms. Land in the<br />
halls, be sure to thank her for her behind-the-scenes<br />
efforts! When not roaming the halls of <strong>Davidson</strong><br />
<strong>Elementary</strong>, Ms. Land loves to travel and enjoys<br />
spending time with her husband Patrick, daughter<br />
Madison and dogs Boomer & Bubblegum!<br />
Technology class tidbit<br />
Every week grades 2-5 are coming to<br />
Technology, and writing down one web<br />
site that will help them with homework<br />
or studying skills in the notes section of<br />
their agendas. If you find a great website<br />
please encourage your child to share it<br />
in Technology class.<br />
Patricia Spencer, Technology Specialist<br />
“Technology-driven” is<br />
a good way to describe<br />
Patricia Spencer.<br />
Recognizing that<br />
technology permeates our<br />
lives daily, Ms. Spencer<br />
has spent the last four<br />
years working with staff,<br />
students and the <strong>PTO</strong> to<br />
build a solid IT foundation at <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong>.<br />
By working together, Ms. Spencer is confident<br />
that <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> will continue to grow<br />
its IT base and continue to provide a “quality” IT<br />
experience for all staff and students.<br />
Ms. Spencer believes that quality comes with a<br />
program that reaches out and networks with many<br />
different departments and organizations, which is<br />
why she has taken the lead on working with CMS,<br />
the <strong>PTO</strong>, independent vendors and other CMS<br />
schools to network all of the areas we need to excel<br />
in the field of Technology. However, achieving<br />
“excellence” sometimes requires the forfeit of welldeserved<br />
vacation time, which is exactly what Ms.<br />
Spencer did this past summer. Working closely with<br />
CMS Tech, Ms. Spencer spent much of her summer<br />
managing the installation and configuration of<br />
new computers in each classroom ensuring that<br />
all were operational and ready to “go” on day<br />
one. In conjunction, she was busy managing<br />
<strong>Davidson</strong>’s MMIS inventory and teaching an<br />
employee at another school the inventory system.<br />
Her persistence, constant willingness to help and<br />
dedication this past summer earned her a second<br />
212 award nomination! Wow…way to go Ms.<br />
Spencer!<br />
Although Ms. Spencer has many responsibilities,<br />
her favorite by far is working with the students<br />
(which is a good thing since she has the privilege<br />
of working with every <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong><br />
student!). She especially appreciates their<br />
eagerness to learn and the smiles that greet<br />
her each day. When asked about her biggest<br />
challenges with the program, she chuckles when<br />
citing “flu season” and “keyboard cleanliness”<br />
as major culprits! Even with a very full schedule<br />
of teaching and general IT maintenance/<br />
management, Ms. Spencer manages to carve<br />
out extra time to chair or participate in many of<br />
<strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong>’s clubs and organizations.<br />
So, next time you are near the computer lab,<br />
please be sure to say hello and thank her for<br />
her many efforts to keep <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong><br />
technically competitive in our highly technical<br />
and ever-changing world! In her spare time,<br />
Ms. Spencer especially enjoys boating and<br />
spending time with her husband and two<br />
children.<br />
Linda DeSutter, EC Teacher<br />
Exceptional Children<br />
(EC) require exceptional<br />
teachers, and<br />
“exceptional” is a word<br />
that both <strong>Davidson</strong><br />
<strong>Elementary</strong> staff and<br />
students would use to<br />
describe Linda DeSutter,<br />
one of <strong>Davidson</strong>’s three<br />
lead EC teachers. Exceptional because she is willing<br />
to go above and beyond, quite frequently, to ensure<br />
that each Exceptional Child feels safe, secure and<br />
welcome. And, sometimes that means working<br />
throughout the summer to accomplish such goals…<br />
which is exactly what Ms. DeSutter did! But, she<br />
didn’t mind at all and boasts how grateful she is to<br />
be at <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> and how fortunate she is<br />
to have spent the past seven years in such a warm,<br />
encouraging and inclusive environment.<br />
Ms. DeSutter received her “calling” to work with<br />
special needs children long before she became<br />
a teacher. Inspired by her parents, who are<br />
both disabled, she earned her degree in Special<br />
Education. Feeling compelled to help others facing<br />
similar challenges as her parents, she embraced<br />
a teaching opportunity that allowed her to help<br />
others do the same. After listening to Ms. DeSutter,<br />
it is apparent how important her students are to her<br />
and how important the EC program is to <strong>Davidson</strong><br />
<strong>Elementary</strong>. Thus, it came as no surprise that she<br />
jumped at the opportunity to help Mrs. Hall fill open<br />
EC teacher spots this summer. Her knowledge of the<br />
EC curriculum and environment proved invaluable<br />
to Mrs. Hall throughout the interview and placement<br />
process. Understanding the specific needs of her<br />
kids, Ms. DeSutter worked tirelessly to ensure that<br />
each of <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong>’s self-contained<br />
classrooms was properly staffed, organized and<br />
ready for children to start on day one. And, thanks<br />
to Ms. DeSutter’s efforts…they did just that!<br />
Ms. DeSutter is excited for the future of the EC<br />
program and for her many children. She is thrilled<br />
that CMS has recognized a growing need and has<br />
committed to 50 self-contained classrooms even<br />
in the midst of recent budget cuts. She claims that<br />
one of her greatest joys is watching her kids grow<br />
and witnessing their progress over time. In her<br />
free time, Ms. DeSutter can be found enjoying the<br />
many activities that Lake Norman has to offer with<br />
her husband, Steve and her two<br />
daughters, Kady and Sarah.
<strong>October</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday<br />
Register for fall programs with<br />
the Town of <strong>Davidson</strong> Parks and<br />
Recreation at www.d-Recs.org<br />
or call 704/892-3349.<br />
Lobby Guard<br />
9-10:30; 11:30-1; 3-3:30<br />
Lobby Guard<br />
9-10:30; 11:30-1; 3-3:30<br />
1 2 3<br />
4 5 6 7 8 9 10<br />
Latta visits<br />
kindergarten<br />
Latta visits<br />
kindergarten<br />
Have you linked<br />
your vic card yet?<br />
Tigers on the<br />
prowl<br />
kickoff<br />
Lobby Guard<br />
9-10:30; 11:30-1; 3-3:30<br />
8am-noon<br />
8am-noon<br />
11 12 13 14 15 16 17<br />
slt meeting<br />
4 – 5pm<br />
media center<br />
“Celebrate the Market”<br />
Community Picnic 12:30<br />
8am-noon<br />
18 19 20 21 22 23 24<br />
<strong>PTO</strong> meeting<br />
6 – 7:30pm<br />
media center<br />
last day to turn in<br />
your box tops<br />
25 26 27 28 29 30 31<br />
Fall pictures<br />
Latta visits<br />
5th grade<br />
Latta visits<br />
5th grade<br />
NO SCHOOL<br />
Teacher Workday<br />
Parent Conferences<br />
Downtown Halloween<br />
Trick or Treat March<br />
Line-up Begins at 4:45pm<br />
8am-noon<br />
8am-noon<br />
Don’t be left out of<br />
the DES directory!<br />
If you haven‘t done so already, we invite<br />
you to join the more than 550 parents,<br />
teachers, and staff who have become<br />
members of the <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>PTO</strong>.<br />
Your membership fee of $5 per adult helps<br />
provide initial operating funds for our <strong>PTO</strong>.<br />
Each paid member will receive a FREE<br />
<strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> <strong>School</strong> Directory. Your<br />
check (made payable to DES <strong>PTO</strong>) and a<br />
completed copy of the <strong>2010</strong> DES Student<br />
Directory form should be sent to your oldest<br />
child’s teacher. Forms are located at http://<br />
pages.cms.k12.nc.us/gems/davidsonpta/<br />
<strong>2010</strong>DESStudentDirectory.<br />
Hurry, the Directory is closing soon!<br />
Looking ahead...<br />
11/9 Boosterthon Pep Rally<br />
11/9 – 19 Boosterthon Pledge Drive<br />
11/11 Veterans Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL<br />
11/17 Staff Appreciation<br />
SLT Monthly Meeting – 4pm Media Center<br />
11/18 <strong>PTO</strong> Monthly Meeting – 6pm Media Center<br />
11/19 Boosterthon Fun Run Event Day<br />
11/23 Fall Photos Retaken<br />
11/24 – 26 Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL<br />
Easy money for DES!<br />
ATTENTION BOX TOP COLLECTORS: Collect Box<br />
Tops and turn them in on <strong>October</strong> 15th. It’s fun and easy to collect them.<br />
Last year we raised over $2,500!
More NEWS YOU CAN USE<br />
Environmental Education Programs with Latta Plantation<br />
<strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong> is fortunate to have a partnership with Latta Plantation’s<br />
Nature Center sponsored by our <strong>PTO</strong>. Unique in the CMS school system, our<br />
children receive science enrichment lessons taught by a trained Latta Plantation<br />
Environmental Educational Instructor. Below is a sample of the<br />
curriculum.<br />
Kindergarten — Tall Trees, Little Leaves: Students<br />
will have “tree-mendous” fun on the <strong>Davidson</strong> <strong>Elementary</strong><br />
Eco Trail as they examine the parts of a tree and<br />
investigate the lives of these magnificent giants.<br />
1st Grade — Radical Reptiles: Reptile friends from<br />
the nature center will be introduced and students will learn what makes a reptile unique.<br />
2nd Grade — Fairy House Habitats: Students learn about these small shelters in a<br />
hands-on, imaginative program.<br />
3rd Grade — A Visit from the FBI: Students become official “FBI” Investigators during this<br />
program as they search a “crime scene” for clues about the mysterious causes of the breakdown<br />
of living things in nature.<br />
4th Grade — Rockin’ Out: Rocks are the basis of our planet. In this program, students will<br />
become junior geologists as they conduct hands-on investigations into the physical properties of<br />
rocks and minerals.<br />
5th Grade — Web of Life: 5th graders will investigate the many ways plants and animals<br />
are connected to each other and how all organisms work together to form an interdependent<br />
ecosystem.<br />
If you are interested in volunteering for these upcoming lessons, please contact: Amy Feira,<br />
amylevalley@yahoo.com.<br />
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Kickoff!!<br />
The countdown is officially on! We will be kicking off our very successful Tigers on the Prowl<br />
(TOTP) program Thursday, <strong>October</strong>, 7th. We hope you will be able to walk or run a few laps<br />
with your child during this popular event. We always have lots of “local heroes” (parents, police,<br />
firefighters, <strong>Davidson</strong> College athletes/coaches,<br />
community leaders, etc.) join us to help model the<br />
joy of being physically active. You can find your<br />
child’s class time for the kickoff on the DES website<br />
or check their Thursday folder. We’d like to<br />
extend a big thank you to Artisan Custom Homes,<br />
Cashion’s, Mary Lib Richards, Julie Lopez and<br />
McIntosh Law Firm for sponsoring the program<br />
this year. We hope you can join your child for this<br />
exciting event!!!<br />
Open for business!<br />
The school store is now open on<br />
Wednesdays for grades K-2 and Fridays<br />
for grades 3-5, from 8:45 - 9:10am.<br />
Items for sale include pencils, pens,<br />
paper, pencil sharpeners and pouches,<br />
sketchbooks, erasers, highlighters and<br />
rulers. Most items are priced from $.25 to<br />
$2; sketchbooks are $8. Please remember<br />
to send your student with small bills and<br />
change...please no pennies (or as few as<br />
possible!). If you would like to volunteer<br />
to help with the store, please contact<br />
Catherine Bragg at catherinebragg@<br />
bellsouth.net.<br />
des café is open!!!<br />
The sun is out, the air is crisp, it’s a perfect<br />
time to meet your little ones for lunch in<br />
the DES Café! Remember to check in first<br />
at the Front Lobby before proceeding to<br />
the cafeteria to meet your child. Space is<br />
limited so no strollers please! Bon appétit!<br />
Ms. Kleinfelder’s Kindergartners enjoy “plein air” dining.<br />
Clubs and<br />
organizations<br />
DES offers a multitude of clubs and<br />
organizations that provides something for<br />
almost every older student who wants to find<br />
an outlet for their talents and interests. Some<br />
of these are noted below. To learn more,<br />
see the <strong>PTO</strong> tab on the DES website.<br />
Student Council (2nd-5th): Emphasizes<br />
community service and school spirit.<br />
Girls on the Run (3rd-5th): Trains for<br />
non-competitive 5K running events while<br />
enhancing self-respect and healthy living.<br />
Honors Chorus (3rd-5th): Performs at<br />
events such as Christmas in <strong>Davidson</strong>, <strong>PTO</strong><br />
meetings and a year-end concert.<br />
Odyssey of the Mind (3rd-5th):<br />
Challenges teams to creatively solve problems<br />
in local, state and world competitions.<br />
Word Masters (3rd-5th): Encourages<br />
growth in vocabulary and verbal reasoning.<br />
Math Olympiad (4th, 5th): Grows<br />
math problem solving skills through in-class<br />
instruction and contests.<br />
Safety Patrol (4th, 5th): Works to<br />
monitor safe movement throughout the<br />
building and are the “friendly faces” others<br />
can go to when in need.<br />
Tiger Times (4th, 5th): Reports news and<br />
writes articles to entertain and inform their<br />
fellow students.<br />
Turning Tigers (4th, 5th): Entertains at<br />
parades and halftime shows with jump rope<br />
routines.<br />
Community Service Club (5th): Uses<br />
their time and talents to serve the school and<br />
community.<br />
Morning News Crew (5th): Produces<br />
and broadcasts DES’s morning news show.<br />
Look for more information in next month’s<br />
newsletter about these and other exciting<br />
clubs: Chess Club, Drama Club, Let Me<br />
Run, Morning Muralists/Afternoon Artists,<br />
Spanish Club, Technology Club and<br />
Yearbook Club.<br />
Lobby Guard: Three Days Only!<br />
To make the process of checking in at the<br />
school easier and faster, register to create an<br />
automatic account! Simply bring your driver’s<br />
license to the Lobby Guard machine in the<br />
Main Office and we’ll get you registered.<br />
Registration will be available for three days<br />
only — <strong>October</strong> 6 - 8, 9am-10:30am,<br />
11:30am-1pm and 3-3:30pm.