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6 Back to School Calendar Kindergarten and New First Grader Orientation Wednesday, August 3rd 9:00–11:00 a.m. This two-hour student orientation is designed to welcome Morningside’s kindergarteners and new first graders to our wonderful school. Our newest 2011-12 students will meet some classmates, learn their way around the building, and end their tour with a snack and free time at our wonderful playground. After this orientation, your child will feel right at home at the Friday Meet and Greet and ready for the first day of school. To help keep this event focused on the kindergarten and new first graders, parents are asked—as much as possible—to make other childcare arrangements for siblings. If you have questions or comments, or to volunteer for this event, please contact Margaret Brackett at margaretbrackett@comcast.net or Polly Bowman at pfbowman@comcast.net. New Parent Orientation Thursday, August 4th 6:00 p.m. Auditorium Join us at Morningside for a comprehensive orientation specifically geared for parents of new students. MES Principal Rebecca Pruitt will answer questions about your child’s first days of school, expectations, and school procedures. You will also meet members of the 2011-12 MES PTA Executive Committee and learn more about the benefits and volunteer opportunities available through our PTA. Note that this event is for parents only. Meet and Greet All Students Friday, August 5th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Meet and Greet is the time for all students and parents to meet their teachers for the 2011-12 school year. Parents and caregivers can sign up to volunteer in their child’s classroom, join a PTA committee, buy the new MES t shirts, obtain information about bus stops and carpool, and more. Don’t miss this fun and informative time! First Day of School Monday, August 8th BE THERE by 7:50 a.m. The principal and teachers highly recommend that students be in the classroom and ready to start the school day by 7:50 a.m. School begins promptly at 8:00 a.m., so arriving a few minutes early ensures a smooth transition from backpack to desk, and allows everyone to start the day on a positive note. Coffee and Kleenex Monday, August 8th 8:00 a.m. Media Center After dropping off your student in their classroom, join fellow parents and PTA representatives in the Media Center for complimentary coffee, Kleenex, and plenty of encouragement. This is a long-standing tradition at Morningside, and everyone is welcome. Back to School Night Tuesday, August 23rd 6:00 p.m. Please attend this parent-centered evening which includes meeting the entire MES faculty and time with your child’s teacher in the classroom. The PTA will also have a brief meeting to approve the 2011-12 budget and introduce the 2011-12 Executive Committee. *A note about MES orientation events: Your MES teachers and PTA volunteers work hard to put together orientation events that meet your needs, with a combination of student-centered and parent-centered events. Please make every effort to attend the parent-centered events without children and attend the student-oriented events with your kids. If you have questions or suggestions for improving these events in the future, please contact Kimberly Humphrey at kdelynnh@yahoo.com. “Learning is Magic”…The Spirit of MES What a magical year the 2011-2012 School Year is sure to be! This Fall we will be introducing our newest theme in spirit wear, as “Learning is Magic.” It will be centered on fifth grader Sophia Zook’s winning t-shirt design. You will definitely want to pick up this year’s t-shirt, but also keep an eye out for our newest additions in Morningside gear. Along with the t-shirts, pencils, and water bottles, we’ll be introducing Morningside Tervis tumblers and student pencil pouches. And for the moms, you’ll definitely want to pick up the newest “Mommy” design specifically made for Morningside. Opportunities to purchase spirit gear will be at Kindergarten and New First Graders Orientation on August 3rd, New Parent Orientation on August 4th, at Meet and Greet on August 5th and Back to School Night on August 23rd. Just in case you miss these events, keep an eye out for other dates in your Digital Dolphin and a flyer in your child’s backpack the first week of school. You will definitely want to outfit your child for Spirit day on Fridays, so plan on stopping by to see what items we’ve pulled out of our magic hat this year! Anna Lentz and Lori Lott Spirit Chairs
Operations It takes a lot of planning and teamwork by parents, teachers, students and administrators to make Morningside Elementary School a success. The various PTA Operations Committees support teachers and administrators by helping to ensure the school’s smooth day-to-day operations. Here is an overview of what these committees have in store for this school year. Amy Schroeder, Media Center Volunteer Liaison, will recruit and train Media Center volunteers for regular weekly shifts and special projects. This committee will also sponsor informational sessions for parents on how to use available APS online research tools. The Welcome Desk Committee, chaired by Jennifer Pye, will continue to provide visitors with a warm welcome and assistance. The Laminating Committee, headed by Christa Martin, will schedule volunteers to provide administrative support to fulfill teachers’ laminating needs. The Special Needs Committee, chaired by Michelle Constantinides, will continue to support students in the Program for Exceptional Children (PEC). The committee arranges topical speakers and hosts opportunities for parents of PEC children to exchange ideas and information. It also works with the school counselor, Aazam Salehi, on the Acts of Kindness Award, sponsoring this annual recognition of students. Special Needs Committee Sometimes students struggle academically or have physical limitations that affect their ability to perform successfully at school. These students may need additional educational instruction or interventions. Parents who think their child may need additional services should discuss their concerns with their child’s teacher as soon as possible. The Special Needs Committee supports those students and their families with educational and informational Lunch and Learn series, a Google group that shares information about Special Services in APS as well as community resources, and additional support as needed. To encourage parents to share information and further support the committee’s goals, this year we are offering special support groups under the following headings: l Autism Support - Linda Mullen, Parent Contact - linda.mullen@ me.com l Ms. Standifer, Teacher Contact l ADD/ADHA Support - Rogers Barry, Parent Contact - rogerspbarry@gmail.com l Ms. Mather & Ms. Roetger, Teacher Contacts l Speech Support - Emily Compton , Parent Contact - emily@zode. net l Mr. Cleckley, Teacher Contact l Reading & Math Support - Bob Silvia - Parent Contact - rsilvia@ yahoo.com l Ms. Balloon, Teacher Contact These support groups offer additional information and support through direct support from the teacher and sharing information from school and community programs. If you have interest in participating, please email the parent contact. An overview of the Student Support Services at Morningside will be presented at our first Lunch and Learn, Wednesday August 17th at 11:30 a.m. in the Media Center and is available for viewing on the MES website under Enrichment and Clubs - Special Needs Committee. For further information, please contact Michelle Constantinides via email, michelle.constantinides@gmail.com or by phone, 404-502- 0725. Parent Work Day Committee, co-chaired by Ben Bunyard and Eric Lowery-North, will organize parent workdays in the fall and spring as well as assist administrators with projects throughout the year. The first parent work day will be on Sunday, August 14, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. The Hospitality Committee, co-chaired by Becky Fite and Emily Compton, will help keep us refreshed at principal coffees and other meetings. The purpose of the Teacher Appreciation Committee, co-chaired by Nancy King and Yvonne Gibney is to let our teachers know how much Morningside students and parents appreciate their hard work and dedication. The committee will host teacher appreciation events throughout the year, culminating in a luncheon for National Teacher Appreciation Day in May. By hosting book swaps, treating the teachers to Valentine’s Day goodies and more, the committee will show Morningside teachers they are appreciated year round. Laura Shepherd will lead informative Campus Tours once a month and host tours at the fall and spring Prospective Parent Meetings with the MES staff and Principal Rebecca Pruitt. If you know someone who is new to the school, or will be soon, encourage them to visit for a tour or meeting. Amber Ackerman, chair of the Backpacks Committee, will work to ensure that children of all economic backgrounds have necessary school supplies. Helping our children safely get to and from school is an important goal of ours. Look for information about walk-to-school days – and incentives to get students walking – from Ash Parker and Marshall Hunter, who co-chair the Safe Routes to School Committee. Julie Maxwell, chair of the Bus Transportation Committee, will have bus route and ride-along information at Meet and Greet on August 5. Finally, our Fifth Grade Committee, co-chaired by Beth Downes and Adrienne Maxim will work with our terrific fifth-graders to make their <strong>final</strong> year at MES memorable. Among the activities will be the traditional skate night, penny drive, hat days, movie night and basketball challenge, as well as some exciting new initiatives. Once again, the fifth graders’ year will culminate in a fun and educational trip to Blue Ridge, Georgia. These events and programs help make Morningside a great place for our children, teachers and staff, and these activities depend upon our willing and wonderful parent volunteers. There are so many volunteer opportunities that there truly is a place for everyone. So whether you can give a few hours of your time or want to make a bigger commitment, please consider volunteering. Amy Chambers Vice President for Operations atchamb@yahoo.com 7
Page 1 and 2: Summer 2011 MORNINGSIDE ELEMENTARY
Page 3 and 4: Thank You for What You Do Laurie Lu
Page 5: From the PTA Co-Presidents Welcome
Page 9 and 10: Halloween Carnival Get ready for th
Page 11 and 12: Other Sources of Information Look f

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