Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday, March 26th

 

 

New Superintendent Named Today:)

The new Superintendent will be named today after a 10:00 Board Meeting. This is exciting news. Remember he/she will be here to meet us tomorrow at around 11:00 during lunch.  I am hoping we will be able to tour both buildings to show off our school and all of the great work you are doing with our students.

Keeping the Kids on Target

As you know the children are excited about Spring Break. Do your best to keep them on their normal routine and actively engaged. Supervise transition times carefully. We appreciate your help with this. 

SIT Meeting 3:10 to work on CNA. Shakila and Cheryl will run the meeting.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spring Treats!






Nancy Hoover who happens to Ross' mom will bring in special treats for you this week on the last day of the quarter, Wednesday.  How very special and thoughtful.  Thank you Mrs. Hoover!!!!!!!!

New Superintendent to Visit Diggs-Latham!

Another Busy Week.......Monday April 25th, 2013

Happy Birthday to Mary Winterhalder who celebrated yesterday!

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO CASSANDRA DOBSON who will be the new Assistant Principal at Konnoak Elementary beginning April 1st.  We are so very proud of her!!!!!!!! She is still at Speas until the transition to AP.

 
Congratulations to Mrs. Seachrist who has been nominated for the Promise Award for Outstanding Beginning Teachers. The Awards will be given at the Spring STAY Banquet on April 15th.
 

 Congratulations to Mrs. Jane Bullin who has been nominated as an Outstanding Teacher of Math for our District!!!!!!  

Family Affairs:

Welcome Back Mr. Clarence Thorpe, our evening lead custodian. He had been in the hospital with pneumonia but he is back with us now:)

Ms. Angela Roane underwent surgery last week in her home town. She is recovering and getting stronger. She has also experienced a few deaths in her family during her absence. She needs our thoughts and prayers more than ever. We wish her a very speedy recovery.

Also, Keep Liz Crookshank in your prayers, her knee surgery was last week.

Kristy Reece has written 2 children's books and has just been notified that she will be published!  Fabulous News!!!! We are so proud!!!



Thank you so much for a smooth testing week.  I appreciate you all.  Just a few notes after reflection in order to be ready for the EOGs.
  • There should be no cell phones out for any reason. This is district policy. If you need a clock or to have a clock replaced for malfunction, please let us know. Of course, this goes for students as well. There should not be any student or teacher's watches that beep or play any kind of notification. No texting goes without saying.  If there is an emergency, the office will contact you.
  • Please be sure to walk around and monitor testing to be sure that children finish or there is no misalignment, wrong answer sheet, etc...
  • Thank you for encouraging the children to do their very best. That is all we can do. You did a good job with this. Thank you.  Troubleshoot with them and talk with them about what they do if they get tired or if a problem is too hard and for pacing themselves. The tests were hard this quarter and scores were generally lower across the district.  Hang in there and keep your chins up. I know you are working hard.
  • We will be ordering some sturdy, well made, pre-sharpened pencils to help you with the pencil breaking events you have endured. Thank you Gloria for finding a great resource.
  • Thank you Ms. Wynns for writing up the Clean and Green Application. We appreciate you more than you know.
  • Please let Ms. Kennedy know your intentions concerning leave days for Spring Break.
  • By now, All Intent Notifications should be completed.  I recently sent out the date for the Transfer Fair but in case you missed it, it will be on April 11th at 4:00-North Forsyth HS.
  • Thank you Dr. Madison for all your work in getting our Title I Audit Information in order. Great Job.
  • Be sure to get a Climate Survey from Mrs. Pullen:)
  • Thank you to Barbie and Kate for continuing the Book Room Update.  It is a lot of work.
  • Thank you Nohora, Julissa, Jenny and David Sisk for a great Toyota Literacy Recruitment Breakfast.
 
FYI......EVAAS Resource Page New on the Web

A new page has been added to the EVAAS website to help educators understand the reports and other information produced by EVAAS. Material available on the Resources page includes help files, teacher notifications for releases for value-added reports and evaluation dashboards, overviews and more. Please visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/effectiveness-model/evaas/resources/ to review the documents and links to other information related to EVAAS
 
REMINDER: All staff members involved in the Comprehensive Needs Assessment will meet for a working meeting on Tuesday, the 26th in the Media Center.  It is important that all team members be there.
 
 

Exciting News: Our new Superintendent will be here to visit us from 11:00-12:00 on Wednesday.  We are honored to host our new Superintendent! Please be sure your room looks its best as we will be touring the buildings:)  Also, talk to students about this special day.

Friday, March 22, 2013

It's A BOY!!!!!!!

 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! 

Hooray, We have a new baby and I am a Principal Nana again!!!!  You all are aunts and uncles! Brooke had her baby on 3/21/13. He was 8 lbs. and 8 ounces.  Both mom and baby are doing GREAT!!!!   The baby's name is Aden Michael Hough. Conratulations Mom and Dad!

Fabulous Friday!!!!!

Great Job With Testing TEAM!!!

Please keep Mrs. Roane in your prayers as she has had some surgery this week. Send happy thoughts her away as well as to Mrs. Crookshank.

Walkers....If you have students who are walkers, please remind them to stay on the sidewalk the entire journey and not to cross away from the crossing guard into the street. They can get hurt.

Lunch Today!  Thank you 1st, 2nd and HI teachers for providing a delicious lunch today. What a great surprise!!!!  Thank you all!!!!!

Report card turns in assignments are on calendar. They must be in a folder or envelope with your name on it.  Please turn in on time. The end of the quarter is next Tuesday.


Please make sure that you read my email concerning PowerSource and that you register asap. We will be using PowerSource next year.  There will be on-line courses that you can get credit for to help you navigate the nnew program.

HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY!!!!!!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Wonderful Wednesday! March 20, 2013

 

 

Climate Survey Information

It is that time again. FCAE has dropped off Climate Surveys to be completed by all licensed personnel and teaching assistants. Ms. Pullen is standing in for Mrs. Crookshank as FCAE Representative. Be on the lookout for an email from her to inform you of survey instructions.  All surveys will be due by March 27th at 8:00 am. This survey is very important.

Information:

  • Intent Forms Due Friday

  • Be thinking about and working on your End of Year PDP documentation in McRel.

  • Grade level chairs...Be on the Lookout for Clean-Up Assignments in your boxes from J. Pullen

  • Please keep Mrs. Crookshank in your prayers today as she will be having surgery on her knee. Also, many staff members are recovering from colds, the flu and stomach viruses. We wish them all a speedy recovery.  Please encourage all children to wash their hands many times a day with soap and water:)

  • Thank you Mrs. Pubantz for orchestrating such a smooth testing day! 

  • Teachers, you did a great job administering tests today. Thank you. Remember to trouble shoot with your children and remind them that we only want them to do their very best and that there may be questions that are hard. They shouldn't panic. Also, please be sure to walk around to check for mis-alignment, etc....  Remind students to be at school on time, especially if they get breakfast at school.

  • I will be attending a district Magnet School Meeting this morning at 10:00.

  • Connie will be here to collect Lesson Plans.

New Superintendent to Visit Diggs-Latham

Breaking News:)
Diggs-Latham has been selected as one of the schools that will be visited by our new superintendent next Wednesday.  It is very exciting for our school.  He/She (don't know) will visit us next Wednesday from approximately 11-12:00.  The new superintendent will eat lunch with us in the cafeteria and then tour the building.  I am so proud of you all.  It is important that we put our best foot forward and make sure our school looks its best inside and out.  I know Mrs. Uhrig had been planning a campus cleanup when we get a nice day so hopefully we will be able to do that before next week. Also, I think it is important that all teachers be in the cafeteria with their students on Wednesday, even if that is your Duty-Free Day.  I will give you more information as I get it.  This is very exciting news for our students and staff!!
Have a great day everyone.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Tuesday, March 19, 2012

Good Morning!  A Note from Ms. Pullen:

Staff should plan to limit internet use Thursday morning from 8:00 - 12 or until 5th grade online testing is finished.  Websites that stream video such as Brainpop, Youtube, video on news outlets, and Learn360 should not be used until online testing is over.
 

Great ICM Meeting!


Thank you to Gloria Pubantz, Cheryl Frazier, Shakila Faqih, Amanda Stevenson, Katie McGregor, Julissa Knight, Tryla Green, and Allison Sechrist.  They did an awesome job presenting information to the team. Thank you everyone who gave them feedback in order to present.  They did so with poise and grace and I am proud of the work that you all do to make this school a great place for kids to learn. 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday, March 15th, 2013

Treats in the Lounge today in honor of Social Worker's Week.  Thank you Chris for all you do!


Great Job 4th Grade!

Way to go 4th grade Teachers: Ms. Hess, Ms. Magness, Mrs. Washburn, Mrs. Bersch and Ms. Wynss! The Authors Chair was a great success. The students were so proud to read their work. The popcorn added a sense of festivity!  The parents really seemed to enjoy it. Thanks for going above and beyond again:)

 

LEP Parent Night A Great Success!

The LEP Parent night held this week was also a success. We had a good turnout and a lot of valuable information was disseminated. Mrs. Knight, Mrs. Jacobs and Mrs. Adkins did an excellent job preparing for the night.  The parents asked great questions. Way to go team!!!! David Sisk came and spoke with our parents as well.  There were cookies, juice and a raffle.

Birthday Surprise- Thank you everyone for making my birthday so special.  I truly loved and was touched by the video. It was just beautiful.  Thank you all!

Please make sure that you get your PDPs completed and the evidence put into McRel.  Remember Star 3 Lesson Plans are due soon and we would like an opportunity to go over them before they are turned into Connie so we may offer suggestions.

Mrs. Frazier is out sick today with a cold. We will be short handed in the office.

Please keep our Budd Lead Custodian, Mr. Clarence Thorpe in your prayers. He was hospitalized with Pneumonia this week.  I spoke with him by phone and he is feeling a bit better. We hope he will be home by today.

Please do your best to monitor playground, all 4 corners and bathrooms. Spring Fever is in the air:)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. 


I will be attending a Principal's Meeting this morning. Have a great day!!!!!!

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

 

 

It's A Great Day at Diggs-Latham Elementary School!

Heroes Amongst Us!

I would like to let everyone know how very proud I am of our Office Staff for the quick response and "Calm Under Fire" they displayed when a 5th grade student had a seizure in the office last week.  It was quickly recognized, 911 was called, the student was turned on her side and every precaution was taken so that the student was safe. Kudos and lots of Hugs to Mrs. Wolfe, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Martinez, Nurse Hall, Ms. Frazier and Mrs. Brown. As always, they do a FANTASTIC Job keeping our kids safe!


LEP Parent Meeting tonite at 5:30

Monday, March 11, 2013

Terrific Tuesday, March 12, 2013



Happy Birthday to all of our March Babies!

  • March 2-Diana Adkins
  • March 12- Stephanie Hess-TODAY!!!!!!
  • March 14-Donna Cannon
  • March 24-Mary Winterhalder

    Star 3 Lesson Plans Due on or before March 19th. It is essential that you compare your plan to the rubric sent out. I have sent you an email to explain more in depth the importance of these plans:) I will be happy to look over your plan.

     

School Social Workers Week

This week has been deemed Social Worker Appreciation Week. Let's all join together to thank our School Social Worker-Chris Barger. I will put a treat in the lounge for everyone on Friday morning to honor and thank Chris.  Please let Chris know how much we appreciate her help everyday. We are so happy she is back!  Welcome Back Chris.

FYI... Mark your Calendars


  • LEP Parent Meeting 3/13 5:30-6:30
  • School Bus Driver Appreciation-Week of March 17th-Discuss with children-More info. to come from Ms. Frazier.
  • End of Qtr. 3/27
  • 4/17 Custodial and Cafeteria Workers Appreciation Day
  • 4/24 Secretary's/Admin. Assts. Appreciation Day
  • 5/6 Teacher Appreciation Week

Comprehensive Needs Assessment Teams-I will be contacting Team Leaders this week to begin our planning Work.

 

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

Let's Celebrate READ ACROSS AMERICA!!!!!!


Mrs. Uhrig has been planning a great day of Reading for today. We will have many volunteers in our building throughout the day reading to our students.  It will be a wonderful day!