Please Respond By Adding A Comment to the Question.............

What are you most looking forward to this year in regards to how you will deliver instruction and....How will you as an individual contribute to a positive school climate?

Great Start to the 2014-2015 School Year!

Our Weekly Morning Memo Blog:

Each week I will put out a new Morning Memo Blog. For the most part, it will be up and ready for viewing each Monday Morning.The blog and any emails that Dr. Frazier and I put out are a way to transmit important school wide data and information.  This is also true for emails sent by our Curriculum Coordinators and Testing Coordinator. It is also an avenue to celebrate you, our students and our school successes.  It is a non-negotiable expectation that you read the blog each week and all emails daily. We are a big school and emails are essential to communicate messages.  Also, if you have not printed out your yearly calendar, please do that as soon as possible as it holds crucial information.  Thank you:) I will send out your Quick Reference Cards out very soon.  All of these documents should keep you up to date and prepared for the year!  I hope they are helpful for you.

New District Goals are Approved by School Board......

These are the goals we have been discussing and we will make decisions as to how we can interject them into our school improvement plan. 

• By 2020, 90 percent of 3rd-grade students will read on or above grade level.
• By 2018, our graduation rate will be 90 percent. 
• By 2018, we will close the achievement gap between subgroups by 10 percentage points while increasing the performance of all subgroups.

Family Affairs:

What a wonderful first week of school!  For many of us we have had several first weeks, but for many in our building, Friday was the completion of their very first week of their new careers.  I have to say that I am so very impressed with all of our new faculty and staff. They are all top notch and a great addition to our already amazing school family. Thank you all so much for making them feel welcome.  We have had several Family Affair notes to mention.

• Mr. Holmes is still recuperating.  We are hoping he will be able to return towards the end of September. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
• Mrs. Gilliam came through her surgery well but her daughter let us know that the surgery was a little more extensive than they originally thought.  Prayers needed as well.
• Mrs. Hopson needs our thoughts and prayers as well as she continues to heal.
• Keep Mrs. Asbury in your prayers as her family is dealing with a serious medical issue that she will let you know about in the future.
• Mrs. Thierbach's daughter had to return to the hospital after bringing the baby home due to her high blood pressure.  She is home now resting.  Gerri could use your prayers and support as well.
• If there is anyone else that I don't know about or inadvertently left off, and you would like me to add, please let me know:) 

Annual Growth For All Students, Catch Up Growth For Those Who Are Behind by Fielding, Kerr and Rosier

Last June, I asked all certified employees to read Chapters 1-8 over the summer.  We will begin working with this book during our second faculty meeting so if you have not read Chapters 1-8, please get the reading completed by October 7th. We will break into groups as we work through this book that Dr. Emory introduced to us.  All new employees can check out their green book from the Ms. Batten in the Media Center.

Welcome Back UNCG Interns!

Our UNCG Interns will be here all day Wednesdays and 1/2 day on Fridays.  Thank you Barbie for helping to bring new interns to our campus.  Barbie will also be the Stay Coach for all of our first year teachers.

Welcome to our Interns/Student Teachers from Eastern Carolina and Winston-Salem State University!  We Are So Happy You Are Here!

Week At A Glance:

9/2-PLTs start today!

9/3-UNCG Interns Start Today.

9/5-Announced Tornado Drill 9:00 am-Please go over with procedures with your students.

The Last Week of School for the 2013-2014 School Year - June 9-13th

Together and United, we have almost completed a very successful school year 2013-2014...Congratulations!

BB&T Volunteers

BB&T Volunteers will be here 3 days this week volunteering their time in the Leveled Book Room and the Media Center. If you have any green cards that should be with books that were turned in, please turn them in at once.  Also, if you have Leveled Reading Books that you are done with, please return them.  We really need to do a better job managing the leveled book room. Books have been taken without being signed out, green cards are not put back in baggies, books are missing, etc...  Please do your very best to make sure you follow the proper procedures. The Leveled Book room is a blessing to us but only if it is run efficiently and that is up to all of us who use it.  Thank you for doing your best to respect the process. We want and need you utilizing the room.  

Faculty Meeting-Tuesday at 3:10

We will have a faculty meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Ms. Kennedy will put a copy of the Teacher Working Conditions survey in your boxes.  Please take time to look over this as we will be working with it at the meeting. Please be sure to bring your copy.  Agendas will be sent via email.

As you have heard the 50th celebration for the district will not be held. A video will be available for all to watch from our school on that day.  You should have received an email from Theo explaining.

Please make sure that if you want to make Thank You Cards for Home Moravian for the books they have given us, please do so this week and I will get them to Mallie or Walt by Friday.  Thank you to all who have already done so.  They were very much appreciated.

Care of Classrooms, Hallways, etc......

Please make sure that you are following your check off list.  It is very important.  All keys will need to be turned in this summer.  Please make sure Mrs. Kennedy gets yours on your last day.  All hallway bulletin boards should be taken down. Obviously, you will want to take this year's classroom boards down so you are fresh for next year BUT if there is something you absolutely have to keep up, cover it with newspaper.  Put all your valuables away or better yet take them home.  Clean out desks and stack them to one side of your room.  Stack chairs as well. Technology will let you know at the faculty meeting what to do with computers, etc.. for the summer.  There will be some room changes and we will let you know what they are before Friday.  De-clutter your rooms by throwing away things you don't use anymore.

Testing

There will be Read to Achieve Testing on Monday and Remediation and Make-up Testing throughout the week.  Please be mindful of this when moving through hallways, in bathrooms, etc...  There is still a week left to finish up and review curriculum.

Ice Cream Social

Friends of Diggs-Latham will show their appreciation of our faculty and staff by hosting an Ice Cream Social in Room 200 afterschool, Wednesday at 3:00.

Awards Celebrations will be June 12 for K-4 at 1:00 (please see the email I sent out with directions and June 13 for 5th Graders at 9:30.  We have Lifetouch to send us some blank certificates if you need them.

Additional  Dates:

• June 9-Make sure you have chosen your Entree for EOY Celebration.  Pay Ms. Kennedy by Wednesday.  I will make desserts, but if you would like to help out and bring one, please do. The more the better.  THANK YOU to Hospitality for helping us:) We appreciate you all. I am so looking forwarding to celebrating a great year with you all.
• June 10-5th Grade skate trip, Remediation and Faculty Meeting.
• June 11-5th Grade skate trip, Remediation and Ice Cream Social
• June 12-EOG Retest/Awards k-4
• June 12th-Final Names for Retentions turned in/Retention Committee will meet to determine retentions
• June 13-Last Day for Students/5th Grade Celebration
• June 17th SIT Meeting-IMPORTANT 8:00 am sharp
• June 18 and 19-Work on classlists AM
• June 19th-Report Cards to Administrators.
• June 23 and 24-Scheduling Committee meets and the summer Y program begins

Cumulative Folders and Report Cards-Please take extra care and attention to detail when checking and weeding out cumulative folders. Please make sure that the contents are in the right order and that you follow the list attached to your end of year checklist.  We really need to get these folders up to date and in order. You will be asked to redo them if they are not correct.  Thank you with your help for this.  Report Cards are due to administrators by 3:00 on the 19th.  Please check to make sure you have relevant comments, you fill in all attendance, and all grades are entered.  Make sure you fill in the promotion section.  Have a colleague proof before you turn them in. Also, make sure you have a report card for each student.

EOG WEEK IS SOMEWHAT LIKE CONDUCTING A SYMPHONY.......THANK YOU TO GLORIA AND ALL CLASSROOM TEACHERS, FACULTY AND STAFF FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A GREAT TESTING WEEK. I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND PATIENCE FOR WHAT WAS AN UNEVENTFUL, FOR THE MOST PART.....WEEK:)  LET's Get it finished up and behind us this week. Great Job everyone.

June 2nd-6th

Countdown to EOG

As you know, this is a very important week for our students. This is the week of EOGs and Extend 2 tests in ELA and Math.

• June 2nd-Extend 2 (ELA)
• June 3rd-Extend 2 Math and 5th Grade EOG Science
• June 4-EOG Reading
• June 5-EOG Math
• June 6-EOG Makeups

Thank you in advance for all you have done to prepare our students. Please remember that all cell phones, beeping watches, computers, etc. should be OFF. The same applies for our students if they have them in backpacks.

Star 3 Teacher Leaders Represent Diggs-Latham!

Congratulations to Jennifer Hart,Suzanne Asbury, Alisha Taylor, Andrea Slusher, Amanda Gordon and Sidonna Brown.  They represented us very well at the final District Star 3 Meeting. They have done extensive and important work in their roles as Star 3 Leaders.  I challenge you all to think about our School Improvement Plan and come up with new or enhanced Star 3 Leader Positions. Congratulate your colleagues for a job well done:)

The Schorer Family at the District Spring PTA Meeting!

Thank you to the classes that have made thank you notes for the books donated to us by the children of the Home Church.  I will deliver any cards or pictures your class might have time to make before the last day of school.  We are so fortunate to have this family working for our school.

Fifth Graders Are Rewarded for Hard Work!

Who is that in the chicken suit? Could it be Mrs. Slusher? I believe it is.  5th graders were treated to dancing and pizza for completing the Reading Olmpiad!  I am very proud of them. Way to motivate your team Mrs. Slusher. A student challenged her to wear a chicken suit if they made their goal.  Cluck....Cluck!!!!

Kindergarten Screening..Great Success!Thank you to Barbie and all of our Faculty, Staff and volunteers who made this such a  GREAT success. 

I appreciate you all and everything you do to help our students succeed.  I know this is a very busy and important time as we strategically close down another great year. Please try to keep the students on track and engaged.

BUILDING OPEN THIS SATURDAY FROM 9:00-1:00

Many of you have asked to have the building open one Saturday.  The Friends of Diggs-Latham will be here this Saturday for an end of the year celebration with their families. I have agreed to come and open the building for them and those of you who want to come in.  Just let me know if you plan on being here. This could be an opportunity for you to earn makeup hours for those of you who need them.

Happy Birthday June Babies!              

• June 10th-Maeretha Hopson
• June 18th- Leslie Batten and Linda Wright
• June 21-Krystal Simmons
• June 24 Elena Guevara
• June 28-Christine Barger

Thank You May Lunch Committee! The food was awesome. We appreciate the committees hard work all year planning this well deserved and delicious meals.

The Friends of Diggs Latham would like to show their appreciation for all your hard work and will hold an Ice Cream Social for you on June 11th at 3:10. Room 200. How Sweet. Thank you so much Quilla and Friends:)

End of Year Social

I have reserved the Meadowlands Clubhouse for our End of the Year Get Together. The hours will be 3:30-5:30.  It takes about 15 minutes to drive to the clubhouse from school. You would take New #40E to the Clemmonsville Rd. Thomasville 109 exit. I will send more details out later.We will get the cost information out to you this week.  Right now we have about 30 people signed up. We will have a great time socializing and celebrating a wonderful year with wonderful people.  IF you have not signed up and want to, please do so by the close of work today, so I can make arrangements with Little Richards. I will ask what options they have for people who do not eat pork. Let me know if you fall into that category so we can be sure to accomodate you:)  We will also be saying good-bye to Ali Sechrist, Skye Dorsett and Allison Murray-Nikkel.  We will miss all of them dearly. They are and always will be a part of our Diggs-Latham family.  

T-SHIRTs-Remember Monday is the last day to order your t-shirt. $10.00  I would like for as many of us as possible to have them so we can wear them to the 50th Year Celebration. 

Thank you Arts Team  and 3/4/5 Teachers and Staff for the GREAT Spring Concert. The students were EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!

Please read my comment for you at the end of the blog:)

The Last Week of May - May 26-30

Field Day ..... A Great Success!

Students, Parents and Staff alike enjoyed great weather and a wonderful Field Day!  The clouds held off long enough for everyone to participate in a day of fun and games.  Thank you to Ross McNeil and his team for planning and implementing a successful event!  We are all very appreciative of  the volunteers who gave their time so generously.  I saw many instances of great sportsmanship.  I would also like to thank all of the subs we had in the building that pitched in and led classes through the stations.  Way to go TEAM!

Kindergarten Screening-Over Sixty Students Screened!

Kindergarten Screening took place two days last week. We had the opportunity to meet some adorable future students and their families.  The students had their pictures taken with our Diggs-Latham tiger, were screened and had a little time for play as we talked with families.  Can't wait til they become Diggs-Latham Tigers next year.  I would like to thank Barbie for facilitating the event and all of our faculty and staff who brought the event to fruition. We also had help from Connie Rogers and volunteers from the community. It took a village and everyone stepped up. Having the screening done early really helps us set up our classes for next year and will help us to meet the students where they are, academically and socially:) 

Safety

This week we will be conducting a lock-down, a fire drill and an Evacuation Drill. Please explain to students the importance and urgency of these drills as they are called throughout the week. This will be the first time we have conducted an evacuation drill. We will evacuate in an orderly fashion to the church parking lot next door.   We want to make it as straightforward as possible. We are planning to have all the students in the gym on Friday afternoon for the "I Can" celebration at 1:45. PLEASE BRING YOUR STUDENTS TO THE AUDITORIUM EARLIER AT 1:30 sharp.  We will call students on the loudspeaker beginning at 1:25. Please be ready to go. Once inside the gym, and seated, we will line up by grade levels, go out the side gym door, walk down the driveway to the sidewalk and then over to the church. WE WILL NOT GO DOWN THE HILL. We will line up in the church parking lot by classes. Please bring your rosters so we can count and account for all students. We will then walk back to the gym for the "I Can" Assembly.  In the future, the evacuation drill will be called randomly and we will follow a procedure in which classes leave the buildings and walk the sidewalk to the church. We do have the code and key for the church if we needed to be inside for safety purposes, in the future. Thank you to Pastor Wolfe.  Stress the importance of this drill.  We will also have a lock down this week in which Dr. Frazier and I will remove ourselves. A teacher will call the lock-down to the office and the office will proceed with the drill. There are occasions when Dr. Frazier and I are off campus at the same time, so it is essential that a lock-down can be successfully executed at any time. If you have any questions at all, please ask:)

What an Incredible Concert

Kudos to the Arts Team for the wonderful performances on Thursday Night.  Our musicians showed a lot of growth and talent and the 5th grade honors dance team once again showed how talented they are.  Mr. Powelson has taught both band and orchestra this year. This is not an easy feat but he has risen to the challenge. The kids were awesome.  Miss Stevenson handmade the costumes for the dancers. They have learned many dances this year and we are very proud of all of them.  Thanks to all the faculty and staff in this school, for making our students shine in many many ways!  

Teacher Working Conditions Survey

The results of the Teacher Working Conditions Survey have been posted. Once again, we will discuss these results at SIT, faculty meetings and in a small group setting. Please pull up the results at  NC teacher working conditions survey 2014.  You may google results. Please familiarize yourself with our results.

Congratulations to our Third Graders and their Teachers, Mr. Friel, Ms. Green and Mrs. Wright

Our third graders and their teachers are working so hard, all but eighteen have progressed through the Read to Achieve process. 

Week at a Glance:

• 5/26 Memorial Day-Please take a minute today to reflect on our serviceman and women past and present who make sacrifices for our country everyday.  We honor them this Memorial Day.
• 5/27 Cannon-Conference call at 1:00 and 3:15 Star 3 Leader EOY Presentations
• 5/28  Third Grade Testing/5th grade Guest Artist visit
• 5/30 Evacuation Drill and "I CAN" celebration 1:30.
• 6/2 and 6/3 Extend 2 ELA and Math/EOG Science 5th grade
• 6/4  EOG Reading
• 6/5  EOG Math
• 6/6 EOG Makeups
• 6/9-11 Remediation         Fifth Grade Skate Trips June 10 and 11.
• 6/10 Faculty Meeting
• 6/12 EOG Retest and Awards Assembly for k-4 at 1:00
• 6/13 Student's last day and 5th grade Celebration 9:30.
• 6/18 Celebration of 50 yrs WSFCS-Dr. Emory/10:30 Coliseum Wear your T-Shirt. If possible, we would like every faculty and staff member to have one.

Please be sure to follow-through with End of Year checklist:)

Spring into the Week of May 12-16th

Happy Mother's Day!!!  

I hope that you all have a wonderful Mother's Day. You are very special and deserve a day of recognition and appreciation. Enjoy your day:)

New Title I Schools Within Our District for Next Year!The district will serve schools down to the 50% poverty threshold, which adds the following schools to our family;

• Smith Farms
• Moore
• Kimmel Farm
• Paisley
• Brunson
• Glenn High
• Rural Hall
• Union Cross

Title I Summer School 

Title I will offer a summer enrichment and acceleration camp from July 14-July 31, (12 days, no Fridays). This summer camp will be designated for  current Title I 2nd graders (rising 3rd graders). Invited will also be current Title I 1st graders (rising 2nd graders) to the Title I summer camp. The summer camps will be offered at certain Free Lunch sites (TBD) from 8:00-3:00 pm, piggybacking on transportation already set up with Read to Achieve. Save the date fliers will be mailed to parents of Title I students within a couple of weeks.  It is my understanding that Title I will generate the lists of students invited to go but will hopefully consult us for input. 

ALL PDPs should be completed by this Friday, May 16th as Dr. Frazier and I will review your PDPs when we do your final Summative Evaluations. Your PEPs should also be completed and signed off on by parents. Enlist help from Home School Coordinator, Counselor and Social Worker if needed, to obtain signatures:) Be sure to be present at LTMs as we are also working on EVAAS Roster Verification. This needs to be completed ASAP.

 "I CAN" Can     

This ordinary can to the left will be transformed into a beautiful can which will include the signatures of our 3/4/5th graders on the lid.   We would like ALL of our students to think and brainstorm all of the things they CAN do. Write those things on a piece of paper (we will supply the I CAN papers) and add to a can. You can also

replicate the can by putting a small can you find and put it in your room. This is a motivational idea to encourage our students to list all the positive things they CAN do. After Field Day, we will have the 3/4/5 graders come through building B to be cheered on for the EOG by our pre-k to 2 kids!  More information to be given at Faculty Meeting.  Thank you Barbie for painting the can for us! We will also have a small "I Can-You Can" Rally from 1:45-2:20 on Friday May 30th. MARK YOUR CALENDARS. We would like the pep squad to perform a couple of cheers.

Family Fitness Night

Family Fitness Night was a huge success. Everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you Ross for a job well done. I would like to thank all of the teachers and staff who also came out and helped to make this night a huge family fitness success. We also thank Nancy Sutton our district PE Program Manager who came to visit and support DL.  Of course, all of our volunteers and community partners were awesome!!!!

Thank you Ms. Batten for an outstanding BOGO Book Fair! This was a huge undertaking. Great Success!!

End of Year Celebrations:

• Pre-K classes will hold their own celebration in their rooms.
• June 12-Awards for K-4 at 1:00
• June 13 @ 9:30 Fifth Grade Celebration and Reception

Upcoming Events:

• May 13-Faculty Meeting w/ packed Agenda, see you in your seats and ready to go at 3:15. I sent the agenda out last week so please print off and bring to meeting.
• May 14-Pre-K to Sci-Works
• May 16th-Kindergarten Field Trip
• 
  
• May 17th Kids Fun Run at Winston-Lake 8:00
• May 19th-We will have your End of the Year Check-list to you in your boxes.
• May 19th Kindergarten Screening TRAINING at 3:10
• May 20 and May 21 8-2 or (longer if needed)
• May 22-3/4/5 grade concert at 6:30
• May 23-Field Day
• May 26-No School
• May 27-SIT Meeting (WE need ALL members there)
• May 28th-Guest Artist
• May 30-Rain Date for Field Day and "I CAN" assembly at 1:45
• June 2-Extend 2 ELA
• June 3-Extend 2 Math and 5th Grade EOG SCIENCE
• June 4-EOG Reading 3/4/5
• June 5-EOG Math
• June 6-EOG Make-Ups
• Week of June 9th-RTA Testing 3rd Grade
• Remediation and Retesting all week
• The week of June 16 and on, we will work on class lists for next year/Getting Cumulative Folders in order. We will do this differently this year. We will also meet to work on scheduling for next year on the 23rd and 24th.

May 1-Dr. Frazier

May 7-Alisha Taylor

May 14-Abadesa Ochoa
May 18-Maria Lallave

May 20-Julissa Knight

May 23-Roberto Thimann

May 24-Jennifer Kennedy

A Week of Celebration...May 5th-May 9th

Election Day on Tuesday, May 6th

The Voting Machines will be delivered on Monday afternoon to the Toyota Literacy Room in Building B. Election Day is Tuesday. Voters will be entering through the side door of building B and will only be in that room. We will add cones to the hallway to make sure that  voters do not utilize any other part of the school. The Election Workers will be using staff bathrooms if necessary, voters will not. Please keep your eyes open and be vigilant if you see someone in a part of the building in which they do not belong. Alert the office immediately. As always, Look for badges. Talk to your students about the election. What a great real-world lesson.  FYI... We are in the process of having our security cameras installed. You might have noticed electricians working last week.

We will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Monday with a traveling celebration!!!  Thanks to Mrs. Ochoa and her team for organizing and implementing this great event! Our respect and recognition for all of our cultures is so important!

Teacher  and Staff Appreciation Cook-Out on Friday!

This week we will recognize you  for all your hard work and dedication.  Our teachers and all faculty members plus our cafeteria workers are the best! Mr. Cannon will be bringing the grill to cook hamburgers and hot dogs this Friday during your lunchtime.  Cheryl and I will serve you.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, chips, cake and more!  This is just a small token of the appreciation that we feel for all you do to make our school so special.  If you need a veggie burger, please let me know.

 "Honors Dance" to Perform Monday Night at PTA District Spring Council Dinner!

Our Honors Dance Students stole the show this weekend at the HS Showcase of Dance at Mt. Tabor.  They will also be dancing in front of at least 400 people Monday Night in Clemmons. Congratulations to Miss Stevenson and the girls.  They have been working so hard and deserve this recognition. They will be dancing to a selection from the Lion King. Please let them all know how proud we are of them.  This is also the event that Mr. Schorer and Home Moravian will be honored for their volunteerism.

This Week is also School Nutrition Employee Week (May 5-9)
Please have the children make pictures or cards if you have time and encourage them to thank our wonderful School Nutrition Workers. They are AWESOME and really care about our students! I will ask them to join us for our cookout on Friday:)  We appreciate their efforts everyday!

Buy One, Get One Book Fair This Week!

Ms. Batten has worked very hard to get the Book Fair set up and ready to go.  This takes a lot of time and effort. The Book Fair will be located in the room to the left of Room 200. Please give her your encouragement and cooperation as the Book Fair Kicks-Off.  I appreciate your understanding and professionalism as her schedule changes this week. We are a team!

Star 3 Leadership Positions for Next Year

As we fine tune our Comprehensive Needs Assessment, and work on our School Improvement Plan, it is time to start thinking about the Star 3 Leadership Positions for next year. With a focus on Early Literacy, Parental Involvement, Education and Engagement, Teacher Leadership, Operations and Math, there are a myriad of Leadership Positions that could be created.  I will ask Connie to send out the information on applying for a position for next year. Be Creative and target our school's needs. 

Field Day is fast approaching!  The date is May 23rd.  If you would like to plan your class picnics for this day, you certainly may.  Please be sure that if you will not be eating in the cafeteria for any reason between now and the end of school, you will need to let our Cafeteria Manager, Mrs. Hubbard know well in advance.  This includes not eating lunch because of Field Trips.  Ross will inform you of details for Field Day.

Family Fitness Night is Thursday, May 8th!

Family Fitness Night is this Thursday. It is sure to be a spectacular event. Ross has been working very hard to plan this evening. He has lots of community support and fabulous give-aways. Can't wait to see you all there and helping!  6:00-7:30

Instrument "Petting Zoo" A Big Success!

Our students were treated to a special event last Friday afternoon as volunteers taught them about all kinds of instruments.  Planned by our Music Corp Intern, Alaina, this was a huge success. The children were engaged and excited.  Just another great event at DLE.

OK, if you read all the way to here, I have a question for you that I would like you to answer in the comments section. Please respond to this question.....How can we continue to sustain our school's ability to have a shared vision?  A couple of sentences in response will do:)  Thank you!