This Week, from Dr. Cuthbert | October 24

Hello Stoddert Parents and Community,

I do hope you are keeping well or getting well, if you already have had some sort of Fall bug. Please do keep our nurse, Ms. Dupree, updated if you have specifics about what has caused your children to be absent from school. She is trying to keep records on the flu, strep infections, head lice, or anything that might need larger attention. Thanks to all of you who have already let us know about illnesses and to those who will. It is our objective, as it is yours, to keep as many healthy as possible, always employing safety precautions.

Many events are coming up and this is just a friendly reminder to those who might want to check calendars. The walk to benefit the homeless will be on Tuesday, October 27, at 2:00 p.m. The students will walk around the block. Their participation will help the homeless. Permission slips will be needed from you, so please send them back.

As you probably know by now, Thursday, October 22 is a half day for students and is designated as a records keeping day for teachers. The students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. Please have arrangements made for their care. At 11:00 on this morning, we will have our Fall Festival parade. Weather permitting, we will parade around the block. More information will be coming, if it has not already arrived by your reading of this message. Students may wear their costumes to school, but all props, accessories, etc. will be added for the parade. It should be a fun time!

Friday, October 30, is a professional development day for our teachers (no school for students). They will receive more training on their evaluation system, IMPACT. This system measures the elements of effective teaching in the classroom. During the afternoon session, they will work with a writing consultant, Dr. Melissa Landa, who will give a workshop entitled “Rigorous and Accelerated Writing Instruction: Strategies for Engaging All Children.”

A heads up for the parents of our 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-graders: the second administration of DBAS will be given November 3 – 5, 2009. It is a benchmark measure to see if progress has been made from the first administration. The results will be shared with parents, and teachers will use the data to inform instruction.

Please feel free to share any ideas or concerns with me at any time.

Dr. Marjorie Cuthbert