Accomplishments

The May-June edition of the Ribbit Report is the final one for the 2007-08 school year. I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the accomplishments of our school family as we come to the end of our fourth year.

Valerie Everett, our wonderful art teacher, was chosen by her peers as our Teacher of the Year. She joined other nominees from around the county and represents the best of our teaching profession. We are very proud of her! All of the nominees will be recognized at the TOY banquet on May 15 as we focus on the important role of good teachers in the lives of our children.

Mr. Joe Briscoe received the TA of the Year nomination from his peers at Turner Creek. We are fortunate to have teacher assistants of such high skill and quality. The TAOY banquet will be on May 1 and we will be there to celebrate Joe and the valuable support role of teacher assistants in education!

Kate Boone, K teacher on track 1, earned her certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process. This is a year long process that involves videotaping lessons, reflecting on teaching practices, testing and more. Mandy Lockhart, Twanna Hancock, and Faithe Williams submitted their portfolios for review this spring as part of the NBPTS process. North Carolina has more teachers who have received this recognition than any other state in the nation. Kate joins TCE teachers Ann Barksdale, Trish Brown, Laura Cherry, Kari Glenn, Denise Heeks, Becky Meekins, Stephanie Powell and Rhonda Riggins who previously received their national board certification. We are proud of the high standards they represent as teachers.

We received three grants from the Wake Education Partnership this year to help us focus on K-5 literacy instruction at TCE. Karen Berryman, Trish Brown, Michelle McDaniel, Beth Cutrer and Denise Ricks co-authored these grants. Teachers have been involved in book studies and staff development in literacy instruction. Our teachers see themselves as lifelong learners in their profession, studying research and best practices for student success.

The shade structure was installed on the 2-5 playground this spring and the children are already enjoying it. This joint effort between the PTA, contributions by our school family, and community support made this possible. While we are on the subject of PTA, we wish to thank the PTA board for their efforts on behalf of the students at TCE. We also want to thank our other parents and community volunteers for your contributions of time, expertise, donations, and support for our students over the past year. We hosted a “Volunteers Drive Instruction” luncheon to honor our volunteers. We are blessed to have so many volunteers who help in many ways.

At the Wake County Board of Education meeting on May 6, Jessica Wu was recognized as our Spotlight Student. Jessica represents the wonderful students that attend our school. In addition to our spotlight student, we also acknowledge the contributions and involvement of students through our student council, chorus, chess club, yearbook, safety patrol, energy patrol, PAL’s, and more. Our students are the best! We also acknowledge the parents and staff members who have supported these opportunities for students.

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also know that this time is bittersweet. We are sending our 5th graders off to middle school. This is a great group of students-leaders in many ways. We have enjoyed seeing them grow and develop over their time here.

For those of you who started here four years ago, thank you for taking a chance on a new school and for some a “new” calendar. For those who were reassigned this past year, thank you for supporting us through the transition as well. This year, we blended families from Baucom, Highcroft, Olive Chapel, Green Hope, Farmington Woods, and Salem elementary schools to create the tree frog family. They joined those from Apex, Cary, Adams, and more, bringing expertise and experiences that continue to shape our school. Thank you for being a part of the TCE school family. I am sure as new students join us this year from Farmington Woods, we will embrace them into our school of learners.

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National Volunteer Week 2008

As Sally Koch said, "Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day." This quote came to mind as I sat down to write this month's article.

In April, my thoughts immediately turn to volun-teers! National Volunteer Week 2008 runs from April 27 - May 3. Last year's theme was "Inspire by Example" and I believe it is still relevant today! National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Since then, every U.S. President has signed a proclamation promoting the special week. At Turner Creek, we want to take time during the month of April to celebrate and thank our many volunteers for their service to our students, staff, and school community.

Every person who helps a child with homework, sends in items for a special class project, shelves books in the media center, chaperones a field trip, works a station at Field Day, runs the copier, helps with fundraising, produces this newsletter, serves on committees, and more, is a valued volunteer. We have grandparents, parents, local high school students, and businesses who serve in some way every day to benefit our students. You are helping our school be a caring and learning place for students. We want to thank you for the many small and large ways you make a difference for our school family by your service.

Service to others is a lifelong value we want to nurture in our children. So, we have volunteer opportunities for students which include safety patrol, energy patrol, PALs, book buddies, morning news team, buddies for new students, media helpers, tour guides, and more. Over the holiday weekend, we had an Eagle Scout make and install 4 benches on the back playground. These benches will provide teachers with a place to sit and spread out as they supervise students at recess. Children may also use them as a place to rest and talk with friends. What a great outward example of the character traits of kindness and service to others! (I am even more proud since this Eagle Scout started his school career as a K student at Olive Chapel and is currently a junior at Apex High!)

A person once said, "Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they are priceless." Our volunteers are priceless to us and our students! We can't monetarily acknowledge our volunteers, but we can still let you know we appreciate your service to our school. To let you know how much we appreciate your time, talents, and service, we want to invite all volunteers to a luncheon during our field days, April 9th and April 23rd so we can thank you personally for your service to our school family. Invitations will be sent out to all, but we want you to mark your calendars and join us if you can.

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Doodling

Have you ever been in a meeting or talking on the phone and caught yourself doodling on a piece of paper? I have! Sometimes doodling keeps my mind active and actually helps me concentrate. However, there are certain places and times where doodling may get you in trouble (like taking notes in a principal's meeting or during a test).

Well, fear no more! Google has opened up an acceptable avenue for budding doodlers! Doodle 4 Google is a national contest for students who would like to create a doodle for Google’s home page. In addition to the doodle, students must write a supporting 50 word statement about their doodle that begins "What if...?" The original doodler for Google, Dennis Hwang, suggests you think about the future and how you would like it to differ from the present as you write your statement.

All of the rules for the contest may be found by typing "Doodle for Google" in the search box on the Google homepage. The deadline for getting your entry to the office at Turner Creek is April 1, 2008. I will submit the top 6 school entries by the April 12 deadline. Doodles must be pre-sented on a white, landscape sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch paper. They can be done in pencil, crayons, felt tip pen or paint, or generated by the com-puter using design software. Designs must be original work - no clip art. There are examples of doodles on the website to spark your imagina-tion. So get doodling!

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Preparing for Next Year

Welcome to February! Winter has finally arrived! Here are a few timely reminders for upcoming events. Kindergarten registration, for any rising K students not already registered at TCE, will be Thursday, February 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you know of any neighbors who need to register their K student, please help us spread the word. Parents need to bring a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, their immunization records to date, a copy of an electric or utility bill and lease agreement or closing statement as proof of residence.

Also, the magnet application period for WCPSS families is February 11th through the 29th. The application can only be accessed online; there are no paper copies of the form. Applications will not be available before February 11th. ALL rising sixth grade students who want a year round calendar seat, must apply during this application window. If you do not have access to a computer, please come to the school or go to the public library to use one.

Parents have asked about requests for track changes. There will be a letter sent in March telling parents how to request a track change. Due to space limitations, we have very little room to grant track change requests. If the current student assignment plan goes into effect, we are slated to receive 84 additional students from Farmington Woods Elementary School. We are also slated to receive a modular pod to accommodate additional growth from our base neighborhoods.

One last thank you goes out to Linda DeFrancesco, Rich Shulmistra, and Keith Schellenberg for overseeing our Chess Clubs on Wednesday and Friday mornings. We still welcome additional parent volunteers to help monitor students during this time. No training is necessary, but a willing spirit. If you can volunteer to help, please join us at 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria on one or both days. Our students thank you for your gift of time!

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Inclement weather

As December and January approach, our thoughts turn to holidays and cooler weather. It is time to plan with your child what to do in case of schools closings or delays due to the inclement weather.

When it is necessary to close schools, radio and TV stations will be notified by the Superintendent’s office not later than 6:00 a.m. for full-day closings or late openings. We will also put a message on the school phone, (919) 363-1391, regarding closings or delays. If we are closed, we will make up the day on a Saturday, to be determined by the school system. We will send written notification home regarding the make up day, as well as, use the phone messenger system.

If school is delayed, the buses will operate, but on the delayed schedule. If school is delayed an hour, students may not arrive on campus before 9:45 a.m. instead of the normal 8:45 a.m. time. If school is delayed 2 hours, the arrival time will be 10:45 a.m. The YMCA before school program will operate on the same delayed schedule as the school (1 hour = 8:00, 2 hours = 9:00).

In case of early dismissal, please make sure your child, and their teacher, knows how s/he is to go home. Are they to ride the bus or will you pick them up in carpool? If school is dismissed early for the day, the YMCA will not operate. We have a limited number of phone lines into the building. We cannot let children call out to make arrangements, and need to be supervising dismissal rather than fielding calls about a change in plans. Please plan ahead.

To help with this conversation, we have included a tear off strip on the bottom of the third page. Please complete this and return it to school as soon as possible so we can be aware of your plans regarding inclement weather delays or early closings. Thank you for planning ahead!

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November already.....

As I write this article, it is hard to believe November and the holidays are just around the corner. With that in mind, a pause for thanks is in order!

We just completed a successful Book Fair! Thanks to the media center staff, Book Fair coordinators, Dawn Soltes and Kari Frederick and volunteer cashiers. The total profits have not been calculated, but we will be able to add to our book collection in the media center because of your support.

Our Fall Festival was another great success! Organizers Amy Oathout, Jeri Hasund, Julie Lillard, Kim Holmes, Hala Issa, Terri Piasecki, Tracie Griffin, Karyn Wolf, Jessica Shaffer, Beckley Harris, Gwen Barnes, Julie Bruckstein, April Parker, Melissa Dodds, Key Club student volunteers from Green Hope High School, along with many other members of our school family, were responsible for this amazing FUN-raising event. Many business partners such as Lowe’s Foods, Art for You, Chick-fil-A, Snip-its, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston, Jelly Beans, Charm and Hammer, Jump!Zone and Vision Martial Arts sponsored activities to keep the costs low. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to run fair booth activities, donated general store items, prepared goodies for the cake walk or bake sale, or helped to sell t-shirts, tickets and more. Congratulations to Mr. Wallace who won (lost?) the Kiss the Mystery animal event for being a great sport!

Thanks too, for the support of the Student Council’s Buddy Walk initiative. We collected money for the Triangle Down Syndrome Network, raised students’ awareness of the abilities of people with Down Syndrome, and were treated to a concert with Chris Burke, actor and musician who told us all to believe in ourselves. What a great message! Thanks for your support and involvement this year!

Please join us on November 13th at 6:30 p.m. for our next general PTA meeting as we elect our representatives for the School Improvement Plan committee and conduct other business for our school.

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Carpool Safety

Usually my article is focused on a topic that is upbeat and/or informative. This article is different, but one that warrants some attention as we try to maintain a safe and orderly campus. I am concerned about carpool safety for children and staff members. As parents, we have all waited to cross a street and had a child step out into traffic. Our hearts pound as we reach for our child – hoping the oncoming car stops in time. Here are some safety reminders for carpool:

S – SLOW DOWN in the carpool lane. You can’t always see around curves or parked cars. An injury to a child or staff member is not worth the few seconds saved by going too fast.

A – ALWAYS load or unload children at the red planters (unless directed by an adult on duty to do otherwise). It is not safe for students to be released in the parking lot to walk between parked cars.

F – FOCUS your attention on what is going on around you. Please hang up the cell phone, watch in front of you, and keep your eyes open for children or adults who may step out into the road.

E – EXERCISE caution when pulling away after loading or unloading children. Don’t pull too close to the planters. Look to your left before pulling away from the loading area.

T – TAKE 5 seconds to hang up your carpool number for the staff member who is taking numbers – especially in the rain or heat!

Y – YES, safety is everyone’s job! Thanks for doing your part!

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School Improvement Plan

As I write this article, track 1 has almost finished their first nine weeks of school! The students have settled in and lots of teaching and learning is going on inside classrooms at TCE. Our first PTA meetings, tissue teas, open houses, school pictures and more have already occurred with more important events to come.

In the last newsletter, I mentioned that our school would be involved in writing a new School Improvement Plan. Each school must develop a plan every three years that addresses the areas of academic achievement (reading, writing, and math); healthy students in safe, orderly, and caring schools; and family, community, and business support. We will spend several meetings this year studying data and processes to develop our plan. The commitment will be several hours per month from November – March to study the data, gather input, and develop the plan.

The SIP team is made up of parent and staff representatives. State law requires that parents be elected to the SIP and will be representative of the school population. At this time, we would like to accept nominations for parent representatives and vote on these reps at our next PTA meeting. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please contact me at jhargrove@wcpss.net or call the school at 363-1391.

Remember:

Please remember to wait in the carpool line to pick up your child rather than walking in to get them. It speeds the process when we can load cars and don’t have to stop to pull children out of line. The carpool line is long, but this way everyone is treated fairly as they wait to pick up their children.

Special Thanks:

Thanks to parents and the PTA for providing a wonderful luncheon on our early release day, August 16. It is so nice for the staff to be able to eat at school and get started quickly on our staff development activities.

Thanks for making sure your children arrive at school on time. We have had fewer tardies this year. We appreciate your commitment to helping your child get settled for the school day in a more relaxed way by being on time for school.

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Welcome to the 2007-2008 School Year

Greetings! Welcome to TCE and the 2007-08 school year! I’ll start with some thank you’s. Thanks to the PTA and volunteers who provided our wonderful back to school breakfast, assisted with t-shirt and agenda sales, supervised at lunch for our K students at the beginning of the year. Thanks to the staff and students for their enthusiasm and positive attitudes towards teaching and learning.

There is a volunteer opportunity that I’d like to spotlight. Last year, we began a chess club run by parent volunteers. The organizers were reassigned so I am looking for someone to coordinate Chess Club. We have access to a chess master to help teach strategy once a month, but also need volunteers who know the game to help teach the students. We need additional volunteers to help supervise students in the cafeteria from 8:45 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. as they play. If you are interested in assisting with chess club, please send in a note via your child’s teacher.

Please visit the Turner Creek website for a copy of the student handbook and other information. We want to be good stewards of resources so we use the website a lot. We will send newsletters and other information home via the youngest or only child in each family. We look forward to a successful school year and appreciate your support.

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Reflecting on 2006-2007

The May/June edition of The Ribbit Report is the final one for the 2006-07 school year. I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the accomplishments of our school family as we come to the end of our third year.

Denise Heeks, a fourth grade teacher at TCE, was chosen by her peers as our Teacher of the Year. She joined other nominees from around the county and represents the best of our teaching profession. We are very proud of her! All of the nominees will be recognized at the TOY banquet on May 17 as we focus on the important role of good teachers in the lives of our children.

Kim Hefelfinger received the TA of the Year nomination from her peers at Turner Creek. She is one of ten finalists for the Wake County TA of the Year award. The banquet will be held on May 14, and we will be there to cheer her as the winner is announced. Kim is also a finalist for the Wake County PTA Council Teacher Assistant of the Year.

We had three teachers, Sara Self, Becky Martin and Denise Heeks, earn certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process. This is a year-long process that involves videotaping lessons, reflecting on teaching practices, testing and more. North Carolina has more teachers who have received this recognition than any other state in the nation. Sara, Becky and Denise join TCE teachers Ann Barksdale, Trish Brown, Laura Cherry, Kari Glenn, Becky Meekins, Stephanie Powell and Rhonda Riggins who previously received their national board certification. We have others who are in the process and we are proud of the high standards they represent as teachers.

The Ribbit Report was nominated for a Wake County PTA Council Award in the area of communications. We are proud of this tool to keep parents informed of school-wide events. Many thanks to Janice Lewine for designing and editing The Ribbit Report and to Cindy Thibault for her expertise as the VP of Communications. While we are on the subject of PTA, we wish to thank the PTA board for their efforts on behalf of the students at TCE. We also want to thank our other parent and community volunteers for your contributions of time, expertise, donations, and support for our students over the past year.

The shade structure was installed on the K-1 playground this spring and the children are already enjoying it. This joint effort between the PTA, contributions by our school family, the Dermatology Association for their grant, and community support made this possible. We will be dedicating this structure on May 22 at the PTA meeting.

At the Wake County Board of Education meeting on May 7, Kenneth Morgan from Mrs. Martin's fifth grade class was recognized as our Spotlight Student for the tremendous improvement he has made over the years both as a student and as a positive school citizen. He represents the wonderful students who attend our school. In addition to our spotlight student, we also acknowledge the contributions and involvement of students through our student council, chorus, chess club, yearbook, safety patrol, energy patrol, PALs, and more. Our students are the best!

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also know that this time is bittersweet. We are sending our 5th graders off to middle school in a few weeks. This is a great group of students, leaders in many ways. We have enjoyed seeing them grow and develop and have enjoyed seeing them grow over their time here. In addition, many wonderful parent volunteers, PTA board members and great students will be leaving us for new schools based on the reassignment plan for 2007-08.

For those of you who started here three years ago, thank you for taking a chance on a new school and for some a "new" calendar. For those who were reassigned, thank you for supporting us through the transition as well. We blended families from Morrisville, Olive Chapel, Apex, Baucom, Adams, Holly Springs, and Cary elementary schools to create the tree frog family. Some families had been at their previous schools for many years and brought expertise and experiences that helped to shape our school. Thank you for being a part of the TCE school family and good luck in the future.

A few last items of note:

Since track 4 has returned, we have had several students wear "heelies" to school. Heelies are not allowed in school for safety reasons. We have had two broken arms due to students wearing these shoes/skates to school. Thanks for your help to keep students safe.

Lunch accounts: If students have lunch money left in their account at the end of the year and will remain at TCE for 2007-08, their money will stay in the account and will be available on the first day of school. For students who will be reassigned, any money left in their account will roll over to their new school. If you have any questions, please contact the TCE cafeteria.

(Hot off the press: When I wrote this letter, Judge Manning had not made a ruling on the conversion of mandatory year-round schools. He has since ruled against the Wake County Board of Education, declaring that there can be no mandatory year-round schools -- only voluntary year-round schools. We will let you know how this affects us as we get more information on the procedures to be followed as a result of this ruling. However, I still wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for a great 2006-07 school year.)

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Our volunteers are priceless

As Sally Koch said, "Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day." This quote came to mind as I sat down to write this month's article. I have often been asked, "What will you do when you retire?" (Do NOT worry, this is NOT an announcement of my retirement - that is some years away!) My first response is that I want to become a "professional volunteer!" I want to continue to volunteer with Special Olympics North Carolina, Appalachia Service Project, and work in a local school to assist students and teachers. Serving others is one reason I chose a "helping profession" as my life's work.

In April, my thoughts immediately turn to volunteers. National Volunteer Week 2007, which runs from April 15-21, has "Inspire by Example" as this year's theme. National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Since then, every U.S. President has signed a proclamation promoting the special week. At Turner Creek, we want to take time during the month of April to celebrate and thank our many volunteers for their service to our students, staff, and school community.

Every person who helps a child with homework, sends in items for a special class project, shelves books in the media center, chaperones a field trip, works a station at Field Day (volunteers needed both days!), runs the copier, helps with fundraising, produces this newsletter and the PTA website, serves on committees, and more is a valued volunteer. We have grandparents, parents, local high school students, and businesses who serve in some way every day to benefit our students. You are helping our school be a caring and learning place for students. We want to thank you for the many small and large ways you make a difference for our school family by your service.

Service to others is a lifelong value we want to nurture in our children. So, we have volunteer opportunities for students which include safety patrol, energy patrol, PALs, book buddies, morning news team, buddies for new students, media helpers, tour guides, pet helpers, classroom jobs and more. We want our children to know that you are never too old or young to help others. We want to build the character traits of kindness and service to others in our students, for they are our future.

A person once said, "Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they are priceless." Our volunteers are priceless to us and our students! We can't monetarily compensate our volunteers, but we still appreciate your service to our school. To let you know how much we value your time, talents, and service, we want to invite our volunteers to a luncheon during our Field Days on April 11 and April 24 from 11:30a.m. to 1 p.m. in the art room so we can thank you personally for your service to our school family. Invitations will be sent out to all, but we want you to mark your calendar and join us if you can.

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2007-08 student assignment plan update

Greetings! I can't believe that track 1 is finishing their third nine-week period on Monday! Only one more to go and the school year will be complete.

On February 6, the Wake County Board of Education approved the 2007-08 student assignment plan. The plan moves more than 10,000 students and involves opening 19 more multitrack year-round elementary schools. Three new middle schools will open on a year-round schedule as well.

As you recall from previous articles, these changes will affect Turner Creek in a big way. Students, who are currently in grades K-2 at Turner Creek, will be assigned back to their base schools if those schools are converting to the year-round calendar. Some new base nodes have been assigned to Turner Creek, including parts of Abbington, Walden Creek, all of Crockett's Ridge and Beckett Crossing. We will continue to serve as the year-round option for students who attend Apex Elementary.

Rising 4th and 5th graders may choose to grandfather back to TCE or their converting school. Transfer forms must be completed between May 15 and June 1 for students who are grandfathering. If a student remains at TCE under the grandfathering provision, parents must provide transportation to and from school each day. If a parent wants to have a K-2 sibling assigned to TCE to remain with their sibling who is grandfathering, they must also complete a transfer form. These forms are color-coded every year and come out with the May 15 student assignment strips.

In the past, rising 6th grade students who wanted to stay on a year-round calendar indicated on their letter of intent that they wanted to continue in the year-round program. However, this year, all rising 6th grade students who want a middle school seat on a year-round calendar, must apply for a seat.

Everyone knows that there is an emotional component surrounding reassignment. In some schools, volunteerism drops off, donations for programs dwindle, and there is a hesitancy to commit to serve students and families through the PTA and other means. At the February 13th PTA meeting, a nominating committee was elected. The committee members are gathering information on parents who might be willing to assist in serving in leadership positions on the board. Meanwhile, schools receiving students from TCE based on reassignment are also looking for PTA officers and committee chairpersons. The goal of PTA is to be a voice for all students. Please consider serving in some role within the school community. Thanks to all of the parents who have volunteered in some way this year!

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"Hodge podge" of Information for February

Welcome to February! In addition to Valentine's Day, here is a "hodge-podge" of important information to note for our school family. Kindergarten registration for all schools (except for current year rounds) occurred on February 1. We appreciate all the families who registered their incoming K students in January. If anyone in your neighborhood has not registered, please encourage them to do so.

The Wake County Board of Education is supposed to vote on the Student Assignment plan for 2007-08 on February 6. All year-round schools will be hosting an Open House for application students and others being reassigned on February 15. One session will be at 10:00am, and the other session will be at 6:30pm. All rising sixth grade students whose year-round option is Lufkin Middle School are encouraged to attend Lufkin's Open House sessions on February 15 as well. Since so many schools are slated to convert, ALL rising sixth grade students who want a year-round calendar must apply for a seat. Applications MUST BE completed online, from home or from school. The application window is February 12-28, 2007. Watch Friday folders for information about track change requests and other items of interest.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, there will be a General PTA meeting at Turner Creek. One item on the agenda is to elect a nominating committee. This committee will be comprised of five people to put together a slate of PTA officers for next year. Please consider serving on this committee or volunteering to serve our school family with the PTA. The shade structure for the K-1 playground has arrived and the contractors will be installing the canopy shortly. We look forward to enjoying this addition to the playground soon.

With the change in temperature, children need to dress warmly for outside play. Remember to write their name in all clothing so we can return lost items to the students. Also, please make sure your child's teacher knows how s/he is to go home in case we dismiss school early, due to bad weather. Remember that TV channels 3, 13, 14, and 17 carry information regarding school delays and closings, as do many radio stations. Wake County covers so many square miles that the roads can be clear in one area of the county and icy in another area. If school is delayed, buses will run on the same delay schedule. Usually, days missed due to inclement weather in year-round schools will be made up on a Saturday. However, if school is cancelled after buses have begun their routes, the day counts and no make up day is required.

Many thanks to Dee and Clif Deanhardt for getting our Chess Club up and running. We also appreciate parents who have stayed to help monitor students during Chess Club. The K-2 students meet on Wednesday mornings at 8:45am. Students in grades 3-5 meet on Friday mornings at the same time. Dr. Jack Berry will begin working with students who are interested in learning chess strategy during the first Tuesday of each month. His first session will be on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 8:45am. Dr. Berry's sessions are designed for students who have learned the basics about chess and are interested in learning the strategy behind the moves. The format will be lecture and demonstration; students will not play during these sessions.

On a final note, safety is of primary concern. We had our first lockdown drill on January 17 and will have another one later this year. The students and staff handled the situation well and we feel prepared in case of an emergency of this type. On a smaller, but no less important item, students should not wear "heelies" in school. Several students have broken an arm after a fall from their heelies. Thanks for helping us to keep students safe on campus.

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New Year's resolutions

As one of the first things in the New Year, I would like to say thank you for the many kindnesses and warm thoughts shown to me during the recent passing of my father. I am blessed to work with such a caring school family. Next, I would like to say welcome to the second semester of the 2006-07 school year! With a New Year comes resolutions and new changes, so I'd like to focus on a few in this article.

On December 8, a draft proposal of the school reassignment plan was posted on the school system's website to solicit public comment. The proposal was pulled after ten days and school system staff revised the draft which they will present to the Wake County Board of Education this month. There will be a series of public hearings for parents to speak about the draft proposal later in January. We know this is an emotional issue for families on both sides of the year-round issue. We all need to make sure that teaching and learning do not get lost in these emotions. We appreciate your efforts to help the children focus on their work rather than the reassignment issues.

We will register kindergarten siblings, regardless of their school assignment, on Jan.18 for tracks 1, 2 and 3 and on Jan. 23 for track 4. The hours will be 9:30am - 3:00pm and you will need to bring the following documents: one proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement, settlement statement on your home), the child's social security card, immunization record, and certified copy of their birth certificate. Children must be 5 years old on or before October 16 to attend school during the 2007-08 school year. Once the plan is finalized, we will forward the K folders to the child's assigned school for the upcoming year. Tours and open houses will be held later in the year.

On another note, we have always had a crisis management plan including monthly fire drills, yearly tornado drills, and plans in case of an emergency evacuation or other crisis. This year the school system security office, in conjunction with local law enforcement, decided that we would have emergency lockdown drills held during the school day twice per year. Prior to this, the staff was informed of what to do in a lockdown situation, but we have never had a drill during the school day. We will notify parents of the drill the day before it happens. We will talk to the children ahead of time, so they can understand what is taking place. Please know that safety is a priority for our children and help them understand this drill is designed to keep them safe just like a fire drill.

One final "new year's resolution" would be to ensure that children arrive to school on time, do not check out early, and attend school regularly. We continue to have many tardies which negatively impact instruction for all. When children are tardy, their day begins with anxiety. For children who are present, their day begins with repeated instruction or time spent waiting for those who are tardy to get ready. When children are checked out early, their instruction is cut short. For children who have literacy block in the afternoon (reading and writing) they miss valuable instructional time. We know that doctor's appointments can't be helped. However, please make a commitment to your child's education by having them at school regularly, on time and have them stay for the entire day. Thanks for your support.

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Thank You and enjoy this holiday season

As I write this article, I am surrounded by lists of things that need to be done as we end this semester and approach the holiday season. Third graders have been testing, the Kindergarten Holiday Factory will soon start up, we have only a few more weeks until the semester ends, and so much more. There are goodies to bake, presents to wrap, social events to attend, family and friends to visit, and the list goes on. Before I tackle those things, I want to thank everyone for making my job the best one in town.

To the staff: Thank you for your concern for and expertise with children. Thanks for the educational experiences you provide for your students everyday. Learning is a life-long process and you are helping motivate students to become life-long learners. Keep it up!

To the parents: Thanks for your support in so many ways – by organizing and attending the book fair, attending PTA meetings and conferences, for supporting your children in chorus, participating in Staff Appreciation activities, and for taking enough of an interest in your child’s education to ask questions and share ideas. You, along with the teachers, are a valuable resource to help our school family grow and learn. Stay involved!

To the students: Thanks for your questions, ideas, stories, hugs, and perspective – for you keep us all on our toes. We need to remember to look at things from your point of view to keep us excited about life and learning. Keep being yourselves!

Slow down this holiday season and spend time with your family. January will be here before you know it and this time to share will be gone. Grab some hot chocolate and cookies, and enjoy your holiday break with each other!

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October was a busy Month

As I sit to write this article, so many things have happened over the past few weeks and many things will be coming up between now and the end of the semester. Here's an update and preview for those of you who are interested.

First, we had the exciting, and scary, experience of being a shelter during the Apex chemical plant explosion. It began with a call in the middle of the night, telling me our school would be opening as a shelter. I raced to TCE to find our front doors open (by John Ballard, area facilities manager) and evacuees already arriving. Among the first to arrive was a TCE parent, Susan Darby. Susan's neighborhood was not evacuated, but she was seated near the cafeteria, answering questions and giving directions. Soon after, Kate Boone, Carolyn Jones and Joe Briscoe came to school with great ideas and helping hands. Rooms were quickly turned into sleeping quarters, coffee was made, and folks settled in for the night. Around 4:30 a.m., Vonda Gilliam, cafeteria manager, arrived and began to prepare a hot breakfast, and later a hot lunch, for our guests. Joy Brumbelow, cafeteria assistant manager, and Stanley Farrar, custodian, arrived to assist as well. We beat the Red Cross to the scene by several hours and stayed until all folks had found other shelter or moved to Green Hope High School later that day.

We just finished a successful Book Fair! Thanks to the media center staff, Kathy Thompson and Anne Geer, and parent volunteer Book Fair coordinators, Janet McGrath and Dee Deanhardt. The total profits have not been calculated, but we will be able to add to our book collection in the media center because of your support.

Our Fall Festival was another great success! Organizers Amy Oathout, Jeri Hasund, Hala Issa, Karyn Wolf, Chris Clayton, Jacqui Bunner, Missy Laster, and volunteer coordinators Tracie Griffin and Kristie Davis, along with many other members of the school family, were responsible for this successful event. This year, many business partners such as Lowe's Foods, BB&T, Curves, Milham Chiropractic practice, Carolina Dog Training, Carolina Sportsplex, and Art for You sponsored many new activities to keep the costs low for such an amazing FUNraising event. Thanks to the other volunteers who helped to run fair booth activities, prepare goodies for the cake walk and bake sale, or helped to sell t-shirts or our first edition of the TCE Cookbook.

On a personal note, many thanks to all of you for your well wishes on my being named a Principal of the Year finalist and also during my recent ankle surgery and recovery. I was out of school for a week or so to have some debris and scar tissue removed from an old injury, coming back a few days before the Fall Festival. It is comforting to know that "business as usual" continued and I appreciate the staff, students, parents, and school community support that makes that happen on a daily basis. It is truly an honor to work with, and for, such committed folks. (I'm continuing to climb out of a mountain of email, so donÕt despair yet! Thanks for your patience!)

There are many upcoming events as we roll through the rest of November and into December. Our Chess Club is beginning, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving feasts, Human Growth and Development (for 5th graders), the installation of the shade structure and more will happen before the end of the semester for all in December. Remember to take time for family and friends, and to reflect on the events and people that matter to you most.

The Bond Referendum results are not known as I write this article. However, there are a few important dates to remember: Mid-to-late November, forms for "intention to continue" for magnet and YR application students will go home; information on K siblings; and, initial preferences for grandfathering of rising 4th and 5th graders will be obtained. On December 4, a draft Growth Management Plan is to be posted with an opportunity for community comments during December. Tentatively, the Growth Management Plan will be presented to the Board of Education on January 9, with public hearings to follow. More to come...

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Grading standards for WCPSS

Congratulations to Jacqui Bunner and Hala Issa for their work on a grant for our shade structures. We received an $8,000 grant towards the purchase of the shade structure for the K-1 playground. Coupled with the monies raised through the Food for Shade nights and other fundraising efforts, this shade structure will be a reality by December 2006. We met with the contractor and school system project manager on September 25 to begin the installation process. We are excited that our children will benefit from a shady place on the playground! We will continue to work on the funds needed for the back playground shade structure.

On another note, we have just completed the first nine weeks for all tracks so one-fourth of the year is gone. Time really does fly on a year round schedule! Since the first report cards have gone home, it is always helpful to review the grading standards for WCPSS.

The school system has been using a standards-based grading system when reporting student progress for a number of years. The standards-based report card was developed to align with state laws and policies such as the NC Student Accountability Standards and the WCPSS promotion policy. Many other states have moved to a similar grading system for elementary school students. The purpose for the report card is to inform parents about a studentÕs performance on grade level standards. Students are assessed on the objectives for each quarter in reading, writing, and math based on the NC Standard Course of Study. Social Studies, Science, and special area classes are also based on the NCSCOS.

Students receive a grade of 1-4 in each content area each quarter. Separate grades (1-3) are given for work habits and conduct. Semester grades are given in Art, Music, and PE to provide special area teachers with the time they need to assess each studentÕs work. The student performance level is determined with quarterly objectives and assessment data. Work habits and conduct grades are separate from the student's content proficiency.

The performance standards are defined below:
Level 4 - Extends targeted grade level standards: represents the student exceeds grade level expectations set by the state and that a student will be successful in the next grade or quarter and whose curriculum may be enriched. "Since I can do/get this, I can figure out new things."
Level 3* - Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards with evidence of applications: represents the student meeting the grade level expectations set by the state with evidence of application and that a student has the necessary skills and concepts to be successful and confident at the next grade or quarter. (Only used on report cards.) "I get it and can use it well."
Level 3 - Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards: represents the student meeting the grade level expectations set by the state and indicates that a student has the necessary skills to be successful in the next grade or quarter. "I get it! I can do it well/consistently."
Level 2 - Inconsistent and needs support to meet targeted grade level standards: indicates that the students has not yet mastered the grade level expectations and indicates that a student does not have the skills and concepts to be successful in the next grade or quarter. "I almost get it, but sometimes I need help."
Level 1 - Insufficient performance of targeted grade level standards with support: indicates the students has not yet mastered grade level expectations set by the state and that a students does not have the necessary skills and concepts to be successful in the next grade or quarter. "I don't get it yet. I need help."

If a student is receiving support services through special programs, ALP, ESL, speech, and so on, a progress report is provided quarterly as well. These progress reports are included with the report card. The most important part of the report card are the comments. Teachers use this section to let parents know specific examples of what their child is doing well and what areas could use some practice/assistance. Read the comments carefully to understand more about your child's progress.

Be aware that curriculum content and expectations change from quarter to quarter and grade level to grade level. The requirements do not stay the same as children progress. Just because a child's report card showed a "drop" in grades (from 4 to 3), the content standards and expectations have increased. Remember that students scoring a level 3 or higher are showing proficiency in their work. Be encouraging to your child and praise his/her efforts and progress. If you have questions, please contact your child's teacher. Many of them have already been scheduling their bi-annual conferences. Remember to re-read the conference tips for parents from the September newsletter. Thanks for your support of your child and his/her teacher.

NOTE: Report cards are sent home at the end of each semester for K students. First grade students do not get a written report card first quarter, but do for the last three quarters of the year. Report cards are sent quarterly for students in grades 2-5. Report cards for track 1 students go home on the last day of the quarter (track out day). Report cards for students on tracks 2, 3 and 4 go home on the last day of the quarter (track out day) for track 4.

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Year-round conversions

Last Monday evening, there was a public hearing about the proposed conversion of schools to a multi-track year-round calendar for the 2007-08 school year. The school board is set to vote on conversions and name affected schools at their meeting on September 5, 2006.

At this point, the growth in Wake County is driving the proposal to convert schools to a yearround calendar. In addition, school system personnel have been asked by the school board to identify some middle schools that could be converted. The office of growth and planning has looked at the effect on all schools if conversions happen. They know how many students are in each year-round school and which schools they would attend. They know how many base students are in each school and the affected nodes. They know how many students attend magnet schools as well and what the capacity is at each school. Not all school facilities have the capacity to be converted. Some smaller schools do not have at least four sections at each grade level - and three classrooms - to allow a conversion. School board members have this and other pertinent information to help them make their decisions about conversions.

Traditional calendar parents may be taking sides on the issue of conversions: for or against. For parents of students in year round schools, the questions and concerns about conversions are different. The questions our parents have center on how the implementation of these conversions will affect our school family. Will I have to go back to my base school? Will I get to keep my track? How will transfers work? Since my child was reassigned this year, will he/she be reassigned for 2007-08? How will grandfathering work?

The school board has to make decisions on conversions before they can address policy and procedural changes, however, both are happening simultaneously. A strategic planning committee is collecting information from departments and principals about changes in policy and procedures that will have to be addressed with the addition of up to 19 more multitrack year-round elementary schools. This committee will make recommendations to the school board as they look at the policy changes that will need to occur with the addition of more base year-round schools. If you have specific questions, please feel free to share these via email, letters or phone calls with me or our school board members.

On another note, we have almost completed the first nine weeks of school for track 1. I'd like to say thanks to all staff, parents, and the students for a successful start to the new school year. A Grandparents' Breakfast is coming up on Sept. 15, and plans are in the works for our third annual Fall Festival on Oct. 28. Parent-teacher conferences are underway for some tracks and interims go home this week. Remember that kindergarten and first grade students do not get written report cards (progress reports) the first nine weeks of school. Report cards for students in grades 2-5 will go home on September 8 for track 1 and on September 29 for students on tracks 2, 3 and 4. Look for information about Chess Club to come home in early October for tracks 1, 2 and 3. We look forward to this new before-school activity. If you can assist any morning between 8:00 - 8:45, please send me a note or email.

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Welcome to the 2006-07 school year

Welcome to the 2006-07 school year! Everyone is excited about the possibilities that come with a new school year and new families. The staff is working diligently to provide a great learning environment for our students and we appreciate the parental support in so many ways. Mark your calendars for our Open House on July 25 at 6:45pm for tracks 1, 2, and 3 and on August 15 for track 4. We will begin in the classrooms rather than the multi-purpose room, so please make a note of this change.

Speaking of changes, there are a few policy changes that I wanted to make sure you knew. The first is a school decision. Since we are a year-round school, looking to provide some relief from the sun, we are encouraging students to bring a hat to wear outside. Hats are not to be worn inside the building, but we hope students will bring one to keep in their cubbies to wear outside for sun protection. A baseball cap with a protective bill or a bucket hat is acceptable, but any hat that provides protection is welcome. Please remember to write your child's name along the brim as you mark their coats and jackets.

Also, as childhood obesity is a growing concern locally and nationally, the Wake County school board has adopted a policy regarding nutritious foods served in schools. Schools are not to serve foods during the school day nor have fundraising activities during the school day that sell items that have limited nutritional value to students. Foods that have limited nutritional value are defined as artificially sweetened foods with less than 5% of the RDI (Referenced Daily Intake) of eight specified nutrients per serving. Some examples of these foods include soft drinks, water ices unless they have fruit or fruit juices, chewing gum, hard candies, gummies or jellies, marshmallow candies, cotton candy, candy coated popcorn, licorice, and fondant.

We have always tried to promote healthy snacks and healthy eating at school. Snacks that provide little nutritional value may provide kids a spurt of energy, but that sugary/starchy snack causes students to be more lethargic when the effects wear off. Please encourage your child to bring healthy snacks to school such as fruit, pretzels, graham crackers, yogurt, granola bars and so on rather than cookies, chips and gummy bears. These provide a nutritious boost and help develop long term healthy eating habits. Students may have a cookie or chips in their lunchbox if you choose to send them since they will also be eating a sandwich or other healthy foods. Also, for birthday celebrations, you may send in a cookie or cupcake for the whole class to have at lunch.

We have a growing number of students coming to school with food allergies. We have students with allergies to berries, nuts, peanut butter, chocolate and fruits, so we need to be sensitive to individual needs. Community snacks are a great management strategy, but products may contain allergens that can trigger a reaction. We will suspend the use of community snacks in the classroom and ask parents to provide a nutritious snack for their own child based on their needs.

Thanks for helping to reinforce healthy eating and sun safety for a lifetime by complying with these new changes. As always, if you have any concerns or kudos, please contact us. We look forward to a great school year!

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Awards and Celebrations

In May, not only did we recognize our volunteers, but across Wake County there are celebrations to honor the Wake County Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year. Celebrations were held to recognize and celebrate the wonderful job these outstanding professionals do each day. At TCE, we also celebrated and honored our own candidates for these awards.

Kelly Zolper is the Teacher of the Year for Turner Creek for 2005-06. She was nominated by her peers for this award. Kelly currently teaches in our CCII classroom. She works with students who are in grades 3-5 and learn differently. Her daughters, Ashlynn and Madison, are students at Turner Creek and her family also includes her husband Bill. She taught prior to being a stay-at-home mom and returned to teaching last year. Teaching in a multi-age, multi-grade classroom has its challenges and rewards. Mrs. Zolper is a great example of the best at TCE and her nomination speaks volumes about how she is viewed by her colleagues.

Our Teacher Assistant of the Year for 2005-06 is Sarah Snelling. Sarah works on track 1 in Mrs. Byrd’s and Mrs. Zolper’s classrooms. She graduated with a degree in Political Science. After being a TA for a few months, she decided to go back to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Special Education. She will student teach in the spring and we are very proud that her peers chose her as their representative for this award. In addition, Kathy Hazel, Erin Phillips and Heather Stone are also pursuing teaching degrees and all of them will student teach next year. In this time of teacher shortages, it is nice to “grow your own.” We are excited to see them finish their programs and can’t wait until they can join our staff as teachers.

In addition to these adult awards, we celebrated our Spotlight Student in May. Crystal Fink, a fifth grade student in Ms. MacLachlan’s class, was chosen to represent the best of the students in our school. Crystal was honored at the monthly Board of Education meeting, receiving a plaque and certificate for this achievement. Crystal was chosen for her perseverance in her school work and her kindness toward others.

We also bid a fond farewell to Jane Kaman as she retires from teaching after 31.5 years. Mrs. Kaman taught for a number of years in Chatham County before coming to Turner Creek last year. She has a love for children and a dedication to their success. We wish her well as she retires, for she has touched many students and made their future brighter. She has supported her colleagues and contributed to their success as well.

In addition to the Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year, we are honored to have dedicated teachers who represent over 763 years of service to children. We have nine teachers who have achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification and several more who are pursuing this certification now. We have teachers who serve as mentors to beginning teachers and teachers who serve as coaches to help us improve as teachers. We have a dedicated staff of teacher assistants, specialists, and support staff who provide additional hands, eyes, and ears to support our student body and families.

Thank you for the privilege of working with you and your child(ren). It does indeed take a village to raise responsible, caring citizens for the future. See you at Meet the Teacher on May 31 for track 1, June 27 for tracks 2 and 3, and June 28 for track 4. We look forward to another great year!

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National Volunteer Week (cont)

When trying to decide a focus for this article, I remembered that National Volunteer Week is April 23-29. Originally signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1974, National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate the success of volunteers and the impact they make in their communities. Since that time, every U.S. president has signed a proclamation in support of this special week.

When parents visit the school, one of the things they ask about is if they will have volunteer opportunities here. My response is always that we couldn’t do all we do without them. Volunteers are a vital part of the school community and we appreciate all that they do.

We have students from Apex High School that volunteer through their PEPI and PEER programs or through their Key Club connections. We have parent volunteers who help with centers and special classroom activities. We have 4th and 5th grade students who volunteer through the PALS program to work with special needs students at TCE. We have parent volunteers who work with PTA in elected offices or serve on committees. We have parents and grandparents who volunteer in the Media Center, assist with matting art projects, man the school store and sell spiritwear, or volunteer at home making costumes or classroom materials.

Karen Bisi and her committee of volunteers also held a successful Frogapalooza on March 25 (see photos on page 3). Jacqui Bunner has worked tirelessly to set up Food for Shade opportunities, and she organized a fun-filled Campus Beautification Day on April 1. Our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfasts last month honored our many parents who have given selflessly during the past year. I could go on about the wonderful volunteers at TCE and the hours given to support the school community. We are enormously grateful for the support we receive.

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National Volunteer Week

When trying to decide a focus for this article, I remembered that National Volunteer Week is April 23-29. Originally signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1974, National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate the success of volunteers and the impact they make in their communities. Since that time, every U.S. president has signed a proclamation in support of this special week.

When parents visit the school, one of the things they ask about is if they will have volunteer opportunities here. My response is always that we couldn’t do all we do without them. Volunteers are a vital part of the school community and we appreciate all that they do. We have students from Apex High School that volunteer through their PEPI and PEER programs or through their Key Club connections. We have parent volunteers who help with centers and special classroom activities. We have 4th and 5th grade students who volunteer through the PALS program to work with special needs students at TCE. We have parent volunteers who work with PTA in elected offices or serve on committees. We have parents and grandparents who volunteer in the Media Center, assist with matting art projects, man the school store and sell spiritwear, or volunteer at home making costumes or classroom materials. Karen Bisi and her committee of volunteers also held a successful Frogapalooza on Saturday, March 25. Jacqui Bunner has worked tirelessly to set up Food for Shade opportunities and campus beautification, including an opportunity this Saturday, April 1. I could go on about the wonderful volunteers at TCE and the hours given to support the school community. We are grateful for the support we receive.

We will be having a Volunteer Reception on Field Days this year. We would like to invite all of our volunteers and recognize their efforts on behalf of the staff, faculty and students. The breakfast reception will be held beginning at 8:00 a.m. on April 11 for tracks 1 and 3 and at 8:00 a.m. on April 25 for tracks 2 and 4. Please stop by and let us thank you for your time and commitment to our students and school.

We will have new opportunities coming next year including OM (Odyssey of the Mind), Jump Rope Club and Chess Club. We would like to offer these opportunities during the school day during an activity period. We are looking to train volunteers to assist. If you are available, we will be sending information out later this spring.

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Professional Collaboration initiative

Turner Creek is one of eight schools in Wake County that will be hosting superintendents, teachers, school board members and central office staff from school systems around the country this month. The focus of their visit is on using technology to support teaching and learning. We will also spotlight the professional collaboration model that allows us to positively impact student learning and teachers’ professional growth.

Our initiative focuses on technology as a valuable tool for academic instruction and as an efficient vehicle for gathering, storing and using data to support student learning. Turner Creek is a leader in the use of the eMARC system of data management. All teachers at Turner Creek use the web-based report cards and enter data electronically using handheld devices or PCs. By managing data electronically, teachers are able to create focused instructional groups, generate reports for parents and use online resources to plan instruction. WCPSS plans to implement this process in all schools in the future. Turner Creek is at the forefront of that technological direction.

The Professional Collaboration initiative is the first phase in our implementation of a Professional Learning Community based on the work of Rick and Rebecca Dufour. Through the coaching model, team teaching and focused collaborative planning, we improve teachers’ knowledge and pedagogical skills that we know to be essential factors for student success. These initiatives have an impact on the day-to-day instructional program for students.

As a result of the Professional Collaboration initiative, all classrooms at Turner Creek are implementing a Literacy Block consisting of Readers’ Workshop, Writers’ Workshop and Word Study. Students at Turner Creek are guaranteed balanced literacy instruction supported by all the school’s teaching professionals. In addition, through collaboration with technology and media, students are engaged in integrated units of study involving research in content areas. Grade levels work together so that there is a noticeable lack of teaching in isolation at Turner Creek.

We are proud to be chosen as one of the few sites these professionals will visit. We believe that the “behind the scenes” work with technology and collaboration results in a rich instructional program for children and support for teachers. Our efforts in these areas support our beliefs about using best practices, and seeking to improve so that all students can learn. These initiatives have created a climate of collaboration to insure academic achievement for all.

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