Fall 2012 - Children's School at Sylvia Circle - Rock Hill School District
Fall 2012 - Children's School at Sylvia Circle - Rock Hill School District
Fall 2012 - Children's School at Sylvia Circle - Rock Hill School District
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The <strong>Circle</strong><br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
Quarterly Newsletter for Parents & Students<br />
Volume 11, Issue 1<br />
Inside this issue:<br />
Principal’s Message 2<br />
Inside Story 2<br />
Guidance/Media Center 3<br />
Art & Early Childhood 4<br />
New Faces <strong>at</strong> TCS 5<br />
Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions 6<br />
PTO 7<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> Festival Pictures 8<br />
Donuts for Dads 9<br />
Safe Routes to <strong>School</strong> 10<br />
Search for The Children’s<br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Circle</strong> and<br />
look for our “Children<br />
around the World” icon!<br />
During school year<br />
<strong>2012</strong>-2013, <strong>Rock</strong><br />
<strong>Hill</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> 3 is implementing<br />
a district-wide focus on a one-to-one<br />
computing initi<strong>at</strong>ive titled i<strong>Rock</strong>:<br />
Learning Anytime, Anywhere.<br />
The goal is to have a personal iPad<br />
or technology device in every student’s<br />
hand to use <strong>at</strong> home and <strong>at</strong><br />
school to:<br />
Instill wonder<br />
Promote critical thinking<br />
& Promote discovery<br />
Construct meaning<br />
Spark new insights<br />
Promote cre<strong>at</strong>ivity<br />
Customize learning<br />
At The Children’s <strong>School</strong>, students<br />
are using iPads in each classroom as<br />
a personal technology tool th<strong>at</strong> provides<br />
them with an opportunity to<br />
learn anytime, anywhere. Literally <strong>at</strong><br />
their fingertips, students are investig<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
and discovering Language &<br />
M<strong>at</strong>h, Science, and Cultures in other<br />
parts of the world through Apps selected<br />
by the Teacher.<br />
The <strong>District</strong> believes<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
Gold Standard<br />
device is the<br />
iPad, so if you<br />
are considering<br />
purchasing a<br />
technology device<br />
for your student, the iPad is recommended.<br />
Our <strong>District</strong> will continue<br />
to provide classroom technology tools<br />
for our students, but our hope will be<br />
for each student to have a personal<br />
device.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, visit:<br />
Special Ed Student utilizing<br />
technology to discover<br />
through use of an iPad<br />
http://irockanytimeanywhere.com<br />
If you would like to sign up to receive your newsletter via e-mail, please e-mail Mrs. Beth<br />
Harris <strong>at</strong> bnharris@rhmail.org
From our<br />
Mrs. Jacqueline Jones<br />
Page 2<br />
Unveiling of the<br />
new bike rack<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Walk to <strong>School</strong> Day<br />
“The human<br />
hand allows<br />
the minds to<br />
reveal itself.”<br />
-Maria<br />
Montessori<br />
Wow! The school year<br />
has gotten off<br />
to a gre<strong>at</strong> start and we<br />
have now settled into the routine of educ<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
your children. As I walk the halls daily, observe in<br />
the classrooms, <strong>at</strong>tend events and interact with<br />
students and staff, I am continually amazed by<br />
the quality of work th<strong>at</strong> is being done by students<br />
and faculty. The <strong>Children's</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Sylvia</strong> <strong>Circle</strong><br />
is a gre<strong>at</strong> place for students and adults who work<br />
with them. I am proud to be associ<strong>at</strong>ed with such<br />
a fine school!<br />
The Leadership Team has worked collabor<strong>at</strong>ively<br />
to review d<strong>at</strong>a to develop our <strong>School</strong> Improvement<br />
Plan. In the last few weeks, we have finalized<br />
our <strong>School</strong> Improvement Plan. This year we<br />
are focusing on 4 areas: Future Focus<br />
(integr<strong>at</strong>ing the use of the iPad to enhance instruction),<br />
Quality Work (closing the achievement<br />
gap among students), Nurturing Environment<br />
(implementing character educ<strong>at</strong>ion and enhancing<br />
school-wide procedures), and Shared Vision<br />
(maintaining a commitment to integr<strong>at</strong>e Montessori<br />
with fidelity).<br />
Walk to <strong>School</strong> Day on October 3rd was a huge<br />
success! Thank you to the many families and<br />
staff th<strong>at</strong> joined us for this Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Walk to<br />
<strong>School</strong> Day to promote pedestrian safety and a<br />
healthy lifestyle.<br />
We appreci<strong>at</strong>e the Parent-Teacher Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
(PTO) and their continued support and fundraising<br />
efforts. This year they have organized schoolwide<br />
t-shirts sales and iPad protective cover<br />
sales. On October 20th, we had a fabulous <strong>Fall</strong><br />
Festival filled with lots of family-fun activities and<br />
the we<strong>at</strong>her was perfect for the event. Please<br />
continue to support the PTO and their efforts to<br />
promote student achievement through fundraising.<br />
The <strong>School</strong> Improvement Council (SIC) has also<br />
been very active this school year. In conjunction<br />
with the <strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> Bicycle Club and Safe Routes to<br />
<strong>School</strong> they organized the unveiling of our new<br />
Bike Rack Sculpture. It was designed and cre<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
by a Winthrop University Art student from Finland,<br />
Anastasia Netrebine. Our new bike rack is proudly<br />
displayed next to the Upper Elementary playground.<br />
In the spring, the SIC will work with the<br />
staff to host a Family iPad Night. In the upcoming<br />
months, you will be receiving more details about<br />
this event. It will be a gre<strong>at</strong> opportunity for families<br />
to interact and see firsthand the impact of the<br />
iPad in the classroom.<br />
As we approach the end of the nine weeks, teachers<br />
are in the process of scheduling and conducting<br />
parent-teacher conferences. This is a gre<strong>at</strong><br />
opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and<br />
discuss individual student progress. We are striving<br />
for 100% face-to-face parent contact, so<br />
please make every effort to <strong>at</strong>tend your scheduled<br />
conference.<br />
As we are preparing for the upcoming Presidential<br />
Election, we will have an election <strong>at</strong> The <strong>Children's</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>at</strong> the end of November. In an effort to<br />
promote school pride and community, we will be<br />
voting for school colors and a school mascot. In<br />
the next few weeks, you will receive a letter requesting<br />
nomin<strong>at</strong>ions for school colors and a<br />
school mascot. Please return your nomin<strong>at</strong>ions by<br />
the deadline as we will compile inform<strong>at</strong>ion for the<br />
ballot. Our students will have a unique opportunity<br />
to vote using the same voting machines th<strong>at</strong><br />
are used for community elections. Stay tuned for<br />
more details!<br />
Its hard to believe, but we are already gearing up<br />
for our <strong>School</strong> of Choice applic<strong>at</strong>ion process. On<br />
Thursday, November 15th, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00<br />
p.m. <strong>at</strong> Sullivan Middle <strong>School</strong>, we will have a<br />
district <strong>School</strong> of Choice Fair Night. If you know<br />
any families th<strong>at</strong> are interested in finding out<br />
more about our wonderful school, please encourage<br />
them to <strong>at</strong>tend. In February we will have our<br />
<strong>School</strong> of Choice Night <strong>at</strong> The <strong>Children's</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
I look forward to working with each of you more<br />
and continuing on our current course together for<br />
a successful school year. Should you ever have<br />
any questions or need to speak with me, feel free<br />
to contact me via email <strong>at</strong> jgjones@rhmail.org or<br />
call the school <strong>at</strong> 803.981.1380.<br />
Jacqueline G. Jones, Principal
Page 3<br />
The COUNSELOR’s<br />
C o r n e r<br />
Mrs. Cash<br />
Parents,<br />
Welcome back to an exciting new<br />
year here <strong>at</strong> the Children’s <strong>School</strong>!<br />
We have had a gre<strong>at</strong> start! As the<br />
guidance counselor, I am enjoying<br />
meeting you and your amazing children!<br />
I am very proud to announce our<br />
new Student Council Members<br />
(fourth and fifth grade students):<br />
President: Hannah Benfield<br />
Vice President: Zevi Hefner-Gibson<br />
Secretary: Ella Claire Moody<br />
Parliamentarian: TJ Robertson<br />
Historian: Ashley King and Tobyas<br />
Baxter<br />
We will also be having Class Represent<strong>at</strong>ives<br />
<strong>at</strong> each student council<br />
meeting. These students are:<br />
Abby Phillips<br />
Elizabeth Valverde<br />
Kyla Eloi<br />
Carmen Jennings<br />
Robert Dacus<br />
Juniya Pendergrass<br />
Chyna Baldwin<br />
Aanyiah Rainey<br />
Javan Kehr<br />
Jeremiah Harper<br />
Robert Billings<br />
Daylin Fewell<br />
Ethan McCormick<br />
Devin Jones<br />
Character Traits th<strong>at</strong> are taught during Classroom Guidance:<br />
September: Acceptance<br />
October: Fairness<br />
November: Appreci<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
December: Compassion<br />
“The more th<strong>at</strong> you<br />
read, the more<br />
things you will<br />
From the Media Center<br />
Mrs. Charlotte<br />
know. The more th<strong>at</strong><br />
you learn, the more<br />
places you'll go.”<br />
― Dr. Seuss, I Can<br />
Read With My Eyes<br />
Shut!<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> Book Fair, Nov. 20-30, in the media center. Sponsored by<br />
Cardinal Lane Book Fairs of Charlotte. Volunteers are needed for all<br />
days. Please see Mrs. Charlotte if you can help.<br />
Tues., Nov 20 - 10am-2pm only —Special Preview sale for parents (or adult<br />
guests) only<br />
Mon., Nov. 26 - preview day for classes<br />
Tues - Fri. noon, Nov. 27-30 - buying days for students.<br />
AR Home Connect is the page the students can access from home th<strong>at</strong> contains the<br />
AR Book Finder, where you can see which books are available. There are over 300,000<br />
tests available to us! https://hosted299.renlearn.com/47933/HomeConnect
art<br />
Page 4<br />
It’s fall!! Hallelujah! We are having<br />
so much cre<strong>at</strong>ivity going on in<br />
the art room. Finger paint, w<strong>at</strong>ercolors,<br />
oil pastels, ink…do you get<br />
the picture (pun intended!)<br />
Please make sure your child has a<br />
cover up to put on for art days…or<br />
<strong>at</strong> least not wear their “good”<br />
clothes. Those are the kid’s<br />
words!<br />
For those new to our school, I’d<br />
like to tell you about our Dear Soldier<br />
campaign. Every year since<br />
9/11, our school has sent CARE<br />
packages to American troops in<br />
either Afghanistan or Iraq. Each<br />
child in the school draws a picture<br />
and /or makes a card. Our families<br />
send candy, chips and all sorts<br />
of tre<strong>at</strong>s. The Student Council,<br />
Mrs. Cash, Nurse Amanda, Mrs.<br />
Finley and I then place them in<br />
shoe boxes and mail to the Middle<br />
East right after Thanksgiving for<br />
Christmas delivery. Some of the<br />
items we have placed in the soldier’s<br />
boxes have found their way<br />
to village children. Together we<br />
make a difference in the lives of<br />
those who sacrifice so much for us.<br />
They are touched by the words of<br />
our children and the outpouring of<br />
support from our families. If you<br />
would like to contribute to our effort,<br />
please place the items in a<br />
bag with my name on it and I’ll<br />
make sure they make it into the<br />
CARE packages. The following are<br />
some ideas for items to send to<br />
me…please note we can’t send<br />
canned goods or homemade<br />
tre<strong>at</strong>s:<br />
Individual bags of chips, pretzels,<br />
Pringles, cheez-its, Slim Jims, any<br />
kind of candy, gum, mints, tic-tacs,<br />
puzzle books, paper, pens, Sports<br />
Illustr<strong>at</strong>ed magazines, small containers<br />
of Baby Wipes, Chap-Stick,<br />
b<strong>at</strong>teries, Pre-Paid Calling Cards<br />
(Intern<strong>at</strong>ional), Snickers Candy<br />
Bars are the favorite!<br />
Take care and please know it’s a<br />
true pleasure to work with your<br />
children.<br />
With Warm Regards,<br />
Laura Ashe<br />
Art Teacher<br />
Ms. Ashe<br />
Early Childhood<br />
“To c<strong>at</strong>ch the reader's <strong>at</strong>tention, place an interesting sentence or<br />
quote from the story here.”<br />
Our school year has<br />
gotten off to a gre<strong>at</strong><br />
start! We have been<br />
busy practicing procedures<br />
and the importance<br />
of rules. We<br />
are exploring our environment<br />
with our five<br />
senses and we have<br />
been practicing counting<br />
to 25. We have<br />
also been identifying<br />
and analyzing 2D and<br />
3D shapes. We enjoyed<br />
our field trip to<br />
Black's Farm with our<br />
K4 and K5 students as<br />
we learned about ani-<br />
mals and harvesting<br />
crops. Remember to<br />
fill out your monthly<br />
reading tree log.<br />
Mrs. Page and Mrs. Thompson’s class enjoying a hayride<br />
FARM FUN
New Faces <strong>at</strong> TCS Page<br />
5<br />
Ms. Celeste, Early Childhood Teacher<br />
I am the newest Early Childhood teacher. I was a<br />
substitute for Richland <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> One in Columbia,<br />
SC for five years and I only took positions in<br />
Montessori classrooms. I earned my Montessori Certific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in May of <strong>2012</strong>. I am an active volunteer. I<br />
feel th<strong>at</strong> I have found my place in the classroom. I<br />
was recruited from the volunteer mothers when my<br />
children were small. I love children in all shapes,<br />
sizes and descriptions.<br />
My two surviving sons are Christopher, 13 and Timothy,<br />
12. They are both in middle school. We are a<br />
musical family as they play many instruments. We<br />
have an active church life. Outside of the classroom I<br />
enjoy walking, cooking, reading, and scrapbooking.<br />
Cooking for teenaged boys is a must. Baking is a<br />
pleasure th<strong>at</strong> I like to share, because I should not e<strong>at</strong><br />
the entire b<strong>at</strong>ch of cookies. We are enjoying being<br />
included in the <strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> community. I get good tips<br />
from my students. Our family agrees th<strong>at</strong> we have<br />
not met any strangers since our move.<br />
Upcoming D<strong>at</strong>es to Remember:<br />
11/9—Muffins for Mom (7-7:45 am)<br />
11/12—Spirit Night @ Zaxby’s<br />
11/14—L<strong>at</strong>e Start Day<br />
11/15—<strong>School</strong> of Choice Fair<br />
(Sullivan Middle <strong>School</strong>)<br />
11/21-23—Thanksgiving Holidays<br />
11/28-30—4th Grade @ Camp Thunderbird<br />
12/4-6pm—Parent iPad Meeting and<br />
General PTO Meeting (South Pointe)<br />
12/4 6:30 pm—Holiday Program @<br />
South Pointe High <strong>School</strong><br />
12/20-1/2/13-Christmas Break<br />
Mrs. Elmore<br />
Lower El Assistant<br />
to Ms. Wilson<br />
Mrs. Robinson<br />
Assistant to<br />
Mrs. Gayton<br />
Mrs. Danise<br />
Exceptional<br />
Student Ed Assistant<br />
Mrs. Angie Elmore has lived in <strong>Rock</strong><br />
<strong>Hill</strong> her whole life! She married her husband,<br />
Ron, 26 years ago on Valentine’s<br />
Day. They have two sons, Josh (20) who<br />
<strong>at</strong>tends Emory University, and Jake (16),<br />
who <strong>at</strong>tends South Pointe High <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Mrs. Elmore enjoying bo<strong>at</strong>ing and fishing<br />
and riding around in her family’s ‘69 Camaro.<br />
Mrs. Elmore <strong>at</strong>tended Winthrop University,<br />
where she earned a Business Degree.<br />
She has spent the last 10 years in the <strong>Rock</strong><br />
<strong>Hill</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> as a Kindergarten Assistant<br />
<strong>at</strong> Richmond Drive Elementary<br />
<strong>School</strong>.<br />
Mrs. Melanie Robinson is excited<br />
about becoming a part of the staff <strong>at</strong> The<br />
Children’s <strong>School</strong>. She enjoys working<br />
with children and w<strong>at</strong>ching them learn.<br />
Mrs. Robinson has been married to her<br />
husband, Terry, for 29 years and they<br />
have three children, two daughters and<br />
one son. She enjoys event planning, c<strong>at</strong>ering,<br />
band competitions, and competitive<br />
cheerleading competitions. She also<br />
enjoys sports, due to her husband being<br />
an umpire and an official on the district<br />
and college level for four sports.<br />
Mrs. Robinson joins The Children’s<br />
<strong>School</strong> after being employed with <strong>Rock</strong><br />
<strong>Hill</strong> <strong>School</strong>s as a substitute and as a long<br />
term substitute.<br />
Mrs. Danise Simpson is a n<strong>at</strong>ive of<br />
<strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong>. She and her husband, Walter,<br />
have been married for 17 years. They<br />
have one daughter, Janaye, who is a senior<br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> High <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Prior to joining The Children’s <strong>School</strong>,<br />
Mrs. Simpson working for <strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong>s as a substitute for two years.<br />
Prior to th<strong>at</strong>, she worked for seven years<br />
with adults with disabilities.
Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
Page 6<br />
Mrs. W<strong>at</strong>ts' 4th and 5th grade GT<br />
students entered a poster contest<br />
sponsored by the York County Soil<br />
and W<strong>at</strong>er Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>District</strong><br />
with the theme "Soil to<br />
Spoon." Students discussed the role of soil to life on Earth and designed<br />
posters to illustr<strong>at</strong>e how vital soil is to all. Ashley King and Hannah<br />
Benfield were awarded Honorable Mention in this contest, Cole Bitting<br />
was awarded 2nd place and the overall winner was Courtney Stuart,<br />
who received a $25 Visa gift card and had her poster entered in the st<strong>at</strong>e<br />
contest. Congr<strong>at</strong>ul<strong>at</strong>ions to these students!<br />
Safety P<strong>at</strong>rol<br />
York County<br />
Soil and W<strong>at</strong>er<br />
Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Contest<br />
The following students<br />
have been selected<br />
as members<br />
of the<br />
Caption describing picture<br />
or graphic.<br />
2011-<strong>2012</strong> Elementary<br />
Honors Choir of<br />
<strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> <strong>School</strong>s:<br />
Kyla Eloi<br />
Jada Rouse<br />
Brianna Porter<br />
Ty’Jaiah McMullen<br />
KK<br />
Fire Safety Contest Winners<br />
Back Row (L to R)-Jade Gant, Sinclair Canty, C<strong>at</strong>herine Wellborn,<br />
Zevi Hefner-Gibson, AaNyiah Rainey, Robert<br />
Billings, Ty’Jaiah McMullen, E'Mari Jones.<br />
Kieralyn Walter<br />
5th Grade<br />
Jadyn Wright<br />
1st Grade<br />
Second Row (L to R)-Chyna Baldwin, Carmen Jennings, Avery<br />
Hart, Riley Forsythe, Kieralyn Walter, Abby Phillips, Mary Price<br />
Pitts, Chloe Edwards<br />
Front Row (L to R)-Dalton Smith, Cole Bitting, Jalen Harper,<br />
Hannah Benfield<br />
“Children must be taught how to<br />
think, not wh<strong>at</strong> to think.”<br />
― Margaret Mead
I hope you all had a wonderful summer break. We have<br />
many activities planned this year and I thank everyone<br />
th<strong>at</strong> has taken the time to help volunteer and be involved<br />
in not only your children’s success but the school also.<br />
Activities th<strong>at</strong> support our school:<br />
• <strong>Fall</strong> Festival<br />
• T-Shirt Sales<br />
• Invest In Your Child<br />
PTO Spotlight<br />
We held our <strong>Fall</strong> Festival this year in which we added some of the successful<br />
Bingo fundraising ideas and it was a gre<strong>at</strong> success. Thanks to all<br />
volunteers who helped with this and all other fall fundraisers.<br />
The PTO website is still up and running! Please visit our site <strong>at</strong><br />
www.thechildrensschoolpto.org. We’ve posted fundraising results, meeting<br />
minutes, financials reports, volunteer forms and other inform<strong>at</strong>ion on<br />
the site.<br />
Newly designed<br />
TCS Spirit T-Shirt<br />
Please mark your calendars for the Pumpkin Fun Run April 26, 2013.<br />
This is a fun time for parents and children alike. Last year amazed us<br />
with all the support and the fun th<strong>at</strong> the children had being able to run<br />
in the halls and not get in trouble. They loved it.<br />
If you’d like to volunteer to help, please see myself, a PTO board member<br />
or any faculty/staff.<br />
Thank you for your support of our children,<br />
Hope Craig<br />
PTO President<br />
Briarcliff767@yahoo.com<br />
www.thechildrensschoolpto.org<br />
Check your grocery items, clip those box tops, and help our school earn<br />
money. Every box top is important!! Remember, no out of d<strong>at</strong>e box<br />
tops.<br />
This cycle ended on October 22nd, and the class who g<strong>at</strong>hered the<br />
most, and turned them in on time, will win an ice-cream party!<br />
Keep clipping! We will have another contest in the Spring!
FUN<br />
FALL FESTIVAL<br />
iPad Raffle Winners
donuts for dads