THOMAS CROSSROADS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TIGER TALE

February 2012       

“Pawsitively” Speaking from the Principal

     During the week of August 29-September 2, 2011, second and fourth grade students will be participating in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) at school.  CogAT is given to Coweta County students in second and fourth grades.  Tests at each grade level are designed specifically for students at that age.  Students in second grade are not required to read anything to participate in CogAT as the test directions and questions are read aloud to students. 

     CogAT is a test that measures general thinking and problem solving skills that students have learned through in-school and out-of-school experiences.  It indicates how well students can use these skills to solve verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal problems.  Teachers can use the test results to help students learn more effectively and parents can use the results to gain an understanding of their child’s current reasoning abilities.  CogAT results are also commonly used to help screen students for participation in gifted and talented programs.

Please help your child perform his or her best during CogAT testing by maintaining a routine schedule of bedtimes, having breakfast, and keeping demanding after school activities to a minimum. 

     If you have any questions about the CogAT, please contact the school test coordinator, Dr. Julie Durrance, at 770-254-2751.

Welcome

     We would like to welcome the following to the TCE Family:

            Mrs. Joy Waller – Pre- Kindergarten Paraprofessional

            Mrs. Jill Morelock – Speech

Music Notes

     Chorus will start on Thursday, September 8.  Chorus students will report to the music room immediately after school.  Please pick up your chorus student at the car line at 3:30.   Students who attend ASP should report there first, then come to chorus, and then return once dismissed from chorus.

     Students have been learning about the beat rhythm and dynamics in music.  We have also learned a Greek children’s song, and learned about a Greek composer and some Greek instruments.

     A big favorite in Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd grade is Pete the Cat.   The authors of Pete the Cat will be at the Decatur Book Festival on Sunday, September 4 at 11 AM.   They will have a Pete the Cat parade, and read the books.   Please see the Decatur Book Festival website for more information.  http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/

Dr. Thomas

Music Teacher

Nurse’s Notebook

      A reminder, if your child has any medications they need to take daily or as needed at school, all medication must be stored in the clinic with instructions on how to give, amount, time, your child’s name and your signature.  If your child needs a nebulizer treatment, etc, it can all be done in the clinic. If your child has allergies that warrant an Epi-Pen and you have not sent one in yet PLEASE do.  Should your child have an anaphylaxis reaction I will be unable to give him/her the necessary life saving medical treatment.

        Coweta Heath Dept. has a program “Flu Mist Project” that will be here at Thomas Crossroads on Oct 13^th.  Information Packets will go home with your children Sept. 12 and must be completed and returned no later than Sept 16^th. Please be on the look out for this information.

     If you have are new to the school or have a Pre-k or Kindergarten student, please make sure you have all the immunization and Hearing, Dental and Vision forms turned in on time. If you have any questions, Please call the clinic 770-254-2751 ext. 212 and I will assist you.

Parents if your child requires a specific diet, lactose intolerance, allergy to certain food Please contact me as soon as possible.

     Family Fun Idea: The new theater on Fisher Dr has free movies for children on week-end mornings.   For more information please visit their website:  www. NCGmovies.com   

Nurse Liz, LPN

Media Matters

     The big news for September is our Grandpeople Celebration in conjunction with our Fall Book Fair, September 12-16!  Information letters and reservation forms are going home with students and must be returned to school by Tuesday, September 6^th.  We are looking forward to hosting our “Grandpeople” during the 2^nd week of September! 

     Keep collecting BOXTOPS!  We have already collected over $600 so far this year!  Boxtops are an important source of funding for library books.  We are holding “friendly” classroom competitions to encourage students to bring those Boxtops to school!

     Students are reading, reading, reading!  Our integrated “Passport to the World” program is off to a great start! September’s featured country is Egypt!

     We look forward to seeing lots of “grandpeople” at our luncheons in September!

Jennifer Welch

Media Specialist

Beta Business

 The Junior Beta Club will have an induction ceremony practice on September 20^th after school.  Please have transportation ready for pick up at 3:15.  Our Induction Ceremony will be Thursday, September 22^nd at 6:30pm.  This is a very nice but short program where the students will receive their certificates and Beta Club pins.  Our first Fund-raiser will be October 18-20^th when we ask each grade level to donate baked goods for our bake sale.

Mrs. Shirley Freeland

Beta Sponsor

PTO

     Thank you to everyone who came out to the first PTO meeting of the year during open house.  Your support in the PTO truly helps make your children’s school a better place. Be sure to check your children’s folders.  Information about t-shirt sales, spirit nights, and spirit days will be sent home soon.  Below is a list of upcoming events sponsored by the TCE PTO. Please place them on your calendar.  We look forward to seeing you there!

September 11- Stevie B’s Spirit Night (@Stevie B’s between 5PM-9PM)

September 13 – Chick-fil-A Spirit Night (At Thomas Crossroads Location between (5PM-7PM)

September 16– PTO Meeting 6PM (in school cafeteria)

September 16– PTO FUN NIGHT “Egypt” – Free Fun for the whole family! (in school cafeteria)

September 30– Egypt Hat Day $1 (bring $1 to school to wear a hat for the day!)

Beth Lyle

PTO President

Art’s Palette

  For the month of August, we have been studying the art & architecture of Ancient Greece.  Students colored the Greek flag and map and we located and marked Greece on our school map. We discovered that the capitol of Greece is Athens and many students pointed out that we have a city in Georgia by the same name!

     Students in grades 2 through 5 have created Grecian style vases using crayon, black oil pastel and then scratched their design onto the vases. In the upper grades, we talked about the three types of Greek columns: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian.  These styles are used on historic buildings such as the Parthenon, but some students recognized the styles because their own homes or buildings in our neighborhoods feature these styles. 

     Students in Kindergarten and 1^st grade made Greek worry beads known as Komboloi.  We talked about what a worry is and how the Greek people use the worry beads as a relaxation tool & how they can even do tricks with them!  The students had fun attempting to make up their own bead tricks!  Students also learned that the Olympics originated in Greece and made olive leaf head bands like the ones that were awarded to the winning Olympic athletes of long ago.

     A special thank you to the Milas family – I have shared your family’s Greek cookbook, spices and silk cloths with each of the art classes.  The students have enjoyed hearing about your family’s origins in the Greek island of Kalymnos.

     Next stop on our journey around the world is Egypt!  Students will be learning about the pyramids, hieroglyphics, cartouches and mummies.  I am looking forward to sharing art, architecture & culture from around the world.

Dawn Swansbrough

Art Teacher, K thru 5^th grades

 September Newsletter 2011