Mrs. Morris' Memoirs

May Parent Letter

May 2014

Dear Acworth Family,

When you receive this, your children will be in the midst of taking our CRCT tests.  We will let you know as soon as we have parent reports back and how they will be distributed.  We are excited to see our scores to see how our students are continuing to progress.  All of our teachers are extremely dedicated to increase student achievement for all Acworth Allstars.  We begin each morning by stating at the end of our Acworth News Show, “and remember, Acworth Allstars Always Achieve Academically”.

As we begin our plan for next school year, please put our Meet and Greet on your calendar for Friday, August 1, 2014 from 8:00-10:00 AM.  This is a time when our class lists will be posted and you and your child can come and meet his/her teacher.  Supply lists will be posted online as well as kept in the front office.

Acworth has been selected as “The School of The Month” for May for the Acworth Business Association.  We will receive a $300 monetary award and be recognized at the ABA luncheon on May 1.  We will use the money to help purchase materials needed for next year’s academic focus.  We will continue our work with math problem solving.  Additionally, we will have a school-wide emphasis on writing across the curriculum.  This aligns with our Common Core Standards and will be beneficial to every student. 

May is a very busy month with many events as follows:

May 1- Silver Pen Awards Ceremony, CRCT remediation begins for identified students.

May 2- School Council meeting at Acworth at 7:30 AM.

              SPRING FLING- 5:00-8:00, HAVE YOU SIGNED UP TO VOLUNTEER?  (contact Ms. Kerri Bell)

May 6- McCall Rising 2^nd grade parents meeting and tour

              Barber Parent Meeting – 6:00-7:00 PM @ Barber

May 8- Career Morning at Acworth- 8:00-10:30

May 9- Muffins for Moms- 7:15-7:45 AM

              FIELD DAY!

May 12- 5^th grade trip to Kenworth Park

May 14- 5^th grade trip to Barber

May 15- 2nd and 3^rd grade Awards Ceremony -8:00 AM

                 6:00- Art-O-Me Family Night

May16- FIELD DAY RAIN DATE (if needed)

May19- 4^th grade Awards Ceremony-8:00 AM

                Stevi B’s Night!

May 20 - 5^th grade Awards Ceremony- 8:00 AM

                Early Release Day- Dismissal at 12:30 PM

May 21- 5^th grade congratulatory walk at 12:00 PM

                Early Release Day- Dismissal at 12:30 PM

Whew!  It will all be over before we know it.  Once again, I want to tell you how honored I feel to have served as your principal for the past 3 years.  As I begin my next chapter in life, which entails moving back to Rocky Top to help with elderly parents and spend more time with grandchildren, I will take many precious memories with me.  Acworth is truly a special school in a special community.  Please take time to recognize all the good around you and cherish it every day!

As they say in the old Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

With fondest memories,

Debbie Morris

Principal

Acworth Elementary School

 

April Parent Letter

April 2014

Dear Acworth Families,

We are starting the beginning of our last quarter for the 2013-2014 school year.  It is important that we keep our momentum and motivation going until we reach the end in order for all students to reach the full potential.  Ways that you can help is to have them here at school on time!  A few minutes at the beginning of the day, especially if tardiness is a consistent problem, can add up and put a student at a significant disadvantage.  Thank you for doing your part in getting your student here on time and ready to learn!

Parents, I need your help with something.  Students ARE allowed to bring cell phones to school.  However, our local school policy dictates that phones be turned off and placed in the student’s back pack.  Phones may be used during personal or school-wide emergencies when a student is given permission by a teacher.  We are having a problem with students abusing this privilege and violating this policy.  Phones are being taken into restrooms, in the cafeteria and on the playground.  Pictures are being taken of students (unknowingly, and who have not granted permission) and they have subsequently been posted on social media sites.  Administration is visiting all intermediate classrooms to review the policy and have students sign “student contracts” that they are committing to abide by the policy.  If your child brings a cell phone to school, please discuss with them that phones CANNOT be used at school or on the bus at any time unless permission has been given by a teacher or their bus driver in the case of an emergency.  Also, please reiterate that the phone has to be turned off and stay in the back pack.  You will be contacted if your child violates this policy and a consequence will be given as defined in the Elementary Student Code of Conduct.  Thank you for your help.  It is much needed and appreciated. 

Please let me also remind you that beginning April 7, ASP will operate on a credit card or cash basis only.

We have many exciting events coming up in the next few weeks:

March 29-April 6- SPRING BREAK!  School is closed.

April 11- Sky Zone Family Night- Sponsored by PTA

April 15- Reach for the Stars Student Showcase (5:45-7:45)

April 17- PTA Meeting @ 6:30- Elections for officers next year (We still need a Vice President)

                 Title I Poetry Café begins immediate upon completion of the PTA meeting.

April 18- Spring Fling baskets due

April 23-April 30- CRCT administration for grades 3,4 and 5.

As we race to the finish line, let us also remember that our annual Spring Fling is May 2, 2014.  Please contact Ms. Kerri Bell, our Academic Coach at Acworth, if you are interested in volunteering for this event.  Now that I have asked for volunteers, let me leave you with this:

“Remember that you are needed.  There is at least one important work to be done that will not be done unless you do it.  – Charles Allen

Thank you for all that you do for us and I want to thank you in advance for all that you will do in the future!

 

Sincerely,

 

Debbie Morris

Principal

Acworth Elementary School

February Parent Letter

February 2014

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!  We visited with my youngest son, Staff Sgt. Nathan Morris, USMC, and his wife, Emme, who were anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child.  Right after the first of the year, on Jan. 5, our newest grandson was born.  He is Carthage Cole Morris.  His name is an Irish boy’s name that means “loving”. This new little life reminds me of starting fresh as we begin a New Year.

 We have many wonderful things to look forward to at school and anticipate an exciting rest of the year!  To recap a few:  Our book study for parents will continue to help parents learn the strategies that your children are learning in math, Star Lab will soon be visiting Acworth for our 4^th graders, 2^nd grade will be educated in Fire Safety, our Kindness Kick Off will help students learn about performing “Random Acts of Kindness” for others, Acworth will be honored on Feb. 6 at the Acworth Business Association as their School of the Month, PTA and PE Extravaganza will occur on Feb. 6, Feb. 7 will be a fantastic presentation with a visiting author for all classrooms, 5^th grade Market Day takes place on Feb. 11 and Jump Rope for Heart will occur on Feb. 28.  That is just for the month of Feb.  More exciting events will be previewed for March, April and May in future newsletters. 

We had a very competitive and successful Spelling Bee on Jan. 15.  Our alternate winner was Emily Hughey and our1st place winner was Will Laughman.  He will represent us at the Cobb County Spelling Bee at Kennesaw Mountain High School!  Good luck Will!

We also have a couple of new student groups at Acworth this year that are competing at county level.  They are our Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl and our Mathletes.  I want to personally thank Ms. Melanie Miller and Ms. Regina Harris for sponsoring The Reading Bowl and Ms. Cathy Jones and Ms. Kyla McRorie for sponsoring the Mathletes!

As the cold weather is upon us, please be ever mindful that if school is dismissed early or called off for the day, this news will appear on the Cobb County School District’s website and will be on all local news stations.  If an early dismissal occurs or schools are closed, ASP will not be in session.  Please also make note that our Feb. break is right around the corner!.  Students will not be in school Feb. 13-Feb. 18. 

I want to thank all of you for your many acts of kindness for the Daniel Family due to Marlon Daniel  Jr.’s passing.  The service was very sweet and a reminder of what a special little boy Marlon was.  Our Prevention Intervention Department came to school and visited every classroom to help students process the information and express their grief.  Children truly have a sympathetic, resilient, insightful spirit!

Until next month…….

 

Sincerely,

 

Debbie Morris

Principal

Acworth Elementary School

 

December/January Parent Letter

December/January 2013-2014

Dear Acworth Family,

It is hard to believe that ½ of our year is almost over.  We will continue to strive for excellence daily as we are blessed to serve your children each day!

I wanted to share with you that the Cobb County School District will be hosting a series of community conversations entitled Vision 2026/School System Flexibility Options.  The sessions that will be held closest to our Acworth community are on the following dates and at these locations:

Tuesday, Dec. 3 - Kennesaw Mountain High School @ 6:30 PM

Thursday, Dec. 5- Lassiter High School @ 6:30 PM

By June 30, 2015 (per OCGA §20-2-84.3) each local school system must submit written notification to operate as one of the following: Investing In Education Excellence School System (IE2) , Status Quo School System or as a Charter System.  These meetings will deliver detailed information regarding the three options.  It is the goal of the CCSD to engage our community in a deeper, more meaningful way to help direct the future of our schools, to seek flexibility from state regulations, to increase local control as a district and for individual schools, encourage innovation and creativity as stated in our Core Value and above all, improve student experiences and academic performance.  We hope many of you will attend to give our community a voice!

Parents, I need to ask your help with a couple of things.  First and foremost, please remember to sign in when entering the building.  This is a security feature that is in place to help ensure safety for all.  Secondly, when you visit your students for lunch, I want to thank you for remembering that no outside food is allowed.  We want to support our wonderful Acworth Café.  Thank you for your help!

We have some exciting events fast approaching:

Dec. 2- Our Giving Tree Begins (students are allowed to participate with parental permission)

Dec. 2-5- 5^th grade Human Growth and Development

Dec. 10- Our Acworth Chorus will be singing at the holiday luncheon for AMEC, one of our Partner’s in Ecuation.

Dec. 11- Preview for the Holiday Shop

Dec. 12 and 13- Holiday Shop open for business after school

Dec. 12- 6:30- PTA/Chorus performs Holiday Music

Dec. 14- Holiday Breakfast and Shop- 9:00-1:00- Pictures with Santa

Dec. 17- Giving Tree Ends

Dec. 18- 2^nd and 4^th grade Holiday parties

Dec. 19- 3^rd and 5^th grade Holiday parties

Dec. 20- 1:00- School-wide Holiday Sing-a-long

Please note that there will be no RSP Dec. 16-20

Dec.21-Jan.6-Winter Holidays

Jan. 7- First day back to school

Jan. 10- Awards Ceremonies for 1^st semester (you will receive an invitation if your child is receiving an award), report cards go home.

Jan. 15- 4^th and 5^th grade Spelling Bee @ 8:00 AM

Jan. 16- Title I Night- 6:00- “Integrating Literature into Math

Jan. 20- MLK Holiday- No School

It is my hope that all of you have a Blessed Holiday and a Happy New Year!

 Sincerely,

Debbie Morris

Principal

Acworth Elementary School

August Parent Letter

August 2013

Dear Acworth Family,

As a principal, I work through the summer and this building is big and quiet when teachers and students are not here!  So, we are glad to welcome all of you back for another great and exciting year at Acworth Elementary School.

I wanted to share our CRCT building results with you.  In Reading, 94% of our 3^rd-5^th graders met or exceeded standards in reading, 95% of them met or exceeded standards in ELA and 86% met or exceeded standards in math. Increasing student achievement in math will continue to be a focus for us.  We are going to integrate more problem-solving into our lessons with an emphasis on “EXEMPLARS”. This will also be the focus of our first quarter in the math lab with Ms. Myers.

We do have a few new people on staff.  Please join me in welcoming Ms. Catherine Bailey as our part time clerk in the office.  Additionally, Ms. Monique Franklin will be joining us as a special education paraprofessional.  Ms. Katie Giesler will be in a long term supply position for Ms. Mandy Gregory who had a baby girl in June and is now on leave for the year.  We also welcome Ms. Sara Baker who will be co-teaching 2^nd grade grade with Ms. Fuqua. Lastly, joining us a lunchroom monitor this year is Ms. Denean Godfrey. 

We also want to acknowledge Ms. Peggy Clay who is serving as our Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year.  Ms. Claire Mann, media paraprofessional, is serving as our Certified Employee of the Year.  These ladies do great work for us each and every day.  Our media center is always a “buzz” with students reading books, checking out books, doing research on the computer under the guidance of Ms. Clay, or enjoying a read aloud with their classmates.  If you have the opportunity, please congratulate them and thank them for all that they do for our children.

This year our theme is “Fitting It All Together”.  Last year, our teachers worked diligently to kick off the new Common Core standards.  This year, we will delve deeper and “fit it all together” for the good of our students.  It takes everyone working together and bringing their piece of the puzzle for it to become complete.  That is what our Acworth staff does.  As they say, it truly “does take a village” to serve each child in a unique, individual way that will afford them the opportunity to achieve their own maximum potential. 

Please stop by for lunch whenever you can and remember we also have many volunteer opportunities.  It is always great to see you!  Let me know if there is anything that I ever do to help.  I am only a phone call away.

 

Best regards,

 

Debbie Morris

Principal

Acworth Elementary School