MONTEREY RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Message sent - 1/12/2009
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of
possibilities.
~Terry Josephson
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
February 2-6 is Staff Appreciation week. I love this week because it is a
time that is specifically carved out to say thanks to our teachers and staff
for the work they do each and every day. I believe deeply that teaching is
the core of social change, and there is nothing more central to a student's
success at school than the impact of a teacher. I hope you will take some
time over the next few weeks and reflect upon the critical role your child’s
teacher plays in helping shape the future of our society. I look forward to
you joining me during Staff Appreciation Week in taking a moment to
celebrate your child’s teacher and letting them know how highly you think of
them and how they are positively impacting your child.
LEVELED READING BOOKS
I am thrilled to announce that we have added 4,300 leveled reading books to
our primary classrooms. A key component in our literacy program is the use
of guided reading which uses small group instruction and developmentally
appropriate books, called leveled readers, to build up our students’
literacy skills. Leveled reading books are to a teacher what
a hammer is to a carpenter. Simply put, having books at the right level can
open the world to our students and we plan on making sure that happens.
MAPs TESTING
MAPs testing continues this week. The debut of our new computer lab has been
fabulous. It has made organizing the schedule much easier. In addition, we
are currently developing a schedule to efficiently use both labs and ensure
all classrooms have access to the lab weekly once MAPs testing is over.
THE COUNT DOWN TO GREEN OK PACKETS CONTINUES
Don’t forget that beginning the first week in February our OK packets will
be sent electronically. Last week we sent home a form in our OK packet for
anyone who wanted to request a paper copy. We will continue to do so over
the next few weeks. Once we make the switch we will send you a ConnectEd
email each Wednesday with a link to
where the packet will be available in a PDF format. The feedback we have
received has been very supportive of our efforts to go green. Thank you!
LIBRARY
Our library will reopen this week. A big thank you is owed to our librarian,
Mrs. Sellers, and all the volunteers who answered the call to help. All of
our new books are on shelves and ready for our students to check out. Happy
reading!
COMPASS LEARNING
We will begin the next round of our before and after school Compass Learning
(CL) enrichment/intervention program this Monday. This session will run for
five weeks from January 12th - February 13th. Confirmation and reminder
letters were sent home last week. If your child is participating please make
sure that she/he is on time for each session. To ensure that all students
get home safely please pick your child up at the computer lab.
NO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 19th and 20th
Just a reminder that there will be no school on Monday, January 19th in
observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and on Tuesday, January 20th as our
staff will be involved in a professional growth day.
ACTIVE PARENTING OF TEENS CLASS
The next series of parenting of teens class begins in just two weeks on
Thursday, January 22nd. This series is excellent for anyone who is parenting
or working with a teenager or preteen. Registrations can be mailed in or
taken over the phone, and will be accepted up until the morning of the first
class. The dates for the class are: Thursdays, January 22, 29, and February
5, 12, 2009 and run from 6:30-8:30 PM. The cost is $69/couple or
$39/Individual plus $15 for the textbook. To register please call (858)
668-4084.
PTA
Ice Cream
Don’t forget to stop by the lunch area every Wednesday after school for ice
cream. Each week, except when it rains, the PTA sells ice cream for 75
cents. There are lots of varieties and it is a fun way to end Wednesday.
Walk to School Day
This Wednesday is our monthly Walk to School Day. I look forward to seeing
many of our students getting exercise as they stroll on into school. This is
great preparation for our Fun Run which will take place on March 4th.
FOUNDATION
Dine Out
Come join us for some good food at Mr. Charlie’s this Thursday from
6:00-7:00 PM.
Dr. Rich Newman.