From the Principal's Desk

We are seeing our first measurable snowfall of the 2010-11 school year. With any luck it won't effect school. I hope everyone had a great winter break and enjoyed time with family. My wife, daughters and I went to Florida for a week and had a great time. We took the kids to Walt Disney World on three different days and had a blast. Congratulations to our seventh grade teams for their performance in our own 7th grade basketball tournament. The boys won the tournament and the girls finished second, losing only a two point game to a tough Camdenton team. Both groups did a great job of representing our school. We will crown a local champion of the Geography Bee on Friday, Jan. 14, at 8:15 a.m. in the small gym. The winner will then take a written exam to see if they are invited to compete at the state level. Good luck to all of the participants. Have a great week. 

11/1 From the Principal's Desk

I hope everyone had a fun and enjoyable Halloween weekend.  My three daughters: one dressed up as Snow White, one as Princess Tiana and one as Minnie Mouse had a great time.  Of course I am helping them consume the extra candy.  We hosted our middle school Halloween dance last Friday night and we had 180 middle school students in attendance.  Our first quarter honor roll lists were rather impressive.  The "A" honor roll had 12 sixth graders, 23 seventh graders and 23 eighth graders on the list.  The "B" honor roll had 37 sixth graders, 33 seventh graders and 35 eighth graders on the list.  That means we had a total of 163 students on our first quarter honor roll.  GREAT JOB students and faculty.  The start of the second quarter also means that our ZAP offenses start over.  Continue to encourage your child to get their work completed and turned in on time.  It is very important to start the quarter off correctly to help ensure finishing the quarter with good grades.  Have a great week. 

10/19 From the Principal's Desk

Can it be true that we have reached the end of the first quarter of our "new" school year?  Wow, that is hard to believe.  It seems to be going by so fast.  I would like to invite each and everyone of you to come and join us during parent-teacher conferences on Oct. 21.  Conferences begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m.  This gives you the opportunity to meet your child's teachers and to discuss how your child is doing in class.  We will have our first quarter AR reward party on Oct. 20.  During their communication arts class, the students that met their AR goal will be allowed to go to our atrium and enjoy cotton candy.  Congratulations to the seventh grade volleyball team for finishing their season undefeated.  That is an outstanding accomplishment.  Congratulations also to the eighth grade volleyball team and to the seventh and eighth grade football teams for their strong performances during the year.  The middle school cheerleaders did an outstanding job this fall as well.  Each and everyone of these teams should be proud of what they accomplished and how they represented our school and community.  We will dismiss school at 12:40 p.m. on Oct. 21 for parent-teacher conferences and there is no school on Friday, Oct. 22.  Have a great week and I hope to see you at parent-teacher conferences.

9/27 From the Principal's Desk

It is hard to believe that we have completed six weeks of school.  We are giving our first predicitve tests in Acuity this week.  Students will be given a MAP style test in 6-8 communication arts and math and in 8th grade science.  Bulldog time (targeted tutoring) has been in place for the last three weeks.  This year we are providing additional opportunities for the students that are not targeted.  Students with C's and above in all of their classes will be allowed to do one of the following:

• go to the gym for physical activity
• go to the cafeteria to do homework, talk and/or listen to music
• go to any core teachers room and work on homework or read and they may be asked to help tutor other students
• 7th & and 8th grade students may go to Mrs. Alumbaugh's room for computer usage
• 6th grade students may go to Mrs. Steward's room to read or work quietly
• go to Mrs. Barnes's room for games
• on Thursday's Ms. Walsh will host a chess club and will eventually teach Spanish and quiz bowl

We are continuing to work on improving our options for our non-targeted students.  Congratulations to the middle school volleyball and football teams for their start on the new season.  Congratulations also to the 7th and 8th grade band for taking first place in the Black Walnut Festival on Saturday.  Have a great week.

8/4 From the Principal's Desk

The start of the 2010-11 school year is just around the corner.  I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer and time with family and friends.  Students may begin picking up their schedules on Wednesday the 11th at 8:30 a.m.  The $10 technology usage fee and any outstanding debts will be collected at that time.  We will host our sixth grade/new student orientation on Thursday the 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the small gymnasium.  I would like to encourage all sixth grade students and their parents and any students that are new to our district to attend this orientation.  School starts on Tuesday the 17th.  Middle school football and volleyball practices will start after school on the 17th.  Remember that all students participating in an extra-curricular activity must have a current physical examination.  You must have your shots up to date in order to begin school on the 17th.  Our school nurse, Mrs. Loree, will host a Tdap clinic for students needing that immunization on: August 9, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on August 12, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the nurses office.  I look forward to seeing everyone in the coming days.  Enjoy the remaining days of your summer break.   

5/10 From the Principal's Desk

We were greeted with cold and rainy weather to start our week.  I am sure warmer weather will be here to stay soon enough.  We are in our final two weeks of the 2009-2010 school year.  There will be several things happening in our final days.  On the 17th, students that met their AR goal all four quarters are going to lunch at Sonic.  Lunch is at the students expense.  We will hold our 8th grade recoginition on the 18th at 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym.  The fourth quarter AR reward, "fun in the sun" will be on the 20th.  Continue to work hard at finishing the school year on a positive note.  Have a great week. 

5/3 From the Principal's Desk

I greatly enjoyed the middle school band and vocal music concert last night.  We have so many gifted students and it is great to see those talents showcased.  We have set our last two AR reward dates.  If you met your AR goal all four quarters of the school year, we will take you to lunch at Sonic on May 17.  Lunch is at the students expense.  Our fourth quarter reward, "fun in the sun" will be on May 20.  Remember that 8th grade recoginition is on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym.  Get out and enjoy this beautiful weather we are having.  I love this time of year.  Have a great week.