Principal's Page

By Johnna Wells

Extra, Extra Read All About It

At HARRIS ACCELERATED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!!!!!

Our new school hours are 8:00-2:30. We serve breakfast each day from 7:25-7:50. If your child arrives after 7:50, he/she will not be able to eat breakfast. We begin our morning routine/announcements at 7:50 then we dismiss to classes at 8:00 prompt. So it is imperative that your child arrives to school each day on time.

Parents remember that if you child arrives at school after 8:00 then you must come into the building and sign your child in. You must report to the main office upon entering the building; this is for safety reasons.

Parents, your are cordially invited to attend all PTO/Family Nights for the 09-10 school year. The times are 5:00-6:30 pm. We will have dinner and door prizes. Each child will always leave with a new book to add to his/her home library. The primary purpose this year is to build a rapport with our families and to provide our parents with tools to assist your child academically and behaviorally. Future PTO/Family Night dates: September 24, October 29, January 28, February 25, and March 25, April 29.

FYI: On April 21, 2010 we will have a District Health Fair and on May 12, 2010 we will have the District Learning Fair (both events will be held at the Middle School- more details soon).

Harris Accelerated Elementary School believes that all members of the school community are invited to share in the leadership of the school. The parents, students, school staff members, and community members develop the vision for the school, understand its challenges, and work together to achieve its goals. Accelerated schools are based on the following principles: Unity of Purpose, Empowerment with Responsibility, and Building on Strengths.

Accelerated Schools communities share a set of values, beliefs and attitudes that contribute to creating a culture for growth, creativity, and accelerated learning. As an accelerated school develops, the following values emerge, guiding the actions of the people in the community. These are the ASP values that we embrace within school: equity, participation, communication and collaboration, community spirit, reflection, experimentation and discovery, trust, risk taking and school as the center of expertise.

Parents are encouraged to initiate contact when necessary. We want your presence to be known throughout the school.

Let us work together to make sure that this is the best school year ever. Failure Is Not An Option!

Educationally Yours,

Mrs. Valeska Hill, Principal

Each grade level has an uninterrupted 90 minute Literacy Block. This block is divided into two main parts. One part of the Literacy Block focuses on whole group instruction. Students are introduced to and practice reading skills and strategies through cooperative groups, partner work, and direct teacher instruction. Students read stories from their reading book or other supplemental materials and discuss the five core components of reading including vocabulary, comprehension, phonics, oral reading fluency, and phonemic awareness. The second part of the Literacy Block is composed of small group instruction and literacy workstations. Small groups will consist of about 4-5 students who will work on the five core components through leveled text, engaging activities, and literary discussions. Students will be enabled to move at their own pace to reach their full potential. During literacy workstations students will be engaged in activities to reinforce skills and strategies taught during whole group and small group instruction. Students will be assessed frequently to determine progress.

The students also have an uninterrupted Math Block where students receive small group and individual instruction based upon the student’s identified needs.

Each month Harris will announce an easy to learn word, which will help to focus our children on creating a respectful community. The students will be engaged in monthly activities using these words to help foster positive interactions, self-discipline and good character. The monthly words are:

Respect-September

Responsible-October

Trustworthy-November

Fairness- December

Kindness-January

Perseverance-February

Citizenship-March

Self-Discipline-April

Integrity-May

Each month we also recognize a Student of the Month from each class. These students receive a certificate, pencil, treat and also have their picture taken with the principal. These students exhibit excellent character and are truly deserving of this honor.

You will see the “12 Powerful Words” posted in each classroom. The students practice these words and their meaning on a regular basis. Please quiz them at home!!

Analyze Formulate Describe Support

Evaluate Trace Compare Infer

Explain Predict Contrast Summarize

Your child will receive a homework packet every Monday. The packet is due on or before every Friday. Each packet will have a cover sheet. Please look through your child's packet to ensure that the work is complete and sign the cover sheet. Your child will also receive a weekly Progress Report, please sign and return to your child’s teacher.

If you come into our school any day between 8:00-8:15 and after lunch you will see the entire school doing the Brain Gym activities. Our entire school district has adopted the "Winning with Youth" program by Joseph Schechtman. "Winning with Youth" is a total behavior management system designed to facilitate proactive, consistent behavior in the classroom and simultaneously improve students' performance. This process helps our students learn how to change their behavior from the “Inside Out” We also have a Leadership Team who help students/teachers with this daily process.

Ask your child to demonstrate these activities for you: (super, bright, children, believe, everyone, should, learn, hook-ups)