Welcome back to school. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break!
Junior Great Books is still looking for a few parent leaders in 1st, 4th, and 5th grades. Registration will take place in December, so all of the leaders must be in place now. Those grades without leaders will not be able to participate in this wonderful program. Please consider sharing a leader position with one of your friends. If you would like to be a leader, please contact Jill Herring at juniorgreatbooks@eastsideelementary.com.
Also please keep in mind as you shop for the holiday season, the Community Outreach Committee will be collecting new and unused toys and games for the Fair Oaks Elementary Christmas Store. The collection bins will be located at the bus port and front atrium from November 26th-December 14th. Kindergarteners please bring toys/games that are appropriate for K and younger. All other grades bring toys/games appropriate for your own grade level. If you have any questions or would like to help distribute the toys, please contact the Community Outreach Committee at communityoutreach@ eastsideelementary.com.
Lastly, the PTA and Administration are excited to announce that East Side’s Outdoor Classroom is ready to use! The benches, picnic tables, and landscaping are now all in place for teachers to use with their classes. Please take a moment to check out this great area located at the corner of the parking lot closest to the playground. Many thanks to Jonathan Tucker of Team Turf, Jennifer Tear from the PTA, and all of those families who supported the PTA fundraiser this year to help make this project possible.
A “No” Vote on Charter School Amendment Means a “Yes” Vote for Public Education!
Georgia PTA strongly opposes the proposed constitutional amendment (HR1162) which will appear on the November 6 ballot. Why? It will create an inequity in funding, take funds away from local public schools, and deny parental involvement. Remember a “NO” vote on HR1162 is NOT a no vote on charter schools – it is only a “NO” vote to taking away local control of schools. When you go to the polls, remember that a “NO” vote on Constitutional Amendment #1 is a “yes” vote for your child, our teachers and our schools. For more information, contact legislationandadvocacy@eastsideelementary.com.
You can also attend sessions TODAY, Monday, October 29th about this amendment: one at Sope Creek Elementary at 8:00am and another at Lassiter High School, Lassiter Theatre at 7:30pm.
If you elected for your family to be included in East Side’s school directory and provided an email address, you will receive an email this week confirming your directory information. For those families who did not provide an email address or did not provide any information, the committee will be sending home printed confirmation letters. If your information is correct, no action is required. If your information is incorrect, please email directory@eastsideelementary.com with any corrections no later than Friday, Oct. 26th.
Hearing and vision volunteers are urgently needed from Oct. 29th-Nov. 2nd. All 1st and 4th grade classes are screened. Runners are needed to escort classes to and from the screening. There are two shifts available each morning: 8-9 am and 10-11am. If you are interested, please email kstursma@comcast.net and a Volunteer Spot link will then be sent for you to sign up.
The staff appreciation committee is looking for students to cheer on Mrs. Lee, our wonderful Teacher of the Year, as she proceeds across the stage on Tuesday, Oct. 30th at the Roswell Street Baptist Church. The rally will start promptly at 11am (doors will open at 10:30am). Please contact staffappreciation@eastsideelementary.com for more information.
Lastly, Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuits will be on sale in the cafeteria this Friday, Oct. 26th from 7:15 am-7:45 am. The cost is $3 each and all proceeds go directly to the PTA. (Please have exact change.) Get them while they last!!
Join us under the Big Top for games, rides, activities, and more. There will also be delicious food from local food trucks to buy and enjoy and other tasty treats.
Avoid the long lines and save money by downloading the pre-sales form and sending in your money and a completed form with your child. The pre-sale price is $10 and will be $15 the day of the event. Children under 3 and parents do not need a wristband. Wristbands purchased through pre-sales will be sent home in your child’s back pack the week of the festival. Click here to download pre-sale order form.
The following article was submitted by Mrs. Kirsten Fournier. Kirsten is a Reading Specialist and Proud Mom of an East Side kindergartener.
What is Literacy?
What do you think of when you hear the term “literacy?” Most of us parents would readily respond: “reading.” But, defining literacy is actually a much more complex and thoughtful endeavor.
In a search for this definition, we begin to realize that the act of learning to read is actually just the beginning of a life-long process of becoming literate. Because to be literate in one’s family, school, community, and world, one must be able to take in new information, make sense of it, and use it for active learning in countless environments and for endless purposes.
Reading for Meaning
C-a-t. C-at. Cat. The early days of learning letters sounds and blending them together swiftly evolves into sentences, paragraphs, chapters, books, and units. Reading for meaning is the single most important step in your child’s educational journey. But the “meaning” is constantly changing. The meaning of the words, numbers, or symbols that they read is dictated by the format of the text (novel, science text book, chart), the purpose of the text (to inform, persuade, humor), and the context of the literature.
To help our kids recognize, appreciate, and account for these variables, conversations and experiences with our children must give them ample time to experience, recognize, and practice different forms of literacy.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the “ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”
So, what does this all mean to East Side families?
We as parents must educate ourselves about how to define literacy so that we may in turn foster an environment for our children to become fully literate in today’s ever-changing world.
We never stop reading aloud to our children, teaching them to think and write critically, and encouraging them to read whenever they can. We talk to our children: What are you reading about? Why do you think the author feels that way?
We expose our children: different errands, holidays, events, cultures, neighborhoods.
And we support our children as they navigate new forms of literacy, whether it’s a cookbook, a label on a bottle of sunscreen, a computer game, or Time for Kids.
During the school year Between the Lines will highlight some of the most important types of literacy, including cultural literacy, health/safety literacy, digital/media literacy, and even financial literacy. We’d also love to hear from you and how you help your child become literate in the broadest sense of the world as s/he grows.
The ultimate goal is for our children to love reading and to understand what they read. And as their community and world expands, we want the literacy skills they need to thrive to develop alongside.
Source: “The Plurality of Literacy and its implications for Policies and Programs”. UNESCO Education Sector Position Paper: 13. 2004.
“Between the Lines” is a feature of the Education and Literacy committee of East Side Elementary School’s PTA. Monthly articles will highlight topics that may be of interest to our families. If you’d like to submit an article or have suggestions for future articles, please email us at educationandliteracy@eastsideelementary.com
October 1st – 5th is Clean Commute Week. As a Clean Air School, East Side Elementary is sponsoring a “Walk to School Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd. There will be giveaways and a drawing for iTunes gift cards. So put on your Tiger gear and walk to school! Also remember that if you are picking up your child from school, please turn off your engines while waiting in line. Every car makes a difference!
There are many upcoming events to look forward to at East Side. This Thursday, Sept. 20th is Custodian Appreciation Day. Make sure to give our custodians a big thank you for all their hard work. It is not easy keeping up with our new school and we want them to know how much they are appreciated!
The deadline to sign up for Sunshine Math is quickly approaching. The program runs for 10 weeks beginning Monday, Oct. 1st. Please go to the PTA website to download the registration form listed under the section entitled “For Students/Families”. All forms are due this Friday, Sept. 21st.
The Box Tops Collection Contest has begun! Donate your box tops between now and Friday, Oct. 26th. East Side will receive 10 cents for every box top collected. Your student will receive credit for all properly labeled Box Tops contributions. Just clip the box top, count 50 per baggie, clearly label the baggie with number of box tops, student’s first & last name, teacher and grade, and then have your student put the baggie in the drop off box located in the study room next to Tiger’s Cage. It’s that easy! So start collecting today!
Finally, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual East Side Fall Festival. The festivities will begin on Friday, Oct. 19th from 5:30pm-9:30pm. There will be games, rides, activities, and tons of great food. If you would like to volunteer at the festival, please email fallfestival@eastsideelementary.com. Hope to see you there!
East Side Elementary’s 8th Annual Science Fair will take place on Thursday, Sept. 27th. All students in grades K-5 are encouraged to participate. Students must register online no later than this Friday, Sept. 14th. Please visit http://sites.google.com/site/eastsidesciencefair to register and find additional information related to the fair.
Are you looking for some new volunteer opportunities this year? Why not become a Hearing and Vision screener! All 1st and 4th graders will be screened on Oct 29th –Nov 2nd and Nov 5th- 9th. Screeners must attend half day training at Palmer Middle School on Sept. 6th at 8:30am. Please contact hearingandvision@eastsideelementary.com for more information.
Or maybe you would enjoy working at the Front Office? There are openings for six new volunteers to help once a month. A mandatory meeting for new volunteers is scheduled on Friday, Aug. 31st at 10:00am in the Media Center. If you are interested, please contact Rhonda Sumsky at frontoffice@ eastsideelementary.com.
Perhaps you can volunteer your time at the East Cobber Parade. The Staff Appreciation Committee is looking for convertibles and drivers to transport East Side’s Teacher of the Year, Professional of the Year, and administrative staff on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 15th. Please contact Grace Seidita and Laura Stokes at staffappreciation@eastsideelementary.com if you are interested.
These are just a few of the ways that you can have fun while also helping our school. Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Order your school supplies from the PTA. All orders will be made online at www.schooltoolbox.com. The website is open from now until May 23rd. Please be sure to register your child in next year’s grade!
