Gearing UP

What do we have to look forward to during the last 5 weeks of school?  Here are a few events you won't want to miss:  The RAP Annual Basket Raffle fund raiser, the Fifth Grade Play, Awards Assembly, The Chorus Concert, Field Day, and of course, Closing Ceremonies!

John the Conquerer

Our son, John, was home on leave during Spring Break so we spent some great times together both at the cabin and in Durham with the girls.  John has completed dive training and has now moved on to his more advanced training with the Navy.  While at the cabin he "conquered" a branch that had broken off high up in one of the trees closest to the deck that, thanks to the winter ice storms, was hanging rather precariously.  Now we can sit on the deck safely!!  It was great to be together as a family - with all our busy schedules and John's duty, those times are few and far between.  Enjoy the ones you love as much as possible while they are young.  Down the road, who knows where they'll be in this big wide world!

Update on THE BOYS

A recent weekend at our cabin in the mountains with Landon and Connor (and their Mommie and Daddy, of course!), found our big boy helping his Pop making fresh apple juice, hiking to the waterfalls, helping his Mommom water the flowers, listening to Pop tell him stories about Lewis, the squirrel (a character that Doug and Landon share each time they get together - Lewis is a very adventurous little squirrel!), and enjoying some great laughs around the supper table.  This was Connor's first visit to the cabin so he spent most of his time watching us and sleeping.  I loved sitting with him in my rocker, just listening to the birds and watching the clouds roll by.  The cabin is a refuge for the whole family and these times together are very special to us all.  Zaiya is still just a little too young to travel that far but he is growing like a weed!  His Mommie has several friends who are professional photographers so there is no shortage of great portraits of this very photogenic angel!

A Year of Professional Development

Elementary teachers spent many hours during this school year studying how to make their classrooms more appealing and interesting environments for learning. Nearly 60 days of off-site conferences, seminars and workshops included:  Charter Schools Reading First Academy, NC Math Teachers Conference, NC Exceptional Children's Conference, visits to schools in Davidson and Columbia, National Board Certification Workshops, various technology workshops, NC Technology Conference, Response to Intervention Strategies Workshop, Odyssey of the Mind Coach's Training, UNC Charlotte Early Childhood Conference, Reggio Emilia Study Abroad Program, NC Music Teachers' Conference, NC Kindergarten Teacher's Conference, and NC PE Teachers' Conference.  On-site teachers attended workshops on Edline, Curriculum Mapper, SmartBoard, Neo, Strategies and Modifications for Exceptional Children, and Differentiation of Instruction, Instructional Strategies for Children with Aspergers and ADHD, and many more!

Spring Has Sprung!

It's amazing what happens to your time when springtime is in the air! March and April have flown by for us all - and next week is midterm for the fourth grading period. That means that we only have 5 weeks left of school!! But before I share our progress toward ending the school year, here are some highlights of our spring so far: 1) Our Fire Safety Quiz Bowl Team won second place in the regional competition - they will compete in the state Quiz Bowl as a result, 2) Our three Odyssey of the Mind teams represented both American Renaissance elementary and middle school in the regional meet - all three teams presented fabulous skits!, 3) Fourth and Fifth Graders travelled to Raleigh last week for a day of museums and site seeing in our state's capital, 4) Kindergartners and first graders visited the Lazy 5 ranch to see the animals and take a wagon ride through the park, 5) Mrs. Robbins and Mrs. Spence spent a week on Ocrakoke Island at the NCCAT (North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching) seminar - Women in Aviation - both teachers were selected among many applicants across the state and we are so proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zone!, 6) Six elementary teachers were named as candidates for RBC's Tribute to Teachers program. Mrs. Spicer was named a winner and won $500 for her classroom!!7) Our second graders have completed their 2 week swimming course thanks to our partnership with the Statesville YMCA, 8) Our spring book fair raised enough funds for us to purchase another classroom Smartboard!, and so much more, but time to move on...

Three Little Boys!!

On February 5th my family welcomed grandson number THREE!!  Zaiya Barack weighed 6 pounds and was 19 inches long and he has a full head of jet black hair! What fun we'll have in a few years when our little boys are ready to go hiking and fishing in the mountains!

PEACE!  And Happy New Year!!

Welcome to 2010 at American Renaissance Elementary!  We have begun the new year in high gear with all the projects for science (the universe and planets and landforms), creating costumes and dialogue for theatre arts, finishing up Because of Winn Dixie, and on and on and on!  Please come in and check out all the fabulous models and design work our students have created.  The walls and bookshelves are covered with awesome work.

We are also beginning the application process for enrollment next year.  Applications are flying out of Ms. Sandy's office and we have already begun taking prospective parents on a tour of our school.  Be sure and tell all your friends and relatives about ARS and the amazing school we have become. 

Before we know it the apple blossoms will be in full bloom and we will be relishing in the springtime sun!  But for now - try to stay warm and cozy while we wait!