Dear Parents,
What a wonderful and exciting start to the school year we experienced. The halls and classrooms are charged with enthusiasm and excitement. It is hard to believe that our first “progress reports” are ready to distribute. Expectations are high as parents, students, and teachers are working diligently to make this year one of outstanding academic achievement, engaging community spirit and loving growth in faith and service.
Our rigorous curriculum begins right from the start. Our PreK students visited the Science lab and Dr. Rast demonstrated how a hardboiled egg could be sucked through the mouth of a bottle by creating a vacuum inside the bottle. Thirty-nine students from grades 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th grade will participate in a Constitution project at the National Archives Regional Office in Morrow. Each student will research and represent an original signer of the Constitution and reenact the signing of this important historical document. What a great way to make learning come alive!
In addition to our academic curriculum, we also emphasize safety. Would you allow your child to open your door to a sexual predator? Of course not! However, did you know that every time your child logs onto the Internet, that door is opened for them. Parents, if there is a computer in your home, you cannot afford to miss the important Home and School Parent Workshop offered on Oct. 1st! Students in grades 3-8 received important safety lessons, provided by Mr. Jon Antoine, an investigator for the office of The District Attorney, Clayton County Judicial Circuit, concerning the dangers lurking on the Internet and precautions students must take. Mr. Antoine will also speak to you at this meeting. You will EARN service hours and LEARN important Internet safety parenting tips that could have lasting impact on both you and your child!
There are many positive ways we utilize the Internet for learning. Ms. Aiello’s Spanish classes (grades 4, 5, and 6) participated in a telecommunication project with a former SJE teacher, Ms. Katie Walter, and her class in Chile. Our students exchanged questions/answers in Spanish/English with their Chilean friends. Not only did they practice their language skills, but they engaged in a wonderful cultural exchange. Mr. Head and Ms. Wnuk coordinated the SKYPE and video connections to enable students to see and hear one another in real time. What an enriching activity!
In addition to our guest speaker at the Home and School meeting, our fourth grade students will provide entertainment with a short musical play about Immigration. As we look around our school community, it is easy to see we come from many places (just as our parents and grandparents did many years ago). It is our faith in Jesus that makes us all one SJE family.
We are excited about the year ahead of us. We look forward to working with you to ensure a successful and spirit-filled year.
God bless each and every one of you,
Karen Vogtner