November 5, 2007

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.”

-Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll,1865

Welcome to November.  October went out in style with the Halloween parties I was able to visit and enjoy.  Thank you to everyone who worked with teachers to make this work on the shortened day.  As we look towards next year, staff will be talking and discussing about a community celebration on Halloween to see if it would work for North Beach. Since my youngest no longer celebrates the holiday, I always enjoy the parade of costumes and the individual’s creativity in their choice of what to wear. 

I try to get into classrooms each day and observe and watch what evolves as the students learn.   Math is moving along smoothly in the classrooms and I like to see how the curriculum circulates and builds on itself.  I was able to fill in for one of our teachers recently and had first hand experience with how Saxon math works.  I continue to watch and learn daily and truly am enjoying what the students are doing.

It is fun for me to go into the classrooms and I know many of you like to volunteer as well.  Please be sure to sign in when you come and out of common courtesy if you are volunteering or simply observing, it is appropriate to check with the classroom teacher first and announce who you are.  You can set this up with an e-mail or phone call.  We appreciate your cooperation.

A community reminder:  Please do not park when dropping off or picking up students in neighbors driveways, on the sidewalk or in the drop off area.  To be in the drop off area, please stay in your car.  Our neighbors appreciate your consideration of their privacy and space.  We need them on our side and know that you will help with this.

We continue to be patient as we wait for the hiring freeze to be lifted.  Our guest teachers are doing a wonderful job in their positions and I wish to thank them for their dedication and hard work the last two months.

BINGO is this Friday and I hope to see you there.  Family functions are my favorite.  Please be sure to remind your students that this is a family event and that roaming the halls and being outside alone is not safe.  I know staff likes to come and enjoy and feel like they’re off duty.  I look forward to seeing you then.

Cooperation is the key,

Joanne Bowers

Principal