Principal S Message s6

STARSTAR NEWSNEWS Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts Volume 7, #1 August 21, 2015

Iris C. Wilson, Principal David E. Rudenborg, Assistant Principal

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Welcome to the beginning of a new school year! The ATMSA Starship had a successful launch have been painted and new signage is posted to and our journey to academic success is in motion! provide directions for parking and dropping off your Our school enrollment is 614 and we are still child. Please cross at the crosswalks and use the enrolling new students. It has been great seeing a sidewalk. Please do not enter the bus area for sea of blue and gold this first week of school! As a the safety of our children. Modeling this behavior uniform school, staff and students are dressed for helps our students recognize and follow these success and it has been one of the calmest opening universal safety behaviors. thanks to your support. Our young scholars are All visitors must report to the front office focused and not distracted by clothing. We are for entrance to classrooms and the cafeteria. thankful to have Superintendent Pons’ support on Pre-K parents may walk their child (through the this school requirement. front office-no need to sign in) to the classroom Welcome to all our new families and we are and sign-in in the classroom. We understand that proud to have all our returning families! I am proud this process takes time, however there is no time to introduce our new staff: Mrs. Wilson limit when it comes to the safety of each of our (Paraprofessional), Ms. Muhammad students. Thanks in advance for your support in this (Paraprofessional/Magnet Coordinator), Mr. Walker area. (ESE), Ms. Voshall (ESE), Mrs. Bellamy (K), Beginning August 24th, we will begin our Mr. Youn (1st), Mrs. Thomas (2nd), Mr. Fruin (4th), Mr. normal morning procedures. Students are to go to Wise (5th), Mr. Hayes (Music), Ms. Chandler (Art), cafeteria. They are not permitted in the classroom Ms. Bush (Dance and Theatre), and Ms. Love unless they have an Office Pass or Teacher Pass. (Guidance Counselor). Parents, if you need to speak with your child’s A special thanks to our outstanding, teacher, please contact the front office. Instructional supportive PTO for welcoming our new kindergarten time is limited and every minute is critical to your families with a shining star Boo Hoo breakfast! child receiving focused, direct instruction. We will Please welcome all of our new families and protect this time to ensure our stars receive the full encourage them to be involved in the many benefit of their time in school. Thanks in advance for opportunities offered at ATMSA. your patience and support. Faculty and staff are working hard to ensure Tardies will be counted beginning August that our young scholars are safe at all times. Please 24th and any student arriving after 8:30 must be help us to keep them safe by following safety signed in by an adult to receive a tardy pass to procedures. Before school supervision does not class. Unexcused tardies at the beginning of the begin until 7:45 A.M. Please make sure your child day and unexcused early checkouts result in does not arrive at school before this time unless unexcused absences. Please help your child he/she is enrolled in the Before School Extended achieve a good attendance record by being at Day program. Ms. Gardner can provide information school on time and prepared to learn with the if you are interested in this service. necessary supplies. Items unrelated to learning It is critical that everyone is patient and need to be kept at home. Please remember that follows procedures at dismissal. Please have your students are not allowed to have cell phones on car visor sign (child’s grade and name) on your visor campus unless the parent has provided a written to speed in locating your child. If you do not want to request to the principal and it has been approved. wait in the pick-up line, please park in the parking lot Cell phones will be collected from students and and use the sidewalk to pick up your child. The parents must pick them up unless this procedure is sidewalk from the far parking lot provides a safe followed. Thanks for instilling the importance of walk to the cafeteria and office. The crosswalks doing well and making good choices each day.

1 I am so proud to be your child(ren)’s principal. We have an exceptional group of ATTENDANCE educators charged and determined to provide an The first bell rings at 8:25 A.M. and the engaging, challenging educational program tailored tardy bell rings at 8:30 A.M. Please make to meet the individual needs of your child. The staff and I look forward to seeing you at Open House/Title sure that your child arrives in time to join I Meeting on Thursday, September 3rd, parent their class for the first bell. Their day will workshops, School Advisory Council (SAC), Parent begin much better if they are settled and Teacher Organization (PTO), and throughout the ready to work. If you arrive after the tardy year as we continue our journey of excellence! bell you must sign your child in so they Please complete the Volunteer Form that was sent home and return it to your child’s teacher. will have a tardy pass to enter class. Please note that breakfast ends at 8:20A.M. unless your child’s bus arrives late. Iris C. Wilson

DATES TO REMEMBER STAR NEWSLETTER August 21 ...... Star Reading Celebration We will send home a newsletter the first ...... Star Newsletter goes home Monday of each month. The newsletter will August 24...... 2015 – 16 Calendars go home include important Information, so please (One per family) August 25 ...... LC School Board Mtg @ 6:00 take time to read them and be informed. P.M., Howell Center August 28...... Birthday Celebration July- PTO will send home a monthly Newsletter August Stars on the third Monday of each month. This September 3...... Open House/Title I Meeting newsletter will keep you updated on events Session 1 @ 6:00 P.M. Session 2 @ 7:00 P.M. and activities sponsored by the PTO. September 4...... Caps for College Spirit Day (Wear your college colors) September 7...... Labor Day Holiday September 8 ...... Star Newsletter goes home SCHOOL ADVISORY September 10...... District Advisory Council @ 6:00 The School Advisory Council (SAC) is P.M., Howell Center another way to become involved at September 11...... Grandparents’ Day (Join us for lunch) Apalachee Tapestry. The SAC is ...... Student Council “Intent Letter” responsible for monitoring the School due to HR Teacher (3rd-5th) Improvement Plan, conducting a needs September 15 ...... SAC Mtg @ 6:00 Media Center assessment, and reviewing surveys. This ...... PTO Mtg @ 7:00 Media Center active team of parents, teachers, and September 16...... Progress Reports go home September 17...... Middle School Open House community members need your support. September 18...... Star Pop Day! Please consider joining us...... Fall Festival of Stars tickets go on sale September 21...... PTO Star News goes home ...... High School Open House PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS September 22...... Student Council Class Elections We have so many community partners who support September 23 ...... Fall Holiday – No school our school! As you visit these merchants, please let September 24...... Pizza Hut Spirit Night them know how much you appreciate what they do September 25...... Birthday Celebration for our school. In addition, please visit our web for a ...... Star Pop Day!! complete list of partners. Each month we highlight ...... Parents’ Night Out (Childcare one of our partners! for small fee) ANNUAL TITLE I MTG/OPEN HOUSE We look forward to seeing all parents/guardians 2 during our September Open House. During Open complete list of partners. Each month we highlight House you will receive important information that one of our partners! includes information regarding standards for language arts/mathematics/science, reading program-incentives, promotion brochures, schedules, grading policy (classroom and tapestry time), homework policy, school-wide discipline/classroom plan, AVID-organizational tools, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Starbucks, conference schedule, technology updates, baseline assessments, arts infusion, teacher web pages, and information on the School/Parent Agreement. Sessions will be held in individual classrooms. The schedule accommodates parents with two children in primary or intermediate grades. Please visit the Tapestry teachers. Maps will be available and Extended Day will provide child-care for children ages 3 and above.

This Open House is a focus on Parent information and we are trying to reduce distractions, as there is a great deal of information to cover. You earn points on your School Parent Agreement!

RAWLINGS ELEMENTARY Teachers and administrators from Rawlings Elementary spent the day visiting our school and collaborating with staff. Rawlings is located in Gainesville. It was a great first visit with our partner school.

Welcome back Shining Star Scholars!

PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS We have so many community partners who support our school! As you visit these merchants, please let them know how much you appreciate what they do for our school. In addition, please visit our web for a 3