The Bridge! Our Goal Is to Connect Families, Communities and Schools for Excellence

TTTCTTTONNECHHHHHHTING FAMEEEEEEILIES,, C OBBMBBBBMUNITRRRRIRRES,, & SIIIIICIHODDDDDODLS FOGGRGGGG EXCELEELEEEEENCE

GREETINGS FROM SUPERINTENDENT DR. AVIS WILLIAMS Welcome to our updated newsletter, The Bridge! Our goal is to connect families, communities and schools for excellence. Our teachers and leaders are committed to providing a high-quality education for all our scholars. We hope that you enjoy reading and learning more about our efforts. We encourage you to get involved because we are stronger together. Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to a continued amazing school year! Be Excellent!

BYRD FIRST CLASS EARLY LEARNING CENTER

HALLOWEEN MONSTER MARCH On October 31st, Byrd students dressed in Halloween costumes and marched around the neighborhood chanting "Happy Halloween!" to the neighbors. GRANDPARENTS DAY Byrd First Class Early Learning Center celebrated Grandparents on Grandparents Day this past September. Grandparents enjoyed a hot lunch with their scholar. We enjoyed seeing the smiles and love!

CEDAR PARK ELEMENTARY

FIRST GRADERS VISIT PUMPKIN PATCH The rst grade students at Cedar Park had a blast in Verbena, Alabama at the Penton Farms’s Pumpkin Patch. The Cougars enjoyed a day of fun playing corn cannon, riding the super slides, pumpkin bowling, running on the human hamster wheel, playing on the playground and picking out a pumpkin to take back to their families. To top the trip off, the Cougars learned about different farm animals in the animal barn. A blast was had by all!

SUPER TUESDAY AT CEDAR PARK Recently third, fourth and fth grade students had the opportunity to qualify for a student council ocer position for the 2018-2019 school year. After the teacher nominations were submitted, students were provided an opportunity to campaign for their position for a week. The campaign consisted of student made posters, individualized goodies, and speeches held in front of the student body. Along with our nation, the students participated in a version of Super Tuesday. They submitted their at their polling site via Google Forms. After each vote was cast, students received an "I Voted" sticker. Excitement lled the air when the results were announced at the end of the day.

CLARK ELEMENTARY

ANOTHER EXCITING SCHOOL YEAR AT "THE CLARK" Our priority is to promote trust, collaboration, and excellence as we work to effectively prepare 100% of our students for what has become a challenging and competitive world. Here are some of the events and recognition’s that we have participated in during the rst semester. The Clark Tigerettes partnered with Selma High School’s Band of Blue and performed at the football homecoming halftime show! Sponsors: Kristy Bettis, Jasmine Pritchett, & Audrey Washington. First nine weeks accelerated reader celebration was held at the Selma Coffee Shoppe. Twenty-three students read 796 Books with an 89 Average!!!!!! Go Tigers!

IN LOVING HONOR AND MEMORY OF MS. JENNIFER BLACK During a moment of silence and balloon release, the staff, students, and parents gathered in memory of Ms. Jennifer Black and in support of Breast Cancer Awareness! We Will Miss Our Ms. Black!

EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY L.O.V.E On Saturday, November 3, 2018, Edgewood’s L.O.V.E (Ladies of Virtuous Elegance) and Men in Motion Organizations participated in a Community Service Project! Each group played a part in various Campus Beautication Activities. L.O.V.E members, along with their sponsors, Ms. Veronica Smith and Ms. Belinda Dragg, gave restrooms at the school a facelift! They designed and placed motivational messages in the student restrooms to encourage students to exhibit characteristics of excellence at all times!

MEN IN MOTION MEMBERS CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT Men in Motion members, along with their sponsors, Coach Justin Kelly and Alex Peoples, picked up trash around the school, trimmed hedges, and restriped the parking lot. These student organizations are the true denition of Edgewood Excellence!!

KNOX ELEMENTARY

GRANDPARENTS DAY Knox Elementary School celebrated Grandparents Day on September 8th. All grandparents were invited to come eat lunch with their grandchildren.

WALKING FOR A CURE On November 1st, Knox Elementary participated in Walking for a Cure. This was in memory of one of our very own: Ms. Jennifer Black, Special Education Teacher at Clark Elementary School, who lost her battle earlier this year with cancer.

MEADOWVIEW ELEMENTARY

MEADOWVIEW LIONS PURSUE EXCITING CAREER CHOICES Meadowview Elementary students recently dressed in their future career choices. Our Lions aspire to be doctors, dentists, nurses, educators, chefs, professional athletes, entertainers, and authors. The future looks bright at Meadowview.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DRUG FREE Meadowview Elementary students participated in a Red Ribbon Week Essay Contest where they explained the importance of being free and the effects of drugs on their bodies, their families, and their futures. Winners of the contest were (L to R): Sarah Moore—Third Place ($10 Gift Card) Mason Malone— Overall Winner ($25 Gift Card), and Jamiya Johnson—Second Place ($15 Gift Card). Well done students!

PAYNE ELEMENTARY

ATTENDANCE MATTERS AT PAYNE SCHOOL September was “Attendance Awareness Month” and Payne School was excited to be a part of the movement to encourage attendance. We rmly believe that attendance is a key part of a child’s success in school. We encouraged our students to not only come to school EVERYDAY for the month of September, but also on time. Students who maintained perfect attendance for the month received a Popsicle and they got to eat it outside on the playground! It was a great success. It is our goal to continue to encourage perfect attendance even when it’s not Attendance Awareness Month.

CONGRATULATIONS MRS. SIMMONS Mrs. Sherita Simmons is a native of Thomaston, Alabama. She is a 1st grade teacher at Payne Elementary School in Selma, Alabama. Mrs. Simmons is highly qualied and certied to teach Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. She also holds several master degrees ranging from Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Management, and Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Simmons is currently completing a doctorate in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and is always making sure that the curriculum students are taught stays relevant to the world they are living in. Mrs. Sherita Simmon has been selected as Payne Elementary Teacher of the Year.

R.B. HUDSON MIDDLE

R. B. HUDSON ROBOTICS TEAM AT THE SPACE AND ROCKET CAMP Twenty-four R. B. Hudson Robotics Team members spent the week as “Team Selma” at the robotics camp at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. They worked as a team to build and test their own designs in air, land and sea challenges. The week culminated in a competition among teams as they tested the robots they spent the week building and programming.

R. B. HUDSON STUDENTS RECEIVE DELL LAPTOPS AS HUDSON GOES 1:1 The 1:1 Device Launch at R. B. Hudson Middle School was celebrated October 31st with an ice cream and cake party! Students who returned parent permission slips, purchased a locker, completed 50 minutes of reading in the MyOn Reading program and earned a digital literacy certicate in EverFi Ignition Digital Literacy received a laptop and carrying case for their use during school hours and at home this school year!

SCHOOL OF DISCOVERY

SOD FBLA DONATE TO NEW BERN, NC MIDDLE SCHOOL AFFECTED BY HURRICANE FLORENCE In September, the residents on the east coast braced for the “Storm of the Century”. New Bern, North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Florence; when the storm howled through the city, it ooded homes, businesses, schools and streets for days. The School of Discovery Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter immediately sprang into action, raising $406.06 by soliciting family and friends, cash boxes in classrooms, PTO meetings and Blue Jean Fridays. This donation is being presented to Grover C. Fields Middle School in New Bern. Assistant Principal Keith Davis said that the monies will be used to help displaced students.

WHAT A KICK-OFF TO RED RIBBON WEEK! Community Partners, Jerria Martin, Director at Drug Free Communities of Dallas County, Diondre Mathis, Mentor at the Brant Center, and Sergeant Kiser and the Selma Police Department K-9 Unit, joined School of Discovery’s Anti-Drug Assembly! Some of the program activities included engaging, real-world activities, shared statistics and words of wisdom, live demonstrations, and the Drug Free charge.

This year’s theme, “Life is a Journey Travel Drug Free” resounded from teachers, parents, scholars, and community partners who entered the Drug Free spirit at School of Discovery (SOD)! SOD’s Junior Hope Dealers led the drug-free pledge with their fellow classmates! SOD’s scholars concluded Red Ribbon week by signing a banner that is displayed in the hallway, pledging to Travel through Life Drug Free. We are a Drug Free School! We are a Drug Free Community! We are SOD! We are SOD!

SELMA HIGH SCHOOL SHS BREAKFAST CLUB The Selma High Breakfast Club is designed to share and teach our young men the principles of manhood. The mentoring program helps young men realize their potential, while preparing them for a strong productive future. The Selma High Breakfast Club recently hosted one of its mentoring partners, Carlos Harvest, as a guest speaker for the young men. Mr. Harvest is one of our positive role models that provide positive examples of manhood to the young men. He shared his story about how growing up and getting with the wrong crowd and how it changed his whole life; but he didn't allow his downfall to depict his future. Mr. Harvest concluded by providing the young men with recommendations to break the misguided traits of manhood. We are looking forward to enhancing our male culture and initiating great things at Selma High School.

SOPHIA P. KINGSTON

SGA ELECTIONS SPK Scholars’ Voices were heard loud and clear during our SGA Elections. Scholars from grades K-5 were allowed to make an informed decision and vote after hearing each candidates point of view during our SGA Speak Out. We look forward to teaming up for PAWgress with our scholars.

SPK STAR STUDENTS AND TEACHER OF THE YEAR SPK Star Students of the month are selected by their teachers based on their PAWSome behavior. These scholars are model students and set the standard by remembering to PAWS daily. SPK's Teacher of the Year is Ms. Kimberly McKinley-3rd grade. Ms. McKinley was selected by the SPK Faculty and Staff. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES Mrs. Shelbra McDonald- Byrd Elementary Ms. Krystal Dozier- Cedar Park Elementary Mrs. Ashara Hicks-Clark Elementary Mr. Justin Kelly -Edgewood Elementary Ms. Sharon Williams-Knox Elementary Ms. Rita Carmichael- Meadowview Elementary Mrs. Sherita Simmons- Payne Elementary Mrs. Jacqueline Peoples- R.B. Hudson Middle School Mrs. Mashika Tempero-Culliver- Selma High School Mrs. Jacqueline Lucy- School of Discovery Ms. Kimberly McKinley- Sophia P. Kingston Elementary

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER MAC & CHEESE Thanksgiving Leftover Mac & Cheese Ingredients 1 can (10 1/2ounces) Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup 1 1/2 cups milk 8 ounces (about 2 cups) elbow macaroni, cooked and drained 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey 1 can (15 ounces) sweet peas, drained (about 1 1/2 cups) 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 2 cups) 1 1/3 cups Fried Onions 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper How to Make It Step 1 Set the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Step 2 Stir the soup and milk in a large bowl. Stir in the macaroni, turkey, peas, half the cheese, half the onions and the black pepper. Spoon the macaroni mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Step 3 Bake for 25 minutes or until the macaroni mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir the macaroni mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining onions. Step 4 Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown. Prep time 15 minutes Total time 45 minutes Serves 7 people www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/thanksgiving-leftover-mac-cheese