DOUGLAS DRAGONEER

Douglas A+ Creative Arts & Science Magnet Elementary School

Week of October 8 to October 12

                 

Upcoming Events

 

 

 

Oct 9          Meet the Specialists & PTA Mtg, 7:00 pm

Oct 16        McTeacher’s Night, 5 – 8 pm

Oct 23        Arts Night and Dinner

Oct 22-26   Book Fair in Media Center

Oct 26         Individual Picture Day!

 

 

                  Magnet Corner

“The Essentials Behind Douglas”

 

Installment #5: Essential Evidence:            Climate!           Fifth in 10-part series

 

This week, we’ll take a look at another one of the eight A+ Essentials – Climate.  When teachers work as intensely to plan, collaborate, integrate and assess as we do here at Douglas, it would be easy to get overly stressed and burned out.  For that reason, developing positive climate is essential to our school!

 

Developing positive climate includes many different things at the school that help students, staff and faculty to enjoy what they do and remain positive and happy.  It includes providing development opportunities for teachers and staff in order to keep them growing professionally.  It includes helping teachers to find management strategies that support the use of integration in the classroom.  It includes little everyday things that help the staff and faculty to maintain high morale and low stress – like secret pals, like social activities, like a lovely teacher’s lounge, like funding for classroom materials, like folks on staff to provide help and support.

 

And because it’s fun to teach and learn through the arts, students and teachers enjoy what they are doing.  You can hear it in the classrooms.  You can feel it in the arts rooms.  You can see it in the smiles of the students and adults in the building. Teaching and learning the A+ way is exciting. As a matter of fact, an A+ Principal was heard describing her teachers as “happy and engaged” and said that “kids come to school excited about new challenges and often ask – what are we learning today?”   Teaching this way is hard work and requires time, diligence and dedication, but with a strong climate in place and a commitment to maintaining it, Douglas is a great place to be, for kids and adults alike.

 

So we’ve got climate, what’s in place to keep things humming?  Find out in the next installment in the series, The Essentials Behind Douglas.

 

You are Invited!

All parents are invited to meet the Specialist Teachers and attend our PTA meeting Tues., Oct. 9th, at 7pm in the Media Center.

 

DRAGON FIRE CAMPAIGN

What is Dragon Fire?  A fundraising campaign by the PTA to benefit our school.  100% of all donations go directly to fund activities and enrichment for our students and staff.

 

Why should you make a donation to the PTA Dragon Fire Campaign?

1.  Cultural Arts events for your children, Arts Night, Math/Science Night, our new Web Site, Character Education, Variety Show, Family Fun Night, Field Day, New landscaping, Odyssey of the Mind, Reflections, Student Council, Teacher and Staff Support . . .

 

2.  You don't have to sell anything.

 

3.  The class with the most participation will win a Class Celebration!

 

4.  Because we want to see Dr. Spivey KISS A PIG!

 

If 75% of Douglas Families participate (ANY amount donated!) or we reach our $3,000 goal, than Dr. Spivey will kiss Annabelle the Pig at Arts Night, AND we'll have a well funded PTA budget to be able to accomplish everything listed in #1 above.

 

Checks can be made payable to Douglas PTA, please include your child’s name and teacher name.  Questions?  Alice Spickard 877-0490 or Susan Steltenpohl 788-0941 

              

            NEW WEBSITE!

    http://douglas.wcpss.net/ 

Thank you to Pat Van Vickle, web master, who created our new Douglas Web Site.  If you have not had the chance to see Pat's handiwork, please visit our new school site at: http://douglas.wcpss.net/  Thanks, also, to the PTA and staff committee members who worked to make this new site a reality.  Hats off to parent Karen Moore who has poured hours and hours of volunteer energy into designing, editing, and managing this new site!  Thank you!

 

     Reflections Art Program

It is that time of year again... Time for our Annual PTA Reflections Arts Program!  Every student is invited to participate by creating a work of art. All artwork must reflect this year's theme:

"I can make a difference by. . . "

Students may enter the contest by entering artwork in any of these 6 categories: visual arts (drawing, painting, collage, etc.), photography, literature, dance choreography, film/video production, and musical composition.

 

Parents, please read the rules before entering your child's artwork! There are limitations on size of work, and rules for preparing artwork for entry. All of this information including: rules, entry forms, and helpful hints will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 10th, in the Media Center.

 

Deadline to enter Reflections: Friday, November 30th!  Questions? Contact Claudia Dickson: isaiah43a@gmail.com or (919) 782-7801.  Stop by the Media Center to pick up your Reflections Information on or after Wed, Oct. 10th.

 

Meet your friends

at the Golden Arches!

McTeacher’s Night at McDonald’s is Tuesday, October 16.  Your school principal, assistant principal and other Douglas teachers and staff will be serving up all your McDonald’s favorites from 5-8 pm at the 6213 Falls of Neuse location, so come out and join us for dinner. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Douglas PTA!  It’s a fun night you won’t want to miss.

 

You never know who might be working in the car pool line on Tuesday, October 16th.

Questions? Call Beth Gargan at 881-8260.

   

 

 

HELP WANTED!

 

* School Store: The store is HOPPING and we could use some more help!  We need a volunteer to work every Friday from 8:45-9:10. If you are interested in helping out, contact Becky Ogburn at bogburn@nc.rr.com or call her at 786-4466. Thanks!

 

 

* T-shirt contest: Remind your kids to show how they think "Arts and Science Rocks" at Douglas!  That is the theme of the contest!  Use the colors red, blue, gold and green on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.  Use the school name or mascot.  The winner receives a basket of art supplies or science supplies!  And best of all their design goes on the t-shirt.  Put all entries in the box by the school store.  Entries are due by Oct.12 and the winner will be revealed on Arts Night.  Call Susan Steltenpohl with questions 788-0941.

 

 

* Health Room: Do you have gently used clothes? Often times, when children become ill or hurt, a change of clothing is needed to get them home or through the rest of the day.  Any donations, all sizes, are greatly appreciated. Drop off in the office.  Contact Tammy Clarke with questions - 250-0146

 

 

* Arts Night Volunteers: We need some extra hands on Arts Night to help with dinner. Set-up is from 4pm -5pm, serving from 5pm - 6pm, and clean up from 6pm -6:30pm. If you are interested please contact Mindy Magrath at mark_magrath_1999@yahoo.com or 676-8608.

 

* PTA Email Distribution List: The PTA is looking for a volunteer who can help us set up a PTA distribution list for email.  We would love an easy way to send out a global email to PTA members to keep members informed about what is going on at Douglas.  We have the email addresses; we simply need help setting up an efficient system.

 

If you are tech savvy and are willing to help, please contact Alice Spickard, PTA president, at alicespickard@yahoo.com or 877-0490.