March 2010

FCAT
FCAT is here! FCAT will be administered to all third, fourth and fifth grade students beginning on March 9th. Please make sure that your child gets a good night’s rest each night and arrives to school on  time. The teachers and students have been working diligently to prepare for the FCAT. It is now time to show what we know!

Play Day
Coach McCray is in the process of planning Play Day 2010! Because of the large number of students, there will be two separate dates for Play Day. A Primary Play Day for grades K-2 will be on April 15th, and an Intermediate Play Day for grades 3-5 on April 16th. Detailed information will be sent home  at a later date.

Saturday School
Thanks to all of the third, fourth, and fifth grade students who attended Saturday School! We had an  awesome time and learned many new things. Parents, thanks for your commitment to making sure   that your child attended. We look forward to making next year bigger and better!

I would like to express a sincere thank you to our local businesses: IHOP, Sonic, (both on 103rd Street), Hardees, Famous Amos, and Golden Corral (the remaining three on Normandy). These businesses donated breakfasts to our students for Saturday School. Whenever you visit, please let them know that  your child attends Gregory Drive Elementary and we appreciate their investment into our school. 

With our children in mind,

Mrs. Andrea Williams-Scott

February 2010

Dear Parents,

We are now back into the full swing of school. Thank you for helping your child to readjust so quickly and getting refocused on the task of putting forth great effort to learn new things each day.

As many of you know, FCAT is around the corner. With all testing, we encourage children to get a “good night’s sleep” the night before. However, research has proven that children need to change their sleeping habits approximately two weeks before testing in order for it to have the best effect. Therefore, I am asking that if your third, fourth, or fifth grade child doesn’t have a bedtime that you enforce one as we enter into this testing season. They should begin the set time for sleeping no later than February 22, 2010.

Saturday School for third, fourth, and fifth grade is going great! Each Saturday we have more than 100 students! The students are enjoying attending and so are the teachers. During Saturday School, students are in smaller classes and work on highly engaging lessons. I would like to thank all of you for sending your children. It shows your commitment to furthering your child’s education.

During Saturday School, we have been able to serve the children wonderful hot breakfasts thanks to some local restaurants. Breakfast was provided by Sonic and IHOP, all on 103rd Street, Famous Amos and Hardees, on Normandy Blvd., free of charge! We have made thank you banners and letters for these restaurants. However, I would like for them to hear from you as well. Therefore, if you visit any of these restaurants in the near future, please ask for a manager and let them know that you are a Gregory Drive Elementary parent and thank them for all they have done for our school

With our children in mind,

Mrs. Andrea Williams-Scott

January 2010

Dear Parents,

I hope that the Winter Break provided you with opportunities to spend time and connect with family and friends. At the beginning of each year, we all reflect on things that we are going to do differently or things that we would like to revisit. This is a perfect time to rededicate yourselves to your child’s education. There are some very simple steps that you can take in order to make a huge difference in your child’s education. Please read with them each night. If you have younger children, it is more than appropriate for you to read to them. However, it also helps for you to share a book by reading a page or sentence at a time to each other. For older students, have your child read aloud to you. This one thing can make a huge difference in helping your child become a better student.

 This month, we have the good fortune of having a book illustrator visit our school. His name is Chris Soentpiet. He has illustrated many great books, including our December Book of the Month, Silver Packages. He will be visiting our school on Thursday, January 13, 2010. He will do a presentation and will autograph books for our children. If your child has a copy of one of the books he has illustrated, this would be a great time to have it autographed!

 

With our children in mind,

Mrs. Andrea Williams-Scott