Welcome Back!

PICKETT COUNTY K-8

AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Dear Families,

     WELCOME BACK!  We are excited to begin the new school year.  There have been a few changes this year with staff.  Ms. Rena Scott is teaching 2^nd grade this year with Ms. Nicola Cooksey taking her place in the computer lab.  Ms. Jane Winningham took the position of principal at the high school, and Ms. Deedee Buck took her place in 6^th grade language arts.  Ms. Barbara Gibson retired and Ms. Emily Rush took her place in 4^th grade.  Mr. Michael Zachary retired and Ms. Kendra Howard took his position in special education.  Mr. Mitch Buckman will be filling in for Ms. Pauletta Dowdy in 8^th grade language arts until she is able to return back to school.

     All students will be taking a universal screener for language arts and math this year.  This screener will help us identify students who may need interventions in both subjects.  We are expecting to administer the screener within the next two weeks.  We will be sending results home and contacting parents if your child is in need of an intervention to get their skills to grade level.  This is part of the state’s RTI model, which we are implementing fully this year.

     We will be having a Parent/Student Orientation night this year.  We have scheduled it for Monday, August 25^th.  Kindergarten through 4^th grades will be at 5:30 p.m. in the K-8 gym and 5^th through 8^th grades will be at 6:30 p.m. in the K-8 gym.

     Last year was the last year of after school grant.  We reapplied for the grant and we are pleased to let everyone know we have been awarded the grant for at least next three years.  Therefore, we will have the PEACE Program again this year.  We will be starting Friday, August 15^th.  We have sent notes home with students concerning our kick off dinner. Return those to school by Tuesday, August 18^th if you plan to attend.

     I would like to remind everyone that students are expected to be in class at 8:00 a.m. and stay until 3:00 p.m. if they ride a bus and until 3:10 p.m. if they are a car rider.  Students who are not in class by 8:00 a.m. will be counted tardy.  A new policy concerning field trips this year states:  inappropriate school or bus-related behavior or previous trip misbehavior or excessive absences including tardies and leaving early will result in a student’s loss of field trip privileges.   I am asking parents who pick up your children to wait for them in the front lobby and not ask office staff to call for them before 3:10 p.m. unless you have a valid reason such as a doctor’s appointment, dentist appointment, etc., and let office staff know the reason you need them before designated dismissal time.  We know traffic in the afternoon is hectic and we realize several parents come in and ask for students even before 3:00 p.m. on a daily basis to beat the rush.  Traffic usually clears out by 3:25 p.m. and if you want to miss the traffic, please adjust your schedule to pick your students accordingly after 3:10 p.m.

                                                                                    Kenny Tompkins, Principal