Tiger Newsflash 10-2-16

10-2-16

Good afternoon!

I hope everyone had a great weekend with your family and friends! This weekend I had a great time with both the time I got to spend with my wife and The Jefferson Township Fire Department. Yesterday, I worked with our Fire Department as we were involved in our annual Boot Drive collecting money to support two local Bellville very sick families in need. It was great to see people from Mount Vernon, Bellville, and surrounding communities pass through and help support this cause (including our very own Blubaugh Body & Service and Ohio Rental Companies). Thank you everyone!

Now back to business, please enjoy your weekly updates below:


Favorite Picture of The Week:

Simply put....We have great students!

CODING At Columbia Elementary:
As you already know, we have implemented a Coding Program into our instruction at Columbia Elementary.  Every Friday, our students in grades 1-5 are learning Coding, which is the basis of Computer Science. There are currently 523,222 jobs in The United States relating to Computer Science, while only 42,969 only graduated into this workforce last year. Furthermore, there is a large shortage nationwide of females that are in these fields.  It is our goal to give our students an equal opportunity to go after these careers if they so choose. While this is a challenge nationwide, it is our job at Columbia Elementary and a community to make sure our students are prepared for their future.
This type of instruction will be a gradual and progressive process as we are all learning together the importance of these skills. To support this process, I spent last Tuesday with a team of teachers learning more about how to better instruct our students.  It was worthwhile!  

Feel free to check out code.org for more information.   

Teacher Goal Conferences:
I am in the process of finishing up meeting with teachers to discuss their goals for our students during this school year.  I have to be honest with you.  We have great teachers working with your children.  I truly was impressed by the level of passion and focus that our teachers have for improving your children on a daily basis. This collaborative process takes time, but I really enjoyed our rich conversations and reassurance of the great work that is taking place in our classrooms.

State Testing Reward from the 15-16 School Year:
Last year, I made a promise to our students that if they passed ALL parts of their state tests, that I would reward them.  By their request, they wanted me to bring back the Game Truck that we had rented for them last year.  As our students rose to the occasion to achieving this high expectation,our PTO and school joined forces to make sure we fulfilled this promise. For this reason, current 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders (from Columbia Elementary) 45 minutes in the game truck if they passed all parts of last year's state tests.

We had a blast! Check out these pictures:

Tiger Up Shirt Fridays:

In addition to our "Tiger Up Time" on the Third Wednesday of each month (expect March's is March 8th), I would like to see our students wear their Tiger Up shirts every Friday.  I will be supporting mine and I would like our entire student body wearing their shirts too.  It always puts a smile on my face seeing them in these shirts.  Of course in addition to the normal smile that they bring me on a daily basis:)



THIS FRIDAY -10/7-Columbia Elementary Annual Team Picture.
 The time has finally arrived! THIS FRIDAY WE ARE TAKING OUR TEAM PICTURE!!! I am soo excited for this moment! We will be taking both our Outdoor Classroom Pictures and our whole school picture on Friday afternoon.  Make sure your child/ren wear their Tiger Up shirt for this cool picture opportunity.  If your child has outgrown their shirt and you would like to donate it for another child to use or you are in need of another shirt, please give Mrs. Miller a call or let either of us know..  .  



Important Upcoming Dates:

10/4-PTO Meeting at 6pm

10/6-Yes Concert-Grade 4-10am

10/7-Money Machine Reward for Mumkin Sale-During Lunch (we’ll run this after the students are done eating then dismiss them for recess).

10/7-Columbia Elementary All School Picture-3pm (class pictures will begin at 2pm)-Wear your Tiger Up Shirts!!

10/7-Student of the Month Lunch Pizza Party

10/13-Yes Concert-Grade 1 at 10am

10/14-COSI On Wheels for our students-Thank you PTO!!

10/14-End of First 9wks

10/17-Teacher Workday-No Students

10/17-Columbia Elementary Presenting at BOE Meeting at 6pm-You are welcome to join us!

10/18-Second 9wks Begins

10/21-Grade Cards Go Home

10/25-Trick or Read from 6-7pm
10/28-Halloween Classroom Parties (Starting at 2:45pm)

2016-2017 District Calendar(CLICK ON LINK)

State Testing Dates 2016-17 (CLICK ON LINK)


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Thank you for allowing us to serve your children!

Tiger Up!

Matt