whalen

November School Council Agenda

Meeting Agenda

Friday, November 30, 2007

1.             Call to Order

2.             Review and Approve Agenda

3.             Review and Approve Minutes

4.             Old Business Topics:

a.      Playground Update

b.      Sidewalk to portables

5.             New Business Topics:

a.      PTA Update – Susan Laug

b.      Foundation Update – Lane Holt

6.             Report of the Principal:

a.      New Math Series & Math GPS Roll-out – Carole Lively & Nancy Sebren

7.             Presentation to School Council:

a.   Understanding the Test Results – Kim Montalbano

8.         Adjournment

School l

Smart Board

In a recent article published in "Edutopia", a periodical published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, "Smart Boards" are described as one of the best things to happen to classroom technology in the last twenty years. 

What is a Smart Board?  Smart Board is the brand name of the interactive whiteboard which is growing in popularity in classrooms around the country.  The whiteboard is essentially a large, touch-sensitive screen, which is connected via a standard USB plug, to a computer and a digital projector.  The computer's screen image is then displayed on the white board.  Software enables the computer to be controlled from the whiteboard by a hand or by special pens.  Work done on the board can be saved on the computer and emailed, which, over the course of the school year, can mean a significant reduction in paper handouts. 

Interactive whiteboards were first introduced to the business world in 1991 and quickly became a huge success.  Educators are now beginning to discover what the business community is raving about.  One of the benefits of the interactive whiteboard is, all students can easily see the images, enabling the lesson to become an engaging group activity.  The whiteboard "brings the information alive" to the students.  Each lesson using the whiteboard becomes "an interactive one, and students are very motivated to learn."  The whiteboard can be used daily, often in conjunction with the Internet in all subjects: reading, writing, math, science, health, and social studies. 

Currenty, Sope Creek has six portable Smart Boards.  One is assigned to each grade level and trained teachers sign up to have the Smart Board in their classroom for a day at a time.  The Smart Boards are busy every day and as more of the staff becomes trained, they are in increasing demand.

The Sope Creek Foundation kicked off the SmartKid Fundraiser at the beginning of October with the goal to raise enough money to permanently mount one Smart Board and an LCD projector in each classroom.  The cost for that equipment to mounted plus the wiring and an automatic student response system for every classroom is approximately $3500. 

This is a great goal for equipping our classrooms with cutting edge technology which will prepare our students for the 21st century.   

School Council Agenda

School Council

Meeting Agenda

Friday, September 28, 2007

1.             Call to Order

2.             Review and Approve Agenda

3.             Review and Approve Minutes

4.             Old Business Topics:

a.      Nominate a second business partner/parent

b.      Dates & times for upcoming meetings

5.             New Business Topics:

a.      Annual required Council training (11:43)

b.      Select chairman, vice-chairman, & secretary

6.             Report of the Principal:

a.      SIP Goals for 2007-2008

b.      SFSD Plan to support Goals

7.             Presentation to School Council:

a.      Georgia Performance Standards & Performance Based Instruction –  Jessica Appleyard

8.         Adjournment

September Creek Chronicle Article

In Memory of Dr. Karen Looft
On August 4, 2007 the Sope Creek community lost a dear friend, a talented leader, an educational visionary, and a tender guardian of our children. Despite a long, difficult, and courageous battle with cancer, Dr. Looft continued to model quiet grace, dignity, and a passionate concern for each child, parent, and colleague in our school. As we begin a new school year without her daily presence, we wish to remember her dedication and humble good sense. In the April 2006 Sope Creek Chronicle she quoted the following poem to encourage each of us to “stick with our personal principles and show them to others.” It is in loving memory of Dr. Looft that we publish her poem.

Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends along with true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, they may cheat you.
Be forthright anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous and scorn you.
Be joyous anyway.
The good you do today, they often will forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it will never be enough.
Give the best you’ve got anyway.
You see in the final analysis, it is between you and your maker.
It was never between you and them…
Anyway.

August Creek Chronicle Article

Dear Sope Creek Families,

It is with great pleasure that I write my initial correspondence to you as the new principal at Sope Creek.  I have been a part of this community as a parent and educator for many years.  Both of my children attended Sope Creek and it is exciting to be joining such an exemplary faculty and staff.

For the past seven years I have ben an administrator in West Cobb elementary schools; first at Cheatham Hill for three years and then Varner for the last four years.  Prior to becoming an administrator, I taught for thirteen years at East Side Elementary. I was a Special Education teacher for four years and then Learner Support Strategist for nine years.  As LSS, I collaborated frequently with the facutly at Sope Creek.

On a personal note, my husband, Michael, and I have two sons:  Sean and Scott.  Sean graduated from Wheeler High School in May and is planning to attend Kennesaw State University this fall.  Scott is entering seventh grade at East Cobb Middle School this fall.

I already know many of the families, faculty, and staff through my years as a Sope Creek parent.  In many ways, this change feels like I'm returning "home!"  I'm looking froward to meeting and getting to know everyone and supporting all of the traditions of excellence at Sope Creek.

Sincerely,

Martha Whalen

2007-2008

Looking forward to a great year!