News and Notes from R. L. Young

Students and parents are anxiously
awaiting the start of our Honor Assembly.
Students are given awards for A & A-B
Honor Roll, meeting their AR Goal,
Perfect Attendance during a grading period
and an A in conduct. This is done each
grading period after the report cards have
been sent home. We love our students!

Smokey the Bear visited our K-2 students.
Mrs. Brooks' class was happy to pose with
Smokey for a quick pic! Thanks to Smokey,
our students are "Fire Safety Smart".

As always, our Fall Festival was a huge
success! There were wall to wall people,
good food, fun, suprises and goblins for
all. Thanks to all for helping us have
one of the best Fall Festivals ever!

These 5th graders are shown with their
Native American creations. These beautiful
creations were on display for all to enjoy.
Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Thomas are proud
of the effort put forth by their students.

Erin Bailey and Haley Bowman are
proud to show off their hard work.
We have been very busy over here at
R. L. Young this first semester of 07-08.
Mrs. Paris, the faculty, students and
parents work well together. As Mrs.
Pattie Thomas states so often: Alone we
can do so little; together, we can do so much
(Helen Keller). This is so true. When the
school and the home work well together,
greatness is the outcome.

R. L. Young Second Graders are 2 for 6!

Second grade students in Mrs. Armstrong's class are busy little bees. Their hard work is paying off by all 17 students making the "A" and "A-B" honor roll for the first and second six weeks! Fourteen of these busy bees met their AR goal. According to what they have done so far, things are looking good for the third six weeks, too! Way to go kids! Keep up the good work; we are proud of you all!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Read All About It!

A wise man once told me that, "If it ain't written, it ain't said". It is written today in the Daily Home. Over half the student body here at R. L. Young Elementary School made the "A" and "A-B" honor roll! Students: take a bow. Teachers: take a bow. Mrs. Paris: take a bow. Parents: take a bow. This is an awesome achievement. Congratulations to all! The proof is DEFINITELY in the pudding!

Buster the Bus visits R. L. Young's K-2 students

First and second grade students at
R. L. Young were treated to a bus safety
assembly featuring "Buster the Bus".

Buster chose Mrs. Armstrong to
help him out. As you can see, Mrs.
Armstrong is trying to get on Buster's
level to follow directions.

Second grader Mary Wilson and
first grader Tommy Wilcox help
out by demonstrating the importance
of the "Danger Zone".

Last year, the teachers were treated
to a surprise water spray by Buster.
This year, the teachers demonstrated
their dancing ability by performing the
twist, hokey-pokey, bunny-hop, chicken
dance and the YMCA dance. Mrs. Vincent
can move muscles we didn't know she had!

Buster saved his best for the last group,
our precious kindergarteners and their
teachers: Mrs. Liner, Mrs. Nabors and
Mrs. Lamberth. The first and second
grade teachers decided to not spoil
their surprise about the dance moves.
We all love Buster the Bus here at R. L.
Young. We can't wait till next year when
he rolls our way again!

Writing Assessment Annotated Packets

The new Annotated Student Response Packets for the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing have been posted to the state website. You can go directly to the download page here.

Calendar Options

The Calendar Committee met yesterday and has drafted three options for your consideration. To view the calendars, click here. Here are the basic differences in the calendars:

• Option 1--You have an entire week for Thanksgiving. The trade off comes by giving up time during the race weekends. There are also no weather days in this calendar.
• Option 2--You have three days for Thanksgiving (just like you have now). You will have a holiday and a weather day at race weekend time.
• Option 3--You have an entire week for Thanksgiving. The school years ends one week later on this calendar, giving some breathing room to take weather days and holidays.

The Calendar Committee will meet again on December 12 to tally the votes from each school. Between now and then, and representative from your building will be having you submit your vote for the option of your choice. Each employee gets a vote.

Thanks to the members of the Calendar Committee for their time and effort!

Happy Birthday Mr. Cobb!

What a surprise Mr. Cobb had on November 7 when he walked into his office. It was decorated with balloons, banners, confetti, and cupcakes. The teachers blew party horns. It was Mr. Cobb's birthday! Mr. Cobb wore a party hat, stickers, and money pinned to his shirt to celebrate. He was presented an Auburn book from the faculty. The students all had a good time wishing Mr. Cobb a Happy Birthday!

Reminder--Auditions for the Missoula Children's Theater

Just a reminder that open auditions will be held on Monday, November 26 for the Missoula Children's Theater production of "Robinson Crusoe." Auditions will be held at the Ritz beginning at 5:00 P.M. Any student in grades K-8 may audition. Please remind your students.

Approximately 60 roles will be cast, all with local students. No advanced preparation is required. After a week of focused rehearsals, there will be two public performances of "Robinson Crusoe" at the Ritz on December 1.

There is no fee to audition. There is a cost of $20 for those who are cast to help with the expenses related to the production.

The productions include professional lighting, sets, costumes, and music. Most importantly, it is a wonderful opportunity for local students to perform in a theater production and have a wonderful education experience.Thanks to George Culver and the Historic Ritz Theater for providing our students with this opportunity!

Mr. Berry named Hal Henderson's Teacher of the Year

In this photo, left to right - Mr. Berry, Gerald Wallace, and a former student at Henderson.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. BERRY!

Mr. Berry was selected by his co-workers as Hal Henderson's Teacher of the Year and JSU Hall of Fame nominee. We are very proud of Mr. Berry and know that he will represent our school well. He is a very talented educator and such a positive role model for our students. His classroom is well managed and his students are always actively engaged and work hard to meet his high expectations. All students respect him and appreciate his knowledge. We are very proud of our Teacher of the Year!

SENIOR NIGHT-Don't miss it!

Intel® Teach Program

For close to a decade, Intel® Teach Program has been helping K–12 teachers around the world understand how, when, and where to bring technology tools and resources into their classrooms. To date, the program has trained more than four million teachers in more than 40 countries, and is committed to reaching 13 million teachers by 2011.

Janet Taylor, Technology in Motion trainer for the University of Montevallo’s Inservice Center, is the Intel trainer for two groups of Talladega City School teachers. We are proud of our teachers for improving their computer skills and opening a new world for the students lucky enough to be in their classrooms.

To learn more about this program, visit:

http://video.intel.com/?fr_story=c484ff697c345905bdc57dab3dfc55928d857f7c&rf=bm?iid=teach+preview

I Am A Teacher

I am a Teacher.


I was born the first moment that a question leaped from the mouth of a child.
I have been many people in many places.
I am Socrates exciting the youth of Athens to discover new ideas using questions.
I am Anne Sullivan tapping out the secrets of the universe into the outstretched hand of Helen Keller.
I am Aesop and Hans Christian Andersen revealing truth through countless stories.
I am Marva Collins fighting for every child's right to an education.
I am Mary McCleod Bethune building a great college for my people, using orange crates for desks.
And I am Bel Kaufman struggling to go "Up The Down Staircase."
I am those teachers whose names and faces have long been forgotten but whose lessons and character will always be remembered in the accomplishments of their students.

I have wept for joy at the weddings of former students, laughed with glee at the birth of their children and stood with head bowed in grief and confusion by graves dug too soon for bodies far too young.

Throughout the course of a day I have been called upon to be an actor, friend, nurse and doctor, coach, finder of lost articles, money lender, taxi driver, psychologist, substitute parent, salesman, politician and a keeper of the faith.

Despite the maps, charts, formulas, verbs, stories and books, I have really had nothing to teach, for my students really have only themselves to learn, and I know it takes the whole world to tell you who you are.

I am a paradox. I speak loudest when I listen the most. My greatest gifts are in what I am willing to appreciatively receive from my students.

Material wealth is not one of my goals, but I am a full-time treasure seeker in my quest for new opportunities for my students to use their talents and in my constant search for those talents that sometimes lie buried in self-defeat.

I am the most fortunate of all who labor.
A doctor is allowed to usher life into the world in one magic moment. I am allowed to see that life is reborn each day with new questions, ideas and friendships.

An architect knows that if he builds with care, his structure may stand for centuries. A teacher knows that if he builds with love and truth, what he builds will last forever.

I am a warrior, daily doing battle against peer pressure, negativity, fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance and apathy. But I have great allies: Intelligence, Curiosity, Parental Support, Individuality, Creativity, Faith, Love and Laughter all rush to my banner with indomitable support.

And whom do I have to thank for this wonderful life I am so fortunate to experience, but you the public, the parents. For you have done me the great honor to entrust to me your greatest contribution to eternity, your children.

And so I have a past that is rich in memories. I have a present that is challenging, adventurous and fun because I am allowed to spend my days with the future.

I am a teacher...and I count my blessings for it every day.

By John W. Schlatter

An American Education Week Message from Dr. Horton

November 14, 2007


Dear Educator:

As we observe American Education Week, I would like to extend my appreciation to you for choosing to become an educator and to work in the Talladega City Schools. Thank you for the job you do every day with all the students. The schools are special because of you!

Sincerely,


Joanne Horton, Ed.D.
Superintendent

P.S. I hope you enjoy this short video about the extraordinary things people can do. When you look in the faces of your students, do you see this potential?

Lee Iacocca

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers, and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest responsibility anyone could have."
--Lee Iacocca

Look at the Faces in Your Classroom Today...Could They Do Extraordinary Things?

American Education Week is a good time to stop and consider the potential of students in our schools today. Take a moment to view this video clip entitled, "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things." Better yet, show it to your students...it is very inspirating!




ps. To enlarge the screen full size, click on the icon located under the Teacher Tube emblem.

Freedom is Not Free

On this Veteran's Day, a remembrance to those who paid the ultimate price to preserve the freedom we all enjoy.

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young soldier saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No Freedom is not free
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No Freedom isn't free!

Kelly Strong, 1981

Mystery Readers at R. L. Young

The children in Mrs. Bittle's first grade class at Raymond L. Young Elementary never know who will appear as a Mystery Reader each week. This classroom program provides an opportunity for children to hear others read and begin to see themselves as readers.

This year Mrs. Bittle has had parents, grandparents, Central Office staff, and administrators share their favorite books. Recently, Dr. Frank Buck shared a book entitled Parade. Once was a band director, he shared his love for music with the children and played some familiar tunes on a recorder.

The use of Mystery Readers in a classroom allows students a break from routine, a bit of excitement, a boost of motivation to become a reader, and fun memories of their first grade year.

Good job, Mrs. Bittle for going the extra mile to provide something special for your students!

You Want Heroes?

This article is now several years old, yet it's message is eternal. In the world of journalism, there is perhaps no truer friend of education than Frosty Troy. His message is that if we are truly looking for heroes in our society, the classroom is an awfully good place to start. His article can be read here.

As we begin this American Education Week, there is perhaps no more appropriate time to remind ourselves of how essential our profession is to the prosperity of this nation--past, present, and future.

Mega Conference Registration

Registration information for the 2008 Mega Conference (July 15-18, 2008) is posted here.

Auditions for the Missoula Children's Theater

Open auditions will be held on Monday, November 26 for the Missoula Children's Theater production of "Robinson Crusoe." Auditions will be held at the Ritz beginning at 5:00 P.M. Any student in grades K-8 may audition.

Approximately 60 roles will be cast, all with local students. No advanced preparation is required. After a week of focused rehearsals, there will be two public performances of "Robinson Crusoe" at the Ritz on December 1.

There is no fee to audition. There is a cost of $20 for those who are cast to help with the expenses related to the production.

The productions include professional lighting, sets, costumes, and music. Most importantly, it is a wonderful opportunity for local students to perform in a theater production and have a wonderful education experience.Thanks to George Culver and the Historic Ritz Theater for providing our students with this opportunity!

Biology Item Specifications

The Alabama State Department of Education has posted the new Biology Item Specifications. I have posted them to our "Downloadable Documents" section. A direct link to this particular document is here.