Letter from PTA

Davis Families,

We are all still reeling from the recent violence at a Connecticut elementary school, and wondering what can be done to keep our own students safe.  If you read the letter from Dr. Mobley, you know our administration and the county are reviewing procedures and investigating additional methods of enhancing school safety.  Meanwhile, there ARE things the rest of us can do:

ALWAYS sign in.  Always.  Many of us have run in for “just a second”  and perhaps skipped that step, but it is important and it takes just a moment.  The sign in sheet will either be in the front office or at the desk in the front lobby.  Take a moment, and sign in.

DON’T be offended if a faculty or staff member questions your presence in the school or asks if you need help or directions.  It’s part of their job to ask.  In fact, we should thank any employee of our school who takes the time to inquire, as it’s a key part of keeping our students safe.  Also, if you are volunteering in the school and see someone who appears out of place or who might need direction, you should ask as well.  And if you have any concern about someone in the school, report it to the front office immediately.

VOLUNTEER for a shift at the front lobby desk.  We have had very little participation in this volunteer program despite repeated calls for volunteers.  This is a simple yet extremely effective way of monitoring who is in the school.  You can sign up for one shift or multiple shifts in a row if you have a day off, and you can sign up for multiple days at a time. Please sign up here:  http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/342345634578268077

If we all work together, we can improve the safety of our school, and therefore of our students.

Davis Elementary PTA

Letter from Dr. Mobley

Dear Davis Parents:                         Monday, Dec. 17, 2012

It has been a difficult weekend for all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Newtown, Connecticut community and especially the Sandy Hook Elementary school family.

I want to assure you that Davis has many security measures in place and we practice several different safety drills throughout the year. We want our students to feel that school is a safe place to be. We have multiple measures in place that enable us to keep the learning environment uninterrupted and safe.

Unfortunately there are acts of violence that take place like the events in Newtown that even our surveillance cameras, limited access to the building or other security measures cannot protect against. This was perpetrated by a disturbed individual. Despite that our highest priority is the safety of our students, your children. 

The staff will meet this afternoon to remind us all of the safety plans we have in place, to address concerns and make plans as we move forward from these heart wrenching events. We will make every effort to reassure the students that they are safe and we will do everything we can to keep them safe. We will not have discussions of what happened in any detail.

Cobb county police are visiting all schools in the county this week. We had an officer visit already this morning. They will also be readdressing safety plans and making any needed adjustments.

Thank you for your support. Hug your children a little tighter and celebrate the time you spend with them.

Dee Mobley

Flu Season...yuck!

Hello everyone, I just received some information about the flu, and since I have already had it this season I decided to pass this info on to you.
So here it is:

As you are well aware it is influenza (flu) season, and many of our students and staff are showing flu-like symptoms.  These students/staff get sick very quickly and have symptoms of high fever, cough, sore throat and possibly headache, stomachache and vomiting.

The flu can be passed from person to person.  It is most contagious starting one day before the person feels sick and for approximately three to seven days after the symptoms begin.  The flu-causing virus is spread when a person with the disease coughs, sneezes, or speaks, and releases the virus in the air. The virus can be transmitted from the surface to the hand, then to the nose, mouth, or eyes, resulting in flu infection.  Therefore, it is important to wash hands frequently, cover your cough, keep hands away from the face, and clean commonly touched surfaces.

If the student/staff develops a fever or flu-like symptoms, it is important that they stay home and rest.  Guidelines for exclusion and readmission to school due to illness include:

1. Returning to school when fever free (100.9 or below) for 24 hours without fever reducing medication
2. Returning to school 24 hours after the last diarrhea stool
3. Returning to school 24 hours after the last vomiting episode 

Thorough hand-washing with soap and water is the best prevention.   

The best prevention from influenza (flu) is to be vaccinated with the flu vaccine even now.  It’s not too late.

Informational links below:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/a_flu_guide_for_parents.pdf

www.flufacts.com 

www.flu.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyTips/index.html    

http://www.choa.org/Child-Health-Glossary/5/5W/5-Ways-to-Fight-the-Flu_KH_Teen

http://www.choa.org/Child-Wellness/Child-Wellness-Prevention/Operation-Prevent-Flu

http://www.choa.org/health-professionals/nurse-resources/school-nurses/building-bridges/building-bridges-newsletters

Lunch & Learn!!!

Lunch and Learn!!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Davis Elementary is pleased to host "Building Strong Families" presented by Marietta Counseling for Children & Adults.

When- Wednesday, November 28th from 12:00pm-1:00pm

November Update and Standards!!

Just letting everyone know what we've been up to in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd PE lately! I'm going to list the six National PE Standards, then I'll list the activities we've done over the last month that fits into those categories! As you will see the standards may be broad...but we get specific in class!!

Standard 1- Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical tasks.
 -We've gone over all sorts of locomotor skills- running, walking, jogging, skipping, galloping, hopping, jumping, leaping and sliding.
-Fitness Fridays we introduce and incorporate fitness skills into our activities- push-ups, planks, sit-ups, mountain climbers, jumping jacks...and all sorts of other movement patterns. 

Standard 2- Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
-Throwing and catching- both practice with partners and putting our skills to work in game settings.
- Dribbling (basketball)- we are currently introducing the students to the basic skills use in basketball

Standard 3- Participates regularly in physical activity.
-We know the students have PE 2 or 3 times a week, which is "regularly", but really, we want to encourage the kids to be active more!! Two or three times a week isn't enough. Please encourage your child to be active at home!!

Standard 4- Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
-We try each day to have the students moving as much as possible!
-Fitness Friday activities are designed specifically to minimize down time and to maximize "whole body movements"

Standard 5- Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
-This one is huge! Honesty, sportsmanship and respect are always praised, encouraged, and pointed out! Physical activities and game settings can be the best place for students to see the impact of consistently displaying these behaviors!

Standard 6- Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction.
-We discuss and demonstrate the many benefits there are to leading a physically active lifestyle as often as we can. Making the students' experience enjoyable and fun yet challenging and beneficial is a daily goal!

Thanks for reading up on what we've been doing!! I still can't believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner!!

Fast Start

We sure had a fast start to this school year. Can't believe September is almost gone. We've really been able to accomplish quite a bit so far. The best thing we've done- FINISH our first fitness testing of the school year!! What a great job these students have done! The next time we fitness test will be in the Spring. Once those scores are collected the students (grades 3-5) will be able to compare their Fall and Spring scores to see what has changed.

One small reminder- PLEASE try to remember good PE shoes for your student. We've been getting a few more pairs of sandals, flip flops and crocs than I'd like.

Thanks!
Coach J

End of the Year Already??

Can't believe it's already here. We only have a couple weeks of school left. I wanted to say a few things-

1- THANK YOU to all the volunteers we had for the different Field Days. It was great to have such a supportive group of parents come and lend us a few hours of their time. I can honestly say, Field Day would be impossible without them.

2- I wish the best of luck to all the 5th graders who are moving on to Mabry Middle. I know they will have a good time in middle school. Be sure to tell Mr Graber and Ms McCall that Coach Jones says hello!!

3- Have a great summer!!!

thanks again for another outstanding year!!
Coach Jones

Cystic Fibrosis Week!!

During the week of March 26 – 30^th Davis Elementary will be participating in a series of fundraisers to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that: clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In 1955 children born with CF were not expected to live long enough to enter elementary school, but thanks to foundation funded research and specialized care, an increasing number of people with cystic fibrosis are living into adulthood and leading healthier lives that include careers, marriage and families of their own.

For more information on Cystic Fibrosis and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) please visit the CFF web page by clicking HERE.

During CF Week we will be running 3 fundraisers at Davis Elementary-

1.) We will be selling CF Awareness Bracelets for $2 every morning outside the gym

2.) We will be selling hat passes for $1 on Tuesday and Thursday outside the gym

3.) We will be participating in a Jar Wars competition. Jar Wars is a class vs class competition to see who can bring in the most of a certain denomination of money for their class’s CF Jar. The schedule for Jar Wars is as follows- Monday= pennies, Tuesday= nickels, Wednesday= dimes, Thursday= quarters, and Friday= dollars/checks

*If you wish to donate with a check, please make it out to: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

All Money raised will go to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Please help out in any way you can! We will also be searching for volunteers to help count the money collected each day. To volunteer or for more information please contact Coach Jones via email: bryan.jones@cobbk12.org

Guest Teacher!

This year we have dubbed Fridays in PE "Fitness Fridays." It works out great. Fridays are a rotational day for all the specials- this means every Friday is a different class.

This Fitness Friday we had a wonderful visit from Mrs. Bobby Bourne. Mrs. Bourne is an aerobics instructor at Cosmos Fitness on Sandy Plains Rd. She has been instructing classes for 30+ years. She spent the day with us today taking each class through one of her many aerobics routines. The kids had a blast. She had all the students from Kindergarten through 5th grade engaged and involved.

Thank you Bobby for coming out!! Looking forward to your next visit, and I know the kids are too!!

The Davis Art Show!!

Mark your calendars now for our annual Davis ES Night of the Arts! Stop by the gym between 5:30 and 8:00 Tuesday night to see your child's favorite piece of artwork framed and proudly displayed. Love the frame? Think it would look great hanging in your home? Really love not having to take your child's amazing work of art to an expensive framing shop to preserve it forever? Great news! You can purchase the frame and take it home that night! The cost of $25 includes a small donation that will be used to buy equipment and supplies for the art room to benefit your children during all their years at Davis. So plan to bring your checkbook! Yes, we'll take cash too! Please note: We are unable to take charge cards. Artwork in unpurchased frames will be returned to students at a later date.

And . . . be prepared to be dazzled by our musical entertainment at the Night of the Arts as well! We are excited to announce that our talented Davis Chorus will present a spectacular performance in the Cafeteria as a part of the Night of the Arts. The Chorus will perform immediately following a brief PTA meeting at 6:30 P.M. The chorus program, entitled “Music Through the Ages” will feature music from Bach to Justin Bieber. Don’t miss the singing and dancing extravaganza featuring our fourth and fifth grade chorus students!

Please mark your calendars for March 13 and plan now to attend this evening of celebration to support the arts at Davis!