Curious George attended our open house this fall along with many families from our CMCSS schools!

Monarch butterflies migrate from the Eastern USA to Mexico in October each year. Families made paper butterflies which we will mail to Mexico via the Journey North program. The butterflies will be tended by children in Mexico who will mail them back to us in the spring.

Real butterflies fly to Mexico, lay their eggs, and die. It is the “children” and “grandchildren” of the insects from USA that return in the spring.

Our book was Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster. Families read their free copies of the book before our meeting and were ready to make a costume for a vocabulary word! Everyone had fun making a “costume”–and we even paraded around the parking lot!

Mesina Bullock, wellness coordinator for CMCSS, is leading a “BE FIT” program for families! They will be learning healthy eating habits as well as other ways to be a FIT family! Families who attend all the sessions will be eligible to win a WII with the FIT program!

You can go to http://babelfish.yahoo.com for free translation service!

This link will take you to podcasts by authors!

Here’s a link to podcast en Espanol!

In the car in traffic and the kids are restless. Sing a spelling song!

You’re standing in line to check out at Wal-Mart and the kids want all those fun things by the cash register. Sing a spelling song!

And if you don’t know any, here’s a chant or two you might try. [Think military march songs...]

There IS no A in they!

What did I just say?

There IS no A in they!

You start with THE.

You add a Y.

It changes sounds!

Don’t ask ME why!

There IS no A in they!

What’s that you say?

There IS no A in they!

[We make the letters ala YMCA with this one!}

It’s I

before E

except after C

or when sounding like A

as in NEIGHBOR and WEIGH.

August 11 is the first full day of school for students. And the Learning Centers are off to a jack-rabbit start! Visit the Learning Center North @ Northwest High on August 14 (Thursday from 4-7) to meet the staff and see the wonderful resources available. Fun chapter book character Junie B. Jones will be on hand to welcome you to a new year! Get a free picture of your child with Junie!

Then on Tuesday August 19, the Learning Center near the Public Library will have an Open House from 4-7. Nate the Great, that fabulous chapter book detective, will be looking for clues for a great new school year! Get a free picture of your child with Nate!

This year we’ll have many of our favorite activities for parents–workshops to help with math and reading, hints for healthy eating, and guests to explain ADD/ADHD & dealing with bullies.

We’ll also have monthly story hours for the whole family. Special guest this year include “Miss Spider”, “Berenstain Bears”, and “Geronimo Stilton”!

We look forward to other family events, featuring a Mad Scientist, Magic of Christmas, and Cut Loose with Dr. Seuss!

Go to the “calendar” page (see the tabs at the top of the page) to see what’s on the schedule! And check back for more information. 

OH YES! Parents, we welcome your comments, suggestions, and ideas! Click on the “comments” link and fill in the boxes. Each comment has to be approved before it goes online, which may take up to 24 hours. 

If you have questions or comments about this blog, e-mail ann.waddle@cmcss.net or call 648-5653, ext. 1004!

Have a great new year!

Family fun at the Learning Center annual picnic!

We are trying a new approach to connecting parents and our school system! This blog will help us stay in touch with parents and provide a way for parents to communicate with the Title I Learning Centers.

Watch for upcoming events. And please, suggest uses for this blog. Would you be interested in parenting info? What about a book club for parents to read children’s books with your children?

Fun and food at the annual Learning Center picnic!