PRINCIPAL’S PAWSE
This week, our special word for the week has been patience.  “To have
patience is to wait calmly and quietly with a willing attitude.  I practice
patience when I wait for my turn without complaining.”  I am so proud of
ALL of the students, teachers, and staff members for their patience this
school year . . . especially in the area of technology!  With Chaires
receiving 64 brand new computers late this summer, we have been working
very hard to get everything off the ground and running.  At this time, we
are working fast and furiously with the company and district contacts to
get our Accelerated Reader program and NCS Learn Success Maker (formerly
known as CCC) ready.  Because these programs were developed for older
operating systems, we are doing our best to work out the problems and get
the children online as soon as possible.  So, thanks to all of you for your
patience!

MRS. OLK’S CORNER
Afternoon dismissal has gone very well the first weeks of school.  Please
remember to try to have your transportation changes called in to the office
as early as possible in the day to avoid messages not being delivered
during the very hectic time at the end of the day.  Also, if your child is
going to ride a different bus home, for example, going home with a friend,
please remember to write a note and have the student bring it to the office
for approval in the morning after he/she arrives at school.  If they wait
until the bus has been called in the afternoon it can cause unnecessary
delays in the bus leaving!  Thanks for helping to make afternoon dismissal
a safe and speedy process!

FLORIDA KIDCARE
The state of Florida offers low cost health insurance for children from
birth through age 18. The guidance department has brochures and
applications for this valuable program.  Stop by the guidance office if you
would like more information or you can visit www.floridakidcare.org.

Student Volunteers
We would like to thank all of the students who submitted essays to be
volunteers for Mrs. Penny this year!  We have selected the following
responsible students to help fill the clinic ice chest each morning:
Jashana Fields, Chelsi Austin, Aaron Powell, and Sean Allen.  We have also
selected the following students to raise and lower the American flag each
day: Deanna Colovos, Cole Carritz, Zach Achler, and Morgan Bivens.  We
appreciate all that the students do to make our school a great place to
learn!

School Web Page
When you get a chance, you might want to take a look at the Chaires Web
Page www.chaires.leon.k12.fl.us  You can click on “Calendar” to see the
exciting events scheduled throughout the year!  By clicking on “Staff,” you
can find the email address for each of the teachers at the school!  Our
business partners are highlighted when you click on “Partners.”  And we
have a virtual photo album of school events from the 2002-2003 school year
under “Pictures.”  Stay tuned!  We’ll be updating the “PTO” link very
shortly with our new PTO handbook.

Reading Fun For Kids!
Leon County Reading Council presents Vote for Books, a fun morning of
reading, activities, door prizes and refreshments.  This event will take
place at the Leon County Public Library (downtown) on Saturday, September
6th from 10:00-12:00.

Family Day:  A day to eat dinner with your children
For the third year now, Governor Jeb Bush has joined with the National
Family Partnership (NFP) and the National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) to reintroduce “Family Day - A Day to
Eat Dinner With Your Children” on Monday, September 22, 2003. Studies have
shown that the simple act of having dinner with your family, however your
family may be structured, can significantly impact your child’s decisions
concerning substance abuse. Floridians are encouraged to make family
dinners and activities a regular feature of their lives.  Supporting
material about Family Day can be found on the website at
www.firn.edu/doe/familyday.

PTO Needs Secretary
The Chaires PTO is seeking a volunteer to serve as Secretary for the 2003-
2004 school year.  If you are interested in finding out more about this
position, please call the school (878-8534) and leave a message for Kim
Williams or Jaqui Griffith!

Spirit Day on September 11th
Next week, we will have “Spirit Day” on Thursday, September 11th.  Instead
of having our spirit count of children dressed in school colors on Friday,
we will take a spirit count of children dressed in red, white, and blue on
Thursday in honor of those who lost their lives on September 11th.  We
still have many “Chaires – United We Learn” T-shirts available for sale in
the front office.  The cost is $6.00.  Shirts are white with red, white,
and blue design.  Make your check payable to “Chaires PTO.”

Special Thanks to Volunteers!
We would like to thank the following volunteers who helped to make the
vision/hearing screening run so smoothly this week:  Tonnie Rollins, Joyce
& Ken Hunter, Julie Ducasse, Nicole Hill, Pam Hunter, Natalie Grice, Leslie
Wilkinson, Julie Sander, Lynn Vinson, Barbara Wynn, Amber Chorpening, Patti
Briggance, Luz Evelo & Jennifer Krambeck. We couldn’t have done it without
you

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for these upcoming events!
Please note that the items with a P indicate that we will be seeking parent
volunteers to assist us.  If you are able to assist, please contact the
front office      by calling 878-8534.

   September 5  PTO Fall Fundraiser Begins . . . check the backpack!
X  September 8  School Advisory Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Media
Center
   September 11  Spirit Day (Wear red, white, and blue!)
X  September 16         PTO Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Media Center
   Bookmobile, 4:30-7:30, front of school
   September 17  Progress Alerts go home
   September 19  PTO Fall Fundraiser Ends . . . send in orders today!
   September 22-26 Writes Upon Request Assessment this week (grades 2-
5 only)
X  September 22         OPEN HOUSE, 6:00-7:00, Cafeteria first, then
classroom visits
   September 23  Leon County Mobile Health Unit at Chaires East,
1:30-3:30
   September 30  Bookmobile, 4:30-7:30, front of school
   Cub Scout Pack #25 Meeting, 6:15-8:00, Cafeteria
   October 7  Skate Night at Skate World on Capital Circle NE,
6:30-8:30
   October 9  Partners for Excellence Kick Off at Civic Center
for all Chaires Business Partners
X  October 10  Fall Individual Photographs (Prepaid)

Good News At Chaires

Golden Spoon Award
Congratulations to the following classes.  Kindergarten - (3-way tie) Mrs.
Fortune, Mrs. Davis, and Ms. Ward’s classes; First grade – Mrs. Padgett’s
class; Second grade – Mrs. Loney’s class; Third grade – Mrs. Shaner’s
class; Fourth grade – Mrs. J. Turner’s class; and Fifth grade – Mrs.
Horne’s class.  They won the “Golden Spoon Award” for best lunchroom
behavior at their grade level for the month of August.  Way to go!  Special
thanks to Publix for providing our Golden Spoon treats!

Spirit Stick Award
Congratulations to the following “most spirited” classes for the week of
August 29th:  Mrs. Relken, Mrs. C. Turner, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Mizell, Ms.
Dannemiller, and Mrs. Toner!  These classes had the most students at their
grade level wearing purple, gold and/or Chaires T-shirts!