PRINCIPAL’S PAWS
 Minimum Competency Levels for Promotion
This school year, the minimum competency levels for student promotion have
increased from the 25th to the 30th percentile in reading and math on the
norm-referenced tests.  In addition to meeting the minimum percentile
ranking on the tests, students will be required to master the grade level
benchmarks in order to meet promotion criteria.  If your child is in third
grade, the criteria are even more stringent based upon the state law.
Third grade students must score at a Level 2 or higher on the FCAT reading
test or they will not be eligible for promotion.
Sometimes retention is right for a child, even if they have met a minimum
score on a test!  Some children may need more time at a particular grade
level in order to be truly successful with the curriculum and grade level
skills.  Please keep in mind that your child’s teacher will be making the
promotion decision utilizing a variety of information:  district writing
test scores, FCAT or SAT 9 test scores, as well as grades and benchmark
mastery on classroom assignments and assessments.
If you have any concerns about your child meeting promotion criteria,
please contact your child’s teacher to discuss their progress.  Promotion
criteria are different for each grade level, so be sure to ask your child’s
teacher if you have questions!

MS. HOPE’S CORNER
We're half the way there...one more week of testing. With the exception of
a few students who have been out due to illnesses, the first week has been
without incident and make-ups completed. Please continue to get your
children to school on time so that we can finish next week with similar
success.
After the testing, not only the students, but the staff as well, will be
looking forward to Spring Break. Hopefully it will be a safe and relaxing
time for all. After the break I personally am looking forward to the Spring
Festival.

EXTENDED DAY CAMP
Come join the Chaires Extended Day Enrichment Program for a week full of
animal wonders.  Experience the marvels of the animal kingdom.  Learn how
animals use camouflage, glow in the dark, and do amazing things to survive
in our world.  Find out which animals are the fastest flying, strangest
looking, the largest, the oldest living, the loudest, the fastest running,
the most intelligent, and much more!  Look for the Spring Break Camp flyer
in your child’s backpack next week.  Register now!  Limited enrollment!
Chaires will be the only school offering Spring Break Camp this year.  Call
Cathy Davis at 922-2866 for more information.

ATTENTION 5TH GRADE PARENTS
It’s that time of school year when we need to begin preparing for the end-
of-the-year activities.  The plans now are to have a cookout/awards
ceremony, ice cream social, graduation/reception, and of course, the
dance.  Many parents are needed to help with these activities.  They are
planned for the last week of school, May 24-27.  Once we know how many are
willing to help, a more formal informational meeting will be held in order
to provide you with all the details.  If you are willing to help, please
contact Debbie Karels at [log in to unmask] or call 878-
8534/942-7379.  Please help make this a memorable and pleasant time for
your children.

FLAG CEREMONY
On February 26th, at the request of Mrs. Beal in the front office, Mrs.
Brayfield (Mrs. Beal’s mother), Mr. Conroy, Mr. Alverez, Mr. Roy and
Mr.Henley, from the Veterans of Foreign Wars post #3308, came to Chaires
Elementary School to retire our tattered and faded American Flag. During
the ceremony the Chaires Flag Patrol consisting of, Zach Achler, Morgan
Bivens, Nicholas Campbell and Deanna Colovos along with Jashana Fields
lowered the school flag one last time and folded it before handing it over
to the members of the VFW. The gentlemen from the VFW then presented the
flag patrol with a brand new American flag. This new fade resistant, all-
weather flag was then raised on the flag pole in front of the school and
saluted by the retired decorated war veterans and the flag patrol. This was
a very moving ceremony and our student flag patrol was honored to
participate. The students in the flag patrol were chosen at the beginning
of the school year when they submitted essays stating why they wished to be
selected. The students have since displayed patriotism, integrity, respect
and dedication to the job. Be sure and thank them for a job well done.
Special thanks to the men and women of the VFW Post for donating an
American, flag and honoring the school with such a memorable ceremony.

SPRING FESTIVAL
Spring Festival will be held on April 17th this year.  We would like to
invite anyone that is interested, eager and ready to begin working on their
classes’ booth to please join us for an organizational and working meeting.
The meetings will begin on Tuesday, March 9 from 8:00am-9:00am and also
6:00pm-7:00pm  in the Media Center.  We will continue these meetings every
Tuesday until the festival.  If you will need any special supplies to work
on your booth, please call or e-mail Kim Williams at 509-2759 or
[log in to unmask] Together, we can make this festival the one to
remember.

 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Rosa Robinson, an Instructional Aide, who was chosen as
this year’s Florida School Related Employee of the Year. Mrs. Robinson was
surprised with balloons, flowers, a cake, several family members and many
guests from the district office. Mrs. Robinson has been an employee of Leon
County Schools for 29 years. Be sure to stop by and give her a hug.

MVP DISCOUNT CARDS
We are still selling the MVP cards in the office.  The cost is $10.00 per
card.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for these upcoming events!
Please note that the items with an X  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.

March 8,9 FCAT Testing Grade 5 only
March 10 FCAT Testing Grades 3,4 & 5
March 8  School Advisory Council Meeting, 5:30, Media Center
March 16 PTO Meeting, 5:30 Media Center
March 19 Teacher Planning Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
March 22-26 Spring Break (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
March 30 SAT/9 Testing Grades 1 & 2
  Cub Scout Pack #25 Meeting, 6:15-8:00, Cafeteria
April 6         Skate Night, 6:30-8:30 at Skate World on Capital Circle NE
X   April 9     Spring Class Pictures
April 12        School Advisory Council Meeting, 5:30, Media Center
                Book Fair begins in Media Center
X   April 17    Spring Festival & Silent Auction

Bus Information
If your child rides the bus and the bus has not arrived within 10 minutes
of the assigned pick up time, please call the Connor Compound at 922-6701.
Here is a list of our busses and their numbers: ORANGE-642, BROWN-643, BLUE-
631, GREEN-3019, PURPLE-688, RED-649, PINK-2013

Good News At Chaires
Spirit Stick Award
Congratulations to the following most “Spirited” classes for the week of
February 27th:  Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Padgett, Mrs. Grigg, Mrs. Walker and Mrs.
Toner.  These classes had the most students in their grade level wearing
purple and gold.

Golden Spoon Award
Congratulations to the February Golden Spoon Award Winning Classes!  These
students did a great job following the rules and showing great manners
during lunch.  The following classes enjoyed a special treat during lunch:
K -Mrs. Fortune, 1st –Mrs. Padgett, Mrs. C. Turner, Mrs. Murphy, 2nd-Ms.
Blair, 3rd-Ms. Balance, 4th-Mrs. DeRouin, Mrs. Walker and 5th-Mrs. Horne.
Thank you to Mr. Krambeck with Wood Fruitticher Company for donating those
wonderful treats.

GREAT NEWS
Congratulations to Zachary Williams and Jim Eisman for winning the
championship with their Hockey League at Skate World.  The next Hockey
season starts on March 13th.  Come and join in the fun.


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