PRINCIPAL’S PAWSE
This week I'd like to share with you a little bit about how we develop
and/or revise school-wide policies and procedures.  If there is a concern
with an existing school-wide policy or procedure, a parent can bring their
concern to the School Advisory Council (SAC).  If the SAC feels that the
policy needs to be explored in greater depth to see if a change should be
made, they refer the issue to the School Based Decision Making Council (or
SITE Council).  The SITE Council meets and forms a subcommittee made up of
representatives from all grade levels and the person who brought up the
concern.  The subcommittee then gathers information from various sources
(i.e. other elementary schools).  When all information has been compiled,
the subcommittee meets and shares the data and discusses the issue and
concern from their grade-level perspective.  The subcommittee meets with
the team members for any additional input.  When the subcommittee meets
again, they vote on a recommendation that will go back to the SITE
committee for final discussion and/or approval.  After an issue has gone
through this process, we report to the School Advisory Council each month
on any issues/concerns/policy changes.
In the past few years at Chaires, we have worked on the following issues
through this process:
1.  When the first bell would ring, children would run through the halls to
get to their classroom.  We brought this up as a safety concern and decided
that children should line up on the playground where their teacher would
meet them to walk them to class.  We now have a much more safe and orderly
start to each school day!
2.  We did not have a consistently applied discipline plan for children
receiving disciplinary referrals.  It was brought up that there should be a
clearly articulated plan that is consistently applied and annually
readdressed.  Our plan now includes not only school rules, consequences for
misbehavior, but also our incentive plan.
3.  We did not have a field trip policy that showed consistency from one
grade level to the next.  It was brought up as a concern that field trip
criteria was "tougher" in one grade level than another.  This is especially
a safety issue when upper grades take children out of town for all day
(5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) field trips.  We are close to completing a field
trip policy that is developmentally appropriate and a "graduated" system.
4.  A parent recently brought up a concern with the type of shoes specified
in our dress code policy.  She expressed that children should be allowed to
wear open backed shoes (i.e. slides, sandals).  This is an ongoing item,
but the current subcommittee recommendation to the SITE council is to
change the policy for the 2006-07 school year to state the only "closed
toe, closed heel, flat shoes" be allowed for safety reasons.
Please know that not all concerns have to go through a lengthy process.
Many concerns can be handled quickly and easily through your child's
classroom teacher.  However, if there is an interest in changing a school-
wide policy or procedure, this is the process we use.  For additional
information or to share your ideas, input or concerns please feel free to
call me at 878-8534 or email me at [log in to unmask]

MCCASKILLS CORNER
The first nine weeks will end on October 13, 2005.   Report cards will come
home on October 26, 2005.  We want our students to continue to work hard
and strive to do their very best. Parents,  if you are interested in
tutorial programs for your children, please call me. “We conquer every
challenge by taking it one step at a time.”  Have a Great Weekend!

THANK YOU GIRL SCOUTS
Girl Scout Troop 713 has landscaped around our panther mascot in the front
courtyard.  If you get a chance, go by and see what a wonderful job they
have done!  Way to go girls!

SCIENCE FUN
Can your child make a penny disappear?  He/She won't need magic. But they
will need to understand some basic science.
You will need:  A penny, a piece of paper, a clear water glass, and a
saucer.
Put the penny on the paper and cover it with a clear glass filled with
water.  Can your child see the penny?  Where's the best place to see it?
Now cover the glass with the saucer.  Can your child find the penny without
looking straight down through the water glass?  What happened to make the
penny disappear?
We can see objects because light rays reflect off them into our eyes.  But
every time light hits an object of a different density, it bends a little.
So the light reflecting off the penny has to pass through air, water and
glass.  Each has a different density.  By the time that light ray gets to
your eyes, it looks like the penny is someplace it's not.

MEDIA NEWS
The fall book fair is coming!! The Book Fair will run from October 24th -
October 26th.  Our family night will be Tuesday, October 25th. Hope to see
you here!

FIELD DAY
Field Day will be held on November 10th.  Parents, we need you to send in a
plain white t-shirt for your child if possible, to be tie-dyed.  The class
will decide what color to dye their shirts.  Then a class parent will tie-
dye the shirts for the class. PTO will reimburse the parent who purchases
the dye as long as they save the receipt.  (Please, RIT dye only.  No
special/fancy kits.)  It is important that every child has a shirt, so if
anyone would like to donate an extra white t-shirt that would be greatly
appreciated.

NUTRITION TIP
5 a day!  Eating a serving of fruit with lunch can help you reach the goal
of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.  Try a fresh apple, peach,
plum or your favorite fruit cup for lunch or an after-school snack today!


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.

Oct 24-26 Book Fair, Media Center
X Oct 25 3rd Grade Program, 5:30 Pizza Supper- 6:00pm program
  Book Fair open 5:00pm-7:00pm
  Bookmobile at Chaires, 4:30-7:30pm
Oct 26  Report Cards go home
Nov 1  Honor Roll Assemblies, Cafeteria,
          8:00am Gr. 4 & 5
   8:45am Gr. K & 1
   9:30am Gr. 2 & 3
Nov 2         5th Grade Spelling Bee, Cafeteria
X Nov 9  Patriotic Program, 8:00am & 9:15am, Cafeteria
X Nov 10 Fall Field Day
Nov 11  Veteran's Day Holiday, NO SCHOOL
Nov 15  Progress Alerts go home
  Skate Night, 6:30-8:30 at Skate World
  PTO mtg. at Skate World
Nov 23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday NO SCHOOL
Nov 28  School Advisory Council mtg., 5:30-6:30pm, Media Center
Dec 2  Picture Retake Day
Dec 5-9  Holiday Store, Guidance Hallway
Dec 13  4th Grade Holiday Program & 5th Grade Chorus, 8:00, 9:15
  Holiday Dinner, 5:00pm, Program 6:00pm
Dec 14-16 Early Release Days, 11:20am Dismissal
Dec 19-Jan 2 Winter Holidays
Jan 2  Teacher Planning Day
Jan 3   Students Return

Good News At Chaires
Spirit Stick Award
Congratulations to the following most "Spirited" classes for the week of
October 10th:  Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Padgett, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Bedford/Mrs.
Wiegman, Mrs. Walker, and Mrs.Toner.  These classes had the most students
in their grade level wearing purple and gold.

A Salute to our Partners
We would like to send our thanks out to Brett Barker the manager at the
Vineyard Publix.  Mr. Barker and Publix are always available to help us
with whatever we need as incentives for our students.  We deeply appreciate
the many donations you have provided to Chaires Elementary.  You are an
awesome partner.


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