Tiger Talk With Joanne Robblee

Winter Holiday

December has been filled with many wonderful activities that you can't help but get into the holiday spirit.  The angels on the Angel Tree were all adopted and soon presents will be given out to special Teasley families. It was so touching to see our children bringing in gifts they had helped select.  Once again the generosity of our community was impressive and touching.

After much hard work and many rehearsals, the fifth grade performance, "Humbug," was a delight. Because of the commitment of Ms. Smith (our choral director), the fifth grade team, and our specialists, the students did a magnificent job.  The music was clever and entertaining, but I have to say that the best part was watching the children sing and dance.

Last Saturday the Holiday Breakfast was a great success. All morning the school was filled with holiday cheer.  Everyone enjoyed the breakfast, the sing-a-long, the Santa Shop, and the crafts. 

I am so very grateful for the wonderful PTA and staff volunteers, who donate their time, talents, and energy to making these special events possible.  As I approach Winter Break, I want to express my deep gratitude for the wonderful folks that make Teasley such a special place to be.

Remember the last day of school is Friday December 19th and students return on Tuesday January 6th.  Have a very safe, restful, and happy holiday.

Holiday Happenings

Just as we return from Thanksgiving Break, we find ourselves with only three weeks until school is out again for Winter Break.  Even though it is only fifteen days, there are many wonderful events scheduled.

The Angel Tree is set up and soon families can adopt an angel and purchase toys, books, clothes, or gift cards for some Teasley families that need a little extra help this holiday season.  I hope you will help your child understand the true meaning of giving by taking an angel and buying a present for someone, who will really appreciate your generosity.

On Monday Dec. 1st the Treble Tones performed at the Smyrna Community Center just before the lighting of the Christmas Tree.  They did such a great job.  On Thursday evening they will sing again at the lighting of the Vinings Christmas Tree down at the Jubilee.  What a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Another special evening is when the 5th grade students present their holiday performance (6:30) following the PTA meeting (6:00) on Thursday Dec. 11th.  This is always one of the highlights of the season for me as the students do such a great job.

Flyers should have gone home about the Holiday Breakfast that is scheduled for Saturday, December 13th 9:00-11:30.  This is a very special family event.  A delicious breakfast will be served (please make reservations $4) and then there will be different crafts and activities for everyone to enjoy.  There is also a Santa Shop where students can purchase gifts for friends and family members.  It is so much fun to see the children select the "perfect" gift for mom or dad. As always the PTA needs help with the different activities. You can contact dianewickham@att.net with any questions.

The last day before Winter Break is Friday December 18.  On that day we have our class parties and the school is filled with sugar and excitement.

As you can see the next few weeks will be packed with many great events. I hope that you will join us for some of these special occasions.

The Season of Thanksgiving

There are only two days left before we are off for the week of Thanksgiving. It doesn't seem possible that when we return to school on December 1st that all the Winter Holiday festivities will begin. I hope that everyone takes advantage of this holiday week to relax and enjoy time with family.

Before I leave for the Turkey Day break, I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for making our Food Drive such a success.  Yesterday Kate Strother (our school counselor), along with PTA moms Gaylin Allen, Lee Daniel and Lydia O'Berry, sorted through all the different items that were donated.  It was amazing to see how much food had been collected and also what wonderful Food Boxes will be sent home to some of our families. 

Above and beyond that, there was enough Turkey money donated to provide each family with a gift card to purchase the meat of their choice for Thanksgiving day.

Things might look pretty dismal economically across the country and the world.  Fortunately for Teasley, the generosity and caring of our community still makes this a great place to be. The Teasley family is truly  something we need to be thankful for at this special time of the year and as well as throughout the year.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Last night at Teasley was a very special night.  Our director of the After School Program, Anton Banfield, organized a wonderful program that displayed the different programs going on every day after school.  It was so much fun to see students performing on drums, dancing, and acting!  The parent turn out was unbelievable and the students were fantastic.  A great time was had by all.

We are so lucky at Teasley to have Mr. Banfield and the great ASP staff, who work so hard every day to provide our children with meaningful after school activities.  Last night extra help was also provided by Teasley staff members, who have worked with the students and also volunteered to suppor last night's program.  The support for our students  was impressive and ensured a great evening.

As Mr. Banfield mentioned last night, ASP is a pre-paid program and parents need to ensure that their accounts are paid up.  I realize that money is tight, but for your child to participate in this wonderful program, you need to pay on time.  I would hate to have to cancel some of these great enrichment programs due to accounts not being paid in full.  We have a wonderful ASP program in place at Teasley and everyone needs to do his/her part to keep it the success it is.

SPECIAL LUNCHEON FOR SALLY FOSTER SELLERS

During lunch on Friday, November 7th, Teasley students who had sold 12 or more items of Sally Foster were invited to a very exclusive luncheon at Chez Teasley.  Thanks to the hard work of Stephanie Williamson and Tawnda Conway, co-chairs for the Sally Foster funderaiser, our super sellers enjoyed a candlelit luncheon on the stage in the cafe.  Students brought their regular lunch up to the stage and then sat at tables decorated with white linen tablecloths, flowers, and candles. Special treats were served and a grand time was had by all.  Thanks to all the parents who worked so hard to sell Sally Foster products.  Your children received a fun and elegant thank you luncheon.

PARENT WORKSHOP: Testing, Assessment, & Evaluation

On Saturday, November 15th from 9:00-11:00 there will be a parent workshop on the different assessments that are used by Teasley Elementary School.  This session will provide information about the different types of tests and how the results help the school analyze student learning and progress.

Also, there will be information about exactly what curriculum we teach and hints and strategies that will help your child become more successful throughout the school year and on the different tests.  I hope parents will take advantage of this opportunity to find out more about this critical piece of your child's education.  Babysitting will be provided. The workshop will be held in the media center. 

Prospective Parent Coffee

Yesterday, November 6th, we held two Prospective Parent Coffees.  I realize those sessions are over, but you can attend other sessions scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd 8:00 & 9:30.  The reason I wanted to write about these two information sessions is that as the PTA officers and I shared information about Teasley, I once again realized all the wonderful things that are going on at our school.  We briefly described the different PTA functions, fundraising activities, school programs, and then took our guests on a tour of the school.  I couldn't help but feel proud of the many ways that staff, parents, and community are working hard to maintain the quality of Teasley.  I hope that if there are other families in the Teasley community who are pondering where to send their children to school next year, that they will attend the January 22nd coffees or simply call and ask for a tour of the school.  If you know of families in your neighborhood, who might be interested in finding out more about Teasley, please tell them about our website http://www.cobbk12.org/~teasley, check out the links to the PTA, and also go to my blog (a simple click from the administration link). 

Great Things are Happening at Teasley

The last few months have been filled with wonderful activities for the Teasley family. Our sale of Sally Foster products is over and families are picking up their orders. We had fantastic weather for our Teasley Trot, Market Street, Health Fair, and Fun Fair on Sunday October 19th. Everyone seemed to have a grand time. Both of these fundraisers were successful due to your ongoing support.

Just last Thursday, October 23rd, the Treble Tones and First Grade put on a magnificent program for Veterans' Day.  We had almost thirty veterans from all the different military branches who were recognized.  It was a very special and proud evening for all who attended.

Coming up on November 6th are two Prospective Parent Coffees (8:00 AM and 9:30 AM) in the media center.  This is a great opportunity for parents, who reside within the Teasley school zone, to find out more about the school and also to tour the school. Please tell any neighbors with pre-school children to take advantage of the chance to find out more about our school.

We will also be starting up our Thanksgiving Food Drive soon.  Students donate different food items and then food baskets are given out to some of our families in need.  This is wonderful way for students to help take care of others.

Just as the Food Drive wraps up, the Angel Tree is put up in the front hallway.  This is a tree decorated with angels that ask for Teasley families to purchase games, toys, gift cards, and clothing for some of our families.  It is a powerful way to teach your child about the real meaning of the holidays.  Please make sure you drop by the school and select an angel or two from the tree.  Remember to sign up on the clipboard off to the side, which angel you are taking.

Everyone needs to mark their calendar for Saturday, December 13th.  This is our Holiday Breakfast and Craft Fair.  Students and families get to enjoy a yummy breakfast and also make some crafts to give as gifts.  There is also a Holiday shop for students to buy gifts for their families. 

As you can see the months have been filled with wonderful ways to become involved in the school. I am so grateful for the many volunteers who have helped coordinate and support these different programs. I hope each one of you will participate in one of these special activities. Each one of you can truly make a difference by volunteering.

Parent Information Session

Way back on the first day of school, there was a brief welcome coffee for parents right after students were dropped off in their classrooms.  This was a very brief session and I realize that parents still have a lot of questions about Teasley.  Even sending home a weekly newsletter does not really provide you with all the details of how things are done at the school.  On Saturday, September 27th, there will be a parent information session from 9:00-11:00 in the school media center.  This workshop is designed to share information about school procedures, testing, schedules, program, and our PTA.  Ellen Murphy, our media specialist, Kate Strother, our school counselor, will join me as we discuss different aspects of the school and answer questions you may have.  Babysitting will be provided along with snacks, coffee, and juice.  Hope to see you there. 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR TEASLEY

Since the beginning of the school year, I have been repeatedly amazed by the wonderful support that parents and the community give to Teasley.  Every day there are volunteers at the school helping out in classrooms, the media center, or working on an important fundraiser.  There are businesses in the Teasley community like the Rotary Club of Vinings, Costco, Georgia Power, Jet's Pizza, and Starbucks that provide funding for events and projects or food for the staff, students, and parents.  I truly believe that a school's success is linked directly to parent and community involvement. Most recently the successful passage of the SPLOST III referendum will make a huge difference in our school over the next five years.   I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the different folks who are committed to keeping Teasley "the best little school in Georgia."