Mansfield's Messages

Health and Safety

Dear Parents:

The health and safety of our students and school staffs is our highest priority. As you know, national and international health authorities are currently working to manage an ongoing outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in several countries in West Africa.

As a result, the Cobb County School District is instituting a procedure that any current or new student who has recently travelled from Ebola-affected West African countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, or other affected regions as identified, will not be enrolled or permitted to return to school without proper medical documentation approved by the Superintendent or his designee. The School District has been advised to take additional precautions with respect to persons who exhibit fever or other specific symptoms, and additionally meeting criteria relating to travel to affected areas or contact with persons who have travelled to affected areas in the relevant time window. We are very fortunate that each of our schools is staffed with at least one licensed nurse trained in the recognition of symptoms of communicable diseases and protocols for treatment.

The Cobb County School District will continue to follow the recommendations from Cobb/Douglas Public Health, the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Georgia Department of Education to assist us in our efforts as we continue to keep our community safe and informed. Effective immediately, however, the Superintendent has directed all School District staff to consider “Ebola” to be added to the Georgia Department of Public Health “Notifiable Disease/Condition Reporting” form under the “Report Immediately” category. This form historically has been attached to, and incorporated into our own Form JGC-7, Infectious Disease Reporting Protocol. Please feel free to take this opportunity to review Form JGC-7, noting this addition.

Please know that the Superintendent is monitoring this issue very closely with School District executive cabinet each day, and we are prepared to adjust our procedures to reflect new information from public health officials, and to ensure that we are taking all proper measures to protect our students and communities. We will keep you informed of new developments.

Join us at the Vinings Down Hill 5k!

Put your running shoes on!!!  The Vinings Rotary supports the Teasley community in various ways.  Please consider supporting them by participating in the Vinings Down Hill 5k on Saturday, August 16th. Visit the Vinings Down Hill 5k website for more information!

Volunteer Students from Student Life

We were so fortunate to have a group of students that are in Atlanta to attend a conference, STUDENT LIFE, volunteer at Teasley on Wednesday, July 16th.  These students (and leaders) from Lake City, Florida, worked for hours cleaning up our campus and helping with some projects in the office. 

Summer Reading

 

Georgia announces 2014 summer reading initiative

Reading during the summer months can prevent learning loss that sets students behind

Summer is underway, but that shouldn’t mean books are left on the shelf. When students don’t read during the summer months, they lose educational ground – a phenomenon that lowers achievement potential and widens the achievement gap.

"No student should have to start the school year having fallen behind," State School Superintendent John Barge said. "That’s what we know, and that’s what we’re committed to preventing – because that loss is preventable. When students read over the summer, they can actually make gains in achievement. All of Georgia’s students deserve that."

To ensure that Georgia’s students don’t fall behind while school is out of session, the Georgia Department of Education is working alongside the Get Georgia Reading campaign, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, and the Council of Chief State School Officers to encourage summer reading. Representatives of those organizations announced Georgia’s 2014 Summer Reading Challenge today at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Cobb County.

All students are challenged to read every day this summer, for at least 15 to 30 minutes. Parents and students are encouraged to visit the Find a Book, Georgia website and make a Summer Reading Pledge. Then they can use the site to find book recommendations throughout the summer, all tailored to a student’s interests and Lexile score. (If the child’s Lexile score is not known, the site can estimate reading level based on answers to a few simple questions.)

Suggested summer reading goals for students based on grade levels are:

• K-2 students: 10 books
• 3-5 students: 8 chapter books
• 6-12 students: 5 fiction books and 5 non-fiction books

Students need strong reading skills in order to be successful at school and, later, in the workplace. Research shows that students who read proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to be successful later in life. Students who fail to meet this milestone falter in the later grades.

"Georgia’s Summer Reading Challenge will provide access to the language nutrition that all children need, year round, to succeed in school," said Arianne Weldon, director of Get Georgia Reading – Campaign for Grade Level Reading. "Use of summer reading resources supports a climate of learning in the home and community during the summer months, and assists as a bridge to the next school year."

Research has found that when children leave the structured environment of the classroom for summer break, many stop reading – and their reading abilities start to slip. Strong readers plateau. Struggling readers fall even farther behind.

Research also shows that summer loss has an greater impact on low-income children, and can widen the achievement gap. Low-income students lose more than two months in reading achievement during the summer months, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains. More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income students can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.

Summer reading also provides a solution to a problem parents encounter during the summer months. It is the most difficult time to keep children engaged and involved in productive activities, many parents report.

"Reading year round is absolutely essential to the academic advancement of students," said Rita Erves, President of the Georgia PTA. "Aristotle once made a profound statement when he said: ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.’ A regular reading schedule actually serves to enhance a child’s learning potential. It also provides a wide window of opportunity for students to connect with the world. To that end, Georgia PTA is pleased to participate in the promotion of summer reading."

A simple solution to that problem is finding books in which students are genuinely engaged – books that are centered around their interests.

Lynn O’Hara, Account Representative for Scholastic, stated the importance of reading very simply, "Read every day, lead a better life."

More Information

2014 Summer Reading Challenge Website: http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and- Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Georgia-Summer-Reading-Challenge.aspx

Information on summer reading loss: http://www.lexile.com/using-lexile/summer-reading/ or http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=know_the_facts

 

Looking Forward

It's hard to believe it's almost the end of the school year!!!  As we begin thinking about next school year, one of the most important things we do is class placement.  Keeping in mind our school mission and vision, we carefully consider placement for every child.  We strive to create a heterogeneous blend of boys and girls, examining learning styles, academics, and behavior.  While our highly qualified teachers subscribe to consistent standards, they have a variety of delivery methods.  Our goal is to match each student with a teacher who will best meet their learning needs. 

Teachers will have extensive input on class placement for the following year.  We trust our teachers know our children well, and will be able to provide great insight as to where they will be most successful as they progress. If there is information you would like us to consider, you may submit letters or e-mails to administrators by Friday, May 9^th.  Letters should be sent in a sealed envelope to Ms. Mansfield, Mrs. McClenning or Ms. Mize, or e-mailed to [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].  Please do not include requests for specific teachers as those requests may not be honored.  If you wish to provide helpful information that we may not already know about, please provide a description of your child’s learning style and needs, an unusual family situation, or a special learning environment.  Regardless of whether or not we receive a letter, each child will be placed with great care.

Your child’s success is our goal, and we appreciate your partnership with us!  Thank you!!

Spring Break is here!!!  Whetever you do and wherever you go we hope you stay safe and look forward to seeing you back at school on Monday, April 7th!

• Do you know of someone who would be interested in serving on Teasley’s School Council?  If you are interested, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please complete the School Council Survey at http://bit.ly/1maXlgE.  Names must be submitted by April 18^th.

• Each year, Pollo Tropical recognizes outstanding teachers.  They are accepting nominations for their fourth annual awards through April 18^th.  Nominations can be made at www.PolloTropical.com/forms/teacher-of-the-year-2014.  In addition to honoring the teachers, Pollo Tropical will donate $500 to the school in each county with the most teacher nominations.

• Are you planning on attending the Atlanta Food Festival?  Atlanta Food Festival is scheduled for July 5-6 at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta.  Sponsored by Inside Out Center, Inc., it helps provide services to low to moderate income families, providing backpacks and school supplies to children.  Students in need may register at www.theinsideoutcenter.org.

• For each admission ticket and/or unlimited rides band purchased by May 9th, a donation of $3 will be made to Teasley.  In order for Teasley to receive the donation, you must list Teasley on the registration form during check out.  To receive discounts on tickets use the code 7off.  Purchase tickets at http://www.atlfoodfest.com/.

I'ts still not too late to purchase tickets for Teasley's Purple Party! 

Tuesday is the LAST CHANCE to purchase tickets, supporting our PAWS Foundation.

This Wednesday is our Prospective Parent Coffee! 

If you are interested in learning more about Teasley please stop by Teasley Primary School (Brown Rd) at 8:15 and join some of our administrators, staff and PTA members as they introduce themselves and Teasley to you!

Looking for fun ways to support your child's learning at home? 

FunBrain offers fun online activities to support/reinforce learning.  FunBrain was selected by FamilyFun magazine as one of the top ten websites for kids in 2010.

Teasley Happenings

The PURPLE PARTY is a Week from Tomorrow!

It's not too late to support Teasley's PAWS Foundation by purchasing tickets for the Purple Party!  The Purple party will take place Friday, March 21st at the Vinings Club on Paces Ferry Rd.  For more information and to purchase tickets  visit the PAWS Foundation Website.

Teasley's Annual Talent Show is TOMORROW: Friday, March 14!!

The Talent Show will be held at Cumberland Community Church, and will start at 6:30 p.m.; general seating will open at 6:00 p.m.  If you haven't bought ticekts, it's not too late!

Our staff and students have been working hard to put on a fabulous show!  Join us and support our talented Teasley Tigers!

Spring Picture Day is Tomorrow! 

Extra picture order forms are available in the front office.  Late orders will not be accepted at school.  Any order not returned by picture day must be mailed to the GCI Portraits office with at $10.00 processing fee.  Details are on the back of the picture order form.

Yesterday was Kindergarten registration! 

We registered approximately 75 new Teasley Tigers!  Ready, Set, Go! Camp for incoming kindergartners will be offered two weeks Monday-Thursday: June 2-5 & June 9-12.  Ready, Set, Go! Camp introduces students to Teasley, and is run by our kindergarten teachers.  Flyers and sign-up forms are available in the front office at Teasley Primary.

In efforts to conserve resources, Cobb County is no longer providing printed copies of the Kindergarten Handbook.  The Kindergarten Handbook is accessible online.

 

Making up Lost Instructional Time

Ensuring our students receive high quality instruction, preparing them for assessments and for the next grade level, is of great importance. Letters went home last week describing Teasley's tactical plan to make up for lost instructional time due to days school was closed because of the weather.

Your support is necessary to make this plan effective! 

• If possible, please send your student to school on the bus.  All buses arrive at Teasley Elementary by 7:20 and Teasley Primary by 7:35 a.m.  This will allow students adequate time to eat breakfast and be ready to start the day.  Teachers will be approaching time before school with an instructional focus.
  • If you must drive your child to school please arrive no later than 7:35 a.m. at Teasley Elementary, and 7:50 a.m. at Teasley Primary.
  • Please refrain from walking your child to class If possible.  If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher, please contact them to schedule an agreeable time.
  • Access the Online Assessment System (OAS) (Grades 3-5) to help your child prepare for assessments.
  • Read your teacher’s blog and check your child’s agenda to stay informed.

 Please contact your child’s teacher if you have specific concerns.  We hope that through meaningful communication and collaboration with you, we can effectively address lost instructional time, and maximize the use of our time for the remainder of this school year.

 

Exciting Changes for 2013-14

Dear Teasley Families:

As you know, Teasley has experienced quite a bit of growth over the last few years. We are so thrilled that plans are being made to expand the school as a result of the passing of SPLOST 4. We are also thrilled that Teasley will be one of the first major projects undertaken in SPLOST 4.

The Cobb County School District has been working diligently in collaboration with me to put a plan in place so that all Teasley students can continue to receive a quality education while our campus is under construction, and all while ensuring the safety of each and every student. Portable classrooms cannot be used to house students during construction because of space limitations and safety considerations. Therefore, it will not be possible to house all students at the current Teasley campus during the construction period.

Instead, for the next two school years (2013-14 and 2014-15), Teasley’s Special Needs Preschool, Kindergarten and First grade students will move to the current Brown Elementary campus and will become Teasley Primary School. This impacts approximately 325 students. As you may be aware, this fall Brown Elementary staff and students will be moving to the new Smyrna Elementary School, leaving the current Brown facility vacant. The timing works out very well and provides an available facility for Teasley’s Pre-K through first to call home temporarily. However, we will continue to be one school with one staff that is working in two locations, just until our construction is complete. Students in Second through Fifth Grades will remain on the main Teasley campus.

Plans are under way to supplement the Teasley staff on our Primary campus. I will remain the principal of both campuses and there will be an assistant principal in both locations. All programs currently in place will continue on the Primary campus. The exception to that will be the After School Program, which will continue to operate on our main campus. Primary students staying in ASP will be bused from the Primary campus to the main campus at the end of the day. Transportation to both campuses will continue to be provided by our transportation department. Bus routes and pickup times will be available the week before school begins. As more information is available, I will be sharing it with you. Please check Teasley’s website regularly for updates and informational meetings that will be scheduled in early June.

While change is always challenging, we are so excited about the end result that will make Teasley Elementary an even more fabulous place for our students, staff, parents and community. We appreciate your flexibility and support as we make this transition!

Always for the Children,

 

Leslie C. Mansfield

Leslie C. Mansfield Principal