May 7-11 2012, is proclaimed National Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers make public schools great by opening students’ minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams. They help lay the foundation for good citizenship and serve as listeners, explorers, role models, motivators and mentors. Indeed, teachers continue their influence long after the school days have ended. We honor those hard working, patient and understanding people who are entrusted with the responsibility to provide our students with the tools they need to be successful in an ever-shrinking, highly competitive world. We are blessed to have our teachers in Cleveland City Schools who put students first in every way. We spend a lot of time discussing teacher evaluations and other interesting topics, but the variable that we all share is the student. Our teachers bring their “A” game every day and it is appreciated!
May 7-11, 2012 is also designated as Support Staff Appreciation Week. The significant contributions of our administrative assistants, cafeteria workers, teacher aides, nurses, maintenance workers, transportation mechanics, technology specialists, bus drivers and bus attendants will be celebrated and honored.
Since 1972, National School Nurse Day has been set aside to recognize school nurses. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, has been designated as School Nurse Appreciation Day. It is a day to recognize and acknowledge the contributions and work of school nurses, including collaboration with families and communities in recognizing that the health, safety, and well-being of students are crucial to their growth, development, and educational success. The theme this year is “Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring.” We are indeed fortunate to have these quality health-care professionals working with us to ensure that our students remain healthy and productive learners.
May 7–11, 2012 is also Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week. Each member of the School Nutrition Team plays a crucial role in providing nearly 1.3 million nutritious meals and snacks for the children, parents, faculty and staff during the 2011-2012 school year. They also strive to provide nutrition education that will help our students make food choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle. Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week provides an excellent opportunity to recognize these caring individuals for their special effort and dedication. Caring, trained, thoughtful, professional and dedicated are just a few of the words that could be used to describe today’s child nutrition professional. We say Thank You to our Food Services department and we appreciate all of the work they do!
As we wrap up this great school year, we pause to recognize these wonderful groups of working professionals that have dedicated their mission of success for the students of Cleveland City Schools every day. A sincere Thank You! to each and every of you.
DIRECTOR’S RECOGNITION
My family and I had the distinct pleasure to attend the Cleveland Middle School production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. last week. What a magnificent job our teachers and students did in this production. To get two groups of middle school students to perform a 90 minute musical is outstanding on all accounts! Congratulations to Directors Dr. Leneda Laing and Sheila Jones, Assistant Director Isabella Plate, Choreographer Kelly Owens, Musical and Technical Direction of Rodney Williams, Artistic Designers Rodney Broadnax, Nancy Haggit, and Eric Boston, Set Designer Rusty Haggit, and Dinner Theater Coordinators Cecily Williams and Jennifer Whitley! Also to the Dinner Theater Sponsors of Outback Steakhouse, O’Charley’s and Chili’s. I am sure there are many more wonderful people who made this work, and it was impressive! I look forward to next year’s production already!
E.L. Ross Science Olympiad Team competed at Chattanooga State on Friday. Sixteen teams of two competed during the day-long event, and 18 students brought home one or more medals. The team is facilitated by Stacy Liner, Tonya Mullinax, and Terri Olinger. Ms. Olinger and Mrs. Mullinax (mother and daughter) have both competed in the Science Olympiad, and their son/grandson competed on Friday, which resulted in 3 generations participating this year. The team has been meeting regularly after school to prepare for this competition and hopefully will continue to do so next year. (Photo of medal winners attached)
E.L. Ross Elementary School hosted a Family Health Night sponsored by The Creative Discovery Museum and Memorial Healthcare Systems. Students and their families had the opportunity to learn about healthy lifestyle choices at several different stations. The students loved making several healthy snacks as well as looking at germs on their hands, looking at real x-rays, and measuring their heart rates.
The mini Relay for Life at Ross Elementary School was a big success. Ross Elementary partnered with Yates Primary, and students made signs in honor and in memory of loved ones who have been affected by cancer. The students then marched to each of the schools carrying their signs and banners. Students also purchased footprint cut-outs to wear during the walk. E.L. Ross faculty and staff dedicated their mini Relay to Becky Milligan and Marty Brown, 2 employees who lost their lives to cancer as well as to current students’ parents who have been battling cancer. (Photo attached)
Mayfield School Family Time recently held a “Moms’ Make & Take Session” where everything was all about moms. Students made special inserts for travel mugs, flower recipe holders, special mom cards and designed white caps for their moms. Through these hands-on activities, parents and students had to read to follow directions and use one on one communication skills to complete Mother’s Day projects. 148 participants came together to enjoy fun activities in a school setting. This event, sponsored by Title I, was directed by Hillis Cavender, Nikki Burton and Amanda Mason.
