Early Release

As a friendly reminder, tomorrow will be an Early Release Day.  All students will be released at 1:00 PM.  Please ensure that arrangements are made for your children to be picked up on time. 

Parents have inquired why early release days are needed.  After students are dismissed, our teachers will be actively engaged in professional development.  Regina Williams, Magnet/IB Coordinator, will facilitate an Independent Investigation Method (IIM) training for all of our teachers on the next two early release days.  As we move towards becoming an IB authorized campus, IIM will ensure that we provide each student, PreK-grade 5, with a rigorous curriculum.  This method takes students through 7 specific steps to research any given topic.  Please feel free to read more about IIM: http://www.iimresearch.com/iim/iim_model.php

After our teachers have completed their trainings, you will begin to see the evidence of IIM, so be sure to ask both your children and their teachers about the process.

Leadership Speaker Series

Our leadership speaker series is well on the way.  As part of our leadership curriculum, our students in PreK – Grade 5 listen to leaders within our community as they share a 15-minute presentation that includes:

·         a personal story/experience

·         an “aha! moment” or life-changing event

·         the leadership qualities most useful to ones career

·         guidance on choosing a career

·         what/how to prepare for college

·         how to balance your leadership skills/responsibilities with daily life

Today, our fourth graders listened attentively as Mr. Goodewill Pierre, attorney and dad to fourth grader Jada, shared the qualities needed to be a good leader and communicator. He began the session by showing them how to introduce themselves in a proper and strong manner – always offer a strong handshake and look others in the eye.

His take away tip was the four P’s:

·         Positive – always speak in a positive manner and voice

·         Persistence – be persistent but never rude

·         Persuade – you must be able to give accurate details

·         Promise – be able to do and be real

I would like to personally extend my gratitude to Mr. Goodewill and all of the leaders who have volunteered to share their expertise withour Dalmatians. Persons interested in speaking to a particular grade-level or regarding a particular leadership quality are asked to contact Mrs. Regina Williams, IB/Magnet Coordinator at rwilli11@houstonisd.org or 713-613-2527.

Real Men Read!

Thank you to our MENtors who are participating in Real Men Read (RMR).   Our MEntors have committed to spending one hour...once a month...to one class...   The Goal of RMR is to show students that:

• Reading is FUN!
• the community cares
• a commitment to education can ensure success

We greatly appreciate you taking time this morning to attend the mentor orientation.  For those who were unable to attend, we certainly missed you, but we understand the demands of a busy schedule.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Rachel Luna, our RMR Coordinator. We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, November 15^th, for our first reading day.  The theme will be Science and Nature and the books to be read are as follows:

2nd Grade – Scholastic True & False: Reptiles by M. Berger 5th Grade – Spiders by N. Bishop

More information will follow as the date approaches and materials are received.

Again, thank you for your participation in Real MEN Read!

Red Ribbon Week

Welcome to Red Ribbon Week!

October 22^nd - 26^th

Red Ribbon Week is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against substance abuse.  Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon.  This week our students can participate as follows:

• Monday: Team Up Against Drugs – Wear your favorite sport team’s shirt
• Tuesday: "Boot out Drugs" – Wear your favorite boots
• Wednesday: "Shade out Drugs and put a Cap on it" – Wear sunglasses and/or a hat
• Thursday: "Sock it to Drugs" – Wear crazy socks
• Friday: “Be a Good Character – Say No to Drugs” –  Wear a costume that represents your favorite character from a book

These are not free-dress days, and items must be worn with uniforms.

We would like 100% of our Dalmatians to participate and pledge to always be drug-free.

First nine weeks!

My how time flies when you are having fun!  It has been a busy nine weeks of teaching and learning at Durham, and I must apologize for not posting a message for a few weeks.  I am committed to communicating more frequently.  Next week we will begin the second nine weeks of school.  We had many great experiences at Durham during the first nine weeks.  More than 200 families joined us for our Open House.  I cannot stress how important it is for you to remain in contact with your child’s teacher. 

We also began our College-bound Fridays.  We were joined by Black MS cheerleaders and Waltrip HS band members, along with college students from UH and Rice University. 

http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=881687eb36d1a310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD

It’s never too early to begin to plant the seed that we expect our children to go to college.  Don’t ever underestimate the influence you have on your kids’ lives.  They look to you for guidance and boundaries.  They model after your words and actions.  If you value something, they value it as well.  They listen, and they learn from the examples we provide.  In my daily life, I am constantly reminded of the values I learned from my mother.  She taught me about working hard and taking pride in all I do. She would often say, “It isn’t worth doing if you’re not doing it right.” I carry her words in my heart and head, and for years to come, you will forever have an influence on your child’s life. Years from now, when your kids are grown and raising their own families, they will remember the time you spent with them and the lessons in character that you modeled.  Choose wisely…teach wisely with words and actions, for what you say and do is shaping a young life and generations after.

One of the ways to show your children how much you value their learning, is by joining the PTA and participating in PTA events.  Thank you to all of our families who participated in the Chuck-E-Cheese fundraiser night.  This Tuesday, October 23rd, please join us at Chik-Fil-A on 43rd and Crosstimbers.  Please be sure to mention Durham, so that a portion of your purchase will come directly to the school.

I’ve also decided to do a Home and School Corner with some entries.  These will be simple, yet effective tips to ensure that home and school are working together to support student learning.

Ticket please!

If you want to limit your children’s TV time, try this idea.  Every week, give them seven slips of paper.  Each slip is good for an hour of television.  Help them to plan ahead.  For example, if they want to watch a two-hour movie on Saturday, they’ll need to save an extra ticket from a day during the week.

As always, thank you for choosing Durham as your school of choice.

Regards,

Onica L. Mayers

Ready to Serve

Join us for Open House

Dear Durham Families,

Last week, we were joined by dozens of grandparents for the annual Grandparents’ Day Luncheon.  It was indeed a great day for the entire campus.  The students’ faces simply lit up when they walked into the cafeteria and saw their loved ones waiting for them.  We would like to have another great turn out for this week’s Open House.

Now that we've kicked off the football season, please be sure to join us for this week's Open House to kick off the school year.  You’ll get the game plan for the year, along with some coaching from our teaching team.

Although the information is geared toward parents, if you find yourself without an evening sitter, bring your child. They will need to stay with you during the meeting.  Attending sends a powerful message to your kids.  They know you have 1^st-hand information about how they spend seven hours of every day – you will hear about what they will be studying, learn a few instructional strategies and receive an overview of classroom procedures.

The evening also allows you to make a personal connection
with teachers and learn how you can support learning at home.  When kids know that you are involved, their education takes on a new significance.  They come home knowing that you will be there to ask them about their day and ooohh and aaahh over the work they share.  There is always a refrigerator that needs to proudly display schoolwork or a grandparent that would love to hear about what your child has learned.

Of course they always give you the typical response to, “What did you do today?”….”Nothing!”  Practice asking questions that require them to share more… “Tell me about a problem you worked in math today?  What book did your teacher read today?  Who was the main character?  Talk to me about what happened in the story.   How did that make the character feel?”  Don’t let them get by with the “Nothing” response! One of the other ways you can support your child is by helping them set up a routine for studying and completing homework. 

Homework is a way to review what has been learned.  Our brain requires us to practice new knowledge over a period of time so that the knowledge moves to long term memory. Homework also helps our kids to learn how to be responsible and organized.  Practice routines at home that help your child’s morning (and your mornings) to be calm and pleasant.  It always helps when they arrive at school with a positive attitude.  Research tells us that our brains cannot learn when we are angry, fearful or upset.  By starting the day positively, we can increase learning.  You do make a difference.  See you Thursday night! Score one for the Durham home team!

Warmest regards,

Onica L. Mayers
Ready to Serve

The Extra Degree

Dear Durham Family,

It’s hard to believe that we only returned to campus one week ago.  It certainly feels like our students and staff are settled and never left.  Each morning, as I greet students and families by Circle Drive, I am reminded of why I chose this profession. The smiling faces of our students propel me to do the best job possible each day.  As I watch parents drop their children off and wish them a great day, I think of my own children, and my expectations for them, and know that the work we have to do is of great importance for generations to come.  This week as I walked the campus, I was so proud of our faculty and staff.  This year, our theme is moving Durham from good to great by stepping up the extra degree. 

Each of them has committed to stepping up the extra degree to ensure that our students’ needs are met emotionally, socially, and academically.  They have begun their conversations about setting personal and academic goals, and I encourage you to ask your youngsters what their goals are, so that you can be a part of the steps taken to accomplish them.

How will you step up the extra degree to support your children this year?  Can you commit to volunteering one day each semester?  Have you joined the PTA?  How often do you communicate with your child’s teacher?  Do you read to your children nightly, or have them do mental math to estimate the cost of groceries while waiting to check out?  This year, I employ you to go the extra degree and commit to being a partner in your child’s academic life. 

This week I am looking forward to seeing our grade 5 Top Dogs as they step up the extra degree and demonstrate their ability to be leaders on campus, as they help our youngest Dalmatians get to class each morning. Together, we can and do make a difference; every degree counts.

Warmest regards,

Onica L. Mayers
Ready to Serve