News in Tiger Country
WBIR Channel 10 TV News Visits Big Ridge School
Jan. 15, 04
Dear Parents:
Here are a few reminders for January and the first of February.
Monday, Jan. 19 is a Holiday. There is no school.
Sign ups for Junior Pro Basketball will be Saturday, Jan. 17. We weren’t given any forms for sign-ups. I contacted Jessica Humphrey at Union County High School and she gave me the following information.
Sign-ups this year will be at Maynardville Elementary.
Games will be played at HMMS
7-8 year olds –9 a.m.
9-10 year olds- 10:15
11-12 year olds-11: 15
13-14 year olds- 12:15
The cost are as follows:
1st child $20
Second Child $10
Each additional child - $5
If you have any questions contact Jessica Humphrey at 992-5232.
If you are interested in taking an ad in our annual, the prices are as follows:
Business card size $30
¼ page-$40
½ page-$50
Full page $75
The more ads we sell the cheaper the annuals will be.
We will start taking deposits for annuals in February. I will send a letter home next week with the cost.
Writing test 5th grade- Feb. 3
Feb. 10 –Election day- Holiday for students and teachers
Feb. 16-Holiday for students
Dec. 2, 2003
Dear Parents,
Our food drive was a huge success. We were able to provide 12 baskets for
families in our communities . We greatly appreciate all the generosity. Ms.
Brewer’s classroom won the pizza party for bringing in the most items.
Our Santa Shop will be held Dec. 8-9-10. Most items will be priced from $1to $10.
On Dec. 12 we will have a Christmas Dance. The time will be from 6:30 to 8:30. The cost will be $3 per person, $10 for families of more than 3. All proceeds go toward the gym air conditioning fund.
Our Christmas program will be Dec. 15 at 7 P. M. at the Union County High School Auditorium. Please make your plans to attend. You will be thoroughly entertained.
. Christmas Dinner will be on Dec. 16. If you haven’t sent in your reservation form, fill out the slip below and send it back to school by Friday Dec. 5. Lunch cost is $3.00.
Here are the following times that we will be eating.
K- 10:30
1st- 10:45
2nd 11:30
3rd 11:45
4th 12:20
5th 12:40
____________________student name
Grade_______
There will be __________________ coming for Christmas Dinner
Number coming
Big Ridge Elementary Distributes Food Baskets for the Holidays
On November 25 Big Ridge students, parents, and faculty collected a total of 1,175 cans of food during our annual Thanksgiving food drive. The food was enough to make 12 food baskets, which were distributed to families in the Big Ridge community. Mrs. Brewer’s classroom won the pizza party for bringing in the most cans.
Thanks to all those who helped make this year’s food drive a success!
Nov. 17,2003
Dear Parents:
There has been a change in our school calendar.
Upon the recommendation of the Director of Union County Schools, Charles E. Thomas, the Union County Board of Education approved at the November 13, 2003 School Board Meeting to effect the following changes to the Union County School Calendar:
November 25, 2003……………...Last full day of school before Thanksgiving Holidays
November 26, 27, 28, 2003……...Thanksgiving Holidays
February 10, 2004………….........Presidential Primary/Holiday for Students and Teachers
May 25, 2004……………………Administrative Day
May 26, 2004…………………….Last Abbreviated Day for Students
Other News:
We are extending the food drive until Monday Nov. 24. Students are collecting non-perishable foods for food baskets.
Coats
We have an abundance of lost coats. If your child has lost one please write a description of it and send it to school. All leftover coats on Friday will be donated to the goodwill. Please put your child’s name in their coat. We can get them to the owner that way.
Play practice is as follows for November
Speaking parts: Monday- Wednesday-Friday 3:00-4:30
Choir Practice: Monday and Wednesday 3:00-4:30
Non-speaking parts will practice after Thanksgiving.
These times will change in December.
“Doggie Tails” Author Visits Big Ridge Elementary
On November 3, 2003 Big Ridge Elementary proudly welcomed children’s author David M. Sargent, Jr. Mr. Sargent lives in a small town in Arkansas but travels all over the country to visit schools. Mr. Sargent writes a series of books called “Doggie Tails” and he also co-writes a series called “Feather Tales” with his father. The animals that inspire Mr. Sargent travel with him and help illustrate how easy it is to become an author when you write about something you love. The “Doggie Tails” series of books are based on the adventures Mr. Sargent has had with his dogs Vera, Mary, Buffy, Emma, and Autumn. Although a few of the dogs Mr. Sargent has written about have passed away he now has a new dog that quickly became a favorite of the students and faculty. His name is Spike and he put on quite a show today! FYI for all of Spike’s fans out there, he will have his own “Doggie Tails” books coming out in Fall of 2004. Judging from today’s performance I’m sure that Spike is going to have many books written about him.
Mr. Sargent showed each dog and spoke about the breed characteristics of each one. The dogs showed off their skills by performing tricks for the students. At the end of the performances the students had a chance to ask questions and interact with the dogs. The students also had a chance to purchase Mr. Sargent’s books and have them autographed at a short book signing. Overall, the day was a dog-gone success!
For more information regarding Mr. Sargent and his books you may write to Ozark Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 228, Prairie Grove, AR 72753 or call
1-800-321-5671.
BIG RIDGE ANNOUNCES WINNER OF “BACK TO SCHOOL WITH BOX TOPS” COMPETITION
For the past two months students, teachers, and parents at Big Ridge have been in a race collecting General Mills Box Tops and Tyson A+ for Education labels. On October 28 Mr. Flatford announced the winning classroom in the “Back to School with Box Tops” competition. The race was very close with Ms. Longmire’s 2nd grade coming in 1st place. The grand prize for winning the competition is “Dinner and a Movie”. The prizes were graciously donated by two well-known businesses in Halls. Bel-air Grill donated free kids’ meals to the students and Halls Cinema 7 donated free passes to the movies. Ms. Longmire’s class plans to make use of their “Dinner and a Movie” prize during a field trip in December. The money collected from the box tops will be used to purchase new books and AR tests for the school’s library. Each classroom did a GREAT job bringing in box tops! We collected a total of 3,690 box tops. THANKS! The competition could not have been so successful without the help of our parents, staff, and community. We would especially like to thank Theresa Smith, Connie Smith, Danny Wallace of Halls Cinema 7, and Joe at Bel-Air Grill in Halls.
October 28, 2003
Dear Parents:
We have lots of things happening in November. This week we will begin our collection of items for Operation Shoebox. This is a service project that our school did last year. It was a huge success. The items that we collect will be put in boxes and shipped to impoverished children in foreign countries. Ms. Christy Clifton, a parent of a fifth grade student, is in charge of the project. In the next few days she will be going around to each classroom with a list of items for the students to choose. This is a project through Samaritan's Purse. If you would like more information on this organization please go to the website www.samaritanspurse.org or call 1-800-353-5949.
If you would like to send a small monetary donation to help with postage it would be greatly appreciated.
On November 3, 2003 we will have David M. Sergent Jr., a visting author, here for a program. He has written several books about his dogs. Among these are Buffy's Hair Cut, Autumn's Emergency and Buffy's Revenge. He will be bringing his dogs and speaking to all the classes. This program is free to all students. Mr. Sergent will have books available for the students to purchase. Ms. Louanne
will send a flier home sometime this week with all the information about the books. Parents are also encouraged to attend.
On November 7, 2003 we will have a musical called Mother
Goose on the Loose. The cost will be $ 1.00. Parents are invited to attend.
November 10-18 will be our food drive for needy families . Last year we were able to supply 12 needy families with a large box of food for Thanksgiving.
The classroom that brings the most items will be rewarded with a pizza party. If you know of any needy households, please send us a note and we will try to supply them with a box. Anyone wishing to help deliver these boxes please let us know.
Roger Flatford
The Brain Game
The 4th grade Brain Game was a huge success. The winners of the 4th grade Brain Game competition were from Ms. Bills room- Alexis, Kanyon, Rachel and Heather. The runners up were from Mr. Bowling’s room -Trey, Austin, Tiffany and Wade. Congratulations to the winners and the runners up There were over 60 people in our audience to see this great competition. Thanks Mr. Bowling and Mrs. Bills for getting this together!!
Oct. 22, 03
Dear Parents:
Here are a few reminders about attendance.
Our goal for attendance for the year is 95%.
No Child Left Behind legislation requires 93%.
When a child leaves early, the time is counted against them. This can add up to a day’s absence.
When a student is tardy, it also counts against the student. The time missed can add up to a whole day.
After 5 unexcused absences, student names are turned in to central office.
Excessive tardiness will also be turned over to central office.
Please send in all Doctor notes when the student returns to school after an absence.
We will take up to 5 parents notes to excuse absences. Please send them when the student comes back to school.
Students who have not missed a day for a 9-week period will be put in a drawing for $25 dollars at the end of the 9-week period.
Students who have not missed a day all year will be put in a drawing for $50 at the end of the 9 week grading period
Classrooms with the highest average attendance will be given a pizza party.
Thank you,
Mr. Flatford
Please check out www.ucps.org and click on Schools and Centers then Big Ridge for the latest Big Ridge news.