Published: February 26, 2009 11:46 am      

Elkhart happs for 2-23

HIGH SCHOOL

• Upcoming Events — Everyday through Thursday, TAKS tutorials at the high school from 4 to 6 p.m.; Monday, last week of “Worth the Wait” program for night grade; Friday, TAKS tutorials from 8:55 to 11:50 a.m.; March 3, TAKS testing for 9-11 grade in English Language Arts and Reading and Retest for Seniors in TAKS ELA; March 4, Retest for Seniors in TAKS Math; March 5, Retest for Seniors in TAKS Science and fourth sixth weeks report cards; March 6, retest for seniors in TAKS Social Studies.

• Thank You — We would like to thank Living Alternatives and their wonderful volunteers for donating their time to make the “Worth the Wait” program possible for our students.



MIDDLE SCHOOL

• January Students of the Month — Elkhart Middle School has announced its January Students of the Month. Representing the 8th grade class is Jessica Duke.  Jessica is the daughter of April and Tom Duke.  She enjoys playing the piano and plays baritone in the Middle School Band.  Jessica is a member of NJHS and placed 6th in the Maps, Graphs, and Charts UIL competition.  Jessica is a diligent student with a positive attitude.  In the future Jessica plans to attend college and become a veterinarian.  

Anna Clark was chosen as 7th grade student of the month.  Anna is the daughter of Troy and DeDe Clark.  She has two older brothers, Josh and Jacob, and a younger sister, Abby.  Anna is a favorite among teachers and her peers because of her positive attitude.  No matter what the task, Anna is going to give it her all.  Anna is involved in many extra curricular activities, such as cross country, volleyball and baseball.  Way to go Anna!

Tiffany Rosas represents the 6th grade class.  She is the daughter of Rudy and Stephany Rosas.  She has an older brother, Rudy, who is a freshman at EHS.  Tiffany is known for her uplifting personality.  She lights of a room with her bright smile.  Tiffany is a responsible young lady with remarkable character.  She is also involved in many activities, such as softball and basketball.  Tiffany is also an officer in FCA.  



ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Muffins for Mom — Moms, please join your student on Friday for a morning treat at 8:30 a.m. in the hallway by the office.  You are encouraged and welcome to visit your child's classroom.

• Cabbage for Third Grade — Bonnie’s 3rd grade cabbage program provided each third grader with a cabbage plant to take home.  They want to foster an interest in gardening and the environment.

In addition the students have the opportunity to enter their cabbage in a contest.  A contest winner will be selected from each participating state.  Bonnie will give that winner a $1,000 scholarship (Savings Bond).

• Library News —  Elkhart Elementary Library students practiced giving and following directions. Teams consisting of two students combined efforts to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which they then consumed. Afterwards younger students told how they made their sandwiches and older students both wrote their directions and told what they had done.  Gooey, sticky fun was had by all.

• First Grade — Students in Mrs. Neel's first grade class made a life size figure of Abraham Lincoln to celebrate his birthday on Thursday.  The replica was 6' 4" tall just like Lincoln himself.  The students then wrote words to describe Mr. Lincoln.  Some of those were: honest, lived in a log cabin, speaker, lawyer, and president. 

• Art — Thirty-eight fifth graders are traveling to Dallas to see the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art on March 7.  Elkhart's Elementary Art teacher, Mrs. Pat Rainey is their sponsor

• Third Grade Reading Olympics — Elkhart Elementary third graders participated in the TAKS Reading Olympics.  The students started the morning in the cafeteria with their head coaches, Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Herring (Elementary principal and vice-principal), with a pep talk about  Attacking the TAKS Test. The students were pumped!

They were then escorted to their events (classrooms) where the teachers’ were waiting to give them the skills they needed to help them pass the TAKS test.  They were taught fact and opinion strategies, how to read and interpret graphic organizers, using root words and structural cues to recognize new words, synonyms and antonyms, analyzing literary elements from a story, and sequencing events in chronological order. 

For their closing ceremony, the students had to reflect on what they had learned.  They wrote about what they liked and what would help them the most to be successful on the TAKS test.  They even learned what they needed to practice on! 

For lunch, the students were welcomed at CiCi’s Pizza in Palestine. Thank you CiCi’s for allowing all of the third graders to dine in your establishment! They loved it! 

Thanks to ALL of the third grade teachers, Ms. Piland, Mrs. Johnson, Miss Walters, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Crouch, and Mrs. Collins, for all of the time and hard work that you put into the Reading Olympics for our children!  Let’s go Elkhart and ATTACK THE TAKS TEST!

• Make A Wish! — Elkhart Elementary fourth graders collected pennies the month of January to give to the Make-A- Wish foundation. They collected $120.05! The money was given to the Northeast Regional office in Tyler.  The money will be used to help a local child’s wish come true. 

l Pre-K News — Mrs. DeHart's V.I. P.'s (very important people) for the month of January is Mallory Mitchell, Joshua Rodas, Londyn Defreece, and Hunter Meador.