District Information Regarding Common Core

Good morning, Please share this Common Core State Standards information with your teachers to share with parents. http://pta.org/files/Common%20Core%20State%20Standards%20Resources/2013%20Guide%20Bundle_082213.pdf There is additional information on this site. http://pta.org/parents/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2583 David H. Moore, Ed.D. Executive Director of Instruction for Elementary Schools

GregTang's Winter Math Challenge

by GregTangMath.com We have some exciting updates and changes happening at GregTangMath.com. Did we mention that it is now 100% free? Thats right – GregTangMath.com no longer requires a membership or login to enjoy all of the features. Just visit the site and enjoy! We'll have more information to share soon, but for now we want you to know about the Winter Break Math Challenge. Keep your students' minds on learning over the winter break, while they have fun with their family. What? ※ A math challenge game board for students to complete over winter break, using the online games and books at GregTangMath.com. ※ Students who complete the challenge can be entered into a prize drawing by their parent or teacher. 2nd Grade Game Board Example: Prizes? ※ 5 individual students will win personalized, signed copies of Greg Tang's books. ※ All students who complete the challenge earn a certificate of achievement. ※ Teachers and parents can provide their own prizes for students who complete the challenge. Who? ※ Kids in grades K-5 can participate in the challenge. ※ Any teacher or parent can fill out the form for the prize drawing. When? ※ Starting the beginning of winter break. ※ Ending on January 8, 2014. ※ Prize winners announced on January 13, 2014 Why? ※ Students learn and practice math skills during their vacation! ※ Classrooms and individual students can win prizes! ※ It is FUN! http://winterchallenge.gregtangmath.com/

$1 eye exams for children

Please email me (emily.graves@mnps.org) if you need a copy of this coupon. It expires 12/24/13, so hurry!! It is sponosred through Vision Works.

Dedication of New Kelley Wing on February 27th... more info to come later!

Great report on our School Improvement Plan for AZ Kelley!

Congratulations! I am happy to inform you that your 2013-2014 School Improvement Plan has been approved. The Department of Federal Programs and Grants Management reviewed your plan for the required Title I school-wide components and the initial alignment with Education 2018 objectives. We are pleased with your progress and wish you continued success with your school improvement endeavors. Julie P. McCargar, Ed.D. Executive Director of Federal Programs and Grants Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

Nashville After Zone Alliance Update

NAZA also is currently serving Thurgood Marshall Middle School and Antioch Middle, providing after-school programs. Read more below or reply for more details. NAZA Sites at Metro Schools Now Serving Afterschool Meals Thanks to our partner Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, students attending NAZA sites located at an MNPS middle school are now receiving an afterschool meal each day they attend the program! "We've got a great need for afterschool programming," Apollo Middle School Principal Jon Hubble said. "To have the added benefit of the meal and the tutoring, there's nothing about this that isn't a win-win." Each day when the NAZA sites begin, over 400 students are receiving a hot meal in their school cafeteria! An article describing the program was published in the Tennessean. 3rd Annual NAZA Youth Leadership Retreat During fall break, middle school students from NAZA sites across Nashville attended our Youth Leadership Retreat at Camp Widjiwagan. The students enjoyed hands-on team-building exercises led by staff and students from the Oasis Center, and they learned leadership skills from several workshops, including a "networking" workshop led by Metro Council member Lonnell Matthews. Inspirational speaker and former NFL player Freddie Scott challenged the students to make goals and surround themselves with friends and mentors who will help them achieve their goals. In all, the students had a fantastic time! Here is a photo album of the day's events and a news story by the Tennessean. NAZA to Expand to McGavock and Hunter's Lane Clusters in 2014 We are very excited to announce that NAZA will be expanding to middle schools in the McGavock and Hunter's Lane High School clusters in the fall of 2014! With this expansion, NAZA sites will be serving students at 28 MNPS middle schools across Nashville in the 2014-15 school year! To receive up-to-date information about NAZA and its partners, please visit our website www.nashvilleZ.org, or join us on Facebook or Twitter utilizing the links above. Thank you for your continued partnership and support! www.nashvillez.org

Parent SIP Committee Meeting 12/16/13 at Noon in our Family Resource Room

We will be discussing our test score gaps for economically disadvantaged students and EL's. Please feel free to bring your lunch.

Gifted Workshop for Parents

Dec 11th 6:30-7:30pm at the Martin Center. Author (Re- Forming Gifted Education)Dr. Karen Rogers will discuss how parents can identify talents and gifts in their children and share ideas for meeting children's unique needs. Please email emily.graves@mnps.org for more information.

More info about the previous health coverage post...

Good Morning Cane Ridge Families, Do you need answers to your questions about health coverage? Then you don’t want to miss one of two informational sessions Tuesday (tomorrow), December 3 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 7 at 9:00 a.m. Please refer to the attached multilingual flyers (English, Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish, and Somali) for complete details. Also, these information sessions will also be provided at the north side of Nashville January 7 & 11. See event details below. South Side Session dates: North Side Session dates: Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Antioch High School 1900 Hobson Pk. Nashville, TN 37013 TOMORROW Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Madison Middle School Cafeteria 300 Old Hickory Blvd. Nashville, TN 37115 Date: Saturday, December 11, 2013 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Antioch High School 1900 Hobson Pk. Nashville, TN 37013 Date: Saturday, January 11, 2014 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Madison Middle School Cafeteria 300 Old Hickory Blvd. Nashville, TN 37115 Otherwise, assistance is provided weekly at Nashville Public Libraries. Application Assistance Do you need help applying for health insurance? Through March 31st, join us at one of the following libraries: Edmondson Pike Branch Library 5501 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. *Se habla español. Main Library 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219 Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. Hadley Park Branch Library 1039 28th Ave N., Nashville, TN 37208 Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. Hermitage Branch Library 3700 James Kay Lane, Hermitage, TN 37076 Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. Richland Park Branch Library 4711 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209 Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (December & January only) For more information, call 615-255-0331 or reply to this email, and ask about the Nashville Public Library help sessions. Visit www.library.nashville.org.

Please help spread the word if you think your families could use help finding health resources. I can also send you flyers in Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish, and Somali.

Below you have event details and, in the previous message, the research that explains why your school could benefit from these events. South Side Session dates: Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Antioch High School 1900 Hobson Pk. Nashville, TN 37013 Date: Saturday, December 11, 2013 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Antioch High School 1900 Hobson Pk. Nashville, TN 37013 North Side Session dates: Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Location: Madison Middle School Cafeteria 300 Old Hickory Blvd. Nashville, TN 37115 Date: Saturday, January 11, 2014 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Madison Middle School Cafeteria 300 Old Hickory Blvd. Nashville, TN 37115 Subject: Does health care insurance matter to schools, principals and teahcers? The research says that lack of health care insurance and absenteeism are very closely connected: 1. By the 6th grade, chronic absences are a strong indicator of a future dropout. (BERC, 2011). 2. Health outcomes have a direct and significant effect on school readiness, engagement, behavior, attendance, and academic performance (Basch, 2010) 3. The link between lack of health insurance and school absenteeism has long been established. Children without health insurance coverage commonly do not seek medical care, including preventive visits, and do not get prescriptions filled, increasing their risk of disease and episodes of school absences (Oslon, Tang, & Newachek, 2005) Jackie Shrago, GetCoveredNashville.org Jshrago@comast.net Jshrago@gmail.com 615-310-3285

Focus of the Week is “Reference Sources”.