From Cam Wingfield

Cane Ridge Families, Dr. Joseph and his team – in collaboration with the Board of Education – are developing a long-term strategic plan for MNPS. Right now they want your input about mission, vision, and values. In the Spring we will reach out again to families for thoughts about plan proposals. Please read below, offer your input, and help us craft a direction for the District. · Dr. Joseph and the district chiefs – with frequent discussions with the Board – are putting together a long-term, strategic plan for the school district. · It will take about three to four months for them to put together their final plan. · In that time, they will be consulting parents, community members, and employees for their input on draft plans. · They are making their draft plans based off the feedback they collected in Dr. Joseph’s first 100 days, including the Listen & Learns, parent/teacher voice sessions, the transition team, school visits, etc. · Metro Schools is surveying parents, community members, and employees on key parts of the strategic plan. This feedback is very important to Dr. Joseph and his team to ensure their work is reflective of the families, students, and employees that make up our school district. · Families can access the surveys here: http://www.mnps.org/blog/2016/11/29/we-need-your-input-for-our-new-strategic-plan. · The first survey is now open, and we will launch a second survey by next week. THANK YOU…As mentioned above, you can access the survey and learn more about the strategic plan at the following link: http://www.mnps.org/blog/2016/11/29/we-need-your-input-for-our-new-strategic-plan

Register for the Kids' Marathon, April 30th!

https://register.runrocknroll.com/Register/?event=37216 I am giving this as a Christmas gift to my boys! They really want to participate, and it is about $30 each. (They get an amazing medal, and it is so much fun!) Personally, I have started to use a lot of events/ tickets/ experiences/ trips as gifts as opposed to toys (definitely not always, just more often). I usually have to pay for it anyway, so why not include it as a gift? That's just my thought of the day on gift giving! :) -Emily

Follow Up From Coffee- Hearing and Vision Screening Question

These are the grade levels served: K, 2nd and 4th Permission slips do not go home, as permission was granted per the parent handbook form sent home at the beginning of the school year. If they didn’t say yes or no, it is considered by the district to be passive permission and we are allowed to screen the child. Only if the parent checked NO, did we pull them out. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks, Emily

College Information

Dear Families, Colleagues, and Fellow Community Members: Casa Azafrán is hosting a workshop entirely in Spanish for families that want to understand the college application process and what they need to do to prepare. It is taking place 3-5 pm Sunday, November 13. See attached English and Spanish flyers for more details. They will l live stream it on Facebook for folks that can't attend. Thanks, Ruben Rubén E. De Peña EL Family & Community Liaison MNPS Office of English Learners 615 Fessey Park Rd., Nashville, TN 37204 615-259-3282 Ext. 858256

Internet Safety Workshop

Please note Mt Zion Children and Youth are sponsoring an Internet Safety Symposium. This symposium will be facilitated by the Metro Police Department and Babbs Center. It is designed to help parents, guardians and foster parents protect children of all ages from the dangers and unknowns associated with social media. There will be a presentation, Q&A and technical media team available to show our parents how to use all their devices. This session includes refreshments and door prizes. If you have questions , please contact me. (615) 254-7296 X-3103 or via email: cthomas@mtzionnashville.org

Free Tennis Opportunity

Good Morning Cane Ridge Friends, Please let families know about this chance to play and learn with the Vanderbilt Women’s tennis team at Antioch Middle. This is a great opportunity for families to get active, have fun outside, and take advantage of our great courts. The event is free; participants are just asked to bring a canned food item to help families in need for Thanksgiving. Registration information attached, contact Veronica Uribe (veronicauribe@ustatn.com) for more details. (Contact Emily Graves for the "attached" information.) Thanks for sharing, Cam Wingfield

English Classes for Parents and Families

I have been sent some options from NICE. Let me know if you would like a flyer. Emily Graves

Community Voice Sessions

http://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20161005/c1/12/b9/58/3da85e577edfbea140912863/CommunityVoices_Flyer_new.pdf

Keep this in mind for the Fall Frolic!

#AZKelleyFallFrolic

Internet Safety

Great article on All Pro Dad today! http://www.allprodad.com/internet-rules/?utm_term=playoftheday&utm_campaign=Play+of+the+Day+Daily+Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=35886601&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_XleSKo7yRvGkdqAYsB0i9_AaXewzaUUDaNb2fDa84VN7jJOwNjQnEeiJINeokMsPEBOQDrv9n7yYuxjMcQRCJl8PjjQ&_hsmi=35886601#skipintro

Question to New Grading Parent Portal Answered!

Beginning the week of January 3, 2017, Metro Schools families will have more access to their children’s school and academic information than ever before through the new MNPS Family Portal. The Portal is connected directly to the district’s student data management system, Infinite Campus, and will allow families to view class and assignment grades, attendance information, messages from teachers, news updates from school and more on desktop computers and mobile devices. “It’s a fact: when families are engaged in learning, children do better in school. The Family Portal will give families the opportunity to be more engaged by opening up greater oversight of and interaction with virtually all classroom activity." -- Director of Schools Dr. Shawn Joseph. “Though this is happening a little later than we might have liked, we are still very pleased to give families unprecedented access to their children’s academic experience.” The Family Portal replaces GradeSpeed, the online grade book available to families prior to the 2016-17 school year. Though the intent was for a seamless transition that would have opened the new Family Portal in August, Metro Schools’ staff needed more time to prepare for a fully supported launch. This includes massive amounts of student data cleanup for security purposes to ensure users have access only to their own child’s information. The launch will begin with letters mailed home to every family in Metro Schools beginning Tuesday, January 3. Those letters will contain unique ID numbers for families to use in signing up for the Portal. Each parent will be assigned a different ID number, which will be mailed only to the custodial parents or guardians to ensure secure access to the child’s information. To assist in sign-up and support, the district is training Family Portal Liaisons in each school to serve as the frontline points of contact for questions and help. In addition, staff from the Family Involvement team, the Family Information Center and the district’s 12 Enrollment Centers, among others, will be fully trained in helping families sign up for and use the Family Portal. Once sign up is complete, using the Portal will be simple. Families can easily view student information and engage in two-way communication with teachers. The Portal can be accessed by visiting familyportal.mnps.org or by downloading the Infinite Campus Mobile Portal in the Apple App Store or in Google Play. Many features of the Family Portal are accessible on mobile devices with a responsive, intuitive interface. “This is really about access to more information and greater equity in that access,” said Dr. Joseph. “We will always have engaged parents, but for many of our families, in-person, telephone or even email interaction can be difficult. "By making it even easier for families to find out information about their child’s performance and needs, as well as reaching out directly to teachers, we can eliminate some of the barriers to engagement and drive more parents to be involved in learning.” Families should expect letters to start arriving in the mail the week of January 3, 2017. Training resources will be available soon, and sign-up and support events will take place throughout the spring semester.

Infinite Campus Parent Portal Questions

Several of you have asked about a parent portal for our new grading system, Infinite Campus. As of now, I have not received communication about this. When I find out more I will let you know!

Next Ladies' Crocodile Coffee will be Nov. 16th, not the 9th as previously stated.

The Clothing Closet will not be open this Thursday (9/15/16).

UNDERSTOOD is one of my favorite free resources. It does not apply to every family, but I always run across something that makes me think a little deeper. Here is an article I read today.

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/the-difference-between-tantrums-and-sensory-meltdowns?cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_cat=Template13_Reengagement3&cm_pla=All+Subscribers&cm_ite=https%3a%2f%2fwww.understood.org%2fen%2flearning-attention-issues%2fchild-learning-disabilities%2fsensory-processing-issues%2fthe-difference-between-tantrums-and-sensory-meltdowns&cm_ainfo=&&&&&

Volunteers Needed for Picture Day!

We need some volunteers to help with school pictures on Wednesday, September 21st from 8-12. If you are able to assist, please email Mary.Kinzer@mnps.org and let her know. Thank you!

Job Fairs

Goodwill Career Solutions has 23 job fairs planned between Sept. 6-9, at which hundreds of jobs will be available. Particularly noteworthy is a 25-employer job fair at the public library in Clarksville on Sept. 7. Activities are occurring at all of our centers across Middle and West Tennessee, but highlighted are: MARSHALL, DAVIDSON, DICKSON, MAURY, WILSON, SUMNER, RUTHERFORD, WILLIAMSON, MONTGOMERY, CHEATHAM, ROBERTSON, STEWART, HOUSTON, HENRY, HUMPHREYS, BENTON, COFFEE, FRANKLIN AND SMITH COUNTIES. Sept. 6 MARSHALL COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 130 The Acres, Lewisburg, will host a job fair for CKNA, Randstad and Trojan Labor from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. BEDFORD COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 108 Lane Parkway, Shelbyvile, will host a job fair for Tyson Foods and Hamilton-Ryker from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. WILSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 1031 W. Main St., Lebanon, will host a job fair for OmniSource Job Fair in Wilson and Smith counties from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. WILLIAMSON AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 595 Hillsboro Road, Franklin, will host a job fair for Caregivers by Wholecare in Williamson and Davidson counties from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DICKSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 543 Highway 46 S., Dickson, will host a job fair for Cracker Barrel from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 3538 Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, will host a job fair for Goodwill from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON COUNTY The Bellevue Goodwill Career Solutions center at 7663 U.S. Highway 70, Nashville, will host a job fair for People Ready and O’Charley’s in from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. WILLIAMSON AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 6808 Nolensville Pike, Brentwood, will host a job fair for Yates Services, Flash Staffing, Goodwill and Metro Industrial from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 937 Herman St., Nashville, will host a job fair for Opryland, Shiftgig, Industrial Staffing, Nashville Rescue Mission and Goodwill from 11 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Sept. 6. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. Sept. 7 MONTGOMERY, CHEATHAM, ROBERTSON, STEWART, DICKSON, HOUSTON, HENRY, HUMPHREYS AND BENTON COUNTIES Goodwill Career Solutions will host a job fair at Clarksville-Montgomery Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, for at least 25 employers in Montgomery, Cheatham, Robertson, Stewart, Dickson, Houston, Henry, Humphreys and Benton counties from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. SUMNER COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 205 Indian Lake Blvd., Hendersonville, will host a job fair for Comcast Cable Communications from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DICKSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 543 Highway 46 S., Dickson, will host a job fair for Senior Solutions from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. WILSON COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 1985 Providence West Parkway, Mt. Juliet, will host a job fair for the U.S. Army, FedEx Ground, Hire Dynamics and Walden Security from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. Sept. 8 BEDFORD AND RUTHERFORD COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 108 Lane Parkway, Shelbyville, will host a job fair for Tyson Foods, Simos Solutions, Resource MFG, Hamilton-Ryker and the U.S. Army in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. MAURY COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 405 S. James Campbell Blvd., Columbia, will host a job fair for Precision Vehicle Logistics from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. SUMNER AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 205 Indian Lake Blvd., Hendersonville, will host a job fair for Classic Party Rentals and Demos’ in Nashville and Hendersonville from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON, SUMNER AND WILSON COUNTIES The Bellevue Goodwill Career Solutions center at 7663 U.S. Highway 70, Nashville, will host a job fair for Friendship Home Health in Davidson, Sumner and Wilson counties from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. SUMNER COUNTY The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 670 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, will host a job fair for Gap from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON AND RUTHERFORD COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 3538 Murfreesboro Pike, Antioch, will host a job fair for SMX Staffing in La Vergne from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. WILSON AND DAVIDSON COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 1985 Providence West Parkway, Mt. Juliet, will host a job fair for Walden Security in Lebanon and Nashville from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. DAVIDSON COUNTY The Bellevue Goodwill Career Solutions center at 7663 U.S. Highway 70, Nashville, will host a job fair for Dairy Queen from 3-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. Sept. 9 WILSON AND SMITH COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 1031 W. Main St., Lebanon, will host a job fair for OmniSource in Wilson and Smith counties from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org. BEDFORD, COFFEE AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES The Goodwill Career Solutions center at 108 Lane Parkway, Shelbyville, will host a job fair for Staffmark in Shelbyville, Tullahoma and Winchester from 9 a.m.-noon on Friday, Sept. 9. More information is available at www.events.goodwillcareersolutions.org.

Check This Out...

http://www.fathers.com/statistics-and-research/the-effects-of-fatherfullness/

Why do we have All Pro Dad? Here is the research...

Emily – Our research comes from the National Fatherhood Initiative (http://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood-data-statistics), National Center for Education Statistics (https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/), and US Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/landing.jhtml?src=ft). Let me know if you need anything else. Vicki Grimes All Pro Dad’s Day Support Manager

All Pro Dad Announcements- August Meeting

Thank you to the Brentwood Kroger on Nolensville Road for generously supplying our food for the past 7 years. Please make sure you see the manager, Malcolm Hill, and tell him thank you! Thank you to Joanna and Chris Cummings, who are here from the Village Church located in Lenox Village. They have volunteered to help and support us today. We encourage everyone to visit www.allprodad.com (http://allprodadsday.com/chapters/2857 is our chapter page). There are wonderful parenting tips, and you will find a lot of encouragement as to why you are doing a great job! We all could use that, right? Moms… there is something new for you! Please join us on Wednesday September 7th at 8am for a new Moms’ Coffee in the Community Room. The children will already be in class, so after you drop them off, come join us for conversation. Following the Moms’ Coffee, there will be a Kelley Advisory Team meeting at 8:30 in the Community Room. This is open to all parents and community members. We look at the impact of the school improvement plan and budget, edit the School Compact and Parent Involvement Policy, and your voice can be heard by the school Leadership Team. If you have not joined the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), please do so! It is another excellent way to be involved at A.Z. Kelley. The Clothing Closet at A.Z. Kelley is located in the Community Room, and is open on Thursdays (when school is is session) from 10-11am. If you are in need of gently used standard school attire (SSA) please come see us or contact Emily Graves, the A.Z. Kelley Family Engagement Specialist with comments and questions.

Clothing Closet Schedule- NEW!

I have a wonderful Spanish speaking (only) volunteer who is now running the Clothing Closet. She will be here every Thursday from 10-11am. If you need anything from the clothing closet, please come see her! (I, English only, will also be in the Community Room.)

Tentative Music Performance Dates

4 – Nov 10 3 – Dec 13 2 – Mar 9 1 – Apr 6 K – May 19

Free Legal Advice for MNPS Families! There are flyers in the Community Room if you need more information.

Good morning and happy Monday! There will be a FREE legal help for MNPS families will be available at 8:30 AM on Saturday, August 20 at the MNPS Office of English Learners, 615 Fessey Park Rd, Nashville. Volunteer lawyers working with Legal Aid Society will provide advice about things like child custody, landlord problems, car purchase or repair problems, wage claims, and record expungements. They cannot help with criminal problems. No appointment is necessary, but each session is limited to sixty (60) clients. These clinics take place on the third Saturday of every month. The next clinic will be on September 17. Spread the word! Sincerely, Ruben Rubén E. De Peña EL Family & Community Liaison MNPS Office of English Learners 615 Fessey Park Rd., Nashville, TN 37204 615-259-3282 Ext. 858256

Public Meeting with Councilman Bedne 8/18/16

Metro Parks is developing plans for a new park and greenway along Mill Creek. The park site, near the intersection of Pettus Rd and Blue Hole Rd, is former farm land with an orchard situated at a bend in the creek. The proposed uses for the site include: an extension of the Mill Creek Greenway, a playground, and up to seven new unlit soccer field. The site will provide ample parking for all uses. The proposed 2 ½ mile greenway extension will include a loop trail and new trailhead, a trail connection to AZ Kelley Elementary and Thurgood Marshall Middle School campus, and a connection to the existing greenway trail in the Rivendell subdivision. The site improvements, located within the floodway and floodplain, seek to balance the rural character of the area, the requirement for environmental protection, and the recreation needs of the community. A community meeting, hosted by Councilman Fabian Bedne, will take place at 6:30 pm, August 18th at AZ Kelley Elementary School, 5834 Pettus Rd, Antioch, TN 37013. The meeting will include a presentation of the proposed plan along with an overview of the environmental challenges, recreation goals and design features that will help reduce negative impacts on the land and the neighborhood. Representative from Metro Parks will be on hand to answer questions.

Volunteer Orientation 8/17/16

2:30pm A.Z. Kelley Community Room This is information for both new and returning volunteers. Additional volunteer information can be found at www.azkelleyparents.blogspot.com and www.schoolvolunteers.org.

SSA Swap 8/17/16

SSA Clothing Swap! Set up at 1:30; Swap at 1:45 in the Community Room at A.Z. Kelley. Are your child’s school clothes too small? Would you like FREE clothes? Bring your gently used standard school attire only to swap with other families who also need different sizes. Only families who bring items to swap will be allowed to participate. If you would simply like to donate clothes, we have an SSA clothing closet that desperately needs boys’ clothes!

Tutor Available for the Summer

One of our AZK Reading Clinic volunteers is a retired MNPS teacher. She is available for summer tutoring (K-3). She charges $25 for 45 minutes and she lives off Burkitt Road. Please contact emily.graves@mnps.org if you are interested.

Belmont's 16th Annual Family Literacy Day

You can find out more information about the day at http://www.belmont.edu/sl/family_literacy_day/index.html, Belmont has also created a Facebook Event page for you to share with your friends if you use Facebook. Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/events/556012637913676/. You don’t need to indicate that you’re attending on the Facebook page in order to come, but you’re certainly welcome to do so.

https://www.understood.org/en/tools/tech-finder?cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_cat=031716_TechFinder&cm_pla=All+Subscribers&cm_ite=https%3a%2f%2fwww.understood.org%2fen%2ftools%2ftech-finder&cm_ainfo=&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=news2&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3/17/2016&&&&

Love this!!!!!!!! How to find some great educational apps...

JOB FAIR!

Wednesday, March 9th, Goodwill will be hosting a Multi-Employer Job Fair at the Southeast Branch Library, 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy., Antioch, TN 37013. There will be more than 900+ jobs available with 27+ Employers in the Middle Tennessee Area. Companies will be accepting resumes and conducting on-site interviews. Please feel free to send this out to anyone you feel could benefit from this hiring opportunity. I have also attached the flyer, if you would like to post it. Interested candidates may complete an application at Mill Creek Career Solutions in advance of the job fair. Goodwill Career Solutions presents a Multi-Employer Job Fair Wednesday, March 9th 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. Southeast Branch Library 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy., Antioch, TN 37013 900+ Jobs * 27+ Employers Employers include: * Verizon Wireless * Asurion * Calsonic * Amazon * YMCA of Mid.TN * Kroger * CVS Health * Aramark * Yates (Nissan) * Dollar General * Comcast * Atlas Management * Twice Daily * Advance America * TownePark * Parthenon Metal Works * HSM Host * 6th Man Movers * Murci Homes * Allied Barton * Adecco * Krispy Kreme * Whelan Security * Excel Cleaning * More employers will be in attendance! Dress for success and bring your résumé, photo ID, and Social Security card or birth certificate. Be prepared to complete job applications and to interview. For more information, contact Career Counselor Netra Epps at 615.346.1698 or netra.epps@givegw.org. Mill Creek Career Solutions, 6808 Nolensville Pike Thanks,

Did you know....

AZ Kelley ES was just awarded an anti- bullying grant form the MNPS SEL department! We are receiving $1,000 to update our teacher resource library. This will be a continuation from a grant received last year from the same department that helped fund teacher book studies!

FREE at the FRIST!

Did you know kids 18 and under always have free admission to The Frist Center? Attached is a flyer with more information on family programming at The Frist Center, which may be a good activity for students over spring break or the summer months. This summer’s exhibit will include an Italian Automobile show. Here’s a link with more information about that exhibit: http://fristcenter.org/calendar/detail/bellissima-the-italian-automotive-renaissance-19451975

Great Articles for Grandparents!

http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1532-7795.2010.00735.x?r3_referer=wol&tracking_action=preview_click&show_checkout=1 http://magazine.byu.edu/article/why-grandparents-matter/

Pencil Foundation Newsletter

https://t.e2ma.net/message/t10ni/pal6nm

Coverage From The Anniversary Celebration

http://mnpschildrenfirst.com/2015/12/14/metro-schools-celebrates-a-z-kelley-elementarys-10-year-milestone/