Dear Hursey Family and Community Friends,

Hursey has set its course using the "golden compass" and continues to achieve excellence. Our school is launching new learning landscapes for the next three years. Our Montessori Model is expanding. Our students continue to be served in the multi-age setting with the same Montessori teachers this school year. The two teachers have earned their Montessori certification from Lander University. Montessori training continues at Lander on the Greenville Tech Campus as the new Lower Elementary teacher for next school term moves into place for the elders for the fall school term. The elders will have their bridging ceremony the evening of June 4 at 6:30 PM. Early childhood service and learning is an emphasis at Hursey. Our early childhood environments come under an umbrella where we believe in "Educating the Whole Child". We serve 3 year olds in half day programs and 4 year olds in full day programs. Our wing of little learners is inspiring and joyous daily. We will continue single gender classrooms for the third year at 5th grade across two content areas (math and science) and reading through social studies will be anchored through historical themes. We continue this implementation because of the success for the students, teachers and families.

We have made steady progress in our classrooms as shown by our MAP and PACT improvements as well as have made state gain indices. We have diminished discipline referrals due to our implementation of PBS (Positive Behavior System) schoolwide and CHAMPS in the classroom. We are a PBIS Banner Award winner and applying for this award again.

School Communication - We ask you to continue visiting your school regularly and communicate with your child's teacher - without your cooperation and involvement none of our success would be possible. We will continue to use the Parent Link telephone system to bring you updates about events and important information. Please keep us informed of your telephone changes.

Your school has been implementing the Hursey Hope Worldwide 21st Century Extended Day Grant. Ms. Avis Jenkins is preparing for Hursey Summer Academy with your principal. Hursey Hope will serve 88-100 children (the rising K through rising 4th graders). We will serve your children from 8:30AM - 3:00PM each day- Monday through Thursday. Certified teachers will work with your children in reading, writing and math everyday. They will have lunch and snacks; exercise and organized sports and special events. Consider these possibilities for guiding your student's progress in learning:

• visit your child's classroom often and thank you teacher for their patience and excellence
• communicate regularly with your teacher by way of the written log (the black and white source book)and the silver communication folder
• hold telephone and face-to-face conferences
• help your child with homework
• check your student's homework
• set quiet time aside each evening to read with/or to your child(keep reading log current by signing and listing the title of the book)- we will be adding book reports for each book read
• attend our parenting workshops and family literacy classes (2 each semester)
• serve on Hursey's PTA board and School Improvement Council(SIC) We have a great time. Our SIC meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month for SIC at 6 PM.
• volunteer in the library, clinic, or office.

It is most important to set time aside daily to talk about the school day, to set short and long term goals with your children and prepare for this year's learning journey. Attendance is key for student achievement- getting to school on time and everyday are number one priorities. Arriving late or tardy keeps your child from establishing a healthy work routine or practicing the marketable skills of punctuality and promptness. Arriving late causes embarrassment in front of their peers. Please do your part in bringing your child to school on time.

Partnerships are key as we build relationships and improve student learning.

We set high expectations for our students, families and teachers because Excellence is our Standard. We are expecting ALL students to "Read for the Record- recording books read each evening and in school. We won the Community of Reader's Award- Hursey was recognized as one of the "elite eight" - one of the 8 outstanding schools for best reading practices in CCSD.

We are blessed by kindness and contributions we receive from our guardian angels. Please thank our business partners: Pam Martin and Alys Campaigne with I'ON GROUP, Mr. Corbin at Corbin's Trailer Hitch business on Durant Avenue and are most recent partnership with Eric Hinton, Venture Aerobearings. They are staunch supporters of public schools. *We strive for excellence in educating your children. *We celebrate reading, writing and math problem solving. *We apply our reading strategies and math understandings to social studies and science. *We read authentic texts and expose our students to a wide variety of genres. *We are working to increase the technology capacity for your child's learning enhancement. *We set high expectations for everyone involved with your child's education. *We know we can count on your involvement and commitment.

The "Golden Compass" will set the course for "Launching Learning Landscapes" as we guide your children to brighter horizons.

Fondly,

La Dene' Conroy

Principal

Upcoming Events!!

• Thank you for all you do for the Hursey family. Remember, smiles and hugs cost nothing and can make someone feel welcomed and wonderful.
• Remember- Books are presents that can be opened again and again and enjoyed by many. Research shows that parents who read with their children each evening for 20 minutes opens the doors to success for their children.
• Celebrations! Your school was selected as one of 4 to receive the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grant for 2008-2009. We have just reapplied. Your children have tasted a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. A fifth grade senior received the 2nd place honor in the state for her art work about the grant. She will be recognized on May 21.
• Our last PTA meeting is May 5 at 7PM. Come support your teachers and students and hear the cheers each class wrote and will chant as we have our PASS PEP RALLY. The family literacy meeting for K3-1st begins at 6:00PM.
• The school's Community of Readers Home Applications were won by the following families: Ms.Manigault, Mrs. Snooks and Ms. Dooley. Thank you for representing our families. We love you! Please support your child's literacy journey by signing up for the summer library reading program!

• Kim Perry, Kindergarten teacher, is Hursey's Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009.

• Ukecia Gilmore, 5th grade science and reading teacher,is Hursey's Rookie Teacher of the Year.
• Brenda Jenkins, SASI Clerk and office administrator, is Hursey's Classified Employee of the Year.

Ladene A Conroy