1. Atlanta Public Schools Dear Parents, Community Supporters, and Partners, Venetian Hills Elementary School October 2011 Linking the School, Home and Community The Venetian Bee Teacher of the Month Mrs. Paxton is a native Atlantan, and a product of the Atlanta Public School System. She leads by modeling a love for life-long learning by earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Master's Degree, and an Educational Specialist Degree. With the belief that parents are our most valued stakeholder, she is an advocate for parental involvement and believes that: Teacher + Student + Parent = Success! Verdelle Paxton 3 rd Grade Teacher The Principal’s Book of the Month “The Widow’s Broom” by Chris Van Allsburg Upcoming Events October 19 th - Student of the Month Celebration 20 th - District Parent Workshop (10:00 a.m. @ Jackson High) 21 st - 2 nd Cup of Coffee/Breast Cancer Awareness (8:30 a.m.) 28 th - Fall Festival (2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.) in and puts her to bed. After only one day, the witch is healed. That night as Minna sleeps, the witch departs—leaving behind the broom she thinks is powerless. Minna decides to keep the broom and use it for sweeping the floor. She is astounded one day when the broom begins sweeping the floor on its own! Quickly overcoming her fear, the widow teaches the broom to help her with other tasks. The broom learns how to chop wood, fetch water, and do many other useful jobs. Minna's neighbors, the Spiveys, are not nearly as thrilled with the broom as she is, believing it to be frightening and wicked. One day, two of the Spivey boys taunt and tease the broom as it works. Pushed to its limit, the broom gives the boys a thrashing. The Spiveys arrive at Minna's house determined to take revenge. Minna shows them to the broom closet. They take out the broom they see and burn it. Life soon returns to normal until one day Minna tells the Spiveys she has seen the ghost of the broom! Mr. Spivey sees a white broom that night, circling his house with an ax. The Spivey family moves away and Minna Shaw is left to live in peace with her broom—not burned after all, simply painted a ghostly white. Motto: "I will strive to make a mark...that CANNOT be erased!" The academic school year is well under way. Our faculty and staff have been hard at work ensuring that each and every student receives a rigorous and relevant curriculum. Daily, I have the opportunity to visit classrooms or observe student work that showcases the tremendous effort to provide your child with a world class education. At our Principal’s Round Table in September, our parents and community members came out and provided suggestions on how to work together to build a strong school and strong community for our students. Some of the suggestions have been put into action. We have a “Suggestion Box” located in the front office so that we can review ways to improve our school. Additionally, the school has the calling post and e-mail blast operating to better facilitate communications between school and home. Please visit the main office to update your telephone numbers and email address. Lastly, parents provided a great suggestion in developing an initiative called P.E. or Parent Education. In response to this suggestion, reading activities and strategies were provided at our October Principal’s Round Table that would support parents tutoring their child in reading comprehension skills. Come out to our next Principal’s Round Table on Friday, November 4 th. We are also elated to introduce our new Business Partner, Chick-fil-a Greenbriar. We had a wonderful time at our first Spirit Night at Chick-fil-a. It was great to fellowship with all of our parents, students, and staff members. Our next Spirit Night will be on Thursday, November 3 rd from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. We are making great strides at Venetian Hills Elementary School. Let’s continue to work together to build a strong school and strong community. One day as a witch is flying over widow Minna Shaw's home, her broom loses the power of flight. The witch falls headlong into Minna's garden. When Minna discovers the witch lying there in the morning, she takes her

2. ATLANTA BOARD OF EDUCATION Mrs. Brenda J. Muhammad, Chair Mr. Reuben McDaniel, Vice Chair Mrs. Cecily Harsch-Kinnane Ms. LaChandra Butler Burks Mr. Courtney English Ms. Yolanda Johnson Mr. Emmett Johnson Ms. Nancy Meister ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Mr. Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Superintendent Mr. Donell Underdue Executive Director School Reform Team 1 LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Ms. Diamond Jack Principal Ms. Shalewa Thrash Leadership Support Specialist Dr. Mary Norris Instructional Coach Ms. Paulette Nelson PTA President / Parent Liaison The Atlanta Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its employment practices, educational programs, services, or activities. APS Website: www.atlanta.k12.ga.us Ms. Sheila Johnson Dr. Mary Norris Ms. Monica Willingham As your new counselor, I would like to introduce myself to you by spelling out counselor. C ounselors are the people in the school looking out for kids. O ffering a place to talk about the problems / concerns you have. U nderstanding and sharing knowledge to help you be the best you can be! N ever too busy, I will arrange time to meet with you. S miling is what I try to do. Try it, I think you will like it too! ( 4 muscles to smile and 44 muscles to frown.) E veryone is my friend and I will try to be your friend. A friend should have two qualities, be nice and help you do what is right. L istening is a skill I have learned, and I like sharing the things ed with others. O ffering help to those in need, students, teachers, parents, and especially you! R esponsibility is something you have to learn, it cannot be taught. I will hold you accountable for your choices. By doing so you will learn responsibility, some sooner than others… So you see a counselor has a big job to do and nothing to me, is more important than you! Ms. Allaenna Williams Counselor’s Corner at Greenbriar Parent Teacher Association (PTA) The PTA meets every second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Annual Dues: $ 6.00 per family School Uniforms Monday – Thursday BOYS: Hunter Green or White shirt, Khaki pants GIRLS: Hunter Green or White shirt/blouse, Khaki pants, skirt or jumper Friday School Spirit Day - School t-shirt and jeans We had a great time at our first Spirit Night at Chick-fil-a Greenbriar. Ms. Jack read the Principal’s Book of the Month. Thank you parents, students, and staff members for coming out for a great night of fellowship and fun. Our next Spirit Night will be on Thursday, November 3 rd from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.