2013 - 14 Volume 18

Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-Anonymous

News/Timelines/Due Dates

January 6 – We will gather for a light breakfast and brief meeting at 8:30 in the media center.  The rest of the day is yours.

Welcome – Beginning January 6, we have a new technology support specialist.  Her name is Andrea Rioux.  She currently teaches Science at River Trail. 

PRIDE – This Friday, December 20^th, we will NOT have PRIDE.  Please follow the regular Monday – Thursday schedule.  PRIDE will return in January on Jan 10^th  with Silent Reading.  Have a great holiday!

 

A big thank you from the music department to all the administrators and staff for supporting our music students and our programs.  It was so wonderful to see so many of you at our holiday performances!  We hope you enjoyed them and we wish you a happy and musical holiday season! 

Musically yours, 

Wendy, Jason, & Tim

 

A Mighty Roar

To Sarah Philpot for all the great work she does for our tumbling team.  They did an outstanding job last week at the meet at Ridgeview.  I am sure you have noticed she does not have the greatest location for practice (the atrium) but she does a great job none the less.

Where is Livingston? 

Michael Harrell says, “This week Livingston will be moving on to visit with a very special person. She is the epitome of a southern lady – polite, generous, and charming. With her soft voice and passion for literature, she inspires her students to reach beyond their goals as readers and writers. She commands control of her classroom without having to raise her voice or flick a light switch because her students love, admire, and respect her. This teacher is one of those great unsung heroes, one who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but this week she will have to grin and bear it. I take great pleasure in passing Livingston on to Gayla Payne!

 

Happy Birthday

David Buice                December 18

Madison Negley         December 19

Deborah White          December 25

Elizabeth Ferree        December 26

Kristen Barksdale     December 26

Mandi Mitchell           December 26

Kathleen Outlaw        December 27

Stephanie Purcell      December 29

Sharon Grissom        January 4

2013 - 14 Volume 17

 

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Last week, the Northeast Learning Community celebrated the season by embracing part of our vision statement about serving others.  We gathered at North Fulton Community Chairs to help sort items for their retail store which funds much of what they do.  Here you will see me and Tim Duncan, Principal at Chattahoochee sorting through a maze of technology gadgets to determine what is worth sending to the floor.  This organization is amazing and has even added an education center to help prepare people for the job market.

Our wonderful PTA will serve lunch for us this Wednesday and sixth grade prepares breakfast for us on Friday, so once again there is ample opportunity to eat this week!!

Next week is a no meeting week and will also be casual each day.  

January 6 – We will gather for a light breakfast and brief meeting at 8:30 in the cafeteria.  The rest of the day is yours.

Holiday Party –Please join us this Thursday,  Dec. 12 5-7 at the Village Tavern.  This is a great time to get together and celebrate!!  I hope to see you there.

PRIDE - This Friday, PRIDE will conclude for the semester with an advisement lesson and reflection of our school wide community service project.  Students will also discuss Random Acts of Kindness and how generosity can play a role in their everyday lives.

Last Friday was the final donation day for new toys/books to give to our partnering school.  Those items will be delivered within the next week.  I am sure the administration and staff as well as the students and families receiving the donations will be thrilled.  Thank you so much for your generous donations and participation to help others in need!

We will not run the PRIDE schedule on Friday, December 20th.  Please follow the regular Monday - Thursday schedule.

Music News:

The AMMS Music Department will be performing their annual combined Winter Concert THIS Wednesday, December 11th at 6:00PM & 7:30PM.  There are two performances to accommodate the large number of music students, parents, family members, staff and friends.  We invite you to kick off the holiday season by joining us for an hour of holiday music presented by the Band, Chorus, and Orchestra! (There are no tickets for this event – choose either performance time to attend)  We hope to see you there!

Conference

The GAGC conference is just around the corner (March 10-11) and once again FCSG will pay the registration fee for some of our teachers to attend the conference.  Due to budget constraints, the following guidelines have been established:

• The teacher has to be a member of FCSG by Dec 31.
• In order to share the learning experiences with as many teachers as possible, FCSG will limit this opportunity to teachers that did not receive this funding 2013 (last year’s conference).

 

Where is Livingston? 

Karen Bachus says “This year has been a real challenge for me making a change not only from high school to middle school but also making a total change in curriculum.  Add to this, teaching two grade levels and the pot now thickens.  With that said, I have had to depend on so many people for help and guidance.  I can honestly say that the faculty and staff at Autrey Mill are beyond compare.  So many people are willing to give their time and their talents to help me be successful in my new position.  If I was allowed, I would be awarding several Livingston’s to many people.  Since I am not allowed to hand out more than one I have, with a lot of thought, decided to let Livingston move to Michael Harrell’s room this week.  Michael has spent countless hours directing me and guiding me with understanding lesson plans and the culture of this school.  His words are always kind and thoughtful and he never complains when he sees me enter his room.  He knows that as I walk in I will bring with me a list of questions and he will always patiently answer each and every one of them.   Many times while with him I will see kids come in and speak to him and tell him how much they miss him.  It is obvious that he is well thought of by all students.  Michael – you are so deserving of this honor and I am proud to be able to give this to you.  Thank you for all you do for me and for our students.”

Happy Birthday

Gema Cruz                   December 10

Shaby Bedi-Rehal      December 10

Marisa Wesker          December 11

 

 

2013 - 14 Volume 16

"The real contest is always between what you've done and what you're capable of doing.  You measure yourself against yourself and nobody else."
-Geoffrey Gaberdino

News/Timelines/Due Dates

It sure was nice to have the entire week off and I certainly hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving.  For our Jewish friends, Happy Hanukah!   We certainly had some exciting college football Saturday!  My team has not had its best season but they never quit!!  And that team in southern Alabama certainly had another miracle ending!

Holiday Party –Please join us Dec. 12 5-7 at the Village Tavern.  This is a great time to get together and celebrate!!  I hope to see you there.

PRIDE – Happy December!  This Friday, December 6^th, we will have silent reading time during PRIDE.  This Friday is also the last day to make holiday toy/book donations for our partnering school.  Please continue to encourage students throughout the week in your classes to donate for our toy/book drive to help students in need.  Keep giving out those “Golden Tickets”!  Teachers are welcome to participate as well.

Music News:

The AMMS Music Department will be performing their annual combined Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 11^th at 6:00PM & 7:30PM.  There are two performances to accommodate the large number of music students, parents, family members, staff and friends.  We invite you to kick off the holiday season by joining us for an hour of holiday music presented by the Band, Chorus, and Orchestra! (There are no tickets for this event – choose either performance time to attend)  We hope to see you there!

A Mighty Roar

To Wendy Wilson and Tim Anderson for their amazing ability to take raw, untapped 6th talent and produce amazing musicians in just a few months.  The concerts were incredible!

To Dave Colvin and Ashley Sutton for “challenging the process” and devising a schedule that would work for block exams.

To Caren Allen and the 6^th grade teachers for not missing a beat and taking care of all the big and little things that came up when Nan was out for two weeks.

To Debra Clark for ensuring a smooth grading process all by herself when Nan was out.

Where is Livingston? 

Laura Hunter says “This year at Autrey Mill, we have a lot of new teachers. Some are brand new to the profession and others are new to Autrey Mill or middle school. Either way, it is never easy being the new kids on the block. All of these teachers are working extremely hard. Livingston goes to Karen Bachus this week. Karen is new to middle school and is teaching both 6th and 7th Social Studies. She must plan with two grade levels and prepare lessons and materials for both. Karen spends her planning observing other Social Studies teachers. Anything she may have missed by not being able to plan with her grade level, she catches up on before school. Karen does all of this with the nicest attitude. She is always gracious and appreciative of any assistance. With all of the stress, Karen always manages to have a smile on her face and a kind word for others.  I also hear students say how much they enjoy her class and what a nice teacher she is. I am glad that Karen is now part of the Autrey Mill staff.”

 

Happy Birthday

Meghan DiMaggio                 December 2

Deirdre McClendon              December 8