Character Key
 November
 Cooperation
working with others to accomplish a common purpose.

Dear Parents,

    Elbert Students have just completed the First 9 week grading period. I hope you are pleased seeing the educational progress your child has made in his/her report card. The teachers and I have individual student data discussions periodically. Student growth in Reading and Mathematics is showing in our assessments. The Polk County School System strives to ensure that ALL children have a rigorous and relevant curriculum. No child will be left behind.

Thank you for your support.
William Dawson

                                        ***District Budget Information***
                                        ***Other Useful Information***
 

PTO News:
Questions? Email:pta0591@polk-fl.net

PTO BLOG ADDRESS:
http://elbertpto.blogspot.com
for all the latest news and updates on Elbert.

Elbert is now partnered with www.Goodsearch.com
This is an easy way for the school to earn money, just by our parents and friends going thru this search engine instead of google or any of the others avialable on the web.

Here is some information about the two sites that are included:
Goodsearch.com - The search engine with a unique social mission. It's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great search results, and each time you search, GoodSearch makes a donation to your cause!
GoodShop.com - The new online marketplace that donates a percentage of your purchase to the nonprofit or school of your choice. You can choose from hundreds of popular merchants and the experience of shopping through GoodShop is exactly the same as going to the retailer's websites directly.

T-shirts are always available for ordering. Just send in your order form and money. Order forms are in the office.
PTO meeting Monday, Nov 9th 6:30 at the school

fundraiser starting soon..
1..flowers for the holidays.  2... a coupon sale for flowers throughout 2010!

special thanks to Tony Trotti for the design of our new Elbert Sign  and to Christ Community Church and the parent volunteers for helping with Campus Cleanup day! 

To get involved... please contact via email at pta0591@polk-fl.net if interested.

Campus Kidcare
 For more
information call (863) 686-5116.

Parents,
Have you checked out the media resources on our school website?
Look for them on our Media Page.
Be sure to visit often,
the district looks at the number of visits to determine the value of these products and services. And we don’t want to lose these great resources for our students.
**************
Thank you to all the parents who
attended book fair with their children.  We raised $1200.00 for the library, which will go toward the Accelerated Reader program. 

   Walk-a-thon
Nov. 12th
 Join Us!

Please remember that in order to
*volunteer in your child’s classroom,
*participate in parties or celebrations,
*or attend field trips,
you MUST be an approved volunteer. The application process takes two-three weeks.  If you are already approved, you do not need to re-apply.  If you do not know if you have been approved, please contact Ann Larson in the office at 291-5364.  If you have not been approved to volunteer and would like to, call Ann for further information.  Thank you for your continued support!  J

 
November 13, 2008
 Dear Parents,
   Your School’s Public Accountability Report (SPAR report) is available on the Polk County Schools Website at http://www.polk-fl.net/schools/geninfo.asp?id=39. If you do not have access to a computer you may request a printed copy from your child’s school.
   The School Public Accountability Report contains several types of data (indicators) designed to inform parents and the general public about the progress of Florida's public schools. This report meets the public reporting requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and includes certain additional information of interest on the status of Florida's schools.
   The school Financial report can also be accessed on this link:
http://www.polk-fl.net/schools/geninfo.asp?id=39
Thank you,
Elbert Elementary

                                                                                                                                                             Elbert Elementary School
                                                    205 15^th Street N.E.,
                                                Winter Haven, Florida 33881
Bill Dawson, Principal
Melissa Giffin, AP
Phone: (863) 291-5364
Fax: (863) 291-5363
                                 NOTICE TO BUILDING OCCUPANTS AND PARENTS
                                            NOTIFICATION OF
                                             INSPECTION FOR
                        ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule, 40 CFR Part 763, Asbestos Containing Material in schools, commonly referred to as AHERA. This rule requires all Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) to identify asbestos containing materials (ACM) in their school buildings and to take appropriate actions to control release of asbestos fibers.

All inspections for Elbert Elementary have been completed and a Management Plan describing the results of the inspection and the action plan to control any asbestos found during the inspection, where applicable, has been submitted to the Governor for approval. A copy of this plan is located in the administrative office of this school and at the District School Board of Polk County Environmental and Safety Department and is available for review upon request.

William Dawson

Parents..., Did you know that you can log on to our computer lab curriculum and see exactly what activities your child is working on and what their scores are? If you do not have your username and password to do this, please ask your child’s teacher or email the lab manager at
catherine.woodhead@polk-fl.net
By logging  on, our School District is able to see how many parents are checking on their children’s progress and use this information for future software purchases.
 

A BIG
        We would like to give a big THANK YOU to Christ Community Church for helping with our "Campus Beautification Project"!!  We would also like to thank the following Elbert families who participated in the project.  Thanks for all of your hard work!!  Elbert appreciates you!! Billy, Billy Joe & Bill Jasper Baguio, Susan & Zoe Barfield, Edgardo & Lance Besing, Joe, Taylor & Morgan BlackBee, Jay Bourque, Marc Elder & Family, Rob, Audrey & Holly Fritz, Charles Heath, Rebecca, Stephen & Katelyn Holtan, Howard, Kat, Buster & Skylar MacCalla, Jodie Myers, Anait Seyranyan, Buddy Shelton, Tony, Lisa & Jaxson Trotti, Elitania Van Rompaey (Misael & Dixie)

                                                                           
Dear Parents,
    If you are interested in being able to go online to see your child's grades, the forms to sign up are available in the office or click on the link Web Grades Request form (Requires Adobe Reader, click here to download). These forms need to be notarized, if they are sent in with your child and you must have an email account. The email account is necessary to receive your password.
    Please be aware that EVERYONE will need to fill out a new form for this year. The applications are only good for the current year. If you had a password last year, it will no longer work and you will need to be issued another one.  If you have turned in a request but have not received your passwords, please contact Pam Diaz at pamela.diaz@polk-fl.net 
Please note that there is no web grades for Kindergarten or First Grade.

    If you have already received your password, here is a link to see your child's grades: Web Grades
 

Another BIG
  goes to the City of Winter Haven employees for all the supplies they donated to Elbert. The stage area was fully loaded and the supplies brought many smiles!

Elbert’s Title I  Family Involvement

Title 1 Tidbit:

Governor Charlie Crist has declared November as Florida Parental Involvement in Education Month! Help us celebrate Florida Parental Involvement Month by bringing your Kindergarten, First or Second Grade students to our first Reading Party, on Tuesday, November 17th from 6:00-7:30 PM. You will have an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities with your children to help them become better readers. For our Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade students, we will be planning your Reading Party very soon! Watch for information to come home with your children!

Also, don’t forget about Polk County Family Week
November 14th-20th. Check out the website for more information. http://www.polkcountyfamilyweek.com

On the Artists' Easel
Congratulations to our Principal’s Art Award recipients:
Slaybrina R., Ms. Storch, Kindergarten;
Daishawn A., Ms. Niles, 1^st grade;
Annabelle D., Ms. Compton, 2^nd grade;
Jacquez J., Ms. Lang, 3^rd grade;
Victoria R., Mrs. Lester, 4^th grade;
Kaylee S., Mr. Mastapha, 5^th grade. 
Each student received a certificate of achievement in art, and a watercolor paint set with watercolor paper as a prize.  The artwork by these students will be displayed for the next nine weeks in the main office area.  There will be 6 new award winners at the end of each nine week grading period.  Good work Elbert Artists!

FCAT Resources
WARNING TO PARENTS:
The Florida Department of Education (DOE) was recently informed of a website that is taking advantage of parents possibly misspelling the Internet address for the FCAT Parent Network.  Parents should note that the correct address for the FCAT Parent Network is: www.fcatparentnetwork.com.  Parents should also note that they will be routed to the wrong website if they accidentally type “www.fcatparentsnetwork.com”.  (parents with an “S”)

Please check out our FCAT page for more information

Other Ways to help Elbert....
1. Volunteer....click below to fill out the online volunteer application, if you have
never been approved as a Polk County volunteer.

                                       http://www.polk-fl.net/community/volunteers/default.htm
2. Please donate any small toys and books to our "Caught Being Good" box. If you have any of those toys from fast food places, that come with kids meals, they will be collected in the office any time. The students love getting to pick out a prize for getting caught being good. Ask you child about the yellow tickets and if they got one today.
3. Please send in Tyson A+ points from all Tyson frozen products.
                  
4. Box Tops and Labels
Interested in helping Elbert earn money for new playground equipment, televisions and VCRs?
Well, you can by saving "Box Tops 4 Education" and Campbell's soup labels from participating products.
To find out more about these fundraising projects, click on the following links:

                          boxtops4education.com

                            labelsforeducation.com

Elbert earns 10 cents for every box top collected. And that adds up quickly when everyone gets involved!
With only a little effort, you can help Elbert reach its goal of new playground equipment.
Now that's something worth working for!
                            *********************
5. Recycling Ink cartridges, toner and cell phones.
We will be accepting all empty ink and toner cartridges for our recycling program.
If you have any empties, don't throw them away, send them in with your child.
They can be sent in plastic bags; either baggies or grocery bags are fine. Thank you for your support!

If you know of any businesses that may support Elbert in this way, please email the webmaster (on the home page).

6. Elbert’s clinic needs donations of used school uniforms. Elbert t-shirts, shorts, tops, etc.

Remember our pledge: I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me too. I came to school to learn, and I will learn, I will have a good day.