Thinking of Others at Christmas

The good book says it is "more blessed to give than to receive" and at R. L. Young we are promoting this attitude, especially during the month of December. Mrs. Nelson, fifth/sixth grade teacher is heading up our 3rd annual R. L. Young Elementary /1st Family Services Toy Drive.


First Family serves children from birth to 12 years of age. By combining our efforts with this local agency, we not only are we hoping to brighten someone's Christmas, but we are providing life lessons about giving, love, gratitude, and helping others.


We are asking students to bring a new, unwrapped toy to school by WEDNESDAY, Dec. 8th. With your help, we can make a dramatic difference in the lives of children in Talladega County.


Suggested Items:
balls (footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, etc.)
remote control cars
hand held games
board games
baby dolls
cars/trucks
dress up clothes
Barbie dolls
princess items


NO STUFFED ANIMALS, PLEASE

November 2010 Good Citizens

Each month R. L. Young teachers select a student from their class to be  GOOD CITIZEN. We believe that recognizing good behavior, kindness, and being a role model for others is worth the effort and recognition. 

This year,the selected students each month complete a survey of their likes, favorites, and respond to why they feel they were chosen as a GOOD CITIZEN. These surveys hang in the lunchroom for all to read. 

Congratulations to the November Good Citizens.

"YOU make Young a BETTER place to learn and grow!"

K-2nd Grade  Good Citizens: Kamryn C., Latasia E., Carlee M., Tanner M., Riley L., Isaac W., Ty G.

3rd-6th Grade Good Citizens: Marlee S., Ragan P., Kevin W., Lauren H., Cason H., Julie G., Kacie P., Haylee W. 

Progress Reports TODAY! November 29th

If your child's report is not satisfactory, consider the following items:

*Is your child frequently tardy?

*Does your child complete homework?

*Does your child and you study for tests?

*Does your child know school is important to you, too?

*Does your child bring the necessary supplies to class?

*Do you visit the school for an occasional lunch date or to speak to the teacher?

*Is your child frequently absent from school, but could have probably attended? 

The problem may not be his/her ability to learn, but obstacles that can be easily removed.

Dear Faculty and Staff,
Thanks so much for the pretty flowers you had delivered to my office at Zora Ellis. When I look at them on my desk, it reminds me of all the wonderful teachers and friends at Young. I have especially appreciated your kind words of encouragement in my new position.

Please keep in touch.

Love,
Gloria Thomas

  

Thanks, Bill Stanford and Chrysler Corporation

The Chrysler Drive for Kids was the easiest fundraiser the school has ever done thanks to Bill Stanford and the Chrysler Corporation. There was no obligation to R. L. Young or to the drivers. Each driver earned $10 for the school for a total of $770 in 2 1/2 hours! 
Thanks to everyone who helped....

From the Faculty and Staff of R. L. Young

R. L. Young faculty and staff can think of 266 reasons to be thankful! We wish your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Elves Visit School

While most R. L. Young folks were sleeping in on the first day of Thanksgiving vacation, Christmas elves were spotted hanging the greens at the school. 


A special thanks to the following elves:
Mike and Diane Gay
Teresa Mellon
Alayna Pody
Linda Hodnett


Magical things happen at R. L. Young....a good place to learn and grow!

Scenes of American Education Week

R. L. Young's American Education Week

Kickoff Assembly on Monday, November 15th

Sixth graders entertained the student body with a program recognizing Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving. 

 

Chris Cleavenger, or Pirate Chris-no-beard, shared the story about a boy who didn't want to read, write, or do math.

    

Morgan Davidson, a former R. L. Younger, sang 2 songs 

Mrs. Nancy Willis, former reading coach at R. L. Young, had an important message 

for students...be in charge of your own learning!

Retired teachers and staff members enjoyed lunch, compliments of P.T.O. Carolyn Roberts, former principal of Young visited, too. We were thrilled to have all of them back on campus.

Lots of grandparents came!

Grandparents were welcomed by some very excited grandchildren! 

You can view a video by clicking here.

Alabama and Auburn fans competed for AR points through the week. The team with the most points was ALABAMA! ROLL TIDE ROLL! Thanks for a total of 555 points was earned by students this week! Awesome...

A SPECIAL thanks to Mrs. Carrie Nabors for heading up American Education Week. 

She and her committee members did an excellent job. 

Candy Prizes Awarded!

Mrs. Liner's kindergarten students and Mr. Reaves

Students got a nice surprise before the Thanksgiving holidays as Mr. Warren Reaves helped them select prizes earned for selling candy for the school. Thanks so much to everyone who helped with this fundraiser.

Grandparents' Day 2010 at R. L. Young

Thanks to all who helped with this wonderful event!

P.E. Star Student of the Week 11-19-10

Gracie H. is a very dependable student. She always has a positive attitude about what she is doing. Gracie does a great job of doing her best. She is an excellent student and a very hard worker. Great job, Gracie on being this week's star student!

PROGRESS REPORT Will be sent on Nov. 29!

Due to the Thanksgiving Holidays, progress reports will be sent when students return on Monday, November 29th. This will aid children in getting this important report home, signed, and returned promptly.

P.E. Star Student of the Week 11-12-10

Kylie B. is a student who has shown her classmates how to become a better person. Kylie has been a great friend and helper this year. Kylie is a great student who is honest and trustworthy. Great job Kylie for doing your best.

Alabama vs Auburn = Kids READING!

R. L. Young students have joined forces to read for their favorite football team. All AR points earned this week will be earmarked toward Alabama or Auburn.  Which team will win on Friday?

ROLL TIDE ROLL, WAR EAGLE, and READ, READ, READ!

2010 Harvest Queens and Kings

Congratulations to all of the winners! The top winners from each category will join the 

R. L. Young Ambassadors in December on the Christmas parade float. 

Grandparents Day at R. L. Young

Did you get the message....? Grandparents are coming tomorrow, November 18, 2010. 

We are VERY EXCITED!

Got Books?

All children deserve to have books at home to practice all those reading skills we teach each day. Our FREE BOOK Project, in its second year, helps make this possible. Books are displayed daily in the main building hallway and are free to choose as students pass by. 


The supply of books have been provided by individuals, friends of the school, teachers, and from the school's attic. After 12 weeks, our supply of free books is dwindling. If you have books you would like to donate or funds to help continue this worthwhile project, please contact the school office, 256-315-5888. 
Happy Reading!

Thank a TEACHER....During American Education Week! November 14–20, 2010

Help Celebrate American Education Week

R. L. Young will celebrate a very important week during November 15-19th. The following is just a small part of the activities in store for our school...


Monday, Nov. 15  An assembly to kickoff to American Education Week
Alabama vs. Auburn Accelerated Reader contest BEGINS!


Tuesday, Nov. 16  Retired Employees luncheon and Honor Roll Assembly K-2 at 12:45, 3-6 at 1:30 p.m.


Wednesday, Nov. 17 Honoring Bemiston Baptist Church with Treats


Thursday, Nov. 18th Grandparents Day!


Friday, Nov. 19 The Alabama vs. Auburn Accelerated Reader Contest Ends....


A special thanks to AEW chair, Mrs. Carrie Nabors and committee members for all of their hard work.

November 16 HONOR ROLL ASSEMBLY

Honor Roll Assembly is a special time to honor and recognize hard work, super attendance, great behavior, and academic achievement. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

K-2 program begins at 12:45 p.m.

3rd-6th program begins at 1:30 p.m. 

Please allow your child(ren) to finish out the day at school. Checking out is discouraged.

Thank you for your support and attendance!

Goodbye, Mudpit!

Work began last week to rectify the mud and water problem that has plagued R. L. Young's bus pick up spot for many years. There are still tasks to complete, but it is exciting to be making progress. 


A special thanks to State Representative Steve Hurst for helping to fund this project. Our school just keeps getting better and better. A good place to learn and grow...for sure!

Congratulations, Mrs. Gloria Thomas

On November 8, 2010 Talladega City School Board voted to transfer R. L. Young fifth/sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Gloria Thomas to the position of assistant principal of Zora Ellis Junior High School. Although we are happy for her, it is bitter sweet for our faculty, staff, students, and parents.


 Mrs. Thomas has been at Young for 20 years and it is hard for all of us to imagine the school without her. On a positive note it is comforting to know that she will be there to receive our graduating sixth graders as they enter the doors of junior high school. 


Best wishes, Mrs. G. Thomas! You will be missed!

Scholastic and Taylor Swift Team Up to Promote Reading Everyday

To access the VIDEO REPLAY of READ NOW! with Taylor Swift  CLICK HERE to register and watch the video replay.

        Cool kids READ!  Cool kids READ!  Cool kids READ!  Cook kids READ!  

More Bullying Information

Bullying in schools

Excerpt from http://www.bullyonline.org/schoolbully/school.htm


Recently there's been much increased awareness of bullying in schools and whilst it may appear that bullying is on the increase, I suspect there's been little change in the amount of bullying that goes on in school. What has changed is that society is at last beginning to recognize just how vile bullying is and that the myths and misperceptions are just that - myths and misperceptions. Those who perpetuate these myths are choosing to be part of the problem, not the solution.
It seems that children bully for a variety of reasons and when dealing with child bullying it's essential to identify who is the bully at the center of the violence - there's usually one person who's the gang leader - and the reasons for bullying which include:

• frustration - a child is impaired in some way and is frustrated and resentful because the source of their difficulty has not been identified - problems can include deafness, dyslexia, autism, allergy, being left-handed, undiagnosed PTSD or some unidentified learning difficulty - nevertheless the child is expected to perform at the level required by the school and no attempt is made to identify the source of the frustration
• the child is being bullied, the responsible adults have repeatedly failed in their duty of care, so the child slowly and reluctantly starts to exhibit aggressive behaviors because that's the only way to survive in this bullying-entrenched climate
• poor or no role model - the child has no role model at home, or a poor role model for one or both parents and has never had the opportunity to learn behaviour skills
• abuse at home - the child is being abused and is expressing their anger through bullying
• neglect at home - similar to abuse as the child's emotional and behavioural development is being retarded
• undue influence - the child has fallen in with the wrong crowd
• conduct disorder - the child has a conduct disorder, the precursor to antisocial, psychopathic or other personality disorder

2010-2011 Hula Hoop Champions

Back Row: Tripp A., Julie G., Shayla C.

Front Row: Kyleigh B., Anna Belle A.

These students were the 2010-2011 Hula Hoop Champions. Kyleigh was the single winner for grades K-2 with a time of 1 hour and 22 minutes. Winners for the 3-6 grades were Tripp, Julie, Shayla, and Anna Belle with a time of 4 hours and 35 minutes. We had around 90 students to participate this year. I would like to thank every student who participated in the competition, and for those who did not make it to the end, well there is always next year.

Congratulations to all the winners!

P.E. Star Student of the Week 11-5-10

Hannah L. has demonstrated to her classmates how you can help others in times of need. Hannah is very thoughtful and considerate to her classmates. If everyone treated others the way Hannah has we would all have a smile on our face. Great job Hannah for being a great helper, and a great friend to everyone.

RED RIBBON WEEK

R. L Young counselor, Mrs. Deese, Talladega City Police  Sgt. Patrick Thornton, and a Member of the Drug Task Force visit R. L. Young.

This past week Schools across the nation celebrated RED RIBBON WEEK to honor an officer who lost his life in the line of duty and to educate children on the dangers of drugs. The children recited the Drug Free Pledge and signed a class sheet. This pledge will be displayed all year long. Each day students dressed in various colors to show school, team, and grade level pride. Tooth brushes were collected to give to the RED CROSS as a service project to help someone in need. In all of these activities, the message was clear, "Just say no to DRUGS!" 

Classes create Drug Free Posters this week.

An R. L. Young parent got real creative in helping us spread the message that Drug Free is the WAY TO BE! 

A special SHOUT OUT to Ms. Deese for planning, organizing, and making this yearly event successful! We are lucky to have such a caring counselor!

R. L. Young Students Earn MOVIE DAY

The 20 days after Labor Day marks the time period that schools must examine their students' attendance. If they maintain a total of 95% at the end of the 20 days they receive a green square on the AYP Report for the additional indicator. 


R. L. Young students do a fabulous job coming to school on time and staying all day. During this 20 day period, our attendance was an impressive 97%. This school wide achievement earned the students a MOVIE DAY in our newly remodeled auditorium. The giant shades blocked the light and our huge screen purchase two years ago by PTO gave the illusion that they were actually in a theatre. 


The event also included a concession stand run by R. L. Young's Ambassadors. Thanks to Mrs. Beard and Mrs. Tipton for helping to prepare the popcorn! 


Thanks to our parents for having their children at school every day.  

Armstrong Takes the Trophy!

Each Friday the principal runs several Accelerated Reader reports to check on the students' reading progress. One of the most important reports is the highest % in comprehension for the week. Last week Mrs. Armstrong's second graders snagged the trophy by having the highest comprehension %! This means her students' combined test results were the highest in the school. 


Last year Mrs. Armstrong's students earned the trophy 17 weeks out of the year! Quite impressive for second graders! 
We will see if they can maintain this high standing........Good Luck!

Only 2 Days Remain...

Preorder your yearbook this week. Mrs. Davidson, Young's yearbook sponser always puts a tremendous amount of effort into creating a long lasting keepsake of the school year. Notes when home recently. The deadline to purchase is Nov. 5. Order yours today!