This Wednesday, in partnership with One World Cultural Arts Society, we will host a family dance workshop with dance instructor Sheena Black. Parents and students will participate together for an evening of movement, fun, and connection. A sign-up sheet is attached to this Monday Mailer and should be returned to the main office if interested. Come on out and dance with your kids!

This Saturday, we will be hosting our monthly Workday. It will begin at 8 and end at 12 (or whenever the long-list of tasks is completed). Please come, if even for only an hour. We have tasks for everyone—from building to cleaning to fixing!

The Mad Scientist Club begins Friday. You will receive notice before then as to whether your child is enrolled. One correction from the flyer: the club is being run by Adilah Harris and Tyesha Jones (not Kate Seidl and Carolyn Hayes). Sorry!

So, what happens in the life of City Neighbors on a Saturday? This Saturday, if it was any indication, reflected a vibrant community that is alive and thriving.

Just in one Saturday:

• The Student Council at City Neighbors met for a two and a half hour retreat. It was an opportunity to set some priorities, make some decisions about projects to pursue, and connect as a team. Thank you to Ms. Jeffers, our student council advisor, for leading that effort.
• While Student Council was meeting, the City Neighbors Flag Football team was playing in the first round of playoffs in the Charter School League. The players were there. Parents were there cheering them on. Thanks to Mr. Fitz and Mr. Wilson for their on-going coaching of the team.
• Then, in the afternoon, there was a team of parents and students in the courtyard building rain barrels—an initiative sponsored by the City Neighbors Greening Committee. Thanks to Dorothy Valakos and Tracy Holcomb for the leadership on the Greening Committee.
• The day was topped off with an International Potluck Dinner, sponsored by the Community Relations Committee. The food was AMAZING. And, with a great turnout, members of the CNCS community dined together, talked with each other, connected, and built community.

I was proud of City Neighbors on Saturday. The richness of the day reflects on our community.

Now, next Saturday is WORKDAY! We hope to see everyone there!

Annual School Photos will be taken on Thursday, November 19, 2009 by Irvin Simon Photographers and we would like to encourage all CNCS Families, Teachers and Staff to consider participating for the following reasons:

1. To capture memories of our children and school family at milestone years
2. This is a CNCS Fundraiser and any purchases (no matter the photo size or packet) supports our school

Please note there were some concerns raised about the quality of photos taken in 2008 and we have done our best to address those concerns. As always thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, The Fundraising Committee

We would like to invite parents to join us for the 2nd Parent Information Night of the year this Thursday, November 5th. The topic of this workshop will be “Everyday Mathematics”. Led by Ms. Mercier and Mr. Chalupa, we will provide an overview of the program and the underlying philosophy which guides it. To help illustrate the program, parents will be engaged in hands-on activities that their students may experience.

And, we will be teaching parents the algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as taught through the program.

Please join us! Thank you to the OPG for sponsoring these Parent Information Nights!

We want to encourage all families to attend our annual International PotLuck this Saturday, November 7, from 5-8. This is one my favorite events of the year. Everyone brings a dish and then spends the time eating amazing food and connecting with folks in our community! This year, there will also be entertainment.

Thank you to the Community Relations Committee for their efforts in pulling this event together.

This Saturday, November 7, from 2:30-4:30, the Greening Committee will be sponsoring a Rain Barrel Workshop for any interested CNCS families. There will be a sign-up table at dismissal this week.

On Saturday, our City Neighbors Flag Football Team played a good game that went down to the final seconds. In those final seconds, our team lost 19-13. However, our team is going to the playoff tournament next Saturday at Bluford Dru Jemison. The games will start as early as 9:00 am, but specific times are yet to be determined.

We wish our team luck!

City Neighbors started having Grand Conversations two years ago. In essence, a “Grand Conversation” is a simple and fun way for children and families to come together, read, and discuss a great book. The conversations build upon family literacy and a strong sense of school community. This fall we have more than 40 families in grades 2-5 signed up to participate. There will be another chance in the spring to join in.

The Grand Conversation books we read sometimes connect to the grade level curriculum or social studies theme as in 3rd grade’s The Birchbark House (Native Americans) or 4th grade’s Everything on a Waffle (Food). Sometimes the books are chosen just because they are a great read and suit a particular age level.

How does a Grand Conversation work? Free books are distributed to families who sign up to read. At home, families read aloud to their child, read with their child, or take turns reading the book. After a month or six weeks, we hold an evening potluck supper and lively book conversation. Our first book discussion is in third grade tomorrow evening, November 3 at 6:30 pm. Happy Reading!