SPRING BOOK FAIR
Don't forget the Spring Book Fair begins on Friday, May 13 and runs thru Friday, May 20. It will be held in the Media Center each school day from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm and will also be open before, during and after all Friday and Saturday performances of The Wizard of Oz. Come by and see the great variety of books for children, teens and adults. Get lost in a great adventure, or find some new recipes, all while you help support Wood students and the PTA.
We need volunteers!! Please help by contacting Laura Barnes here. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday April 11 and
Tuesday April 12
8th Grade Science MSA Testing
Tuesday, April 12, 7 pm
PTA Meeting
Media Center
Monday, April 18 through Thursday, April 21
Spring Break
Schools Closed
Friday, April 22 and Monday, April 25
Holiday - Easter
Schools Closed
Thursday, May 12, 6 pm
Open Rehearsal for
The Wizard of Oz
Friday, May 13 7:00 pm
The Wizard of Oz
Saturday, May 14
1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
The Wizard of Oz
May 13-20
Scholastic Book Fair
Volunteers Needed
Thursday, June 16
8th grade Promotion |
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| Greetings!
This is the first edition of the newsletter to be distributed directly to your inboxes, and will still be available as usual on the PTA website. We hope you enjoy being able to click through to important links and email addresses. We also hope to hear from you if you have news or articles to share. |
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President's News
The upside of spring? Flowers! The downside of spring? Pollen! We can celebrate that April brings us the end of the third marking period at Wood Middle School, or we can mourn the fact that the school year is quickly coming to a close. There are two ways to look at nearly everything. Wood is a great school with so many wonderful opportunities for our students, but of course there is always room to improve. So the question is, are you a part of the solution or not?
Are you a parent who is involved, communicates with the teachers, checks ed-line regularly, volunteers to help, comes to PTA, reads e-wood, supports, encourages and participates? If you do these things, you are part of the solution.
We as parents should support our school, talk about it positively and and celebrate accomplishments. We also are aware of struggles, academic and otherwise, but our positive behavior and attitude can set the example for our children.
We are asking you, as a Wood parent, to get involved, and show your child that you take pride, not only in them, but in their school. One way is to become active in the PTA. We are not only wrapping up the 2010-2011 school year, but also planning for the 2011-2012 year. We still need officers, liaisons, delegates. There are a lot of roles to fill. Would you consider working with a great group of dedicated, caring parents who want to be part of the solution? If so, contact Amy Hartley, amyhartley@yahoo.com, or see below for more information.
In the meantime, we are all looking forward to upcoming events such as the spring book fair, Wizard of Oz drama production, staff appreciation events and of course, 8th grade promotion on June 16. There's plenty of work to do this year, and lots of opportunities for you to get involved and be part of the solution!
Thanks to everyone who works so hard to make Wood Middle School one of the best in the county.
Konni Brantner, President, Earle B. Wood Middle School PTA
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THE WIZARD OF OZ
Presented by Mustang Drama
Thursday, May 12, 6:00 pm "Open Rehearsal" Friday, May 13, 7:00 pm Performance Saturday, May 14, 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm Performances
Welcome Elementary Schools: Students from Maryvale, Barnsley and Rock Creek Valley are planning a trip to Wood to see the "Oz" teaser on May 12!
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CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!
We need to create a new PTA Board for 2011-12. Won't you consider volunteering for an office? We need a President, as well as a Vice President of Fundraising, a Cluster Representative, two MCCPTA Delegates, Liaisons for NAACP, G&T, and Special Needs, Chairs for Hospitality, Restaurant Fundraiser, SERT/Green School, Boxtops, Fall & Spring Fling, Newsletter Editor, E-Wood Moderator.
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A RED HAT HONOR FOR OUR PRINCIPAL
Wood Principal Jeanie Dawson has been honored with one of MCPS Superintendent Jerry D. Weast's signature "Red Hats" to commend technology efforts at Wood. Ms. Dawson received the hat, which Dr. Weast presents for outstanding accomplishments, at a December meeting of administrators and supervisors. The honor comes for "fostering a culture of technology innovation, such as using Skype to connect with homebound students and holding webinars to promote science learning."
As a parent whose child benefited from the use of Skype during a protracted illness, Amy Hartley notes that "it made a tremendous difference in Devin's quality of life, being able to connect with his friends. It is a large part of what got him through 8th grade and enabled him to start high school on time. Devin's outlook dramatically improved when we started the web classes." |
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SUPPORT OUR STAFF
On Wednesday, May 25, the PTA will be holding the annual Staff Appreciation luncheon. It's a special time when we say "thank you" to all the staff from the classroom to the cafeteria, to the office. Throughout the year, these special people strive to help our children become great learners and compassionate human beings.
At the Staff Appreciation luncheon, the PTA provides a catered lunch. To defray the cost of the luncheon the PTA needs contributions from parents. In the past, parents have donated $10-$20.00 per student, but whatever you feel you can afford will be most appreciated. Please make a check out to the Earle B. Wood PTA and write Staff Appreciation on the memo line. If you are sending cash, please put it in an envelope and mark Staff Appreciation on the front. Either way, please drop your donations off at the front office.
In order to create a personal touch, we will also be looking for parents to provide home grown flowers, and a few homemade desserts. Please contact Marla Rudnick at marlarudnick@yahoo.com if you can help with either of these things, so we can coordinate a truly great event for those people who are so important in our childrens' lives. |
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WOOD'S GREEN TEAM IS BLOOMING!
Did you know that the Wood Green Team mulched and planted the 6th grade courtyard last week?
The Green Team has had over 40 members this year consisting mostly of 8th graders, but with many 6th and 7th graders as well. Kids meet every Wednesday afternoon with the Team's sponsor, Mrs. Osborne, and then fan out by groups into the various halls at Wood to collect recyclables from the classrooms, offices and the library. Students then wheel the bins outside to put the 10 to 12 barrels of paper into the larger outside bin for collection. It's a lot of paper every week!
Green Team members appeared on the morning announcements recently to encourage proper recycling within the classrooms. Students were reminded to read the signs on the bins and place the proper materials in the proper receptacles! Green Team members will be preparing for an Earth Day celebration during the lunch period on Wednesday, April 27. |
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CONGRATULATIONS WOOD MUSICIANS!
Each year there is a county-wide music festival for public school music programs for each type of performing group (band, orchestra, chorus). Ms. Tauber's Beginning Orchestra, Chorus and Beginning Band attended this past week. The director picks out appropriate music for the ensemble and a level they can handle graded by MENC (Music Educator's National Conference). Each group is rated with a score of I(best)- V(needs improvement) on various aspects of the music. This includes rhythms, notes, intonation, musicality, expression, dynamics, stage presence, etc. Groups are also rated with the same system on sightreading. This was the first time any students from beginning band or orchestra had gone to a music festival. This is a great improvement from last year's chorus performance at festival. Advanced Band and Orchestra's festival is at the end of May when we take our trip to Busch Gardens.
What did the judges have to say about Wood musicians? ..."very confident playing, excellent stage presence, showed understanding of music- not just playing notes and rhythms, great dynamic contrasts."
That's why we say: Congratulations, Wood Musicians!!
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