The month of March is traditionally a whirlwind of Cardinal activities and this year will be no exception! Here are a few highlights to keep in mind:
 

• In March we celebrate Arts in our Schools Month. Our outstanding art teachers, Mr. Guider and Mrs. Lindsay, have adorned our main hallway with fabulous examples of student work.  We encourage you to take a close look at all the children have accomplished.  Meanwhile Mr. Brady, our music teacher, is preparing the kindergarten children to make their Shady Grove musical debut on Thursday, March 3 when they will perform in the annual kindergarten concert.
   
• Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Laila Marshall, our Lead Exceptional Education Teacher.  Mrs. Marshall was recently selected as Shady Grove Teacher of the Year for 2011.  We look forward to honoring Mrs. Marshall at the district Teacher of the Year celebration on May 4.
   
• We greatly appreciate the hard work and talent of our Destination Imagination Teams.  This year Shady Grove has fielded four teams, all of which will compete in the county competition on Friday, March 12 at Glen Allen High School.
   
• "Social Networking" has become a phenomenon that impacts families in many different ways.  Come to our Parent Coffee on Friday, March 25 at 8:30 AM and learn more about ways to help your child and your family avoid the pitfalls of this important communication tool.
   
• March also begins the traditional round of HATS/SOL Testing. The Grade 4 and Grade 5 Writing Tests are scheduled for the week of March 7.  We will administer the multiple choice writing test on Tuesday, March 8 and the direct writing test on Wednesday, March 9.  For more information concerning this year's spring testing schedule, please check our website or refer to the "refrigerator cards" that were sent home last month.  Each grade level will have a unique testing schedule in the window from May 23 to June 8.
   

Finally, please remember that Wednesday, March 16 will be a student holiday and a staff development day for teachers. We wish you a beautiful spring day with the children. In the meantime, have a "Marvelous March!"