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Nickajack  2014-2015  Beat

This Newsletter is jointly sponsored by the PTA and the NES Foundation. 
Stay Current: Visit NickajackPTA.org  and Like us on Facebook.

 

Issue: 2015-06
 

February 17, 2015

In This Issue

Quick Links

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Easy Money Links

True Blue  

box top logo  

 

Coke Rewards  

Publix  

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2014-2015 
 
Platinum 
PTA Pals

Los Bravos
i9 New Banner
k-9 Coach
chick fil a


    
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Gold PTA Pals

 

Book Stop logo

Moore



 



678-213-4278

 

Warner

Firehouse Subs



Playin' on Purpose
Spanish
Litttle Studio New

chess 2 children 2012

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Overtime Athletics


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Silver PTA Pals
 

mathnaium use
vinings lake church
Smyrna eye 
Genesis
Music Studio 
 
  Pedo at Vinings   
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Bronze PTA Pals

Beyond a Classroom

Gateway   





Chick-fil-A Spirit Night Tonight, Tuesday
Fifth Grade Hosting, 5pm-8pm

Our 5th grade team is hosting NES spirit night tonight, Tuesday, February 17th.  Visit our PTA Pal Chick-fil-Alocated at 3100 South Cobb Drive by the Kroger, and a portion of the sales from the NES families will go to Nickajack!  

Be sure to sign the guest book during your visit.

Bestselling Author Visits Nickajack Tomorrow
4th & 5th Grade Students are Invited; Permission Slips Due 

The NY Times Best Selling Author, Sharon Draper, will be visiting on Wednesday, February 18th, from 2:30-4:00pm in the Media Center.  Students wishing to attend must have a signed permission slip. Click here for a blank permission form. Please have your student bring their permission slip to Mrs. Yost in the Media Center as soon as they get to school on Wednesday morning.

Our PTA has her newest book, "Stella by Starlight"  available for sale for $17.  Stop by to see Mrs. Yost in the Media Center if you want to preview the new book, and to pick up a special PTA envelope.  Please have your child bring cash or a check made payable to NES PTA if they wish to purchase.

Ms. Draper will have all of her other books for sale as well.  You may pre-order her other books by using the pre-order form (download by clicking here), OR you can send in a note with money or check payable to Books N More and they can purchase the books during the visit.  All books purchased can be autographed by Ms. Draper.

Ms. Draper will be discussing her new book, the inspiration for her new story, how and why she became a writer and answering any questions that aspiring young writers may have for her.

Questions?  Email Mrs. Yost at faye.yost@cobbk12.org.
Annual Relay for Life Talent Show March 26th
Permission Slips for Auditions Due Wednesday & Thursday, February 18-19, 7:15am-7:45am

Does your student have a talent? Acting, poetry, dance, songs, magic acts, comedy, playing an instrument?  Students that would like to participate in this year's Talent Show will need to turn in a completed permission slip on Wednesday or Thursday morning in the lobby between 7:15-7:45 AM, February 18th or 19th, along with a $1 donation from each individual who is auditioning.

Auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, February 23rd and 24th. Rehearsals are critical to the success of the show, and are scheduled in March.  Flyers went home last week, or click here for a copy of the flyer, which includes guidelines, permission slip, and additional details. 

Please plan to attend this wonderful Relay for Life fundraising event on March 26th at 6:30pm.
More Volunteers Needed: Fathers Being Involved
Positive Male Role Models to Meet with DREAM Team
DREAM Team Logo
The school counselors would like to enlist the help of the Fathers Being Involved! We run a group 
on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7:20-8:00 AM called the D.R.E.A.M. Team.

D.R.E.A.M. stands for Demonstrating Respect Everyday to Achieve More. This "team" or group is comprised of 12 male students from second thru fifth grade. The primary goal of the program is to help students become successful lifelong learners and people of good character.

We are looking for guest speakers to attend our meetings and speak to the boys on various topics. We feel that it is important to expose them to as many positive male role models as possible. I have listed the meeting dates and topics below. If there are any members of the FBI that would like to volunteer to speak to the boys on one of the following topics one morning from 7:25-7:45 AM (20 minutes), please email Nicole.Weber@cobbk12.org

February 19        Teamwork
February 23        Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
February 26        Self-Control
March 2               Anger Management
March 5               Manners
March 9               Work Ethic
March 12             Team Celebration

 

Thank you!

Box Top Classroom Competition!
Melt Winter Into Spring
SAVE
Clip, save, and send Box Tops to your child's teacher.  The contest deadline is Friday, March 20, 2015!

WIN
The classroom with the highest number of Box Tops collected at each grade level will receive an awesome Popsicle Party to kick off Spring!

EARN MONEY FOR NICKAJACK
Each submitted label gives $.10 for our school.  This year we want to collect more box tops than we ever have!

Questions?  Contact Yvonne Johns at eyjohns@bellsouth.net.
Meet and Greet with Smyrna Schools Leadership
Thursday, February 19th from 6:00-7:30pm
meet greet

The Wave of Excellence is proud to bring together for a Meet & Greet:

  • Chris Ragsdale, CCSD (Interim) Superintendent
  • Dr. Grant Rivera, Chief Leadership and Learning Officer
  • Dr. Kevin Daniel, Area 2 Assistant Superintendent
  • Susan Thayer, CCSD Board Member
  • Scott Sweeney, CCSD Board Member

The Meet and Greet is on Thursday, February 19, 2015 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at Smyrna Elementary School, 1099 Fleming Street, Smyrna GA.  Please take this opportunity to meet our special guests and hear what their vision and goals are for moving Smyrna Schools forward.


 

Become a member of The Wave of Excellence Facebook page so you can keep abreast of the wonderful things happening in our public school community.
 

Questions?  Email Michelle Murphy at m4mcmurphy@gmail.com.

Blue Moon Pizza Spirit Night
Tuesday, February 24th, 5pm-8pm

Blue Moon Pizza
Mark your calendar for our first Blue Moon Pizza Spirit Night and come enjoy some fantastic pizza!  Be sure to mention that you are with Nickajack. 10% of all sales will go back to your PTA.  You can dine-in, take-out or call for delivery! Gluten-free pizza available.

Our PTA Pal Blue Moon Pizza is located at 4600 West Village Place in the West Village off Atlanta Road.

Thank you for supporting our Gold PTA Pal and your PTA!
Volunteers Needed: The Spring PTA Bookfair is Coming
March 2nd - 6th in the Media Center

Gift cards will be for sale during the week of Feb. 23rd -27th, each morning between 7:15 am - 8:15 am in the school front lobby. Buy your favorite teacher or student a book fair gift card to be used at the bookfair.  

Our opening day is Monday, March 2nd, but you can 
click here to preview and purchase books on line starting February 21st.  Books purchased online will be delivered to your student at the school by mid-March.

Invite your grandparents to our Grand Event....Grandparents Shop! You are all invited to have some delicious pastries and sweets on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7:15 a.m. and then come shop for great books for your grandkids until 10 am.

Volunteers Needed Please:
Volunteers are needed to make this another great book fair! Help is needed with selling gift cards, set up, cashiering, general assistance with students and shoppers, and break down. Volunteers will receive 10% off purchases.  Click one of the following links to volunteer:

PTA Book Fair Gift Card Sales
PTA Spring Book Fair

Contact faye.yost@cobbk12.org or lashanaclark@gmail.com if you have any questions.
PTA Pal Spotlight: Way2Play Sports Camp with Coach Homansky
Register now for an early discount!

We are pleased and excited to announce the opening of Smyrna's newest sports camp, developed and run by Smyrna's own Coach Eric Homansky!

Don't miss this exciting opportunity for kids this summer with Coach Homansky!  Register NOW for an early registration discount! Limited Spots Available and spots are filling quickly!

Way2Play Sports Camp with Coach Homansky is unique because:
  • Run by compassionate, professional physical education teachers, coaches, and certified educators
  • Curriculum and camp program diligently put together by Coach Homansky
  • Staff is hand picked by Coach Homansky to ensure excellence
  • Focused on basic sport skills for a variety of sports
  • Encourages and develops sportsmanship
  • Includes an academic component
Camp Information:
  • Designed for rising grades 1st - 6th grade
  • Weekly sessions beginning June 1st
  • Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Includes a healthy hot lunch and snacks
  • Children just need a water bottle and enthusiasm
  • $249 per session; sibling discounts available
  • Located at GA Indoor Sports at 2640 Matthews St. Smyrna
Please visit www.way2playsports.com for more information and to register NOW.  Space is limited to 45 campers per session and spots are filling up fast.

Questions? Please email contact@way2playsports.com or call 
678-524-9616.
PTA Pal Spotlight: Abrakadoodle
Wild and Wacky Spring Break Art Camp

 Get silly! Get goofy! Get creative at Camp Abrakadoodle Wild 'n Wacky Art!  Learn about a variety of artists in this camp while using exciting materials and techniques.  Transfer your energy into your art with fun art materials. We will play games and listen to stories and music from our own Abrakadoodle CD. 

Austin Drive Studio: (by the day) $55 per day from 9am to 3pm, All Ages

Smyrna Community Center: (by the week) 
  • $194 for Week, Ages 3 to 5 from 9am to 1pm or 
  • $225 for Week, Ages 6 to 12 from 9am to 3pm
Extended Hours are Optional at $10 per hour at both locations.

Register athttp://www.abrakadoodle.com/ga-atlanta/ for Austin Drive
Register athttp://www.smyrnacity.com/ for the Smyrna Community Center

For more information email Knubel@abrakadoodle.com.
Standard School Attire Policy
Follow Up From Fall Survey

After much research, gathering of feedback and discussion about standard school attire, the NES School Council recently decided to recommend not implementing a policy in the 2015-2016 school year.  This decision did not come lightly but was based on limited feedback from the Nickajack community and the lack of empirical data showing a connection between standard school attire and increased student achievement.  

Between the comment cards made available at tables set up at various events and the online survey made available in November 2014, only 330 people responded, which represents a low percentage of the overall Nickajack community.  Results of the online survey, where there were 279 respondents, can be found here.

Questions? Please contact Eric Rosen at nickajackeric@gmail.com.
CCSD Blackboard Alerts
Receive Alerts from CCSD Via Phone, Text, or Email

The Cobb County School District uses the Blackboard Connect Parent Portal, an online system designed to allow you to customize how you receive notifications from your child's school as well as the district.  Notifications, including school closings or delays,  can now be received by phone, text message, email, or phone.
Click here to sign up for alerts. Updates and alerts are also posted on the Cobb County Facebook Page.
Mark Your Calendars
Upcoming Events      
  • 2/19: Meet & Greet with Smyrna School Leadership
  • 2/24: Blue Moon Pizza Spirit Night
  • 3/02-06: Spring Scholastic Book Fair
  • 3/02: FBI Book Reading (3rd of 4)
  • 3/04: Spring Individual and Class Pictures
  • 3/05: Fine Arts Night, 4-7pm
  • 3/09-13: Teacher Appreciation Week

More news and updates, as well as the PTA calendar snapshot for the school year, can be found on the NES PTA Website and the NES PTA Facebook Page