Shark Tales

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अनुवाद, अक्षरको आकार, र उच्च विषमताकोलागि (कन्ट्रास्टकोलागि) पहुँचयोग्य विकल्पहरूको जाँचगर्नुहोस्। यी विकल्पहरूको पहुँचगर्न तल स्क्रोलगर्नुहोस् ।

Pata maelezo kuhusu chaguo za ufikiaji wa tafsiri, saizi ya fonti na utofautishaji wa juu.

Tembeza chini ili kufikia chaguo hizi.

Dear Sandersville Families,

One of the many points of pride this staff and I take in Sandersville is the diversity we have present. Our student population breaks down to 35% white, 32% African American, 15% Hispanic, 9% Asian, and 7% with families that identify as two or more races. Additionally, we have over 20 languages spoken by our students and families. You will not find a school where the demographics allow so many perspectives to be shared.

Last week, three staff members and I attended the KASA Speak Up Conference. The conference promoted unity and inclusion. It allowed me to reflect on creating more space for student voice at Sandersville, meaning considering how to provide students an opportunity to weigh in on matters impacting our school. I asked our staff members attending to share a few thoughts and here are pieces of their reflections:

• Cecilia Castro: Two takeaways: 1) Realize that different does not mean inferior or wrong (teach ALL with LOVE). 2) Shifts in our thinking results in change in our actions (asset-based mindset).
• Sami Williams: From Larry Bell's high energy session on "Encouraging Stakeholders to Speak Up", I liked the group conversations on more ways partner with our families.
• Caroline Wilkerson: My biggest takeaway came from Dr. Coleman's session- Equity by Design. Often in schools, we follow a basics-first approach. Instead of starting with the basics, if we start with the creative application tasks, we can provide much needed motivation for all students to master the basics and beyond.

Black History Month and Kindness Week are a few of our monthly celebrations during February. While we enjoy highlighting these times, our staff also understands the importance of providing multiple perspectives and promoting caring for all in everything that we do, every single day. For Sandersville, celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion is part of our fabric. We appreciate your support in our efforts and hope all our families consider ways to help Sandersville in this work.

Thank you for everything you do to support the success of our students at Sandersville.

If assistance is ever needed, call the office at 859- 381-4980 or email matt.marsh@fayette.kyschools.us.

Sincerely,

Mr. Marsh, Sandersville Principal

February 10- Basketball Game at Dunbar (10:00 AM)

February 12- Kindness Week

February 17- Basketball Game at Leestown (10:00 AM)

February 20- Orchestra Concert (6:00 PM)

February 24- Basketball Game at Dunbar(12:00 PM)

February 26- Read Across America Week

February 27- Neighborhood Walk (3:00), SBDM (4:30)

February 28- God's Pantry Food Drive Begins

Sandersville is pleased to continue our exciting mentorship program called Scholastic R.E.A.L. (Read. Excel. Achieve. Lead). This program is designed to deepen literacy and to instill a love of reading in our students through mentors who share their time once a month.

District and school leaders recruit volunteers within our community as reading mentors to each class. The program coordinator will assign a mentor to your child's class. Mentors read and discuss a different book for 20-30 minutes during each of the class visits, once a month, using book-specific mentor guides. Each guide recommends sections for class reading and open-ended questions engaging book discussions. Students receive their own copies of the books to take home. Families use the Family Guides to respond to books with discussion and activities, building literacy skills at home.

Kindergarten registration for 2024-25 is now open. Don't wait until the summer crunch. Sign up early! Kentucky law requires children between 6 and 18 years old to attend school. The birthday cutoff to enroll in kindergarten is age 5 on or before August 1st. Use the link here to start the process. Call our front office at 859-381-4980 if you have any questions.

Family Resource and Youth Service Center coordinators build relationships between schools, homes, and communities to support families and help students succeed. We would like to take time to thank our coordinator, Mary Jo Dendy, and all FRYSC coordinators for their hard work. They provide an invaluable service with the main goal of helping each student to learn to their fullest potential and to be successful into adulthood. Please join us in celebrating Family Resource and Youth Services Center coordinators.

At Sandersville Ms. Dendy splits her time between here and Meadowthorpe Elementary. Some of Ms. Dendy's highlighted in statewide FRC publications include her work with Grief Support Groups and Family Fun Nights. Ms. Dendy serves as the co-chair of the annual GAP Conference and has served on the planning committee since it started. This is their 20th conference! Thanks for your hard work and dedication to the students and families at Sandersville.

Sandersville has recently had one more teacher, Katie Salyers, earn National Board Certification, which is a demonstration of practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. The certification process generally takes one to three years. Educators must submit a detailed portfolio with examples of student work, an outline of what they have done outside of the classroom to improve student achievement, and videos showing how they teach and interact with students. In addition, they must submit a reflective piece on student assessment and learning and then take a rigorous exam to demonstrate they have mastered their area content. Ms. Salyers joins Sara Baird, Lori Pittman, Megan Darko, Stefanie Hohensee, and Janelle Kitchen teachers with the certification. Sandersville is well represented!

Congratulations to the following students whose artworks were selected for the KY All- State Elementary and Middle School Art Show: Jessie Poole, Julian Grayson, Lynlee Smith, Pemberley Thompson, andElyanna Munyakazi. Their art will be on display in Bowling Green from February 21- March 16.

For those needing summer camps, there are many options in our area. Some of these options include:

• Lexington Parks & Recreation- sign ups for some camps start February 21st
• YMCA
• Boys and Girls Club
• Pepperhill Farm

Here is a great website that has a pretty comprehensive list of camps in the area—not sure it’s been updated for 2024, but it gives you a lot of great info: https://lexfun4kids.com/summer-camp-guide/

At Sandersville, we teach and encourage environmental stewardship.

February's Sustainability Tip: Bring Your Own Bag

The next time you head to the grocery store, bring your own reusable shopping bag. Try to keep one in your car trunk or the bottom of your backpack? Forgot? Yep, that happens to the best of us. Many grocery stores allow you to bring plastic bags back so they can be reused.

Reminders:

1. Sandersville Spirit Gear is available. Check out the new options.
2. Please consider joining the PTA. Click here to join.
3. All volunteers, including PTA activities, field trips, and Field Day, must complete a background check. Family members need to apply in advance and do so through the district website.

With the start of the new semester, it is important to review the district policies around attendance and excused absences. The full FCPS Absence Policy can be found in the Student Code of Conduct that was sent at the beginning of the school year: https://www.fcps.net/conduct. Important points include:

• Any student arriving after 7:45 or leaving before 2:35 is considered tardy.
• Excuse notes should be turned in at the front office within three days of an absence.
• FCPS policy requires a physical note.
• Families of students accumulating multiple unexcused absences or tardies could have truant notices mailed by the FCPS Office of District Personnel (DPP).

Finally, Sandersville closely follows the guidelines outlined in the Education Enhancement Opportunity (EEO) form. Any approved EEO will need to very clearly meet all 3 criteria listed on the form:

• having an educational purpose
• having “significant educational value”
• including how the activity is directly related to one of the core curriculum subjects of English, science, mathematics, social studies, foreign language or the arts.

Do you know a Sandersville teacher or staff member who has gone the extra mile? Express your appreciation for him/her by completing the short form below. When you're done, a "Swimming the Extra Mile" award certificate will be created and emailed to the teacher or staff member.

Swimming the Extra Mile Form

Sandersville promotes the social, emotional, and academic success of every student and a physically healthy lifestyle.

Email: matt.marsh@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: https://www.fcps.net/Page/97
Location: 3025 Sandersville Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Phone: (859) 381-4980
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandersvilleSharks
Twitter: @Sandersville