Eglin Elementary ChronicleMr. Dennis Samac, Principal

Visit our website: www.okaloosaschools.com/eglinQuestions? Call 833-4320

EGLIN ELEMENTARY VISION STATEMENT:Eglin Elementary School will be a community of learners where everyone is responsible and committed to preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges.

Greetings from the Media Center!

We are off to a great school year as students are checking out lots of books and scoring lots of AR points. If your student is in 1st-4th grade, they are already reading Accelerated Reader books and taking a short computerized quiz when they are done. We do have some kindergarten students reading AR books, and as the year progresses, many of them will begin the AR program. At the end of the first semester, the student with the most AR points from each grade level will receive a $10 gift card to Books a Million. At the end of the second semester, the prize is a $25 gift card, with one student receiving an additional $25 gift card for having the most AR points in the school. In addition, our business partner, Corvias, provided an extra incentive for the top point earners by giving $5 gift certificates to the Book Fair for the top point earner from each class. Sometimes there is only ½ points separating the top 2 students, so please encourage your student to keep on reading!!! Each child should be reading a minimum of 20 minutes per day at home. Thanks to your support, we had a very successful Book Fair! The funds earned will be used to purchase new books for the Media Center. I already have a long list of books that I want to get for our students and will begin ordering them very soon. I would like to give a special thank you to our wonderful Book Fair volunteers who helped to keep the Book Fair running so smoothly! They are: Mrs. Cantu, Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Saffo, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Enloe, Mrs. Stamm, Mrs. Munoz, Mrs. Mash, Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Daum, and Mrs. Beauchamp. Thanks also to members of our staff Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Cruz, and Mrs. Ferri who also helped. The School Store is located in the Media Center and is open daily except for the times that the Book Fair is here. The store contains such items as pencils, erasers, folders, notebook paper, and crayons. We also have begun selling poster board if your student has a project that they are working on. Prior to the Science Fair, display boards will also be sold. Students really enjoy shopping on their own and are receiving a real world experience in counting money and understanding concepts such as more and less. Items range in price from 10 cents to $2. For our younger students, it is recommended that school store money be in an envelope marked School Store to avoid any confusion. The funds generated by the School Store are also used to purchase new student books. Once again thanks for all of your support!

Sincerely, Mrs. Terri Davis Media Assistant

Character Trait Word for OctoberKindness

Self-Respect & Respect for Others: Our key to Success!

Remember the 3 B’sBe SafeBe ResponsibleBe Respectful

Lunch MenuLunch menus are online @www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/foodservices/index.htm

To create a payment account, please go to schoolpaymentsolutions.com.

Reminder: If you have not already done so, you may go to applyforlunch.com to fill out free/reduced lunch applications.

If you have any questions about your child’s account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tutoring Dates:3 rd Grade:

Nov. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 and 19Dec. 1, 3, 8, and 10

4 th Grade: Nov. 4, 13, 18, and 20

Dec. 2, 9, and 11

Parents:For the safety of our students and to help increase traffic flow, please observe the following when picking up or dropping off children on the car ramp:1. Pull all the way to the end of the ramp before dropping off or picking up students.2. Children should exit from the right side of the vehicle only.3. Please do not block the car ramp crosswalk.4. Please use the car ramp cross walk when walking.5. Please put the card with your child’s name on it in the right side window of your car.

For the safety of our students, please watch out for them as they walk to and from the school age program each day. Please be especially cautious as they cross the street at the intersection of Gaffney and Hatchee Roads.

School Office Hours:7:15 am -3:15 pm

Eglin ElementaryHome of the Eagles

Set your AR Goal!Oct. 2014

Important Dates/ Holidays

Nov.3, 2014 MFLC Coffee Talk @ 1:30 pm in the Media CenterNov. 3, 2014 PTO meeting @ 2:30 pm in the Media CenterNov. 7, 2014 4th Grade Veterans Day program @ 9:00 am in the cafeteriaNov. 10, 2014 SAC meeting @ 3:15 pm in the Media CenterNov. 11, 2014 Veterans Day holidayNov. 18, 2014 Volunteer orientation @ 1:45 pm in the Media CenterNov. 19, 2014 2nd Grade field trip to the zoo @ 9:00 amNov. 20, 2014 Thanksgiving lunch in cafeteria-cost for parents is $3.75Nov. 24-28, 2014 Thanksgiving break holidaysDec. 1, 2014 MFLC Coffee Talk @ 1:30 pm in the Media CenterDec. 1, 2014 PTO meeting @ 2:45 pm in the Media CenterDec. 2, 2014 ESOL Parent leadership meeting @ 9:00 am in the Board RoomDec. 8-12, 2014 PTO Santa Shop @ 9:15 am-2:15 pm –location TBDDec. 9, 2014 PTO Santa Shop night time event @ 4:30 pm-7:30 pm in –location TBDDec. 9, 2014 SAC meeting @ 3:15 pm in the Media CenterDec. 9, 2014 Pro Kids show @ 8:45 am in the cafeteriaDec. 9. 2014 Pro Kids show Family Night @ 5:30 pm in the cafeteriaDec. 10, 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical and Poster contest @ Ft. Walton BeachDec. 16, 2014 2nd Grade Littlest Christmas Tree play @ 9:00 am and 5:30 pmDec. 19, 2014-Jan. 2, 2015 Winter Break holidays

Calendar DatesEarly Release Time 12:10 pm

Early Release Dates2014-2015

Nov. 6, 2014Dec. 4, 2014Jan. 8, 2015Feb. 5, 2015Mar. 5, 2015Apr. 2, 2015May 7, 2015

Attendance Reminder:Students will have five school days, including the day they return, to bring in written verification for an excused

absence. The absence will be considered unexcused if the

school does not receive written verification for the excused absence in that time frame.

Safety First!

Parents, Please use the car rider ramp and the parking area in front of the school for dropping off and picking up your students. We have staff at these locations

to supervise the safe drop- off/pick-up of ALL students. Cars are not allowed to use the areas

behind the school for dropping off or picking up as this is a safety concern! We do not have staff in

these locations to supervise and to ensure that your students are safe. Please help us make this part of

our day as safe as possible. Thank-you for your cooperation in this matter.

Mr. Dennis SamacPrincipal

Ice Cream!!!The cafeteria will be selling ice cream ala carte on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The price is75 cents. Students will need to bring additional money. If you do not wish your child to be able to purchase ice cream from his/her lunch account, please contact Ms. Judy Terry @ 833-4322, or send a letter saying that they may not use their lunch account for ice cream.

Pro Kids Show!Starring Scott Humston

Magic, Music, and Fun for Everyone!There will be 2 different shows on

Thursday, Dec. 9th. One is at 8:45 am, and the other is at 5:30 pm.

Santa’s Secret ShopDec. 8-Dec. 12

9:15 am-2:15 pm daily*** Open 4:30 pm-7:30 pm on Dec. 9, before and after the Pro

Kids Show

Parent notification: If you wish to view the School Public Accountability Report (SPAR), it will be available in the front office.

Out of Field Teachers:In compliance with Section 101.42 Florida Statues, the following teachers, Mrs. June Whiting-Cobb, Ms. Vaneesa Harrington, Mrs. Jones-Urena, and Mrs. Carol Kotulan are out of field because they do not have an ESOL endorsement, and they have an ESOL child in their classroom. They all hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the State of Florida and are working on courses to satisfy the requirements for an ESOL endorsement.

Military Parents- Please join us for Coffee Talk!!

What: Kim Harris from Operation Kid Fit will be joining us to talk about practical strategies to use with your picky eaters!

When: Monday, November 3rd

from 1:30-2:30Where: Eglin Elementary Media Center

MFLC’s do not keep written records

*Sponsored by Eglin Elementary School’s PTO & facilitated by the Military Family

Life Counselors

Music classes include experiences with singing, playing instruments, moving, listening and creating. The musical concepts that are studied include rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expressive qualities and style. Children will experience traditional American folk songs in addition to a variety of world music, and pieces in many styles. Lessons will lead toward note reading and music literacy.

Music lessons are fast-paced and fun, and students will need to wear comfortable clothing in order to participate fully. Primary students do a lot of moving in order to internalize the steady beat and the intermediate students will need to sit on the floor to perform on the mallet percussion instruments.

October: Song of the Month: America the BeautifulUnit: Rhythm-Beat is steady and rhythm is how the words go.Composer: John WilliamsLink-up program for 3rd grade –Orchestra MovesLink-up program for 4th grade-Orchestra RocksGlow Week Activities-Oct. 27 -31 (Halloween)

Ask your student what they are doing in Music Class!

Mrs. DayMusic Specialist

Thanksgiving meal in cafeteria on Nov. 20. Cost is $3.75 for parents.

 P.E.  Notes Tennis shoes are required each day for P.E.. Some students are stilling wearing flip flops to P.E. Flip flops are not safe for any P.E. activities. Students will need to have jackets during the cooler weather as P.E. activities are held outside. Please remind your child to wear the proper attire to P.E. for both their safety and their comfort. Parents are always welcomed and encouraged to come out and participate during your child’s designated P.E. time!

Turkey Trot on Nov. 20th and 21st

On your mark, get set, go!!!

All parents are welcome to come out and join the fun!

Coaches will be selling Freeze Pops for 50 cents each on Fridays. Proceeds will go to purchase fitness equipment for the gym.

Pumpkin Run Results:

Kindergarten:Vinson Reed-8:22Caleb Coon-8:23Chasitie Bowers-10:00Jamal Archer-11:44Kennedy Hindel-11:501 st Grade: Graedin Follmar-9:19Oyvel Payton-10:14Laila Leggett-9:30Raymond Hunt-9:30Jolie Albertson-10:212 nd Grade: Ryan Lopardi-8:48Jennifer Moor-9:20Nia Crawford-8:53Daniel Gonzalez-9:123 rd Grade: Keylan Hicks-7:44

Eylene Miller-8:50Tristan Thompson-7:54Jayda Redd-8:584 th Grade: Thomas Marion-7:42Nevaeh Davis-7:43Dominic Faoro-7:19Jasmine Dereje-9:54Sienna Hilland-9:54

Fire Safety Week

Eglin students enjoyed Fire Safety Week Oct. 7-13. Our younger students visited the Fire Safety House while our older students participated in Hazard House. As you can tell by looking at the smiles of Mrs. Molony’s kindergarteners, they were thrilled to get a fire hat to take home as well as a bag of goodies.

Energy Awareness Poster Contest

Gulf Power along with the Base Energy Awareness Office recently sponsored a poster contest for Eglin students. A prize was awarded for each grade level with the following winners:Kindergarten-Mallory Simmers1st Grade-Parker Olsen2nd Grade-Emma Stamm3rd Grade-Rachael Popovich4th Grade-Cosner HarrisonEach student received a $50 gift certificate to the BX, a winner’s certificate, and a bag full of goodies.

Pictured here: The brightly colored winning posters

Pictured here: Second grader Emma Stamm accepts her award for her winning poster

Character Parade

Eglin Elementary students and staff had a great deal of fun during the Storybook Character parade recently!!! Even our principal, Mr. Samac, got into the act. He dressed up as Mr. Gru with some of the staff as his Minions.

Pictured here: “Mr. Gru” and the minions

Pictured here: Shawn Bishop as Captain Nobody

Pictured here: Katie Sabin as Elsa from Frozen

Pictured here: Brett Horton as Spiderman

Pictured here: Hasna Raymond as Cleopatra.

Pictured here: Mrs. Smith as Mary Poppins

Pictured here: Mrs. Gilmer and Ms. Seegars as Buzz Lightyear and Woody

Look at Our New, Beautiful Mural!Thanks to Brushstrokes by

Bom, we have a new, beautiful mural on the wall of the gym. Check-out the

before and after pictures.

Pictured here: The wall being prepped by the artist

Pictured here: The finished mural We love our new mural!!! Many thanks!!!

Mr. Gru Reads to class

Pictured here: Mr. Gru aka Mr. Samac, read The Three Sleepy Kittens to Mrs. Molony’s class.