3455 Coal Mountain Drive Cumming, GA 30028
Phone: 770-887-7705 Fax: 770-781-2286
Coal Mountain Elementary
Mining For Coal . . . . . . . .
Discovering Diamonds
Dear Parents,
You must come by and visit our outdoor gardens! Suzanne Geddes
and Denise Webb have worked countless hours over the last several
months to plan and prepare for a fantastic outdoor garden for all of our
students to experience. Crystal Lee and our special education
department continue to enhance our sensory garden also.
Additionally, we have had wonderful volunteers spend long hours at
CMES, donating both time and resources, to make all of this happen.
We want to thank Rodney Weems of Weems Construction for
building our storage shed and raised beds. We also want to thank
Kinsey Family Farm, for donating several plants and soil for our beds
in the front and Christina Hubbard of Christina’s Organic
Vegetables, who donated seedlings and some seed for our beds.
Suzanne Geddes also purchased seeds for our garden. This week,
several members of the United Way came to CMES to work in our
gardens and improve our landscaping. This was part of the United
Way Day of Caring and they all did an outstanding job…working
hard all day in the HOT weather! Please view the video clip on the
CMES Facebook page. From all of us at CMES… we THANK
YOU!!
Kim and I both feel so fortunate to work at a school that exemplifies
commitment to excellence and a genuine caring for our students. Our
teachers are committed to providing the best experience possible for all
of our students. We are also committed to building a positive
schoolimage throughout our community and state…we want CMES to
SHINE! With that said, there are always instances that you may hear
information that you sometimes aren’t sure of or don’t understand.
Empowering
Young Minds
for a Bright
Future
Important Dates:
September 20 School
Pictures
September 26 Early Release
October 11-18
Scholastic Book Fair 7:15-3:00
Debbie Smith, Principal Jan Munroe, Assistant Principal
January 21, 2010
Debbie Smith, Principal Kim Fox, Assistant Principal
September 14, 2012
No doubt, in the age of social media, these items can be posted for others to view, which may
cause additional angst and misunderstanding. Please know, we have an open door policy at
Coal Mountain. If you ever have concerns, we are a phone call away. Also, please keep in
mind, this is our “life’s work” and we will do everything within our power to make your
child’s experience a positive one. We want our parents and our community members to
partner with us to make this a truly special school.
Finally, I am so proud to announce that Forsyth County and the City of Cumming have once
again been chosen as One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s
Promise Alliance and ING U.S. This national award, submitted by United Way of Forsyth
County and Forsyth County Schools, was given to Cumming/Forsyth County to recognize its
outstanding and innovative work in addressing the high school dropout crisis and for its
programs and services that make it an outstanding place for youth to live, learn and grow.
You can read more about the distinguished award at the Forsyth County web site
(www.forsyth.k12.ga.us).
Thank you for your continued support for our students and our faculty.
Debbie and Kim
FROM THE READING MINE........
WHY READ ALOUD?
Children may not always admit it, but they LOVE being read to aloud. Time spent reading aloud is valuable to them. They are never too old to be read to. But reading aloud often stops as our children learn to read on their own. When children are read to aloud it helps them develop and improve literacy skills. Also, children listen on a higher level than they read, listening to other readers stimulates growth and understanding of vocabulary and language patterns.
Please try this fun and engaging activity with your children: Read a picture book (don’t show the pictures) or a few pages from a chapter book. After reading, ask them to draw pictures of the setting, the main characters, or their favorite part. When you see the pictures you may be surprised by the different ways they interpreted the same story.
"Reading aloud is a commercial for reading. ...Think of it this way: McDonald's doesn't stop advertising just because the vast majority of Americans know about its restaurants. Each year it spends more money on ads to remind people how good its products taste. " Jim Trelease
Fall Picture Time!
Our Fall pictures will be taken by Ananchel Photography on Thursday, September 20, 2012.
All students and staff will have their pictures taken for the school yearbook.
A proof of your child will be sent home for you to place your order. Payment will be due once you
place your order.
The Melodies on the Mountain chorus
will perform at the Gwinnett
Gladiators game on Sat. October 20th.
The chorus students will sing the
“National Anthem” at the beginning of
the game. Tickets will be sold to all
students and friends of Coal Mountain.
Tickets will be purchased through the
school. Mrs. Turbeville will send more
information as it comes from the
Gladiators.
Counselor’s Corner
Science Lab
For the month of September, classroom guidance lessons for Kindergarten and First Grade will focus on listening and cooperation
skills, as well as developing positive work habits. Second through Fifth Grade students will be learning study skills, time management skills
and personal responsibility for their learning.
GOOD HOMEWORK HABITS
Try these parent tested tips to help improve homework time.
1. Review and sign your child's agenda/folder daily.
2. Set a regular homework “time range.”
3. Have a regular homework study space.
4. Provide needed supplies (pencil, paper, markers, etc.)
5. Allow for short study breaks.
6. Respect your child's study time – no interruptions by TV, phone or visits.
7. TURN OFF THE TV and ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
Public Speaking and Drama are new on the mountain as a class this year. While all teachers integrate public
speaking with oral reports delivered in each period, there has not previously been a class dedicated to this
very necessary art form.
We have the opportunity to work with 1st and 2nd graders and introduce them to the factors which produce a
good oral presentation. We also have some RTI enrichment groups devoted to the upper classes for the
purpose of developing good public speakers.
Students are being introduced to the basic rules necessary to present an award winning oratory. At the same
time, they are learning to be confident speakers. Our goal is to prepare them to be comfortable with
themselves as well as being in front of a crowd.
Projection is a primary concentration in successful public speaking, along with correct stance, concentrating
(focus), enunciation, body language, facial expression, and gesturing.
The secondary aspect of this class is drama. Drama allows students freedom of expression on the stage. It
cannot be adequately presented without correctly using the basic rules of public speaking. Dramatic principals
are also necessary to accentuate public speaking. Public speaking and Drama are basically inseparable.
As we practice the rules of public speaking, we are in the process of developing a Christmas program which
will incorporate and demonstrate the afore mentioned areas of concentration. All students will be invited to
participate.
More information regarding the Christmas program will follow.
Any parents interested in assisting with Drama / Public speaking are encouraged to contact us and see how we
might work together to accomplish these newly installed goals.
Thank you,
Wayne Clements and Robin Mitchell
REWARD ROOM
CMES is looking for donations for a Reward Room to be located within the school.
If you have any items that you would like to donate to the school for this project, please email Michelle Alford at [email protected] or if you have any questions about the Reward Room
contact Kara Lurie at 678-947-5224 or email her at [email protected]. Below are some examples of what may be in the room.
Creative Center - all kinds of paper, colored pencils, crayons, glue, stamps, stickers, drawing table(s),
Seating - small sofa, chairs, bean bags, activity table
Books for a Mini Library
Storage Containers
Board Games
A “loft” or wood to build a raised sitting/reading area or donation of time to build
Games - Nerf basketball goals or some type of basketball game. video, foosball, air hockey, ping
pong, chess, and card games, TV(s) for gaming devices, Wii, Xbox, games for gaming devices
Building - Legos, Blocks
Transportation - Trucks, cars, planes, Trains and track, pirate ships, race tracks, garages
Dinosaurs, farm animals, farm
Doll house and furnishings, Dolls
Play Kitchen - Grocery Store, plastic food, cash register, grocery cart
Puppet Theatre or Material to make one, puppets
Mats, educational or children throw rugs, Wall Decals, Posters
Art Matters !!!
We are having so much fun in the art room this year that some children are starting to dress up
in art supplies for class. This is one of our fourth grade students looking good in buttons, and
bows, and brushes???!!!
I love the enthusiasm!!!
Kindergarten and First Grade students are learning about different types of lines used in art.
We even did some sewing with yarn over our line designs!
Second Grade art classes are learning about landscapes in addition to warm and cool colors. My
third graders have been introduced to architecture and they built a 2-D tree house using
texture. Portraits and patterns are the areas we are covering in Fourth Grade. And finally the
Fifth Grade students held a classroom discussion on the famous painting “The Scream”. They
were amazed to find out the Fun Facts regarding the painting and why the artist painted it.
Ask them about the “science” behind the painting! Their own artistic interpretations of the
painting are amazing. Just as a little reminder, please have your child wear old clothes on the days their class has art. Sometimes we paint and do other “messy” and creative artwork! Wish List: Kleenex, 3 oz. Dixie cups, Paper or Styrofoam plates, Wipes, Heavy Duty
Foil
We are looking forward to another creative year on the mountain!!! Remember:
“Make Every Day a Masterpiece!”
Toni Sullivan, art teacher
Coal Mountain Elementary
Birthday / Special Occasion Book Club
We will be changing our birthday / special occasion book club at Coal Mountain. This is a great way to help out our school library and at the same time honor the birthday /
special occasion of your child. At the beginning of your child’s birthday / special
occasion month, your child will be able to choose a book from a special new book collection.
The book will receive a unique inscription inside with your child’s name and birth date. Your
child will be the very first to check it out from the library. In addition, a picture will be taken of
your child with their book and hung on the Birthday/Special Occasion Book Club display in the
lunchroom. (We will honor June and July birthdays / special occasions in May, and next years
August birthdays / special occasions in September.)
Please complete the form and return it with $17.00.
(Checks made out to Coal Mountain Elementary and please include your phone number on the check)
All Birthday / Special Occasion Book Club Donations are due by the end of the month before your child’s
birthday / special occasion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please return to Coal Mountain Elementary Media Center
Child’s Name as you wish it to be inscribed (please print):
Child’s Birthday/ Special Occasion:
____________________________________________________
Teacher’s Name / Grade: _______________________________
Click on the website for more information:
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/Page/4294
Coal Mountain Elementary appreciates our business partners!
Cumming
Location
Northside
Forsyth
.
If you would like to be a Business Partner, please contact [email protected]