7th Grade Leadership at Work

Students from Canterbury School's 7th Grade Servant Leadership class, have made a video to help raise awareness and money for McNair Elementary. You, too, can help raise money for the children of McNair Elementary School for supplies and other things that the children need. Please watch our video on YouTube. The comment section has information about how to donaten or go directly to our fundraising page: https://www.piggybackr.com/mason_powell/mcnair-elementary-school-help-the-children-of-mcnair-fundraiser

MS Parent Conferences: February 27, 2014

While it is snowing outside, in the halls of Armfield we are beginning to think about Spring and preparing your students to finish strong. I am writing to introduce the framework for our Parent/Teacher Conferences on February 27. The goal of these conferences is to have an opportunity to meet with your child’s subject teachers to discuss specific class issues, create, update, or modify existing support structures, or address comments from the recent 2nd trimester report cards.

The format of these conferences is different than the lower school. First, we do not require you to meet with all of your child’s teachers. We encourage you to identify those classes where a conference will be most productive and make those a priority when signing up for a time slot. If you have received an email or phone call from one of your child’s teachers requesting a conference on February, please make every effort to do so.

Second, we do not set your conference schedule. Similar to the fall, there is a link to the conference sign up sheet below, and we ask that you fill in a time slot with the appropriate teacher on your own. Teachers have their own tab at the bottom of the screen. Once you are on their page, you will see the subject they teach and slots that can be filled in with your name.

Third, conferences are scheduled for 15 minute increments with 5 minutes between conferences so the teacher can prepare. We have increased the amount of time allotted in order to have as complete a conversation as possible. I realize you may still need more time.  We are ready to facilitate that need with a conference outside of this day, but to be fair to all the other families, please keep conferences to the 15 minute time limit.

Finally, we will be offering drop-in daycare in the Haley Classroom during conferences, from 8:00 - 5:00. The cost is $5.00 per child, which can be paid by cash or check and is due at drop off. Please notify your child that this is an opportunity to work on homework, projects or other schoolwork and not an open gym opportunity.

You can sign up for conferences at the following link: Middle School Spring Conferences 2014

Thank you all for your continued support and partnership as we work to develop outstanding middle school students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at skeend@canterburygso.org or 336-288-2007 x131.

In My Neighbors' Shoes

http://jelia.wordpress.com/

On February 19 we will begin the In My Neighbors’ Shoes experiences which involves grade level service learning trips that focus on building understanding and empathy for our neighbors in Greensboro. 

The 5th grade will have the opportunity to engage with and learn from students at Haynes-Inman Education Center, a school that serves students with severe to profound cognitive and/or physical disabilities. 

The 6th grade will be focusing on interfaith understanding, as part of their Theology studies of the Abrahamic faiths. They will be visiting the Islamic Center of Greensboro and the Beth David Synagogue. 

The 7th grade will focus on their work with the Millennium Development Goals in Social Studies and learn about water quality and sanitation at the Townsend Water Treatment Plant and the immigrant experience at Faith Action International House. 

The 8th grade will be going on a series of small group trips that emulate the experience of the working poor in Greensboro.  These groups will be navigating the public transportation system, shopping for groceries, navigating the court system, and a will be taking a basic tour of the correction center.

We have created a website that you can follow for up-to-the-minute updates and resources as we prepare, engage, and reflect on the experiences of our neighbors. Check it out at

http://canterburygso.haikulearning.com/skeend1/inmyneighborsshoes

You can also follow the experience on Twitter @CburyServLearn. If you have any questions or you want to be a part of it all, please do not hesitate to contact me at 336-288-2007 x 131 or skeend@canterburygso.org .

Great 5th Grade Resource

Leave it to Mr. Avital to be creative in his support of his students! Check out the Glogster that offers helpful resources to 5th graders and their parents as we enter the second half of 5th Grade and begin preparing for 6th grade:

http://avitaln.edu.glogster.com/5th-grade-help-reference

6th Grade First Friends Experience

Anne-Barton Carter's 6th Grade Servant Leadership Class visited the food pantry at First Friends Meeting the other day and had a great time. They received some great feedback. Check out the visit and the feedback below:

From Sheila to all at First Friends involved with the food pantry:

Just wanted to share with you about how amazing yesterday was in the food pantry!

Here are some of the reasons:

A class of 14 students from Canterbury, their teacher Anne Barton and two adults came to learn about the pantry and then they set up several activities for our pantry friends to partake in while they waited. It was AMAZING! There were valentines, coloring, pictionary, cookies being decorated, extra helpers and even some video interviews going on! Folks seem to love having the kids there and the kids were loving on our friends. CAROL WHITLEY and FREDRICK JOHNSON came in to share with the class as well and they were wonerful speakers.

From one of the couples that volunteers each month:

The Canterbury students who worked at the food pantry were some of the most amazing young people we've encountered. They were so engaging, engaged, warm, compassionate, positive (I could go on!) imaginable. Thank you for sharing them with First Friends. The food pantry clients loved being with them and the interacting with them. Fellowship Hall felt like a warm reunion of friends having lots of fun!

We went away truly optimistic about the future!