Chalktalk Oct. 4

October 07, 2008

Jim Cook

Slocomb Elementary School teacher honored by Wal-Mart
Debra Murphy was honored as Teacher of the Year by the Wal-Mart Foundation’s Teacher of the Year Program.
Associates at the Dothan Southside Wal-Mart recently presented a $1,000 educational grant to the school and a $100 gift card to Murphy.
Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year program will provide about $5 million to schools across the country to honor top teachers.
Last year, the Wal-Mart Foundation contributed more than $67 million to support educational initiatives.
Dothan High yearbooks still on sale through Nov. 10
Dothan High yearbooks are still on sale. The second offer at the price of $55 has been extended through Nov. 10.
Senior ad space is available. All reservations must be made with Danielle Snell by Dec. 1. Limited space is available.
City schools to hold parent involvement meetings
The Dothan City Schools, in collaboration with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Urban Program, will hold Parent Involvement Summits on Oct. 21 at Northview High School and Oct. 28 at Dothan High School. Refreshments will be served from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the Parents Resource Fair. Parents are invited to come and hear experts in the educational field provide practical learning tips to help their children’s academic growth and ways that parents can help to build school support. The purpose of the summit is to increase academic support for all students enrolled in the Dothan City Schools System.
Seminars will include:
1. Cyber Net Training for Parents
2. How Do You Know if Your Child is Learning, Understanding Data for Dothan City Schools?
3. Mega Skills Training for Teachers
4. Communicating with Your Teenager
5. Getting Financial Aid for College — Types of Financial Aid, The Wiregrass Foundation Graduating Seniors Scholarship Program
6. Is Your Child Ready For Graduation?
7. Helping a Child with Special Needs to Succeed in School
8. YES WE CAN — Building School Support
9. Building Male Achievers
10. Pre-K ABC’s to Success in School
11. How to Communicate with Your School (K-5 Elementary)
12. How to Communicate With Your School (Middle School)
13. How to Communicate With Your School (High School)
14. Dothan City Schools Address Parent Needs, “A Conversation With Parents Only”
15. Parent Resource Fair
All services are free of charge to parents. Parents should register to attend the event, however. The summit is sponsored by Dothan City Schools, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Urban Program, the Wiregrass Foundation, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Mike Schmitz Automotive Group.
Social service agencies/businesses that support parents, children and families are invited to set up exhibits for the Parent Resource Fairs. There is no exhibit fee. Must provide a door prize valued at $50.
To register for exhibit/or parent registration, contact: Rosalind James, Urban Regional Extension Agent at 794-4108. Parents may also register with the parent involvement specialist for their child’s school.
Girard Elementary School honors students of the month
Girard Elementary School has announced its students of the month.
8th grade:  Tyler Kramer and Bre Calloway
7th grade: Taleya Williams and Jordan Carter
6th grade: Christiana Brewster and Andrew Spotts

Chalktalk 9/25

September 24, 2008

Jim Cook

Wallace College to host nursing program review
Wallace Community College will host a site review for continuing accreditation of its practical nursing program. The public is invited to meet the visit team and share comments about the program in person at a meeting scheduled for Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. in Wheelless Auditorium, Rane Hall, Wallace Community College (Wallace Campus in Dothan).
Written comments are also welcome and should be submitted directly to Dr. Sharon Tanner, executive director, The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, or e-mail .

Ashford Academy selling fried turkeys
Ashford Academy will be selling fried turkeys again this Thanksgiving. 
Each 10-12 lb. turkey (pre-cooked weight) will be fried to perfection and available for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon in the Ashford Academy lunchroom. 
Turkeys cost $25 each. Larger orders can be delivered. Let Ashford Academy take care of your Thanksgiving turkey this year, and support the school at the same time.
For more information, call the office at 899-3286.

Dothan High yearbook on sale, taking ads
Dothan High School Yearbook is currently accepting Business and Senior ads. Space is limited. More information is available by following the Yearbook link at http://www.dothan. k12.al.us.
Dothan High School’s yearbooks are on sale for $55 through Sept. 29.  Orders can be made with the yearbook sponsor, Danielle Capehart-Snell, or online at http://www.jostensyearbooks.com

Ashford Academy marks Grandparent’s Day
Elementary students in grades K3 through sixth recognized their grandparents with a recent luncheon at the school. 
After sharing a special meal with their grandchildren, some of the grandparents visited the classrooms and toured the campus. 
This is an annual event at Ashford Academy and usually coincides with national Grandparent’s Day.

Chalktalk 9-15

September 15, 2008

Jim Cook

Dothan band director honored
Dothan High School Band Director Steve McLendon was recently named president-elect for the Alabama Music Educator’s Association. This is an association of band, choir, elementary music education, orchestra and college education teachers.
Dothan High music students Elizabeth Jenkins, Christopher Griswold, Jazmine Hill, Grayson Martin, Trey Twine, and Paul Ware also recently received music scholarships this past year.
Northview PTSO to meet
The PTSO Board Meeting will be Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. You do not have to be a board member to attend; everyone is welcome.
Northview to hold tournament
Join Northview High School on Oct. 24 for one or all of the following events:
n Golf tournament at the Dothan National Golf Club, tee times starting at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded. 
n Luncheon at the Dothan National Golf Club starting at 12:30 p.m.
n Northview vs Dothan High football game at 7 p.m.
Prices include: Corporate sponsor, $400 (includes four golf entries, four lunches and corporate display sign posted on course); Individual golf and luncheon, $100; hole sponsor, $100; luncheon only, $25; game tickets, $10.
For more golf tournament information, contact Susan Henderson at the NHS Athletic Office at 794-1410, ext. 268, or Harry Wayne Parrish at 699-4036.
Contact Susan Henderson, NHS athletic secretary, at 794-1410, ext. 268, or for more information about the Northview athletic program or the NHS Booster Club.
Northview honors students, teacher
Northview High School’s student of the month is Stephen Krietemeyer, teacher of the month is Coach Jeremy Seamon and most improved student is Issac Tunstall.

Chalktalk 8-24

August 27, 2008

Jim Cook

Troy University lists summer honor students
TROY — Troy University has announced its honor students for summer semester, according to Ed Roach, senior executive vice chancellor and provost.
Full-time undergraduate students who earned a 4.0 grade point average for the summer semester are recognized on the Chancellor’s List, the university’s top honor roll.
Full-time undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.65 or higher on a 4.0 scale are recognized on the Provost’s List.

n Chancellor’s list
Houston County
Kyle Benak. Emily Blumberg, Ann-Marie Cook, Christopher Daughtry, Adam Elliott, Dorothy Gilgenbach, Lesley Hammack, Christina Hand, Cara Hardy, Sarah King, John Lero, Connie Mathews, Jessica McArdle, Laurie Miles, Rachel Philippona, Crystal Rushing, Tiffani Spangler, Jessica Tullis

n Provost’s list
Anna Bradley, Jack Monroe, Miranda Caldwell, Yuk Jacobs, Shannon McCain, Krysta Thompson, Debra Tye, Cara White

Yes We Can! Dothan discusses mentoring
Last week, Yes We Can! Dothan held four community conversations with around 100 citizens participating in the meetings.
Meetings were held for the Runners Club, Retired Teachers and RSVP. A neighborhood meeting was also held at the Andrew Belle Center.
Some issues that were discussed included the need for mentoring programs and positive role models for students. Bringing “the real world” into academics was also a need citizens addressed.
The group will continue to have meetings through the second week in September, so check the calendar for future conversations.
Upcoming meetings the public can attend include:
n Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m. at Parsons Group, 110 Medical Drive
n Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. at North Highland Baptist Church, 407 Houston St.
n Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 300 W. Main St.
n Sunday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m. at Dothan Community Church, 4390 Westgate Parkway
Contact Virginia Christian (information below) if you plan on attending one of the meetings.
One of the major ways Yes We Can! Dothan is spreading the word is through a yard sign campaign. If you would like a yard sign delivered to you, you can sign up at http://yeswecandothan.wikispaces.com and fill out an application.
You can also contact Virginia Christian at (334) 836-0217, ext. 109, if you would like a sign or have any questions.

EOCC to hold back-to-school party
Enterprise-Ozark Community College will be holding its First Annual Back-to-School Bash to welcome students today.
The bash will be held outside at the Enterprise Campus inner quad area from 10:45 a.m. to noon.
Entertainment will be award-winning country music artist Darryl Worley performing along with J.B. Roberts. Lunch will be provided. Anyone interested in learning more about EOCC is welcome to attend.
Mixon Elementary School gets facelift
Parents, teachers and warrant officer candidates recently completed extensive work on Mixon Elementary School grounds to give it a “fresh” look. 
Bushes were trimmed, new landscaping was completed around the front of the building, old shrubs were first removed, and new flowers and shrubs were planted.
An old fence along the walkways was removed and a new one built and stained.
Curbs were edged, pine straw was spread around trees and shrubs and pressure washing was done on the sidewalks. New lines were painted in the parking lot and in crossing zones and the columns and window faces were painted. 

Northview nuggets

August 21, 2008

Jim Cook

* The Miss Spectrum Pageant scheduled for Saturday August 23rd, has been postponed due to the risk of severe weather from tropical storm Fay.  The new date will be announced sometime next week.


* BAND NOTES:
Dothan High and Northview band boosters will join forces this Saturday, August 23rd @ 8 a.m. at the VISITOR concession area to clean and ready the concession area for football season.  PLEASE COME TO HELP!  The following cleaning supplies are needed:  brooms, paper towels, cleaning solutions, pressure washer, etc. If you can clean with it, bring it!

PLEASE CONTACT KAY KEEL @ OR 798-4907 ASAP
REGARDING WORKING CONCESSIONS @ RIP HEWES STADIUM FOR THE THURSDAY
NITE, AUGUST 28TH HOUSTON ACADEMY/PROVIDENCE VARSITY FOOTBALL GAME
AND/OR THE FRIDAY NITE, AUGUST 29TH NORTHVIEW/ROBERT E. LEE VARSITY
GAME. YOU WILL NEED TO ARRIVE @ 5:30/6:00.