Sunday Night Announcement; 02/16/24

Good evening, Martin Ram families. This is Principal Tom Wheeler with a weekend update and a look at the week coming up.

This is probably going to be a little longer phone call this evening as there are several house-keeping items on my list tonight.

To start out, I want to ask you to do a favor by taking part in a survey. Tomorrow, Monday, February 17th there are purple papers coming home regarding parent and student surveys. Each year, the West Virginia Department of Education asks all schools in the state to have their students, staffs, and families participate in a West Virginia School Learning Environment Survey. To that end, I am sending home one paper asking all parents to take part. For kids in grades 3 through 5, there will be two papers. On the second paper, I am asking that you give us permission for your child to participate. Only those students with permission will be taking part in the survey. Please look for the papers to come home on Monday. Thank you in advance for sharing with us your insights and opinions.

I also have a note this evening from Nurse Laura about cold and flu season. There are many illnesses circulating throughout community right now. Please be sure to keep your child at home if they are ill or unable to complete school tasks due to symptoms such as frequent coughing or severe congestion. Students must be fever and vomit free for 24 hours WITHOUT MEDICATION to be at school.

During the past week or so, we have sent home information about yearbooks being on sale and Spring pictures. We are accepting orders for yearbook from now through April 4th. I will continue to remind you of that from time to time. Spring pictures will be on Monday, March 3rd. With spring pictures, we will be taking a whole class picture, and only individual pictures for those who return the packet.

On Thursday and Friday of this week, we have two special events going on. First on Thursday, I will be hosting a pizza party for 28 dedicated students who had perfect attendance for the 2nd grading period. On Friday, February 21st, we will be having that award ceremony for grades and attendance that we cancelled from last week. For K through 2nd, that will be at 1:30. For 3rd through 5th, that will be at 2:15. It is up to the teachers to send home invitations for who will be recognized.

Beginning this week, and continuing through the end of March, we are inviting the students from Fairplains over for a visit. During the time that they are here, there will be a special “getting to know you” activity, lunch and recess together, and a swimming party for the kids. This week, our 2nd grade will be hosts for Fairplains 2nd graders.

We were able to chalk up another win in basketball last week out of our two chances. We will have two more chances this week. First, on Wednesday, February 19th, we make the short trip over to Gihon Elementary where we take on the Eagles of Gihon. That game will start at 5:45. On Thursday, February 20th, we are again on the road as we travel to Parkersburg Catholic Elementary to take on the home team Crusaders. Again, that game is at 5:45. Good luck Rams.

I want to close with a quick peek into next week. On Monday, February 24th, our PTA will be hosting a skating party for students and families of both Fairplains and Martin Elementaries. That will be from 6:30 until 8:00. It will be free to get in the door and free to rent skates. The only cost to you will be if you want anything from the concession stand.

That’s all the news from my desk for now. Thanks for listening, and I will see you in the morning.

And remember, Martin Rams are always climbing.