1950 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607 – (864) 286-9700

February 25, 2011

Live panel discussion Sunday will spotlight successes, challenges of public charter schools   http://ed.sc.gov/news/more.cfm?articleID=1730

State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais and a panel of educators and community leaders will meet for a live broadcast in South Carolina ETV’s studios Sunday evening to talk about public charter schools in the Palmetto State.

“Public Charter Schools: Successes and Challenges,” a special one-hour edition of “In Our Schools,” will air at 5 p.m. as part of a continuing series of telecasts produced by ITV, part of the South Carolina Department of Education, and SCETV.

Sunday night’s live broadcast will focus on the development, current status and future potential of public charter schools. Viewers can submit questions to panelists by e-mail, before or during the program, at inourschools@scetv.org.

“The number of students enrolled in South Carolina’s public charter schools has steadily increased, and the potential for further growth is strong,” Zais said. “What we hope to do Sunday night is explore some of the issues that public charter schools are dealing with today, and how the state might be able to help them thrive and grow.”

In addition to Zais, panelists will include:

• Wayne Brazell, superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District.
• Fred Crawford, principal of Greenville Technical Charter High School.
• Beth Purcell, the mother of two middle-school students enrolled in a virtual charter school.
• Mary Carmichael, executive director of the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina.
• Victoria Dixon-Mokeba, lead teacher at the Carolina School for Inquiry.
• Laura Howard, lead high school teacher at the South Carolina Virtual Charter School.

SCETV’s Beryl Dakers will host the program, and David Stanton, a reporter for Media General television stations, will be the panel’s moderator. The live broadcast will be recorded and repeated on March 1 and March 4 from 10:30-11 a.m. on Channel 1 for taping by schools (unlimited rights).

From Governor Nikki Haley:

February 24th, 2011

Dear Friends,

As we crisscrossed South Carolina during the campaign, what I told each of you was that this wasn’t the last time you’d hear from me. In fact, I told you that you’d hear from me often because I want to make sure you know what goes on in your state government.

That’s why I hope you’ll join us on “The Movement” tour — a series of town hall events we’re going to hold in every region of the state. This is where we’ll discuss our agenda, your role in helping us realize it, and the new legislative report cards that will track whether your legislators support pro-business, good government reforms. We’ll also invite your legislators to attend.

We hope you will join us for a town hall. We want to hear from you.

My very best,

Nikki

Parents,

Governor Haley is a supporter of charter schools and some of the discussion will undoubtedly focus on educational issues.  If you are interested in attending, the details for the Greenville meeting follow:

Monday March 7^th, 6:30pm

Technical Resource Center Auditorium, Building 102

Barton Campus of Greenville Technical College – off of South Pleasantburg Dr

*Parking subject to campus limitations

Summer Camps…

Several of our teachers will be holding summer camps here at Langston.  As information becomes available it will be emailed home.  There is a onetime $25.00 registration fee payable to LCMS.  No matter how many summer camps your child enrolls in, there is just one $25.00 registration fee.

Shop with Langston…www.shopwithscrip.com is the website.  Please take a minute to look it over if you have not done so.  It is a great way to buy gift cards and donate to Langston at the same time.  You never pay more than face value for the card.  Call the office if you have any questions.

Presidents’ Day is Monday, February 21.  There is NO SCHOOL.

From this point forward SCRIP will be referred to as:

“Shop for Langston”

Be sure to go to www.shopwithscrip.com and sign up to make money for Langston simply by doing your regular shopping.  The Langston enrollment code is: 8BB8ALA827275. Our next order date is Thursday February 24th.

Spring is around the corner!  See the attached list for some great ways to put “Shop for Langston” to work for you.

Raffle Tickets for the Justin Bieber poster are still on sale from Mrs. Tate.

We are still collecting pop tops for the Ronald McDonald Houses.  Please put them in the jar by the front door.

BoxTops are still being collected.  Please get them in during the next 2 weeks so that they will count towards this year.

Interested in Langston golf?  Call Mrs. Schickler at 404-7280.

Eight Grade Parents, please see the email from Mr. Abel that went out today.

If your child would like to have a football to toss around at lunch, they must bring in their own.  Please put their name on it. They may keep it here in their 4^th period classroom.

Non Profit Fair…Today’s Fair was awesome!  Thank you to all the non profits that participated, to all the parents that helped, Atlanta Bread Company for their donation, and especially to Mrs. Weekes, who did a fantastic job making the entire project a huge success.  A special thank you to the committee that put in countless hours planning and executing this exciting event.  We plan on making the Non Profit Fair an annual occurrence!

From Mrs.Weekes…Parents, you should be very proud of your child today.  Everyone was very polite to our guests, and showed genuine interest in each organization and their mission.  I received many compliments on their behavior, their great questions, and their enthusiasm for community service.  Please discuss with your child what they learned today, and how they may contribute to our community through their community service activities.  Just a reminder, be sure they bring their passports to leadership class on Monday.

Math Counts…Students participating in the Math Counts Tournament tomorrow, Saturday February 12, please be at the Madren Center in Clemson between 8:15 and 8:30 Saturday morning. Students are asked to wear their blue Langston shirt and jeans. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 12:00. For more information please see the attachments that were emailed home today, Friday.

Car Pools…If your student leaves school early, please notify your car pool, or ask us to notify one of the students for you.  It will save time in the carline.

Service Hours…Remember that $10.00 buys you one hour of service.  If you would like to buy some hours, we desperately need tissues and hand sanitizer.  Thank you.

Share Your Heart…We are still selling hearts for $1.00 at the front desk.  Proceeds benefit Relay for Life and Ronald McDonald House.

Tardies…If your student is tardy to school, you must come in with your student to sign them in.

Parent Portal…If you haven’t picked up your instructions and password, please come in and do so.

Model UN…Model UN will be April 7^th and 8^th, and it is open to 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders.  Information was sent home with your student earlier in the week.

Hearts…Come to the front desk to purchase a heart.  They are only $1.00, and proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House.

Dismissals…Please pick your student up when school has ended.  Our teachers work without a planning period, and they need the end of the day to be prepared for the next day.

Carline…Please do not talk on your phone in carline.  It is not safe for the students, and it slows down the line.

Non Profit Fair…The fair will be February 11^th, from 8:45 to 11:30.  Parents are welcome to attend.

The Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards Program was established by the Education Accountability Act of 1998. As an important part of the education accountability system in South Carolina, the Awards program is designed to recognize and reward schools that attain high levels of absolute performance and schools that attain high rates of improvement.

Langston received the Palmetto Gold Award based upon our Excellent ratings for absolute performance and growth on the 2010 school report card.

Congratulations to the students and teachers whose hard work continues to pay off in achievement and success!

An information session will be held prior to the monthly School Board meetings on Tuesday February 8, 2011 AND Tuesday March 8, 2011.  Both meetings will begin at 5:30 at Langston.  All persons interested in serving on the 2011-2012 School Board are invited to attend.  If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Ferrell at tamhill1@bellsouth.net or 864-313-5295.