There could not have been a better theme for us for this year than #watchusgrow! We are measuring growth in academics and attendance and our numbers are increasing! Our teachers are using the data to plan for instruction to close gaps and to enrich learning. As you can see in the two charts below, we have made exceptional growth in the last two years. The Closing Gaps portion of our CCRPI Score is represented by what we call our 'flag page.' You can see that below along with the key to the flag page in the lower left-hand corner of the page. It is very rare, to have a page with NO RED FLAGS. As a matter of fact, I've never seen a flag page with no red flags!! We know we have our work cut out for us, but our students and your children deserve nothing but the best we have to give. We're shooting for a score of 80 next year!!

As of November 4th, MCES has begun 10 Lunch Bunch Book Clubs. We have 2 clubs at each grade level from 1st grade through 5th grade. Students interested in joining the Lunch Bunch placed their names in a box for the book they were interested in reading and 6 names were drawn per book. In January, we will add more clubs and we'll keep adding them until every student who would like to be in a book club has the opportunity. Lunch Bunch book clubs are all about fostering the enjoyment of reading. It is not a class or a lesson, but a small group of students who gather with an adult sponser during lunch one day per week to discuss the book they are reading. The first day was a huge success!

• Thursday, Nov 7: Students who received the Flu Vaccine will receive the 2nd dose
• Tuesday, Nov 12: MCES Attendance Meetings 1pm and 6pm 1st Grade Program
• Thursday, Nov 14: Progress Reports go home
• Monday, Nov 18: 6pm MCS Board Meeting
• Tuesday, Nov 19: GATE Down on the Farm Variety Show - MCS Auditorium
• November 24-29: Thanksgiving Break
• Tuesday Dec 3: 6:30pm Pajama-Rama and MCES Christmas Tree Lighting
• Friday, Dec 6: Santa and Me PIX
• Tues, Dec 10: MCES Attendance Meetings

This past year, 67% of students in Montgomery County Schools missed 6 days or more. So far this year, our attendance is at 97%!! We are definitely growing in this area!

We understand that there are family emergencies and illness that make it necessary to keep a child home. We also know that chronic absence - missing 10 percent or more school days for any reason - can mean that students in 3rd grade are unable to master reading skills and 9th graders dropping out of high school. At MCES, we are making every effort to support you when it comes to attendance. Please do your best to have your child at school every day and on time. Our attendance committee and the MCS Attendance Officer will be hard at work this year to help all of our students and families understand and improve attendance for our students.

November is Parent Engagement Month across the state of Georgia. Please look for 2 separate flyers in your child's book bag with more information as well as a calendar of ideas of ways you and your child(ren) can have fun and learn during the month of November.