Habit of Mind for October

Questioning and Posing Problems:

“Nothing shapes our journey through life so much as thequestions we ask.” Greg Levoy

Our goal in teaching students to think and perform at a higherlevel is for them to have curiosity and ask questions. Students need to have aquestioning attitude, know what information is needed and develop questioningstrategies to find the information. We need them to find problems to solve.They need to ask themselves how do I know?

Persisting (All Year): Stick to it until you do it!

Here are examples of some books that have the Habits of Mind forQuestioning and Posing Problems:

Airmail To The Moon by Tom Birdseye, Amelia Bedelia by PeggyParrish, Anna Banana and Me by Lenore Blegvad, Annabelle Swift, Kindergartnerby Amy Schwartz, Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott, Autumn Harvest by AlvinTresselt, Big Al by Andrew Clements, Brave Irene by William Steig, BusybodyNora by Johanna Hurwitz, CharloCharlotte by E. B. White, Curious George by H.A. Rey, The Fisherman and His Wife & The Four Clever Brothers by MitsumasaAnno, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. B. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg andJumangi by Chris VanAllsburg.

Music for November

During the month of November as our children arrive and havebreakfast, we will listen to the masterpieces of Antonio Vivaldi.

ParentConferences for Report Cards

All parents areencouraged to make an appointment for a parent/teacher conference to go overthe first-quarter report cards and other student assessments. We will hold theNovember 10th report cards until these conferences can be held.

Downtown Pocket Park If you have not seen the beautifulwall downtown with our Overton students' handmade tiles you are in for a treat. The tiles are so well done with so much variety. Landscaping, brickpavers and the bronze marker are now in place. Congratulations to the Overtonstudent whose tiles are displayed: Katie Bullock, Kariana Williams, andTessa Halpin.  A dedication of the pocket park will take place November 21^st.   

Blue Planet – November 21, 2009   From the unique vantage point of 200 miles aboveEarth's surface, we see how natural forces - volcanoes, earthquakes andhurricanes - affect our world, and how a powerful new force - humankind - hasbegun to alter the face of the planet.

Blue Planet offers an eloquent reminder--and a cautionarywarning--that the planet Earth is a delicate living organism, constantlyreshaped and rejuvenated by the awesome forces of nature. The Earth's delicacyis emphasized by stunning views from space, filmed by NASA astronauts in orbitabove the Earth's surface. Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home.
The Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium at HorizonsUnlimited invites you to joins us for this informative planetarium program at5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21st. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.  Admissionis $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 12 and under. Guests should park and enter in the back of the building accessible from Lilly Avenue. Forinformation, contact Horizons Unlimited at 704/639-3004 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

White Christmas Canned Food Drive

Overton willparticipate in the Salvation Army’s hArmy y food drive. Nonperishable fooditems will be collected beginning November 1st. This drive is one of the manyways Overton students are showing empathy and compassion to others in need.Thank you in advance for your support!

Salvation Army TakingApplications for Angel Tree

The Salvation Army isaccepting Christmas applications for its Angel Tree program. Through theprogram children receive clothing, toys, or both for the holidays. A child'sinformation is placed on a Christmas tree, someone shops for that child and theSalvation Army gives the children their gifts.

The Salvation Army is takingapplications at its office, 620 Bringle Ferry Road, Oct. 2 through Nov. 6. On Oct. 28 and Nov. 6, hours will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All other days, applications will be taken 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Applications must have the following items:

•Current North Carolina picture identification or driver license.

•Social Security card for every member in the household, W-7 for immigrants.

•Expired identification card with a lease and utility bill.

•Birth certificate for all children 12 and younger.

•Proof of address, such as a lease or utility bill.

•Proof of incomes and expenses.

•Unemployment and food stamp verification letter.

•Custody papers, if you are a guardian.

Staff  ask that applications be turned in as soon as possible. For more information, contact The Salvation Army at 704-636-6491.

Overton Family Night atChick-fil-A

Save the date, November 12^th   and join the fun at the Chick-fil-a on East Ennis Street. Drop in between 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and enjoy dinner with Overton families and staff. Sing-along with music provided by Mr. Stubbins and the Overton staff. We look forward to this social time with you.

PTA Reflections Contest

Reflections is a PTA sponsored arts contest open to all students.  The categories are:Literature, Visual arts, Video production, Dance choreography, andPhotography.  The theme this year is "Beauty is...". Please encourage your child(ren) to create their own original piece.  Overton has always been well represented in the "winners circle." Rules and regulations can be found on www.ncpta.org, or contact Amy Collins or Lisa Boguslaw. All entries are due to the school no later than November 13, 2009.

EarlyRelease Days

During the 2009-2010 school year there are four days that students will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. The school staff will use the remainder of the day for staff development. Those days are November 24th, March 17th andApril 1st. Students will be fed lunch before they are dismissed.

School Improvement Team Parents are always welcome to attend School Improvement Meetings as visitors. Meeting dates are November 9, December 14, January 11, February8, March 8, April 12, and May 20 at 2:30 p.m. Parents are also always welcome to attend School Improvement Meetings as a visitor.

Nestle Life Labels

Nestle Life water bottle labels can no longer be redeemed forthe points. We appreciate the support our stakeholders have shown for this program.

Ways Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, and Neighbors can help Overton

1.   Please link or relink your Food Lion MVP Card (Lion Shop and Share) to Overton Elementary by going online to www.foodlion.com, then "Lion Shop and Share", and then "Register MVP Cards".

2.   Please link or relink your Harris Teeter VIC Card (Together in Education) to Overton Elementary. Overton's ID number is 1816. You may link at Harris Teeteras you purchase groceries or go online towww.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx 

3.   Please check your cereal, cake mix boxes, flour bags, and other grocery items tosee if they have the logo for "Box Tops for Education." If you see this logo, please cut it out and send it to school. Our PTA can redeem these Box Tops to help our children.

4.   Please provide Overton's ID number (70062374) while shopping at Office Depot.Overton receives 5% of the purchase.

5.   Please link your Target card to Overton. Overton receives a % of the purchase.

6.   Please collect and send in Flip Tabs from canned drinks. Our student government collects these flip tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

7.   Attend Family Dinner Nights at Sonic, Frost Bites, McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, and Jersey Mike's for fun fellowship and the school receives a % back!

8.   Buy an Overton magnet for $5 each. Contact the office to purchase.

Keep up to date on a weekly basis by onlineaccess: http://new.schoolnotes.com/bettytunks/

Dates to Remember:

November 9^th               Bookfair Sales Begin

2:30 p.m. SIT

November 10^th    1^stReport Card  A parent conference is required to pick up report cards for 1st quarter.

November 11^th           Veteran’sDay – Holiday – No School

November 12^th         Overton Chick-Fil-A Family Night, 5 – 8 p.m.

November 13^th          Reflection Submission Due           

Fall Makeup Pictures

November 17^th         7:00 PTA Meeting/ Musical Entertainment and Bookfair open

November 20^th                        End of 3^rd Month

November 23^rd               5:00 p.m. Board of Education Meeting

November 24^th                Early Release Day, 11:45 dismissal

                                    Service Above Self Awards, 6:30

November 25^th -27^th             ThanksgivingDays Off

Mission Statement:  The Overton staff, in partnership with students and their families, will provide a safe and orderly environment in which all students have the opportunity to achieve academic success and to develop the character, which will enable them to become responsible members of society.