Again this week we have had visitors touring the building and other expressions of interest in our students and the program at Washington Center. The Christ Church Reading Buddies were here to read to students for the last time this school year; and, SIC met on Wednesday to talk about the school’s progress. We are gratified by all the folks that want to share the Washington Center journey, and certainly the feedback I receive from visitors regarding our staff and students is consistently positive and complimentary.

This week classes studied topics such as wild animals, studying weather, and methods for tie dying shirts. Additionally, one class listened to a portion of the book, Number the Stars, being read aloud; and, numerous groups left campus for shopping, bowling, and eating out. On Monday we will be sending out copies of our spring newsletter --- thanks to Barbara Bingham who put it together and to Gloria Munoz who translated it into Spanish.

I am happy to report that we were notified this week that we will again be recipients of a Knights of Columbus Hope Foundation Grant. As in past years, Lisa Porter submitted a request for funding for movement equipment. We will be receiving a check at a ceremony in Columbia on April 29. Thank you, Knights. 

I hope many of you plan to attend the PTA’s “Lunch and Learn” scheduled for March 30 at noon. Our speaker will be Dr. Elizabeth Willingham, Founder of Gift Counseling Center for Wellness, and she will talk about strategies for reducing stress and encouraging well-being. Lunch will be provided by the PTA. They just need to know who‘s coming, so please return your invitation.

Brick sales continue to progress, and we think the work on laying pavers will begin very soon. If you are interested in purchasing a brick, please download the form from our website. The engraving that is purchased will be taken care of during the summer. Apparently the process yields significant dust, so we think it is a good idea to do the engraving in one operation after students are out for summer break.

If you have not had an opportunity to review the Washington Center Mission and Vision statements this year, please pull those up on our website and send any comments you might have to Linda Thigpen, who is updating our strategic plan for the year. To paraphrase our mission----- we continue to collaborate with parents and the community to address individual needs of students in academic, social and emotional domains. We are highly focused on safety; on providing experiences aligned with standards and ones students might enjoy in other schools; on providing access to the community; and, on utilizing technology to facilitate communication and student engagement. We have posted additional information on the website, and we will welcome your input.

If you have not registered for this year’s “Run, Walk and Roll” to be held at Furman on April 28, please do so. This is our PTA’s biggest fund raiser of the year, and everyone’s support is needed. Also, this year’s Spirit Week will be held the week prior to the “Run, Walk and Roll”, and this year Washington Center students will be collecting items to donate to the Greenville Animal Shelter.

Other important dates include End of Quarter, March 27; Report cards home, March 29; Spring Break, April 2-6; Special Olympics at Furman, April 18; Spirit week, April 23-27; and, “Run, Walk and Roll”, April 28.

That’s it for today. Have a great weekend.