It’s hard to believe we have finished our first quarter already, but true it is; and report cards will be going home on Thursday. Students are doing well and next week we officially start our Community Based Instruction off campus trips with folks going shopping, eating out at restaurants, visiting Conestee Park and going to Fisher Orchard to pick apples. Today we hosted a group from the Children’s Little Theater who performed “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” to a very responsive Washington Center audience. We appreciate the folks from the community who come to share their talents with us, and we always especially look forward to the Little Theater group.

Yesterday we had a special visit from three of our Eastside High School friends. They came to talk with teachers and students and to bring a very large check for us to use for our nature trail. We just can’t say enough times how much we appreciate all Eastside has done for us and we look forward to building what we hope will be a beautiful nature trail. 

On Tuesday we received good news on an award for Sharon Russo. She was chosen as one of three winners of Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s “Fearless Teacher”  contest, and as a result, the project  she submitted, which involves craft items her students will make as gifts for their families, is being  100% funded. Congratulations, Sharon!

Mauldin High School teacher cadets came for a tour on Wednesday, and when it came time to leave, one of the young ladies said to Linda Thigpen, “Now I know what I want to do when I grow up.” We take that as a very big complement to our teachers and students.

In classes this week, students have been working on geometry, on making flashlights work, on a lima bean project and on learning about the states of matter. Additionally, we have also had groups focusing on using good manners and on understanding community services and products, and Ms. Poole’s class came over from Hollis for the play this morning.

Ms. Thigpen has gotten our Twitter site up and running, so I hope you will follow us at @Washington_Ctr. Also, weather is cooling down, so winter can’t be far away, and you might want to download our Remind app so I can let you know about weather closings or delays. The directions for doing this are in the parent handbook or can be accessed from your student’s teacher.

This is the last day to order from Cherrydale Farms, so I hope lots of you took advantage of this opportunity. For those of you who still want to order, you may do so online or can still send your order here on Monday morning, as Gloria Stamps is going to make one more pickup. Please remember that the PTA is also sponsoring a Honey Baked Ham sale and a brick sale. Links for those can be found on our website.

SIC met this week and we went over last year’s test data and had some discussion regarding the changing format of the alternate assessments given to our students. SIC and PTA meetings are taped and posted on our website for those of you who are interested but unable to attend meetings. We are still recruiting parent members for this year’s SIC, so if you are interested, please let me know.

Next Friday we will have our big Halloween celebration, Boo in the School, and we have lots of treats for students that have been donated by parents, staff and by our faithful Klaver Klub girls.  However, Sarah Ashworth says we could really use more individual pudding cups, so if you would like to send some of those in, they will be appreciated.

I hope everyone has put Family Night, November 3rd, on your calendar and will plan to attend. This is a PTA sponsored event and guests will be treated to taco dinners and will have opportunities to visit with numerous service providers from our area. Currently Sharon Russo has lined up folks from Family Connections, Thrive Upstate, Camp Hope, SC Autism Society, Greenville CAN, SC Assistive Technology Project, Protection and Advocacy, GHS Supportive Care Team, Shriners, and Incog-neato. Also, Traci Hogan, the district’s assistant superintendent for Special Education Services, will be our guest.

I think that sums things up for us. Have a great weekend and we will see everyone back on Monday.