March is Women’s History Month, and the 2016 theme, as stated in the title of this feature, is dedicated to honoring women in public service and government. This month typically features events and efforts to recognize and focus on the contributions of women and their “consistently overlooked and undervalued” roles in national and world history. The inroads and work of women in government and activism is sometimes missed and outright ignored, especially when their attention is focused on achieving actionable goals rather than recognition.
School News
This week, February 8 – 12, 2016, schools and libraries all over the country are celebrating Love of Reading week. We are having special readers—city officials, police officers, servicemen and women, librarians, curators, parents, athletes, and other community members—come in to share their favorite books with students. For more information, check our newsletter and calendar of events.
Literacy and literacy education remain at the forefront of parent and teacher concerns. In our increasingly digital world, literacy is an indispensable commodity. Being able to read and write fluently is vital to participation and success in the current state of our world. Between text, email, and the time we all spend online, much of the information we consume is in print, so strong reading skills are a must for success today and in the future.
We believe that high-quality early childhood education is essential for a strong academic foundation that advocates lifelong learning.
Full-day kindergarten programs:
- allow youngsters to develop strong academic, social, and emotional skills
- produce better reading and math skills than half-day programs
- yield students with higher retention and lower dropout rates throughout their academic careers
That’s why we offer FREE all-day kindergarten, plus free before- and after-school care.
People love to celebrate … everything. On January 18, Thesaurus Day is a celebration of the power of words. This date is the birthdate of Peter Mark Roget, who is best known for creating Roget’s Thesaurus. His name is so synonymous with this type of reference book that the publisher trademarked it. The original version of his Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, Classified, and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas was published in 1852 and contained 15,000 words; it has grown with each subsequent version. Roget’s was also the first book of this type that arranged synonymies in topical order, and it is this feature that many credit with the success of his thesaurus over others.
Scientists waited more than a decade for the science missions of the Discovery Channel Telescope to begin. This instrument is one of the most sophisticated telescopes in the world and the 5th largest optical telescope in the country. Its placement in the Coconino National Forest at a dark sky site located in Happy Jack means the telescope is situated in one of the darkest and, therefore, best places from which to view the night sky. This privately funded telescope will supplement the ability of Lowell Observatory to continue pioneering work in astronomy. DCT is expected to obtain high-quality data more than 300 nights a year because of Arizona’s climate and clear skies.
Most parents today are well-aware of the studies showing that children lose knowledge and skills over long breaks from school. The holidays are a time of fun and relaxation for most, but, with a little planning, you might just be able to halt the loss of some of those skills and engage your children in inspiring ways.
Winter officially begins every year on the day of the winter solstice. Typically, this astronomical event occurs on December 21 or 22 (in the Northern Hemisphere), though it can occur anywhere between December 20 and 23.
Roberto Abram Saavedra’s poster entry for the 2015-2016 Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest won at the local level. Millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated over the 25-year life of the Lions Club’s competition. Roberto received a $25 award for his unnamed entry and will now go on to the state, then national contest.
You can help your school by taking advantage of the Arizona School Tax Credit. Arizona law allows taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $400 for donations that benefit our students. A tax credit reduces what you owe in state taxes, dollar-for-dollar. For more information and a printable tax credit form, click below.
Mars regained the world’s attention this fall, with recent news of the discovery of liquid water on the planet and a new blockbuster film set on Earth’s nearest neighbor, The Martian. This is a timely moment to focus on Red Planet Day, November 28.
Celebrate the fourth planet from our solar system’s sun with our series of blogs discussing general information about Mars, some of the more than 40 space missions humans have launched to study the planet, a section on the future of Mars and plans for manned missions to the planet, and concluding with links to fiction and non-fiction on Mars.
It is the season of missing mittens and other lost winter gear, especially for school-age children. Since this is also the hectic holiday season, we’ve done the legwork and put together a few simple tips that might help.
On Friday, October 23, your favorite Williams charter school will be hosting a Harvest Festival for students, family, and the community from 5 – 7 p.m. Students are welcome to wear costumes, as long as they leave their masks at home. Each classroom will have games and holiday activities; prizes (other than candy) will be given out. There will also be a cake walk, tickets for which may be purchased for 25¢.
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