Fall 2011 | First Presbyterian Day School 1390 North State St. | Jackson, MS 39202 | 601.355.1731

TOP HOLIDAY POTPOURRI TICKET SELLERSXoom Tablet Winners

Zach Hilt sold 267 tickets. • Brenna Walley sold 179 tickets.

Honorable MentionsAnnAdair Blackledge sold 124 tickets. • Mari Lampton Walker sold 111 tickets.

Girls vs. BoysBoys won selling 3,464 and girls sold 3,330 tickets. All together, the

students raised $33,970 in ticket sales for FPDS.

HolidayPotPourri2011 First Presbyterian Day School

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24

bY GarY HerrinG

bY tasHa HollidaY

Few things in the life of a child are as important as the joy of reading. FPDS considers this to be one of our most important goals for all of our students. If we can instill in your child the love of reading, then we have given him not only the most satisfying and useful of all recreations but also the key to true learning.

I have recently completed reading the book entitled Endangered Minds: Why Children Don’t Think and What We Can Do About It by Jane Healy. This is a very interesting read on how the minds of children develop and what happens if they are not properly stimulated at a very early age. Here are some interesting thoughts from the book. As children grow, their brains develop reflecting much of our culture. Dr. Healy makes the case that the state of literacy in the United States today is declining so precipitously, while video and computer technologies are becoming so powerful, that the act of

reading itself may well be on its way to obsolescence. How scary is this thought of what is happening all around us? Even with educated and affluent parents, no one seems to know the long-term effects of ear buds versus conversation, of computer games versus active, social play, of video tapes versus books. How can children who are bombarded from birth by noise, frantic schedules (football, soccer, baseball, dance, karate, tumbling, etc.) and the helter-skelter caretaking of a hurried adult learn to analyze, reflect, and ponder? These qualities are embedded in the brain by the experiences a society chooses for

its children. What are you choosing for your children? All of this is to emphasize our goal at FPDS to provide the best environment for teaching your child not only to read well, but to think critically about what he reads. That is why we spend ninety minutes each day in reading instruction. On another note, I want to thank everyone for their involvement in Holiday Potpourri. This event does not succeed

without hundreds of parents participating. What a successful fundraising event! I particularly want to thank Kim and Mike Nichols for opening their beautiful home. Please continue to pray for our school, its teachers, students, parents and administration.

from the headmaster...

Shepherding Our FlockT he Bible

makes many

references to sheep and the role of a shepherd. Each shepherd must intimately know his sheep to adequately guide and protect his fold and meet their needs. Each morning, 688 precious little lambs enter our “fold” here at FPDS. Our teachers, who have been called to shepherd these little ones, tend to their assigned flocks to meet their physical, academic, spiritual and social needs. In an effort to intimately know our “sheep” and shepherd their hearts, souls, and

minds, we rely on our Student Support Team program. This program, established three years ago, is designed to help us better serve the students at our school. Every other month each teacher

meets with an administrator and either our school guidance counselor or Director of Resource Services to discuss the physical, academic, spiritual, and social needs of each student. In these meetings every child’s name is called, and the teacher has the opportunity to discuss any needs the child might have. The

meeting is not adjourned until a plan of action has

been developed to address needs that have been revealed during the meeting. Through these meetings we not only monitor student progress and address areas of need, but we also become aware of how our curriculum is serving our students. Tending a flock of sheep can be hard work, but with our Student Support Team meetings and with the help of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, we strive to do our best in guiding and providing for our little lambs each day.

in

REPLACE WORDS WITH ACTIONOften I have parents contact me and ask how they can work with their children to make them more responsible. Recently, I have spent some time thinking about and reading about this topic of responsibility. In The Pearls of Love and Logic, a book by Fay and Cline, the authors assert that the most responsible children usually come from families where the word “responsibility” is rarely used. Jim Fay calls this concept the “No Sense in Both of Us Worrying about It” syndrome. Fay reminds us that most of us worry very little about something if we know that somebody else is doing the worrying for us. For example, in my home my husband has certain responsibilities such as paying the bills, yard maintenance, and even garbage. I have different responsibilities that include laundry, grocery shop-ping and meal preparation, and shuttling our children to and from school and various activities. I don’t look over his shoulder, and he doesn’t look over mine. It is similar with our children. Parents who raise responsible chil-dren don’t spend a lot of time talking about responsibility or micromanaging their children. They don’t rescue their children when they make mistakes, but instead they allow them to suf-fer the natural consequences of their choices. These parents model responsibility in their own lives as they deal with their jobs and chores. Parents of responsible children “worry more about how to allow their children to experience the consequences of irresponsibility” than about reminding and worrying about their children. As parents, I think we will be pleasantly surprised to see how effectively consequences can develop responsibility in our kids!

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY!Mark your calendar! Third, 4th and 5th grade students will participate in Grandparents’ Day on January 20, 2012. This will be an exciting day as students in these grades share their school with their grandparents!“What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” Psalm 78:3,4

by Jennifer Dryden

save the date!

new Facesnew places

counselor’scorner...Claire bowman>>> First Grade

KatHerinedaY

>>> Bible

treY traCY>>> Director of

Technology

erin Carlton>>> Computer

laCeYnowell>>> First Grade

ClanCY mitCHell

>>> Permanent Substitute

“Whatever you do, do your work

heartily, as for the Lord rather than

for men.” Colossians 3:23

WHAT’S

CLASSROOMin the

happening

KinderGarten

C is for...Cupcakes and

Camouflage

Charting our favorite apples Apple coringBig Fat Cats in Art

Mini Me’s

G day...Girlie Girl Gardener,

Green grass that God grows, Goalie

Celebrating first days of school

Miss Fannie’s hats

First Grade

second Grade

Dress up book reports for reading

Story quilt with Mrs. Ainsworth

Pumpkin Math

Experimenting with sink and float

Dressing up as famous people for our book reports

sixth Grade

6th grade honor codeNew science lab tables

Book reports - Creating summary balloons

the Fiesta

third Grade

Learning more about our 50 states

4th grade play -“The Rock Slayer and His

Greatest Hit”

5th grade play “Fun in the

Son”

Planting a garden in science

fourth GradeMaking robots in Art

fifth Grade

Swim Team FPDS THRee-PeAT

Mississippi Association of Independent Schools elementary Division Champion 2011

Special Events at FPDS!The Story Pirates

performed “Theodore

Boone and the Thrill of

Rights,” based on John

Grisham’s book Theodore

Boone Kid Lawyer,

with the help of FPDS

students.

Canned goods donated to

Neighborhood Christian Center

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of

wisdom.”Proverbs 9:10

Anna Dewdney, author of the Llama, Llama children’s book series, talked with the students about her love of writing and illustrating and how she gets her ideas for books.

The Body Walk: A unique health education program designed to educate students on the importance of being physically active and making good nutrition choices

chapel news...

fpds swim team

CrUsader Football The FPDS Crusaders Football wrapped up the 2011 season with the 6th grade Blue Team defeating Copiah Academy 33-7 and finishing the season a perfect 8-0. FPDS Blue finishes undefeated and back to back Champions of the Central Mississippi Elementary Football League. Both 5th and 6th grade teams had great seasons. Fifth grade White had a winning season (4-2), and 5th grade Blue finished the year (6-2) as runner up in the CMEF League Championship. The 6th grade White team finished the season 5-1 and making the playoffs. Thanks to all the coaches: John Andrew Griffin, Charles Galloway, Farris Brown. Brian Fulger, Kennedy Griffin, Conner Gunn, Larry Peeples, Mark Simpson, Andres Wallace, and Casey Young.

Fooball Player Favorites:

Cheerleader Quotes:

Sarah Avery Huffman“I loved getting to cheer

with my friends.”

FP

ds

Fo

otb

all &

CH

eer

lea

din

G!!!

Gabe Garner #11

5th grade Blue

Quarterback for the blue

team enjoyed running the

ball.

Hunter Hulsey #196th grade Blue

Quarterback for the blue team loved the team working together to have an

undefeated season.

Cooper Carroll #126th grade White

Quarterback for the White team says that he enjoyed

the coaches.

CHeerleadinGThe 2011 FPDS cheerleaders had a great cheer season. They were faithful to lead the crowds to help support our FPDS Crusaders. We would like to thank our 6th grade cheerleader moms: Angie Thigpen, Shelle Abraham, Whitney Andress, Sharon Box, Betsy Mazzaferro, and Kathleen Mitchell. The 5th grade cheer moms were Cambi Burnham, Deanna Blackledge, Mary Preston Dubberly, Nell Flynt, Kelly Headley, Tracey Jeffreys, Avery Lee, and Shannon Plunkett. The sixth grade cheerleaders enjoyed performing a dance at the last game and loved the cheer “Hey all you Sader fans.”

Avery Aldridge“Cheering is fun and I loved watching thefootball games.”

Bryce Claybrook #665th grade White

The offensive right tackle says that playing the line was a

favorite position.

NON-PROFITORG

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDJACKSON, MISS

Permit 122

First Presbyterian Day School1390 North State StreetJackson, MS 39202-2095

This article is being written just days following another wonderful Holiday Potpourri. All who were in attendance enjoyed a true example of the prayer found in Psalm 4:6, “Let the light of your face shine upon us.” What a fantastic day! By all accounts, our school’s annual fund raiser was a smashing success.

Let us give thanks where it is due: to God, for His gracious answer to the many prayers for blessings and good weather, and to the many parents – like you – who

worked early and late, long and hard. Without your tireless efforts, the Crusader Club would be just another club. Thank you. We plan to dedicate the proceeds from Holiday Potpourri to special projects again this year. Be on the lookout for a new gym floor when we return from the holidays.

Thanks also to Kim and Michael Nichols who opened their beautiful home to us. Deanna Blackledge, Kelly Headley and Elisa Phillips, chair and co-chairs of this year’s Holiday Potpourri, each deserve special thanks.

Meanwhile, the FPDS academic year is well underway, and we are excited. The Crusader Club has been active with events such as the New Family’s Luncheon and Back to School Night. Our swim team brought home another state championship!

It is shaping up to be a great year. Join us as we pray for the FPDS faculty, teachers and students. We in the Crusader Club should pray, not just for our own children, but for each child who walks the hallways of this most special school.

Crusader Club 2011-2012Give thanks to the Lord, for He i s good; His love endure s fore v e r . Psalm 1 18:29

Crusader Club Chairmen 2011-12 President: Kathy and Bo Gregg Vice President: Libby and Jack Crawford Secretary: Emily and Roy Butts Treasurer: Natalie and David Gibbs Assistant Treasurer: Tara and Gene Wasson Chaplain: Laura and Charles Barbour School Board Liaison: Phillip Parker

Committees: Back to School Night: Kathy Newton Box Tops: Leslie Zouboukos Caring Committee: Kathleen Hardin Cheerleader Moms: 5th grade Cambi Burnham 6th grade Angie Thigpen

Field Day: Rebecca Wilson Football Moms: 5th grade Emily Thornton 6th grade Angela Young

Holiday Potpourri: Deanna Blackledge, Chairman Kelly Headley, Co-Chairman Elisa Phillips, Co-Chairman Hospitality: Susan Weir New Families: Rebecca Kincaid Room Mothers: Mary Grantham, Grades 1-3 Jennifer Morgan, Grades 4-6 Lisa Ireland, Special Friends Sixth Grade Graduation: Stacy Stovall, Chairman Shelle Abraham, Video Sharon Box, Video Swim Meet: Kim Nichols, Chairman Margo Heath, Co-chairman Uniforms: Jane Cory, Chairman Susan Hetzel, Co Chairman