September 6, 2019
Welcome to the New School Year Markham Families:
As of this past Tuesday all Eagles, big and small, are at school and ready to learn. I am so pleased at how well our students are holding up the Markham High Five. The positive energy in the air feels good and is contagious. The excitement of being back in school is alive and well.
Our hallways are alive once more, too with wonderful self-portraits of our students who are learning about artist Amedeo Modigliani with Ms. Huber.
Attendance Matters: Markham exceeded our goal of a five-percentage point gain in attendance for last year. Congratulations! Let us beat last year’s gain by committing to being at school every day, on time and ready to learn. We can do it! Please keep an eye out for my monthly attendance newsletter to assist in keeping attendance at the forefront.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to:
Our PTA for organizing and putting together first day packets and bus tags-
Our upper grade students for giving tours to our new families during supplies drop-off and Kindergarten Welcome-
All of our families who were able to participate in Community Care Day- The school grounds look wonderful and welcoming all because of you!
Our Parent TAG Information Night and Parent ESL Information Night will be Thursday, October 3rd.
Both meetings will take place in the library. The ESL meeting is from 5:30 to 6:15 PM. The TAG meeting is from 6:30 to 7:15 PM. If you need information regarding Markham’s Talented and Gifted Program please contact Ms. Kim Johnson, our new TAG Coordinator. Her email is kjohnso5@pps.net. Thank you to Ms. Jolinda Miller for her service to Markham as our previous TAG Coordinator.
You can also get information from our TAG Board located in center hall diagonally from the office. Please follow the link below to our district TAG webpage: http://www.pps.net/Domain/196. If you have questions regarding ESL, please contact Ms. Sheree LeDoux-Leos or Ms. Muna Arafat. Their emails are sledoux@pps.net and marafat@pps.net.
Our new school nurse is Mitchell Henderson. The day of the week he will be supporting us is not yet decided, but if you need to contact him, his email is mhenders@mesd.k12.or.us. Welcome to Markham Nurse Henderson.
A Miracle Foundation has supplied our two ISC classrooms with backpacks stocked with school supplies and water bottles for the third year. For more information on this foundation, please go to: https://amiraclefoundation.org. Please accept Markham’s many heartfelt thanks for your support and generous donation.
Back to School Night is Thursday, September 19th from 6:30 to 8:00. We will begin in the auditorium and then dismiss for classroom visits. This is a parent only event due to limited space in the auditorium and limited time for classroom visits. Teachers will share important information specific to their classroom, which will help you to work jointly with them to support your child in having a successful school year. You will have the opportunity to sign-up for fall conferences happening in November. Please remember that this is a time for teachers to share important classroom information regarding curricula, activities and expectations. If you need to meet with the teacher to discuss your child’s progress or other information, please contact your child’s teacher to set up an appointment.
Mark Your Calendars: Picture Day is Friday, September 20th. The Markham FUN RUN is Friday, September 27th. The FUN RUN traditionally took place in the spring. PTA has made an effort to lessen the number of events in the spring, so FUN RUN is now in to the fall. More information on these two events is forthcoming.
Markham families it is so nice to be back at school and seeing all of our students. They are the only reason why we are at Markham. We are here to serve them through nurturing, supporting and guiding them to be their best as a life-long learner in a safe and loving environment. Moreover, we could not do it without such a committed and supportive school community.
Markham High Five! Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be your best, Every day in every way! “We don’t just say it, we live it!”
Here is to an awesome school year!
Shawn Garnett
Principal
