The
Vol. XV, No. 5
RROWLETTER
January, 2015
The Official Newsletter of Rowlett Academy for Communications & Creative Arts
A Message from the Principal
Happy New Year! I
certainly hope your holidays were enjoyable and
spent with family and
friends. Each new year is
filled with optimism and
enthusiasm and I hope
this 2015 fulfills all your
wishes.
Every January the
President gives the State
of the Union Address
to update us on the past
year and plans for the
coming year. I would
like to also give a State
of Rowlett Address to
update you on our first
year as a charter. I am
happy to report that we
have brought our Spanish program back to
full strength and have
our media center open
all day with a full time
certified media specialist. Our performing arts
groups have “stepped it
up” this year with their
incredible performances
at all of our events. Our
fundraising efforts this
year have surpassed all
previous years and we
are well on the way to
our best year yet in RFA
fundraising. We received
a start up charter grant
of over $375,000 spread
out over two years to
help purchase materials,
furniture, technology and
supplies for our school.
In addition we anticipate
Mr. Brian Flynn
Principal
a healthy surplus in our
budgeted money from
the state. Staff morale
is high and students are
excited to come to school
each day for the Rowlett
experience.
Thank you for your
support and I hope all
your dreams come true in
2015! <
Come One And All To The Rowlett
INSIDE
Beautification Day
.......................2
Seven Habits
Training
.......................3
School Choice
.......................3
Partnerships in the
Arts
.......................4
Pre K Arts Festival & Open House
On January 14th and 15th from 9:30 –12:00, we are hosting many Pre
K schoolers at Rowlett who will experience the visual and performing arts
curriculum that all of our students experience here at Rowlett.
If you have, or have friends with, an upcoming Kindergartner who will be
starting school in the fall and you would like them to experience this exciting
opportunity, please call (or have them call) the school at 708-6100 to register
for the event. We hope to see you there!
Tell your friends and family who are
interested in attending Rowlett in the fall about
the Open House planned for Thursday, February
5th at 6:00 PM. The Open House will give
prospective students and parents the chance
to learn about our unique programs and an
opportunity to ask questions they may have about
the Choice process. Group tours of the school are
also scheduled in January and February. Contact
the school office for more information and to
sign up for one of our tours. <
The
ROWLETTER
Rowlett Beautification Day
Please join us for ROWLETT BEAUTIFICATION DAY on Saturday, January 31st
from 9 AM to 12 PM. We’d love to see you and your families lend a helping hand to
help keep our school and the surrounding grounds beautiful. Please look out for more
information in January, but if you’re able to help with landscaping, plant, or shell
donation, contact Jessica Kriby at [email protected].<
Kid’s Bank Promotions
Holiday celebrations
and performances
delighted Roweltt
students in
December!
If you open an account at Rowlett Kids Bank on January 6th or January 13th,
you will be placed in a drawing for a $3.00 School Store Coupon. There will be 6
winners, one from each grade level. You will also be able to pick a prize from the
Kid’s Bank grab bag. Every customer who comes into Kid’s Bank automatically gets
their name placed in a drawing for a free movie gift card, and you also get to munch on
a complimentary mini-doughnut (with parent permission). <
Support Our 2015 Walkathon
“A man without
a goal is like a
ship without a
rudder.”
-Thomas Carlyle
Our annual Walkathon kickoff will be held on Friday, February 16th. Children will
be bringing home information that will give you an opportunity to show your support
for all of the unique programs that make our school such a wonderful place. Thanks in
advance for your support for the Rowlett Family Associations fundraising efforts. The
actual walk will be on March 13th. <
Making a Difference
Your past support of the RFA fundraising events is greatly appreciated. We still have
a number of events planned for the remainder of the year and need your support to
make them a success. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 3rd at 6:00 PM and
we hope you can join us. Our first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting of the new
year will follow immediately after the RFA Meeting. <
The Rowlett Chamber Book
Rowlett Families helping Rowlett Families. That is the goal of our new Rowlett
Chamber Book. We all need services from time to time. Why not contract with a
Rowlett Family and be assured that you are getting the best service possible. You can
advertise your business in our new booklet that will go to all of our Rowlett Families.
When you need a service of any type and are unsure of who to call why not contact
a Rowlett Family member who advertises in the chamber booklet. Information about
how to sign up will be brought home by the children, on our website, or available in
the office. <
Rowlett Chix to Perform
Our very popular and entertaining Rowlett Chix have been invited to
an encore performance at the upcoming Franklin/Covey Leader in Me
Symposium at the Charlotte Harbour Convention Center on January 29th.
The girls will be performing two Power Up songs for the audience that are
sure to entertain. Way to go girls! <
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The
ROWLETTER
Join Us for Seven Habits Training
Mr. Flynn is offering a 7 Habits workshop for Rowlett parents. The workshop is
scheduled on Feb.17th from 9-3 PM, Feb. 19th from 9-3 PM and Feb. 20th from 9-12
PM. You must attend all three dates of the workshop. This workshop would cost you
$1800 dollars if you were to attend a conference outside of Rowlett, but will only cost
you $125 for materials. Contact Mr. Flynn if you need more information. Deadline
for registration is January 30th. <
Put It On Your Calendar
School Choice Jan. 22 - Feb. 11
School choice is scheduled from January 22nd through February 11th. Applications
for school choice can be picked up here at school. Here is some important information
you need to know about the choice process.
1) If you are currently enrolled at Rowlett and plan to return next year, you don’t
need to do anything.
2) If there is a sibling that will be attending Rowlett in Kindergarten you MUST fill
out a choice application for them to attend. They will get automatic choice but you
MUST fill out an application for them during the choice period.
3) Graduating 5th graders do receive automatic choice to Lee Middle School but
you must fill out a choice application and other requirements during the choice
period in order to receive choice to Lee.
4) Any Child who lives in Manatee County can choice to Rowlett and many
convenient hub bus locations are identified to help you with transportation.
5) All Choice Applications for Rowlett are to be returned to the Rowlett Office
no later than February 11th at 4 PM (our school lottery will be held on Tuesday,
February 25th at 4 PM in the Media Center). <
A New Year with New Classes
After School Enrichment Begins
Rowlett’s after school enrichment program is gearing up for the second semester.
Remenber, we will continue to offer our exciting variety of classes free to every student
but we are doing the application process differently. Applications will be available on
line as well as at school and we will no longer have a first come first serve process.
All applications turned in will be randonly selected by a computer program so there is no
need to camp out over night to be the first one to fill out an application: make sure your
application is turned in between January 14th and 16th. Applications can be found on
line as well as at school. Don’t miss out on this great after school learning opportunity.
Enrichment classes will begin the week of February 2nd.<
Another Successful Mitten Program
Our Mitten Program added holiday cheer to the lives of dozens of Rowlett families
who needed a little help this year. Thank you to everyone who was a part! <
“If you don’t
know where you
are going, you
might wind up
someplace else.”
-Yogi Berra
A Special Notice
State Law requires
that all teachers who
work with ESOL
students have special
ESOL certification.
Although all of the
following teachers
are certified, they
are still working on
this special ESOL
certification and
are considered out
of field until they
complete the ESOL
requirements: Molly
Nichols, Christy
Holmes, Brigid
Riordan, and Leann
Foulkrod.
The Boys Choir Reach Out
In December the Rowlett Boys Choir sang at two great events. They sang
for the residents at Freedom Village Retirement Center in Bradenton and at the
Ringling Holiday Splendor Program. The boys and their special guests sang
several holiday songs and were a big hit! Good job, students!<
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The
ROWLETTER
Partnerships In the Arts
Rowlett has many wonderful business partners in the community. We are pleased to have
organizations that contribute not only to our school, but enhance the Arts program for our students.
Three of the partnerships we would like to recognize are Circus Sarasota, the Sarasota Film Festival,
and the Florida Studio Theatre.
Florida Studio Theater
In January the Florida Studio Theater will be visiting our students to
work with them on the Write-A-Play Program. This program is designed
to help the students develop their writing skills as they create plays that
may be performed by the FST Players.
Circus Sarasota
In the very near future, Circus Sarasota will be at Rowlett to work with the 1st graders, getting them
ready for a performance under the Big Top! This is a great opportunity for our first grade students. They
will be working with circus professionals to learn more about performing.
The Sarasota Film Festival
This year, in partnership with the Sarasota Film Festival, Rowlett has again been
chosen to participate in the Geena Davis Institute for Gender Equality in Media. We
are the only elementary school that has ever been chosen for this honor. <
There’s Always Room for Cello!
We have expanded our already fantastic strings program
to include cellos this year. The eight celloists will join our 70
violinists to perform some fantastic music for our school. If you
thought it couldn’t get better than their Holiday concert wait till
you see them at the Art Festival in April! <
Things to Remember in January
1/5 1/13 1/14+15 1/16 1/19 1/20 1/21 1/26 1/27 1/30 1/31 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/5 2/10 2/11 Inservice Day
FST Assembly
PreK Arts Fest.
Rowdy Rowlie Rally (Walkathon)
No School
Record Day
BMX Bike Show
EHR Gr. 2,K,1
EHR Gr. 3,4,5
SOM assemblies
Beautification Day, 9:00 - 12:00
RFA/SAC, 6:00 PM
Otis Spunkmeyer Limo Ride
Otis Spunkmeyer Spinning Wheel & Money Machine
Choice Open House
Otis Spunkmeyer Video Game Day Rewards
Choice Ends
The Rowlett
Power Pledge
I’m a Rowlett Power Owl,
In uniform I’m dressed.
I pledge to follow Rowlett rules
And always do my best.
I’ll be proactive,
Choose and take responsibility.
I’ll show respect to others
And their property.
I’ll set goals, put first things first,
And do what I’m assigned.
My attitude will be win-win
With Safety rules in mind.
I’ll listen so I’ll understand,
And follow all directions.
I’ll be responsible for my
Behavior and corrections.
With teamwork I will soar
with more,
And with others synergize.
I’ll renew and sharpen up
With POWER
as my prize!
A Proud Sponsor Of
Rowlett Magnet Elementary School
© 2015, Manatee County Schools. The ROWLETTER is produced by Rowlett Media Productions and is a publication of Rowlett Academy for
Communications & Creative Arts in Bradenton, Florida. For more information or to offer comments and suggestions, call: Rowlett Academy, p. (941)7086100, f. (941)708-6109, or visit us on the web at www.rowlettacademy.org.
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