Help us celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2, by encouraging your children READ, READ, READ!  That day has been set aside to challenge students to take a record number of Accelerated Reading tests on books read.  Red Bird students will receive prizes and awards for the greatest numbers of tests taken with highest accuracy.

Red Bird Mission School will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair on March 19-23.  Red Bird students who participate in the Reading Celebration will be eligible to win a free book for the greatest number of tests taken with highest accuracy on March 2nd.

The following items are in high demand:

• copy paper
• flash drives (1 GB is fine)
• ice packs
• chewable Jr. Tylenol
• markers
• magnets
• printer cartridges (#HP 920XL; HP 20/21; Lexmark 50; HP 56; HP Laser Jet P1005; HP Laser Jet Q2612A)
• toner cartridges (Lexmark E260A) ** for computer lab printers
• Clorox Wipes
• wet wipes
• hand sanitizer
• mechanical pencils
• Kleenex
• page protectors
• two-pocket folders
• manila file folders
• band aids
• staplers
• pencil sharpeners
• large pencils for Kindergarten class
• white out
• highlighters
• tabbed notebook dividers
• video projector (to project online media)
• Recordable Compact Disks and cases  (for music program)
• large paper clips
• rubber bands (to bundle Box Tops)
• 3-ring notebooks (1″)
• pencil bags or boxes
• non-perishable snacks for after school programs

This self-study will guide us through all aspects of our organization and encourage us to rethink and rededicate our policies, procedures, and practices for God’s glory.  The standards set before us represent characteristics of excellent Christian schools.  CSI and SACS have a strong partnership and we will have access to the resources of both groups.  The result will be a refined plan of action for improvement, a re-alignment of all areas to our mission and a clarified awareness of our needs–both organizational and monetary.

Parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, Board members and community members are invited to become part of this process.  School Improvement Meetings (6:00pm in the school library) are planned for the following dates:

• February 13
• March 5
• March 19
• April 23
• May 14

SPIRIT WEEK

To lead into the special event, spirit week called on Red Bird students to show their school spirit. Students were challenged to display the following themes for the week:

• Tuesday-Pajama Day
• Wednesday-Hat and/or Camouflage Day
• Thursday-Mismatched/Silly Sock Day
• Friday-Crazy Red Day

All Red Bird is missing now are two or three eager volunteers who are willing to get trained and then lead students in learning archery skills with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).

Clay County UNITE sponsored a $1500 grant for Red Bird to acquire needed equipment: six bows, three targets, and lots of arrows!  The UNITE program plans to help Red Bird earn another grant to expand the program when ready.

Local schools in nearby counties have started NASP and both parents and students are very enthusiastic.  Red Bird is excited to get started!  Please spread the word and help RB find adults willing to lead the effort.

Anyone interested is urged to call Mrs. Wilder at 598-2416.

Those wanting to donate blood can call 1-800-775-2522 or visit www.kybloodcenter.org for blood drive and donor center details.

Blood donors must be 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and meet additional requirements.  Sixteen year old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which are available in the Red Bird Mission School office.

The Kentucky Blood Center, serving more than half of Kentucky’s counties, is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics.  KBC relies on volunteers to collect 400 units of blood per day to meet area patients’ needs.  Over the last year KBC distributed nearly 130,000 units of blood and blood products.

A Job Well Done by Everyone!

On the evening of October 7th, Red Bird students performed The Rocks Cry Out to celebrate 90 years of Red Bird Mission to a packed crowd of appreciative alumni, parents, and friends.  Music Director, Mark Smallwood, and English teacher, Sandra Melton, led students on a journey to research and celebrate Red Bird’s legacy.  The play, written by talented faculty member Rebecca Smallwood, told the story of how Red Bird Mission began.

Red Bird Senior CP English students added to the night by acting out the characters of Red Bird history and sharing their stories alongside a slideshow of the actual people created from collected archival photographs.  The “I Am” speeches shared were written by the senior students after careful research into each life history.

Long-term volunteers: John Cooper and Fred Moore added much to the project.  Mr. Cooper created the slideshow and helped with technical aspects of the program.  Mr. Moore offered his theater know-how to help our students shine!  A big thanks to Mike Wagers is also in order for helping deliver the giant ‘praying rock’ to the stage.

• Fly Guy vs. the Flyswatter – Ted Arnold
• Home for Christmas - Jan Brett
• Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse – Eric Carle
• Strega Nona’s Gift – Tomie DePaola
• Froggy Builds a Treehouse – Jonathan London
• Ten Little Caterpillars – Bill Martin
• Too Many Dinosaurs – Mercer Mayer
• If You Give a Dog a Donut – Laura Numeroff
• Bun Bun Button – Patricia Polacco
• Bumble-Ardy - Maurice Sendak
• Ivy and Bean: No News is Good News - Annie Barrows
• Troublemaker – Andrew Clements
• Hank the Cowdog: the Case of the Mysterious Voice – John R. Erickson
• Mr. Putter and Tabby Ring the Bell – Cynthia Rylant
• Apples and Pumpkins – Anne F. Rockwell
• It’s Snowing – Gail Gibbons
• Calling on Dragon - Patricia Wredes
• Alternative Cars – Wheeler
• Drums – Cynthia Klingel
• Rattlers and Other Snakes – Venn
• J.K. Rowling – William Compson
• Elvis Presley – (From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
• Elton John - (From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
• Ray Charles - (From Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
• Love That Dog – Creech
• One Tiny Turtle – Davies
• Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance – Barrows
• Armadillo Tattletale – Ketterman

Red Bird’s Math-a-Thon Event kicked off at the beginning of September.  Students were asked to do a multitude of math problems to inspire family and friends to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.  37 Red Bird Mission School students participated this year and $1,504.26 was raised!!!  Students were rewarded with an ice cream party to celebrate their hard work and service to others.  In a time when finances are stretched mighty thin, it is a blessing to see our community reach out to those in need.  Thank you, Red Bird students, parents and staff!