Support for Pinewood Elementary

Yard signs showing neighborhood support for Pinewood Elementary are making their debut! 

Thanks to the Madison Park HOA and to the neighborhood families who donated the funds to have these signs made.  

"Put a Park in Madison Park" Meeting, Mon. 11/1 at 7pm at Pinewood Elementary

For those who do not know...there is another neighborhood initiative that involves something more fun than CMS!  There is a proposal to place a neighborhood park where the old Pinewood Elementary School was located.  As part of the "Put a Park in Madison Park" effort a town-hall style meeting will be held to discuss design concepts for the site of the old Pinewood Elementary School. This meeting will take place on Monday, November 1 @ 7pm at the new Pinewood Elementary.  Please join the Facebook group "Put a Park in Madison Park" to stay informed on the progress of this effort. 

Pinewood Elementary Fall Festival Sat. 10/23, 10am-2pm

The 2nd annual Pinewood Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 23rd.

The school had a great turnout last year and are planning to add a "Wellness Walk" that will begin at 9am.  The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will be on site to take donations as well.  In addition to the "Wellness Walk" and Blood Drive, there will be a Raffle, Bake Sale, Bouncers, Popcorn, & Hot Dogs.  Come support your neighborhood Elementary School!

CMS Update

My head is spinning trying to keep up with all of the information regarding the proposed changes for CMS.  Here is the link to the report that was discussed in yesterday's work session.  The biggest change to our area schools is a proposal to move Smith's Language Program to Waddell and to assign current Waddell students to South Meck, West Meck or Harding, with Harding going from a full magnet to a partial.  I did not see any mention as to whether or not the current Smith facilities would be used by another program.   Pinewood Elementary is on the list to receive "targeted assistance" for their "perception issue" since students consistently choose to opt out.  This help would come in the form of stronger PTA/PTO partnerships, amped-up community outreach and aggressive PR support through increased communications.  Please post your comments or attend our meeting with Eric Davis, Board Chair, tomorrow at 7:30am at Caribou Coffee, Park Road Shopping Center.

Come tour Pinewood Elementary Monday, 10/25 10-11:30am

Pinewood Elementary is holding a "Community Cruise" on Monday, October 25th from 10:00AM - 11:30PM.  This event will give you an opportunity to tour the school, sit in on a class and attend a Q & A session with Principal Sexton.  Childcare will be provided.  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lisacharde@earthlink.net .


View the Flyer for the Community Cruise.

Meeting to Discuss Neighborhood School Initiative, Wed., 10/6, 7:30pm at Pinewood Elementary

A special meeting will be held by Madison Park Reisdents to discuss an initiative to have Madison Park added to the Myers Park High School district and to show our support of neighborhood schools.  Please join us at Pinewood Elementary on Wednesday, October 6th at 7:30pm.  We need your input...please get involved!

Meet with CMS Board member Kaye McGarry, 9/29 from 7:30-9:00am

Yet another chance to have coffee and speak with a school board member...

On Wednesday, September 29th, Kaye McGarry will be at Starbucks Coffee, 8951-A South Tryon Street, Charlotte, 28273 (Village at Whitehall near Ayrsley), from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. She will be available to discuss school-related issues and to answer questions citizens may have regarding Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Kaye McGarry is a strong supporter of neighborhood schools.  Here is an exerpt from her latest newsletter:

During the summer community forums, I heard many parents express reasons why they thought neighborhood schools were important. Among those reasons were:      

       
• Parental involvement is easier and more likely when a school is closer to home        
• There is more opportunity for greater school pride when the school is close to home        
• Whether families in a community have school-aged children or not, they are much more willing to volunteer and/or support a school in their neighborhood        
• Keeping a child off a bus an hour or two a day has to be good        
• There may be more opportunity for after-school programs for those desiring such when a child goes to school close to home        
• You can inject diversity all sorts of ways, from guest classroom teachers to projects highlighting various cultures