The New England Confectionery Company make the original Sweetheart candies. Check out Timmy's Tutor cartoon for this week as Timmy discovers what many of us "old folk" know, Sweetheart candies were the original text messaging medium. Ahh, such sweet memories!

George Washington is fondly known as The Father of Our Country.  He was involved in drafting the Declaration of Independence which was signed July 4, 1776.  As Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, he valiantly led his troops to victory and our country to freedom from Great Britain.  Loved by his new countrymen, Washington was elected as our first president.  He is known for his patriatism, honesty, widom, courage and strength of character.  Born on February 22, 1732, this day became known as Washington's Birthday in 1796 while he served in his last year as president.  This holiday was not officially observed until 1832.

Read more »

·    Cupid (symbol for Roman God of love), doves, love birds, roses, hearts and arrows are all symbols of the Valentine's Day celebration.
·    Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D.
·    In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated around seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes.

Read more »

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) prepared the following tips for helping kids develop a love of reading:
Read with your child at least once a day;
Respect your childs choices;
Praise your childrens efforts;
Help your child build a library;
Check up on your child's progress;
Go places and do things with your child;
Tell stories;
Be a reading model;
Continue reading aloud to older children; and
Encourage writing along with reading.

The Millbrook Elementary School's First Grade Team of Teachers selected to participate in project to document the planning, teaching, assessment and reflection of their inquiry-based units of instruction for this school year. Listen to the team talk about sharing best practices for IBO videotaping: http://www.wcpss.net/news/2009_oct8_millbrook_video/

John Wall was named the 2009 Principal of the Year by the Wake County Public School System in ceremonies October 15. Wall is principal of North Garner Middle School. Click here to read more about naming of Wall as 2009 Principal of the Year: http://www.wcpss.net/news/2009_oct15_poy/

DPS encourages input from parents, students and staff and community through regular sessions of Kitchen Table Conversations. These sessions are held three or four times yearly and provide opportunity for focused conversation on a particular topic. For the 2008-2009 topic schedule go to: http://www.dpsnc.net/about-dps/board-of-education/kitchen-table-conversations