Dear Parents and Friends of Atlantic Elementary,

     The month of February was fast yet exciting for all of us at Atlantic Elementary School. Our Down East Girls Basket Ball Team experienced a tight yet heroic win over Broad Creek Middle School at our recent home game in the AES gym. The roaring crowd, strategic tension, stomping, and echoes from our old historic gym left all of us breathless and filled with sentiment.

     Our small but mighty Math Counts team was featured in the Wednesday, Feb. 24 edition of the Carteret News Times. Of the 29 middle schools competing, Atlantic Elementary school came in 5^th place. This is an incredible accomplishment for our small team of 5. Many of the larger schools had several teams competing in this event.

     Our PTO began our dime drive in February. Please also be on the look out for their School Mall fundraiser coming later in March.  The staff at Atlantic Elementary School is very appreciative of this dynamic group. The technology and materials provided for our students this year have been essential to the growth of our program. Be sure to contact Judy Garner, PTO President, for more information on how to support this critical organization.

      Some of you may have read about national and local concerns on the subject of bullying. The staff at Atlantic Elementary takes this subject very seriously. Our proactive guidance counselor, Mrs. Beverly Jones, recently sent home a letter to parents, highlighting the many programs we currently use to counteract bullying. In addition, her regular classroom lessons teach our students a variety of problem solving strategies to help cope with bullying related issues. Some other Anti-Bullying programs offered at Atlantic Elementary School include:

• Peacemaking Skills for Grade PreK-2,

• Ronald McDonald’s Friendship Adventure for Grades Prek-5

• Sticks and Stones for Grade 3

• McGruff and Bullying for Grade 2-3

• Stop Bullying Now for Grades 4-5

• Nah! Nah! Nah! (no more teasing) for Grades 3-5

• Second Step for Grades 6-8

• Peer Relationships for Grades 6-8

• Safe Dates for grades 6-8

        Our staff as a whole is vigilant about this issue. However, it is essential that students and parents let us know immediately if they notice a bullying problem or other concern that has not been addressed. With the support of our home/school team, all of our students at Atlantic Elementary will continue to grow in both character and academics.