Arts-in-Education Week

National Arts in Education Week is a national celebration recognizing the transformative power of the arts in education, and it officially started in 2010.  We are fortunate to be an A+ Magnet School of Arts Integration and Performance and ultimately celebrate and learn through the arts daily.  To read more about Arts-in-Education Week, visit https://www.arteducators.org/advocacy/arts-in-education-week

P.L.A.Y. Music

Welcome Back P.L.A.Y. Music!  We are very glad to continue our partnership with the Winston-Salem Symphony's Piedmont Learning Academy for Youth Music.  Students in grades Kindergarten through Fifth who are involved in P.L.A.Y. Music meet on Monday and Wednesdays after school and progress through teams, (Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms,) as they build their skills.  Our very own orchestra teacher, Mrs. Lisa Morris, also works with students and P.L.A.Y. Music instructors in this program.  To read more, visit their website at https://www.wssymphony.org/edu/play/.  

Thanks Winston-Salem Symphony and P.L.A.Y. Music instructors for your continued support of our students in the A+ Magnet Program for Arts Integration and Performance.

UNCSA ArtistCorp Members

We are very pleased to continue our partnership with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts ArtistCorp Program.  This program places accomplished artists/musicians in schools to work with high-needs students. Members of ArtistCorp work directly with Pre-Kindergarten to high school students to strengthen community and learning through the use of music, movement, acting and art.  This year, we are fortunate to have 16 ArtistCorp Members working at our school.  We have an Integration Team that works with 5th grade students and teachers to facilitate integration in math.  We have a group of ArtistCorp Members who work with PreK in the Vivaldi Project to further expose students to string instruments, particularly the violin.  We are excited that the Vivaldi Project has been extended to Kindergarten this year as well.  We also have a small group of Members who work with band and visual art through team teaching, one-on-one student rehearsals, set design, creation of props, and more.

Vivaldi Project in Pre-Kindergarten

ArtistCorp Member in Visual Arts Class

To read more on the ArtistCorp Program, visit: 

https://www.uncsa.edu/community/community-engagement/artistcorps/index.aspx and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to our Interim Assistant Principal

Welcome to Mr. Donald Hampton, our Interim Assistant Principal!

Mr. Hampton has had a long, successful career in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools System.  Mr. Hampton was the first principal of Smith Farm Elementary School. Before that he was the Principal of Middle Fork Elementary, the assistant principal at Hall-Woodward Elementary School and the curriculum coordinator at Ibraham Elementary School.

He also taught at Latham Elementary School, (as you can see in the photograph below.)

During that time, he was named the school system’s Teacher of the Year in 1994-95 and won the Winston-Salem Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1995.

Mr. Hampton earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Salem College.

Farewell to Dr. Olsen

Congratulations to our former assistant principal, Dr. Ian Olsen, who was recently named as Principal of Gibson Elementary.  We wish Dr. Olsen well as he begins his first position as principal.  Saying goodbye to Dr. Olsen was bittersweet as changes and transitions among "school family" can be difficult, but over two or three days, we celebrated and gave him a fun send off "Tigerland Style."

On Friday before his last day, a small group of our parent volunteers planned a luncheon for him with authentic Hispanic cuisine.  It was such a kind gesture, representative of our school "family" climate, and a great way for several members of the Administrative team, Arts Team, and parent volunteers to say thank you to Dr. Olsen for all he has done for our school and students.

During the luncheon, Dr. Olsen was called away urgently.  He was told that a student heard he was leaving and would not leave his office.  Dr. Olsen rushed to his off to find a surprise of balloons filling the floor.  Mrs. Nelson, along with a team of staff, blew up a balloon to represent each Diggs-Latham student. 
Check out the video for details of "Operation Balloon Drop."  https://youtu.be/q-Hp0PGU3Hg

Dr. Olsen's last day was Monday, September 9.  At the end of the day, the whole school gathered for a time to say goodbye and celebrate.  Everyone cheered as Dr. Olsen entered the gym.  He was given fun gifts to prepare him for his new venture, including a Principal Tee-shirt, Superman Tee-shirt, and more.  Dr. Olsen gifted the school with a tree and gave a brief talk about what the tree will represent based on all he has enjoyed about being at Diggs-Latham.  Third graders, who were kindergartners when Dr. Olsen arrived at our school, sang a Goodbye Song, and the assembly concluded with a group dance.

Finally, after school on Dr. Olsen's last day, faculty and staff said their farewells with a reception of hors d'oeuvres and cake while watching a photo movie presentation of the last 4 years of Dr. Olsen's career.  Special guests included Instructional Superintendents Rusty Hall and Donna Cannon, former Diggs-Latham Employees who have moved on to other or administrative positions, Kelly Ryan and Katie McGregor, and Dr. Olsen's wife and daughter.

Title 1 Parent Night

Title 1 Parent Night held on Tuesday, September 10, was a huge success.  Our new Parent Engagement Coordinator, Mrs. Shanta Reddick, led the meeting with a series of Powerpoint slides as well as packet of materials and information with our Parent Liaison, Ms. Diane Herrera, translating.  Mrs. Reddick shared so much important information including the opportunities for parents to serve on a Parent Advisory Committee at the district level and on a Parent Engagement Committee at the school level. 

One creative way of engaging families after the meeting included a graffiti wall where families could leave sticky notes with questions and suggestions.

Toward the close of the meeting, our school counselor, Mrs. Barbara Sexton, shared some updates about the district SEAL, Social/Emotional and Academic Learning initiative.  The evening concluded with an ice cream social.  Special thanks to Mrs. Reddick for such an engaging evening.  Thank you teachers and staff for supporting the meeting,and especially thank you to the almost 250 parents who were in attendance.  We are looking forwarding to an exciting school year.

Professional Art Exhibit

Our art teacher, Mrs. Amanda Gordon, is not only an art teacher but is also a professional artist and photographer.  She currently has a solo exhibit of her work in the Apple Gallery in The Arts Place of Stokes in Danbury, NC.  The show is representative of the last 20 years of her career and is a collection of almost 100 pieces in a variety of media.  Read more about this exhibit at http://wsfcschools.blogspot.com/2019/09/diggs-latham-teachers-has-art-exhibit.html

Mrs. Nelson Danced Her Way into the Newspaper

Mrs. Amanda Nelson, our dance teacher, has been teaching at our school for 9 years of her 10 year career.  She is the only full time elementary dance teacher in the district and has taken groups of students to All-County and Student Choreography Showcase.  Mrs. Nelson participates annually in the Summer Enrichment Program for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as the sole choreographer and works closely with props, costuming, and other technicians who lead this production.  Mrs. Nelson has completed the Superintendent's Explorers program and assists our school admin team with positive behavior reinforcement through our "PAWS" Classroom and School-wide Management plan.  Recently, Mrs. Nelson was chosen to be featured in the Winston-Salem Journal to represent Arts Teachers in the district who make a significant and positive impact on students and the community.  We are so proud of Mrs. Nelson and her accomplishments.  Read the story at:  https://www.journalnow.com/entertainment/through-movement-dance-teacher-infuses-kids-with-discipline-self-worth/article_031862e7-8640-5a61-9fb8-ddc2a4ad3e36.html