Governor Cooper Visited

Governor Cooper visited our school in early February 2024 as part of his tour in celebration of "Year of the Public School." 

  

Governor Cooper donated school supplies once he arrived to campus. He toured three classrooms, (Ms. Carter's Kindergarten, Ms. Foster's Second grade, and Ms. Sarraga's Fourth Grade.) During his visit, he saw the essentials of NC A+ Schools active through Arts Integration lessons. In each classroom, he saw music, drumming, and hand instruments as part of English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies instruction.

Governor Cooper ended his visit with a press conference. Several guests were present in the media such as the Director of A+ Schools, the Director of the NC Arts Council, several school board members, Superintendent McManus, just to name a few. We had at least 6 news channels present as well.

Governor Cooper, Superintendent McManus, Principal Dr. Dobson, and PTA Treasurer Mrs. Shore all addressed the crowd.

Visit the news articles and broadcasts below for more details.

Governor Cooper's Press Release: https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/06/governor-cooper-tours-diggs-latham-elementary-school-highlights-how-strong-public-schools-make

WSFCS Headline: https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=182163&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=320972&PageID=1

WSFCS Journal Story: https://journalnow.com/news/local/education/photos-gov-roy-cooper-visits-diggs-latham-elementary-in-winston-salem/collection_f580f072-c52a-11ee-9c73-c7812d631f16.html#1

WXII: https://journalnow.com/news/local/education/photos-gov-roy-cooper-visits-diggs-latham-elementary-in-winston-salem/collection_f580f072-c52a-11ee-9c73-c7812d631f16.html#1

WXLV: https://abc45.com/news/local/public-schools-are-the-glue-that-hold-our-community-together-gov-cooper-continues-tour

WFMY News2: https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/education/state-leaders-at-odds-over-private-school-voucher-program/83-b000d8e9-5ebb-474f-9d84-6313c02bf7e2

Lemonade

As an A+ Magnet School for Visual and Performing Arts, musicals, performances, and exhibits are part of our regular routines and events.

Third grade classes, under the direction of the Arts Team, performed “Lemonade,” the Musical, after working on it since the beginning of school. They sang, danced, and acted out, (as nursery rhyme characters,) the concept, “when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.”

Lemonade, composed by John Higgins and John Jacobson created a "fairytale frenzy" when Chicken Little, the Three Little Pigs, Humpty Dumpty, the Cat with a fiddle, Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue and other characters have a bad day!  Mother Goose helps however.
This musical brought all the Arts together, as the whole Arts Team collaborated, and empowered students to take on aspects of the whole program from helping with props and backdrops and of course acting and performing.

 

We want to offer a special thanks for our PTA board who helped tremendously with costumes.

Math Night: Math Madness

Math Night at Diggs-Latham was an engaging night of learning for the whole family. Students and their families completed a “math madness bracket” as they played games, visited the book fair as well as had some fun with our mascot, Taz the Tiger.

Student volunteers from Reagan High School and Reynolds High School painted symbols of math, basketball, and tigers on our students faces in between games.

“Students were really excited about math night. As they played the games with their children, from Fraction Free Throws to a Human Game Board for Addition and Subtraction, students shared what they are learning in math with their families,” shared Principal, Dr. Cassandra Dobson. “Our daily focus is our students and their academic growth through rigorous, engaging lessons. Math night was an example of just that.”

Annually, Diggs-Latham holds curriculum nights that invite parents to visit the school and discuss curriculum with the teachers. This year, the Instructional Leadership Team focused on engagement and rigor to plan evenings that would be enjoyable while academically focused for the whole family.

As families arrived to a lobby decorated with basketball accessories and our school colors, they signed in and received a “math madness bracket” that led them to games around the school. Points of interest on the map included the Book fair, grade level games, an activity with Specialists, and face painting.

“It’s that “basketball time of year,” explained Magnet Coordinator, Amanda Gordon, “and in our true A+ Schools/Magnet Schools style, we incorporated dressing in sports attire as well as interactive, fun activities that would keep our students and their families excited about learning.”

Grade levels and teams set up games and activities in the lobby, gym, on stage, and in the cafeteria. Students multiplied and divided while bowling. They reviewed time with a basketball competition. Other games, especially for younger students, reviewed addition facts with a “trashketball” activity. Another grade level created an estimation competition and a race to the finish with number sense.

Everyone who completed a “math madness bracket” entered a raffle to win miniature basketball hoops and sets of math card games.

“It was fun to see the number of kids that came out and how excited they were to play the games,” explained Assistant Principal, Ms. Traci Latta. “I enjoyed watching the students actively engaged in an academic activity and often not realizing what they were doing. They realized that math can be fun.”

Fourth grader, Alfredo said, “Math Night was so much fun. I liked the book fair and the grade level games. I was surprised that we were playing so many games and still doing math, especially bowling. I can’t wait for the next math night.”

Expected Growth

It is with great pleasure that we officially announce that we made 

Expected Growth for the second year in a row.

We are so proud of our students and teachers for their hard work and dedication.

 

WXII Brian Slocum

Meteorologist, Brian Slocum, of WXII, recently provided and in-house Field Trip for our 2nd and 5th grade students.

His introductory video captured their attention with animated versions of himself and his colleagues.

 

His presentation was a good connection and extension to the 2nd and 5th grade Science standards on weather.

Mr. Slocum even provided a virtual tour of the WXII studio.

 

Community Partner: Center Grove

Center Grove Church is a strong partner and support of our students, staff, and school. They stay connected with us through communication with the Leadership Team as well as over social media. 

Center Grove continues to support us as volunteers for special projects, especially for campus beautification. 

They have provided treats for staff and students. Most recently, Center Grove has restocked our "PAWS R Us" Store, which is our PBIS Store at which students spend "PAWS Bucks" earned for hard work and excellent conduct.

Thank you, Center Grove, for all you continue to do for our students, staff, and school.

Community Partner: Home Moravian

Home Moravian Church has been a long-standing supporter and partner of our school. Members of their congregation are official volunteers for us, supporting our reading program as well as assisting with special events.

Annually, members of Home Moravian organize a Holiday Store. This store contains new and used items for adults. Students shop for a gift for a parent or guardian, and volunteers in the store assist the students with gift wrapping and labeling their gifts.

Home Moravian also holds a fundraiser dinner each year. Proceeds from this fundraiser purchase gifts cards for each teacher to buy supplies for their classrooms.

Most recently, members of Home Moravian volunteered to assist our Parent Teacher Association with hot chocolate treats for Polar Express Day. 

They also supported our Read Across America Celebrations as guest readers.

 

Thank you, Home Moravian, for all you do for our school.

Science Fair

Congratulations to this year's Science Fair Winners

First Place: Madelyn Webb

Congratulations to Madelyn for representing us at the WSFCS, District Science Fair.

Second Place: Natalia Mendoza-Arellanes

 

Third Place: Wyatt Stover

Third Place: Kennedy Johnson

 

Parkland Partnership

We have a new partnership with Parkland High School. The Student Leadership Council, under the leadership of their advisor, Ms. Ashley Smith, has recently partnered with our school for a few of their service projects.

During the winter holiday season, the Sophomore Board and Ms. Smith visited our kindergartners to read holiday stories, share snacks, and assist with activities related to the stories.

For our recent Black History Program, Ms. Smith and the Parkland Dance Department performed and sang for our entire student body.

 

During our Read Across America Celebration, Student Leadership Council members served as guest readers for classrooms.

Thank you Ms. Smith and the Student Leadership Council for supporting our students.

Cash

Congratulations to Ms. Cash who graduated December 15th from WSSU, Summa Cum Laude. She is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor society and recently made history at WSSU by being 1 of 14 graduates inducted into the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society; they just returned back to campus after 20 years. Ms. Cash, the 2023 WSFCS Classified Employee of the Year, transitioned to a Certified Teacher position at DLES after winter break.

Ms. Cash earned her master's degree through the WS/FCS Transition 2 Teach program at WSSU, graduating summa cum laude. Read the WSFCS story at https://ow.ly/GVxO50Qjn3z

Throw Back to the Winter Holiday Season: "The Grumps of Ring-a-Ding Town"

For this year's Winter Musical, first and second graders performed "The Grumps of Ring-a-Ding Town" by John Jacobson & John Higgins and helped get everyone in the spirit for the winter holidays and break.

"The bells of ol' Ring-A-Ding Town have stopped ringing because the townspeople have completely lost their holiday spirit. With all of the pressures of the season, they have become so grumpy that even the bells refuse to ring. When a severe winter storm pounds the village with ice, wind and snow, the grumpy citizens are reminded how much they need each other and how rewarding it can be to share and care for one another in the true spirit of the season. When peace, love and joy returns, the bells of Ring-A-Ding Town begin to ring again."

Students sang and danced while 5th grade Dance TAG students narrated the scene changes. Directors Mr. Mullikin, the music/orchestra teacher and Miss Allison, the dance teacher, led the students in keeping the audience laughing and smiling. The stage was adorned with snowflakes created by student artists and art teacher, Ms. Sledge, while Mr. Sigler and Mr. Mitchell managed sound and music.