September 2011
Dear Middle School Families,
Many of my generation would have been starting the School year right after
Labor Day, but for our current school age children, they are more than settled into their
routines after completing three weeks of school already! Thanks to Andrea Mason,
Parents Association President, for her diligent work in putting room mom lists together
and for contributing her leadership to New Parents’ Dinner and Back to School Nights.
These events, along with the 78th ringing of the bell by our eighth grade class at opening
Flag Ceremony, and the launch of Magazine Drive/Cookie Dough fundraiser are all part
of Southfield’s traditional start to the school year.

Your children have been settling into their daily classroom routines and getting to know
their schedules and teachers for the new academic year. I urge you stay connected to their
school lives through the online calendar, but more importantly stay in close
communication with your child’s teacher(s) via email and voice mail. Remember, middle
school teachers are available after school each day for extra help should child require it
(appointment forms are available online) www.southfield-school.org/parents/forms

Last week, Detective Corporal Robert Greer, member of the FBI Cyber Crime Task
Force addressed seventh and eighth grade parents and students about the pitfalls and
dangers of internet and online communications. While echoing the adage that online
electronic communication is ‘forever’ and ‘for everybody’, he was able to convey the
legal, criminal, emotional and social implications of misusing social networks, texts etc.
In advisory sessions later this week, teachers will follow up with their advisees on what
they learned from his wisdom and experiences in the Youth Services Division of the
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office.

An additional initiative dealing with some of the related fallout of online communications
will begin on Monday, September 19 for some of our older children for whom high
school transition is part of this year’s experience.

Dads and friends are invited to have lunch with their children next week (check the
calendar and web site for your grade’s assigned day), and Dads’ Club has its first event
‘Operation Hero’ at BAFB, 8:00am-12noon (9/24).

As I write, the weather has taken a cooler more comfortable turn, and is perhaps a
welcome herald for what we want to be a happy, challenging and successful year for your
children here at Southfield.

Sincerely,
Gordon Walker
Associate Headmaster