Meet The Teacher A Big Success!

Over 500 Joyner families turned out for our Meet the Teacher Night! Our PTA recruited over 200 members and our "No Fuss" fundraiser is off to a great start! Thanks to all who made it a big success!

A New Face to Kindergarten

Welcome Ms. Stefanie Piner to Kindergarten! Ms. Piner will be moving back to Kindergarten this year after helping establish our Pre-K program. She is very excited about working with the Kindergarten team this year.

Donde Esta Sr. Butler?

Where in the world is Mr. Butler? Mr. Butler, one of our great 5th grade teachers has been on a month long tour of Turkey and the Middle East! I'm sure he will have lots of interesting stories to tell when he gets home.

Ms. Pelletier catches a break!!!

After teaching a 1st/2nd split last year and doing 2nd grade team leader duties, Ms. Pelletier will teach only second graders this year and continue to lead our second grade team! The first graders she had last year will stay with her another year.

I know Ms. Pelletier is looking forward to it!

Back to 1st Grade for Ms. Strom and Ms. Cameron

Welcome back to 1st Grade Ms. Strom and Ms. Cameron!!! Our veteran loopers (Teachers who stay with their students in the next grade) will be taking their kindergarten class to 1st grade!

Meet the Teacher Night

Meet the Teacher Night is Monday August 23rd from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm -7:00 pm (Teachers and Staff eat Dinner from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.)

This is a great opportunity to: Join the PTA, Sign up for Before and After School Care, Buy JYJ merchandise (T-shirts, school store), Get information about our "No Fuss" fundraiser, Put money in your Child's Lunch Account, Meet with the Nurse and bring any medications that your child's Doctor authorizes us to dispense at school, get carpool numbers, get bus information, register to volunteer, pick up classroom wish lists, and . . . Meet your child's grade level teacher as well as our specialists, Spanish teachers, and the rest of our staff.

Teacher Assignment Letters Go Out Next Week!

Dear Parents,

Be on the lookout for information to arrive in the mail next week concerning Meet the Teacher Night and your child's grade level teacher assignment. Letters will go out either Saturday or Monday.

Big Changes for Ms. Carey!!!

Ms. Carey has had some big changes this summer! She got married and is now Ms. Rickley! Congratulations Mrs. Rickley! She also will be joining our 1st grade team!

Amy Gourley is Back!!!

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce that Amy Gourley is back working with Kindergarten and
1st grade Spanish as well as offering a new "Specials" class to Kindergarten and 1st grade that will focus on Cultural Literacy. We are really glad to have Amy join us again this year!

Welcome our New to 3rd Grade Teacher!!!

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Honeyager back to teacher land as our new 3rd grade teacher. Ms. Honeyager taught for two years at Ballentine Elementary before joining us to work on her ESL certificate and to serve as a TA. She is now ready to go back into the classroom and here's what she has to say about it!

Hello! My name is Joanna Honeyager, and I'm excited to be starting my third year at Joyner as a third grade teacher. This is my fifth year within Wake County and my third year as a teacher. I went to college at North Greenville University in SC but grew up close to the mountains in western NC with my mom, dad, and three sisters. In my spare time, I enjoy road biking, exercising, reading, volunteering at my church, and spending time with friends. I'm trying to pick up some sewing skills, but I have to admit that I'm a slow learner when it comes to that department! My love for learning and other cultures has resulted in me having the privilege of visiting several countries, becoming certified to teach English as a Second Language, and being challenged to start learning Spanish. I'm looking forward to another great year at Joyner!

Welcome our New to 5th Grade Teacher

Jennifer Bell will be moving from 4th grade to 5th grade with her class this year! Ms. Bell is one of the most creative teachers we have ever had at Joyner and we are excited about her moving to 5th grade. She is also a veteran Middle School teacher, so she knows what it takes to get students ready for Middle School.

Welcome Dr. Brian Farias, our new Music Teacher!

Dr. Brian Farias, (BME cum laude- Boston Conservatory, MM- New England Conservatory, DMA- Mason Gross at Rutgers University, May 2010) has been a performer, educator, conductor, and adjudicator in music for over 30 years. He has taught vocal and instrumental music in the public schools of NJ, MD, PA, and NC in grades K-12 for 16 years. He is a member of MENC, NCMEA, and the NCBandMasters Association and Atlantic Indoor Association as a Music adjudicator. In New Jersey, Brian was also the former President of the NJ-IAJE (Jazz Educators Group) in Region 1, and re-established the NJMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival. As a clarinetist, he is a former student of Anthony Gigliotti (Philadelphia Orchestra), Leon Russianoff (NYC), and William Wrzesien (Boston Ballet and Esplanade Orchestras). He has also been a member of many community ensembles in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and is currently a playing and board member of the Triangle Wind Ensemble in Cary. This summer, Brian is forming a new group based in Cary, the Triangle Revolutionary Fife and Drum Corps where students age 9-21 may join. He maintains a private teaching studio in Raleigh, and is a freelance clarinetist in the metropolitan area. During this past school year, he was on the faculty of Dillard Drive Elementary in Raleigh as a Music Specialist. Most recently, he was nominated and accepted into the “Who’s Who In American Education” and “Who’s Who In America” publications for 2006-07.
Brian is very excited to be working with the J.Y. Joyner family and looks forward to a fantastic school year as a Music Specialist!