Week of 12/2 - 12/6

Hey Panda Family,

We can check off Week 15! Inching closer to the holiday break 🎁

PBIS Gaming Truck: Enter your numbers for the Gaming Truck using the following link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GnoI0AkCXGQeFYoAjF-329fZPk86378TloWIAEVfzgU/edit?usp=sharing by Tuesday, December 10th.

Safety Update: We will have a community lockdown along with our monthly fire drill before we leave for break.  Please review procedures for a community lockdown with your students.

Spelling Bee (4th & 5th grade only): Reminder that you need to have your class representative selected by December 20. Please see Ms. Sweeney with any questions. 

TOY/Classified Nominations: It's time to nominate our colleagues in recognition of the wonderful work they do each and every day for our Panda Family 😊 Please use the google form below to nominate a teacher of the year and/or classified employee of the year. Please communicate with your nominee to ensure they are interested in being nominated. Please complete your nomination(s) by Tuesday, December 10th. We will then vote based on nominations through December 13th. https://forms.gle/vWXnB3HAhnKWkMtk9

Early Release Day: Please complete the Early Release Day planning form that was placed in your box. The ER Day is this Wednesday, December 11. Completed forms should be returned to Mr. Elkins.  

Time Change: The time for the Winter Musical dress rehearsal on December 12 has been changed to 1:00. We will use the early release lunch schedule that day and all classes will eat in their rooms. 

Featured Teacher: I know it's a busy time of year, but if anyone has time to fill out the link and send Mrs. Jones a photo (email or text 407-2197) to use by Tuesday, she would greatly appreciate it! And it would be great to get a few submissions so she can be stocked for Winter Break. Classroom teachers, assistants, specialists, etc. are all eligible! 
Here is the link: https://forms.gle/UXmaMHbCwk2uXABW9

United Way: This is the online link & the easiest way to donate to United Way: https://uwfc.upicsolutions.org/WSFCS We have met our monetary goal, but we are still working towards 100% participation. As of Friday we had 61% participation from the staff. If we meet both goals then I will cancel the January staff meeting :) 

Winter Parties: If you are planning a winter party for your class please schedule it for the last week before winter break (week of December 16). Make sure to keep the focus of the parties more winter themed (snowmen, candy canes, etc.) than holiday themed; unless you plan to highlight a variety a winter holidays. We want to avoid highlighting one holiday over another. 

Staff Holiday Social: Staff Holiday Social will be on December 13th at 6:30 pm at "Liberty Brewery and Grill” formally known as Liberty Steakhouse, located at 914 Mall Loop Rd, High Point, NC. This event will be for staff and their spouse/significant other. Staff Members meal only will be paid for courtesy of SCC. Drinks will not be covered, but can be purchased separately (sodas, tea must also be purchased). Spouse or significant other attending with you will also order from the Set Menu. No payment needs to be made until that night. Please see the email from Ms. Mabe with more information. If you can attend please complete this RSVP - https://forms.gle/EN5yDB2BbjtTvGA79 

Staff Spotlight: Fox 8 is scheduled to air a news story on our Family Tree mural on Monday, December 9 at 7:15. It is also supposed to be featured on their website after it airs. Check it out! 

Teacher Tuesday Spotlight: Our school Facebook page is highlighting a teacher each week! Our spotlight this past week was Ms. Bolchalk. Check it out! 

Lesson Plans: Friendly reminder that Lesson Plans should be posted to the PowerSchool Wiki the first day of each week by 8:00am.

IF Updates

i-Ready: Diagnostic MOY window has CHANGED! The window is now January 6 to February 7.  REMARK your calendars!  Also, we will start an incentive program that will track hitting usage goals AND to highlight overall percentages of passing scores for each class.  Stay tuned for more details about this super program!

Istation: When writing your lesson plans for the week of January 6, don’t forget to include time for the Istation MOY benchmark!  This should be administered in a testing-friendly environment (quiet in the room, take a bathroom break before you start, etc).  If you need to borrow computers in order to make a complete class set, then just see your buddy class to work out a time. 

Upcoming Dates:

December 10 - SIT @ 3:30
December 11 - Testing Team Meeting @ 7:30
December 11 - Early Release Day
December 12 - MTSS Team Training 8:30 - 3:30
December 12 - Use Early Release Lunch Schedule
December 12 - Winter Music Performance 1:00 (dress rehearsal for school) & 6:30 (evening show)
December 12 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30
December 13 - Staff Holiday Social @ 6:30 - Liberty Brewery and Grill
December 16 - WFU Women's Basketball game for 2nd, 4th, & 5th grade 10:00 - 1:30
December 17 - Elkins at Principal's Meeting 8:00 - 3:30
December 17 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
December 17 - PGE Skate Night @ 6:00
December 19 - Gardner @ AP meeting 8:00 - 11:00, Elkins @ Principal Meeting 12:00 - 3:00
December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break! 
January 6 - School resumes
January 7 - PBIS & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30
January 8 - Spelling Bee @ 8:30
January 9 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30

A holiday prize goes to the first person who can solve this holiday riddle/joke: Santa went to buy his sleigh but he was surprised that it was free. How did Santa get his sleigh for free?

Put your answer in the comments section below with your name!