Week of 2/17 - 2/21

Hey Panda Family,

Took until Week 24 for our first Snow Day! ❄❄❄ Hope everyone has enjoyed the long weekend.

Discretionary Funds: **This is the last week you can spend your Discretionary Funds! Any funds left over will go back into the school pot for instructional items** Don't forget about your discretionary funds for instructional materials that was allotted at the beginning of the year. Your discretionary funds need to be spent by the end of February. Send items to me, or Ms. Gardner, for approval and then complete a prior purchase approval form for Pam (yellow sheet). If you need to know how much is left in your grade level/individual account, please email Pam. 

Friday Folders: Please send Friday Folders home on Monday since we missed last Friday due to snow.  

Boosterthon Lunch: 5th grade will go to lunch starting at 11:00. (See email from Ms. Gardner). All classes eat in their classrooms.  Trash bags will be provided.

PBIS Panda Chef Challenge: Tuesday, February 25th (K-2nd) & Friday, February 28th (3rd-5th)
We will make an announcement when students are to report to the cafeteria.

Fire Marshal: The Fire Marshal will be here soon for the spring inspection. We appreciate you working to eliminate the violations from the October inspection. Please remember that exit doors in classrooms must stay clear (5-6 blocks) at all times.

Countdown to Kindergarten (rescheduled): The district-wide registration event will be this Thursday, February 27 at every school from 10:00 - 6:30. Please wear Piney Grove items this day as we welcome new Panda Families!

Istation usage (K-3rd): In the first semester, our new superintendent asked all principals to begin monitoring Iready usage. I have been doing this for a couple of months now. I began doing the same for Istation (K-3rd) this week. Iready is a district mandated program and Istation is state mandated. Please make sure your students are meeting their allotted practice time each week. Students who are in green (levels 3, 4, 5) should be working on the prescribed Istation lessons for 30 minutes a week.  The students who are red and yellow should be working in Istation for 40+ minutes per week.  

Jayne has gotten some good ideas about how to improve the way we monitor student progress in Istation and will be attending another Istation training this Friday.  If you have specific questions you want her to address, send them to her so she can be sure she asks the presenters at her training.

Retention: Any considerations for retention need to be shared with me and Ms. Gardner by March 27. A student must have at least a Supplemental Support Plan (SSP) to even be considered for retention. 

Arts Council: Help support the Arts Council by donating! Click on the following link - https://5934.thankyou4caring.org/WSFCS

Read Across America Bingo: RAA Week will be coming up in March. I wanted to let you know that we will be playing RAA Bingo again over the announcements that week and the winning class will get a donut party. All of the books for the Bingo game will come from my Friday night read alouds on the school Facebook page. So, feel free to watch them with your class during read aloud time if you want a competitive advantage :) 

Here are a list of the books that I have read - The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, Ron's Big Mission, The Gruffalo, Bear Snores On, Can I Join Your Club?, The Relatives Came, The Gingerbread Bear, Spaghetti in a Hotdog Bun, The Amazing Turkey Rescue, The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears, Beekle, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand, How I Became a Pirate, Do Unto Otters, Giraffes Can't Dance, Rosco vs. The Baby, We Don't Eat Our Classmates, Thelma the Unicorn, Whatif Monster, Dem Bones

Staff Spotlight: Thank you to SCC and 5th grade for providing such a yummy lunch at our Early Release Day training! 

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

Math Night will be March 12 from 5:30-7:30 at the Food Lion at 980 South Main Street (behind Cookout).  Please mark your calendar!  A sign up sheet will come out soon so you can indicate when we can expect to see you.  There will be a $25 Food Lion gift card for the teacher who has the highest percentage of students attend!  There will also be cake, goodies, and give aways! 

Peer Observations: We would love to help you observe a peer doing something awesome!  Fill out this form to make sure we know that you are interested and what you would like to see.  After you fill out this form, you should hear from me within 2 days.  If you don’t, please follow up with me to ensure I don’t miss your request. 

Register for PLT: Please remember to register for PLT for 3^rd quarter in the PD system.

Promethean trainer at PGE: We are very lucky to have a Promethean trainer coming to Piney Grove on February 26.  Mark your calendar!  Each grade level will meet with the trainer during their planning time.  Please send me any specific things you would like to learn about during this session.  I have discussed other topics with the trainer, but if you have specific topics, I would love to request them.

Upcoming Dates:

February 24 - Boosterthon Fun Run (9:00 K-1st, 10:05 2nd-3rd, 1:45 4th-5th)
February 24 - Baby Shower for Ms. Berrier @ 3:30
February 25 - Testing Team Meeting @ 7:30
February 25 - SCC & Media Committee @ 3:30
February 26 - Promethean Board Training (during grade level planning)
February 27 - Kindergarten Registration Day from 10:00 - 6:30
February 28 - Grade Level Discretionary Funds must be spent by this date
March 2 - Baby Shower for Ms. Jones @ 3:30
March 3 - PBIS & Wellness Committee @ 3:30
March 5 - Touch Math PD @ 3:30 (Kinder - 5th grade)
March 9 - 13 - Book Fair
March 9 - Elkins @ college recruitment fair
March 9 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
March 10 - SIT @ 3:30
March 12 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30
March 12 - Food Lion Math Night 5:30 - 7:30
March 13 - PTA Spring Dance 6:00 - 8:00
March 17 - Elkins @ Principals' Meeting 8:00 - 3:00
March 17 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
March 18 - Early Release Day
March 19 - 20 - Kindergarten Screening
March 23 - Spring Pictures

I was given 3 free pass to Countryside Bowling Lanes in Kernersville. First three people to respond in the comments section below will get them! 🎳

Week of 2/10 - 2/14

Hey Panda Family,

Week 23 was full of chocolates and sweets! And a little Wild West fun :) Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day 💕💚🤠

SIT: Reminder that SIT will meet at 3:30 this Tuesday, February 18.

2/19 Early Release Day: We will begin at 1:15 with lunch provided by SCC (thank you SCC!)  Please plan to stay until 4:00.  We will be covering more information about types of differentiation and reviewing reading adoptions.  See you in the media center at 1:15!

Istation usage (K-3rd): In the first semester, our new superintendent asked all principals to begin monitoring Iready usage. I have been doing this for a couple of months now. I will also begin doing the same for Istation (K-3rd) beginning this week. Iready is a district mandated program and Istation is state mandated. Please make sure your students are meeting their allotted practice time each week. Students who are in green (levels 3, 4, 5) should be working on the prescribed Istation lessons for 30 minutes a week.  The students who are red and yellow should be working in Istation for 40+ minutes per week.  

Jayne has gotten some good ideas about how to improve the way we monitor student progress in Istation and will be attending another Istation training next Friday.  If you have specific questions you want her to address, send them to her so she can be sure she asks the presenters at her training.

IReady/Istation Motivation: Find fun ways to motivate your students on Iready or Istation. Incorporate sticker charts for completing their time usage, go to the prize box for growth or lessons completed, find ways to make it competitive. They are tons of ways to motivate. If you need help brainstorming come find us! Also, ask an upper teacher or Jayne about Iready Central - tons of great ideas on this website. 

Random Acts of Kindness: February 17-21 is Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week.  Student Council is encouraging each class to complete random acts of kindness to celebrate.  Your class should have received a yellow Random Acts of Kindness board with 16 different tasks.  (Let Ms. Vaden know if you need a copy.)  Please post this outside your room, ask your students to complete these tasks, and they should let you know so you can either have them sign the box or mark it off.  Once all acts of kindness have been marked, please email Ms. Vaden and she'll get you a certificate.  If you complete your board and want another, she can email you another copy or a blank board that you can customize with your class.  Be on the lookout for a RAK Week challenge for teachers!

Retention: Any considerations for retention need to be shared with me and Ms. Gardner by March 27. A student must have at least a Supplemental Support Plan (SSP) to even be considered for retention. 

Arts Council: Help support the Arts Council by donating! Click on the following link - https://5934.thankyou4caring.org/WSFCS

Read Across America Bingo: RAA Week will be coming up in March. I wanted to let you know that we will be playing RAA Bingo again over the announcements that week and the winning class will get a donut party. All of the books for the Bingo game will come from my Friday night read alouds on the school Facebook page. So, feel free to watch them with your class during read aloud time if you want a competitive advantage :) 

Discretionary Funds: Don't forget about your discretionary funds for instructional materials that was allotted at the beginning of the year. Your discretionary funds need to be spent by the end of February. Send items to me, or Ms. Gardner, for approval and then complete a prior purchase approval form for Pam (yellow sheet). If you need to know how much is left in your grade level/individual account, please email Pam.   

Staff Spotlight: Thank you to everyone for working so hard to complete your mid-year parent/teacher conferences! We continue to be impressed by your dedication to your students and families 😊



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

Math and Reading Adoption Materials: We are starting to get samples of potential reading and math adoptions!  I can’t wait to show them to you.  If you see them sitting out, don’t peek!

iReady make up session: If you were not able to attend the iReady rescheduled after school PD session, please let me know.  I am finding out when other Kernersville schools are doing their PD sessions so you can attend one of those. 

Register for PLT: Please remember to register for PLT for 3^rd quarter in the PD system.

Promethean trainer at PGE: We are very lucky to have a Promethean trainer coming to Piney Grove on February 26.  Mark your calendar!  Each grade level will meet with the trainer during their planning time.  Please send me any specific things you would like to learn about during this session.  I have discussed other topics with the trainer, but if you have specific topics, I would love to request them.

Upcoming Dates:

February 18 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting 8:00 - 3:00
February 18 - SIT @ 3:30

February 19 - Early Release Day

February 20 - Kindergarten Registration Day from 10:00 - 6:30
February 21 - Boosterthon Fun Run (9:00 K-1st, 10:05 2nd-3rd, 11:10 4th-5th)
February 21 - Baby Shower for Ms. Jones @ 3:30
February 24 - Baby Shower for Ms. Berrier @ 3:30
February 25 - Testing Team Meeting @ 7:30
February 25 - SCC & Media Committee @ 3:30
February 26 - Promethean Board Training (during grade level planning)
February 28 - Grade Level Discretionary Funds need to be spent by this date
March 3 - PBIS & Wellness Committee @ 3:30
March 5 - Touch Math PD @ 3:30 (Kinder - 5th grade)
March 9 - 13 - Book Fair
March 9 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
March 10 - SIT @ 3:30
March 12 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30
March 12 - Food Lion Math Night (time TBD)
March 13 - PTA Spring Dance 6:00 - 8:00

In the comments section below, share an example of a Random Act of Kindness that someone has done for you in the past that you really appreciated - then pick one and go do it for someone on a different grade level or department! Share the Piney Grove family love this week 🐼

Week of 2/3 - 2/7

Hey Panda Family,

Tornado blew right on through during Week 22! 🌪 Thanks for all you did to help make it through a whirlwind kind of week! 

Staff Meeting: We have a staff meeting this Tuesday, February 11 @ 3:30. The agenda consists of Boosterthon Information, Staff Awards, Confidentiality Reminders, and SECU tax information.

Tutoring Meeting: Immediately following the staff meeting on Tuesday we will have a brief Tutoring Meeting to discuss the implementation plan. This meeting is only for those individuals that expressed an interest in tutoring back in January. Those individuals are - Corlett, Finley, Brookshire, Medley, Barneycastle, Trujillo, Pizzino, Fox, McCracken, Flynn, & Adams.

Boosterthon Kickoff (February 11): Dress in your best Western Attire on Tuesday to help kick-off and support our Boosterthon campaign. 

i-Ready Training: The 3rd-5th grade i-Ready training has been rescheduled for this Thursday @ 3:30 in the media center. Please bring your i-Ready Teacher Success Guide and Teacher Learner’s Notebook as well as a charged laptop to our after school session. 

Retention: Any considerations for retention need to be shared with me and Ms. Gardner by March 27. A student must have at least a Supplemental Support Plan (SSP) to even be considered for retention. 

Arts Council: Help support the Arts Council by donating! Click on the following link - https://5934.thankyou4caring.org/WSFCS

Talent Show Audition Slips: Talent Show audition slips are in your box for those students who applied. It has the student name and their audition date/time. Please send home. 

Free Character Education Resources: www.NEDteachers.com

Love the Bus: This week is bus driver appreciation week.  Please consider having your students make general cards or write letters for our bus drivers.  Turn them into the office by the end of the day on Tuesday, February 11th.

Conferences: Great job to all our K-2 teachers for completing your conferences. If you still have a few left to do, that's okay! I appreciate everyone's hard work to take the time to meet with your families. The deadline for 3-5 conferences is this Friday, February 14. 

Read Across America Bingo: RAA Week will be coming up in March. I wanted to let you know that we will be playing RAA Bingo again over the announcements that week and the winning class will get a donut party. All of the books for the Bingo game will come from my Friday night read alouds on the school Facebook page. So, feel free to watch them with your class during read aloud time if you want a competitive advantage :) 

Discretionary Funds: Don't forget about your discretionary funds for instructional materials that was allotted at the beginning of the year. Your discretionary funds need to be spent by the end of February. Send items to me, or Ms. Gardner, for approval and then complete a prior purchase approval form for Pam (yellow sheet). If you need to know how much is left in your grade level/individual account, please email Pam.   

Staff Spotlight: We were super proud how all our students and staff handled the Tornado drill on Thursday! I know it was a little hectic at times, but everyone worked together like a true family. You were patient, flexible, and willing to do whatever it took to make sure our kiddos were taken care of. Thank you!!!

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

Atlas books: Please discuss as a grade level what you would like to do with your grade level’s Atlas books (orange box we previously used for TRC).  We can make groups of books for Guided Reading, or we can let you put them in your class library.  Please let me know what you decide!

iReady: Don’t forget to finish up those last few students in iReady before 2/13 (this Wednesday).  I am excited to learn more from our trainer on Thursday at 3:30!

Heggerty with 1^st and 2^nd: See my email on 2/6 for more information about your rescheduled times.

Promethean trainer at PGE: We are very lucky to have a Promethean trainer coming to Piney Grove on February 26.  Mark your calendar!  Each grade level will meet with the trainer during their planning time.  Please send me any specific things you would like to learn about during this session.  I have discussed other topics with the trainer, but if you have specific topics, I would love to request them.

Upcoming Dates:

February 10 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30

February 11 - Boosterthon Assemblies (3-5 @ 1:30, K-2 @ 2:10)

February 11 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30, Tutoring Meeting @ 4:30

February 12 - 19 - Boosterthon Pep Rallies during Specials

February 12 - Jerry Yale @ PGE

February 13 - Mary Starling @ 10:00 (5th grade only)
February 13 - Iready Training @ 3:30 (3rd - 5th grade only)

February 13 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30

February 14 - 3-5 Parent Conferences completed by this date

February 18 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting 8:00 - 3:00
February 18 - SIT @ 3:30

February 19 - Early Release Day

February 20 - Kindergarten Registration Day from 10:00 - 6:30
February 21 - Boosterthon Fun Run (times TBD)
February 21 - Baby Shower for Ms. Jones @ 3:30
February 24 - Baby Shower for Ms. Berrier @ 3:30
February 25 - Testing Team Meeting @ 7:30
February 25 - SCC & Media Committee @ 3:30
February 26 - Promethean Board Training (during grade level planning)
February 28 - Grade Level Discretionary Funds need to be spent by this date
March 3 - PBIS & Wellness Committee @ 3:30
March 5 - Touch Math PD @ 3:30 (Kinder - 5th grade)

Had some close guesses for the Superbowl score, but unfortunately no winners. Thanks everyone for playing! Hope everyone has a Happy Valentines Week 💕

Week of 1/27 - 1/31

Hey Panda Family,

Week 21 is finished! Long week, but good week to start off 3rd Quarter! 😊 The work everyone is doing is amazing. So proud of our school family! 

Report Cards: Report Cards will go home this Friday, February 7. If you didn't get a chance to print them on Friday due to the internet outage, please do so on Monday so we can begin reviewing & signing them. 

Mid-Year PDPs: Friendly reminder that your Mid-Year PDP is due by this Monday, February 3. Please update the progress on your goals and then let Ms. Gardner or me know so we can review and finalize (see email from 1/6/2020 with instructions). We do not have to formally meet for the Mid-Year.

Conferences: Great job to all our K-2 teachers for completing your conferences. If you still have a few left to do, that's okay! I appreciate everyone's hard work to take the time to meet with your families. The deadline for 3-5 conferences is Friday, February 14. 

MTAC Survey: Please complete the following 3 question survey to help MTAC collect information about these resources (see link below).  Ms. Epperley has spoken with our rep at Spelling City and they are working to return all access to this software immediately.

Spelling City/Pebble Go Survey

Boosterthon Video: PTA asks that you share the video link below with your students. It is roughly 3 minutes. Thanks! 

https://vimeo.com/342370792/f0b976288a  

Read Across America Bingo: RAA Week will be coming up in March. I wanted to let you know that we will be playing RAA Bingo again over the announcements that week and the winning class will get a donut party. All of the books for the Bingo game will come from my Friday night read alouds on the school Facebook page. So, feel free to watch them with your class during read aloud time if you want a competitive advantage :) 

Tours: The Kindergarten registration window opened this past week. We will be giving periodic tours during the registration period. If you see any of these tour groups in the building, please don't hesitate to welcome them, say Hi, and help make them feel a part of the Piney Grove family! If you know of anyone that will be enrolling next year, or is interested in switching schools to PGE, please have them reach out to Sharon, Pam, or Vickie in the office with any registration questions.

February 6 PD Update: February 6 after-school we will have a training for our 3rd-5th teachers on I-Ready @ 3:30 in the media center (please make sure your MOY diagnostic is completed by then). We will also have a training for our 1st & 2nd grade teachers on Heggerty. Shannon Thompson will conduct this training and it will also start @ 3:30. Location for the Heggerty training will be Ms. Finley's room. 

Discretionary Funds: Don't forget about your discretionary funds for instructional materials that was allotted at the beginning of the year. Your discretionary funds need to be spent by the end of February. Send items to me, or Ms. Gardner, for approval and then complete a prior purchase approval form for Pam (yellow sheet). If you need to know how much is left in your grade level/individual account, please email Pam.   

Staff Spotlight: Thank you to Ms. Secrest, Ms. Wiebking, Ms. Owens, and Ms. Pam Mason for being so flexible this past week and filling in where we didn't have substitutes! 

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

Promethean Problems: If you have problems with your Promethean panel that you would like to have addressed, please list it here.  I am working to secure a date for the Promethean trainers to come to Piney Grove, and I want to be sure all of our needs are addressed while they are here.  They will also be presenting some additional PD for us, so if you have specific interests, please let me know so I can request a specific focus.

ELA credits: Do you need ELA credit to renew your license?  If so, check out this MOOC!  It’s free and online. 

IST Team: Don’t forget that we have a meeting planned for 3:30 on Wednesday, February 5^th.  Please bring any questions you or your grade level have.  See you then! 

iReady: Don’t forget to finish up those last few students in iReady before 2/5 (this Wednesday).  I am excited to learn more from our trainer on Thursday!

Upcoming Dates:

February 3 - Midyear PDPs due
February 4 - Science EOQ Check-In

February 4 - Jerry Yale @ PGE

February 4 - PBIS & Wellness @ 3:30
February 5 - IST Committee Meeting @ 3:30

February 6 - Iready Training @ 3:30 (3-5 grades only), Heggerty Training @ 3:30 (1st & 2nd only)
February 7 - Testing Team meeting @ 7:30

February 7 - Report cards go home

February 10 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30

February 11 - Boosterthon Assemblies (3-5 @ 1:30, K-2 @ 2:10)

February 11 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30

February 12 - 19 - Boosterthon Pep Rallies during Specials

February 12 - Jerry Yale @ PGE

February 13 - Mary Starling @ 10:00 (5th grade only)

February 13 - FCAE Meeting @ 3:30

February 14 - 3-5 Parent Conferences completed by this date

February 18 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting 8:00 - 3:00
February 18 - SIT @ 3:30

February 19 - Early Release Day

February 20 - Kindergarten Registration Day from 10:00 - 6:30
February 21 - Boosterthon Fun Run (times TBD)
February 21 - Baby Shower for Ms. Jones @ 3:30
February 24 - Baby Shower for Ms. Berrier @ 3:30
February 25 - SCC & Media Committee @ 3:30
February 28 - Grade Level Discretionary Funds need to be spent by this date

Fun Superbowl game! 🏈 If anyone can guess the exact score for the Superbowl between the Chiefs and the 49ers you will win a $10 Chick-fil-a gift card. Place your guess in the comment section below!