Week of 11/14 - 11/18

Hey Panda Family,

As a Congratulations and "Job Well Done!" on our EVAAS Student Growth results from last year, we are treating everyone to The Grinder coffee/smoothie/donut truck on Monday! We are so thankful for each one of you! If you want to check out the menu beforehand here is the link: The Grinder. We also wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy good food and fellowship with your families! 🦃

Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:

New Updates

Lesson Plans & iReady Next Week (November 21st & 22nd): You do not need to post lesson plans to Canvas next week & your students are not required to complete iReady next week. 

LETRS Updates and Reminders: Returning Cohort Units 6 Live Virtual Training. There will be two options for completing Unit 6 Live Virtual Training:

Option One - December 19th complete all six hours from 8:30 to 3:30 for Unit 6. There will be eight sessions available on this day with 44 seats per session.

Option Two - Complete in two parts each session three hours with part one on January 3rd and part two on January 27th. There will be morning and afternoon sessions for each part (8:30 to 11:30 or 12:30 to 3:30)* You will need to register in Kickup for both parts (Jan. 3rd and Jan. 27th)

• Registration will open in Kickup on November 21st at 4:00 pm
• The Zoom links to the sessions will be sent closer to the session date via email through Kickup to those who are registered.
• If you have not done so already, please finish up Unit 5 in the online course and begin moving into Unit 6.

Kid's Clubhouse: Friendly reminder that Kid's Clubhouse will begin bringing their own bus starting on Monday, November 21. We will call them at 2:50 when dismissal begins. 

PAW Store Schedule: Paw Store Schedule - November 21^st and 22^nd 

PBIS Update: The movies below are what we will show on December 16.  Please share this information with your students. 

Mickey's Christmas Carol, 26 min  (K-1)

Alien Xmas, 42 min (2-3 AND 4-5)

After Thanksgiving Ms. Vaden will send a separate email with the spreadsheet and distribute the snack order forms. 

Staff Winter Social (from Ms. Mabe & SCC): Our Holiday Social will be held this year at The Prescott on Friday, December 9th at 6:30.  

 

The dinner will be a buffet style that will consist of 2 meats, 3 sides, salad, and bread.  As always no drinks of any type are included. 

 

The cost of the meal including tax and gratuity comes to $25.00 per person.  We are asking that members of SCC pay $5.00 to cover their cost. If you have not joined SCC or plan to bring a spouse or significant other, the cost is the full $25 per person.  (If you can't recall if you have joined SCC, we will be happy to let you know).  

 

Please fill out the google form if you are planning on attending by Thursday, December the 1st.  

Money is also due by December 1st. 

https://forms.gle/idAEegkYw6wZjmkR7

United Way Update (from Ms. Ballou): Here are the current totals for our school! Thank you to everyone who has pledged. There is still time to give! Pledging is open until December 9. 

Today's total = $1410

Goal = $1738

Today's participation = 29.2%

Goal = 18%

As an incentive to give, we will be giving out prizes. You will get one entry for every $5 donated.  We will pick 5 winners at the end of the United Way campaign.  Prizes include gift cards to restaurants, PGE T-shirts, and a grand prize of lunch for you and a friend at the place of your choice. 

An email was sent out on 10/17/22 with a link to pledge.  I have included that link at the bottom.  Payroll deduction is the easiest way to do it, but if you want to give cash/check, see me.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Pledge Now 

Media Updates (from Ms. Epperley): Here are the updates from Ms. Epperley in the Media Center. 

• All Grade Levels: Looking for a one stop shop, single sign on for your student resources? Come learn about setting up your teacher Clever page with the Tall/Epperley PD Team on Tuesday, November 29 at 3:30 in the media center!  You will walk out with a completed Clever page, chocolate and door prizes ⭐

Shout-Outs: Shoutout to SCC, Ms. Mathis, & Ms. Mabe for organizing a fun hayride event at the Festival of Lights this past Thursday! 

Important Items from Last Week

Science Fair (from Ms. Peickert): Hello Piney Grove teachers! We are so excited to announce that we will be having our Science Fair this year! Students and classes will have the opportunity to participate in our (completely optional) Science Fair and enter their project to win in four different categories: 

K-2 Class Project

K-2 Student Project 

3-5 Class Project 

3-5 Student Project

All K-2 and 3-5 classes will have the option to create a class project and one project per

class will be awarded first place for our school. In addition, students can also enter the Science

Fair in groups of 1-3 to create their own projects. Once we have awarded our first place projects

for our School these projects will have the option to go on and compete in the district Science

Fair.

All projects must be submitted and completed by December 9th and the winner will be

announced before Christmas break. A packet with more information regarding the specifics of

what can and cannot be in a Science Fair project will be sent to students in their Friday folders next week, and Ms. Peickert will review all this information with classes during science

specials.

We are so excited for our students to be able to show off their science knowledge and

participate in our Science Fair and we look forward to seeing all the cool experiments that

classes create! Thank you!

November Drills: We only have the fire drill this month. 

Sub List: Here is the most up-to-date substitute list, Pam Mason's availability, and the direct link to Frontline. Please use these resources to find a sub in case you have to be out. Please reach out to Ms. Owens if you have any questions. 

Substitutes

Pam Mason's Schedule

Frontline

Upcoming Dates:

November 21 & 22 - PAW Store

November 21 - The Grinder Coffee/Food Truck from 7:00 - 9:00 (courtesy of the office staff)

November 22 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30

November 23 - 25 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

November 29 - Clever PD @ 3:30 presented by Ms. Epperley & Ms. Tall (Optional)

December 1 - Pictures with Santa

December 6 - PBIS & MTAC Committees meet @ 3:30

December 7 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting

December 8 - Winter Musical @ 8:30 (Dress Rehearsal - all grade levels attend) 

December 8 - Winter Musical @ 6:30 

December 9 - Science Fair Projects due

December 9 - EFHS Holiday Music Performance @ 8:40 (K-5)

December 9 - Staff Holiday Dinner @ 6:30 (The Prescott)

Week of 11/7 - 11/11

Hey Panda Family,

Every November we stop and reflect on the things we are most thankful for. We are so thankful for each of you and the dedication you put in for our students each day. We have a few small tokens of appreciation coming your way this month from PTA and our Office Staff to say "Thank You" for all you do and job well done! See the first one listed below in the graphic🥨

Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:

New Updates

Staff Meeting (Tuesday, November 15 @ 3:30): Here is the agenda for our November Staff Meeting this upcoming Tuesday, November 15.

• Good News & Duck Winners
• Staff Perfect Attendance
• Code of Conduct PD
• Flocabulary PD
• Miscellaneous
• Panorama Survey Completion (staff members who have completed it may leave)

Reminders from Elkins: Please read the list below for some quick reminders.

• PLTs will resume this upcoming week
• Continue to work and make progress on your LETRS units (Certified Classroom Teachers)
• Make sure to mark your Second Step lessons complete when you finish them with your class
• Please remember to keep your classroom door locked.  It does not need to be closed, just locked. 

November Drills: We only have the fire drill this month. 

PBIS Updates: Paw Store Schedule - November 21^st and 22^nd 

Panorama Survey Update (from Ms. Ceglowski): Thank you so much 3rd, 4^th and 5th-grade teachers for administering the Panorama Survey on Tuesday!  We got to 88.4% complete!  This is amazing considering all the flu and sickness going around.  I am currently doing make-up surveys and I am sure we will get very close to 100% by 11/15.

Speaking of 11/15/22 - Remember that if we all do our staff survey, we get to leave the meeting early!  We are only at about 62% complete on that one.  It takes 10 minutes to complete.  Thanks!  

Let's make a big final push to get families to fill out the survey for us.  Put the link in your weekly newsletter, on Dojo, and wherever you communicate with parents. QR code is attached.   

Additional Updates from Ms. Ceglowski: Please see the updates below from Ms. Ceglowski. 

• 504 Reminder: Please assess any potential need for a student to be considered for a 504 plan during 2nd or 3rd quarters. We want any testing modifications in place well before EOG testing.  Thanks!  

• Next week, I will be teaching SEL lessons to 1^st and 2nd-grade students during Media specials time.  I will be unavailable between 9:15 and 11 AM.  

• Finally, thanks so much for keeping me in the loop about issues with students as they arise.  Do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything.  Also, don't hesitate to remind me if I need it!!  

United Way Update (from Ms. Ballou): Here are the current totals for our school! Thank you to everyone who has pledged. There is still time to give! 

Today's total = $1325 

Goal = $1738

Today's participation = 23.6% 

Goal = 18%

As an incentive to give, we will be giving out prizes. You will get one entry for every $5 donated.  We will pick 5 winners at the end of the United Way campaign.  Prizes include gift cards to restaurants, PGE T-shirts, and a grand prize of lunch for you and a friend at the place of your choice. 

An email was sent out on 10/17/22 with a link to pledge.  I have included that link at the bottom.  Payroll deduction is the easiest way to do it, but if you want to give cash/check, see me.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Pledge Now 

Media Updates (from Ms. Epperley): Here are the updates from Ms. Epperley in the Media Center. 

• CLASS student public library account information with free tutoring and other valuable resources:  https://www.forsyth.cc/library/CLASS.aspx

• Looking for Collaborators! Mrs. Epperley and Mrs. Lloyd are working on creating some engaging lessons to promote your new Core Books.  Please reach out if you are interested in working together on this!

• 3rd - 5th grade bring Chromebook to media.

• 4th-5th grade Battle of the Books Team will start meeting every Friday at 8:00 in the media center.

  
  

Shout-Outs: From Ms. Sherrill - Shoutout to Ashley Bowman for helping me gather information for an EC referral! I appreciated her help! 

Important Items from Last Week

Science Fair (from Ms. Peickert): Hello Piney Grove teachers! We are so excited to announce that we will be having our Science Fair this year! Students and classes will have the opportunity to participate in our (completely optional) Science Fair and enter their project to win in four different categories: 

K-2 Class Project

K-2 Student Project 

3-5 Class Project 

3-5 Student Project

All K-2 and 3-5 classes will have the option to create a class project and one project per

class will be awarded first place for our school. In addition, students can also enter the Science

Fair in groups of 1-3 to create their own projects. Once we have awarded our first place projects

for our School these projects will have the option to go on and compete in the district Science

Fair.

All projects must be submitted and completed by December 9th and the winner will be

announced before Christmas break. A packet with more information regarding the specifics of

what can and cannot be in a Science Fair project will be sent to students in their Friday folders next week, and Ms. Peickert will review all this information with classes during science

specials.

We are so excited for our students to be able to show off their science knowledge and

participate in our Science Fair and we look forward to seeing all the cool experiments that

classes create! Thank you!

Child Protective Services Reporting (from Ms. Watkins & Ms. Ceglowski): The CPS reporting form includes the number to call and signs to look for when there are concerns of emotional abuse, neglect or dependency. This is the same form from the BOY.

Staff can review the PowerPoint with the law change of when we report to CPS and also report to law enforcement for a violent offense, sexual offense or misdemeanor child abuse.

Changes to North Carolina Child Abuse Reporting Law 2022-2023.pptx

PBIS Updates: Please read the PBIS Updates listed below. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Students will go to the Paw Store this month! Here is the schedule. Please remind students about December's events before shopping to help them budget.
• Wacky Sweater Day is on 12/2 and costs 10 Paw Bucks (paid to the classroom teacher).
• We'll show a movie on 12/16 for 50 Paw Bucks. Students will have the option to preorder up to 3 snacks for 10 Paw Bucks each. More information will be sent closer to the date, but here are some FYIs:
• Money for the movie and snacks will be due on 12/2.
• Schedule:
• K-1: 9:00-9:45
• 2-3: 10:15-11:00
• 4-5: 11:05-11:50 (5^th grade will need to go to recess at a different time that day.)

REMINDERS

• Red paws in the hallway serve two functions - they are a reminder to not talk and also to stop. We are working to get more paws made for intersections. Please point these out to your students and explain their purpose.
• Class restroom breaks should be taken using either the 3rd/4^th grade restrooms or the ones outside the cafeteria. The restrooms at the second grade hall are for use outside of assigned class breaks (unless the other restrooms are being cleaned during your time).

Sub List: Here is the most up-to-date substitute list, Pam Mason's availability, and the direct link to Frontline. Please use these resources to find a sub in case you have to be out. Please reach out to Ms. Owens if you have any questions. 

Substitutes

Pam Mason's Schedule

Frontline

Upcoming Dates:

November 14 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30

November 15 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30

November 15 - PTA Spirit Night @ Bill's Pizza Oak Ridge

November 16 - Leslie @ IF Meeting

November 18 - Patriot Pretzel Treat from PTA

November 21 & 22 - PAW Store

November 21 - The Grinder Coffee/Food Truck from 7:00 - 9:00 (courtesy of the office staff)

November 22 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30

November 23 - 25 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

November 29 - Clever PD @ 3:30 presented by Ms. Epperley & Ms. Tall (Optional)

December 1 - Pictures with Santa

December 6 - PBIS & MTAC Committees meet @ 3:30