Hey Panda Family,
Sure seems like the groundhog was wrong a few weeks ago! 🌞 What a beautiful week! At the beginning of the school year I did an activity in PLTs with all teachers about flowers blooming in Death Valley in the most unlikely conditions. Here is the article & video if you want to rewatch: Superbloom. As flowers around campus begin to bloom, it reminds me that all our students have a seed inside them waiting to bloom. Some of those seeds will bloom easier than others, some will need a little more nurturing and watering, and some will bloom in the most unlikely conditions. If all of your "seeds" in your classroom haven't bloomed yet, that's okay. We will get there! Keep watering, fertilizing, and be the sunshine they need to bloom and thrive 🌻 Thanks for all you do! Have a wonderful weekend!
Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:
New Updates
Progress Reports: 3rd Quarter Progress reports are due next Friday, March 3. Please make sure you have updated grades. Thanks!
Read Across America Week: Next week is Read Across America Week. Please see below for the fun themed days that MTAC has planned. Please make sure to share this with your families!
Read Across America
Feb 27-March 3, 2023
Celebrate Reading Spirit Week
Monday: “Red-y to Read”: Wear your red clothes.
Tuesday: “Hats off to Reading”: Wear your favorite
hat to school.
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday: Wear wacky socks!
Thursday: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (College shirt)
Friday: Decades Day!
In addition, teachers may participate in Drop Everything And Read events throughout the day. Choose a theme and randomly announce to “Drop everything and read like a ____________” Themes include: Boss (feet up), Caveman (under desk), Detective (with a magnifying glass), with a Buddy (friend), Teacher (read with book faced out). Watch the morning news for demonstrations of DEAR themes.Presentations from Staff Meeting: See below for the presentation links from our staff meeting this past week. Thank you to all our presenters!
- Number Talks - Number Talks Presentation
- Formative Assessments - Formative Assessment Ideas
- Code of Conduct - Here is the Slides presentation
Boosterthon Information: Our Boosterthon fundraiser will kickoff with our pep rally on Thursday, March 2 in the gym. Here are the times for the pep rally.
- 1:45 - 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade
- 2:15 - K, 1st, and 2nd grade
Huddles will begin on Friday, March 3 during Specials. Homeroom teachers need to attend all huddles. They will last roughly 15 minutes.
Boosterthon Teacher Codes: Here is a list of the Boosterthon Teacher Codes if you need it.
Student News (from Ms. Ceglowski): Hey everyone! If you are interested, I would love for you to send me a clip of anything from your class you would like added to the news! My days have gotten busier so the news is now limited to the basics. If you take a short video on your phone and text it to me at 631-235-3161, I can edit it in during my leisurely evenings of edit time! 🙂 If you have news to share, I want it! As you can see from the everyday news, it does not need to be perfect by any stretch. An example would be clips from a field trip (hint 4th grade!) I just want everyone to be represented on the morning news. Thanks!
Panorama Survey (from Ms. Ceglowski): It's time for another Panorama survey window. The Spring Survey will be open March 1-15. Did we just do this? YES, Are we doing it again? YOU BET! This is how we get comparison data. It's like SEL progress monitoring. 🙂
- Student survey - 3rd through 5th grade - Please have students complete the Survey anytime that works for your class the week of March 6-10. I will send the link via email and next week's Weekly Wrap. 100% participation is expected from the district. We typically get in the high 90's with absences. The district prefers for each school to pick a day and time to do the survey but I feel what is best for our school is to allow teachers to work it into the class schedule in a way that works best for suits each individual class. I will track it as classes get it done and follow up to make sure everyone is counted. Thanks!
- Staff Survey - You will get an email from Panorama Learning Team. Please complete the survey by our March 21 staff meeting. The other option is to complete it after the staff meeting.
- Family Survey - Once I get the links, I will share them. I will add it to the school story, I will ask Deana to share it on FB. Please add to any newsletter or other communication that you use with your class. March 17 Talent Show and March 10 Fun Run will be great opportunities to get parent surveys completed. I will have QR codes up around the building. Please encourage parents to fill it out while they wait for the fun to begin!
PBIS Updates: See updates below.
- On Friday, March 3 we will celebrate Decades Day. See slide presentation here for examples. Shout out to Mrs. Laws for putting this together!
- Panda Chef is coming on March 24. More details to come.
Science Lab Materials: We are working to replenish the science lab with materials (like: baking soda, balloons, newspaper, magazines, measuring cups, vinegar, etc.) needed for science demonstrations & experiments. Please discuss as a grade level and submit your requests to your SIT chair by March 14.
The Mouse & the Motorcycle Read Aloud: Here are the first four chapters of The Mouse & the Motorcycle. Feel free to show to your students at your leisure.
Media Updates (from Ms. Epperley): Here are the updates from Ms. Epperley in the Media Center.
- 2nd - 5th No Chromebooks for Media next week.
Shout-Outs: Shout-out to all our students for the money they raised during Pennies for Pandas! We raised $1,050! Congratulations to 4th grade, they were the grade level that raised the most - $255.50!
Important Items from Last Week
3rd Quarter Check-In Dates: Please mark your calendars. Thanks!
| 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| March 20th - Mon. | no test | ELA | SCIENCE |
| March 21st - Tues. | ELA | no test | ELA |
| March 23rd - Thur. | MATH | MATH | MATH |
Fact Fluency Kit Online Resources: Here is the login and password for the Fact Fluency online tools.
Addition and Subtraction
lsgardner@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
PineyPandaBear
Division and Multiplication
brelkins@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
BearPandaPineyHoods in the Classroom: A couple of weeks ago I relayed a message on the morning announcements about students not wearing hoods in the building, and how I would begin taking their hoodies. To date, the students have done real well with this in the hallways and I appreciate y'all's help and support (I have only had to take one hoodie since we aired the announcement). I am still seeing quite a few of our older students wear hoods in the classroom though. I don't want to interrupt your instruction to address it, so I am asking for your help in the classroom so we are a unified voice. To me, it just shows respect for you and our school to not wear them in the building. Thank you so much for your help with this. I will be doing another message on the announcements soon as another gentle reminder to the students. Thanks!
Fire Marshall: Our 2nd inspection will happen any day now.
- Please ensure your back door is not blocked (5-6 floor squares).
- Extra desks in the hallway should be brought into a classroom until after the inspection.
Mid-Year Parent Conferences: All homeroom teachers will complete Mid-Year Parent Conferences for their students. Here are the details:
- Please complete by Feb 28, 2023
- Review MOY data with parents
- May do virtual or in-person
- Will begin retention discussions at this 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.
Upcoming Dates:
February 27 - Paw Store Reward
February 28 - Paw Store Reward
February 28 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30
March 1 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting
March 2 - Boosterthon Pep Rally @ 1:45 (3rd - 5th) & 2:15 (K- 2nd)
March 3 - Boosterthon Huddles begin during Specials
March 3 - Progress Reports are due
March 3 - Decades Day
March 3 - Gardner @ AP Meeting
March 7 - PBIS & MTAC Committees meet @ 3:30
March 9 - Optional Talent Show Practice @ 3:30 in gym
March 10 - Boosterthon Fun-Run
March 13 - Required Talent Show Dress Rehearsal practice @ 3:30 in gym
March 13 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
March 14 - SIT @ 3:30
March 14 - PTA Spirit Night @ Dairi-O
March 15 - Early Release Day
March 17 - Talent Show at 8:45 am & 6:30 pm
