Hey Panda Family,
1st Quarter is in the books! As always, it flew by. I am super pumped about all that has been accomplished this first nine weeks. We have students blossoming into readers, classes bringing learning to life through hands-on projects, and lots of thematic connections! Each of you are the catalyst to this success, and I am so honored to watch you lead this work. I know we all have some meetings on these upcoming workdays, but also take advantage of the time to reset and catch your breath 😊 Thanks for all you do! 🎃
Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:
New Updates
Pam Mason for 1/2 Day: Between now and the end of the year, all certified teachers can book Ms. Pam Mason for a free 1/2 day of planning. We hope this will help you get caught up on plans, grading, communication to parents, etc. You are still required to be in the building during your 1/2 day of planning. You can use the staff workroom or the room at the back of the library for a quiet space. Please review the open dates on Ms. Mason's schedule here - Pam Mason 2023-2024. Communicate the 1/2 day of your choice with Ms. Mason and she will fill it in on her schedule. We hope you find this time very helpful!
Student Work on Display: Thank you to those who have already posted wonderful student work outside their classrooms! The hallways are filled with wonderful examples of learning. Please make sure to post student work outside your classroom throughout the year with the "I can..." statement attached so we know what they have learned. Our visitors, parents, and families always loving seeing our decorated hallways.
Second Step Lessons: With the first quarter coming to a close, your class should be through at least 5 Second Step lessons (Unit 1). If not, that is okay 😊 Please make sure to pick back up next week when second quarter starts. These lessons are great for Morning Meetings and to build the SEL skills your students need.
Chaperones for Field Trips: When requesting chaperones for field trips please remind parents to refrain from bringing younger siblings on the trip that are not PGE students. The role of a chaperone is to help support and monitor PGE students on the field trip, and this becomes difficult when they have to attend to younger siblings. A simple disclaimer to parents before they sign up to chaperone will hopefully help.
IEP Minutes Training: The district would like all K-5 classroom teachers to be trained to take minutes/notes during IEP meetings. This training takes one hour and is required for all K-5 classroom teachers. Our training is on Monday, October 30 from 8:30 - 9:30 in the Media Center. October 30 is an RS day. You may take annual leave, but you will be required to make up the training.
October 30 Workday: October 30 is an RS day. Instructional Assistants do not work this day. All K-5 teachers have the IEP Minutes Training from 8:30 - 9:30 in the Media Center. The rest of the day staff can choose to work from home or from school. You may take Annual Leave if you so choose.
October 31 Workday: October 31 is a District PD day. Instructional Assistants do work on this day. Annual Leave is not allowed. Please sign up for a PD session through this district catalog - WS/FCS First Semester Professional Learning Catalog.
Panorama Survey (from Ms. Ceglowski): Please complete :) It's time for the Panorama Survey again. It will be open through the end of October. Mrs. Epperley will administer the survey to our 3rd-5th graders during media specials next week. Please copy and paste the following link in your newsletters and communications to your families. The teacher and staff survey is below as well. The district is not sending each staff a link this year, instead, you just need to click the link and use the dropdown to get to Piney Grove and take the survey. I took it and it took me less than 10 minutes to complete.
- Families will access their survey by navigating to https://surveys.panoramaed.com/winstonsalem/familyfall2023/surveys?language=en
Teachers (instructional staff) will access their survey by navigating to surveys.panoramaed.com/winstonsalem/teacher and selecting their school from a drop-down menu.
Staff (non-instructional staff) will access their survey by navigating to surveys.panoramaed.com/winstonsalem/staff and selecting their school from a drop-down menu.
Updates from Previous Week
Report Cards: Report Cards are due to Ms. True by November 3 so admin can review and sign them. Report cards will go home to families on November 9.
United Way: Please join us in supporting the United Way with a small monetary donation. This is a district initiative and you can donate here - Click here to donate to United Way
This Year's campaign goals are:
Participation Goal = 19% of staff
Dollar Goal = $1800
Last year Piney Grove ranked #5 in participation for the entire county and #23 for meeting the dollar goal. Let's try to rank even higher this year!
This year's incentives include:
Pledge $10 or more and get a Chick Fil A coupon
Pledge $25 or more and get a free staff shirt
PBIS: We are excited about our first event with Blue Skies Creamery on November 17! Students can pay 75 Paw Bucks for a scoop of ice cream (flavor choices to be announced). Blue Skies will set up in the car rider parking lot, and students will go after lunch to get their ice cream. (Kindergarten will get their ice cream after specials.) Teachers will accompany their students to the ice cream trailer. Staff may also purchase ice cream from Blue Skies. We will send more information closer to the event about flavor choices and how staff will pay.
For now, your students will pay you the 75 Paw Bucks. Please collect their money and put your total number of students participating in this spreadsheet by Friday, November 3:
If you have any students will allergies, please note that in the spreadsheet as well. We will take this into consideration and make a special plan for them.
Kernersville Chamber Grant: The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce grant application is due November 1. Please click on the following link to access the application - Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Grant
Upcoming Dates:
October 27 - End of 1st Quarter
October 30 - RS Workday
October 30 - IEP Minutes Training @ 8:30 (K-5 teachers only)
October 31 - District PD Workday November 1 - Kernersville Chamber Grant due
November 1 - Picture Retakes
November 2 - ELA Check-In
November 3 - Report Cards due to Ms. True
November 6 - Math Check-In
November 7 - PBIS & MTAC Committees @ 3:30
November 8 - Gardner @ IF Meeting
November 9 - Report Cards go home
November 9 - Elkins @ Principal Meeting from 8:00 - 12:00
November 10 - No School (Veteran's Day)
November 11 - Go Far Race
November 13 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
