Hey Panda Family,
Today is part six of our mini-series, "Talentless". This week our trait that requires no talent is Doing Extra. This trait is one that I see daily around our building from most everyone. We all have our required job duties, but what can we do to go the "extra mile" to make our school the best? It could be as simple as picking up a piece of trash in the hall to covering an IEP for a sick teammate to running a club (or somewhere in between). Doing extra exemplifies someone's work ethic. It is a trait I look for more and more when hiring. Thank you to those who go above and beyond your required duties on a daily basis. It means more than you know, and it helps contribute to our sustained growth and positive school culture. Have a wonderful weekend!
Traits that Require No Talent
Week 1 - Being Prepared
Week 2 - Body Language
Week 3 - Positive Energy
Week 4 - Honesty
Week 5 - Being Coachable
Week 6 - Doing Extra
Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:
New Updates
TWC Survey (Certified Staff): We are so close to having all our Certified Staff take the Teacher Working Conditions survey. Thank you to everyone who has already completed the survey. This data really helps our School Improvement Team as we work to make Piney Grove the best place to work and learn. If you haven't completed the survey, please find time before Spring Break to accomplish this. Thank you! If you have any questions regarding the survey, please see Ms. Gant.
Panorama Survey (All Staff): Please complete the district Panorama staff survey by the end of the month. Thank you to everyone who has already completed it. Like the Teacher Working Conditions Survey, the Panorama survey results help provide our SIT team with valuable information. Here are the links.
Teachers (certified staff) will access their survey by clicking here: Teacher Panorama Survey
Staff (classified staff) will access their survey by clicking here: Staff Panorama Survey
Both surveys are anonymous. No identifying information will be gathered.
Report Cards: Report Cards for 3rd Quarter are due to Ms. True by April 12. They will go home in Friday Folders on April 19.
Thoughts and Prayers: Please keep the Saunders family in your thoughts and prayers; especially the boys, Gary and Nick. Gary Saunders Sr. had a stroke months ago and passed away this week after being in a coma. Mr. Saunders was briefly on staff with us a few years ago before taking a full-time position at Sherwood Forest. Mr. Saunders was a wonderful man and will be dearly missed. The service will take place this weekend in Fayetteville, NC.
Retentions (K-5 teachers only): Please complete this form for any students you want to consider for retention. I need all teachers to complete this form, even if they are not considering any students for retention. To be eligible for retention, students must be struggling academically and be below grade level. We will not consider retention solely for absences, tardies, or behavior. Retention is a last resort.
If you list any students, Mr. Elkins will follow up with you to have an individual conversation about next steps. Here is a link to the form: https://forms.gle/7nVSYZLYF8xdhSM76
Car Riders: We need your help! Please remind your car rider students in your morning meetings or before dismissal to go straight to car riders when their name is on the board. A good number of students are using the bathroom, visiting other teachers, etc. between the time they leave your class and getting to the car rider line. This is causing some backup. I will also make a point next week to remind them before we begin dismissal. Hopefully by them hearing it from you and me we can help avoid our car rider line from getting backed up. Thanks so much!
Sports Day (from PBIS): Sports Day is coming on Friday, April 26! High schoolers from East Forsyth will be coming to guide our students through some fun activities (cheer/dance, soccer, golf, softball/baseball, basketball, flag football, relay races, drama/theater, and LEGO building).
The cost is $150 Paw Bucks.
- K-1 students will participate in 2 events from 12:00-12:45.
- 2-5 students will participate in 2 events, lasting from 1:15-2:20.
- Modified lunch schedule and list of people helping - Sports Day Info
Numbers and student activity choices are due Thursday, April 11. (This is the week we come back from spring break. If possible, please take care of this before spring break.)
- K-1 teachers will find their name on the spreadsheet (linked below). Click your name, then enter your students' names and their top 3 choices of activities. (The 3rd choice is a back-up in case numbers are too high)
- 2-5 teachers can follow the same procedure as K-1 (listed above), OR they can have their students who are participating complete Google Form (linked below)
- (Please do the spreadsheet or the Form, not both.)
Sports Day spreadsheet (use the arrows at the bottom to scroll over to your name): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13y-xv4x2FK8bHCF2KvBzGi4AVL-bHmpshM45pE1yBUo/edit?usp=sharing
Sports Day Google Form: https://forms.gle/kPLWFotiSqnwAMc86
Please reach out to your grade level's PBIS rep if you have any questions.
Shoutout: Shoutout to everyone for a very successful Lockdown Drill today! We had law enforcement present to give us feedback and he said y'all did an amazing job!
Updates from Previous Week
Blocked Days: We will need all hands on deck for testing from May 28 - June 7. Please understand I will not be approving any leave for these days. Please refrain from scheduling any appointments or personal days during this time frame. If you become ill during this time we will definitely work around this, but we want to avoid any preplanned absences during testing. Thanks for understanding.
Favorite Things Survey: Please take a few minutes to complete the Favorite Things survey. This gives us an easier way to share staff's favorite things with PTA, families, community members, etc. Teacher Appreciation Week will be here soon and we want to share these items with families. Here is a link to the form - PGE Staff Favorite Things Survey
IEP Minutes Document: Updated document includes suggested verbs and phrases from the training we had in November.
- Please delete verbs and suggested phrases from the document at the end of the meeting.
- Here is a link to the document: IEP Minutes Template
Employee Leave for Beginning of 24-25: If any employee is going to be absent on some of the teacher workdays from August 1 - 9 I need to know before you leave for Spring Break. Thank you to those who have already informed me. Here is a link to the 24-25 calendars - WS/FCS 24-25 Calendars
Boosterthon Teacher Meeting: Please go ahead and mark your calendar for a short teacher meeting in the Media Center on Thursday, April 11 @ 3:30 with Boosterthon. Boosterthon will run from April 11 - 19. More details to come.
March Testing Dates: Please see the March testing dates below.
- March 25: 5th grade math Check-in (Gardner will run this)
- March 26: 3rd-5th ELA Check-in
PTA Class Allotments: PTA has requested that all staff spend their classroom allotment by April 9. Please turn in your receipts to the white PTA box in the mailroom. There is also a QR Code on the white PTA box for you to electronically submit your receipt. If you need any help, please see Ms. Owens. If you need to know how much money you have left, please contact Jason Rubley. His email is jason@reelrealtync.com
Step Challenge (from the Wellness Committee): We are starting our Staff Step Challenge next week!
Here are the details you need to participate in the STAFF STEP CHALLENGE:
- Starts March 18th (Monday); Ends March 27th (Wednesday)
- If you do not have a watch or anything to track your steps, I can help you download an app on your phone to track your steps 🙂
- I plan to send out a Leadership Board throughout the challenge.
- Prizes for the top five highest step count at the end of the challenge. Shoutout to PTA for the prizes!
- Here is the Google Sheets link: STEP CHALLENGE SHEETS
- You will log the total amount of steps you take in one day...The steps are not restricted to only school hours...I am fine with you logging your steps into the google sheets the day after (Example: Log in March 18th steps on March 19th.)
- Weekends are fair game! Log in steps you get Saturday and Sunday. This should motivate us to get fresh air on the weekend. Hiking, walking the dog, family walks, etc.
- IMPORTANT: On March 27th (last day of challenge), please log in steps by 8pm that night so I can give out prizes Thursday before Spring Break. 🙂
Reach out if you have questions! This will be a fun way to get active and have some friendly competition! Thank you!
Upcoming Dates:
March 25 - 5th grade Math Check-in
March 26 - 3-5 ELA Check-in
March 28 - PBIS presents... Farmer or Fancy
March 28 - Math Night @ Food Lion (5:30)
March 28 - End of 3rd Quarter
March 29 - Spring Break Begins 🙂
April 8 - Teacher Workday (RS Day)
April 9 - Spring Pictures with Lifetouch
April 9 - SIT @ 3:30
April 9 - PTA @ 6:30
April 10 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting
April 11 - 3rd Grade Math Check-In
April 11 - Boosterthon Kickoff (K-2 @ 1:30) (3-5 @ 2:00)
April 11 - Boosterthon Teacher Meeting @ 3:30
April 12 - Boosterthon Huddles begin during Specials (teachers will attend)
April 12 - Report Cards due to Ms. True
April 16 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
