Mr. Elkins' Weekly Wrap: Week of 12/2

Hey Panda Family,

For someone who likes order, control, and wants to have a pulse on everything happening in the building - y'all had me (and Leslie) completely fooled this week! 😂 Now that I think back there was obviously some twinning, strange cup day, PJs, and some other odd dress up days thrown in there. Y'all were definitely CHAMPIONS in pulling off a secret spirit week! Y'all are the best! Thanks for all your hard work in this wacky, delayed & postponed week. Have a wonderful weekend!

Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:

New Updates

Reusable Lunch Trays (from the Cafeteria): I wanted to go over a change we will be starting on Monday in the café, we will start "back" using hard plastic reusable trays, we did this before Covid and Child Nutrition is going back to this a few schools at a time.

Starting Monday the students and staff will empty the food off their plastic trays into the trash cans outside the dish room area, then easily place the empty trays on to the silver counter top, then the dish washer will take the trays to be washed. They can stack the trays on top of one another neatly if they will. Please talk with the students about not throwing the trays in the trash and not "throwing" the emptied trays on the counter.

This will be new to most of the students so please discuss it with them, thank you for all your help!

iReady Reading MOY (1st-5th only): All 1st - 5th graders will complete their iReady Reading MOY diagnostic this upcoming week.

iReady Incentive Schedule: Here is the iReady Incentive Schedule for December 18 & 19. iReady Incentive Schedule Please see the times that your class is assigned. Just a friendly reminder that your students must earn 3 stickers on their iReady Incentive Card to be eligible for these rewards. If you have any questions regarding the incentive schedule please reach out to Ms. Gardner and she can help.

December Drills: Fire Drill and Secure Drill will both be done next week.

Secure drill - December 10 @ 2:20

This one is easy. Gardner will walk us through it over the PA system.
SECURE! Get inside. Lock outside doors.
Return to inside of the building (if you are outside)
Do business as usual

Winter Holiday Parties: Please make sure to let Ms. Landreth know when your class holiday party is scheduled for. This way she can be prepared for all extra visitors signing in. If any of your parents want to check their child out after their party they must do so from the front office. Thanks so much for your help with this!

Prize Patrol: Congratulations to Ms. Kirk & Ms. Pereda! They both won grants from the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce this week!

MTSS Updates/Reminders: Please see the MTSS updates below.

Just a reminder that MTSS plans are for students that are below grade level and require interventions to fill in the gaps.
Please email Barnes & Gardner when you want a new MTSS plan.
New MTSS plans will be discussed after winter break.
There will be NO interventions on December 18 & 19. Mrs. Barnes and Mrs. Edwards will be helping with iReady incentives.
Tier 3 meetings

Dec. 10 - Schedule
Dec. 9, 11, 12 - Schedule

PTA Holiday Party: In lieu of a regular business meeting for the month of December, we would like to have some fun and celebrate the holiday season with a Holiday Party! Please join us next Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30pm in the cafeteria for food, games, prizes, and fun! RSVP below so we know to expect you! Hope you see you there!

PTA Holiday Party RSVP

Proof of Students Photos (from Ms. True): Homeroom teachers - I have placed the proof of your students' photos for the yearbook in your boxes.

Please:

COUNT THEM
Check spelling of their names
Add nicknames if they do not go by their given names
List any missing students so that I can take makeup photos when we return from Christmas break.
Sign your page so I know that you have seen it and made corrections.
COUNT THEM one last time.
Return pages to Ms. True

United Way (from Ms. Ballou): Today is the last day to give! Don’t forget that our 2024 United Way campaign is currently in progress and will run until 12/6/2024. We’re raising funds that support the many programs and agencies in Forsyth County who serve you, our students, and our families so they can continue their amazing work.

If you haven’t made your gift yet, we invite you to consider the ways you can “LIVE UNITED” and join WS/FCS and the United Way as we empower access to life-saving and critical services in our communities

Last year Piney Grove met and exceeded the participation goal! We can do it again and meet the dollar amount too! I have included the link below. Payroll deduction is the easiest way to do it, but if you want to give cash, see me.

These are our goals for this year:

2024 Participation Goal is 20%

2024 Campaign Goal is $1500

As of 11/26/2024:

Participation = 15.7%

Pledge Amount = $900

We have some awesome incentives for pledging:

For every dollar donated, your name will be entered that many times into a raffle for one of two $50 Target gift cards

For example, if you donate $10 your name will be put in the hat 10 times

Anyone who gives a $15 or more donation will receive a coupon for free Chick-fil-A
Anyone who gives a $30 or more donation will receive a free staff shirt
Top donor will receive a free half day sub paid for by Mr. Elkins

Our communities are WHY we do what we do, but you are the HOW! We THANK YOU for your support as we unite for our future. Together we can think broader, dream bigger, and challenge ourselves to do better every day.

If you have any questions just let me know!

Below is the link to pledge.

Pledge Now

Shoutouts 🎉: Congratulations to Ms. Laughlin! She got a Donor's Choose project funded this week.

From Ms. Epperley - Shout out to Ms. Charles for donating a copy of this book to the library for one of her students that was desperate to check it out!

Updates from Last Week

Paw Store (from PBIS): The Paw Store will be open on December 16 & 17. All classes have an assigned time. Please see the Paw Store Schedule linked here - Paw Store Schedule. We will only have a volunteer present on Monday to assist check-out for K-2. Third-fifth grade classes will go on December 17 (teachers are responsible for checking out students). If your class is not able to make your assigned time that is okay. We will keep the store open on December 18 & 19 for these situations. Please remember there is a two-item limit. Thank you!

Important Dates: Here are some important dates that I want to highlight that are coming up:

PBIS Spirit Week

December 16: Merry Monday (red and/or green)
December 17: Toasty Toes (cozy socks and/or slippers)
December 18: Whimsical Wednesday (fun, fancy, or festive clothing)
December 19: Leisurely Last Day (pajamas)

iReady Incentive Dates

December 18 & December 19

Good Citizen Due Dates

Good Citizen due dates going forward:

November GC is due by 12/13
December GC is due by 1/15
January GC due 2/14
February GC due 3/6
March GC due 4/4
April GC due 5/2
Please take a picture of your grade level Good Citizens if you are able. Ms. Ceglowski will get out to recess to try to help get this done.
Good Citizen Link

Report Cards

January 3 - Due to Ms. True

Bike Lessons: Beginning Friday, December 6, our 4th and 5th grade students will be participating in bike lessons during PE class. These lessons will occur from December 6 - 19. We will be using the car rider parking lot for these lessons. We are asking all staff to please park in the far parking lot during these dates (parking lot left of the building when you are facing it) so we have plenty of room for our bike lessons. Thanks so much for your help with this!

Picture Makeups: If you had students take makeup pictures on 10/21/24, please send their parents this info:

Go to the link below and select the Fall Photos Gallery
It will prompt you to sign in and ask for the student ID (this is the same as their lunch number)
You should be able to see proofs and place an order online that will be shipped directly to you
https://my.photoday.com/s/LTBW/107363
Any issues, please call customer service (877) 791-1676

Talent Show Auditions (3rd - 5th only): Here is the electronic link for 3rd - 5th grade teachers to share with their parents if any of their students want to sign up for the talent show auditions. Here is the link - https://bit.ly/4fjhTEq. Please see Ms. Rempe if you have any questions. Thanks!

State Health Plan Benefits (from District): Click here for the latest updates on State Health Plan Benefits. Please share with your staff.

PGE Substitute List: Here is the updated list - PGE Substitute List.

Committee Minutes: Please review the updated committee minutes.

WS/FCS Interpreter Services: If you need a district interpreter, here is the link to request one. REQUEST FOR INTERPRETATION SERVICES LINK

IEP Minutes Document: Teachers will continue to take minutes during IEP meetings.