Hey Panda Family,
The first week is in the books! We saw many happy faces, lots of hugs, review of procedures and expectations, and most importantly - building positive classroom communities 😊 Continue to review PAWS laws, and remember that kids THRIVE with structure and routine! Enjoy the long 3-day weekend. You deserve it! Lots of info in this Weekly Wrap. If you need anything at all we are here to help!
Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:
New Updates
School-Wide PDP Goal (Certified Staff): Please copy & paste the school-wide PDP goal that is listed below into your PDP. We discussed this goal with SIT and we will all work on this together.
Goal: To improve the overall Social & Emotional Learning experience for Piney Grove students and staff.
Activities/Actions: Complete all 20 Second Step Lessons, complete Code of Conduct Lessons, implement SEL PD during Staff Meetings, utilize Restorative Practices, daily Morning Meetings
Expected Outcomes: The School Improvement Team will create a student and staff friendly survey to monitor the progress and effectiveness of our SEL implementation. We will complete the survey at MOY and EOY. See growth in survey results from MOY to EOY.
Resources Needed: Second Step Trainings, Code of Conduct Trainings, SEL Coach Support (Todd Rich)
Timeline: 2022-2023 School Year
PDP Conferences: Please sign up for your PDP conference outside Mr. Elkins or Ms. Gardner's office. Remember, your Self-Assessment and PDP should be completed before our meeting.
Peek-of-the-Week (from Ms. Jones): In an effort to simplify the Weekly Wrap photo submission process, I created an iPhone text group with a person from each grade level or department. If you'd like to submit and aren't in the text group, I can add you if you have an iPhone, or you can share them with someone who is in the text group so they can submit. The following people are on the text group as of now: Lindley, Cox, Harman, Youtz, Laws, Corlett, Mathis & Mason. Thank you for your support of this weekly social media post!
Recess Helper Job: Ms. Fox is helping us get the recess equipment shed organized and stocked. It would really help everyone if each class would please assign a "Recess Helper" that makes sure all the equipment gets put back after each recess session. If everyone works together to do this I feel we will be able to keep better track of our recess equipment and keep it more organized. Thanks!
Classroom Safety: Please remember to keep your door locked at all times. Your door can be left cracked open.
Lockdown September 8th @ 8:30: Lockdown. Locks, lights, out of sight. We will walk everyone through the first one.
Curriculum Updates: Please see the curriculum updates below.
- Math- The enVision Mathematics student consumables have started to arrive at the district warehouse. They will be delivered soon. We will make sure you get the materials as soon as they arrive at school.
- BOY DIBELS/mCLASS- The window for grades K-3 and 4th grade R2A opens Tuesday, Sept. 6. I placed a copy of the Assessment at a Glance in your mailbox. Here is the presentation from the refresher training this past week: Dibels Refresher Link If you need to invalidate a student, email Mrs. Gardner the following information:
- Student Name
- Reason for invalidation request. Please be specific - include explanation of situation and specific probe name (PSF, NWF, etc.).
- If approved, she will notify the teacher and she will invalidate the necessary assessment measure in Amplify.
- Donor's Choose
Title: Donorschoose.org Grant Writing
Dates: October 13 and October 20
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Location: Zoom (There is a face-to-face option for the second session at Kernersville Elementary)
Participants will learn about DonorsChoose.org. They will learn to submit and receive grants. In Session One, they will receive general information. There will be a brainstorming session in which participants will choose a project that will be beneficial to their students' learning. There will be a work session in which participants will write a grant, with help and guidance from the instructors. In Session Two, participants will learn how to find match offers and fundraise for their grant. They will learn how to submit their Thank You Package to successfully complete their grant. They will have an opportunity to collaboratively work on grant writing.
Morning Announcements (from Ms. Ceglowski): We have new and exciting things for the Student News this year!
The special reporting for each day will now be as follows:
Masterpiece Monday - excellent work your students have done that you want to show off!
Toolkit Tuesday - We will learn a new SEL skill to add to our toolkit each Tuesday.
Where in the World Wednesday - A scene from somewhere in the world will be on the green screen and the reporter will be "on the scene" reporting different facts about where they are. Students can guess and the answer will be shared at the end of the short segment.
Thumbs Up Thursday - Spotlight on our awesome staff.
Funny Friday - Joke of the week with Mr. Elkins. Encourage students to submit jokes. You can collect them and put them in my box.
Upgrades include - A mic that works!!! I promise this time! A new newsroom (in the works, not yet completed), and now our crew will be wearing official news blazers because we are fancy!
Help me out with masterpieces, and by getting the kids to submit jokes.
Media Updates (from Ms. Epperley): Here are the Media Updates for the week.
- Shout out to Kaylie Fox and Iris Schendstok for unpacking and stuffing all the new 3rd grade Chromebooks!! "Many hands make light work."
- Open check-out starts Tuesday, Sept 6. 7:50-8:20am.
- Send Mrs. Epperley your grade level picture for the website.
Shout-Outs: From Ms. Rempe - I wanted to take a moment to say how much I appreciate all the hard work K-1 has done since we returned from the pandemic. I can see I need to up my game based on listening to students read to me this week and decide words. I will be the one to reap their awards!
Important Items from Last Week
Opening Staff Meeting Presentation: Here is a link to the Opening Staff Meeting Presentation - Opening Staff Meeting Presentation
Staff Handbook: Please make sure to review and sign off on the Staff Handbook. The sign off is located at the bottom of the handbook. Thanks!
PLTs: We will formally begin meeting for PLTs the week of September 12. However, Specialists will begin coming to cover for PLTs the week of September 6. We want to use the week of September 6 as a practice week where the Specialists will work with you to go over procedures and dismissal for PLT coverage.
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.
PTA & Hospitality: Please make sure you join PTA & pay your Hospitality dues.
Code of Conduct: Please see all the important Code of Conduct documents linked below.
Second Step Training (from Ms. Ceglowski): Classroom teachers should have received an email inviting you to join the Second Step SEL program. Please accept the invitation and set up an account. I will be attending PLTs the week of September 19th to help you navigate the site and answer any questions you may have. We will be integrating these lessons into Morning Meetings. Please feel free to jump right in and play with it if you feel comfortable. It is a user-friendly program. If you did not get an invite, please send an email to Mrs. Ceglowski at jceglowski@wsfcs.k12.nc.us and she will add you. Have fun exploring this awesome SEL resource!
AIG/LIFT Sign-Up: Please make sure you sign your class up for a time with Ms. Guffey, our AIG Catalyst. She will be doing class lessons with all K-5 classes during the first two weeks of school. You can sign up here - AIG/LIFT Sign-ups
Testing Security Protocols & Procedures (from Ms. Lloyd): As part of the new Testing Security Protocol and Procedures all Test Administrators are required to take the online course. You will need a current NCTest log on. Here is a link to the course: https://center.ncsu.edu/training/
When you complete the course, a certificate will pop up that you will need to print and give to Ms. Lloyd. I do NOT have access to print your certificates, so you will need to print them. (They don't print pretty, but that is ok!)
This will need to be completed by 9/7!
Here is a link to the manual:
Please let Ms. Lloyd know if you have any questions.
Upcoming Dates:
September 5 - No School (Labor Day)
September 6 - Pink Day
September 6 - Lesson Plans posted to Canvas beginning today!
September 6 - Mclass Window Opens (K-3)
September 6 - iReady BOY opens for K-3rd Grade (Reading & Math)
September 7 - Orange Day
September 7 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting
September 7 - BOG Training @ 1:30
September 8 - Yellow Day
September 8 - Lockdown drill @ 8:30
September 9 - Red, White, and Blue Day (Independence Day)
September 9 - WS Symphony @ 10:15 (4th & 5th Grade only)
September 12 - PLTs begin this week
September 12 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
September 13 - BOG (3rd Grade)
September 13 - SIT @ 3:30
September 13 - PTA Spirit Night @ Palenque's
September 20 - iReady K-3 BOY Window closes (Reading Only)
September 20 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
September 21 - School Picture Day!
September 23 - PDPs must be completed by this date
September 23 - iReady 4-5 BOY Window closes (Reading & Math)
DUCK #2 IS A WINNER! SEE MR. ELKINS FOR YOUR PRIZE!
