Hey Panda Family,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful week back with their students and colleagues. It is my wish that 2023 brings each of you many blessings and good fortunes! Here's to an amazing 2023! 🎉🎇🎉
Here are the Weekly Wrap updates for this week:
New Updates
Back at It!: Here are just a few things that I wanted to gently remind everyone coming back from break:
- Please remember to keep your classroom door locked, but not completely shut. This way students can enter and exit with ease, but you can close it at a moment's notice and be secure.
- Make sure to prioritize a little time each day for Morning Meetings. This is a great way to connect with your students, review expectations, give them opportunities to share, and complete SEL lessons (Second Step) - investing in this time will pay huge dividends down the road
- PLTs will start back up next week
- We will begin tracking iReady weekly progress again beginning next week
PDP Mid-Year Sign Up (Certified Staff Only): All certified staff need to sign up for a time to discuss and sign-off on their mid-year PDP progress. If Elkins completes your observations you will sign up with him, if Gardner completes your observations you will sign up with her. Sign up sheets are outside both of our offices. Please make sure you have completed your mid-year progress in NCEES before we meet. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out.
MOY & Check-In Dates: Please refer to the list of MOY and NC Check-In dates below. Please mark your calendar.
- Mclass/Dibels MOY (K-4): January 11 - February 2
- iReady Reading MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 23 - 27
- iReady Math MOY (K-5): Complete the week of January 30 - February 3
- K-2 Math Assessment: January 17 - 26
- ELA Check-In (3-5): January 18
- Math Check-In (3-5): January 20
- Science Check-In (5th only): January 24
Check-In Information (from Ms. Lloyd): We have the NC Check Ins #2 coming up. Here are the dates that we have scheduled:
| DATE | TEST | GRADE |
| Jan. 18th | ELA /Reading | 3rd, 4th, 5th |
| Jan. 20th | Math | 3rd, 4th, 5th |
| Jan. 24th | Science | 5th |
- Specials and lunch will continue as normal. Please make sure students are quiet as they move around the building.
- For our Kindergarten teachers and assistants: If the TAs are not done by the time your PLT starts at 10:15, we will move your PLT to 11 AM.
This link is a quick glance at who is testing on what day, so you don't have to scroll through all the pages. If your name is checked, you are testing that day. Who is Testing When
The following is the schedule of the grade level, the rooms used for testing, and the small groups.
Carolina Thunderbirds: SCC is organizing a group outing to the Carolina Thunderbirds Hockey Game for SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2023. Please look at the information attached and let me know your interest.
Mouse and the Motorcycle (from Ms. Jones): Thank you for helping me work out the details today to get the books sent home for our Panda Family Read Aloud of The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. Please send the bag home tomorrow, Friday 1/6 containing a copy of the novel, an overview of the project, and next week's family discussion questions. The oldest child in each family should receive the bag. I included a list of who that would be for grades K-3. All fifth graders will receive a copy.
Each week, I will put copies in your box with family discussion questions to send home in Friday Folders. The first week was included in the bag with the book. Starting next week, every student will get this slip of paper weekly. (I don't want us to have to deal with the "oldest student" list once the books make it home.) We are hoping by sending the questions weekly it will keep this activity at the forefront of our family's minds. I've attached a PDF of the questions for the entire book for your reference.
Unfortunately, we were unable to procure the Spanish copies. It ran out of stock on Amazon and is out of print despite Donors Choose efforts to help us. I did include a note at the very bottom of this email that you can share with your parents about a Spanish option.
If you'd like a copy of the book for yourself, I will have more next week and you can come by my room to get one. I ran a little short today due to a math error on my part.
Let me know if you have any questions! ❤️
Talent Show: The Piney Grove Student Talent Show will be back in production this year! If you would like to help volunteer with the Talent Show, please reach out to Ms. Natalie Rempe.
Boosterthon: Dates for Boosterthon this year are February 28 - March 10
- Fun Run - Friday, March 10. Schedule TBD
- Please complete the t-shirt form below by Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
- If you have a student teacher, please have them complete the form as well.
January Drills: We only have the fire drill this month.
PBIS Spirit Day: Friday, January 13th - Mustache Day. Please submit numbers below before leaving Friday, January 6.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QKVSPKQU-7EqF8Ye16EhC36_S7hXPYQgT9Kl0ZI2Vwg/edit?usp=sharing
Media Updates (from Ms. Epperley): Here are the updates from Ms. Epperley in the Media Center.
- Looking for a book? Check out this tutorial for accessing SORA elibrary for free:
- 2nd - 5th bring Chromebooks to media this week for SORA lesson!
Shout-Outs: From Ms. Bolchalk - Shoutout to Luke Brookshire from a car rider parent. Before break, he opened the car door for a Kindergarten student and was asked to use the door on the other side. He politely told them he would help the child get in, he walked them to the other door, and put her in the car - all with a smile on his face. Great job, Luke!
Important Items from Last Week
MTSS Updates (from Ms. Balint): Please see the MTSS updates below from Ms. Balint.
- make sure to enter data points into ECATS by January 6th
- refresher for saving data in ECATS - https://drive.google.com/drive/search?q=enter (pg. 17)
- assess the last data point the week of January 4th
- Please let Ms. Balint know if you have any questions
New Substitute Contact: Haley Atkins is an available substitute that wanted me to share her contact info. Her number is 336-745-0236. Please reach out to her if you are in need of a sub. Thanks!
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:
January 9 - PLTs begin back this week
January 9 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30
January 10 - PBIS Meeting @ 3:30 (Vaden's Room)
January 10 - SIT @ 3:30
January 10 - PTA Spirit Night @ McDonald's in Walkertown
January 11 - Mclass/Dibels MOY Window opens
January 11 - Elkins @ Principal's Meeting
January 12 - School Spelling Bee
January 13 - PBIS Mustache Day
January 13 - Gardner @ AP Meeting until 1:00
January 16 - No School (MLK Day)
January 17 - K-2 Math MOY Window Opens
January 17 - Staff Meeting @ 3:30
January 18 - ELA Check-In (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade)
January 20 - Math Check-In (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade)
January 23 - 26 - Complete iReady Reading MOY Diagnostic this week
January 24 - Science Check-In (5th Grade)
January 24 - SCC & Wellness Committees meet @ 3:30
January 25 - Elkins @ Area Principal Meeting from 9:00 - 12:00
January 26 - Class Pictures with Lifetouch
January 26 - K-2 Math MOY Window Closes
January 26 - Last day of 2nd Quarter
January 27 - Teacher Workday (RS day)
