The Eagle Express
April 30th, 2017
From Your Plank South Leadership Team
We hope you all had a great weekend. We do have our final week of NYS testing this week (Math), though it is our hope and goal that this be a minimal disruption for our kids.
This past week was the week of the Fidger Spinners, so we also want to share some new guidelines around these toys (if you aren't sure what they are see the accompanying picture). These started as a tool to help a handful of students with ADHD or who experience anxiety, but they have quickly become the new fad at school. Because these have become a significant distraction and safety issue (imagine an eight year old walking down the hall trying to balance one of these on her finger!), we're asking for your help in keeping the fidget spinners at home. If you have talked to your child's teacher and it helps your child focus then of course that is okay, but otherwise we'd prefer spinners not come to school. If spinners do come into school they will need to stay in backpacks unless the teacher tells your child otherwise.
We hope you all had a great week and we look forward to seeing the kids in the morning!
Warm Regards,
Your Plank South Leadership Team
Scott Wilcox & Jen Sullivan
From Our Fabulous PTSA!
As we enter into the final 8 weeks of school (wow!), we also enter into the busiest time for school activities, most of which cannot happen without volunteers.
There will be several volunteer sign up emails coming your way this month! Volunteer support is critical to the success of these great events for our Plank South students. Please consider volunteering for one of our upcoming events in support of our kids, our school and our PTSA.
Thank you!
Ice Cream Social
Plank South's Annual Ice Cream Social is next Friday, May 5 (7-9pm). We are in need of SEVERAL more volunteers to help with carnival games, BINGO and serve ice cream...we cannot do it without YOU! Please consider signing up for a shift to help make this night a fun one...there are opportunities for parents as well as older students (for service hours!)...THANK YOU!!
You can access the sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4aaca72ba3f58-20171/20431073
Last 2016 - 2017 PTSA Meeting - Tuesday 5/9 at 9:30am
Our last PTSA meeting for the 2016 - 2017 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, 5/9 at 9:30am. The meeting will be held in the Think Tank Room. We hope to see you there!
Staff Appreciation Week 5/8 - 5/12
The teachers, administration and staff at Plank South Elementary do so much for our students! From May 8th to May 12th we would like to celebrate them and show our thanks!
Each day, students and parents will have an opportunity to pay tribute to the wonderful staff at Plank South. Tuesday is a day set aside for the students to show their appreciation with flowers and kind expressions. Wednesday the staff will be treated to a catered lunch from Guida's. Thursday and Fridaywe will shower our staff with tasty treats from home.
Please help us with this celebration by signing up to make a treat, provide food or supplies or to simply help with setup/clean up during the week. Thank you!!
You can access the sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4aaca72ba3f58-staff1
Spring Plant Sale 5/11 - 5/12
Our annual plant sale with be held on Thursday, May 11th and Friday, May 12th. Students will have the opportunity to purchase small plants/flowers during lunch time. Plants will be $.35/each or 3 for $1.00, with a max purchase of 6.
We need your help with this event. Look for a sign up in your email tomorrow. Volunteer opportunities will include:
- Wednesday evening (May 10th) at Bauman's, we will be preparing the plants for the sale (middle and high school students welcome!).
- Thursday and Friday (May 11th and 12th), we will need help selling the plants during class lunches.
Sweetheart Ball 5/19
Plank South's Annual Sweetheart Ball will be held on Friday, May 19th from 7:00 – 9:00pm. This will be a memorable event for Plank South's girls so wear your finest attire and get ready for a night of dancing and fun! Look for flyers to come home the first week in May and a sign up for volunteersshortly thereafter. Sign-up forms for the event are due May 12th.
Don't Miss a Thing - Text Reminders!
To receive text reminders for upcoming events, sign up for text reminders!
- Click here. Enter your first name, last name and phone number.
- Text @psptsa to 404-620-2276. You will receive a reply asking for your first and last name
Upcoming Events
· 5/16: Annual BOE Election/Budget Vote
· 5/18: Visiting Author Cynthia DeFelice
· 5/23 – 5/25: Spring Book Fair
· 5/27: Plank South Night at the Ball Park
· 5/29: Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL
· 5/31: Box Tops Due
· May TBD: Kindergarten Screening – Volunteers will be needed
An Important Message from WCSD
Dear WCSD Parents,
WCSD continues to care for the whole child in our district. The emotional and physical health of our students is of critical importance to us and to you. When we are aware of potential risk factors that may impact our students, we want to reach out to all of you, our partners in educating the whole child, to make you aware of such factors.
There is a new series, 13 Reasons Why, currently trending on Netflix. The series is based on a young adult novel with the same name and follows the main character, 17-year-old Hannah Baker, as she decides to take her life. She leaves audio recordings for the 13 people who she says played a part in her decision to commit suicide.
The series’ premise and content are disturbing. We wanted you to be aware that many middle and high school students are watching it without adult supervision. We are providing all district families, K-12, with a resource document from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) that provides guidance and cautionary advice regarding this series. This letter and the NASP document may also be found as a news story on our website, websterschools.org. We would ask that you continue to be vigilant in the viewing choices your children are making and talk with your children about their choices.
Again, as a partner in educating your child, we wanted you to be aware of this series and share resources with you that you may find helpful when talking with your children. Our district’s mental health professionals are always available to speak with your child should they need additional in-school support.
Sincerely,
Carmen Gumina
WCSD Superintendent WCSD
Shelly Cahoon
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services