MCES Family Updates
News from Principal Miller
February 1, 2022
Acceso a versiones traducidas de nuestro boletín
Important Dates
February 10 - MCES PTA School Spirit Day - Holly Springs Papa Johns
February 10 - Track 1 and 2 Spring Photos
February 11 - Track Out day for Track 2
February 14 - Track 3 students return
Volunteers Needed!
Boosterthon!
March 25 for Tracks 2, 3, and 4
April 5 for Track 1
More information will be coming home in mid-March regarding this school-wide fundraising event!
Updated Covid Guidelines for Students
As of December 31, 2021, per revised guidance from CDC and the StrongSchoolsNC Toolkit, the following changes have been made to the district’s COVID-19 health guidance related to quarantine and isolation requirements. Note that there are no changes to district face-covering guidance at this time. To find the latest district COVID-19 protocols, please go here: https://www.wcpss.net/WhenToReturn
School Calendar Vote - February 1
Kindergarten Registration is Open for the 22-23 school year!
Kindergarten registration is open for the 22-23 school year! Please go online to the WCPSS website to register any rising kindergarteners in your family.
Voluntary Covid Testing
Our school, in partnership with MAKO Medical, will begin offering weekly, on-campus COVID-19 testing for students and staff. COVID-19 testing is an effective way to reduce transmission, especially when layered with other measures. We will begin on Friday, February 18th and will conduct voluntary testing each Friday. Our testing time is scheduled between 1:45 and 2:45 p.m.
Participation in the program is voluntary. A parent or guardian must register any K-12 student under 18 years old in order for a COVID-19 test to be administered. Pre-K students who attend school within K-12 school buildings are eligible for the state-approved vendor testing with Mako.
The testing is simple: Students are called out of class to a designated space within the school. Trained MAKO Medical staff quickly and gently swab students’ noses. They place all the swabs in a single tube (that’s the pooling step). The samples in that tube are then tested as a single sample, using one test. If a positive test is received, everyone in the “pool” will return to school the next day to take another test to identify the person who tested positive for COVID-19. Learn more about pooled testing.
As a reminder, Covid-19 testing will only occur for registered students. Parents/guardians must opt-in.
Volunteer Registration for 21-22
NEW Volunteers for 2021-2022
All new volunteer applicants must register and have an approved criminal record check prior to engaging in volunteer work.
New volunteer applicants may go to any WCPSS work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Applicants will be notified by email once their application has been approved.
Applicants who are not approved will receive notice from Employee Relations.
New Registration Process for WCPSS Employees who Want to Volunteer
Although WCPSS employees do not have to go through a criminal record check to volunteer, they will now need to register.
Resources For Families
The Student Services Team (SST) is looking to support our students and families in removing barriers to student learning and academic success. Some of these needs may include mental health and/or emotional, medical, social, or other basic life needs. Our goal is to connect you with appropriate community resources for assistance. Please contact the school at (919) 773-9555 if you have any questions or need more information. Please ask to speak with Lis Fillard or Thelma Cherry.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENU WITH MEAL-VIEWER
Monthly breakfast and lunch menu PDFs will no longer be posted on our district website.
Menus will now be available on our interactive website, MealViewer.
On the MealViewer website, families can:
- Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
- See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
- Choose menu items based on allergens
- View nutrients for each menu item
- Add nutrients for meals eaten, even partial meals
- Submit ratings on your favorite items
- Print menus
Covid-19 Updates/Protocols
To minimize the spread of COVID-19, our school follows all COVID-19 health measures required by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Review our Safe Return To School Plan before the first day of school. Remember, all students must stay home when sick, wear a face-covering in school, and should maintain as much physical distance as possible on campus. Please notify your student’s teacher or me as soon as possible if your student is diagnosed with COVID-19, so we can work with health officials for confidential contact tracing. Together, we can keep our students, staff, and community healthy in a safe and welcoming environment at school.
You can access the WCPSS site for the return to school guidelines that include the information above and more by clicking here: COVID-19 / COVID-19 That webpage also includes a link to a spreadsheet where you can view COVID cases reported on WCPSS campuses. That website can be accessed here: WCPSS COVID metrics. WCPSS is no longer sending out emails about positive cases unless a cluster is reported, however you can find reports on the spreadsheet for all schools in the district.
- Face Coverings: All students and staff are required to wear a face-covering when inside the school, unless a face-covering exemption has been approved. Face coverings are optional when outside.
- Handwashing: Students will use hand sanitizer/wash their hands numerous times a days. Required times include: upon entering the classroom, before/after eating, before/after recess, and before/after sharing community materials.
- Eating/Drinking Guidelines: The NC Department of Health and Human Services does not provide health guidance about students eating in schools. To best meet their nutritional and social-emotional needs, students may talk during meal times. *Updated 8/16/21 - Students will now sit facing the same direction to minimize the opportunity for exposure to Covid-19 when in the cafeteria.
- Recess: Students are not required to wear a face-covering at recess. Currently, classes do not mix for recess.
Stay home when sick. Learn when your student can return to school after a COVID-19 diagnosis, exposure, or other illness.
Has Your Phone Number/Email Changed?
Please email Roxanne Carter, Data Manager, rcarter@wcpss.net if your email address(es) or phone number(s) have changed. We rely on the information in PowerSchool to contact you for emergency situations and to send you school messages.
Visitors on Campus
Only essential visitors will be allowed on school campuses in an effort to protect the health and safety of our students.
We will have staff on hand to ensure all students get to their classroom on the 1st day of school!
For our Kindergarten families - Parents will be permitted to walk their kindergarten students to their classroom on their staggered entry day.
!Technology Updates!
Any problems with Chromebooks that are currently checked out must be reported to your school or the WCPSS Technology Help Desk as soon as possible. Please send reports to mknox-ingle@wcpss.net. Student devices that are not functioning because of a defect in the device will be repaired or replaced as needed. Devices that are damaged or lost will be replaced once during the device loan period. Students who experience a second incident of damage or loss will be limited to in-school use of a device only. All families will be expected to sign an agreement at the beginning of the school year acknowledging this and other student expectations. Find the agreement and additional information. Schools will provide a copy to students at the beginning of the school year.
Contact Us At
Email: cmiller6@wcpss.net
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/middlecreekes
Location: 110 Middle Creek Park Avenue, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: 919-773-9555
Facebook: facebook.com/MiddleCreekElementaryPTA
Twitter: @middlecreekes