SOARING EAGLE NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2022
POINTS FROM PRINCIPAL HILL
By now all of our Eagles have settled into their classrooms and we are off to a great start to the school year. It’s hard to believe that we are already into the month of September. I appreciate all of the continued support as we continue to maintain academic momentum. Our work together is very important. Research confirms that parental interest and involvement in a child’s education is the most significant reason children succeed in school.
While we work together to develop students who will be good citizens of the future, our goal at Cypress Woods is to provide a nurturing and challenging education for all students. In reaching our goals, establishing and maintaining an orderly environment is essential. Listed below are a few ways that you can help us maximize student achievement at CWE:
Respect Our School Hours
Office Hours: 7:45 am - 3:45 pm
First Bell: 8:30 am
Class begins: 8:45 am (considered tardy if not in classroom)
School Hours: 8:45 am – 2:55 pm
Make sure your child is here daily AND on time. Children should always be on time for school. Students who arrive late to school (after 8:45 am) are expected to sign in at the front office and obtain a tardy slip. Tardiness on a regular basis is disrupting and detrimental to your child’s success.
Please respect dismissal time: Students must be picked up at 2:55 each day. Instruction in classrooms is bell to bell. We know sometimes appointments need to made during school hours, but please try to schedule them around our school times as much as possible. Please make sure other arrangements have been made if you will be running late.
Check your child’s planner/agenda nightly. The planner is an important communication tool from the teacher and includes homework assignments and important dates.
Participate in school activities. We welcome our volunteers, tutors, and mentors to campus. We also have a very active PTA that is a tremendous support to our school community. Please check the school website, PTA and school Facebook pages for ways you can become involved here at school.
Expect your child to demonstrate respectful, responsible and safe behavior. Cypress Woods is committed to providing a positive learning culture. We have a school-wide Positive Behavior Plan where we teach children behaviors that will ensure success in school and throughout life.
Each day presents wonderful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children as we prepare them for success in school and in life. It is with pride that I look forward to a productive and enriching school year! Thank you for your continued support!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
When a student is absent from school for any reason, parents are to send in a written note to the teacher explaining the absence or email the school at cypresswoodses.absence@pcsb.org and copy the teacher on the email. Absences will remain unexcused until such documentation is received by the school. Children with poor attendance patterns may be referred to the Pinellas County Truancy Intervention Program. Class work is required to be made up during or after an excused absence. Upon returning to school following an excused absence, a student has as many days to make up the work as days absent. A doctor’s note is required to excuse a student from PE for more than 3 days and documentation is required for absences exceeding 5 days.
START WITH HELLO WEEK
Please see below for how Cypress Woods will celebrate next week.
Mark Your Calendars
9/8/22 - Fall Pictures
9/21/22 - SAC Meeting 3:15PM
9/21/22 - Spirit Night @ Wendy's at Boot Ranch 5-9 PM
9/22/22 - PTA Ice Cream Social/General Meeting - 6:15 PM
SEE BELOW ATTACHMENT FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF STUDENT DAYS OFF FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR
FAST Progress monitoring Assessments
We have completed our first progress monitoring assessments. Thank you for your assistance in preparing your student and making sure they were present for the tests, as the results will help our teachers plan instruction for the rest of the school year. These are new tests aligned with the new BEST state standards and will take place three times per school year.
- For students in VPK through grade 2, scores will be printed and sent home with your student.
- For students in grades 3 through 5, scores will be available on the FOCUS parent portal.
Because these are new assessments, the district also sent an email with information on how to read the results. Please remember that these assessments cover the entire year’s curriculum, so we expect scores to rise as the school year progresses. If you have any questions about your student’s individual scores, please reach out to your student’s teacher.
NOTES FROM OUR MUSIC TEACHER, MRS. RICHTER
Dear 4th and 5th Grade Students and Parents,
I am pleased to announce that the 2022-2023 Soaring Sounds Chorus will start rehearsing on Wednesday, September 7th. It is not mandatory, but if your child enjoys music and loves to perform, I highly recommend it.
Students will be pulled from class time. Classroom teachers have the right to keep a student if their grade is not up to the classroom teachers’ standards or if their behavior is a problem at any point in the school day.
Rehearsal time: Wednesdays from 1:15-2:00 pm
Performances:
· Friday, November 11th - Community Veterans Concert at East Lake High School
· Wednesday, December 21st – Winter Concert at Cypress Woods Elementary
· Spring Concert – TBD (will e-mail you once I have the date)
Student dress for performances: White shirt (short or long-sleeved), black pants, closed-toe black shoes.
Chorus Expectations:
· I understand that chorus is a privilege and I need to be on my best behavior throughout the entire school day in order to participate in chorus.
· I understand that if I am going to miss chorus or a chorus performance, I need to have my parent communicate that absence by e-mailing Mrs. Richter at richtere@pcsb.org.
· I understand that if I miss chorus more than 2 times in a semester or the rehearsal right before a performance without parent communication, I may be removed from chorus.
· I understand that I will have all classwork completed before coming to chorus. My classroom teacher has the right to hold me from chorus rehearsal if I am behind with work or having trouble with behavior. Students should ask their teacher to e-mail Mrs. Richter if they are held from rehearsal.
· I understand that if I want to quit chorus then I need to have my parent communicate this decision to Mrs. Richter by e-mailing her at richtere@pcsb.org.
· I understand I am responsible for prompt transportation to and from all performances throughout the year.
If your child would like to participate in chorus, please e-mail Mrs. Richter (richtere@pcsb.org) the following information by Friday, September 2nd:
Subject: Child’s name and Chorus
I give permission for (child’s name) to participate in the 2022-2023 4th and 5th grade Soaring Sounds Chorus at Cypress Woods Elementary School. My child and I understand and will adhere to the chorus expectations.
Child’s Name
Child’s Homeroom Teacher
Parent Name(s) and Cell Phone Number(s)
Parent E-mail(s)
*Please also let me know if your child is interested in auditioning for All-State Chorus. I will let you know of after school rehearsal dates. Auditions will be recorded after school on September 16th.
NOTES FROM OUR NURSE, JENNIFER REZNICK
As stated in our Parent/Student Handbook that went home with your student on the first day of school, our school clinic is available for students who have medical needs such as distribution of medically required daily medications and management of chronic health conditions. Additionally, if your student becomes ill at school or suffers an injury during the day that needs to be evaluated for further medical follow up, they may be seen by the school nurse or other school personnel, who will determine whether the student needs additional care or if they may return to class. Please note, not all complaints of illness or injury require evaluation by licensed school healthcare staff, and only students who have parental consent on file will be evaluated outside of an emergency. Please be sure that you have completed all the necessary consent forms either via your Focus Parent Portal or have filled out a paper form and returned it to the school. If you have any questions regarding consents or accessing your Parent Portal, please contact the school.
As a reminder, we encourage ALL students to keep a complete change of clothes in their backpacks. Accidents and spills occur without warning and the clinic does not store extra clothes per Department of Health guidelines. Having a change of clothes handy will prevent classroom disruption as well as spare your child any unnecessary embarrassment.
Finally, Pinellas County Schools has a very strict medication policy. Students may never transport or keep medication with them while at school. All medications, including over the counter medications, such as Tylenol, medicated chap stick, and cough drops, must be hand delivered by a parent to the school with a doctor’s prescription. PCSB policy prohibits the administration of narcotics, herbal supplements, vitamins or any non-FDA approved medication.
Rotary Student of the Month
SAFETY PATROLS OF THE MONTH
Notes From Kim Shipley, Family & Community Liaison
Welcome Back Volunteers!
I hope everyone is safe and well and that you are excited and ready to start volunteering! If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to reactivate. This will allow you to remain on my email distribution list and be kept informed about upcoming opportunities at Cypress Woods. Please see the attached instructions for the volunteer website and information that explains your login format. If you have a common last name, it is possible your login is unique to the one described on the instructions, if it doesn’t work, please email me and I will check on this for you. (Please remember to use a PC with Google Chrome as your browser, answer ALL the questions and DO NOT use your phone or tablet (using a phone/tablet &/or skipping a question will place you on a hold status.)
Important Dates & Opportunities:
- On-Site Fingerprint processing will be offered on Thursday, September 15th from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM in our Front Office Lobby, please see the requirements and sign up:
- Must be Registered Level 1 Volunteer
- Must have reactivated for the new school year
- Bring photo I.D. & know your Social Security Number
- Bring $48 cash (exact change) or check payable to Postal Annex
- Sign up for an appointment here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F48ABA62BA31-level
- Spirit Night is Wednesday, September 21st 5 – 9 PM at Wendy’s located at the Shoppes of Boot Ranch – A portion of all sales will be donated back to Cypress Woods. The more people that stop by to eat, the more money Cypress Woods Elementary will earn! Drive-thru or Dine-In! Enjoy a delicious meal or grab a salad for the next day’s lunch!
- Our first Volunteer Café of the school year will be Friday, October 7th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – All registered volunteers are invited to attend, RSVP via email appreciated but not required. Any amount of time is appreciated! Join us as we work on various projects for our teachers, socialize with other volunteers and enjoy breakfast treats (provided by GradePower Learning) and coffee ❤
- Our Great American Teach In is Wednesday, November 16th - This is a special day for you to spend with us whether you have 30 minutes or the whole day to share things such as careers, hobbies, sports, crafts, telling a story about an exciting trip or even reading an interesting book with our students. This year, in addition to face-to-face, we will be offering Zoom for live presentations or virtual field trips as well as any prerecorded presentations you’d like to share. If you or someone you know would like to be a presenter, please have them follow the link below to Sign up to be a guest speaker NOW! (participants do not need to be a registered volunteer for this one day event)
https://forms.office.com/r/16X4aMKRTX
- Ongoing – Assist our Media Specialist in the Library with shelving books and more! Anyone interested in volunteering in the Media Center/Library, feel free to email Ms. Reyes directly at reyesja@pcsb.org
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Kim Shipley
Family & Community Liaison
Cypress Woods Elementary
4900 Cypress Woods Blvd
Palm Harbor, FL 34685
727-538-7325 ext. 2045
New Volunteers register online now at: www.pcsb.org/volunteerregistration
Lunch Pal Mentors needed, sign up at: www.pcsb.org/mentor
ROWDIES NIGHT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
PCS families can join the Tampa Bay Rowdies as they take on Loudoun United FC on Saturday, Oct. 8. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the game starts at 7:30 p.m. Seats are available for sections 300-306. Tickets are $18. Larger discounts are offered for groups of 10 or more. To attend, use this link https://bit.ly/3AQgOAT. If you have questions or want to set up a group of 10 or more, contact Nick McDaniel at 727-205-3561 or NMCDANIEL@ROWDIESSOCCER.COM. Please see the attached flyer below.
Updates From Our PTA
If you have not already, please consider partnering with CWE PTA this year by becoming a member! Your membership will help support our school/classroom partnerships and programs. You can purchase your membership online or using the paper form sent home with your student.
Looking ahead - We will kick off our APEX Fun Run on October 3rd!
If you would like to volunteer for any of our upcoming PTA programs or events, please email cweptaboard@gmail.com We are still looking for several Committee Chairs for events, if you are interested.
Sign Up For Bus Updates!
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications Reminder
Opt in For CWE Text Alerts
Using the list below, sign up under the grade of your youngest student in order to receive text alerts about school events, PTA and volunteering. (The information will be the SAME on all accounts, so you should only sign up under one class…)
To 81010, please text the following:
- PRE K @b49fk3
- KINDERGARTEN @24b47f
- 1ST GRADE @cf6c38
- 2ND GRADE @9f7edc
- 3RD GRADE @cwethi
- 4TH GRADE @2ce39k7
- 5TH GRADE @e26kb9
Cypress Woods Elementary
Email: cypresswoodses.absence@pcsb.org
Website: pcsb.org/cypress-es
Location: 4900 Cypress Woods Boulevard, Palm Harbor, FL, USA
Phone: 727-538-7325
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cypresswoodses/
Twitter: @cypresswoodses