The Bobcat Blaze

May 20, 2022

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+++We Are AC Moore STRONG+++

SCHOOL VISION

Every AC Moore student will enter middle school reading at or above grade level.


SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

We collaboratively empower students to be accountable and successful.


STAFF CORE VALUES

Passion: Embracing and nurturing our school community


Intentionality: Purposeful, Present, & Prepared


Accountability: Growth Over Ego


Student Pillars of Leadership: PreK - 2

Respect

Cooperation

Community

Responsible

Self-Control

Caring

Trustworthy


Student Pillars of Leadership: 3rd - 5th

Respect

Collaboration

Citizenship

Responsible

Self-Discipline

Empathy

Integrity

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Principal's Message

Happy Friday Bobcat Families!

We had an amazing day today for Field Day. Special thanks to Mrs. Whetstone for organizing such a fun-filled event. I hope your students had as much fun as I did throughout the day.


Next week is our last 5-day week of school. We have several activities and programs so please be sure to review not only this newsletter, but communication sent by homeroom teachers with specific information.


We hope you will join us on the playground on Tuesday, May 24th for out PTO Picnic! This is a free event for all families!


I look forward to welcoming all Bobcats back on Monday. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe!


Principal's Message

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Important Dates and Upcoming Events

May

  • May 1-31...................................................................Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    ..................................................................................Mental Health Awareness Month


  • May 23......................................................................Stand-alone Text Dependent Analysis Field Test (3rd-5th Graders)

  • May 25......................................................................Literacy Day

  • May 30......................................................................Memorial Day Holiday, No School

June

  • June 3.......................................................................Last Day of School (Early Release Day)

  • June 6.......................................................................Last Day for Teachers

-----Parent News and Reminders-----

3rd - 5th grade students to take a stand-alone text dependent analysis field test

On Monday, May 23rd, a stand-alone field test form will include one text dependent analysis (TDA) question and will be administered online. The entire student population will be field tested in the online format for grades 3–8. Schools with waivers approved by the State Board of Education for paper testing must participate in this online field testing. In addition to providing important data for test development, exposure to online testing provides students with experience and practice for online testing in coming years.

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Returning Student Enrollment in Parent Portal

It is time to fill out the Returning Student Enrollment in Parent Portal for next school year. If your child is not returning to A C Moore next year or you are having trouble with your Parent Portal login please contact Mrs. Thorpe at madolyn.thorpe@richlandone.org or call 803-343-2910, ext 29206


4K student’s re-enrollment will be transferred to their zoned school. Make sure to provide two proofs of address when enrolling, email them to Mrs. Thorpe or bring by the school.

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We Did It Bobcats!

During our fundraiser for the March of Dimes, we set a goal to raise $500 so that Mr. Clamp would have to lose his ponytail...and we did it! Thank you for your support of the March of Dimes! We were able to donate more than $1400.00. Thanks Bobcats!! #marchofdimes #bobcatstrong

Thank You Family and Friends!

We would like to say a special thank you to the students and families for their donations during our SCFitMe and Special Olympics fundraising campaign. The Marvel hero squad won the Rivalry with a $397.74 to $80.02 victory over DC. Thank you for supporting SCFitMe and Special Olympics South Carolina.

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2022 Start Strong Summer Program

Greetings,


This is the R1 Start Strong Program hosted at Hand and Dreher this summer. This program is open is to ALL Students. Richland One is offering a two-week Start Strong Summer Program for rising 6th – 9th graders. This in-person program is designed to provide students with literacy and numeracy strategies that will help support their learning when they return to school in the fall. During the program, students will participate in engaging activities and have opportunities to receive incentives. Students will be assessed to determine their progress on content and skills learned in the summer program. There is no cost to attend the Start Strong Summer Program.


Registration Link


Parents/Guardians who register will be contacted before the end of the school year with more information.


Canisha Fletcher

Curriculum Resource Teacher

Hand Middle School

2600 Wheat Street

Columbia, SC 29205

803-343-2947 ext. 2207

canisha.fletcher@richlandone.org

Richland One está ofreciendo un programa de verano Start Strong de dos semanas para los estudiantes de sexto a noveno grado. Este programa en persona está diseñado para proporcionar a los estudiantes estrategias de alfabetización y aritmética que ayudarán a apoyar su aprendizaje cuando regresen a la escuela en el otoño. Durante el programa, los estudiantes participarán en actividades atractivas y tendrán la oportunidad de recibir incentivos. Los estudiantes serán evaluados para determinar su progreso en el contenido y las habilidades aprendidas en el programa de verano. No hay costo para asistir al programa de verano Start Strong.


Los detalles adicionales sobre el programa de verano Start Strong se enumeran a continuación:

Asistencia:

o Se espera que los estudiantes asistan al programa en persona, todos los lunes a jueves, del 11 al 21 de julio de 2022. El programa estará cerrado la semana del 4 al 8 de julio de 2022.


Cronograma:

o El horario diario será de 8:30 am a 12:30 pm.


Los estudiantes que ingresarán a los grados 6, 7 y 8 asistirán a Hand MS.

Los estudiantes que ingresarán al noveno grado asistirán a Dreher HS.


Complete el registro antes del martes 17 de mayo a las 3:00 p.m. Deberá completar un formulario por cada alumno que asista. Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes, comuníquese con canisha.fletcher@richlandone.org.


Registro 2022 Start Strong Summer Program

The South Carolina State Department of Education Climate Survey

March 31, 2022


Dear Parents/Guardians:


The South Carolina State Department of Education (SCDE) is utilizing a Climate Survey for accountability/report cards this year as in the past. The delivery model for the survey has changed. Students in grades three through twelve will take the survey, however, the SCDE is placing the survey in the Student Portal account of PowerSchool instead of using a link or paper copies.


Before spring break, your student will be asked to create a Student Portal account for PowerSchool (if they don’t already have one) to access the survey when it becomes available. If they already have an account we will make sure they still have access. If they do not have an account, a sheet will be provided them so they can create an account. All students in grades three through twelve will be assisted by their schools, if needed, to create these accounts.


Parents will be receiving a Climate Survey through Parent Portal as well. If you do not currently have a Parent Portal account, please contact your student’s school and they will be able to assist you with setting up an account.


The Climate Survey will be available beginning April 4, 2022 and will close on May 27, 2022.

Absence Form

Click the banner above to report an absence for your student

Breakfast in the Cafeteria

If your student(s) will be eating breakfast at school, please be sure to have your Bobcat(s) arrive to campus with enough time to enter the cafeteria and complete their meal before 7:30.

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-----------School News-----------

A Bobcat Shout-Out to...

AC Moore winners in the Richland One Elementary Art Show!

Fifth Grade

Permanent Art Collection Winner: Eli Simmons


1st Place: Hervey Houssou

2nd Place: Johnny Greytak

3rd Place: Rhys Boyd


Honorable Mention:

Waylon Broome

Elizabeth Hales

Victoria Shifflett

Fourth Grade

1st Place: Laurel Hilley

1st Place: Ashley Banks

2rd Place: Maddie Warren

3rd Place: Zane Humphrey


Honorable Mention:

June Heyden

Third Grade:

1st Place: Alice Dowdy

2nd Place: Gabriella Banks

3rd Place: Hiram Rudell


Honorable Mention:

Kyndal Moody

Lucy Rankin

Second Grade

1st Place: Jorgan Stefik


2nd Place: Hank Fields

3rd Place: Hooper Wallace


Honrable Mention:

Soukaina Doucoure

Kyndal Steen

First Grade

1st Place: Luke Horton


2nd Place: Nell Wallace

3rd Place: Dylan Banks


Honorable Mention:

Dennis Ayala

Webb Reardon

Safety Patrol!

A.C. Moore Celebrates...

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Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage

Documentaries and programs that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

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Mental Health Month: Together For Mental Health

For 2022’s Mental Health Awareness Month, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will amplify the message of “Together for Mental Health.” We will use this time to bring our voices together to advocate for mental health and access to care through NAMI’s blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events.


Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Help us spread the word through awareness, support and advocacy activities. Share awareness information, images and graphics for #MHAM throughout May.

--Parent and Family Engagement Opportunities--

May Newsletter

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Parent Leadership Partners Program

Carolina Family Engagement Center Training Opportunity

The Carolina Family Engagement Center (CFEC), housed in the SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC), has a professional development opportunities to share!


Parent Leadership Partners (PLP) program Train the Trainer

CFEC has had a lot of success with its PLP program and many school districts have inquired about the possibility of running similar programs in their districts. Due to this interest, CFEC has developed a virtual Train the Trainer program so that South Carolina school/district administrators, community members, parents, and/or teachers interested in learning how to facilitate a PLP program can do so! For more information see the flyer attached. To register for this summer session, click HERE.

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Important Covid-19 News for School-age Children

Today, the CDC recommended that children ages 5 through 11 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series (5 months after their second dose). Please visit https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov/ or contact your child's health care provider for more information on where your children can get their boosters.


All households are now eligible to receive 8 additional at-home Covid-19 test kits. Register your address at https://www.covid.gov/tests and they will be shipped directly to you. Test kits and shipping are FREE! I also have test kits available for A.C. Moore students. Please let me know if you need one!


As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend, everyone!


Jennifer Robinson, School Nurse

803-929-3886

jennifer.robinson2@richlandone.org

----------WELLNESS WATCH----------

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#Summer Swap

Healthier Generation & Kohl’s are helping you make healthier choices this summer. By making simple swaps, you can eat healthy, stay active & recharge your mind. Read the #SummerSwap blog series to learn how your choices affect your health.

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Take A Look at Your Bobcats...

Engaged in Learning!

Overdue Library Books

Dear Parents/Guardians:

There are still quite a few books out from last school year and the 2019-2020 school year. I know these were very exceptional years, but please make every effort to locate and return those books to the library as soon as possible. Thank you for you help in maintaining our library collection of books!


Jessica Warren, Librarian

Water Stations

Please be informed that bottled water will no longer be available to students during the day. Our school is now equipped with water bottle refilling stations! Your student should pack a reusable water bottle daily for use at the refilling stations around the building.

Carline procedures

In an effort to maintain a safe arrival/dismissal and decrease the wait time for car riders, we would like to issue the following reminders:


MORNING CAR RIDERS

  • Please be courteous to the other parents in the carline...remain in your vehicle to allow for a more efficient arrival procedure.
  • Pull as far forward as possible before allowing your student to exit the vehicle.
  • Have students prepared to exit the vehicle with masks on and bookbags ready prior to entering the drop-off area.
  • Students should exit the vehicle from the passenger side, along the sidewalk.
  • Students should walk along the sidewalk to the gate at the end of the sidewalk.
  • Students should not be allowed to exit the vehicle in between the parked cars.

AFTERNOON CAR RIDERS

  • Please be sure your child knows his/her car number.
  • Hang your car tag from your rearview mirror and be sure it is visible to the staff member on duty.
  • Please be courteous to the other parents in the carline...remain in your vehicle to allow for a more efficient dismissal procedure.
  • Pull forward as much as possible before allowing your student to enter the vehicle
  • If your student needs assistance with buckling into a seat or seatbelt, please move forward to the end of the carline before assisting your child.

Attention: YMCA Families

Good Afternoon AC Moore YMCA Families,


I hope this note finds you all well and you’ve had a great week.


I just wanted to pass along a quick note about YMCA pick-up on a weekly basis Tuesdays-Thursdays. When arriving to the school to pick up your child or children from the YMCA program can you all please park on the side of the road instead of the bus loop? There is after school tutoring (CRP) going on during these days and by parking in the bus loops it prohibits the busses from getting in the bus loop.


Thank you so much for your understanding and please let me know if you have any questions.



Respectfully,


Matthew Taranto

Program Director

YMCA of Columbia

1447 Hampton Street

Columbia SC, 29201

(w) 803 799 9187; © 772 480 3942

------------DISTRICT NEWS------------

The Richland One Board of School Commissioners Approves 2022-2023 Academic Calendar

Richland One Parents,

The Richland One Board of School Commissioners approved the district’s 2022-2023 academic calendar at last night's board meeting.


Tuesday, August 16, 2022 will be the first day of school for Richland One students. The last day of school will be Friday, May 26, 2023, which will be an early release day for students.


Other key dates include:

  • Thanksgiving Break – November 23-25, 2022
  • Winter Break – December 21-30, 2022
  • Spring Break – April 10-14, 2023

Draft Calendar B, which was the calendar that was approved by the Board, was the one that was preferred based on feedback obtained through the online survey of students, parents and staff. The Board gave its initial approval of the 2022-2023 calendar at the March 8 board meeting. The 2022-2023 calendar is posted on the district’s website (www.richlandone.org); click on the District Calendars link under Site Shortcuts.


Karen E. York

Executive Director of Communications

Richland County School District One

Masks Are Optional for Richland One Students and Staff

Superintendent's Book Club

We are so excited to participate in this year’s Superintendent's Book Club. Students in grades prekindergarten – eighth who either read 100 picture books or ten chapter books between March 2 and May 6 will become members of the club. New book club members will receive prizes and an invitation to a reading celebration.


As a school, we will also be awarding prizes to the top two readers in both PreK-2nd Grade and 3rd-4th Grade each month. Make sure your child is logging all the great books they are reading at home on their reading log. Please also note, that books read aloud to them count as well.


Happy Reading!

Register for the 2022-2023 Pre-K Program Now!

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Free COVID-19 Test Kits

If you have not placed your order for 4 free rapid COVID-19 test kits through the government at the following website www.covidtests.gov, please do so today! Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

2021-2022 COVID-19 TRACKING DASHBOARD

Click the banner above for the most recent COVID-19 cases and quarantines in the district. The COVID-19 tracker is updated by 4 pm each evening.

21-22 COVID-19 Mitigation & Safety Protocols

Click the banner above to view the COVID-19 Mitigation and Safety Protocols (revised 3-11-2022).

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Read to Succeed

Read to Succeed

Attendance...What You Need to Know

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ThriveRichland Spark Time (Virtual ) Play Group

Richland School District One Student Technology Replacement Fees

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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-Neighborhood News & Community Connections-

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Tutor.com Offers Free, Real-time Tutoring for All South Carolina Residents

The South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina State Library (SCSL) have partnered with Tutor.com to address the continuing academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership will span the next three years and is funded through the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER).



  • Tutor.com is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for English and Spanish speakers.
  • Connect with a tutor on various subjects, such as math, science, language arts, social studies, world languages, computer literacy, and AP courses.
  • Tutor.com offers test prep assistance, skills coaching, and help with specific math and essay-writing questions.
  • Unlock even more features with a Tutor.com account. Creating a Tutor.com account is optional and not required to connect with a tutor.



Visit scdiscus.org to get started. If you don't know the Discus login information, contact discusoffice@statelibrary.sc.gov.

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Free Tuition for Technical Colleges in South Carolina

Good afternoon,


Below are links about a recent educational opportunity in South Carolina that may be beneficial for high school students within the district and/or parents/caregivers within your school communities interested in continuing their education. This initiative, SC Workforce Scholarships for the Future, has been designated $17 million in GEER funding for the Spring semesters. The governor is asking Congress for an additional $24 million from the American Rescue Act funds to extend the program through June 2024.


This initiative allows any adult in South Carolina the opportunity to attend one of sixteen technical colleges for free if they choose to major in a high-demand career preparation program including: construction, nursing, manufacturing, technology, hospitality/tourism, and early care and education.


Links with more information:

· South Carolina technical colleges free tuition: how it'll work | wltx.com

· McMaster: Pandemic cash for free 2-year degrees (live5news.com)


Hope this helps!



Laurann Gallitto Patel, MMFT

Lead Regional Family Engagement Liaison

Midlands Region

GALLITTL@mailbox.sc.edu

803-687-3460


Carolina Family Engagement Center

College of Education

University of South Carolina

820 Main Street

Columbia, SC 29208

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UofSC String Project Information

The University of South Carolina String Project directed by Dr. Gail V. Barnes is the model for university string programs across the country. This nationally recognized program caters to children 3rd-5th grade & adults. Click above for more info.

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DHEC - Richland County Health Department

Dates and Times

Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30


Further Information

  • Limited quantity of SELF-ADMINISTERED COVID RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS available
  • Self-Administered COVID-19 PCR Test Kits are also available
  • Call ahead for availability



Appointment Needed: No

Referral Needed: No

Pediatric Testing Available: Yes

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