Cheetah Chronicles
August 23rd, 2020
Reminders
August 24th: Student Material Distribution
August 25th: First Cheetah Pride Night! Marco's Pizza!
Positivity Project: Intro Week- Other People Matter Mindset
We will be kicking off our work with Positivity Project for the 2020-2021 School Year this week! Teachers will spend time with students discussing what the Positivity Project is all about- reviewing the model with our returning students and introducing the model to our new Cheetahs. Positivity Project offers many great discussion opportunities for your family, so be sure to ask your student what they are learning in regards to P2 each week!
"If you're not making someone else's life better, then you're wasting your time. Your life will become better by making other lives better." --Will Smith
School Distribution: August 24th
Monday, August 24th Pick up Event:
Last Name- letters A-G: 10:00-11:00
Last Name- letters H-N: 1:00-2:00
Last Name- letters O-S: 2:00-3:00
Last Name- letters T-Z: 3:00-4:00
Last Name- Letters A-N: 5:30-6:30
Last Name- Letters 0-Z: 6:30-7:30
Library Book Return: August 24th
Calling All 1st-5th Grade Students! It’s finally time to return the library books that you borrowed during the 2019-2020 school year. Look on your bookshelves, your night stands, under your beds! There will be a drop box available for you to return these books when you come to pick up your student materials on Monday, August 24th. The book drop box will be located near the flag poles in the carpool loop. We appreciate your effort to get these books returned to us so that we may begin sharing books with students for the 2020-2021 school year soon! If you are coming to us from another Wake County School, those books may be dropped at our location as well. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Dixon at sfdixon@wcpss.net 📚
Kindergarten Families
Speaking of Orientations, if you have a kindergarten student, you might want to check out this video from the WCPSS Family Academy. K Orientation Presentation from WCPSS Family Academy
Online Learning and Teaching
Online Learning and Teaching is going to be different this year than it was in Spring 2020. We will be providing instruction for new information and standards. This year, students will be engaged in a full day of learning. However, their day will be a combination of online and offline learning and practice and will look much like a regular school day. WCPSS has identified standards that were not taught during the Spring and has built the time and resources needed for us to teach the standards into the school year. Attendance will be taken and assignments will be graded. Please review the WCPSS Guidelines for Roles and Expectations for Students and Families in the Blended and Online Learning Environment.
Please initially help your child with logging in, and understanding the mute and video buttons. He or she may initially need your support with the Google Classroom, but the teacher will be working hard to help them learn to navigate it, as well. Here is a video that may provide additional support for you: How to Navigate the WCPSS Virtual Platforms and the link to WCPSS tech guide for families can be found here.
As we partner together to ensure the best learning experience for all students, we know there will be challenges to Blended and Online learning. We have tried to provide breaks within the day to allow for a mix of online instruction, followed by offline and/or independent practice. Teachers will work closely with families to provide support and understanding as we navigate the year. Please give your child and family time to adjust to this new process, and know we will make adjustments and build in appropriate supports if needed. Communication with your child’s teacher is key! The online learning/virtual schedule that will be in place starting August 31st will be provided in the Cheetah Chronicle next Sunday.
Chromebook and Hotspot Distribution
**The district worked hard last week to get out as many devices as possible, they were able to distribute devices to all high school and modified calendar students. They hope to pick up the pace this week to get more devices out, do not fret if you have not received your email yet as they were working through those two groups first, be on the lookout this week for your email.
You will receive information from WCPSS on technology pick-up sites and procedures. Please wait to go collect your device until you have received an email from WCPSS stating that your student's device is ready to be picked up. (Please note that our school is not one of the pickup sites.) Apex High School appears to be the closest distribution site to our school at this time. The distribution date for the devices is scheduled to begin the week of August 17th. You will also be provided with information to support your use of the devices, and how to access additional help if needed. All students in the household should have access to their own device with a keyboard. If you need a device and did not complete the survey, please call us at 919.557.2660 as soon as possible. You may also email Emily Quigley at equigley@wcpss.net.
School Supplies
Deadline Extension for Immunizations and Health Assessments
Childcare During Remote Learning
Single Subject Accelaration
Updates to Food and Lunch Distribution
Plans for curbside service at strategic locations are being determined along with designated service times for food distribution for students engaged in remote learning and the VA. Please know, however, that after August 31, 2020, based on current federal regulations, the following items would apply to meals:
Students eligible for free and reduced-price meals will receive free meals. Remember that you have to apply each year for free or reduced-price meals. You can find the online application and more information here: https://www.wcpss.net/meals.
Students not eligible for free and reduced-price meals will have to pay.
Under current regulations, a student ID number will be required for meals as proof of enrollment and the adult must prove they are the parent/guardian if the student is not present.
School Messenger Updates
You can opt-in to receive School Messenger updates via text message by texting YES to the shortcode 67587 or replying with a YES to the opt-in text message we will send to your phone.
More information on School Messenger, including how to manage the manner and devices you get messages delivered to you, can be found here.
Holly Springs Elementary School Office Hours
Please be aware that during the school closure, access to our school remains limited as cleaning and preparations for the new school year are in full swing. However, should you have school business that must be handled in person, please be aware of the school Office Hours:
Tuesdays: 8:00-2:30
Wednesdays: 9:00- 3:00
These hours will remain in place until students are back in the building for learning or until an alternate announcement has been made. Please reference the face covering requirements below and know that in order to protect our staff and for your safety, a mask must be worn while on campus. Please also limit individuals entering the building with your party to only those necessary for the visit.
Face Coverings
Tuesday, in his announcement about the reopening of schools, Governor Cooper shared new information regarding elementary children and face coverings. The previous information we had was that face coverings would be optional for elementary, and mandatory for middle and high school. (Employees are also required to wear face coverings.) Here is the information we received:
“All students will be expected to wear face coverings when they are anywhere on school grounds and while traveling on buses, vendor transportation or other WCPSS vehicles. Exemptions will still be allowed for individuals who cannot tolerate a face covering due to developmental, medical, or behavioral health needs or due to a sincerely held religious belief. The state announced it will provide five face coverings for every K-12 student and school employees.”
Face Coverings Mandatory in North Carolina
North Carolina will require face coverings of your choice for all Central Office staff and school staff, adult visitors, and all school aged children when they are or may be within six feet of another person, including:
- inside school buildings and anywhere on school grounds, including outside;
- while traveling on buses or other WCPSS vehicles; and
- at all WCPSS work sites.
Updates from the Parent Teacher Association
There is an APP for that!
DID YOU KNOW THE PTA HAS AN APP?
With the school year starting off virtual our app will be the best way for you to stay updated. It's never been easier to access the school calendar, class & teacher information, district information, fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, purchase spirit wear & paw prints, and so much more! AND, by installing our app, you will receive important announcements and friendly reminders about what’s happening at our school.
Search for our school or use these links to download our app today. You'll have a handy icon on your phone and with just a tap or two, you can be connected to our school!
***Don't forget to accept push notifications so that you receive our text alerts! You can do this by clicking on the symbol in the top left corner of the app.***
iTunes: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1481853108
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_hollyspringses.layout
Go Play Save
The PTA is selling Go Play Save books this year for $30! Paper book orders will be filled mid September but mobile books are ready to use immediately! If you purchase a paper book you will be contacted with dates you can them pick them up. PTA earns 50% profit on all sales!
Use this link to start selling/purchasing books: www.goplaysavetriangle.com/store/HSES2021 or the Holly Springs Elementary School PTA App on your phone!
Click here- https://bit.ly/2DwnZUZ to check out what vendors are participating this year! Thanks for supporting our PTA and the local businesses that participate in the Triangle Go Play Save books!
Cheetah Pride Night: Marco's Pizza
Our first Cheetah Pride Night event is next week at Marcos Pizza in Holly Springs! You don't have to cook or leave your house, your kids are excited about having pizza for dinner and you are supporting the PTA & your school. It is a WIN for everyone!
Tuesday, August 25th ALL DAY
Order here: www.Marcos.com
**When ordering online make sure to select FUNDRAISER under the menu tab. That is the only way we get credit!
Boosterthon
This year, in light of HSES starting off online, we will be holding our annual Fall Boosterthon Fun Run in a Virtual manner! More details to come as the date gets closer! Reserve your free T-shirt before August 31st for a tentative pickup on September 17th. We’ll email you more detailed info at a later date.