The Bobcat Blaze
--April 16, 2021--
Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcats!
I certainly hope you all had an enjoyable Spring Break. It was great to have everyone back together this week. We were even welcomed back by lovely weather! Thank you to those of you who joined us for the PTO Trivia Night on April 15th. Please remember that report cards came home on April 15th as well so be sure to talk those over with your students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your students' grades, please email their homeroom teacher directly. If you have not had the opportunity to join us for a virtual School Improvement Council (SIC) meeting this year, our next meeting is at 3pm on April 21st and we would love for you to join us. Lastly, please be sure to review the information in this week's newsletter regarding our virtual parent orientation for rising Kindergarten students. We cannot wait to welcome our newest Bobcat family members next school year.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
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Important Dates and Upcoming Events
---APRIL---
April 15th-23rd.........................................Pie Smash March of Dimes Event (details below)
April 21st.................................................SIC Meeting (Virtual) 3pm
April 26th-April 30th................................Plant Sale, Heyward Career and Technology Center (details below)
April 28th.................................................Rising 5K Parent Orientation (Virtual) 5:30pm
April 30th..................................................Deadline the 2021 Youth Conservation Poster Contest (details below)
---May---
May 4th.....................................................................Joy of Parenting Workshop, 6 pm (details below)
May 18th...................................................................SC READY Writing (online) Grades 3-5
May 19th...................................................................SC READY Reading (online) Grades 3-5
May 25th...................................................................SC READY Math (online) Grades 3-5
May 27th...................................................................SCPASS Science (online) Grade 4
May 31st...................................................................Memorial Day Holiday, No School
Rising 5K Parent Orientation
Join Kindergarten teachers, Georgia (Hollowell) Carfley and Lauryn Schubiger for the Rising Kindergarten Parent Orientation! They have planned this virtual event for Wednesday, April 28th at 5:30 pm. Please click the flyer below to register!
MARCH OF DIMES FUNDRAISER
The Great Bobcat Pie Smash
You get to decide which staff member will "face' the Great Bobcat Pie Smash! As a part of the March of Dimes Fundraiser, students can cast their vote by placing a donation in the container of the staff member they would like to see getting smashed! Donation containers will be rolled to the classrooms throughout the week beginning Thursday, April 15th-Friday, April 23rd. The Pie Smash will take place via virtual assembly in May!
Participants for this year's Pie Smash are:
- Mrs. Aldridge, Principal
- Mrs. Evering, Assistant Administrator
- Mrs. Romanstine, CRT
- Mrs. Dantzler, Bookkeeper
- Mrs. Balthazor, School Counselor
- Ms. Faulks, Instructional Assistant
- Mr. Clamp, Art Teacher
- Mr. Hingleton, Special Education Teacher
- Ms. Britt, Pre-K Teacher
- Ms. Gowan, 2nd Grade Teacher
- Ms. Copeland, 2nd Grade Teacher
- Mrs. Hollowell, Kdg. Teacher
- Ms. Martz, 3rd Grade Teacher
- Ms. Madison, 3rd Grade Teacher
Thank you for your continued support of our fundraiser for the March of Dimes! This week our Bobcats showed their support for all babies and moms by purchasing Popsicles for Preemies!
Don't forget to send in your donations! An addition to supporting a good cause, you can also earn a spot in the March of Dimes Virtual Hall of Fame! Your name will be listed for every dollar you donate. Click on the link below to view the current March of Dimes Virtual Hall of Famers!
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District 2021 Poster Contest
The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District's deadline to enter the 2021 conservation education poster contest is rapidly approaching!
The 2021 Youth Conservation Poster Contest, open to all Richland County K-12 students, invites students to combine artistic skills with scientific knowledge to illustrate the theme "Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities." Students may design their posters/images digitally or on paper, but click here to submit your entry electronically (photographs or scanned images of paper illustrations may be submitted as .jpg, .png, or .pdf files).
Cash prizes for successful entries are available! Entries are due by April 30, 2021. Below is a brochure on the contest. View more background information and entry instructions here.
Annual Plant Sale
The Horticulture Program at Heyward Career and Technology Center is preparing for their Spring Plant Sale on April 26th thru 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be an assortment of vegetables, annuals, perennials, indoor plants, herbs, and hanging baskets for sale. See the flyer for more details.
Joy of Parenting Workshop
COVID-19 Vaccination Sites for April
Richland County Health Department (Public health provider – public health clinic)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Moderna
2000 Hampton St. , Columbia , SC 29204
1-855-472-3432
Walgreens #11433 (Pharmacy - chain)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Moderna
1941 Blossom St, Columbia, SC 29205
CONTACT THIS PROVIDERPrisma Health Baptist (Hospital)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Pfizer
Taylor @ Marion St., Columbia, SC 29203
833-277-4762Free COVID-19 Testing Sites for April
DHEC-Tour Health - DHEC Parking Lot
Dates and Times for April
Open weekdays: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Further Information
- Please register using the link below
- Appointment Needed: No
- Referral Needed: No
- Pediatric Testing Available: Yes
Address: 2600 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
Contact Details: https://www.tourhealth.com/
Customer Service Number: 866-416-6341
SCHOOL NEWS
BOBCATS IN ACTION!
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A Bobcat Spotlight...Ms. Kozeny's 3rd Graders
In Ms. Kozeny's 3rd grade class, students submitted reviews about book selections they completed. Below you will find book reviews by June Heyden, Piper Wolfram and Lily Rankin.
A Bobcat Spotlight...AC Moore is NAEYC Accredited!
AC Moore has received a renewal of it's accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)!
Early childhood programs accredited by NAEYC Accreditation of Early Learning Programs have voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study and continuous quality improvement.
NAEYC Accreditation is awarded for a five-year term. During that period, programs submit annual reports documenting that they are consistently meeting the NAEYC program standards. All NAEYC-Accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits by skilled and reliable NAEYC program assessors to ensure that they continue to meet the standards.
A special congratulations to the Early Childhood educators for their efforts in preparing for the renewal process and for their hard work and dedication to the Bobcat students!
Fall Re-Cap for AiR
During the Fall semester, our Bobcat students had an opportunity to engage in several educational opportunities through the Artist-in-Residency (AiR) program. We appreciate the efforts and information delivered by our artists and would like to say a special thank you to them and to the Bobcat related arts and classroom teachers for making AiR a great experience for students. Please click the banner below to view the Fall recap video prepared by Mrs. Warren. We look forward to featuring more classes and students in the Spring.
Wellness Watch
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: The Health Benefits of Gardening
A home, community, or school-garden provides the perfect setting to explore the wonders of nature. Now that it is spring, there is no better time to start planning a garden!
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of gardening:
- Gardening promotes healthy eating: Gardening can provide exposure to new and diverse foods. When children grow their own fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to try these foods. Creating a home garden is also a great way for families to spend time together and engage in outdoor physical activity.
- Gardening improves mood and reduces stress: As COVID-related "screen fatigue” increases, many families are looking for activities that do not involve technology. Tending a garden is the perfect way to take a brain break. In addition, gardening activities such as working with the soil and harvesting foods positively impact our body’s release of mood-boosting chemicals in the brain.
- Gardening provides opportunities for physical activity: Adults and children should strive for 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Digging, planting, and harvesting in the garden are all forms of physical activity.
- Gardening offers opportunities for experiential learning: A school-garden scavenger hunt is a great way for teachers to integrate nutrition into standards-based lessons in a variety of subjects, including math and social studies. During COVID-19, outdoor gardens are also a great way to help students socially distance while furthering their education.
- Gardening fosters social-emotional skills: Gardening teaches children basic life skills such as how to socially interact with others and develop skills such as sharing and taking turns. Working cooperatively allows children to develop a sense of self-confidence, teamwork, and responsibility as they create, plant, and tend to the garden. Gardening is also a good way for children to learn environmental responsibility by taking care of nature.
Attention Bobcat Families:
If any of your contact information has changed (phone number, address, email address, emergency contacts) since the start of the school year please contact database specialist Madolyn Thorpe at madolyn.thorpe@richlandone.org. We need the most accurate information in Powerschool to ensure you receive school communication.
School Improvement Council
Report to the Parents
This report is issued by the AC Moore Elementary School Improvement Council (SIC) in accordance with South Carolina law to share information on the school's progress in meeting various goals and objectives, the work of the SIC, and other accomplishments during the school year.
Information from your PTO
To stay up-to-date on PTO happenings, please click the link below to register for the Bobcat e-Blast! If you are currently receiving the Bobcat e-Blasts, you will still need to complete the form and provide your information. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVTMQYJ
Thanks,
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes (PTO chairs)
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Asi usted haya recibido el Bobcat e-Blast en el pasado, por favor complete esta informacion- estamos haciendo una nueva base de datos. Estamos planeando las reuniones del PTO los miercoles en la tarde, al comienzo virtualmente, por eso esten pendiente de los anuncios que haga la Directora Aldridge en el Bobcat Blaze (periodico de la escuela) para mas informacion de la primera reunion.
Gracias, y espero verlos pronto!
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes ( representantes del PTO)
Tech Tips
For Parents and Teachers...
Richland One IT Help Desk
You can get remote assistance by calling the IT Help Desk Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 803-231-7436.
Mark Your Calendars for...
Funny, Random, & Weird Holidays
Did you participate in a wacky holiday last week? Don't forget to send a picture of your family's celebration to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org. Here are a few weird holidays for your family to think about this week.
April 16.......................................................Eggs Benedict Day
April 16.......................................................Wear Pajamas to Work Day
April 17.......................................................Haiku Poetry Day
April 18.......................................................Columnist Day
April 20.......................................................Look Alike Day
April 22.......................................................Jelly Bean Day
April 22.......................................................Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
April 23.......................................................Take a Chance Day
April 23.......................................................Impossible Astronaut Day
April 23.......................................................Lover's Day
We Want to See Your Bobcat Student MAKING TRACKS!
We would love to share in your student's success by seeing them in action! Submit a photo of your Bobcat completing their asynchronous assignments and/or activities your student's picture can be featured in an upcoming issue of the Bobcat Blaze! Submit your photos to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org.
DISTRICT NEWS
Restart Strong
The newsletter provided below will gives an overview/update on the district’s transition to Phase 3 of the Restart Strong Reopening of Schools Plan. Click the link to get the most up-to-date information about the Phase 3 plan.
Parents, students and staff can now get up-to-date information about COVID-19 cases in the district through Richland One’s new online tracking dashboard.
A link to the dashboard, which will be updated daily, is posted on the Restart Strong page on the district’s website www.richlandone.org/restartstrong. In addition to listing the number of positive and quarantined COVID-19 cases among Richland One students and staff, the dashboard includes the number of cases at each district school and administrative building. It also shows daily, weekly and year-to-date summaries of the number of positive COVID-19 cases.
“Richland One’s goal in creating the COVID-19 dashboard is to provide the most accurate and current information possible to our community,” said Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon. “Having the same data allows us all to work together to better protect our students and staff.”
COVID-19 data is compiled daily by the district’s Nursing Services office and Accountability, Assessment, Research and Evaluation department. The information shown on Richland One’s dashboard may differ from the reports from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which are updated on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Media inquiries should be directed to the Richland One Office of Communications.
Registration Information for Pre-Kindergarten Programs
District Resources
ThriveRichland
ThriveRichland is a birth to four initiative established by Richland County School District One with the overall goal of increasing the percentage of children entering kindergarten ready to learn. The three major focus areas of ThriveRichland are:
High quality professional development and support for early childhood professionals
Comprehensive family wellness and engagement
Development of a plan for an early learning lab school within Richland One
ThriveRichland is offering families with children from birth to four and opportunity to join an online play group. Click the link below for details on how to sign up your family.
Connect with Us
Website: www.richlandone.org/Domain/26
Location: 333 Etiwan Avenue, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 343-2910
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acmooreelementary
Twitter: @ACMooreBobcats