Cheetah Chronicles
December 13th, 2020
Reminders
December 14th-Picture Day-Cohort A 4th and 5th Grade
December 23rd-January 22nd-Winter Break/Track Out/MLK Day Holiday
January 25th-Students Track Back In
Virtual Literacy Nights: This Week! December 14th-17th!
Click HERE for the flyer that includes the times for each night as well as the title of the books that will be read! Please let Ms. McKinnon (jmckinnon@wcpss.net) know if you have any questions. We look forward to reading with you!
WCPSS Virtual Academy Registration for Spring Semester is CLOSED
12 Days of Winter Continues! Tomorrow, December 14th is Dress to Impress!
Fall Pictures are Tomorrow for Plan B Cohort A 4th and 5th and Makeups for K-3 Plan B Students
Mon, 12/14--Fall yearbook – Cohort A Grades 4/5 & Makeups
Want to know more about Restorative Practice and Community-Building Circles?
Wellness Sessions for Families
Positivity Project: Self-Control
This week, students will be learning about Self-Control. Self-control is the act of managing behavior in a way that positively influences goal attainment and living up to standards. Possessing this strength protects people from destabilizing emotional extremes. Those with self-control are able to limit impulsive behavior. They have the ability to experience and navigate difficulty while remaining poised.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
-MARCUS AURELIUS
P2 for Families
P2 for Families is an easy and effective way for families to discuss the importance of character strengths and positive relationships. It is differentiated for grades Pre-K – 2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each character strength follows a 1-1-3 model: 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to drive conversations around character at home.
Please choose your child’s grade level on the site linked HERE to be directed to all of the character strengths. CODE NEEDED: P2
Wake Lake Middle School is Having A Virtual Tour!
The West Lake Middle School community invites you to join us for this special, live streamed event tailored to you, our future families! A link will be posted on our website that will connect you to our YouTube Live stream where you can learn more about our Core Subjects, Electives,
Special Education offerings, Academic/Intellectually Gifted programs (AIG), and our overall innovative response to teaching and learning in this virtual setting. See the flyer below:
NEW PROCEDURES FOR 2021-22 SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT STRIPS
Each year, the Office of Student Assignment prints and distributes assignment strips that are sent home with students. These assignment strips notify parents/legal custodians of their student’s school assignment for the next school year, the level of transportation they are expected to receive, as well as a timeline of upcoming important dates.
Due to the uniqueness of this school year, the Office of Student Assignment has determined that assignment strips will be distributed differently to families this December. Some will be mailed, some will be given to students at school and some students will only be able to access their assignment strip in PowerSchool. Next year’s assignments are now available in PowerSchool.
Elementary School
Parents/legal custodians of students in Virtual Academy: Your student will receive their assignment strip via the mail. Strips will be mailed out prior to the December holiday break.
Parents/legal custodians of students that are in face-to-face instruction the week of December 14, 2020: Your student will receive their assignment strip at school if your student is scheduled to attend classes the week of December 14, 2020.
Parents/legal custodians of students rotating between remote learning and face-to-face instruction: Your student will receive their assignment strip via the mail if the student is not scheduled to attend face-to-face classes the week of December 14, 2020.
REMINDER: Free breakfast and lunch for all students during the 20-21 school year
All students (18 years of age and younger) will receive breakfast and lunch for free until June 30, 2021. Encourage your families to take advantage of this service. Learn about changes to meal service and view curbside pickup locations at wcpss.net/food.
Click HERE for more information.
FYI: FORM REQUIRED TO RECEIVE WINTER BREAK MEAL BUNDLES
Daily curbside and bus deliveries will not be operational from Tues., Dec. 22nd to Jan. 1. Child Nutrition Services will be offering free meal bundles that will be distributed Mon., Dec. 21 from 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. at select distribution sites.
The Winter Break Meal Bundle will include eight breakfasts and eight lunches. One meal bundle per child. You do not have to be a WCPSS student to receive meals, only 18 years of age or younger to qualify. The meals will be provided at no cost. Complete the Winter Break Meal Bundle Form by Fri., Dec. 4.
When ordering, please remember that you must have sufficient cooler/freezer space to store the complete bundle for each child for eight days (breakfast and lunch). Please click HERE to access the form to request a meal bundle.
Carpool Families
Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure social distancing and safety of your students. We are working to efficiently and effectively keep our carpool line moving. Please help us by doing the following.
Move car seats to the driver sides of the vehicles so that students may exit from the passenger side.
Ensure that your student knows how to buckle and unbuckle themselves into the car or their car seat.
Pull forward to the Holly Springs sign by the flag poles if you need to assist with a harness or seatbelt
Stay in your cars and do not exit vehicles during carpool. Once your student is loaded into the car, it is important that the car be ready to proceed forward.
Please do not drive around other cars to move forward, please wait in line until your car has been ushered forward.
Carpool Tag Registration for 2020-2021 School Year
Thanks!
Online Bus Attestation Form
If your child is going to ride a bus, you are required to submit this form stating that you and your child will abide by all health and safety protocols. Students are not permitted to ride the bus until this form has been submitted. Starting Monday, 11/30, if your family has not submitted this form, and your child is riding the bus, we will notify you of the need to carpool until the form is submitted. You will need to submit a separate form for each of your children who plan to ride the bus during the 2020-21 school year.
Here Comes the Bus App
Transportation Changes
Plan B Students: Preparing to Return to School
When your child returns to school, he/she will be expected to bring their Chromebook and any other materials we sent out at the start of the year to school with them. In addition, your child’s teacher has communicated if there are any additional supplies your child(ren) should need.
Please note, we cannot accept wipes, hand sanitizer, separate soaps or shared tissue boxes, as they do not meet the safety guidelines in place for the district.
Please review the details in the Return to Campus handbook, as it contains updated information about processes, protocols and expectations for our students. In addition, here are additional resources to review prior to October 26th:
- Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols and Technology Guidance ○ Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols Signature Page: This form MUST be signed and returned before your child’s first day. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Technology Guidance for returning to school
- Bring Your Own Device Agreement Form can be found here. If you plan to send a personal device, (NOT a WCPSS Chromebook), to school with your child, this form MUST be signed and returned before your child brings the device to school. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Practicing all 3 Ws will be expected all day long for students and staff, so if you have not even started these practices at home, now is the time:
- Wear a mask (over your nose to completely cover the nose & mouth)
- Wash your hands thoroughly (i.e., use soap & water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer)
- Wait at least 6 feet apart, even when wearing a mask
Click HERE for the letter sent to Plan B families with more information.
Important: Did a student/employee go home sick? Please remember that all household members must also go home
FYI: Immunization and Health Assessment Records Deadline Extended Again
Funding Available for Families Impacted by Remote Learning
To help support families impacted by remote learning, Wake County Government has launched a new assistance program called WakeSUPPORTS. WakeSUPPORTS provides funding to working parents, so they can afford to pay for their K-8th grade student to attend virtual school at a safe location with reliable oversight, or receive before and after school care. It also can pay for fees that accompany subsidized childcare for families who meet specific income criteria. To access this support fill out and submit the online form at wakegov.com/WakeSUPPORTS. The application is available in both in English and Spanish. Residents can also pick up an application in person at Wake County’s Swinburne, Northern Regional Center, Eastern Regional Center or Southern Regional Center. If you wish to obtain an application over the phone, you can do so by calling 919-212-7621 or you can email wakesupportschildcare@wakegov.com.
Technology Tips & Resources
Do you have questions about the Google tools your student is using at school? Do you want to know more about available features? Check out Google’s Tech Toolkit for Families and Guardians
Counselor Connection
Spend a few moments each day enjoying the company of your children this holiday season. It can bring your family closer and boost your mood. Try using extra downtime to do these things together as a family:
Use your talents to help others, volunteer and give back to the community.
Talk about your family's culture, heritage, values and spiritual beliefs. Cook together, for example, making favorite family recipes.
Find ways to play and laugh together. Consider making special cloth face coverings to wear during the holiday season
Aim to be present in the moment. Teach kids to use mindfulness and relaxation to cut down on stress.
Practice gratitude as a family.
American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright 2020)
Book Check Out/Pick Up-UPDATE
Library book request and pickup is going very well. We would like to extend the days books can be picked up to Monday-Friday 9:00-3:00. Book request and the book return is located near the bus loop under the front awning. On inclement weather days these items will be located in the front lobby. Students can check the "my Stuff" tab in their follet account to see when books have been checked out to them and are ready for pickup. How-to videos are located on the Follett page in the students Wakeid portal.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to email Ms. Dixon--sfdixon@wcpss.net.
ESL Updates
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.
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
Cheetah Pride Night
Gift Card Giveback Program
Are you planning on purchasing gift cards as Christmas gifts this year? Consider buying them from HSES and we get a little amount back for each one purchased and some are even discounted for you! Some of stores included Amazon, Lowes, Home Depot, Old Navy, Xbox Live and many more! Purchase at this link:
HSES Child Face Masks
Time to Relink your Grocery Cards!
This is an easy way to earn money for our school while you shop. If you haven't linked your grocery cards this school year please take a minute to do so. You have to do it every year. You can find these links on our app also.
Lowes Foods: https://rewards.lowesfoods.com/Account/SelectCard...
Harris Teeter:
https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education#/app/cms
Publix:
http://corporate.publix.com/.../corporate.../publix-partners
And you can link your Amazon account too if you haven't already!
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F
Thanks you for supporting our school!!