Friday Message
Friday, September 9th
Principal Updates
Hello PUE Families,
I hope all of our families had a relaxing holiday weekend! While it's hard to believe, Track 1 finishes their first 9 weeks today and tracks out. We hope you have a great track out! We also look forward to welcoming back Track 2 so that they and our other two tracks can finish their first quarter over the next three weeks.
I want to highlight that our PTA will be hosting a PUE Cleanup Day to help cleanup the grounds and flowerbeds on Saturday, Oct. 1. We will run a morning and an afternoon shift, but we appreciate any amount of time that you can donate.
A couple of highlights in this newsletter and the upcoming week:
- Picture Day Dates
- Signup for our PUE Cleanup Day on 10/1
- September Spirit Nights at local restaurants
- PTA Updates including how to join the PTA (click here).
- Important upcoming dates.
Please make sure to read through for more details and additional items. Everybody have a great weekend!
-Mr. Tunstall
Announcements
Picture Day
Our first picture day of the year will be next week, Wednesday 9/14 for Track 2 and 4. For Tracks 1 and 3, the date is 10/12.
Carpool Procedures
A special note for parents who approach PUE heading south on Pleasant Union Church Road during carpool. If you are arriving prior to 3:45pm at dismissal when the line begins to move, the safest move is to go and join the back of the carpool line that usually backs up heading in the northbound direction. I have had several reported almost accidents as parents wait, blocking both lanes of traffic, causing non-school traffic to try and dodge between the lines. This is especially problematic as it is only a two-lane road with lots of curves and blind spots. If you arrive heading southbound after 3:45, it should be less of a problem since the carpool line is at least moving at that point. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding with us and each other as there are no easy fixes for making carpool lines go much faster.
Third Grade Explorers Parent Meeting (for all parents of third grade students)
September 12 from 9:00-9:30
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cya-nmqs-vou
AIG Parent Meeting (for all parents of AIG students)
September 12 from 9:30-10:00
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cya-nmqs-vou
Breakfast/Lunch Accounts
A reminder that school meals are no longer automatically free for all students. Child Nutrition was able to provide free/reduced lunches to students who had previously qualified prior to covid, but they have had to start charging again this week. If you would like to apply for free/reduced lunch prices, please complete an application here.
You can access your child's account to put money on it on the website: www.MySchoolBucks.com.
Counselors' Announcements
We are starting a new character education incentive program at PUE this year! At the end of each month, teachers will nominate one student who has been demonstrating the character trait both inside and outside the classroom. We will be discussing that trait all month in guidance lessons as well. Each student will receive a personalized certificate to highlight all their hard work! Here are the Character traits for the next few months.
September: Respect
October: Honesty
November: Kindness/Empathy
December: Responsibility
PHMS Social Media Awareness Night
One of our community middle schools, Pine Hollow MS, is hosting a social media awareness night. The counselors at PHMS will be talking about how to help parents navigate the ever-changing world of social media and how to best be proactive as a parent. They will have two nights:
9/15- 6-7 pm
10/27- 6-7pm
Bus Expectations
If your child rides the bus, please take a moment to review WCPSS bus expectations. Bus safety is a priority and we want to ensure each student is able to have a smooth ride to and from school. Failure to follow these expectations may result in temporary or permanent suspension from the bus. All bus riders are expected to:
- stay seated when the bus is en route
- refrain from eating or drinking on the bus
- use the appropriate volume level (no yelling or screaming)
- keep hands and feet to themselves
- follow the bus driver's instructions
Bus Riders for 2022-2023
Please make sure to download the Here Comes the Bus App if you have not done so already to keep track of where the bus is on the route for the most up to date information.
Parents should also consider reaching out to the front office to be added to our Remind App list. When buses are extremely late or are cancelled completely, we will send messages out through that program which can be setup on your phone to be a text or push notification.
What to do when your child is sick...
Please keep sick children at home and do a Covid test (either PCR or at-home test) before returning to school. Send forward test results to rbritt@wcpss.net
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS include: Fever or chills | Cough | Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | Fatigue | Muscle or body aches | Headache | New loss of taste or smell | Sore throat | Congestion or runny nose | Nausea or vomiting | Diarrhea
WCPSS When to Return Guidelines
For the latest information regarding guidelines for students with a symptom of illness, students who tested positive for COVID-19, or students who have been exposed to COVID-19, please visit the WCPSS When To Return Website. The link is available below.
PUE PTA Information
Join PTA membership
We're past 250 members! 300 is our goal! Thank you for supporting students, teachers and families! Join online here.
Spirit Events
*Next Thursday, September 15-City Barbeque (9424 Falls of Neuse Rd.)-No need to make dinner! PUE will receive 20% of proceeds. Make sure to mention "Fundraiser A" to the cashier or order online here and enter "FundA" at checkout. More info here.
*September 28-Driftwood Cantina. More details to follow.
Instructional Teaching Assistant Week
Thank your IA the week of September 12! We love recognizing our hardworking teachers! Track 1 will celebrate their IA when they return to school.
PUE Landscaping Day Sign-up
Help make PUE campus beautiful on October 1! Sign-Up here. We need lots of help! Bring your family and friends.
Stock the Lounge
Thank you to all the families and friends that have contributed! We have enough to stock the lounge for the next couple of months!
PUE Yearbook
It's not too early to purchase your TreeRing yearbook. If you purchase by September 30, you get a 10% discount. That's the biggest discount they offer in the school year. You can start customizing your 2 free yearbook pages now. Go to TreeRing here and enter PUE passcode 1016071186223064.
PUE Media Center Volunteers Opportunities
We have two sign-ups. Please make sure you have done your background check before signing up.
1) Help shelve books before/after school. Sign Up Here.
2) Help assist kindergarteners in selecting and checking out books. Sign Up Here.
Donation Links
· Amazon-shop through Amazon Smile and 0.5% of the purchases will be donated to PUE
· Box Tops-just scan your receipt and proceeds will be sent to PUE
· Harris Teeter-link your VIC card online with PUE (returning families-add PUE again for this school year)
· Lowes- link your Lowes Food Fresh Rewards card with PUE
· Giveback in MemberHub gives amazing deals that donate back to PUE
Social Media
Like and follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
PUE PTA Website
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, Sept. 12
Track-in Day for Track 2
Wednesday, Sept. 14
Tracks 2 & 4 Picture Day
Saturday Oct. 1
PUE Clean-up Day