Panda Pulse
March 15, 2019
Important Dates to Remember
Wellness Week March 18th-22nd
Fifth Grade Tea Friday, March 22nd
PTA 411 morning session Tuesday, March 26th from 9:15-9:45am
PTA 411 evening session Wednesday, March 27th from 6:00-6:30pm
Hawaiian Spirit Day Friday, April 5th
Jellybeans Spirit Skate Saturday, April 6th 5:15-7:00pm
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
- The Positivity Project - Weekly Character Trait
- Message for 5th Grade Parents
- Wellness Week
- PTA 411
- PTA Advocacy Update
- Jellybeans Spirit Skate
- Volunteer Spotlight
- Expanded School Zone
- Yearbook Photo submission site
This Week: FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is the ability to move past being injured and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Those who demonstrate forgiveness can see things from another person's perspective and have the ability to move forward. Forgiveness is rooted in the idea that all people are valuable and worthy of a second chance.
ATTENTION 5th GRADE PARENTS
Wellness Week
Our Health and Wellness Committee is preparing for our annual Wellness Week from March 18th- 22nd. Each day there will be something offered to our students (and staff) to emphasize the importance of healthy living.
Monday, March 18th: Mindfulness Monday: Start your day with YOGA! Come one, come all to the GYM before school at 8:50am for invigorating balancing yoga poses and breathing exercises to center your mind for the day.
Tuesday, March 19th: Jumping Jam! Parent volunteers will lead jumping activities at recess with each grade level. A Konstella sign up will be sent out. The Wellness Committee will be providing healthy treats for the teachers and staff!
Wednesday, March 20th: Zumba Class! Come to the GYM before school at 8:50am for some Zumba dance and exercise fun…get energized for your day!
Thursday, March 21st: Spring Walk to School Day Meet up at 8:20 am with fellow Penny Road families at the pool in the Cambridge neighborhood of Regency! (101 Killingsworth Drive, Cary, NC 27518) We will begin walking to school at 8:30 am. All children must be under the supervision of an adult.
Friday, March 22nd: 5-a-Day Fruit and Veggie Challenge Ends! You’ve met the challenge of eating 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day for two weeks. Now, see who will win some fun prizes. Prizes will be awarded as a lottery for participants and each grade level will have a winner! (Fruit and Veggie Challenge sheets are in students’ Friday Folders.)
PTA 411
Penny Road's PTA is so thankful for all the hard work, dedication, and support from our families this year. 2018-2019 has been phenomenal and we couldn't have done it without you. As this school year is coming to an end, the nominating committee will be selecting next year's Executive Board and gearing up for an amazing 2019-2020 school year! If you are interested in ways you can become involved in PTA, we'd like to invite you to attend one of our our PTA 411 events.
PTA 411 sessions: Tuesday, March 26 from 9:15 am - 9:45 am and Wednesday March 27 from 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm. This is an informal meet and greet where you'll have the opportunity to meet this year's PTA Executive Board members, ask questions, read about the roles and learn the ways you can become involved.
Joining the PTA Executive Board is a wonderful way to be an integral part of our school community. You play a role in making a difference in the lives of our kids and their teachers. This is a great opportunity to join a dedicated, enthusiastic and fun team with one common goal: Penny Road Excellence! If you are unable to attend the event please feel free to reach out to preptaofficer@gmail.com for more information.We look forward to seeing you there!
PTA Advocacy Update
The NC General Assembly is back in session and here are short blurbs about the most notable school-related bills that have been put forth. Citizens are encouraged to contact their NC General Assembly representatives to express support/opposition. To locate your NC representatives, click here.
Senate Bill 192 The School Security Act of 2019, would give teachers a 5 percent raise to become sworn police officers. The teachers could carry concealed weapons in their classrooms and would have arrest powers under the proposal.
House Bill 216 The School Self-Defense Act, would make it legal for teachers and staff members to carry concealed handguns on school grounds “to respond to acts of violence or imminent threats of violence.”
Senate Bill 28 would restore Master’s Pay for teachers with certain Master’s degrees. This bill requires that teachers who spend at least 70% of their work time teaching a subject related to their Master’s degree would receive a supplement to their current salary. The Master’s Pay supplement was previously removed in 2013.
School Spirit Skate!
Volunteer Spotlight
Help us keep Penny Road's campus in tip top shape! We are in need of a family to volunteer their time as our Buildings and Grounds Coordinators. Responsibilities include changing out the planters seasonally, organizing a few campus wide clean-ups throughout the year, as well as, anything else that the committee feels needs to be done! The time commitment is under your control, and the work can be done when it is convenient for you and your family! If you are interested, please email Amy Toland (tolandfam@gmail.com).
We are still in need of a Panda Pulse Editor! The Panda Pulse is compiled each week using Smore.com, an easy-to-use website that allows subscribers to design their own online flyers. Working on a deadline determined by the school administration and the PTA Board, the editor builds the newsletter each week and forwards it to Principal Hoke, the PTA President, and PTA VP of Communications for final approval (typically on Thursdays). Once reviewed, the Pulse is sent out to the school community by our office staff. This position is a great opportunity for someone who wants to be engaged (have their finger on the "pulse" of what's going on), but doesn't always have the time to be at school. If you have any questions, or would be willing to serve in this role, we would love to hear from you! Contact Amy Toland (tolandfam@gmail.com) for more information!
Expanded School Zone!
A friendly reminder from Town of Cary Transportation & Facilities:
Recently, the Town of Cary and NCDOT expanded the Penny Road School Zone to include Ederlee Drive. adjacent to Penny Road Elementary. The expanded School Zone is the first phase of a future sidewalk and mid-block crossing that will be constructed on Ederlee Drive.
The Cary Police Department has increased patrols of this new zone and has notified us that many motorists are not complying with the slower speed limits. They are currently monitoring the situation and have begun to give warnings. After an initial period, the CPD will issue citations. Our priority is to create a safe walking environment for kids walking to school.
For reference, School Zone tickets are hard to fight. They are difficult to get reduced and, in most cases, come with heavy fines. Questions? Feel free to contact Chris Little with the Town of Cary at: chris.little@townofcary.org
We still need your photos for the yearbook!
Contact Mandy Patterson at apatterson5@wcpss.net with questions.
Penny Road Elementary School
Email: preptaofficer@gmail.com
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/pennyroades
Location: 10900 Penny Road, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: 919-367-2136
Facebook: Facebook.com/PennyRoadPTA
Twitter: @PennyRoadES