Cheetah Chronicles
November 7th, 2021
Important Dates
November 11th: Veterans Day - No School
November 12th: Non-instructional Day for Students - No School
November 15th: Track 3 Only - Non-instructional Day for Students - No School
November 16th- Firehouse Subs Cheetah Pride Event
November 24th-26th: Thanksgiving Holiday - No School
December 2nd: O'Holly Night
December 3rd: Tracks 3 & 4 Quarter 2 Interims Go Home
Interested in a position?
We are currently seeking interested candidates to teach a special K-5. We are also seeking interested candidates for a Cross Categorical Instructional Assistant Position. If you are interested, please reach out to dclark2@wcpss.net
Thank you!
Thank you to all families for the calm and patient support shown during Friday’s and Monday’s transportation challenges. Our families have been amazing and shown great flexibility in providing our staff and teachers with the information we needed to get our students home safely.
Reminder: School Calendar Changes
We wanted to share this information again, as it affects all of our families. The Board of Education made November 12 a non-instructional day for students and a reflection day for staff. (Tracks 1-2-4), There is NO SCHOOL for students on this day.
Track 3 students do not have school on Monday, November 15, 2021. This was a school board decision to provide a day of reflection for students and staff. Since T-3 was tracked out, their day was moved to November 15.
PTA: FIREHOUSE SUBS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH 10:30AM - 9PM
Join us for our November Cheetah Pride Event with Firehouse Subs! ALL DAY on Tuesday, November 16th, Holly Springs Elementary will receive 20% from every single order! Make sure you spread the word! Enjoy some yummy subs and help make HSES a better place at the same time!
PTA: O'HOLLY NIGHT
PTA: DECEMBER 6th VOLUNTEER LUNCH COVERAGE
The HSES PTA will be hosting a Holiday Luncheon for our teachers and staff on Monday, December 6th. Students from tracks 2, 3, and 4 WILL be in school this day. In an effort to give our teachers a bit more time to enjoy their lunch, we are looking for volunteers who would be available Monday, December 6th from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm to help watch students during their lunch period. You MUST be a WCPSS VOLUNTEER in order to be allowed into the school (you can sign up at school anytime during school hours). Please be aware that students will be unmasked while eating their lunch. A schedule is being created to determine how many volunteers we will need but we wanted to gauge interest and availability. We will touch base ASAP to let you know if you are needed as a volunteer. Thank you so much! Please reach out (madisonlisbethwhitley@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
The sign-up genius can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4AADAD29AB9-december
Kindergarten Registration
WCPSS Early College and Magnet Fair Opportunities
If you are interested in finding out more about the WCPSS Early College or Magnet School options, you can access that information here: Magnet & Application Schools Information
Decline Transportation Information
If your child is not accessing the school bus as a method of transportation but is currently registered, please use the link below to decline transportation services. This will help the transportation department make sure that the stops and routes assigned to drivers are as efficient as possible.
VOLUNTEERS
New Information: Parents, please make sure that you are registered by October 29th, 2021 in order to volunteer in any future things we may have here at HSES. You can come to school to register anytime between 9:30-3:00. The office staff will provide an iPad for you to use to sign up right in the front of the school.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit currently requires schools to limit nonessential visitors.
At HSES, we will communicate with our families as we have a need for essential volunteers. There are no visitors/volunteers at this time.
Reactivation for Continuing Volunteers for 2021-2022
Reactivating volunteers may go to any WCPSS work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Individuals previously approved to volunteer must reactivate by 4 p.m. on October 29, 2021.
Current volunteers, who provided a valid email address, will receive an email 15 days and 30 days prior to the expiration of their volunteer status reminding them to reactivate.
NEW Volunteers for 2021-2022
All new volunteer applicants must register and have an approved criminal record check prior to engaging in volunteer work.
New volunteer applicants may go to any WCPSS work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Applicants will be notified by email once their application has been approved.
Applicants who are not approved will receive notice from Employee Relations.
New Registration Process for WCPSS Employees who Want to Volunteer
Although WCPSS employees do not have to go through a criminal record check to volunteer, they will now need to register.
COVID-19 School Protocol Changes
HERE is a letter sent via school messenger on Friday, August 20th regarding COVID-19 school protocol changes. If you have not read the letter, please take the time to do so.
Breakfast & Lunch Menu with Meal-Viewer
Monthly breakfast and lunch menu PDFs will no longer be posted on our district website.
Menus will now be available on our interactive website, MealViewer.
On the MealViewer website, families can:
- Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
- See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
- Choose menu items based on allergens
- View nutrients for each menu item
- Add nutrients for meals eaten, even partial meals
- Submit ratings on your favorite items
- Print menus
New Registration Process for WCPSS Employees who Want to Volunteer
Has Your Phone Number/Email Changed?
Positivity Project: Tracks 1 & 2 Optimism
This week students will learn about optimism. Hope and optimism represent a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future-oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. They keep a positive attitude despite setbacks – and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieve their goals.
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear any hardship today.”
-THICH NHAT HANH
Positivity Project: Track 4 Kindness
This week students will learn about kindness. Kindness has been a foundation of moral and spiritual life across cultures and religions throughout history. This character strength is grounded in the belief of a common humanity in which others are worthy of care, attention, affection, and compassion. Aristotle defined kindness as, ”helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped.”
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
-AESOP
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
Here Comes the Bus App
Counselor Connection
This week our SEL lessons focused on self-control, which was also our P2 Character Trait. We used words in K-2 like “stay cool” and “there’s a time and a place for everything”. In 3-5, we discussed how our actions determine consequences, good or bad and how to break the chain/cycle of negativity.
Shannon O’Neal at soneal2@wcpss.net
Martha Frank at mfrank@wcpss.net
Technology Tips & Resources
CHARGE! 🔋
Please help your child have a successful day during classroom instruction and specials by making sure their Chromebook is fully charged EVERY SINGLE night.
Thank you 😊 Mrs. Quigley
ESL Updates
Access Test Results have been sent to the school. If you are a parent of an ELL student you should be receiving these soon in your child’s purple folder.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Rodgers.
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
- while traveling on buses or other WCPSS vehicles; and
- at all WCPSS work sites.
Updates from the Parent Teacher Association
PTA: Spirit Gear
PTA: Box Tops for Education
Did you know Box Tops are digital now? All you have to do is download the Box Tops app and take a picture of your receipt containing participating products for our school to get credit. Much easier than cutting Box Tops out and sending them into school. After you take a picture of your receipt you can give credit to your child's classroom. We will reward the class with the most Box Top submissions with a fun prize at the end of the year! Watch the video below for instructions.
Doing all your shopping online? Here are instructions on how to submit digital receipts: https://www.boxtops4education.com/emailgroceryreceipts
**Still have physical Box Tops? We are collecting all non-expired box tops too! Just send them in to school in a plastic baggie, envelope, etc.**
PTA: AMAZON WISH LIST & AMAZON SMILE
Help us show our teachers and staff some LOVE! We have created an Amazon Wish List with snacks, treats, drinks, k-cups, and more. You can order and pay through Amazon and have it sent directly to the school. We strive to keep the teacher’s lounge stocked with snacks, coffee, and tea. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Check out the list on Amazon. Make sure you shop with smile.amazon.com and make Holly Springs Elementary School PTA your charity. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases - at no cost to you. Thank you!
Download our App!
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Simply search for our school in your App Store 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!
iTunes: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1481853108
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details...
Thank you to our sponsors: Blue Water Pediatric Dentistry and Mathnasium!
Become a PTA Member!
Why should you join the PTA?
- Get Involved: The #1 reason why every parent should join the PTA is for the benefit of your child! Research shows that children perform better when parents are involved both at home and at school.
- Advocacy: Power in numbers
Access resources: Free e-learning courses, e-newsletter Be in the know: PTA Takes Action Network provides updates on legislative issues Becoming a member of the PTA shows that you want to help support the programs and events that help enhance students' experiences at school. It does not obligate you to attend the PTA meetings or volunteer. You can join for $10 for an individual or $15 for a family here: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store?category=Memberships or look for a form to come home with your child this week or when you track ba
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 accounts from Harris Teeter, Lowes and Publix this school year please take a minute to do so. You have to do it every year. Fill out this form and the PTA will link your account for you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13XF20vPRsc1Phx29UeE-7JQs--fBKCTSWEMyxPadznA/edit
Thanks you for supporting our school!!