Greetings Seawell Seahawk Families,

As we enter into the season of family events, traditions, holidays, and breaks I want to remind everyone of the importance of leaning into time with family and friends. Recent events on Virginia and Idaho's college campuses, respectively, often bring what matters most to the forefront for me. While we did have our lockdown drill on November 14th, please know that we are continuing to evaluate our protocols and infrastructures to ensure safety for everyone!

This week has given me experiences that I will not soon forget:) We had our first post COVID Fall Dance!!! Thank you to the PTA, parents, Y volunteers and Seawell staff for working together to make this experience possible for so many excited students and families.

This week we presented an overview of our School Improvement Plan and this information will be shared with you in December. Our School Improvement team and staff have provided input about how best to actualize district goals and school goals in our learning community.

This week is a short one as we will have early release on Tuesday, November 22 (11:30 dismissal time) and a teacher workday on November 23. Whether you are staying home with family, traveling or cooking with friends, enjoy your Thanksgiving break.

• Join the PTA for just $10 per person or sponsor a Seawell teacher or staff member for only $5 by clicking on the MemberHub link. As a PTA member there is no obligation to attend the PTA meetings or volunteer. We welcome other family members too, such as grandparents, to become PTA members, too!

• Volunteer with the PTA! There are several vacant positions, including PTA president. We are still looking for members of the yearbook committee and would love some volunteers! If interested in volunteering, please send an email to ptaseawell@gmail.com.

• The 2022 Fall PTA Fundraiser is here. Support your favorite causes: Critter Corner, Field Day, Book Fair, cultural activities and so much more! 100% of EVERY donation goes to Seawell Elementary School. NO amount is too small. Donate at: https://seawell.memberhub.com/store/items/793476

Thank you for your generosity.

• The Book Fair is Coming December 5th-9th! Check out our Book Fair site! Browse books, set up your child's eWallet for easy and safe shopping, and sign up for volunteer shifts. Online shopping starts 12/2! Seawell Book Fair

• Please Donate to the Book Fairy Fund Now! All donations provide books for students in need. Please consider donating to our book fairy fund so that we can ensure that every student in need can receive a book of their choice! Book Fairy Fund

• Volunteers Needed! Daily volunteers are needed to run the registers, straighten the shelves, and help students shop. It's fun and easy and sometimes we even have snacks! We need your support to make sure the book fair runs smoothly. Please consider signing up for a shift. Sign Up Here!

• Bake sale on Monday, December 5 after school hours (2:30 to 4) during the book fair. All proceeds will benefit the PTA. Donate individually wrapped baked goods with allergens labeled.

• 2023 Reflections competition. Calling all artists, dancers, musicians, photographers, and writers! The Seawell PTA is hosting the Reflections Arts Program again this year and is looking for students to unleash their inner artists. This year's theme, Show Your Voice, calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts. All entries are due by Thursday, December 1, 2022.

• A student entry form must be completed and accompany each Reflections entry. Visual art entries must be submitted in-person to Ms. Reid's Reflections box. Dance, music, and film production entries must be submitted virtually to jen.g.handy@gmail.com. Literature and photography entries can be submitted in-person or electronically. To obtain a student entry packet for official rules and the entry form, visit the Seawell PTA website at https://sites.google.com/view/seawell-pta/home. Students may also pick up packets from Ms. Reid during art class.

Seawell had 1 positive COVID-19 cases during the week of November 14-18.

CHCCS encourages eligible students and staff to get an updated COVID-19 booster. The updated bivalent booster is now available for people 12 and older (two months after they finish their primary series or any booster dose). It offers the most up-to-date protection against the latest Omicron variants. The booster, like all COVID-19 vaccines, is safe to get alongside your annual flu vaccine. The CDC also recommends a third dose for children 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems. Click on these links for vaccination locations and more information on COVID-19 boosters

Families, please be sure to follow the following guidelines :

• Masks: In general, CHCCS remains a mask-recommended, but optional district. Masks continue to be provided for students and staff upon request. Exceptions to this protocol are outlined on our website as well as the below paragraph about COVID-19 positive staff/students.
• Also: Schools will no longer require masking in the entire building when there are clusters of 5+ positive cases in a small group or a cumulative total of 15+ positive cases in a school. More on this below.
• Symptomatic Staff/Students - Will be required to provide*:
• A negative PCR COVID-19 test, or
• 2 negative Antigen (Rapid) tests separated 24 hours apart in order to return to work/school, or
• An alternative diagnosis from a primary care provider.
• *This is not for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is to prove that the COVID-like symptoms being experienced are not COVID-19. Individuals who choose not to test for COVID-19 or get an alternative diagnosis from their primary care provider are required to follow the COVID-19 positive staff/students guidance.
• COVID-19 positive Staff/Students - Must quarantine for 5 days and can return on day 6 as long as they are free of vomiting, diarrhea, and fever without the use of medication and all COVID-19 like symptoms are improving (they do not need to be resolved). The individual needs to continue to wear a mask at work/school while indoors for an additional 5 days after returning. Please contact your school nurse for additional information and guidance on returning to work/school.

Native American Heritage Month Information - feel free to explore resources and information that educates about the Native American culture.

Question to Ponder....What was the first story you heard about Native Americans or American Indians?

November 22

• 3-Hour Early Dismissal (11:30)

November 23- 25

• Teacher Workday/Thanksgiving Break

December 1 - School Improvement Team Meeting@5:30pm (Virtual)

December 5-9

• Winter Book Fair

December 19 - January 2

• Teacher Workday/Winter Break

Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC)

Scan the QR code to learn more and receive SNAC communications:

(tap and hold on your phone)

Meeting Topic: Executive Functioning

Tuesday, December 13, 6:00-7:30 PM

Zoom Meeting Link

Please join us for the December SNAC meeting! Tania Treml and Kate Kennedy from our school district will discuss Executive Functioning. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you at the December meeting.

Can’t attend in person? Watch the playback of our meeting on the SNAC website http://snac.chccs.k12.nc.us/. Students should not attend SNAC meetings without the supervision of an adult.

SNAC is a group of parents, district staff, and community professionals working together for the continuous improvement of the CHCCS Exceptional Children's program. Our purpose is to promote inclusion in our schools. If your child currently has (or recently had) an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 plan, is medically fragile, or has learning differences, then it is in your interest to get involved with SNAC.

Join our SNAC email list to be kept up to date on SNAC activities - email us at snacofchccs@gmail.com

Consejo Asesor de Necesidades Especiales (SNAC)

Escanee el código QR para obtener más información y recibir comunicaciones de SNAC

Tema de la reunión: Reunión de partes interesadas

Martes, 13 de Diciembre, 6:00-7:30 p. m.
Zoom Meeting Link

¡Únase a nosotros para la reunión de SNAC de diciembre! Tania Treml y Kate Kennedy de nuestro distrito escolar hablarán sobre el funcionamiento ejecutivo. Todos son bienvenidos y esperamos verlos en la reunión de diciembre.

¿No puedes asistir en persona? Vea la reproducción de nuestra reunión en el sitio web de SNAC http://snac.chccs.k12.nc.us/. Los estudiantes no deben asistir a las reuniones de SNAC sin la supervisión de un adulto.

SNAC es un grupo de padres, personal del distrito y profesionales de la comunidad que trabajan juntos para la mejora continua del programa CHCCS Exceptional Children. Nuestro propósito es influir en la política del distrito en temas de la CE y promover la inclusión en nuestras escuelas. Si su hijo actualmente tiene (o tuvo recientemente) un Programa de Educación Individualizada (IEP), un plan 504, es médicamente frágil o tiene diferencias de aprendizaje, entonces le interesa participar en SNAC.

Únase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico de SNAC para mantenerse actualizado sobre las actividades de SNAC; envíenos un correo electrónico a snacofchccs@gmail.com. Al igual que nosotros en Facebook, infórmese sobre las actividades locales

• Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) website linked here

• Ms. Lindsay Guge Cozon is our representative

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!

We’re hiring! CHCCS is hiring for a wide variety of available positions including Exceptional Children (EC), dual language, math and science teachers…plus bus drivers, facilities, maintenance and IT staff. Know someone who wants to join the CHCCS team? Please help us by using your networks on LinkedIn to share our posts and spread the word! Note that Seawell is still searching for:

• Fifth Grade LEAP teacher
  
• Instructional Assistants
  

Please call Seawell at 919.967.4343 ext 33201 or email ssilberstein@chccs.k12.nc.us to report absences and tardies.

Educational leave for students must be requested at least ten days in advance utilizing this form.

We are now able to have parent volunteers in our learning spaces again! In order to assist you with this process, please access the volunteer registration link . Note that you must go through the district volunteer process before beginning to actively volunteer in your child's classroom/school.