Panda Family News
We Learn. We Collaborate. We Celebrate.
I had so many emotions on Friday as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that the state's schools will be closed for students for the rest of the 2019-20 school year in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Although the Panda Family will continue At Home Learning for the duration of the school year, I know it can never quite replace the learning, collaborating, and celebrating we get from being together in Pandaville.
My thoughts go out to those who have been directly affected by the virus in our own Panda Family and abroad, as well as to the health care workers and other unsung heroes who are on the front lines.
I have been #PandaProud of our staff's quick transition to At Home Learning. I am in awe of their willingness to learn new tools and collaborate with one another to do their best to support all students during this challenging and unique time. I also appreciate your continued partnership and I know this is a big transition for you as well.
Many thanks to you all for your understanding and patience as we have transitioned to At Home Learning. We will continue to revise our practices to best meet the needs of our Panda Family. Please complete the PES At Home Learning Family Survey to help us determine the most pressing areas of support and to identify what is currently working well.
Wishing you well #PandaFamily,
Miss Fisher
Things to Check Out
- PES At Home Learning Family Survey - please complete
- Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
- State Board Approved Year End Grading
- Feeding Site Updates
- PTA Letter: Teacher Appreciation Week
- #VirtualPanda BINGO
- PES At Home Website
- Kindergarten Registration
- #WPES #PandaNewsShow
- 2020-2021 Transportation Survey
- Spring Photos
- Student Services Team Survey
Pandas on Social Media!
Website: http://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/Domain/20
Location: Pittsboro, NC, United States
Phone: 919-542-3987
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbopta/timeline
Twitter: @pboroElementary
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Chatham County Families May Apply & Reapply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals
Those of us in School Nutrition Services of Chatham County Schools would like to share with our community that families may qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the COVID-19 pandemic and as it subsides. The additional resources provided through the approval process for free or reduced-price meals may be of benefit for families until respective household members return to work and become reestablished after these difficult times.
This information is to provide you with avenues and steps to prepare for the weeks and months to come as the effects of the pandemic subside. If families applied in the past and were denied free or reduced-price meals, they should apply again, accounting for status changes within the household. Families may apply online at lunchapplication.com, or they could pick up an application at one of our open feeding sites or bus stops. (Completed applications may be turned in for processing either at schools where meals are distributed.)
Once schools return to normal operations, families in August 2020 may begin applying online or submitting paper applications for the 2020-21 school year. If families do not reapply before October 5, 2020, free or reduced-price benefits will expire, meaning students will be expected to pay full price for meals.
Attention!
All children 18 years old and under, regardless of free and reduced-priced status, are encouraged to visit one of our schools or bus stops to retrieve free meals during our community feeding efforts related to COVID-19.
We are providing families this opportunity to apply for benefits during this crisis to help those who may qualify; their approval for free or reduced-price meals could enable them receive additional services they need now.
Please make sure your address and phone number are up to date. You may update your information by first calling the data manager at your student’s school. Due to school closures, if you are unable to reach your data manager, please contact Debbie Collins at 919-542-6400.
Global Student Service Center staff are available to assist with completing free and reduced applications for families as needed. Office hours are 9:00-11:00am and 1:00-3:00pm. Please contact:
José López GarcÃa 919-548-6365 jlgarcia@chatham.k12.nc.us
MarÃa Adela Diez 919-548-8833 mdiez@chatham.k12.nc.us
State Board Year-End Grading Policy
CCS Feeding Site Updates
Updated Time: 10:30-1PM Monday-Thursday
Hot breakfast and lunches for the day - FREE MEALS to ALL CHILDREN ages 18 and under
Food will be distributed curbside by School Nutrition staff and school employees to minimize safety concerns.
The food will be placed in safe and sanitized food containers with a safety label and instructions for safe food handling.
The service is open to all children regardless of where they attend school, and they do not have to reside in Chatham County.
A Note from the PTA: Teacher Appreciation Week
Hi Panda families,
We are planning some creative ways to say thank you to our teachers and staff during the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week on May 4-8th. One of the things we were hoping to put together is a thank you video and collage.
There are two ways to participate!
1. Have your kiddo(s) make a sign that says thank you and take a picture of them! The sign can simply say THANK YOU!, it can say thank you to a specific teacher/staff member, or it could even say WHY they are thankful for their teacher.
2. Record a video of your kiddo(s) saying thank you! Just like the picture, they can just say an enthusiastic thank you, they could thank a specific teacher/staff member, or they could say what they love most about their teacher.
You can email the pictures and videos directly to me - reed.rebecca3@gmail.com.
Please submit them no later than Friday, May 1st.
If you have any other ideas or suggestions of ways to thank our Panda staff, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Thank you in advance to everyone who participates.
Rebecca
#VirtualPanda Challenge - BINGO!!
PES At Home Learning Website
Remember you can access our PES At Home Learning Panda Family Site where we have tried to put all of our At Home Learning resources in one place.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration link for 2020-2021 has opened. Please use the link below to register.
https://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/Page/22373
Mrs. Berry will need 2 proofs of residency (copy of driver license and a bill), copies of birth certificate, immunizations, and a Kindergarten Health Assessment completed by your child's physician. The Health Assessment can wait until we return to school. Documents can be scanned and emailed to slberry@chatham.k12.nc.us. No worries if you are unable to scan, Mrs. Berry can catch the paperwork up later. If you have any questions regarding registration, please email her.
#WPES #PandaNewsShow
Last week's news! These are also posted daily on our Twitter feed and Facebook page.
*If you are being redistricted to Perry Harrison, you still need to complete the survey. Thank you!
Spring Photos
Student Services Team Referral Form
Mr. Dobbin and Mrs. Rowe are happy to chat with students about any anxieties they may be feeling, grief they may have experienced recently, or any other issue that is affecting their social/emotional health. If you would like to set up a time for Mrs. Rowe or Mr. Dobbin to chat with your student you can either fill out this google form: Student Services Team Referral Form, or email them directly at odobbin@chatham.k12.nc.us or arowe@chatham.k12.nc.us.