Cheetah Chronicles
January 16th, 2022
Important Dates
January 17th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 28th: Track 4 Quarter 2 Report Card Goes Home
February 24th: Talent Show @ 6:00 PM
March 1st-11th: Book Fair
NO SCHOOL MONDAY
Just a reminder that schools are closed Monday, 1/17, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We hope you enjoy your long weekend with your family!
Reflections Announcement:
Thank you to all the students that submitted projects for Reflections: I Can Change The World By. While HSES did not have any participants selected for advancement, our students created incredible projects and represented their school with Cheetah Pride!
PTA: HSES In-Person Talent Show
HSES Talent Show is February 24th @ 6pm. Check your (3rd-5th grade) student’s folders for instructions on how to register your STAR! Spots are limited! Sign up here starting Jan 17th @ 7am https://forms.gle/2yRZ7KVBtZX9QDi27
The PTA is also looking for volunteers to help make this show great! Please sign up here to help: SignUpGenius - Mobile
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to HSES! Shopping days will be March 1st - March 11th.
Special Dates to Remember:
Grandparent Event for Tracks 1 & 4 - March 3rd Grandparent Event for Tracks 2 & 3 - March 8th Family Night – March 10th Visit our website to get a preview: Come to Our Book Fair!
Updated Health Guidelines
Over the break, WCPSS sent us updated health guidelines. I wanted to send key highlights for you, but please bookmark the WCPSS guidelines to read all the details. Also, reach out if you have questions about individual cases and we will be glad to help you navigate:
Students who are experiencing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home and get tested. Students must have a negative PCR COVID test or alternate medical diagnosis to return to school. 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, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
When Can Students Return to School:
No medical diagnosis or COVID Test - after five days from the start of symptoms and symptoms have improved
Positive COVID test - after five days from start of symptoms or positive COVID test
Alternate medical diagnosis (example: stomach ache, earache, etc.) or negative PCR COVID test - can return to school
Exposure to Someone with COVID-19:
Students are required to stay home and quarantine if someone living with them is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Students who are exposed to someone with COVID-19, and
Not vaccinated – stay away from others for 5 days, get tested on day 5 after exposure, and if they test negative, return to school.
Vaccinated, and have either received a booster or are not yet eligible for a booster – individuals do not need to stay away from others.
Vaccinated and eligible for a booster, but not yet been boosted
Quarantine (stay away from others) for 5 days
The 5 days of quarantine begin on the day after the last known close contact with the COVID-19 positive individual
Complete 5 days of strict mask use when returning from 5-day quarantine
Should test on day 5, if possible
Track Change Requests
We often have families wishing to make a track change request. We will provide an opportunity for you to do so starting at the end of January beginning of February for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. Track changes are not guaranteed, as there are many factors we have to consider when assigning students. However, where possible, we do our best to honor requests. Stay tuned for more information!
EOG Testing Windows
Based on the information we have received to this point, the End of Grade (EOG) tests for students in grades 3-5 will take place during the last 10 days of school as in previous years. There are a lot of guidelines we are required to follow for the EOG testing that will impact our final schedule, but we wanted to provide you with the tentative testing windows. In the upcoming months we will provide you with the HSES specific testing schedule. Here are the testing windows:
Track 1: May 23 - June 3
Tracks 2, 3, & 4: June 16 - June 24
Meal Benefit Applications
Parents, please consider applying for meal benefits as soon as possible. By submitting a qualifying application, families will also support the district in qualifying for additional funds to support students and learning! Also, the NC Department of Health & Human Services is collecting student free and reduced lunch and attendance data from WCPSS to determine any additional Pandemic Electronic Benefits (P-EBT) that will be issued in the coming months! By not applying for these meal benefits, you will miss the potential opportunity to receive direct P-EBT funds for your family!
Yes, meals will still be free for all students through June 2022 but we still need you to complete a meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for this extra education funding next school year. Also, this ensures your student is covered for the first few weeks of school next year. Information about applying for Meal Benefits can be found at www.wcpss.net/meals. Help our school continue to receive this funding by completing an application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper applications can be requested by calling 919-588-3535.
Magnet/YR Application Deadline
If you want your child to attend a magnet or YR school (middle school) next year, the deadline is Jan. 27. You can apply here.
Positivity Project Special- P2 SEL Extension
Starting January 10th, we will have a new teacher specialist joining HSES. Michelle Galllant will be teaching a Positivity Project SEL P2 focused special for 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade. This will take place of SEL for these grade levels. She will also be supporting Kindergarten specials at some point as well. Please welcome Ms. Gallant to our school community. She has been working at West Lake Middle School and used to be a parent here at HSES.
HSES SOCCER CLUB
The 2022 spring HSES soccer club season will held for 6 weeks on the following WEDNESDAYS from 4:15pm-5:15pm
March 9th, March 16th, March 23rd, March 30th, April 6th & April 13th
On April 13th, we will have a season celebration by playing a parents/staff vs students game.
IMPORTANT: Registration will begin at 6:00 AM on February 21st. Soccer club will be limited to the first 50 players who register through the website. Registration will close once all spots are filled OR on Friday, February 25th.
*The HSES Soccer Club is for 2nd - 5th grade students at any ability level from beginners to competitive players.
*Due to limited number of spots, please only sign up if you are willing to put in your
best effort at each practice.
*Cleats and shin guards are preferred
VOLUNTEERS/COACHES ARE ALSO NEEDED!
For more information and registration go to the HSES Soccer Club website:
https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/hsessoccerclub/
Questions can be e-mailed to HSESsoccerclub@gmail.com
Kindergarten Registration
VOLUNTEERS
You can come to school to register as a volunteer 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
If you did not reactivate your volunteer status by October 29, 2021 you must register as a new volunteer. All new volunteer applicants must register and have an approved criminal record check prior to engaging in volunteer work. To do this, you 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.
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 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
Has Your Phone Number/Email Changed?
Positivity Project: Tracks 1, 2, & 3 OPM- Supporting Others
This week students will learn about supporting others. Supporting other people when they struggle is a critical piece of being human. There are many different approaches to helping people who are struggling. These can include: listening while they describe an event and their feelings about it, taking action to help people in need, or simply just being there and sitting together in silence. Everyone faces tough days and needs support, and this support leads to a chain of prosocial behavior that makes us feel good about ourselves and our group.
"If you're not making someone else's life better, then you're wasting your time. Your life will become better by making other lives better."
-Will Smith
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
For 5th Grade Parents:
Holly Grove Middle School EXPO
Thursday, February 17, 2022
6:00 pm—7:30 pm
Come join us for an evening of excitement as we showcase our outstanding academic and extracurricular programs. This evening is designed for families of students who will be NEW to Holly Grove for the 2022-23 school year.
1401 Avent Ferry Road Holly Springs, NC 27540 Phone: 919-567-4177 website: https://www.wcpss.net/hollygrovems
Open House format for the evening
Meet the teachers (Core, Elective, Health/PE)
Learn about all of the elective course offerings: Career and Technical, Business, Art, Chorus, Drama Family and Consumer Science, Band, & Spanish
Representatives from AIG and Special Education are available to answer questions.
Learn about: Athletics, clubs, extra-curricular programs, and more
Performances by our chorus and band students!
Shannon O’Neal at soneal2@wcpss.net
Martha Frank at mfrank@wcpss.net
Technology Tips & Resources
ESL Updates
Access Testing
This year’s Access Testing period is January 24 - March 11th. At HSES, ELL students on tracks 1, 2, & 4 will test the week of January 31st. Students on track 3 students will test the week of February 14th. Please contact Ms. Rodgers if you have any questions.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Rodgers.
Literacy News
Watch this short video for ideas on how you can support literacy at home.
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 Newsletter
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!
It's never been easier to access archived Cheetah Chronicles, Teacher Websites, Teacher Favorites, Cafeteria Menus, Volunteer and Fundraising Information, and so much more! AND, by installing our app, you will receive important announcements and friendly reminders about what’s happening at our school.
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!!