Eaton Parent Newsletter
August 5th, 2022
Dear Eaton Families,
Our Olympians enjoyed another busy week of learning at school! Next week our PTA is holding a fundraiser on Wednesday, August 10th. Please consider purchasing a Moe's Southwest Grill Taco Kit. A portion of every meal kit sale will be donated to our school. Pick up your kit on August 10th between 5:00- 5:30 in front of the school. Click on the link to order a Taco Kit:
https://form.jotform.com/jsifly/moes-family-meal-kit-fundraisers
In the newsletter last week we shared that Coach Tew needed volunteers to assist with his fishing unit for 2nd through 5th graders. Unfortunately the fishing unit has been cancelled due to liability, health and safety concerns. We understand that unit has been a tradition at Eaton, and cancelling this unit is disappointing to our Olympians.
We encourage all families to complete a Free and Reduced meal application for the school year 2022/2023. Even if you think you will not qualify, please complete an application. A student's free and reduced lunch status is completely confidential to staff members. If you qualify for reduced lunch, it will be free. Click on these links to access the application: English F/R Application or Spanish F/R Application
If you completed volunteer training last year with Mrs. Allen and are unable to attend the scheduled trainings, please email her at crissie.allen@nhcs.net for access to the self-paced online refresher volunteer training.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Please review our procedures to avoid any confusion. Procedures are in place to ensure safety of students.
Morning drop-off and afternoon pick up is located in the front of the school at the Gordon Road light. Please follow the flow of traffic, which lines up in front of the school and circles through the gravel lot.
If your child needs assistance with their seatbelt, please pull over into the parking spots to the left and assist your child so that traffic can continue to flow.
Please make sure that children enter and exit from the passenger side of the vehicle.
MORNING ARRIVAL:
The bell will ring at 7:20am. Once staff members are in place to safely monitor students, students will be invited to begin exiting cars. Please be sure that your child is ready with their backpack when they reach the sidewalk drop-off area.
The tardy bell rings at 7:45am. Students must be in their classrooms by this time to be considered on time. If students are not in their classroom when the tardy bell rings, they will need a tardy slip from the front office to enter their classroom.
Please be mindful of the time you arrive, especially if your child is eating breakfast in the cafeteria.
If you arrive after the tardy bell there will not be staff members outside. You must park and walk your child into the building to sign them in at the front desk.
We encourage our families to use the parent drop off line in front of the school. Please do not walk up to the front door.
MORNING WALK-UP DROP OFF:
If you walk your child to the side door, located off Ogden Park Road, please ensure the following:
- Park on the grass behind the school parking lot on Ogden Park Road. Cars are not permitted to park across the street, as this is a major safety concern.
- Parents/Guardians must walk their child through the grass (NOT through the parking lot) to the covered area leading into the school. Children must always walk with an adult.
AFTERNOON PICK-UP:
All families are given two signs with their last name and assigned number. Please have your sign displayed on the right side of your front window/dashboard. Leave the sign visible until after your children have entered the car.
Only vehicles that have your sign will be allowed to pick up your child or children without going to the office to show identification. Please be mindful that if you give someone your sign, you are giving them permission to pick up your child.
If you need sign replacements please contact Ms. Harrison at the front desk.
Please remember to remain in your car when you are picking up your student in the afternoon. If your student needs support opening the door we are happy to help.
We encourage parents to teach students to learn to buckle their safety belts. However, if your child is not yet able to do this, please pull up past the mailbox and/or park in a spot to assist your child. This helps to keep our carpool line moving smoothly.
We do not allow parents to park at the side of the building and walk up with a sign to pick up children. You must use the pick up line. The only exception will be for families who walk from their home to pick up children and/or circumstances approved by administration.
Thank you for your help to ensure safety during our arrival and dismissal times.
All transportation changes (different than how your child normally goes home) must be submitted in writing. Emails with transportation changes are not permitted. Our teachers are busy working with students and may or may not have a chance to check emails prior to dismissal. Please send a note with your child, or come by the front desk with your transportation change.
If you need to pick up your child early from school, you must do so by 1:45pm. Please know that you will need your drivers license to sign your child out of school. We only allow individuals listed as emergency contacts in PowerSchool to check out students.
Volunteer Opportunities at Eaton
Level I
Parents, family, or community members volunteering to assist students in a supervised setting are not required to undergo a background check if they are continually supervised by school personnel during the school day.
Level II
Parents, family, or community members volunteering to assist students in an unsupervised setting away from school personnel are deemed Level II Volunteers. We also ask that all chaperones become Level II volunteers, as well as those interested in assisting in our media center and cafeteria at Eaton Elementary. An applicant designated a Level II Volunteer must complete the online application and the criminal background check. Applications must be completed at least two weeks prior to the time you wish to begin volunteering. The cost of background checks are $20.
All volunteers must complete the training orientation each school year, as well as complete and turn in a volunteer application form each school year. Volunteer application forms were sent home with students. They are also linked below. Level II volunteer background checks are good for three years. You can log into your account to check your expiration date, or contact Mrs. Allen. If you attended training last year with Mrs. Allen, there is an option to attend a self-paced training online and submit a quiz. Please contact Mrs. Allen for more information.
Please see the dates for Eaton Volunteer Orientation Training:
- August 9th, 8:30-9:00, in cafeteria (Prior to PTA meeting)
- August 25th, 8:00-8:30, Zoom https://nhcs.zoom.us/j/83275282719
Community Partnerships & Engagement: All Hands On Deck Portal
https://www.nhcs.net/community/all-hands-on-deck#anchorapply
NHCS Volunteer Handbook:
Volunteer Application Form:
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1633532320/nhcsk12ncus/s5yvc0l2bes6nrqwpltg/VolunteerApplicationForm.pdf (You may complete the form online, save it, and email it to Mrs. Allen, or you may print it, complete it, and turn it into the front office)
Level II Volunteer Background Check: https://bib.com/secure-volunteer/NHC/home
Eaton Volunteer Coordinator: Mrs. Allen, Assistant Principal
Media Center Volunteer
The Eaton Media Center runs on an open checkout system so that students are able to come check out books from the library any time they need to. We are able to do this through the help of our wonderful volunteers. If you are interested in helping students in the library, we would love to have you! All library volunteers must be Level 2. Please complete the Google Form with your availability. You may contact the Media Specialist Ms. Mitchell at meredith.mitchell@nhcs.net if you have any questions. Thank you!
Ways to Unplug (and still have fun!)
Walk Through a Story
StoryWalk® exhibits are popping up in many communities. Your family literally walks through a story. The pages of a book have been deconstructed and hung along a trail (there is one at Smith Creek Park!).
Visit Little Free Libraries
Chances are there is at least one Little Free Library near you. These small libraries house free books for you to read. The premise is simple. You take a book and leave a book. You can visit the Little Free Library website to find a list of registered libraries in your community.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Get some exercise, practice reading, and have fun on a scavenger hunt together. You and your family can create your own or use our outdoor literacy walk or zoo scavenger hunt printables on your adventure. (Also, check out Magic School Bus: Science on a Nature Walk.)
Check out this special event, which will feature work from our very own 5th graders:
Kids State of the Art
Exhibition Opening & Free Community Day
Saturday, August 20, 10 am-5 pm at the Cameron Art Museum
Celebrate the opening of our first ever exhibition of all young artists! Free access to all CAM's exhibitions all day, as well as a variety of family-friendly activities and performances throughout the day. Participating young artists will have the option of wearing a ribbon to be acknowledged as artists.
Kids State of the Art exhibition will be open from Saturday, August 20th through Sunday, September 25th during regular CAM business hours. Fifth-grade Art Club members will have artwork on display.
Updates from the PTA
Next PTA meeting, August 9th @ 9:00 in the cafeteria at Eaton and @ 6:30 at Slice of Life in Porters Neck.
Please consider joining the PTA:
https://eatonwilm.memberhub.com/store
Eaton's PTA Website:
Lunch Menu
Tuesday, August 9th: Chicken & Waffle, Chicken Roll-Up Bento Box
Wednesday, August 10th: Pasta w/ Meatballs, Turkey & Cheese Bento Box
Thursday, August 11th: Hot Dog, Buffalo Chicken Bento Box
Friday, August 12th: Nacho Grande w/Cheese, Yogurt & Cheese Bento Box
https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/webmenus2/#/view?id=62d5adf77057ec1f115bb904&siteCode=6319
Important Upcoming Dates
August 9th Volunteer Training Orientation, 8:30-9:00, in cafeteria @ Eaton
August 9th PTA Meeting, 9:00, in cafeteria and 6:30 @ PN Slice of Life
August 10th Moe's Spirit Night (Pick Up @ Eaton- 5:30pm)
August 19th Teacher Workday
August 25th Volunteer Training Orientation, 8:00-8:30, Zoom
Previous Newsletters
July 29th, 2022 https://www.smore.com/rzf34
July 22nd, 2022 https://www.smore.com/ue3yg
July 15th, 2022 https://www.smore.com/3grsp
July 8th, 2022 https://www.smore.com/cpm1e
Eaton Elementary Contact Information
Website: https://eaton.nhcs.net/
Location: DR HUBERT EATON SR ELEMENTARY 6701 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC 28411
Phone: (910) 397-1544
Our School's Why:
School Mission:
To promote academic excellence through inclusion, modeling, collaboration and challenging students to think in innovative ways.
School Vision:
We are creating a nurturing school community that prepares the whole child to be a problem solver, critical thinker, and empathetic global citizen.
Core Values:
Empowerment, Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Academic Excellence