Greetings Seawell Seahawk Families,

Recently we shared our School Improvement Plan with the school board and our School Improvement Team has been hard at work reviewing data and feedback in order to set the stage for our work in the coming year. Some highlights include our mission and vision:

The staff of Elizabeth Seawell Elementary School will provide all students with the opportunity and support necessary for achieving academic excellence and personal success by promoting equity in our programs and practices, working to eliminate the existing testing gap, and helping all students achieve at the highest possible level.

To inspire and empower lifelong learners by thinking and acting differently regarding the work that we do for students.

The administration, teachers, staff members, students and families will work to actualize the following:

We believe all students and stakeholders can learn, we value all stakeholders and what they bring to our school.

We are committed to the work (intentional planning, data analysis with action steps, awareness of social emotional health of both students and staff members along with proactive supports) that will foster healthy social emotional health and academic excellence for all students.

Note that work on the SIP is ongoing and you can access the plan using this link.

Remember at Seawell we value all, are committed to all, believe in all, and lead with the heart!!

• 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 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!

• The PTA will be having a bake sale on Monday, Dec. 5 from 2:30-4:00 pm with proceeds benefiting the Fall Fundraising Campaign. Get a snack and then browse for your books during this special family shopping event! Please sign up to donate baked goods for the sale here.

• Our Family OutReach Team (FORT) is seeking donations of Food Lion gift cards to be included in the holiday food baskets that are distributed every year to our needier families. Your contribution to this wonderful cause will help brighten the holidays for more than 65 Seawell children and their families. We would like to include a $20 gift card in each basket if possible. To participate, shop online at https://seawell.memberhub.com/store/items/101103.

• In addition, each class at Seawell will collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items. We hope everyone can participate by bringing in several nonperishable items (no glass jars) for each classroom’s Food Baskets.

Seawell had 1 positive COVID-19 case during the week of November 27-December 2.

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.

December 5-9

• Winter Book Fair

December 9

• Progress Reports Go Home

December 19 - December 30

• 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

This section will now periodically highlight clothing items found around our campus so that parents can alert their children to reclaim what was once lost! All clothing/items pictured can be found in the Lost and Found section of our cafeteria.

Lonely Jackets @ Seawell ES

These abbreviations are frequently used in our learning community:

Glossary of Selected Educational Abbreviations

AIG

Academically Intellectually Gifted

AVID

Advancement via Individual Determination program

CDM

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery

DL

Dual Language Program

EOC

End-of-Course Tests

EOG

End-of-Grade Tests (grades 3-8)

ESSA

Every Student Succeeds Act the Federal and State accountability program

ESL

English as a Second Language Program

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEP

Individual Education Plan

LEAP

Learning Environment for Advanced Programming

MLS

Multilingual Learners

MTSS

Multi-Tiered System of Support

NC DPI

NC Department of Public Instruction

OCR

Office of Civil Rights

Pre-K

Preschool

PSU

Public School Agency such as the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

RTA

Read to Achieve

SEL

Social and Emotional Learning

SIP

School Improvement Plan

SIT

School Improvement Team

SPG

School Performance Grades released in September

Title I

Federal guidelines for programs that supports economically disadvantaged students

Title III

Federal guidelines for language instruction for Multilingual Learners and immigrant students

Title IX

Federal guidelines that bans discrimination on the basis of sex in schools

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.