Wolf Creek Weekly
Building Pathways To Success
From The Principal's Desk February 11, 2018
Greetings!
Thanks for another great week!
We have a busy few weeks. Students had a great time celebrating our Strong4Life initiative last week. Students were reminded about the S4L healthy habits! See picture of healthy habits below. We are excited about our partnership with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and bringing tips for a healthy lifestyle for our Wolves!
Making Healthy Easy: Strong4Life from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
From the moment our children are born, we want what is best for them. We want them to grow up to be happy, healthy and safe. But let’s face it: Parenting isn’t easy. And we know how challenging it can be to parent kids of all ages—from newborns to teens (and every stage in between)—because we are parents too. That’s why Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta created Strong4Life. Armed with a team of doctors, registered dietitians and other wellness experts, Strong4Life is here to help busy parents raise healthier families. We do this by focusing on three key strategies: equipping parents with the resources they need at home, training healthcare providers and working with schools and the community to impact kids where they learn and play.
School Governance Council needs YOU! Parents, we have now officially kicked off our school governance elections season. We have 2 parent Council member vacancies and one teacher vacancy. Last week our candidate declaration period began for open teacher and parent seats. If you're interested in running for a vacant seat on your council (or know someone who would make a great candidate) we encourage you to get your nomination in before February 23rd. Please see the link below to access candidate nomination forms and other resources.
Eligibility Requirements for All Council Members
· May only serve on 1 School Governance Council at a time
· May NOT be an elected official of a government entity
· Must be the ONLY member of their family serving on the Council
· Must be 18 years of age or older (with the exception of high school student members)
Parents
· Must have a child enrolled at the school for the duration of the term they declare candidacy for
· May NOT be an employee of the school
Teachers
· May NOT be the parent of a child enrolled at the school
· Must be a school-based employee with a “home school”
· Must be paid from teacher salary schedule
School Employees
· MAY be the parent of a child enrolled at the school
· Must be a school-based employee with a “home school”
Community Members
· MAY be the parent of a child enrolled at the school
· May NOT be an employee of the school
To learn more about our new district strategic plan, visit www.1fulton.org
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/about/charter/Pages/electionresources.aspx
Students are continuing to participate in Benchmark 2 testing over the next several weeks. They will participate in County Benchmark Assessments for 3rd - 5th grade in Math, Science, SS, and Science. Students in grades K-5th will complete Fastbridge testing. Students in Kindergarten have wrapped up Sight Word benchmarks as well. Parents are encouraged to ask you child's teacher about Benchmarks results and schedule conferences as needed to get updates.
Please help us to remind our students about our Wolf Pack Principles. Ask them each day how they contribute to our positive school climate and culture by being the exemplars for others.
Please check the school website for updates and calendar events. Reminder, we have 128 parents that have completed the Georgia Parent Survey. Please see more information below.
We are looking forward to a great week!
Thanks for all you do! Let's Go Wolves!
In Partnership,
Principal Glass
Strong 4 Life Healthy Habits
Fulton County Schools Strategic Plan
Instructional Make Up Days
Parents,
Fulton County Schools has announced its plan to make up some of the days lost this year due to inclement weather. Our teachers and staff value the instructional time spent with students, and are committed to using it wisely, but due to our district’s charter status, Fulton County Schools have flexibility with holding make-up days and will not make up all of the time lost. Instead, there is a plan that uses the designated inclement weather days on the school calendar as well as a piloted “Digital Learning Day” for at-home learning.
There will be three make-up days – February 16, March 9 and March 12. The upcoming President’s Day holiday and Spring Break are not affected, and the school year also will still end before Memorial Day.
February 16 was announced earlier this year as a make-up day due to Hurricane Irma school closures, but the district determined that March 12 will be a second make-up day for the recent snow/ice closures. A third make-up day – March 9 – will be a piloted Digital Learning Day, where students will work independently from home on schoolwork and projects using district-issued mobile devices or home technology. We are still working on the specifics of the March 9 Digital Learning Day and will communicate them in the next few weeks.
As you know, a few years ago Fulton County Schools began a device roll out that pairs students with mobile learning devices, such as a tablet or laptop. At the elementary level, students share mobile devices while at school, and in middle and high schools, students are given their own device and can use it at home.
For the Digital Learning Day on March 9, teachers will consider students’ home access to technology and internet, and our school district also will work with learning partners on ways students can access technology outside of school or home. In a few weeks, we will share our plan on how Digital Learning Day will be implemented and how you can support your child. We’re excited to see our school district consider the use of Digital Learning Days and look forward to providing feedback on how it worked for our students and teachers.
The next few months will be busy for our classrooms, but for now, rest assured that our students will get back on track when it comes to learning this semester.
See Fulton County Schools' Website for more information:
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/news/Pages/FCSNews.aspx?item=187
Sincerely,
Dionne C. Glass
Principal
Boosterthon Funderaiser - BIG Fundraiser Coming Soon - Get Your Running Shoes Ready!
Boosterthon 2017-2018
Parents, thank you all so much for supporting this year’s WCES Fun Run. If you haven’t registered your student yet, you can do so this weekend on funrun.com by searching for our school or using our school’s registration code: 958-173. This weekend we have a special challenge where students can receive an additional reward when you get pledges. You can learn more on funrun.com.
Our Fun Run program is well underway! Just so you know, students have been given a WEEKEND CHALLENGE! If a student receives a total of $2 per lap in new pledges (or $60 in flat donations) over the weekend, they will receive a special prize…the JAVELIN CHALLENGE KIT! And don’t forget to log in those pledges at fun-run.com!
Thank you again for supporting our school!
Strong4Life Kids!
S4L Team helping serve healthy lunches to WCES students!
GMAS Reading Parent Wokshop
Student Boosterthon Assembly
S4L Serving Lunch to students!
S4L Supporting our Cafeteria during lunch!
Thanks Ms. Searcy! You ROCK!
Thanks PTA! You ROCK!
Exceptional Children's Week March 5th - 10th
We will celebrate Exceptional Children's Week March 5th - 10th. The SEC department would like to invite you to join us in celebrating. Please see the Customink link below for t-shirts if you would like one. Parents, stay tuned for more details about our week of celebratory events.
Upcoming Events
2/15 PTA Fundraiser Boosterthon Fun Run!
2/19 President's Day - School Closed
2/20 Please join us at our Board Member's, Linda Bryant, monthly community meeting on February 20th at Camp Creek Middle School at 6:00 PM. All Student Governance Council members, PTA Executive Board members and school leadership teams are encouraged to attend. This is the make up meeting from the previously canceled one due to inclement weather.
2/22-3/2 Spring Book Fair
2/23 Black History Bowl
2/27 Black History Program 3rd - 5th 9:00 AM , K- 2nd 6:00 PM
3/2 Read Across America Day - Grandparents are invited to read to classes (Contact Dr. Huff, METI for more information)
3/2 Grandparents Luncheon - Recognizing our Living Legends
3/9 Digital Learning Day - Students off from school but will be working at home on Digital Learning activities (Snow Make Up Day)
Weekly Fundraisers:
Wednesday - Chic Fil A biscuit Sales (Morning Car rider loop)
Friday - Chic Fil A cookie sales
Technology In School
Cell phones/iPads/tablets/etc. reminder - We understand the need for cell phones for some of our students. As they are utilized to notify parents after school, if the need arises. Students are allowed to bring technology devices to school, if needed. However, all technology devices should be kept in student book bags unless teachers have asked for them to be used for classroom instruction. We ask that students do not carry cell phones/iPads/tablets on their person during the instructional day. All students are supervised by an adult at all times during the instructional day. If there is an emergency and the need arises to use the telephone, front office personnel can assist. For more information, please see the school handbook on the school website.
READ, READ, READ!
We are still reading! Don't forget to send your pictures to your child's teacher on Class Dojo so we can post them on the School Story feed. #WCESReadingRocks
Check out MackinVIA on your child's Launchpad account. ManckinVIA has books for students and can be used to read at home. Many of these books are AR as well. Please take full advantage of this resource. Let's keep our students reading and passing AR tests.
College and Career Readiness
We will celebrate College and Career Readiness by wearing college and university t-shirts and paraphernalia on the noted days below. Have your child join us by representing our many great colleges and universities. Thanks for participating as we continue to expose them to the endless opportunities after graduation.
January 23rd
February 20th
March 20th
April 20th
April 24th
May 15th
Parent Resource Center - Open Daily 8:00 - 4:00 PM
Please stop by our Parent Resource Center. We have great resources for check-out that you can use at home to assist your child. Let us know what you need. We look forward to your visits. For more information, please contact, Ms. Sims, our Parent Liaison. SimsN@fultonschools.org.
Georgia Parent Survey
Wooohooo!!!! 128 surveys completed! You rock, parents. I know we can do it. Don't slow down and tell a friend. Remember that we are trying to pass the 150 mark. Thanks so much for your participation. Let's do it!
Parents, the 2017 -18 Georgia Parent Survey is open for this school year. The Georgia Parent Survey contains 24 questions. Parents may complete the survey using their personal computer, smartphone or tablet. For parents that do not have access to the Internet, you may use computers at the school. Please visit our Parent Resource Center. Be reminded that this rating is open to the public and establishes the overall climate rating for our school community. We want to ensure that we are supporting our school in the most positive way. As shared in our results from last year, we had an awesome 2016-17 school year and want to do even better this year. If there are specific concerns, we ask that you contact the school directly and allow the school to address those concerns. Copies of the 2016-17 results are available in our Parent Resource Center.
All parents are encouraged to participate in the Georgia Parent Survey because the data will be used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. The Georgia Parent Survey is also available in Spanish. Parents may select the Spanish version within the survey. Results from the Georgia Parent Survey will not be available to the public. The Georgia Parent Survey link is posted below.
Georgia Parent Survey:
Thanks for your support.
We are a Leader In Me School!
Uniforms! Thanks for your participation.
Attendance Awareness and School Safety
We need your help. Be reminded, early checkouts before 11:15 AM are considered absences. Check-ins after 11:15 AM are considered absences. Also, please send in doctor's excuses for all absences that are medical so that they are coded accurately. Parent notes for illnesses are accepted as well, but be mindful of the number of notes regarding absences regarding illnesses that are not supported by a note from the doctor's office.
We still need your patience and support as we execute the morning drop off process and afternoon pick up. The cafeteria doors close at 7:35 AM each morning. Breakfast ends at that time. Get them there early for breakfast!
Please help us by using the car rider loop in the front of the building for all student drop-offs in the mornings. The car rider loop moves fast but it does require some wait time and patience. This is the safest area for student drop offs. We have assigned staff to support students as they get out of cars. The bus ramp in the back is reserved for buses only. If parents are using the parking lot near the bus ramp area for parking, they are asked to park their vehicles and escort their child into the building. Students should not be dropped off and allowed to run across the bus ramp to enter the building. We want students to be safe. We had a few cars moving fairly fast in this area. This is a safety concern. Remember, the doors open at 7:10 AM for student arrival. Thanks in advance for your support. If we have parents that can volunteer in for morning arrival, please let us know. We could use the extra hands and eyes to ensure safety for the students.
Thanks for your support!
REMINDERS
- Check the school calendar.
- Headphones are needed to accommodate our increased use of technology. Students using their own earbuds helps to keep us safe. Support your child's teacher with supplying your child with a pair of inexpensive earbuds for technology usage.
- Don't forget to register in the Home Access Center to receive access to your child's attendance and grades. You can receive your Home Access Center code from Ms. Lyles, the School Data Clerk. This is a highly sensitive code and must be signed out.
- Check for homework and sign your child's agenda each night.
- Student projects from home are looking great! Thanks for your support.
- Ask your child about his Essential Questions daily. These EQ's align to their curriculum standards being taught in class daily.
- Georgia Milestones Assessments Resources - http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Assessment-System.aspx
- Make sure your child knows his/her math facts and sight words. Ask your child's teacher how you can help them to master these skills. Ask about the number of sight words your child knows at K- 2nd. Research indicates that by 3rd grade students should be reading to learn instead of learning to read. Learning math facts helps students conquer the more difficult math concepts that require students to apply certain skills. Students are know longer only asked to simply add/subtract or multiply/divide. They are now required to explain the how and why behind the math. See more information regarding Georgia Performance Standards here: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/default.aspx and here: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/Parents.aspx
- Remember to sign up for Class Dojo. This is a school wide expectations. It is an effective school-home communication tool that each teacher uses with their class.
- Inquire with your child's teacher about how they are communicating with parents regarding school updates, homework and class events. Each grade level has a consistent communication tool. Some use newsletters, websites, remind 101, weekly homework sheets, etc. We want to make sure you are informed of school news.
- Check out your child's Fulton County Launch Pad site. Here you will find online tools that you can use at home with your child. www.launchpad.fultonschools.org Encourage your child to practice the online keyboarding tool. Most of our assessments are online now. Students would benefit from practicing keyboarding.
Title 1 News
Thanks for an awesome turn out at last week's parent Reading Strategies workshop!
See the schedule of future workshops below.
March Madness with Problem Solving –Tuesday, March, 2018 @ 5:30 p.m.
The emphasis of this workshop is to assist parents in working with their child on critical thinking skills as they relate to math. Materials for at home grade-level practice with be provided.
Annual Title I Parent Input Meeting –Tuesday, April 25, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Parents were invited to learn about the Title I program and provide feedback on the School-Family Compact and School, Parent, and Family Engagement Plan. Allocation of reserved Title I funds for parental involvement discussed.
Avoid the Summer Slumps – Tuesday, May 8, 2018, @ 6:00 p.m.
Ideas and resources to assist students in staying on track academically during the summer months.
Wolf Creek is a Schoolwide Title 1 school this year. Last year as a first year school, we were a Targeted Assistance school. See more information regarding Title 1 at : http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/acd/supportserv/TitleI/Pages/default.aspx
What is Title I?
Title I is a federally funded program designed to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic standards and state academic assessments.
The Title I mission is to ensure that each child successfully meets or exceeds Georgia's proficient and advanced levels of student performance and meets or exceeds expectations on local, state, and national assessments.
Our Title 1 funds have afforded us the opportunities to:
Host Extended Learning Program for at risk students
Purchase technology for students - iPad Carts, Virtual Learning tools
Add teachers and a Parent Liaison to the staff
Purchase classroom resources to enhance learning for all students
Our Title 1 Schoolwide plan and budget has been approved by the State Department! We are looking forward to providing more resources to enhance our school instructional program this year.
Thanks for your support.
Wolf Creek Elementary PTA News
NEEDED! Volunteers to support upcoming PTA events and officers for vacant positions. Please contact PTA for more information.
Check out PTA information at our PTA Facebook page and on our school website under the PTA tab. Let's make this year another great year with increased membership and support.
Our Custom Ink Year round campaign is complete, and is currently open for orders. Here's the permanent link Wolf Creek Spirit Gear
Join us with just a minimum commitment of PTA dues of $20.00. There are also options for making monetary pledges on the PTA membership form. Our PTA is sponsoring our Grade Level Spirit t-shirts and the school uniform initiative. We hope you will support us!
If you are interested in being apart of the PTA, please contact them at:
wolfcreekelementarypta@gmail.com
Follow us: Instagram @wolfcreekpta and Facebook @wolfcreekelementarypta
and let the team know.
Thanks PTA!
Our School Day Start/End Times
Thanks in advance for your support in ensuring that our students get to school each day on time and ready for instruction. Breakfast begins at 7:10 a.m. and ends at 7:35 a.m. daily so that we can ensure that students are in class on time to begin their instructional day. School instructional hours are from 7:40 a.m. —2:20 p.m. each day. Parents are asked to escort their children inside and sign them in if they are tardy. Help us protect the instructional day. Please limit early dismissal/check-outs. If needed, please do so before 2:00 PM. Remember keep your child’s pick up and emergency contacts updated and to sign in during each visit. ID is required for anyone visiting or checking your child our of school.
Wolf Creek Elementary School
Check out our school website for our school calendar and school updates.
A. Nicole Canty, Assistant Principal
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/wolfcreek/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 4440 Derrick Road, Atlanta, GA 30349, United States
Phone: 470.254.2760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolfcreekwolves/
Twitter: @wolfcreekwolves