Swansboro Elementary
May 2, 2021
This week is Teacher Appreciation/ OCS Employee Appreciation Week! I hope that you will consider sharing a few words of appreciation or a thoughtful gift to let our teachers & assistants know how much we appreciate all that they do for our students! Each year I feel that I ask more and more from my crew and each year I am even more impressed by how they rise to the occasion and meet whatever challenge comes their way. I for one am truly grateful for all the sacrifices they make to make SBES such an amazing place to learn and grow! We have lots of things to highlight in our weekly newsletter this week so be sure to check out our Smore for details about 5th grade and Kindergarten end of year celebrations. Also for 5th grade parents, there is information regarding selection of 6th grade elective classes. In our newsletter this month we are also highlighting our April Students of the Month for demonstrating responsibility. We sure are proud of them! Also checkout Jacek May and Ashlyn Yates in a statewide virtual chorus. Yearbooks were sent home with all students last week. If you would like to purchase the yearbook, send in $17 cash (exact change please) in the enclosed envelope. If you are not interested in purchasing the yearbook, please return it by May 14th so that you are not charge for it. Library books will also need to be returned by May 14th to avoid being charged. Thank you to those that have already completed the Parent Survey. If you have not done so, there is still time. Please click on the link in our newsletter. Invitations to Adventures our summer learning program went home with eligible students last week. Slots are limited so please return the form asap indicating your intentions. Confirmations will be sent out in a couple of weeks.
One last reminder, while SBES is no longer required to conduct student health screenings upon arrival to school, we are still asking that parents are vigilant in monitoring their children's health. We have seen an increase in positive Covid-19 cases in the Swansboro area schools, therefore, it is imperative that if your child is exhibiting any Covid symptoms ( Fever 100ᵒ F or Higher, Chills, Shortness of Breath, Diarrhea/Vomiting,
Difficulty Breathing, New Cough, Loss of Smell, Sore Throat,
Loss of Taste, Exposure to COVID-19, New onset of severe headache ) that you please keep them home and notify either Nurse Mollie Sammons (mollie.sammons@onslow.k12.nc.us or myself (page.highsmith@onslow.k12.nc.us).
Congratulations to Jacek May and Ashlyn Yates for their participation in a statewide virtual choir in honor of Music in Our Schools Month (March)
Kindergarten Registration
Online Registration begins April 5, 2021.
Please visit the OCS website to register online.
To be eligible a child must turn five on or prior to August 31, 2021.
Please have the following:
Birth Certificate
Updated Immunization Records
Photo ID of Legal Parent/Guardian
Proof of Residency (Electric or Water Bill)
EOG TESTS:
May 25- 4th & 5th ELA
May 27- 3rd, 4th, & 5th Math
Kindergarten End of Year Celebration!
Hello Kindergarten Parents!
We are so excited to announce the plans for our End of Year Kindergarten Celebration Ceremony! This ceremony will be a time for you to say goodbye to your child’s teacher, students will receive their Kindergarten certificate, take pictures, give a hug and feel free to celebrate your child’s accomplishment and start your summer! We are so excited to celebrate this time with you. Listed below are the specific times and procedures we will follow for our special day.
Date: May 28th
Mrs. Wetherington- 8:45-9:15
Mrs. Lester 9:15-9:45
Mrs. Kollar 9:45-10:15
Ms. Labelle 10:15-10:45
Our celebration will be drive thru, here’s how it will work!
*Parents will park in designated lanes and we will ask for one car per student only!
*Students will come to school as usual and stay with their teacher until their ceremony time.
*Students will walk with their teacher outside, wait until parents come up, and then they will receive their certificate, take a picture, receive end of year gift and will be free to celebrate their accomplishments and start their summer!
*Sign out sheets will be available with your child’s teacher.
Invitations to Adventures our summer learning program went home with eligible students last week. Slots are limited so please return the form asap indicating your intentions.
HELP US COLLECT BOX TOPS!!!
Use this referral code NQGY5JLL when you sign up and you’ll get 20 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt now through 05/28/2021, while supplies last! Download the Box Tops for Education app here: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=NQGY5JLL
Car Pool Friendly Reminders:
* Please pull forward as close as you can so that we can get as many cars in as possible.
* Please remind your child to be ready (finished with breakfast and all items including mask gathered).
* Remember that in the morning, any line will work, but afternoon that are grade specific.
* Now that screenings are no longer required, we are going back to original schedule with doors opening at 8 am. We will begin opening car doors a few minutes before 8, but please don't let students out without someone coming to open your car door.
* Please make sure that you are going slow and paying close attention as you pull into the lot. We have lots of students coming from many directions and want to make sure that everyone is safe.
* For afternoon dismissal, please make changes in School Dismissal before 2 pm. Have pin number ready, use grade specific lane and pull in tight. Please do not block traffic.
Note from Nurse Sammons:
If you OR your child has any Covid -19 symptoms (Fever 100ᵒ F or Higher, Chills, Shortness of Breath, Diarrhea/Vomiting, Difficulty Breathing, New Cough, Loss of Smell, Sore Throat,
Loss of Taste, Exposure to COVID-19, New onset of severe headache) or you are being quarantined per medical advice or are being Covid tested per medical request PLEASE email the Nurse or call the school. We must clear your child per OCS protocol before they return on the bus or return to in person school. Nurse Sammons email is Mollie.Sammons@onslow.k12.nc.us. For more information, please check out Nurse Sammons' webpage on our school's website.
Covid close contacts
When a student tests positive for Covid-19, we conduct contact tracing and all students that are identified as a close contact (within 6 ft of the positive person for more than 15 minutes) receive a personal phone call from the school nurse or principal to inform the parent that their child has been identified as a close contact and are required to quarantine for 14 days from date of potential exposure. This is in accordance with OCS policy and the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit.
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE
Student Tech Support Line: 910-989-2101
Navigating Your Laptop From Home
https://sway.office.com/kgLw5NnDccBM7m2u?ref=Link&loc=play
Parent Module on Using Teams
Getting Parents Started with Teams.pptx
This is a link to the district website that has other help guides for learning from home.
has joined hands to bring technology opportunities to our students, parents and staff members.
Up to 30% off DELL Devices, Electronics and Accessories
Technology Use
FREE tutoring resource for military students:
Important Dates:
May 3-7 Onslow County Schools Employee Appreciation Week (Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Bus Drivers and all OCS employees)
May 4 National Teacher Day
May 4 Board of Education Mtg. 6:30 pm RSC
May 4 Sweeter Things Ice Cream Shack Spirit Night (afterschool–8:00p)
May 7 School Lunch Hero Day
May 7 Last day to check out library books
May 11 Papa John’s Spirit Night (4:00-8:00p)
May 12 National School Nurse Day
May 12 Teacher Workday- No school for students
May 13 Papa John’s Spirit Night (4:00-8:00p)
May 14 All library books and yearbooks are due today
May 25 Pizza Hut Spirit Night (4:00-8:00p Please leave receipt for donation)
May 27 All students grades 3-5 bring laptops and chargers to school for EOG testing and turn in
May 28 Last day of school for students (report cards sent home if all dues paid)
May 31 Memorial Day
June 1 Board of Education Mtg. 6:30 pm RSC
June 1-4 Teacher Workdays
June 4 Swansboro High School Graduation
June 14- 17 OCS Camp Invention
See below for the 2021-2022 OCS Elementary Calendar
Swansboro Elementary
Email: page.highsmith@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/swansboroes
Location: 118 School Road, Swansboro NC
Phone: 910-326-1501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swansboroelementaryschool
Twitter: @SBESPirates