The Bobcat Blaze
--April 2, 2021--
Principal's Message
We had a great week here in Bobcat Country, even managing to squeeze in Spring Picture day. Please remember that Friday, April 2nd is an asynchronous learning day for students. This means students will have assignments to complete but will not receive live, virtual instruction. Campuses will be closed to allow district staff to receive their 2nd COVID vaccination shots. Thank you to all for your flexibility regarding this change to the calendar.
April 5-9th is our Spring Break so there will be no school for students or staff. We will welcome students back on campus 5 days a week on Monday, April 12th.
I wish all of you a safe, relaxing, and fun Spring Break with family and friends! We cannot wait to see you all back soon!
~LaQuana~
Principal's Message: https://cloud.swivl.com/v/84b676fc77a120b298d8b860af6fbe5b
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
April
April 1st..........................................................................End of the 3rd Nine Weeks
April 1st..........................................................................2021-2022 Academic Calendar Approved (see below in District News section)
April 5th-9th...................................................................Spring Break
April 5th-9th...................................................................National Assistant Principal Week
April 12th........................................................................No CRP Classes
April 15th .......................................................................Report Cards Issued
April 15th........................................................................PTO Virtual Trivia Night
April 21st........................................................................SIC Meeting (Virtual) 3pm
April 22nd ......................................................................Parent Teacher Conferences
April 28th.......................................................................Rising 5K Parent Orientation (Virtual) 5:30pm
Afterschool CRP Sessions
Students attending CRP will not have classes on Monday, April 12th. Classes will resume on Tuesday, April 13th.
Click the Link Below to Sign-up for Trivia Night with PTO!
MARCH OF DIMES FUNDRAISER
Thank you for your continued support of our fundraiser for the March of Dimes! This week our Bobcats showed their support for all babies and moms by purchasing Popsicles for Preemies!
Don't forget to send in your donations! An addition to supporting a good cause, you can also earn a spot in the March of Dimes Virtual Hall of Fame! Your name will be listed for every dollar you donate. Click on the link below to view the current March of Dimes Virtual Hall of Famers!
Popsicles for Preemies
COVID-19 Vaccination Sites for April
Richland County Health Department (Public health provider – public health clinic)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Moderna
2000 Hampton St. , Columbia , SC 29204
1-855-472-3432
Walgreens #11433 (Pharmacy - chain)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Moderna
1941 Blossom St, Columbia, SC 29205
CONTACT THIS PROVIDERPrisma Health Baptist (Hospital)
Accepting eligible appointments.
Vaccine manufacturer: Pfizer
Taylor @ Marion St., Columbia, SC 29203
833-277-4762Free COVID-19 Testing Sites for April
DHEC-Tour Health - DHEC Parking Lot
Dates and Times for April
Open weekdays: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Further Information
- Please register using the link below
- Appointment Needed: No
- Referral Needed: No
- Pediatric Testing Available: Yes
Address: 2600 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
Contact Details: https://www.tourhealth.com/
Customer Service Number: 866-416-6341
SCHOOL NEWS
CRP Parents
Parents of Students in the After-School CRP Classes:
We will dismiss all car riders through the car line, just as we normally do at 2:30. We ask that you please stay in your cars and place your child's car tag number on the rearview mirror. We will have the students ready and waiting inside at 4:30. Please refrain from parking and walking up to the school. Following this dismissal procedure will keep things orderly and safe as we continue to social distance.
Thank you for your help,
Kellie Romanstine
Lead CRP Teacher
Roses are Red..
Violets are Blue..
AC Moore is the best
Especially because of YOU!
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Mrs. Evering has been an educator for over twenty years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education, and Master of Education in Educational Administration Degrees from the University of South Carolina. She spent the first fifteen years of her career in the classroom, primarily teaching first-grade. Additionally, she worked as a Lead Certified Interventionist and ALERT (Gifted and Talented) teacher. Her experiences have continuously reinforced her love for education and belief that all children are capable learners who should be given every opportunity to grow and reach their full potential.
Mrs. Evering is married and the immensely proud mother of two wonderful boys. She enjoys traveling and creating fun-filled memorable moments with family and friends. She is very humbled to have the opportunity to help cultivate the fertile minds of our precious children and immeasurably grateful to see the rewards of her labor - educated minds in full bloom, providing gifts to the world that last a lifetime and beyond.
Thank you Mrs. Wendee Evering for all you do as our Assistant Administrator!
A Bobcat Spotlight...AC Moore is NAEYC Accredited!
AC Moore has received a renewal of it's accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)!
Early childhood programs accredited by NAEYC Accreditation of Early Learning Programs have voluntarily undergone a comprehensive process of internal self-study and continuous quality improvement.
NAEYC Accreditation is awarded for a five-year term. During that period, programs submit annual reports documenting that they are consistently meeting the NAEYC program standards. All NAEYC-Accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits by skilled and reliable NAEYC program assessors to ensure that they continue to meet the standards.
A special congratulations to the Early Childhood educators for their efforts in preparing for the renewal process and for their hard work and dedication to the Bobcat students!
A Bobcat Spotlight...Thank You St. John's Episcopal Church
We would like to extend a special thank you to St. John's Episcopal Church in Shandon for their hard work in completing some beautification work on our campus last weekend!
St. John's Episcopal Church selected A.C. Moore as a site for their 1-day spring Saturday of Service on March 27th. Through the partnership, a group of volunteers picked up debris around the school grounds and planted flowers in the planter beds at the front entrance. We are appreciative of the their efforts and would like to say a special thank you to them for selecting our school! Check out a few before and after snapshots!
Bobcats in Action!
Pre-K Number Hunt
PARTY OVER HERE!
Kindergarten and Pre-K Students were treated to a Dance and Popcorn Party in celebration of their NAEYC Accreditation Renewal!
PRE-K
Kindergarten
Ms. Copeland's Second Grade Class
During their study of Economics in Social Studies, Ms. Copeland's students were asked to create a business. Teachers were invited to a Grand Opening of their stores and were given money for shopping. Customers circulated the classroom to view the students' business boards and to hear the sales pitches of the students. At the end of the Grand Opening students graphed how much money each business made and discussed why certain businesses made more money. Check out some pictures of the Grand Opening event!
Related Arts
A Bobcat Spotlight...Spring Artist-in-Residence
PORKCHOP Productions!
Founded in 1991, Porkchop Productions is a professional theatre company specializing in audience participation performances. Their interactive approach to performances and residencies make for a one-of-a-kind theatre adventure!
Porkchop Productions has performed extensively for schools, libraries, youth groups and special events throughout the southeast, including:
- Dare Days in Manteo, NC
- Europa Cruise Lines in Key West, FL
- Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC
Along with performing, Porkchop has also designed and implemented drama programs and arts camps for thousands of young people in four states. Porkchop Productions is dedicated to expanding artistic horizons by providing a professional, interactive theatre experience for young people and to promote a life-long appreciation of the performing arts.
Porkchop Productions appears on the Approved Artist/ Arts Directory of the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Meet the Porkchops!
Stacey Maxwell-- Artistic Director, Playwright & Actor
Stacey Maxwell earned a BA in Speech/Drama with an emphasis in children's theatre from Columbia College. She has performed extensively for children with many professional theatre companies since 1987 and can be seen in Disney's That Darn Cat as well as numerous productions for South Carolina Educational Television. Stacey has also served as director for The Lost Colony Children's Theatre where she received the Evelyn Russell Layton Award, as well as, The Lost Colony Alumni Association 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Stacey is also the recipient of the 2014 Career Achievement Award from the Columbia College Alumnae Association.
Laura Blanchette-- Tour Director, Production Manager & Actor
Laura received her training at Winthrop University and has been performing professionally since 1980 with theatre companies including CPCC Repertory Theatre Company, The Lost Colony, Southeastern Theatrical Productions, Chopstick Theatre, The Patchwork Players, and Trustus Theatre. An accomplished singer and musician, she has toured with theatre companies and musical ensembles from New York to Florida. Laura has also done extensive voice over work for television and radio as well as commercial jingles and print work. She, along with Stacey, was honored with The Lost Colony Alumni Association's 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Dottie Allen--Education Director, Office Administrator & Actor
Dottie is a graduate of Columbia College in Music and holds MFA in theatre/performing arts management from CUNY/Brooklyn College. She has worked in administrative and education capacities for organizations including the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, New York City Opera, and was Director of Adult Learning and Community Engagement for the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Dottie enjoys performing onstage for Porkchop Productions, and assisting backstage for Opera at USC productions when needed. She is currently Porkchop's primary Theatre Residency artist.
Fall Re-Cap for AiR
During the Fall semester, our Bobcat students had an opportunity to engage in several educational opportunities through the Artist-in-Residency (AiR) program. We appreciate the efforts and information delivered by our artists and would like to say a special thank you to them and to the Bobcat related arts and classroom teachers for making AiR a great experience for students. Please click the banner below to view the Fall recap video prepared by Mrs. Warren. We look forward to featuring more classes and students in the Spring.
Attention Bobcat Families:
If any of your contact information has changed (phone number, address, email address, emergency contacts) since the start of the school year please contact database specialist Madolyn Thorpe at madolyn.thorpe@richlandone.org. We need the most accurate information in Powerschool to ensure you receive school communication.
Wellness Watch
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Sharing Our Stories: Family Conversations for Social-Emotional Health
Did you know that you can improve social-emotional health by having meaningful conversations with loved ones? Whether at home, over the phone, or virtually, sharing stories across generations is a great way to increase resilience and positive emotions like happiness and empathy.
If you have children or teens in your life that you want to connect with but don’t know where to start, try striking up a conversation that you can build on with shared experiences and interests. For example, you can ask a child what the hardest thing about being their age is or what music is their favorite right now, and use their response as a starting point to listen, support, and share similarities from your life. Consider these communication strategies as well:
- Start a conversation with a child or teen when you are both available and not busy with tasks such as homework or chores. Make sure the environment is quiet and free of distractions, such as by putting phones away and turning off electronics. Good times to start a conversation might be in the car, on a walk, and while sharing a meal.
- Approach family conversations with an open mind. Plan to listen without judgment and speak honestly. If a child seems distracted or upset, pause the conversation and try again another time.
- Make yourself approachable so kids feel comfortable coming to talk to you about any topic. Be willing to pause what you are doing to listen to a child or teen who initiates a conversation with you.
- If kids are not super talkative, don’t give up! Try sharing a story about yourself that relates to their interests or use our suggested questions below.
Family Questions to Share:
Growing up one of my favorite family traditions was __________________. What is your favorite family tradition? Why?
Do you know the story of how __________ [relative, close friend] and I met?
Do you know where I was born and where I grew up?
The greatest thing I learned from my family was ___________________. What memorable lesson have you learned from your family?
What is your happiest memory? My happiest memory is ___________________.
When I was younger, the bravest thing I did was ___________________. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
School Improvement Council
Report to the Parents
This report is issued by the AC Moore Elementary School Improvement Council (SIC) in accordance with South Carolina law to share information on the school's progress in meeting various goals and objectives, the work of the SIC, and other accomplishments during the school year.
Information from your PTO
To stay up-to-date on PTO happenings, please click the link below to register for the Bobcat e-Blast! If you are currently receiving the Bobcat e-Blasts, you will still need to complete the form and provide your information. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVTMQYJ
Thanks,
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes (PTO chairs)
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Asi usted haya recibido el Bobcat e-Blast en el pasado, por favor complete esta informacion- estamos haciendo una nueva base de datos. Estamos planeando las reuniones del PTO los miercoles en la tarde, al comienzo virtualmente, por eso esten pendiente de los anuncios que haga la Directora Aldridge en el Bobcat Blaze (periodico de la escuela) para mas informacion de la primera reunion.
Gracias, y espero verlos pronto!
Carrie Smith & Kim Pordes ( representantes del PTO)
Tech Tips
For Parents and Teachers...
Richland One IT Help Desk
You can get remote assistance by calling the IT Help Desk Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM at 803-231-7436.
Mark Your Calendars for...
Funny, Random, & Weird Holidays
Did you participate in a wacky holiday last week? Don't forget to send a picture of your family's celebration to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org. Here are a few weird holidays for your family to think about this week.
April 1.........................................................Fun at Work Day
April 2.........................................................Walk to Work Day
April 3.........................................................World Party Day
April 4.........................................................Tell a Lie Day
April 5.........................................................Read a Road Map Day
April 5.........................................................First Contact Day
April 6.........................................................Sorry Charlie Day
April 10.......................................................Siblings Day
April 11.......................................................Submarine Day
April 11.......................................................Barbershop Quartet Day
April 12.......................................................Grilled Cheese Day
April 12.......................................................Yuri's Night
April 13.......................................................Be Kind to Lawyers Day
April 13.......................................................Scrabble Day
April 14.......................................................International Moment of Laughter Day
April 14.......................................................Reach as High as You Can Day
April 14.......................................................Look up the Sky Day
April 16.......................................................Eggs Benedict Day
April 16.......................................................Wear Pajamas to Work Day
We Want to See Your Bobcat Student MAKING TRACKS!
We would love to share in your student's success by seeing them in action! Submit a photo of your Bobcat completing their asynchronous assignments and/or activities your student's picture can be featured in an upcoming issue of the Bobcat Blaze! Submit your photos to Mrs. Whetstone at andrea.whetstone@richlandone.org.
DISTRICT NEWS
Restart Strong
The newsletter provided below will gives an overview/update on the district’s transition to Phase 3 of the Restart Strong Reopening of Schools Plan. Click the link to get the most up-to-date information about the Phase 3 plan.
Parents, students and staff can now get up-to-date information about COVID-19 cases in the district through Richland One’s new online tracking dashboard.
A link to the dashboard, which will be updated daily, is posted on the Restart Strong page on the district’s website www.richlandone.org/restartstrong. In addition to listing the number of positive and quarantined COVID-19 cases among Richland One students and staff, the dashboard includes the number of cases at each district school and administrative building. It also shows daily, weekly and year-to-date summaries of the number of positive COVID-19 cases.
“Richland One’s goal in creating the COVID-19 dashboard is to provide the most accurate and current information possible to our community,” said Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon. “Having the same data allows us all to work together to better protect our students and staff.”
COVID-19 data is compiled daily by the district’s Nursing Services office and Accountability, Assessment, Research and Evaluation department. The information shown on Richland One’s dashboard may differ from the reports from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which are updated on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Media inquiries should be directed to the Richland One Office of Communications.
Registration Information for Pre-Kindergarten Programs
District Resources
ThriveRichland
ThriveRichland is a birth to four initiative established by Richland County School District One with the overall goal of increasing the percentage of children entering kindergarten ready to learn. The three major focus areas of ThriveRichland are:
High quality professional development and support for early childhood professionals
Comprehensive family wellness and engagement
Development of a plan for an early learning lab school within Richland One
ThriveRichland is offering families with children from birth to four and opportunity to join an online play group. Click the link below for details on how to sign up your family.
Connect with Us
Website: www.richlandone.org/Domain/26
Location: 333 Etiwan Avenue, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 343-2910
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acmooreelementary
Twitter: @ACMooreBobcats