Wolf Creek Weekly
Building Pathways To Success
From The Principal's Desk September 30, 2018
Greetings!
Welcome back to another successful week ahead!
Thanks for your continued support of WCES! You rock!
Students will receive a presentation by the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts this week. They will provide flyers regarding information about the troops. A parent meeting will be on the following days as outlined below in the Media Center. We understand that this is short notice and if you are unable to attend, information can be sent home. Our students participated in an off site troop last year for Boy Scouts and an in-house troop for the girls. This was a great experience for those that participated. Our hope is to have enough interest to host an on site troop.
The Cub Scouts will be here on Mon, Oct 1st to speak with the students at 8:30 am and return on Tues, Oct. 2nd to speak with parents at 6:00 pm.
The Girl Scouts will be here on Wed, Oct. 3rd to speak with the students at 8:30 am and return on Thurs, Oct. 4th to speak with parents at 6:00 pm.
Reminder: Please note your calendars for the student days off this month.
October 5th
- Teacher Workday
- Students are out of school
- Please sign up for a conference with your child's teacher.
October 8th
- Columbus Day
- Students are out
October 29th
- SLC Release Day
- Students are out of school
Thanks so much for visiting with us daily. Be reminded that sign in is required for all visitors. Let's keep our school safe! All parents are asked to sign in daily before moving pass the front lobby ans atrium. You should receive a visitor's badge at the front desk. All visitor's licenses must be scanned before you can sign in at the kiosk. We also ask that morning drop-offs at the classrooms end at 7:40 AM so that we can begin our instructional day. Parents that need to conference with teachers are asked to schedule a conference with their child's teacher. Morning drop offs are reserved for drop offs only. Teachers are expected to begin their instructional day at 7:41 AM daily with our morning announcements.
Early arrival is strongly encouraged. We are striving to decrease our daily tardies and absences. We need your support. Please send in a written excuse for all absences.
We are a uniform school. Students looked great in their uniforms last week. Let's keep it up! Our students wear kelly green, navy blue or white polo style tops and khaki bottoms. Many of them rock "funky" socks and shoes of their choice with their uniforms and it looks very cool! Try it to help engage your child in the uniform initiative. We appreciate your support in participating in our uniform initiative.
Parents we need your support. Our uniform participation at our upper grades can lead the way. Please join us in our uniform initiative at Wolf Creek ES. Let's push for school wide participation. Encourage our upperclassmen to lead the way.
As you know, we also support our PBIS initiative with our PACK principles! They tie in seamlessly with the 7 Habits. Every day students will recite the Wolf PACK Creed. See the parent and student handbook online and in the front of your child's agenda. Help us by supporting them in learning the Wolf Pack Creed by hard! We have a school wide behavior system that includes a color chart. We are excited to see our wolves on RED or ORANGE daily! More information about our behavior system is included in the student agenda.
Please check the school website often. We update the site regularly. The school calendar, handbooks, PTA and SGC information can be found there.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Thanks for all you do! Let's Go Wolves!
In Partnership,
Principal Glass
2018-2019 PK Week!
Monday, October 1- Hat Day!!!
Tuesday, October 2-Sock Day!!! (Wear Green Shirt for Field trip!!!)
Wednesday, October 3- Career Day!! (Wear clothes of their occupational choice!)
Thursday, October 4- Pajama Day!!
Upcoming District Assessments
Fulton County Interim Assessments
Students in grades 3rd - 5th will participate in the Fulton County Interim Assessments in ELA, Math, Social Studies (5th only) and Science (5th only) over the next few weeks. Below is a quick look at what the assessments will cover. These assessments will serve as our end of unit assessments at 3rd - 5th. Students will not participate in the traditional End of Unit Assessments this year. The on-line assessments are approximately 20 questions and completed during a typical classroom instructional period. These assessments are not considered for a grade. They are however, an efficient snapshot of how students have done mastering the standards during the first several weeks of school. Teachers will use this information for planning and supplemental instruction. These assessments will also give students ongoing practice with completing assignments on line.
•ELA Assessments
Assess most of the literary or information standards, with emphasis on priority standards
Contains: Selected Response items and 1-2 Constructed response per assessment
•Math Assessments
Assess the standards taught up to that point in the school year, with emphasis placed on priority standards
Each assessment also includes items from standards taught the previous year or previous interim
Contains: Selected response items and approximately 1 multi-select item, 2 constructed response items, and 1 extended response item
•Science & Social Studies Assessments
Assess the standards taught up that point in the year, with emphasis placed on priority standards
Contains: Selected response items, and approximately 4 multi-select items
In Fulton County, 3rd -5th graders will take the IOWA Standardized Test October 22nd - November 2nd .
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS)
The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills are norm-referenced tests. Georgia law mandates that a nationally norm-referenced test, such as the ITBS, be administered annually to students in grades three, five, and eight. The purpose of a norm-referenced test is to obtain information about the performance of Georgia's students and compare it with that of students in a national sample. The results are used for evaluation, decision-making, and instructional improvement.
Increasing Literacy at WCES
Let's READ!
Go to your child's Fulton County Launchpad account:
https://launchpad.classlink.com/fcs?loggedout=1
Check out the Pearson Easybridge tab. This has great resources for our Reading Series, Good Habits Great Readers. Click on
- the explore tab
- then the reading tab
- then Good Habits Great Readers
- choose your child's grade level
- find lessons to watch and complete
GMAS resources and study guides for 3rd - 5th grade
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System utilizes four achievement levels to describe student mastery and command of the knowledge and skills outlined in Georgia’s content standards. Most students have at least some knowledge of the content described in the content standards; however, achievement levels succinctly describe how much mastery a student has. Achievement levels give meaning and context to scale scores by describing the knowledge and skills students must demonstrate to achieve each level.
The four achievement levels on Georgia Milestones are Beginning Learner, Developing Learner, Proficient Learner, and Distinguished Learner. The general meaning of each of the four levels is provided below:
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.
Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
More detailed and content-specific concepts and skills are provided for each grade, content area, and course in the Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs). ALDs are narrative descriptions of the knowledge and skills expected at each of the four achievement levels and were developed for each grade level, content area, and course by committees of Georgia educators in March 2015 and July 2015. The ALDs are based on the state-adopted content standards.
ALDs show a progression of knowledge and skills for which students must demonstrate competency across the achievement levels. It is important to understand that a student should demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills within his/her achievement level as well as all content and skills in any achievement levels that precede his/her own, if any. For example, a Proficient Learner should also possess the knowledge and skills of a Developing Learner and a Beginning Learner.
ALDs for Parents are available below and are intended to summarize the concepts and skills for each grade, content area, and course to support parents’ understanding of their child’s performance. The full versions of the ALDs are also available.
Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Achievement Level Descriptors for Parents
Reading is FUN!
From the Media Center
Accelerated Reader Program
Reading IS fun!
What are Lexile Levels?
How can I help at home?
Reading Comparison Chart across various assessments
Leader In Me Habit #1 ... Be Proactive!
Using Best-Practices and Universal Principles
The Leader in Me is aligned with best-in-class content and concepts practiced by global education thought leaders. It provides a logical, sequential and balanced process to help schools proactively design the culture that reflects their vision of the ideal school.
Content from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a key component of the overall The Leader in Me process. The 7 Habits is a synthesis of universal, timeless principles of personal and interpersonal effectiveness, such as responsibility, vision, integrity, teamwork, collaboration and renewal, which are secular in nature and common to all people and cultures.
Click here for a synopsis of the habits in kids’ language.
The Leader in Me is also aligned to many national and state academic standards. The process teaches students the skills needed for academic success in any setting. These skills include critical thinking, goal setting, listening and speaking, self-directed learning, presentation-making and the ability to work in groups.
Habit 1:
Be Proactive
You're in Charge
I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Parent activity at home: Role-play different situations with your child that will provide them the opportunity to think before they act.
Let's go!
Reminders...
Please note your calendars.
Please be sure to review the parent/student handbook in your child's agenda as well as all back to school correspondences.
Please note a few important date changes:
At last week's Board meeting, a revision to this year’s school calendar was made. Here is a link to the Board item.
- Change Tuesday, November 6, 2018 to a Teacher Work Day. No school for students. This is currently a regular school day.
- Change Friday, March 8, 2019 to a regular school day. This is currently a Teacher Work Day. This will be a regular school day for students. This revision will not change the total number of instruction days for students.
Staff members will be involved in Professional Development throughout the South Learning Community throughout the school year. Be sure to mark your calendars for future days when students are out of school. We have a few this year.
Wolf Creek ES will be closed on the following days.
September 13, 2018
October 29, 2018
February 19, 2018
March 13, 2018
School Calendar 2018-2019
School Calendar 2018-2019
Don't Forget
South Learning Community Meeting Schedule for Board Member/President Linda Bryant
Parents, please join us for our Community Meetings with our Board Member, President Linda Bryant.
September - Monday, September 17 6:30 pm Camp Creek MS
October - Monday, October 15 6:00 pm Oakley ES
November - Monday, November 12 6:00 pm A Philip Randolph ES
December No Meeting
January - Tuesday, January 15 Joint w/ Kim Dove 6:00 pm CH Gullatt
February - Tuesday, February 19 6:00 pm Sandtown MS
March - Monday, March 18 6:00 pm Bear Creek MS
April - Monday, April 15 Joint w/Kim Dove 6:00pm Creekside HS
May - Monday, May 13 6:00 pm Westlake HS June No Meeting
June No Meeting
Wolf Creek Elementary PTA News
Please join me in thanking our PTA for an awesome year !!! It was an amazing second year.
Thanks PTA for helping us make a difference this year at Wolf Creek Elementary. We could not have achieved our goals without you! Your dues and support have helped us to accomplish an incredible number of things this year, including:
- Being recognized as a unit in good standing with Georgia PTA
- Raising over $25,000 with our Otis Spunkmeyer and Wolf Pack Fun Run Fundraisers
- Hosting two Screen on the Green Family Fun Night events
- Awarding 12 Classroom and Grade Level Grants to teachers and staff members worth nearly $6,500
- Providing support for Leader In Me, the Reading Carnival, GMAS testing snacks, Teacher of the Year Celebration, and Teacher Appreciation Week
- Helping purchase take-home summer reading books
- Enabling teachers to raise funds for their grade levels and campus organizations through Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuit and Cookie sales
- Partnered with the Parent Liaison and Title 1 Team to host parent workshops
- + and many other things
The time has come to RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP for the 2018-2019 school year! According to our PTA bylaws, every member has to rejoin the PTA annually, and our fiscal year runs from June 1 to May 31. To renew your membership for the 2018-2019 school year, please visit our online membership form and complete payment via PayPal.
Please see more PTA information at their Facebook page and on our school website under the PTA tab. Let's make this year another great year with increased membership and support. 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. We hope you will support us!
WCES PTA on-going fundraising opportunities below:
1. Boxtop: The first collection will take place September 15th. Mrs. Fitzgerald will distribute envelopes by the 31st of August.
2. Publix: We have a few cards left up front, however, Publix finally switched to phone number only. Here are the instructions...
In order for schools to earn money, customers must register for a Publix.com account, sign up for the Program and then select the school that they want to support. Each time the customer shops at an eligible store, they can help earn money for their chosen school by entering their phone number in the PIN Pad during check-out.
All purchases are eligible with the exception of:
(i) gift cards, alcohol, lottery items, money services, postage stamps and prescriptions;
(ii) purchases from Florida stores; and
(iii) purchases from GreenWise Market locations;
(iv) purchases made through Publix Delivery powered by Instacart and Publix Curbside powered by
Instacart
3. Kroger Partners for Education
Registration complete. Instructions for registering your card are below.
TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:
Register online at krogercommunityrewards.com
Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with your organization after you sign up.
1. Click on Sign In/Register
You must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
2. Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering your zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
3. You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
4. Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
5. Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
6. Update or confirm your information.
Enter NPO number 17869 or name of organization Wolf Creek Elementary, select organization from list and click on confirm.
6. To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after your member(s) register their card(s).
Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.
If you are interested in being apart of the PTA, please contact PTA at:
wolfcreekelementarypta@gmail.com
Follow us: Instagram @wolfcreekpta and Facebook @wolfcreekelementarypta
and let the team know.
For uniform vendor information, please see the school's website at http://school.fultonschools.org/es/wolfcreek/Pages/default.aspx or the Wolf Creek PTA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wolfcreekelementarypta/ .
Landsend: The custom shopping experience for Wolf Creek Elementary is live and may be viewed here:
http://www.landsend.com/pp/SchoolSearch.htmlaction=landing&selectedSchoolNum=900187196
Thanks PTA!
School Communication Tools
Agendas - Each child has a school issued agenda book. We use this as a home-school communication tool. Teachers should be communicating regarding school updates, behavior and homework. Please sign the agenda each night. Agendas are treated as textbooks. Replacement cost is $5.00 if lost.
School Communication Folder - Each student has been provided a folder that contains options for items to keep at home and items to send back to school. Teachers may use this folder in various ways. This year, our folders are green.
Class Dojo - Each teacher will be communicating through Class Dojo this year. If you haven't signed up for your child's teacher account, please inquire with your child's teacher. Class Dojo is a communication app for the classroom. It connects teachers, parents, and students who use it to share photos, videos, and messages through the school day. They use ClassDojo to work together as a team, share in the classroom experience, and bring big ideas to life in their classrooms and homes.
Newsletters, websites, and other technology tools - Each grade level will send home, at minimum, monthly newsletters to inform parents of classroom assignments, projects, and class/school events. Some teachers will also use other creative technology tools to stay in touch with parents. Each teacher will communicate with parents regarding their communication system.
Home Access Center (HAC) - Parents have access to the Fulton County School system Home Access Center. Please visit the Fulton Schools website for more information at http://www.fultonschools.org/en/sp. Parents are able to access information regarding grades, attendance , discipline, etc. Teachers are required to enter final grades in the system as they are assigned. Our school Data Clerk and classroom teachers can assist parents with the access codes for their children. Access codes have to be signed out, they are considered highly sensitive since they allow access to your child's records.
Please Note: Home Access Center (HAC) is the authorized web portal and
only authorized provider of online access to student information in Fulton County Schools
Safety First!
Thanks for working with us to ensure safety for the students.
We still need your patience and support as we execute the morning drop off process. The cafeteria doors close at 7:35 AM each morning. Breakfast ends at that time. Students are tardy at 7:41 AM. Parents are asked to sign their children in and get a tardy pass prior to reporting to class. Parents who wish to walk their child to class must also sign in at the front desk.
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 the bus ramp area, please let us know. We could use the extra hands and eyes to ensure safety for the students.
Identification Required: Please remember to bring your identification in with you when you visit the school. Parents that wish to move pass the front lobby/atrium area will need to sign in and receive a visitor's badge. Any persons checking out a student must also have an ID and be listed on the child's records for check out. Beginning August 13th, parents will be asked to return to the front office to sign in if they do not have a visible visitor's badge. All parents must have their liscenses scanned for the 2018-19 School year by the front office staff before being able to use the kiosk for signing in.
Volunteer Registration: To begin the volunteer process, please visit www.fultonschools.org and complete the child abuse reporting training and the online registration process. When registering, one must use their legal name as it appears on your government identification. The process is self-paced. On your first visit to the school, your government identification will be required.
http://www.fultonschools.org/en/community/Pages/volunteerfaq.aspx
Be reminded to complete the volunteer registration in advance if you are planning to attend field trips with your child's class as a chaperone.
Thanks for your support!
Tilte 1 News
Wolf Creek is a Schoolwide Title 1 school this year. 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, Math and Literacy Instructional coaches and a Parent Liaison to the staff
Purchase classroom resources to enhance learning for all students
Our Parent Involvement Plan and School Home Compact will be sent home soon. Please read, sign and send the compacts back to school Our goal is 100% compacts signed.
Let's do it again! Last year we had 100% of parent compacts turned in! You rock!
***Sign up for Three For Me Volunteer program with our Parent Liaison, Ms. Sims!
Thanks for your support.
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