Wolf Creek Weekly
Building Pathways To Success
From The Principal's Desk February 2, 2020
Welcome back to another great week!
Parents, you ROCK!! We have 163 Parent Climate Surveys completed! This is a significant increase from last week. Keep them coming. Let's exceed our 200 completed last year. Every voice counts. Let's highlight our GREAT school. This is your school and your community. We want to continue the great things happenings here at Wolf creek. See below for more information regarding the School Climate Surveys.
What an awesome week of celebrating our Wolf Pack! Congratulations to all of our Honorees. Keep pushing, we are close to the finish line. We are looking forward to celebrating even more scholars at the next Awards Day. Thanks for your support parents. Your do ROCK!
Please join me in congratulating our phenomenal 2020-2021 Teachers and Employees of the year nominees. They will move on to the next round with interviews and classroom observations. Best of luck to each of them!
Brook Everett - 1st grade Teacher
Janella Spear - Kindergarten Teacher
Shakeema Gabriel - Special Need PK Teacher
Keia Ward - Clinic Assistant
Sadie Searcy - School Counselor
Y'lonn Golmore - Para Professional
We have received several PBIS donations to help celebrate our staff for their efforts. Thanks! Several teachers were recognized and entered into a weekly drawing!
Hats off to some of our top point submissions:
Ms. Durant
Mrs. Everett
Ms. Lawrence
Mrs. Haywood
Students have received lanyards with name cards and points can be earned for exhibiting Leadership and our Wolf PACK principles.
Review the principles and encourage you child to show his/her leadership skills daily. Both teachers and students can receive points and rewards. If you are interested in helping us build our teacher reward center, please contact Dr. Braggs @ BraggsS@fultonschools.org. We would like to build a supply of treats, movie/dining gift cards and much more to reward teachers as they earn their points.
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.
We are a Leader In Me school! This month's focus is Habit #5 - Seek First To Understand Than To Be Understood. See more information on Habit #5 in this newsletter. Staff, students and stakeholders will be engaging in the principles of the 7 Habits of successful people this year. See the 7 Habits Tree picture below.
For more information see: http://www.theleaderinme.org/ . We are excited about teaching 21st century leadership and life skills to students, staff and stakeholders and creating a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.
Safety First! Parents, we need your help! We have cones and barricades in place to help us with our car rider lane, bus ramp and parking lot. We ask that everyone please adhere to set up and proceed with caution when driving on campus. Last week we encountered a few traffic violations that could have caused an accident. Your patience and caution is imperative. While we do understand that the morning time can be a bit hectic with trying to get to our respective jobs and appointments, we ask for consideration when driving on campus. We're replacing cones and adding additional signage in the near future in hopes that this will add another layer of safety. Please do not move emergency cones or barricades. Also, be mindful that replacement of cones is costly, as we have several that have been damaged from cars running over them.
Students should be dropped off in the Car Rider Lane in front of the building. Drop off in the bus lane is prohibited. Please do not drop your child off at the top of the parking lot/bus ramp and have them walk down to the entrance. This is a safety concern. Parents are asked to use the parking lot near the bus lanes to escort students into the building only. Please do not drop students off in this area. It is also imperative that students are not dropped off alone before 7:10 AM. We have had a few students waiting alone prior to 7:10 AM. We are aware that our assigned police officers may have been absent from a few of our posts. We are working on replacements when made aware of their absences. Let's all pitch in and lend a hand. Be careful and look out for each other during drop off and pick up.
If we have parent volunteers available for morning duty in our parking lots and car rider lanes, we would greatly appreciate your support. Your may contact Ms. sims, Parent Liaison @ simsn@fultonschools.org or Mrs. Canty, Assistant Principal @ cantya@fultonschools.org to sign up to support. The more hands on deck, the better. Morning duty begins at 7:10 AM and ends at 7:40 AM.
We are a uniform school. Students looked great in their uniforms today. Let's keep it up! We are encouraging our 4th and 5th graders to LEAD the way. Our 5th graders are the "seniors" in the building and we want them to be positive role models for the student body.
Please check the school website often. We update the site regularly. The school calendar, handbooks, PTA and SGC information can be found there.
Check us out! https://www.youtube.com/c/WolfCreekESNewsandAnnouncements
We are looking forward to a great week!
Thanks for all you do! Let's Go Wolves!
In Partnership,
Principal Glass
WCES school website: https://www.fultonschools.org/wolfcreekes
Boosterthon Fun Run is here!
Wolf Creek Parents and Families!
We’re only ONE WEEK AWAY from kicking off the Wild West Fun Run and PLEDGING IS NOW OPEN! Register online at FUNRUN.COM and start getting pledges! On February 4th our 2-week fundraising program will officially begin on campus, and we’re so excited! We’ll start with a Pep Rally, and then your family will gather pledges and enter them on FUNRUN.COM. At the end, every student will participate in the Wild West Fun Run!
This year, our goal is to raise $30,000 for Technology, Rock Wall, and Students Choice Item, and we need your help! Please begin thinking about friends and family who could pledge your student for the Wild West Fun Run. Look for a Pledge Book to come home on PEP RALLY DAY with more information. And don’t forget to save the Fun Run Date—February 13th—on your calendar. You’re invited to come out and cheer on our students! More details to come.
Thank you for supporting Wolf Creek and have a great day!
Your Wolf Creek PTA
Georgia Milestones - Coming Soon
Georgia Milestones Parent Workshop
February 4th
2 Sessions: 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM
3rd - 5th grade parents - Check out the resources and more information regarding the April Georgia Milestones session.
https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Lexile-Framework.aspx
Volunteers Needed Boosterthon Fun Run 2020
Black History Program
Celebration of Black History Month
Georgia Schools Climate Survey
Parents, the 2019-20 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.
Last year we reached our goal of 200 completed surveys! This was an increase from 2018-19. Let's reach 300+ this year. I know we can do it! Thanks in advance for your completion.
Be reminded, that this rating is open to the public and helps to establish the overall climate rating for our school and our local community. These survey results often "paint the picture" of our residential areas and impact the story for prospective home owners. 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 2018-19 school year and want to do even better this year! We are just .80 points away from 4 STARS. If there are specific school concerns, we ask that you contact the school directly and allow the school to address those concerns locally. Copies of the 2018-19 results are available in our Parent Resource Center.
All parents are encouraged to participate in the Georgia Parent Survey. 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 and will not be posted online. The Georgia Parent Survey link is posted below.
https://gshs.gadoe.org/Pages/Parent.aspx
For more information on school climate ratings:
https://www.gadoe.org/schoolsafetyclimate/Pages/School-Climate-Star-Rating.aspx
Parent Survey 2018-19
Personnel Survey 2018-19
GADOE CCRPI Ratings
Mark Your Calendars!
Please see the school calendar on our school website here:
***Check with your child's teacher for more information regarding field trips. Volunteers and parents attending field trips should complete the Volunteer online process for Fulton County prior to the field trips.
Book Drive - Please consider donating a barely used or new book to the school.
Digital Learning Days 2019-2020
REMINDER: FC BOE has recently approved several Digital Learning Days this year. Please mark your calendars. See the news release here:
At its work session last night, the Fulton County School Board approved making April 21, 2020, and May 19, 2020, "Digital Learning Days" for students while maintaining them as regular work days for employees. A Digital Learning Day is an opportunity for students to engage in off-site learning instead of attending school.
Since April 21 and May 19 are state-wide election days, there is high-volume participation of the public at polling stations located in our schools, and this increases the potential for security concerns. By utilizing digital learning activities, students will be able to maintain their focus on instruction even though they are not on campus. This also allows staff the opportunity to participate in high-quality professional development to deepen their knowledge and skills.
Here is a summary of the recent calendar adjustments:
- March 13, 2020 remains a teacher workday.
- March 24, 2020 (GA Presidential primary election) will be a teacher workday.
- April 21, 2020 (state-wide election) will be a student Digital Learning Day and a teacher professional development day.
- May 19, 2020 (state-wide election) will be a student Digital Learning Day and a teacher professional development day.
Thank you for your continued support and flexibility.
WCES Literacy Corner
Did you know that increasing literacy is one of our BIG rocks at Wolf Creek? Lexile scores are important. Ask your child's teacher how you can help at home with increasing your child's score.
http://www.allstudentscanshine.com/2018/02/hands-on-learning-transform-your.html
See this informative article about Reading Aloud to Children:
“Go pick your bedtime book, right now,” I told my four-year-old. Afternoon meltdowns had turned into bedtime battles, and I was tired. He returned clutching the book Glad Monster, Sad Monster and curled up beside me.
His body began to relax as we read about all the things that made these monsters glad, mad, sad, and scared. “Did you have big feelings today, like the monsters?” I asked. Big nod.
“Do you need extra hugs tonight?” More nods. When he couldn’t quite tell me how he was feeling, he found a book that could speak for him — and that helped me give him what he needed.
On a recent taxi ride, the driver asked me, “What’s your best piece of parenting advice?” He had young kids at home, too, and his question made me pause. I’ve probably read too many books and research articles on parenting, so I have lots of data at my fingertips.
But there is one dimension of being a mom where the research beautifully matches my experience in the trenches – something stunningly simple, where the return on investment is undeniably good for my kids and good for me:
I read to them.
Almost every evening, after tooth-brushing and before lights out, we snuggle and read. Despite the inevitable ups and downs of family life, we end the day connected.
Reading aloud to kids has clear cognitive benefits. For example, brain scans show that hearing stories strengthens the part of the brain associated with visual imagery, story comprehension, and word meaning. One study found that kindergarten children who were read to at least three times a week had a “significantly greater phonemic awareness than did children who were read to less often.” And the landmark Becoming a Nation of Readers report from 1985 concluded that “the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”
But reading also strengthens children’s social, emotional, and character development. According to a recently published study, reading to very young children is linked to decreased levels of aggression, hyperactivity, and attention difficulties. The study’s lead author shared this insight with The New York Times, “When parents read with their children more . . . they learn to use words to describe feelings that are otherwise difficult and this enables them to better control their behavior when they have challenging feelings like anger or sadness.”
If reading isn’t part of your daily routine — or if you want to make it a more positive experience — here are three tips for making the most of read-aloud time:
Start early, read often. Reading to babies helps build bonds, vocabulary, and habits. If reading a story is part of the bedtime routine from infancy or toddlerhood, your child will take the lead in making sure this happens every night.
Read the pictures. Illustrations are visual clues that can help kids build their vocabulary and their emotional toolkit. Before reading a book, take a “picture walk” through the pages. Look at characters and the setting and make predictions about what might happen. While reading, pause to look at characters’ body language and ask,How do you think she’s feeling right now?
Press the pause button. Some nights, it’s tempting to rush through books on the way to “lights out.” But sometimes I press pause button before turning the page. Take time to look at a picture, ask a question, or share reactions. Help kids make connections between what they read and the world around them. For example:
- The grandma in this story reminds me of your grandma. They both love making pies and telling stories.
- Hey, she has brown eyes and loves dinosaurs — just like you!
- Look at all those tall buildings! It looks a little bit like New York City, where your uncle lives.
- He seems nervous about the first day of school. Do you remember your first day of school?
- There’s a bear in this story! What other stories have we read about bears?
Storytime is not some miracle solution to the challenges of raising young kids, but over time, the benefits of family reading add up. And along the way, everyone gets to enjoy the snuggles and good stories.
If you are looking for some good books to read to your kids, take a look at these lists:
- Fifteen Books to Get the Whole Family Giggling
- 15 Picture Books That Support Children’s Spatial Skills Development
- 12 Books to Excite Your Child’s Mathematical Imagination
- Picture Books to Help You Slow Down and Say Thanks
- Room for Everyone: 10 Picture Books that Encourage Kindness
Article by:
Deborah Farmer Kris
It's not just for the little ones.....Another great article for Reading Aloud to "Big" Kids at home!
https://www.readbrightly.com/importance-of-reading-aloud-to-big-kids/
Happy reading!
Reading ROCKS!
Wolf Creek Elementary PTA News
Happy holidays!
Thanks PTA for creating a staff holiday wish-list for parents. Find out more about what your child's teacher enjoys here: https://bit.ly/2tfuHJW
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. Dues are $20/person, or $50 at the Pack Pride level which includes 2 memberships, a donation, and a thank you gift.
Volunteers needed for all upcoming events! Please contact PTA!
Coming soon:
- Boosterthon Fun Run February 13th
- March General Body Meeting - March 24, 2020, 6PM
- Virtual April General Body Meeting – via Facebook Live - April 21, 2020, 7PM
- Teacher Appreciation Week - May 4-8, 2020
- May General Body Meeting + Elections - May 12, 2020, 6PM
We are looking for volunteers to serve in leadership positions on the Board and on Committees. 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.
Thanks PTA!
Leader In Me Habit #5 Seek First to Understand Than to Be Understood
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood® is the habit of listening to other people’s ideas and feelings. It’s trying to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. It’s about being confident in voicing your ideas. It’s about looking people in the eyes when speaking. Habit 5 is a timeless principle we all strive to teach our kids; it teaches them to be confident when speaking to others while also teaching them the importance of listening to others when they are speaking.
Habit 5 is about communication. The best way to teach someone how to communicate is by practicing it with them.
More Leadership at Home Activities
To learn more about leadership at home, check out:
Recess: Why It Is Important for Social-Emotional Learning
Creating a Family Mission Statement: Begin With the End in Mind
Habit 3: A Family Exercise in Putting First Things First
Family Engagement in Schools: Leadership Skills Start at Home
Title 1 News
Only less than 40 left to complete and submit! Way to go parents! Our Parent and Family Engagement Plan Plan and School Home Compact have been sent home soon. Please read, sign and send the compacts back to school Our goal is 100% compacts signed. We have been 100% each year. Let's do it again!
We have great resources for parents to be used at home. Don't forget to visit the Parent Resource Room. See Ms. Sims for more information.
See more information regarding Title 1 at : http://www.fultonschools.org/en/divisions/acd/supportserv/TitleI/Pages/default.aspx
Thanks for your support.
Safety First!
Thanks for your support! It is important that everyone adhere to sign in and out procedures, volunteer procedures and procedures for receiving a visitor badge daily. When buzzing into the school, be prepared for additional safety questions regrading your visit before entering the building.
***Please note: entry through the cafeteria during dismissal still requires parents to report to the front desk for sign in.
Thanks for working with us to ensure safety for the students. Remember to bring in your state ID or license when visiting the building. All visitors will be asked to sign at the front desk. Instruction begins at 7:40 each day. Parents are asked to say their goodbyes and exit timely so that we may begin the instructional day.
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.
Dismissal procedures - All parents entering the building for pick up should check out their child through the front desk. Be sure to stop at the front desk and allow the front desk personnel to manage the check out process. Students should be called to the front desk to meet their parents for check out. Students that require extra support will be escorted to the office by school personnel.
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.
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