The Mariner Message
August
Please review this month's edition of The Mariner Message and reach out to me if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Upcoming School Events
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuf-qhrDMqG9eINMnkrdKwlc8cExGmVnVc
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
September 17th-Virtual Open House (Curriculum Night)
PHS Staff Spotlight
Elizabeth (Liz) Hamm: Staff Spotlight
I have been with Chatham County Schools since August 2010 as an Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver. I am excited to be starting my 11th year at Perry Harrison. I worked at Pittsboro Elementary School until June 2019. I received Instructional Assistant of the Year and Bus Driver of the Year in 2015. I was also awarded Instructional Assistant of the Year again in 2019. I have two sons, Sadler and Anderson. Sadler is in 6th grade at Pollard Middle School. Anderson is in the 4th grade at Perry Harrison. I am currently in school to complete my degree in Elementary Education; some might say this is a long time coming. I believe that the classroom within itself is a living community to thrive for everyone; administrators and teachers must contribute to this community in order to maintain a positive atmosphere and make not the classroom community but the school within itself thrive. One thing I firmly believe in and try to live out daily is, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Release of information to care providers
PHS Website
PTA
1) One of our main goals for the PTA this year is to help build a connected community within PHS. We are working to keep all parents well informed with our weekly newsletter and Facebook posts on the Perry Harrison PTA page. If you have not been receiving the newsletter each Sunday, you can create or reactivate your phspta.org account. Joining the PTA is a separate step, but you can take care of that and pay your membership dues for 2020/2021 when you log into your account.
2) Save the date for the next virtual PTA meeting of the year on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuf-qhrDMqG9eINMnkrdKwlc8cExGmVnVc
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
This meeting will feature a presentation from our curriculum facilitator, Mrs. Doyle, and our school counselor, Mrs. Munoz. They will be sharing tips for navigating virtual learning and supporting our students' social & emotional needs during these times. Mrs. Doyle and Mrs. Munoz will cater the presentation to address parent questions and concerns, so please email your questions to president@phspta.org by August 31st.
3) The PTA would love to hear from all parents as we plan for the year to come. Please offer your feedback by completing this parent survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_WzPp8j_5r8NHI4BDrO3h9xSRuF5M0naTpamdhV2HWw/edit. We also welcome your involvement, so visit https://phspta.membershiptoolkit.com/story/233827 to learn more about volunteer needs we have for the coming year.
4) Did you know that approximately one in five PHS students were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Meals program last year? These programs do not cover weekends and long breaks from school. Fuel Up at Perry Harrison provides nutritional support when students don’t have access to school breakfasts or lunches. Fuel Up hopes to combat food insecurity by delivering food to families during virtual learning. We need your help to make it happen! Ways you can help:
- Support Fuel Up with monetary donations. $40 will feed 1 student for two weeks during virtual learning. You can donate online or send a check to PHS addressed to Fuel Up.
- Contribute to our food supply with a Porch donation or send food to Fuel Up. All food donations need to be in their original packaging. You can purchase items directly from Fuel Up’s Amazon wish list or mail the items from another source. Please do not drop off food items at the school. Deliveries accepted Monday-Friday ONLY!
- Join our volunteer team for the 2020-2021 school year. You can sign up to volunteer on our website.
Zoom Etiquette
1. Make sure that while your student is in a Zoom lesson, you are dressed appropriately. We've had several cases of parents walking by videos without proper clothing on. This can be extremely troubling and disruptive to students and teachers.
2. While we encourage parents to sit with their child and help with technical issues, we ask that you do not speak to other children that are in the virtual classroom. This violates students' privacy.
3. Many of our teachers are using break-out rooms to allow students to collaborate with one another. Please do not address students in these break-out rooms. If there is a student that is not following Zoom etiquette, it is the job of the teacher to address that student, not another parent.
I understand that this is all new to most of us. Thank you for following these rules to help us keep our students safe and comfortable about remote learning.