The Beacon
Olive Chapel Elementary PTA News & Information
~ October 7 - October 11, 2019 ~
CONGRATULATIONS!
The OCE PTA and parent community are so excited and happy for you - it is a pleasure working with such a dedicated and passionate leader! Congratulations on your much deserved honor!
CALENDAR
October 14 - 28 - Boosterthon
October 17 - PTA Meeting, 11:00 a.m.
October 17 - Spirit Night at Moe's
October 18 - Track 3 Boosterthon Fun Run
October 18 - Movie Night
October 21 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
October 22 - Spirit Day - World Series Day
October 28 - Tracks 1, 2, & 4 Boosterthon Fun Run
Did You Know?
Did you also know that the PTA pays for half of the cost of a teacher either obtaining their National Board Certification or renewing it. This is a large cost for teachers and the PTA is pleased to help them offset the financial burden for our teachers.
The OCE PTA is pleased to support our teachers in as many ways as we can!
It's not too late to become a member of the PTA! Click here for more information and support these grants and other programs by joining or donating to the No Fuss Fundraiser (see the bottom fo this newsletter to donate).
National Custodial Appreciation Day
Thank you to (from left to right below): Lien Bui, Travis Hines, Ryan Derr, and Mayella Guillermo!!
Walk to School Wednesday
Thank you to Apex PD, Apex FD and Town of Apex staff Jenna Shouse for joining us. And hey parents, thanks for walking the kids to school! See you in November...maybe it will be cooler by then?!
Free & Reduced-Price School Meals Sign-Up Reminders
Reminder from WCPSS that 2018-19 meals benefits expire on October 8th. Please be sure to apply now for 2019-20 benefits if you haven't already.
The process is easy - you can apply online for free and reduced-price school meals. Click here to determine if your student qualifies and to complete the online application. Paper applications are available at the school.
Also, did you know that the OCE KidsCorps provides weekend backpacks of snacks and food for those who need it? Simply contact Mark Cowell, the OCE Social Worker, at 919-387-4440 for more information or to request a Friday backpack.
READvolution is Back!
For the third consecutive year, WCPSS will partner with the Carolina Hurricanes to bring READvolution to all of our elementary schools. This year, the READvolution challenge runs from Monday, September 30th to Friday, November 22nd.
The challenge features both individual and school-wide goals. Students who achieve the goal of reading 20 minutes per day throughout the time frame (for a total of 800 minutes) will receive TWO complimentary ticket vouchers to a Hurricanes home game. Schools who report students reading at least 2,020 books will be entered into a drawing to attend a "Cool School Field Trip" at the PNC Arena to participate in fun activities, and hear from Hurricanes players in February 2020.
To participate, students need to log into their WakeID Portal at wakeid.wcpss.net. Once logged in, students should click on the READvolution icon to log books read and time spent reading.
If you experience issues logging into your READvolution account, please email OCE's READvolution coordinator Casey Lanier at cdlanier@wcpss.net.
Happy Reading and Go Canes!
Box Tops Now Apply to Your Classroom Goal
There is a new way to make your digital Box Tops count towards your classroom goal. Now when families use the Box Tops app to scan their store receipt, they can "Give Credit" to an individual, classroom or grade level.
To "Give Credit" make sure you have the latest version of the Box Tops app, scan your receipt, then tap the star icon to enter your "Give credit" memo. Enter your child's teacher's name and we will add these digital Box Tops to the classroom totals. Classes will be competing to collect the most Box Tops (both traditional clippings and digital clips), so make every one count!
KidsCorps Thank You
In addition to three wagons being donated and countless items to fill the wagons, KidsCorps raised $1,929 to present to Duke Children's Hospital in Charlotte's honor. Your generosity is going to help bring smiles to so many children just like Charlotte during their treatments.
Campus Beautification Day
On Saturday, October 12th, we will meet at school to plant 50 azaleas donated by WRAL gardens! We will make our school courtyard beautiful and welcoming. We will also clean up the front of the school by trimming trees and bushes. We need a lot of volunteers to make this happen.
So grab your shovels and gloves and let's make our school even better. If you are available to come and help us out please sign up by clicking here.
The whole family can help!
Please email Ms. Ferreira at mferreira@wcpss.net if you have any questions.
Boosterthon is Coming!!
We are looking for parent volunteers to help our runners stay hydrated on the big Fun Run days! (October 18th for Track 3 and October 28th for Tracks 1, 2, 4). If you can help, please sign-up here (details included).
As a reminder, you can always donate to the No Fuss Fundraiser! Details at the bottom of this newsletter.
OCE Movie Night Reminder
Doors open at 5:30, so come to set up your blanket, grab some concessions (please bring cash), and enjoy some pre-movie entertainment provided by Bach to Rock.
The movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is presented free of charge. Special thanks to Bowman Theater for donating the screen and technical set-up.
It's not too late to add your child's photo to the pre-movie slide show. The date for photo sponsorships has been extended to October 15th. Send your photos and payment ($20 cash or checks made out to OCE PTA, marked as "Movie Night") to your child's teacher or email photos to christinerooney1030@gmail.com.
Loyalty Cards - Harris Teeter
It's important to remember that you must relink your Harris Teeter VIC card EACH YEAR!
It's easy. Go to this link and click LINK YOUR SCHOOL TODAY midway down the page. If you already have an account, all you have to do is pick Olive Chapel from the search for a school menu. If you need to set up an account, this page will walk you through the steps to linking your VIC card to OCE.
It's a quick, easy, and painless way to get extra dollars for our school.
Socktober - A Special Message from the OCE Student Council
Hello OCE families,
This year the OCE Student Council will be organizing the "Socktober" sock drive, this is a movement to help donate socks to a local homeless shelter. Socks are one of the least donated items to homeless shelters, and one of the most needed. Each night there is an estimated amount of 600,000 people living on the streets in the United States. This number has given inspiration to the "Socktober Movement!"
For the whole month of October, Olive Chapel Student Council is asking for donations of new socks in any size to be placed in the box outside of the front office. Even one or two pair of UNUSED socks can make a big difference to someone who is living on the street during the coldest months of the year.
Thank you,
Logan Z., Ella G., and all of the OCE Student Council
Holiday Gift Giving Program
Holiday Surprise is a gift-giving program coordinated to assist families with gifts for their children during the holiday season.
Please read carefully, the sponsor sign-up section has changed.
If you are interested in being a sponsor for Holiday Surprise by purchasing a variety of gifts for a student in need, a Sign-Up Genius link with be available and posted in the Olive Chapel Beacon, on the Olive Chapel Website, and on Twitter beginning November 1st through November 26th or until all students receive a sponsor.
If you are interested in having your child receive gifts, please access the Holiday Surprise flyer by using the link in this article (below).
If you have any questions, please contact Alice Geiss at ageiss@wcpss.net or 919-387-4440 x24381; and/or Christine Martin Byers at amartin-byers@wcpss.net or919-387-4440 x24382.
Thank you,
Alice Geiss & Christine Martin Byers
OCE School Counselors
Lego Club
LEGO club is a staff led, BEFORE-school club for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students only.
We focus on inspiring children to think creatively, reason systematically, and use their imagination to play.
LEGO Club will take place on Thursday mornings from 8:00 am to 8:45 am in the library. Students must be dropped off promptly at 8:00 a.m. Each track will meet on different dates. An email will be sent out regarding these dates. They are also located on the OCE website under "Students" and "Lego Club." PLEASE REGISTER EACH CHILD INDIVIDUALLY.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE NOV. 8TH.
If you have any questions please email Mrs. Brittany Cabaleiro (2nd grade Track 1) at bcabaleiro@wcpss.net.
No Fuss Fundraiser
You can continue to donate to the No Fuss Fundraiser!
Click here to donate with a credit card anytime this year. A link is also included at the bottom of this newsletter.
PLEASE NOTE, you will still be contacted about our other fundraisers, it will be your choice to participate.
100% of your donation goes to the OCE PTA.
CREW BIRTHDAYS - OCTOBER
10/13 - Kimberly Hesen
10/18 - Jennifer Cowell
10/19 - Elaine Austin
10/19 - Ruthann Kelly
THANK YOU TO OUR 2019-20 PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS:
To submit to the Beacon, please email oce.communications@gmail.com
Olive Chapel Elementary PTA
Website: https://www.ocepta.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Olive-Chapel-PTA-1834721613423092/
Twitter: @olivechapelelem