Cheetah Chronicles
February 7th, 2021
Important Dates
February 15th-Return to In-Person Learning! All Plan B students K-3 Daily, Cohort 2: 4th & 5th Grade
February 24th-Asynchronous Day
March 17th-Asynchronous Day
March 29th & 30th-Asynchronous Day
March 31st-April 13th-Track Out
Return to In Person Instruction
The Wake County Board of Education approved a plan Tuesday, February 2nd, calling for students not enrolled in the Virtual Academy to return to schools beginning the week of February 15.
The plan calls for the following:
Pre-K through Grade 3 & Special Education Regional Programs, K-12: Daily in-person instruction
Grades 4 and 5, and All Middle and High School: Students will return in three-cohort rotations, starting with Cohort 2 per the school calendars.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month! During this time, we highlight the contributions of African Americans to our country and our world. It is our intention to honor these contributions not just during one month of the year but embed stories and lessons throughout our curriculum that honor the contributions of African Americans throughout history, including in the areas of science, history, sports, medicine, politics, culture, and much more.
Restorative Practices & Community Building Circles What are they?
Parents of 3rd Grade VA Students
3rd Grade Read to Achieve Information
This information is for parents and guardians of current 3rd grade students.
In 2012, North Carolina passed the Excellent Public Schools Act, this legislation contains a component that speaks to reading proficiency and the idea that all students will be meeting reading proficiency by the end of their third-grade year. This legislation provides additional supports that allow schools to meet the unique and individual needs of students that are not demonstrating reading proficiency by the end of third grade. Students may demonstrate this proficiency through a number of means throughout their third-grade year; these include: beginning of grade assessment, monthly Overall ISIP score of 258 or greater, Lexile measure as designated by iStation at or greater that 725, the End of Grade Assessment, or the Read to Achieve assessment. Please see the resources linked below for more information. Please direct questions regarding your student's individual academic progress to your child's classroom teacher. If you have additional questions specific to the Read to Achieve Legislation or Good Cause Exemptions, please email me at apickrel@wcpss.net.
Read to Achieve Presentation Voiceover
Counselor Connection
Hello from the Counseling/Student Services Team! In an effort to best assess the needs of our students, please click on the link below and complete a short survey.
Thank you!
Track Change Request Form for 2021-2022
Important: Complete a Meal Benefits Application by Feb. 26, 2021
Parents, please consider applying for meal benefits by Feb 26. For every student that turns in the free and reduced lunch application and qualifies, the school receives federal funds that benefit the student and teachers at the school. These funds provide additional teachers and staff for the school which means more services for students, especially students that are struggling in reading or math. These funds also are used for materials and supplies for students and teachers. These are valuable resources that teachers can use to improve student achievement. Another important reason to apply is the direct benefit of receiving additional stimulus funds for families in the coming months. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin collecting free and reduced lunch data from us to determine the families that will receive Pandemic Electronic Benefits (P-EBT) that will be issued in the coming months. The P-EBT program helps families purchase food for children whose access to free and reduced priced meals at school has been impacted by COVID-19. If you do not apply and qualify for meal benefits, you will miss the opportunity to receive direct P-EBT funds for your family.
Yes, meals will still be free for all students through June 2021 but we still need you to complete a meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for this extra funding next year. Information about applying for Meal Benefits for the 2020-21 school year can be found at www.wcpss.net/Page/1849. Help our school continue to receive this funding by completing an application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper applications can be requested by calling 919-588-3535 or 919-856-2920.
Holly Springs Elementary is looking for qualified staff for the following positions:
Substitute Teacher - https://www.wcpss.net/subs
Virtual Academy/Remote Learning Schedule
Scholastic Support Centers
The YMCA is offering Scholastic Support Centers at three convenient locations to assist families in our region. Our YMCA Scholastic Specialists do their very best to partner with parents and school staff to help all our students have a successful experience in remote learning.
See the flyer HERE
· Kraft Family YMCA – 7:30am-6pm
· Apex Baptist Church – 7:30am-3:30pm
· Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church – 7:30am-3:30pm
Registration Link: https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs/school-programs/scholastic-support-centers
Financial Assistance Link: https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs/financial-assistance-programs
Title 1 Pre-K in WCPSS
The Pre-K Title I application process opened in December. Holly Springs Elementary does not have this program, but there are other sites in WCPSS that do provide these services. Parents should follow the procedure below if they are interested in applying for the program:
Pick up the universal application from HSES or any WCPSS elementary school or print it from the Smart Start website (wakesmart.org) or from www.wcpss.net/PLTitleI
Complete the application
Attach the required documents
Mail or take the application to :
Wake County Smart Start
4901 Waters Edge Drive, Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-851-9550
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS April 30, 2021
Parents must attend a screening event to be eligible for Pre-K Title I placement
Calendar Updates
The school board met Tuesday and made some updates to our YR calendar for the spring, which is great news for us! This means that although our April track out is a little shorter, it will provide a much needed break between the end of the year and tracks 1,2,3 start date for July 8 for the 21-22 school year. Please note that spring track out is March 31-April 13 (returning on April 14.) Our last day of school this year is now June 21.
The changes the school board made in going remote in January does not currently impact us since our students will be tracked out and will not arrive back to learning until January 25. At that time we expect all in-person learning, grades K-5, to be daily, with no cohorts, unless the school board meets in January and makes a change. Stay tuned for any updates from us while you are tracked out!
Want to know more about Restorative Practice and Community-Building Circles?
Wellness Sessions for Families
Positivity Project: Love
This week, students will be learning about love. The character strength of love represents the way we think, feel, and behave towards the people with whom we have close relationships. When one person loves another person, that person: comforts and makes the other feel safe; sacrifices on the other’s behalf; supports the other during struggles; and places the other’s needs ahead of his/her own. If you love a person, that person makes you feel safe and secure. You can be yourself with that person. You miss that person when he/she is not around.
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
-MAYA ANGELOU
P2 for Families
P2 for Families is an easy and effective way for families to discuss the importance of character strengths and positive relationships. It is differentiated for grades Pre-K – 2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each character strength follows a 1-1-3 model: 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to drive conversations around character at home.
Please choose your child’s grade level on the site linked HERE to be directed to all of the character strengths. CODE NEEDED: P2
REMINDER: Free breakfast and lunch for all students during the 20-21 school year
All students (18 years of age and younger) will receive breakfast and lunch for free until June 30, 2021. Encourage your families to take advantage of this service. Learn about changes to meal service and view curbside pickup locations at wcpss.net/food.
Click HERE for more information.
Carpool Families
Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure social distancing and safety of your students. We are working to efficiently and effectively keep our carpool line moving. Please help us by doing the following.
Move car seats to the driver sides of the vehicles so that students may exit from the passenger side.
Ensure that your student knows how to buckle and unbuckle themselves into the car or their car seat.
Pull forward to the Holly Springs sign by the flag poles if you need to assist with a harness or seatbelt
Stay in your cars and do not exit vehicles during carpool. Once your student is loaded into the car, it is important that the car be ready to proceed forward.
Please do not drive around other cars to move forward, please wait in line until your car has been ushered forward.
Carpool Tag Registration for 2020-2021 School Year
Thanks!
Online Bus Attestation Form
If your child is going to ride a bus, you are required to submit this form stating that you and your child will abide by all health and safety protocols. Students are not permitted to ride the bus until this form has been submitted. Starting Monday, 11/30, if your family has not submitted this form, and your child is riding the bus, we will notify you of the need to carpool until the form is submitted. You will need to submit a separate form for each of your children who plan to ride the bus during the 2020-21 school year.
Here Comes the Bus App
Transportation Changes
YMCA-Before/After School Program at HSES
The YMCA will offer before & after school programs at HSES for the Spring 2021 (January-June). See the flyer below for more information and pricing! You can begin January 25th!
Plan B Students: Preparing to Return to School
When your child returns to school, he/she will be expected to bring their Chromebook and any other materials we sent out at the start of the year to school with them. In addition, your child’s teacher has communicated if there are any additional supplies your child(ren) should need.
Please note, we cannot accept wipes, hand sanitizer, separate soaps or shared tissue boxes, as they do not meet the safety guidelines in place for the district.
Please review the details in the Return to Campus handbook, as it contains updated information about processes, protocols and expectations for our students. In addition, here are additional resources to review prior to October 26th:
- Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols and Technology Guidance ○ Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols Signature Page: This form MUST be signed and returned before your child’s first day. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Technology Guidance for returning to school
- Bring Your Own Device Agreement Form can be found here. If you plan to send a personal device, (NOT a WCPSS Chromebook), to school with your child, this form MUST be signed and returned before your child brings the device to school. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Practicing all 3 Ws will be expected all day long for students and staff, so if you have not even started these practices at home, now is the time:
- Wear a mask (over your nose to completely cover the nose & mouth)
- Wash your hands thoroughly (i.e., use soap & water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer)
- Wait at least 6 feet apart, even when wearing a mask
Click HERE for the letter sent to Plan B families with more information.
Important: Did a student/employee go home sick? Please remember that all household members must also go home
Funding Available for Families Impacted by Remote Learning
To help support families impacted by remote learning, Wake County Government has launched a new assistance program called WakeSUPPORTS. WakeSUPPORTS provides funding to working parents, so they can afford to pay for their K-8th grade student to attend virtual school at a safe location with reliable oversight, or receive before and after school care. It also can pay for fees that accompany subsidized childcare for families who meet specific income criteria. To access this support fill out and submit the online form at wakegov.com/WakeSUPPORTS. The application is available in both in English and Spanish. Residents can also pick up an application in person at Wake County’s Swinburne, Northern Regional Center, Eastern Regional Center or Southern Regional Center. If you wish to obtain an application over the phone, you can do so by calling 919-212-7621 or you can email wakesupportschildcare@wakegov.com.
Technology Tips & Resources
Do you have questions about the Google tools your student is using at school? Do you want to know more about available features? Check out Google’s Tech Toolkit for Families and Guardians
Book Check Out/Pick Up-UPDATE
Library book request and pickup is going very well. We would like to extend the days books can be picked up to Monday-Friday 9:00-3:00. Book request and the book return is located near the bus loop under the front awning. On inclement weather days these items will be located in the front lobby. Students can check the "my Stuff" tab in their follet account to see when books have been checked out to them and are ready for pickup. How-to videos are located on the Follett page in the students Wakeid portal.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to email Ms. Dixon--sfdixon@wcpss.net.
ESL Updates
School Messenger Updates
You can opt-in to receive School Messenger updates via text message by texting YES to the shortcode 67587 or replying with a YES to the opt-in text message we will send to your phone.
More information on School Messenger, including how to manage the manner and devices you get messages delivered to you, can be found here.
Face Coverings Mandatory in North Carolina
North Carolina will require face coverings of your choice for all Central Office staff and school staff, adult visitors, and all school aged children when they are or may be within six feet of another person, including:
- inside school buildings and anywhere on school grounds, including outside;
- while traveling on buses or other WCPSS vehicles; and
- at all WCPSS work sites.
Updates from the Parent Teacher Association
HSES Spirit Wear Pre-Order
Stay warm while showing your school spirit by pre-ordering one of our new HSES hooded sweatshirts. Orders due by February 10th.
https://hsespta.memberhub.store/store?category=Products
Donations Needed
Your HSES PTA needs your help stocking the staff lounge with snacks! We have an Amazon wish list set up to make it easy. Any items ordered from the list will deliver straight to the school. If you have questions or need a pick up of items, please contact Melissa at melisllew@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/7uB3KFc?ref_=wl_share
HSES Child Face Masks
Time to Relink your Grocery Cards!
This is an easy way to earn money for our school while you shop. If you haven't linked your grocery cards this school year please take a minute to do so. You have to do it every year. You can find these links on our app also.
Lowes Foods: https://rewards.lowesfoods.com/Account/SelectCard...
Harris Teeter:
https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education#/app/cms
Publix:
http://corporate.publix.com/.../corporate.../publix-partners
And you can link your Amazon account too if you haven't already!
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F
Thanks you for supporting our school!!