Greetings Seawell Seahawk Families,

We had a wonderful first week back following winter break. Middle of the year assessments for both literacy and Math are well under way and students are working to demonstrate all that has been learned thus far.

As some of you may know, our school was recently featured on WRAL TV 5 news as the backdrop for our district bus transportation challenges. We sincerely appreciate your patience as our transportation works to come up with solutions daily to lessen student impact. I would also like to shout out our wonderful staff as coverage for late bus routes is not something that is a typical part of our workday, but we respond in order to ensure that students are safe.

This month our character trait is Kindness!! Being considerate, helpful and understanding of others. Our student council met recently and have some awesome ideas about how to lift this character trait all around our campus. Can't wait to shout out the Kindness activities and students recognized for demonstrating this trait. Let's get caught being kind:)

Changes to Seawell:

This year we have been working to clean up overgrown areas and assess the best use of our existing grounds. To that end the following things have been done:

• Memorial garden adjacent to the Critter Corner has been cleared (now we can see the bench and metal art pieces:)
• Large bushes that are overgrown/dead are being cut and/or pruned in order to improve student safety and discourage certain pests
• Old Pre-K playground is currently being cleared and repurposed
• Basketball goals have arrived for the center court; we are waiting for the installation to be completed.

New playground info and possible murals on the horizon..............

Remember at Seawell we value all, are committed to all, believe in all, and lead with the heart!!

• Join the PTA for just $10 per person or sponsor a Seawell teacher or staff member for only $5 by clicking on the MemberHub link. As a PTA member there is no obligation to attend the PTA meetings or volunteer. We welcome other family members too, such as grandparents, to become PTA members, too!

• Volunteer with the PTA! There are several vacant positions We are still looking for members of the yearbook committee and would love some volunteers! If interested in volunteering, please send an email to ptaseawell@gmail.com.

• Seawell Family Night on the Town. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our last event at Coronato Pizza. Thanks to our friends at Coronato Pizza for their generous donation to the Seawell PTA. Our next event will be at The Loop on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The Loop Pizza and Grill in Eastgate Shopping Center (1800 East Franklin St., near Trader Joe's) will donate a portion of sales to Seawell! Spread the word to friends and neighbors: order anytime from 4:00pm till closing - eat in or take out/curbside pick up. Be sure to add your receipt to the marked box at the register.

Seawell had 2 positive COVID-19 cases during the week of January 2-6.

CHCCS encourages eligible students and staff to get an updated COVID-19 booster. The updated bivalent booster is now available for people 12 and older (two months after they finish their primary series or any booster dose). It offers the most up-to-date protection against the latest Omicron variants. The booster, like all COVID-19 vaccines, is safe to get alongside your annual flu vaccine. The CDC also recommends a third dose for children 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems. Click on these links for vaccination locations and more information on COVID-19 boosters

Families, please be sure to follow the following guidelines :

• Masks: In general, CHCCS remains a mask-recommended, but optional district. Masks continue to be provided for students and staff upon request. Exceptions to this protocol are outlined on our website as well as the below paragraph about COVID-19 positive staff/students.
• Also: Schools will no longer require masking in the entire building when there are clusters of 5+ positive cases in a small group or a cumulative total of 15+ positive cases in a school. More on this below.
• Symptomatic Staff/Students - Will be required to provide*:
• A negative PCR COVID-19 test, or
• 2 negative Antigen (Rapid) tests separated 24 hours apart in order to return to work/school, or
• An alternative diagnosis from a primary care provider.
• *This is not for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is to prove that the COVID-like symptoms being experienced are not COVID-19. Individuals who choose not to test for COVID-19 or get an alternative diagnosis from their primary care provider are required to follow the COVID-19 positive staff/students guidance.
• COVID-19 positive Staff/Students - Must quarantine for 5 days and can return on day 6 as long as they are free of vomiting, diarrhea, and fever without the use of medication and all COVID-19 like symptoms are improving (they do not need to be resolved). The individual needs to continue to wear a mask at work/school while indoors for an additional 5 days after returning. Please contact your school nurse for additional information and guidance on returning to work/school.

January 2-25 mcLass Literacy Assessment Window

January 3-26 STAR Math Assessment Window

January 16

• MLK Jr Holiday - No School for Students

January 20

• Second Quarter Ends

January 23

• Teacher Workday

January 27

• Report Cards Sent Home

This section will now periodically highlight clothing items found around our campus so that parents can alert their children to reclaim what was once lost! All clothing/items pictured can be found in the Lost and Found section of our cafeteria.

Lonely Jackets @ Seawell ES

This is the time of year that students are assessed in order to determine their MOY progress. We utilize mcLASS DIBELS 8 for K-3 students and use it to determine their growth/progress in literacy skills.

• Students participate in benchmark assessments three times yearly - BOY, MOY and EOY
• Progress monitoring and intervention resources are also included
• DIBELS - Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills
• Research based and mandated by the state

The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) are brief but powerful measures of the critical skills that underlie early reading success. Supported by two decades of sophisticated research, these simple assessments predict how well children are likely to be doing in reading comprehension by the end of third grade. Three or four short tasks at each grade level, K–3, help teachers locate, monitor, and intervene with “at-risk” students in kindergarten through third grade. DIBELS assessment is a proven approach for taking “vital signs” of reading health. Teachers or other personnel trained to administer the assessment give the screenings individually to all students in a grade within a short time frame. (www.livebinder.com)

We’re hiring! CHCCS is hiring for a wide variety of available positions including Exceptional Children (EC), dual language, math and science teachers…plus bus drivers, facilities, maintenance and IT staff. Know someone who wants to join the CHCCS team? Please help us by using your networks on LinkedIn to share our posts and spread the word! Note that Seawell is still searching for:

• Fifth Grade LEAP teacher
  
• Fourth Grade Teacher
• Full time Interventionist/MTSS Coordinator

SEAWELL LIBRARY FALL/WINTER NEWSLETTER

Please call Seawell at 919.967.4343 ext 33201 or email ssilberstein@chccs.k12.nc.us to report absences and tardies.

Educational leave for students must be requested at least ten days in advance utilizing this form.

We are now able to have parent volunteers in our learning spaces again! In order to assist you with this process, please access the volunteer registration link . Note that you must go through the district volunteer process before beginning to actively volunteer in your child's classroom/school.