Cheetah Chronicles
August 29th, 2021
Important Dates
September 3rd: Tracks 3 & 4 - Quarter 1 Interims Go Home
September 6th: Labor Day, No School for Students
September 8th: Curriculum Night Tracks 1 & 3
September 22nd: Curriculum Night Tracks 2 & 4
September 29th: Tracks 2 & 4 Fall Yearbook Pictures
Virtual Curriculum Night
Cheetah Families,
We are excited to welcome you to our 21-22 Holly Springs Elementary School Virtual Curriculum Night. Our goal is to provide you the opportunity to learn about your child's classroom, curriculum, and much more. There will be two sessions offered by each teacher. This will allow you time to virtually visit multiple classrooms if needed. The teacher sessions will provide you with information about your child's classroom. Session One will take place from 5:30-6:15 and Session Two will take place from 6:15-7:00. Your child's teacher will provide you with a Google Meet link to use to join their session. This virtual event will also offer two curriculum night sessions, where you have an opportunity to learn about other topics of interest. Those sessions will take place from 6:15-6:45 and 6:45-7:15. The curriculum session Google Meet links will be provided at a later date. Thank you for all that you do! We look forward to having you attend our Virtual Curriculum Night event.
Charity 5k-10k Fun Run
Bus Riders
Traditional school begins on Monday, August 23. Due to a bus driver shortage, WCPSS Transportation has had to adjust many bus routes. HERE is a letter that was sent home with your child on August 18th. Please be sure to check your student’s AM and PM stop times (click here to view the bus routes). Stop times are subject to change as further adjustments may need to be made through the month of August.
Students should be ready and waiting for the bus at least 10 minutes prior to pick up. There is a lot of change at the start of the new school year as new students begin riding the bus and learning to use the bus service. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
COVID-19 School Protocol Changes
HERE is a letter sent via school messenger on Friday, August 20th regarding COVID-19 school protocol changes. If you have not read the letter, please take the time to do so.
2020 - 2021 EOG Scores Update
Individual Student Reports (ISRs) for the 2020-21 math and science EOGs have been mailed and are arriving in homes.
If you did not receive an ISR, you can complete this form and return it to the school where the student took the assessment.
Please note: Reading EOG scores for the 20-21 school year have not been released. We will provide updates as we receive more information from the NC Department of Public Instruction.
PTA: Box Tops for Education
Did you know Box Tops are digital now? All you have to do is download the Box Tops app and take a picture of your receipt containing participating products for our school to get credit. Much easier than cutting Box Tops out and sending them into school. After you take a picture of your receipt you can give credit to your child's classroom. We will reward the class with the most Box Top submissions with a fun prize at the end of the year! Watch the video below for instructions.
Doing all your shopping online? Here are instructions on how to submit digital receipts: https://www.boxtops4education.com/emailgroceryreceipts
**Still have physical Box Tops? We are collecting all non-expired box tops too! Just send them in to school in a plastic baggie, envelope, etc.**
Breakfast & Lunch Menu with Meal-Viewer
Monthly breakfast and lunch menu PDFs will no longer be posted on our district website.
Menus will now be available on our interactive website, MealViewer.
On the MealViewer website, families can:
- Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
- See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
- Choose menu items based on allergens
- View nutrients for each menu item
- Add nutrients for meals eaten, even partial meals
- Submit ratings on your favorite items
- Print menus
VOLUNTEERS
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit currently requires schools to limit nonessential visitors.
At HSES, we will communicate with our families as we have a need for essential volunteers. There are no visitors/volunteers at this time.
Reactivation for Continuing Volunteers for 2021-2022
Reactivating volunteers may go to any WCPSS work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Individuals previously approved to volunteer must reactivate by 4 p.m. on October 29, 2021.
Current volunteers, who provided a valid email address, will receive an email 15 days and 30 days prior to the expiration of their volunteer status reminding them to reactivate.
NEW Volunteers for 2021-2022
All new volunteer applicants must register and have an approved criminal record check prior to engaging in volunteer work.
New volunteer applicants may go to any WCPSS work site and register through wcpss.net by selecting the Community tab, and then selecting Volunteer.
Applicants will be notified by email once their application has been approved.
Applicants who are not approved will receive notice from Employee Relations.
New Registration Process for WCPSS Employees who Want to Volunteer
Although WCPSS employees do not have to go through a criminal record check to volunteer, they will now need to register.
New Registration Process for WCPSS Employees who Want to Volunteer
HSES Scrambled Legs Run Club!
The 2021 HSES Scrambled Legs Run Club Spring season will run for 7 weeks on the following WEDNESDAYS from 4:15-5:30 > October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, October 27th, November 3rd, November 10th and November 19th. November 19th will be practice & a team dinner. The season will conclude with the Apex Turkey Trot on November 20th.
IMPORTANT: Registration will begin at 6:00 AM on Monday, September 20th and will close on Friday, September 24th. Run club will be limited to the first 75 runners who register through the website.
The Scrambled Legs Run Club is for 3rd - 5th grade students at any ability level from walkers to competitive racers. Due to the limited number of spots, please only sign up if you are willing to put in your best effort at each practice.
VOLUNTEERS/COACHES ARE ALSO NEEDED! More information can be found on the website.
https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/hsesslrc/home
Has Your Phone Number/Email Changed?
Positivity Project: Track 1 - Creativity
This week students will focus on creativity. Creative people can look at the world in original ways. They are open to new experiences and have an imaginative and independent thought process. They generate lots of different ideas and can pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity is a process that takes courage. Anytime you share your original ideas with the world, you risk being criticized or even ostracized.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
-MAYA ANGELOU
Positivity Project: Tracks 3 & 4 - OPM: BEING PRESENT
This week students will learn through our Positivity Project the Other People Mindset of being present. Students will work to understand the importance of giving your full attention when you are with other people. Students will learn about being an active listener and how that connects to being present.
“Nothing is more precious than being in the present moment. Fully alive. Fully aware.”
-THICH NHAT HANH
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
Here Comes the Bus App
Transportation Changes
Counselor Connection
Over the past few weeks, we have been identifying feelings/emotions--- how they make our bodies feel and how we can experience more than one emotion at a time. The students have been doing a fantastic job with this and they already know so much! We will next discover how to handle our emotions when they become too big.
As usual, please feel free to contact either of your student’s School Counselors if you have any concerns.
Shannon O’Neal at soneal2@wcpss.net
Martha Frank at mfrank@wcpss.net
Technology Tips & Resources
💧 Please do not pack full water bottles inside backpacks with Chromebooks. We have already had a few incidents this year with broken Chromebooks due to water bottle spills.
Some great alternatives: Carry your water bottle, use the outside pockets on your backpack if available, or bring an empty water bottle and fill it up at school.
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
- while traveling on buses or other WCPSS vehicles; and
- at all WCPSS work sites.
Updates from the Parent Teacher Association
PTA: HSES Spirit Days
RISE up and show off your CHEETAH PRIDE every Friday in August! Dress in your favorite HSES gear or rock our school colors of purple and yellow. You may even get SPOTTED for the yearbook!
You can order your spirit wear here: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store#
PTA Reflections Contest
The National PTA Reflections contest wants you to create and explain how YOU will change the world! Just turn in your artwork and entry form, which includes your artist statement, by October 25th. The artist statement communicates what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and the content of the work. The statement must include at least 10 words and not exceed 100 words. The artist statement is worth 40 out of 100 points and is just as important as the artwork. Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the current year’s theme may be submitted. Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work and help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed. You can turn these items in by Oct. 25.
Sign up here if you'd like to participate: 2021-2022 Reflections Sign Up!
PTA: Amazon Wish List
Help us show our teachers and staff some LOVE! We have created an Amazon Wish List with snacks, treats, drinks, k-cups, and more. You can order and pay through Amazon and have it sent directly to the school. We strive to keep the teacher’s lounge stocked with snacks, coffee, and tea. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. - PTA
Download our App!
It's never been easier to access archived Cheetah Chronicles, Teacher Websites, Teacher Favorites, Cafeteria Menus, Volunteer and Fundraising Information, and so much more! AND, by installing our app, you will receive important announcements and friendly reminders about what’s happening at our school.
Simply search for our school in your App Store or use these links to download our app today. You'll have a handy icon on your phone and with just a tap or two, you can be connected to our school! Don't forget to accept push notifications so that you receive our text alerts!
iTunes: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1481853108
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details...
Thank you to our sponsors: Blue Water Pediatric Dentistry and Mathnasium!
Become a PTA Member!
Why should you join the PTA?
- Get Involved: The #1 reason why every parent should join the PTA is for the benefit of your child! Research shows that children perform better when parents are involved both at home and at school.
- Advocacy: Power in numbers
Access resources: Free e-learning courses, e-newsletter Be in the know: PTA Takes Action Network provides updates on legislative issues Becoming a member of the PTA shows that you want to help support the programs and events that help enhance students' experiences at school. It does not obligate you to attend the PTA meetings or volunteer. You can join for $10 for an individual or $15 for a family here: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store?category=Memberships or look for a form to come home with your child this week or when you track ba
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 accounts from Harris Teeter, Lowes and Publix this school year please take a minute to do so. You have to do it every year. Fill out this form and the PTA will link your account for you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13XF20vPRsc1Phx29UeE-7JQs--fBKCTSWEMyxPadznA/edit
Thanks you for supporting our school!!