The Bobcat Blaze
May 12, 2023
+++We Are AC Moore STRONG+++
SCHOOL VISION
Every AC Moore student will enter middle school reading at or above grade level.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
We collaboratively empower students to be accountable and successful.
STAFF CORE VALUES
Passion: Embracing and nurturing our school community
Intentionality: Purposeful, Present, & Prepared
Accountability: Growth Over Ego
Student Pillars of Leadership: PreK - 2
Respect
Cooperation
Community
Responsible
Self-Control
Caring
Trustworthy
Student Pillars of Leadership: 3rd - 5th
Respect
Collaboration
Citizenship
Responsible
Self-Discipline
Empathy
Integrity
May
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May 1- May 31, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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- May 17...........................................................Kindergarten Promotion
- May 24...........................................................5th Grade Promotion, Radius Church
- May 26...........................................................End of the Nine Weeks, Last Day of School
Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcat Families & Happy Mother's Day Weekend!
We wrapped up SCReady & SCPass testing this week! I cannot be prouder of our students already, no matter the results. They worked hard this year and it will show in more ways than just one as we head towards the finish line.
On Monday & Tuesday of next week our students will take their end of the year STAR assessments. Please make sure students are at school on time, get a good night's rest, and have a healthy breakfast.
I look forward to another great week in Bobcat Country as we continue to dig deep and finish strong!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Principal's Video Message: https://cloud.swivl.com/v/a8f75e7aeade2518def2da1987346303
-----Parent News-----
A special thank you to the PTO, parents, and friends of A.C. Moore for the extra special notes, surprises, gifts, and love you have shown the faculty and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you for trusting us to teach your Bobcat student and for your continuous support, not only during Teacher Appreciation Week, but ALL YEAR LONG!
2023-2024 Returning Student Yearly Registration
Richland One schools have begun collecting annual registration information for returning students through a process called, "Returning Student Yearly Registration." Parents are required to complete this process every year for every student returning to a Richland One school. This process can only be completed via PowerSchool Enrollment.
NOTE: You are no longer able to access this form via your ParentPortal account.
All parents should have received an email from the registrar’s office with their child’s Snapcode information which is needed for enrollment. Please email Mrs. Thorpe if you did not receive the email information at madolyn.thorpe@richlandone.org
Parents of ALL Richland One students need to complete the online form before the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Failure to complete the form could result in your student not being able to ride the bus or receive pertinent teacher and/or class assignments which may cause an interruption in their timely start of the 2023-2024 school year.
Parents who are having trouble logging into their account should complete the PowerSchool Enrollment Login Assistance form or follow the link on the QR code.
Need Summer Camp Information?❔🤔
Check Below!
If you are interested in finding a summer camp for your student, you will find information in the District News and the Community Connections section below!
Superintendent's Book Club Update
We are so excited to welcome these students to the Superintendent's Book Club for reading 100 picture books or 10 chapter books! As book club members they received a special certificate, their picture on a school bulletin board, a free ticket to a Columbia Fireflies game, and an invitation to an end of the year bounce house party during school!
*Newest Members
- PreK: Henry, Harley, Lily, Nylah, Knox, Kinsley, E'man, Harper, Caitlyn, Carlin, Beyrak, Eason
- K: Aintik, Alicia*
- 1st: Bennett, Gray, Rhinehart, Rahini, Cosette, Bear, William, Alice Rushton, Lochlan, Jayceon*, Lily*, Himani*, Logan*, Taylor*, Leanna*, Henry*
- 2nd: Aryan, Queen, Webb, Ona, Laim, Elijah, Luke, Lizeth, Violet, Praise, Mi'King, Maddie, D'mire, Nell, Oliver, Gavin, Alexander, John, Charli*, Joshua*
- 3rd: Chaitra, Hooper, Soukaina, Pippi, Cora, Andrew, Camden, Jonah, Jorgan, Nadine*, Ben*, Morgan*, Troy*, KJ*, Mia*, Gabby*, Ivy*, Jadontis*, Dakota*, Desire*, Esther*, Tallon*, Schanchuan, Stella*, Lila*, Dyuthi*, Jackson*, Trinity*, Sanaia*, Jolie*, Bryson*, Mason*, Ashraf*
- 4th: Emma, Silas, Saunders, Reet, Lucy, Valery, Zyler, Kyndal, Andre, Kalani, Kinsley, Gaby, Jonah, Moustapha*
- 5th: McKenna*
47% of our students made it into the book club this year!
School Improvement Council (SIC) Report to Parents
The School Improvement Council (SIC) serves as an advisory committee to a school's principal and faculty. Unlike PTA/PTOs and other voluntary school organizations, councils are mandated by law to exist in every public school in South Carolina.
Key Functions
- SICs work with the school to develop and implement a five-year school improvement plan (school renewal plan).
- SICs monitor and evaluate success in reaching the plan's goals and objectives.
- SICs write an annual report to parents about the progress of the plan.
- SICs assist the principal in writing the narrative for the School Report Card.
- SICs advise on the use of school incentive awards and provide assistance as requested by the principal.
Please read the annual SIC report below.
Free Lunch Options for Students!😋🍽️
I'm happy to say we have a new option for lunchtime for students. We are striving to get more students to participate in lunch daily. By doing so we are offering all students the option to grab chips, fruit, milk. These items can be picked up at our salad bar daily during lunch. This applies to all students who don't want a full meal. Students who normally bring their own lunch daily can choose this option as well. The salad bar comes with these items daily already to go with their sandwich or salad. Please explain to your students if they don't want everything on the bar or if they have their own lunch, they can get this option.
Mrs. Ja'Leica Colbert
Kitchen Manager
A.C. Moore Elementary
March 27, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians:
I am excited to announce that our school and all other Richland One schools have enrolled with the STOPit anonymous incident reporting system as part of the district’s efforts to support safe learning environments for students and staff.
STOPit is an online reporting tool designed to deter and mitigate bullying, cyber abuse and other inappropriate behaviors. It consists of an app and a back-end incident management system for school administrators. This program teaches students, parents and staff how to recognize the signs of at-risk behaviors and gather information and report, and it allows administrators to assess, manage and resolve incidents.
Our students will be able to use the STOPit app to report incidents anonymously. They will have the power to help put an end to harmful and inappropriate behavior they see online through social media and other means. Students also can use STOPit to reach out for help if they or a peer are facing a personal crisis or experiencing bullying, abuse or are otherwise in need of assistance.
No student information is needed to use STOPit. The only way personally identifiable information will be accessible through STOPit is if a student voluntarily includes it within the content of a report or message.
The STOPit app will be downloaded on all district-issued student laptops. It also will be accessible through our school website and the district’s website. Students also can download the STOPit app on their smartphones and other personal devices at no cost.
Our school team has been trained, and students will be trained to use the STOPit app before Spring Break. The app is scheduled to go live April 3. Click the link below to view the STOPit student training video:
STOPIT STUDENT TRAINING VIDEO (ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS)
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
LaQuana Aldridge
Principal
A.C. Moore Elementary
Our afterschool program registration for the 23-24 school year opens on May 1st. Tuition is $55/week and will, with a $25 registration fee. The link to our website is below- all registration is done online. If you are willing, we would love to have the attached flyer and below link shared with families.
-----------School News-----------
📣📣 A Bobcat Shout-out to....
...Pantasia and Third-Fifth Grade Students!
For the last two weeks, students in 3rd-5th grade had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Kimberly M. Roberts, founding member of Pantasia, a steel drums band from Lexington, South Carolina. Mrs. Roberts is an International Artist-in-residence with extensive teaching and performance experience. During her 20+ years as a teaching artist, she has been invited to teach and perform at more than 350 schools, as well as dozens of libraries, child development centers, festivals, and Arts camps throughout her state of South Carolina, across the United States, and internationally.
During her residency, the students learned about the steel drums, their origin, and about the culture that developed the unique style of music. Additionally, students were taught how to play the steel drums and completed their time with Mrs. Roberts with a performance for the KDG-2nd grade students.
A special thank you to our Bobcat performers and to Mrs. Roberts for working so well with our students!
-----Celebrate!-----
Every May PBS takes extra time to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by shining a light on AAPI experiences and filmmakers. Visit their website or click the links below to enjoy a selection of films, some premiering in May as well as some gems to revisit. These documentaries celebrate the light and love in our diverse AANHPI communities. PBS also recognizes the need to face ugly truths about events of racism, xenophobia, and violence targeted towards AAPI communities. When we are honest about the past, we can begin to heal from the wounds of hate and in doing so, make a better future together.
-Parent and Family Engagement-
-------Parent Reminders-------
Need to Report an Absence for your Student? Click Below
Assignments for COVID Related Absences
For the 22-23 school year, students that are absent due to illness will receive any missed and/or make-up assignments upon return to school. They will have 5 days to return the completed work to their teacher. This is in accordance with AC Moore's typical absence policy. Devices and extended absence assignments will not be sent home this year. Virtual check-in sessions with students will also not occur. Those practices and procedures were in place as a result of Richland One's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bobcat Families--Please note that the neighbors directly across from the front of the school are having difficulties getting their trash picked up when vehicles are parked in front of their homes and along the edge of their yard. Your courtesy and consideration would be greatly appreciated in addressing their concerns. When visiting the school, please park in the visitors parking area at the corner of Etiwan Avenue and Rosewood Drive and along the street in designated parking spaces.
Important Carline Pick-up and Drop-off Reminders
In an effort to keep the carline safe for students and staff, it is requested that the following carline procedures be followed during the morning and afternoon carline.
- Please pull as far forward to the end of the carline (towards Rosewood Dr.) before stopping your vehicle to allow your student to enter/exit through the gate; do not stop at the main entrance to let students out of or into the car.
- Students are to get out on the passenger side of the carline only, not from the driver side, side facing the road.
- Parents should remain in the car and allow school staff to assist the students into or out of cars.
--------Nurse's News--------
DONATIONS NEEDED
Hello A.C. Moore Families,
Are you looking for another way to support our school? Please consider donating small bottles of water to our Health Room. Anything you can give - at any time during the year - will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Nurse Robinson
---Wellness Watch---
Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
More visibly than ever, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander leaders have organized to support well-being and cultural pride among elders and youth.
Healthier Generation and Kohl's Healthy at Home invite you to celebrate intergenerational health in AANHPI communities this month and year-round with our exciting line up of events and resources:
- Learn how Fresno Unified School District's Family University program supports multi-generational family engagement.
- Join us online for Movement for All Ages: Practice Qigong with Usa Lee Prompongsatorn.
- Hear from Chef Justin Pichetrungsi, James Beard Award nominee, on how to rediscover mealtime as essential family time.
Learn more here.
---Community Connections---
*These programs are not operated by, endorsed by or affiliated with RCSD One.*
COMMUNITY EVENTS
See the monthly newsletter below from the Equity & Excellence in Education Parent Support Program sponsored by the Columbia Urban League. The Equity & Excellence in Education program aims to unite, educate, empower, and uplift parents through education, support, and awareness for the betterment of their child’s success. They serve parents with students that are in K5-12th grade.
------------DISTRICT NEWS------------
Be Great Academy
The BE GREAT Academy is the after school, before school and summer camp program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Crescent Region. We have a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today’s most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. Register here for summer camp opportunities.
R1 SUMMER SOAR PROGRAMS
Registration for YMCA summer camps have opened, and I am excited that we will have FIVE location offerings this summer.
A.C. Moore is a feeder school to Brennen for this summer's SOAR programs, where we are excited to offer a summer day camp this summer. We also have a brand new Adventure Day Camp option for older students ages 9-13 to go more in-depth in their interest areas, as well as additional options for Friday Fun Days, Counselors-in-Training, etc. I have linked our registration page below, as well as attached flyers for our camp offerings. Thank you for your assistance in getting this information out to families!
Catie Young
Youth Development Director
YMCA OF COLUMBIA
Downtown YMCA
(O) 803.799.9187 ext. 414
Connect with Us
Website: www.richlandone.org/Domain/26
Location: 333 Etiwan Avenue, Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: (803) 343-2910
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acmooreelementary
Twitter: @ACMooreBobcats