Greetings Seawell Seahawk Families,

We just completed our first Digital Citizenship Spirit week!!! Thanks to all who participated. It is my hope that families also had important conversations related to responsible actions around digital citizenship as well.

Students in grades 3-5 will take NC Check-ins this week in the areas of Reading, Math and Science (5th).

NC Check-Ins are diagnostic assessments (developed by the NC Department of Instruction) that will help our teachers further inform instructional programming. These assessments are not graded. NC Check-Ins involve the content areas of math, reading, and science. All Check-Ins will be conducted online via the NC Test platform (similarly to EOGs).

More information about Check-Ins can be access using the DPI link here and here (FAQs)

News from the PTA

• 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, including PTA president. If interested in volunteering with the PTA, please send an email to ptaseawell@gmail.com.

• The 2022 Fall PTA Fundraiser is here. Support your favorite causes: Critter Corner, Field Day, Book Fair, cultural activities and so much more! 100% of EVERY donation goes to Seawell Elementary School. NO amount is too small. Donate at: https://seawell.memberhub.com/store/items/793476

Thank you for your generosity.

• Join Seawell Buddies. Seawell Buddies is a program at Seawell Elementary through which Seawell Seahawk families can help other Seawell families in their time of need.

How does it work?When our school social worker is notified of a Seawell family in crisis, an email will be sent out to the Seawell Buddies email list stating the family’s needs, such as food, furniture, clothing, transportation and/or whatever else is needed. If you have the needed items, then respond back to Jodeci Farrington, school social worker at jfarrington@chccs.k12.nc.us.

Seawell Buddies works through a No-Obligation Email list. All of those on the list will receive email requests when needs arise. When you can donate an item, have time to deliver items, or have a truck to pick up large items, you can let us know and we will coordinate it all.

Sign up for Seawell Buddies Here

• LIKE the Seawell PTA Facebook page.

• LINK your Harris Teeter VIC Card online or at the cashier to enter school code #2543 the next time you shop.

Seawell had 2 positive COVID-19 cases during the week of October 17-21.

• 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.

NC Check-ins for grades 3-5 in the areas of Reading, Math and Science(5th) will take place this week. Please make sure that students are here each day and on time.

October 28

• End of the First Quarter

October 31

• Teacher Workday

November 3

• SIT Meeting - New Time 5:30-6:30 - Virtual

November 4

• Report Cards will be sent home (Don't forget about fall parent/teacher conferences)

November 8

• Teacher Workday

November 10

• Fall Picture Makeup Day

November 11

• Veterans Day Holiday

November 23- 25

• Teacher Workday/Thanksgiving Break

Follow Seawell on Twitter!

This week our staff began professional development sessions related to the program, Zones of Regulation. As we work to support our students' capacity to build a variety of skills, we also want to utilize a common language and work together to provide consistency across our school. Ms. Jackson facilitated this and is supporting our classrooms with creating or refining defined regulation stations in each learning space to meet student needs.

Zones of Regulation

This program teaches a variety of social-emotional skills to children, starting with early emotional skills and advancing on to self-regulation and navigating social situations..

Here are some skills taught in The Zones of Regulation:

• Identifying your emotions by categorizing feelings into four zones (more on this below)

• Self-regulation: Achieving the preferred state of alertness (zone) for a situation. This is all about regulating your body and emotional regulation.

• Identifying triggers: Learning what makes you “tick” and why

• Coping strategies: Various techniques and strategies that help achieve emotional regulation and manage strong emotions

• Size of the problem: Introduces the idea that the size of your reaction should match the size of your problem, how to identify the size of your problem, and strategies for problem-solving.

Tuesday, November 1, 7:00-8:30 PM

East Chapel Hill High School Library In Person
500 Weaver Dairy Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC)

Meeting Topic: SNAC Stakeholder Meeting

Please join us for the November SNAC meeting to look for themes to guide the SNAC Leadership Team’s advocacy and goal setting. Parents will have a safe space to share ideas and concerns. Everyone is welcome!

Can’t attend in person? Watch the playback of our meeting on the SNAC website http://snac.chccs.k12.nc.us/. Students should not attend SNAC meetings without the supervision of an adult.

SNAC is a group of parents, district staff, and community professionals working together for the continuous improvement of the CHCCS Exceptional Children's program. Our purpose is to promote inclusion in our schools. If your child currently has (or recently had) an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 plan, is medically fragile, or has learning differences, then it is in your interest to get involved with SNAC.

Join our SNAC email list to be kept up to date on SNAC activities - email us at snacofchccs@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook to find out about local activities.

Martes, 1 de Novembre, 7:00-8:30 PM
Biblioteca de la escuela secundaria East Chapel Hill en persona

500 Weaver Dairy Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Consejo Asesor de Necesidades Especiales (SNAC)

Tema de la reunión: Reunión de partes interesadas

Únase a nosotros en la reunión de SNAC de noviembre para buscar temas que guíen la defensa y el establecimiento de objetivos del equipo de liderazgo de SNAC. Los padres tendrán un espacio seguro para compartir ideas e inquietudes. ¡Todos son bienvenidos!

¿No puedes asistir en persona? Vea la reproducción de nuestra reunión en el sitio web de SNAC http://snac.chccs.k12.nc.us/. Los estudiantes no deben asistir a las reuniones de SNAC sin la supervisión de un adulto.

SNAC es un grupo de padres, personal del distrito y profesionales de la comunidad que trabajan juntos para la mejora continua del programa CHCCS Exceptional Children. Nuestro propósito es influir en la política del distrito en temas de la CE y promover la inclusión en nuestras escuelas. Si su hijo actualmente tiene (o tuvo recientemente) un Programa de Educación Individualizada (IEP), un plan 504, es médicamente frágil o tiene diferencias de aprendizaje, entonces le interesa participar en SNAC.

Únase a nuestra lista de correo electrónico de SNAC para mantenerse actualizado sobre las actividades de SNAC; envíenos un correo electrónico a snacofchccs@gmail.com. Al igual que nosotros en Facebook, infórmese sobre las actividades locales.

--

Lindsay Guge Cozon, MSW

(she/her/hers)
lkguge@gmail.com

The purpose of GPAC is to meet with the Director of Advanced Learning and Student Leadership and to provide a communication link between our school community and district administration. This group will support the implementation of the current 2022-2025 AIG Plan and will contribute to the development of subsequent AIG Plans.

Please use this link if you are interested in the opportunity to be a part of this effort.

Third Graders & New to CHCCS Fourth & Fifth Graders

Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools will give the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and the TerraNova to all of our 3rd grade students and 4th and 5th grade students who are new to the district. At Seawell the CogAT will be given as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 1st Verbal Subtests

Wednesday, Nov. 2nd Nonverbal Subtests

Thursday, Nov. 3rd Quantitative Subtests

In addition the TerraNova will be given:

Tuesday, Nov. 29th Reading

Wednesday, Nov. 30th Math

Our goal is to make sure each child in grades 3 through 5 has the chance to participate in our universal screening opportunity which allows us to support our students through a strength based approach. If your child is in third grade, or is a fourth or fifth grader who is new to CHCCS, and you do not want them to participate in testing please return the form that has been sent home with your child. Finally, if your child does not feel well on a testing day there will be opportunities for makeup testing the following week. Please do not have your child take the assessment if they are not feeling well. Should you have any questions please consult our Frequently Asked Questions document or our building level GES. We look forward to helping you in any way possible.

Fifth Graders

Our gifted education plan also allows for referred 5th grade students to be rescreened for gifted identification prior to transitioning to middle school. If you feel your 5th grade student would benefit from being reassessed, please complete and return the form that will be coming home with your child or contact Seawell’s gifted education specialist, Holly Grant at hgrant@chccs.k12.nc.us or 919.967.4343 ext. 33202. Should you have any questions please consult our Frequently Asked Questions document or our building level GES. We look forward to helping you in any way possible. Finally, if your child does not feel well on a testing day there will be opportunities for makeup testing the following week. Please do not have your child take the assessment if they are not feeling well.

At Seawell the CogAT will be given as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 1st Verbal Subtests

Wednesday, Nov. 2nd Nonverbal Subtests

• Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC) website linked here

• Ms. Lindsay Guge Cozon is our representative

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’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:

• One full time EC resource teacher
• Fifth Grade LEAP teacher
  
• Instructional Assistants