Panda Family News
We Learn. We Collaborate. We Celebrate.
Welcome Back #PandaFamily!
Good afternoon Pittsboro Families!
I trust you are all enjoying your summer and making memories to share with us when you return in a few weeks. I wanted to take a moment to share a few dates as we approach the 2019-2020 school year!
As our enrollment is still fluctuating, we will make every effort to mail out class list information prior to Open House.
Pops on the Playground for Kindergarten Families Thursday, August 15th at 9:00-10:00AM and 6:30-7:30PM.
Open House will be Thursday, August 22nd from 5:00-6:30PM.
The first day of school for 1st-4th graders is Monday, August 26th
Staggered entry days for Kindergarten are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Specific date information for your child will be with your class list information.
First full day for all Kindergarten students is Thursday, August 29th
K Parent Orientation/Kisses and Kleenex with Miss Fisher is Thursday, August 29th at 8:15 in the Media Center
Other Dates to place on your Family Calendar
- Monday, September 2nd - No School
- Tuesday, September 3rd @ 3:30 - School Improvement Team Meeting
- Tuesday, September 17th from 5:30-7:30 - Curriculum Night
I also want to encourage you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates. Information is also posted on our school website.
I am looking forward to learning, collaborating, and celebrating with you this year at Pittsboro Elementary!
Wishing you well #PandaFamily,
Miss Fisher
Twitter: @kendrafisher82 @PboroElementary
Facebook: @PboroElementary
Instagram: @PboroElementary
Welcome to the #PandaFamily
Join us in welcoming our newest #PandaFamily Teachers! We know they are going to be #PAWSome!!
Mrs. Warren - KindergartenMrs. Warren is originally from Ohio but decided to move to North Carolina two years ago for the warm sunshine and southern hospitality. She has been teaching children since 2008. During that time, she taught Preschool for 5 years, Kindergarten for 2 years, and here in North Carolina, Second Grade for 2 years. She is passionate about educating, nurturing, and creating a desire for learning in children, so they can be successful in life. In her free time, she loves reading, crocheting, hiking, and going to the beach with her husband and son. She is super excited to be a Pittsboro Panda! | Mrs. Kemp - 1st GradeJenna is so excited to be a Panda! She moved to North Carolina from Connecticut last summer and spent this past year nannying and subbing in Wake County. Prior to her move, she taught for two years at Highland Elementary School in Wallingford, CT. She has a BA in Psychology from Penn State and MAT in Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University. She lives in Apex with her husband, Matt, and dog, Molly. She is thrilled to be joining the PES community and cannot wait to meet her students! | Mr. Henderson - 1st Grade Mr. Henderson joined Pittsboro Elementary at the beginning of the 2017/2018 School Year as an Instructional Assistant/Bus Driver. Prior to that, he worked for eight years at the Boys & Girls Club in Siler City working in numerous leadership roles while also driving a bus part-time at Chatham Central High School. He truly enjoys working with kids and seeing them grow and develop throughout the years. His favorite quote as an educator is by Rita Pierson which states “Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.” Being this adult in a child’s life is what motivates him daily. Outside of work, he loves coffee, sports (Go Heels!), traveling and cooking/grilling. He is excited to be back at PES as a First Grade Teacher. |
Mrs. Warren - Kindergarten
Mrs. Warren is originally from Ohio but decided to move to North Carolina two years ago for the warm sunshine and southern hospitality. She has been teaching children since 2008. During that time, she taught Preschool for 5 years, Kindergarten for 2 years, and here in North Carolina, Second Grade for 2 years. She is passionate about educating, nurturing, and creating a desire for learning in children, so they can be successful in life. In her free time, she loves reading, crocheting, hiking, and going to the beach with her husband and son. She is super excited to be a Pittsboro Panda!
Mrs. Kemp - 1st Grade
Jenna is so excited to be a Panda! She moved to North Carolina from Connecticut last summer and spent this past year nannying and subbing in Wake County. Prior to her move, she taught for two years at Highland Elementary School in Wallingford, CT. She has a BA in Psychology from Penn State and MAT in Elementary Education from Sacred Heart University. She lives in Apex with her husband, Matt, and dog, Molly. She is thrilled to be joining the PES community and cannot wait to meet her students!
Mr. Henderson - 1st Grade
Mrs. Olechnowicz - 3rd Grade Jennifer Olechnowicz or Ms.O comes to us from Atlanta Georgia where she taught as a 3rd grade teacher. She is originally from New Jersey where she graduated from Kean University with her bachelors degree in Early Childhood education with a specialization in English and Special Education. She just moved to Cary, North Carolina in June and is excited to take on this new adventure. She loves to be creative, cook, read and hang with her cat Luna! She is motivated, passionate and looks forward to getting to know all of the Pandas! | Ms. Elkins - 4th Grade Ms. Elkins comes to us from Durham Public Schools, where she taught for 3 years. Prior to that, She taught at PES! She has been teaching for 3.5 years. Ms. Elkins is Mrs. Elkins's (the 3rd grade teacher) daughter! She was a PES panda when she was in Elementary School and is excited to be back. She is passionate about the needs of her students and building community with the families of her students! | Mr. Dobbin - School Counselor Thrilled, ecstatic, delighted, fired up are just a few words to describe how Orlando feels about (re)joining the Panda Team this school year!! Orlando will be entering his second year as a school counselor and is excited to be doing that at Pittsboro Elementary - and also excited that all of his PES shirts will now not go to waste! :) When he's not hanging out with kids, he loves being outdoors, playing sports, and practicing mindfulness. Orlando is greatly looking forward to helping students make steps towards becoming their best selves with the 2019-2020 Panda team! |
Mrs. Olechnowicz - 3rd Grade
Ms. Elkins - 4th Grade
Mr. Dobbin - School Counselor
PES Arrival and Dismissal
There are no major changes to PES Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for 2019-2020. We will only be adding Walker Tags for Cafeteria pickup.
Arrival
Early arrival is from 7:00-7:40. These students must go straight to the cafeteria where staff are on duty to provide coverage. Normal carpool arrival begins at 7:40-7:55. Once arrival begins please pull all the way up to the designated areas to keep the traffic line flowing. If your family chooses to walk your student in, please check in through the main office to receive a badge.
Dismissal
Students will not be dismissed from the office after 2:15 PM. If it is after 2:15 PM, you will be asked to utilize regular dismissal procedures. Dismissal begins at 2:55.
Bus
Information regarding bus routes will be available during Open House. If you are interested in riding the bus, please visit the main office to fill out the appropriate forms.
Carpool
Please display the school-issued carpool tag when picking up your child and make sure your child knows his/her number. Tags can be picked up during Open House. Please wait in your car at designated signs until an adult assists your child into your vehicle. Once your child is inside your vehicle, and has buckled up by themselves, please wait for the carpool lane to be dismissed and pull off slowly.
Here is a slideshow to help explain our double lane dismissal procedures. Share this with any family members or care takers that you have approved to pick up your child up on a daily basis. Please note carpool tags are a vital part of this procedure, in the event a carpool tag is not displayed, you will be asked to park and show photo ID in the main office to pick up your child.
Walkers **New Tags this year**
Please show the school-issued walker tag when picking up your child from the cafeteria. In the event a walker tag is not shown, you will be asked to visit the main office to show photo ID in the to pick up your child. Tags can be picked up during Open House.
YMCA
The YMCA is on campus for after school care.
Transportation Changes
All transportation changes must be emailed to the classroom teacher (prior to 8:00AM) or in writing to ensure teacher is aware of the changes. Last minute and/or emergency changes must be made to the main office before 2:00 PM. Please refrain from calling after 2:00 PM to make transportation changes as it will disrupt our dismissal procedures for the entire school. Any time a student’s transportation home changes from his/her regular routine, the teacher must receive a written note/email from the parent. Staff are directed to send students home the regular way unless a note is presented - a verbal request from the child to change transportation home will not be honored.