The Bobcat Blaze
February 10, 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
February
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February 1-28...........................Black History Month
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- February 6-10............................................Kindness Week
- February 17...............................................Early Release Day (11 am)
- February 17...............................................Souper Bowl of Caring Campaign ends (details below)
- February 20...............................................Professional Development, No school for students
- February 24...............................................March of Dimes Popcorn Sale
- February 25...............................................Race for the Place (details in the Community Connections section below)
- February 27-March 3.................................Read Across America Week
March
- March 6.......................................................PTO Trivia Night
- March 10.....................................................End of the Third Nine Weeks
- March 15.....................................................Chat and Chew with the Principal
- March 16.....................................................Booster Fun Run
- March 16.....................................................Report Cards
- March 18.....................................................St. Patrick's Day Parade
- March 20-24...............................................Special Olympics Spirit Week Begins
- March 20....................................................Early Release (11 am)
- March 27....................................................March of Dimes Fundraiser Begins
- March 30....................................................Spring Pictures and Class Pictures
Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcat Families!
It was a great week in Bobcat Country! We showered each other in Kindness and also engaged in some friendly competition via Penny Wars. Thank you to everyone who contributed to both of these fun-filled events!
Next week we'll get to spread more love in honor of Valentine's Day. We ask that anything sent to classrooms is store bought only. Please do not send homemade items. Additionally, if trinkets or cards are sent in, please remember to send in something for the entire class so we avoid hurt feelings and/or exclusion.
Friday, February 17th is an early release day due to afternoon professional development for staff. Students will dismiss at 11:00am. Please ensure your student knows how they are getting home on this day prior to dismissal.
Monday, February 20th is no school for students. This is a district professional development day.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Principal's Video Message: https://cloud.swivl.com/v/bc015dec74aea5d5a3082b6ec9af3015
-----Parent News-----
Only One Week Left in the Souper Bowl of Caring Campaign! 🏈
In celebration of Super Bowl 2023, Richland One kicked of the Souper Bowl of Caring Campaign on January 30, 2023. Richland One's Parents, PASS Project, Extended Day Program and Student Nutrition Services are collaborating with the Souper Bowl of Caring for a "Super" canned goods and hunger relief program. You and/or your student can continue to place canned goods and non-perishable food items in the Souper Bowl of Caring box at the top of the stairs in the main entrance hallway until Friday, February 17, 2023
Let's all work together to ensure we have a hefty collection of canned goods to donate to the Harvest Hope Food Bank. Please consider donating to this worthy cause and assist in supporting families experiencing food insecurity.
PENNY WARS---PTO Sponsored School Fund Raiser has Ended!
During the week, each homeroom collected coins and bills to raise money for our school. To win the battle, the homeroom must have the largest amount of donations in their jar. The winning homerooms are below:
- Pre-K-2nd Grade Winner: Ms. Estrada's 1st Grade Class
- 3rd-5th Grade Winner: Ms. Wright's 5th Grade
These two homerooms will receive a pizza party. Congratulations Bobcats!
-----------School News-----------
Want to be in the know? Click above to watch the Bobcat Beat morning news show!
A Bobcat Shout-out To...
...District Honor Chorus Participants!
Congrats to Charlotte Warren, Ian Pordes, Brighton Sanders and June Heyden for participating in the District Honor Chorus this year! They worked all day Thursday, February 9th with our District Clinician, Mary Anne Tillman (A very familiar name to all veteran AC Moore families 💙) and then presented a concert that same night at Eau Claire High School. Students from all over the district at all levels participated in this concert and shared their talents with the audience as well as with each other. It was a very special day!
Congratulations to Our Perfect Attendance Award Winners!
This week we celebrated our January Perfect Attendance Winners. Thank you Jim Rhodes Agency, The Horace Mann Companies for your support and encouraging our Bobcats to have good attendance!
A.C. Moore celebrated the fifth annual Kindness Week from February 6th-10th! During the students participated in activities that helped students to learn, explore, and practice kindness. Check out these Bobcats during Kindness Week!
Thank you, Mrs. Balthazor, for planning Kindness Week for your school community!
Thank you Mrs. Balthazor!
In recognition of National School Counseling Week, we would like to say thank you to A.C. Moore's school counselor, Elizabeth Balthazor! National School Counseling Week is celebrated to bring public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Mrs. Balthazor has been a wonderful School Counselor for 24 years, with the last 17 being at A.C. Moore. In her role, she works closely with teachers, administration, and parents to support the development of students’ social/emotional growth, academic success, and career awareness. Mrs. Balthazor routinely meets with each classroom to teach topics related to feelings management, friendship skills, personal safety, decision making skills, conflict resolution, communication skills, positive growth mindset, self-regulation skills, and career awareness. Additionally, she dedicates time to all students for short-term individual counseling and small group counseling and teaches students the importance of being good citizens not only in our school community, but also in our larger community.
Thank You Mrs. Colbert 🏈💙
A Bobcat thank you to cafeteria manager, Mrs. Ja'Lecia Colbert, for celebrating the Super Bowl in A.C. Moore's cafeteria! Students were served a Philly cheese steak or BBQ chicken lunch today to get in the Super Bowl mood! Additionally, students had an opportunity to select the team of they wanted to win the championship game by placing a sticker on their team's poster and took selfies with the Go Team Selfie Frame!
Thank you Mrs. Colbert, for sharing the Super Bowl Fun with our Bobcat Community!
In Celebration of Black History Month 2023
Black Resistance: A Tradition of Activism
Throughout history, African Americans have taken action to improve their lives and challenge America to live up to its democratic ideals. Working both within and across racial lines, Black activists mobilized to abolish slavery, secure civil rights, fight against injustice, and expand social and economic opportunities. African Americans employed a range of strategies to effect change—including legal battles, mass protests, grassroots campaigns, public debates, and community development. By believing that change was possible, Black Americans changed history. Activists today draw on these achievements and study the lessons of the past in order to develop strategies for the future.
Thank you Student Council!
Our student council members are sharing a donut celebration and planning for upcoming events! Can't wait to see your plans get put into action!
-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.
A Message from the YMCA
Happy New Year from the YMCA! It is my hope that you had a restful break. I am reaching out because available staffing is looking promising for the spring! As a result, we have space to expand our YMCA after-school programs. There are a number of spots available at A.C. Moore and we would like to extend to you an opportunity to enroll your student in the YMCA after-school program. Click the logo to the right to read detailed information about how you can sign-up your student or click here to visit the website.
Catie Young Youth Development Director YMCA OF COLUMBIA Downtown YMCA
(O) 803.799.9187 ext. 414
--------Nurse's News--------
DONATIONS NEEDED
Hello A.C. Moore Families,
Are you looking for another way to support our school? Please consider donating new children's underwear or small bottles of water to our Health Room. We need both boy's and girl's underwear, sizes 4 - 10. Anything you can give - at any time during the year - will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Nurse Robinson
---Wellness Watch---
5 Tips for Making Family Meals on a Budget
Between 2020 and 2021, the average cost of groceries rose by 3.5 percent. Most people prepare meals on a budget, and when money is especially tight, planning nutritious meals can be stressful. Take heart. There are many ways you can save time and money on family meals, as well as resources that might be available in your community to help your family connect with food and friends. Try these five tips to plan, prepare, and share your family meals.
Take A Look at Your Bobcats...
...Engaged In Learning!
--------Community Connections--------
😺Team Name for Sign-up is AC Moore Bobcats😺
------------DISTRICT NEWS------------
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