Panda Pulse
September 17, 2021
A Note from Mrs. Hoke
Thank you for your support and patience as we continue to address carpool needs. Morning arrival operated more smoothly, however, we still have a few parents who are getting out of their cars while in the carpool line. Carpool runs faster when parents stay in their vehicles. Please see our reminders below.
Since school has been in session we have been dismissing our students early to help get everyone in place. Now, that we are familiar with our routines it is imperative that instructional time is protected, therefore dismissal will be at 3:45 pm effective Monday, September 13th. Please expect that adjustments will naturally need to occur with carpool dismissal procedures.
Thank you in advance for your patience.
Morning Carpool Arrival
For those of you who drop your children off at morning carpool, we would like to ask for your assistance in order to make the line move more efficiently and keep your children safe.
1. Please drive all the way up to begin drop-off at the LAST adult (Mrs. Ross).
2. Your child may get out of the car once you are on the bumper-to-bumper line stopped between the 3 adults stationed.
3. Please have your child ready to leave your car with masks on and bags nearby.
4. If possible, please have your child exit the car on the curbside.
5. Please remain in your car.
Again, in efforts to make morning carpool most efficient and safe, we thank you in advance for your cooperation and consideration.
Student Absences
When students are ill or have symptoms (such as a COVID SYMPTOM) we ask that you follow the county's covid-related protocols before students can return:
- A negative PCR COVID test (not a “rapid antigen” test)
- A doctor's note listing an alternate diagnosis (AND it has been at least 24 hours since you had a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND you have felt well for 24 hours).
- 10-day quarantine without symptoms.
Students may return if It has been at least 10 days since they first had symptoms (AND it has been at least 24 hours since they had a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine AND symptoms are improving, including cough and shortness of breath).
Other pathways may be warranted and will be shared when appropriate. Detailed information can be found HERE.
Kind Regards
Mrs. Hoke
Important Upcoming Dates
September 23rd - Curriculum Night
September 27th - October 1st - Book Fair
September 29th - Spirit Night at the Burrito Shak
October 5th - PTA Meeting
Save the date......
Book Fair Details
SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 1
We are excited to offer an in person book fair for students to shop this fall! All students will preview the book fair and make wish lists September 27 and 28, and have the opportunity to purchase books September 29 and 30.
Families can shop online at any time during the Book Fair week. Use the school code PRE1 when creating an account.
For detailed information about online and in person shopping - -
https://tinyurl.com/bookfairparentinfo
If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering,
contact pennyptabookfair@gmail.com
Burrito Shak Spirit Night
New PTA Committee!
We are excited to announce that we are in the process of forming a Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the 2021-2022 school year! Throughout last school year, Tisha Shah, Theresa Vonder Haar, and Stephanie Hall have attended monthly meetings run by the Wake County PTA DEI Committee with the goal of forming our own at PRE.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a term used to describe programs and policies that encourage representation and participation of diverse groups of people, including people of different genders, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, ages, and sexual orientations and people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills and expertise.
Agenda for the next several school years:
- Ensure PTA membership and leadership reflects the diversity of our community
- Establish guidelines to having open/considerate/thoughtful conversations where all voices are heard and valued
- Community focus group discussions
- Identify explicit and implicit biases that may be barriers, areas of immediate need, and set goals
- Identify community supports
- Plan ways to provide support and resources through a DEI lens for upcoming school year
- Assess if PTA events are planned through a DEI lens
- Community book club or movie viewing
- Staff/Family check-ins
- Ensure Strong Family Engagement & Support
If you are interested in helping to shape the new DEI Committee in the 2021-2022 school year, please contact Stephanie Hall at snb413@yahoo.com.
Outdoor Café
The Outdoor Cafe is shaping up to be a success! Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped make this happen. In order to keep it going, we need four parent volunteers for each lunch. We've divided the lunches up into two shifts. The first shift is 10:45am - 12:30pm and the second shift is 12:30pm - 2:15pm. If you can help us out here and there that would be great! In order to volunteer, you MUST be registered as a WCPSS volunteer. In order to do this, just email Ms. Valvano at mvalvano@wcpss.net and ask her to send you the volunteer registration link. It takes about 2-5 days after filling out the information to be approved. Once you're approved, you can sign up for a time slot to help out at https://signup.com/go/uWnpNcm .
Volunteers information:
- All volunteers are required to wear a mask over their mouth and nose at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
- Each volunteer MUST be a registered WCPPS volunteer. You will receive a completed background check from CastleBranch once it is complete.
- Volunteers will help set up the picnic blankets outside the cafeteria, wipe them down between classes, fold them, and put them away after the last lunch. (Instructions will be provided onsite!) You'll help to ensure students put their masks on when finished eating and before entering the building and throw away any trash left behind.”
Join the PTA
Have you considered joining the PTA?
- There are several reasons to join the PTA:
- The overall purpose of PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
- Our school PTA works to promote programs for all children in our school through art and education-based events. In addition, our PTA works to fundraise throughout the year to fund opportunities to further enrich the learning experience at PRE.
- This year we will be hosting general meetings both in-person (following Covid protocols from school and county) and will be allowing people to participate virtually using Google call.
- To join our school PTA (which also gives you access to WakePTA and National PTA), visit: http://www.pennyroadpta.com/pub.html
Stay Connected
- Make sure to Like and Follow the Penny Road Elementary PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PennyRoadPTA. We will primarily be using the Panda Pulse and the PRE PTA Facebook page to communicate with you this upcoming school year.
How to contact your Penny Road PTA
Email: preptaofficer@gmail.com
Facebook: Penny Road Elementary PTA
Website: http://www.pennyroadpta.com/