The Bobcat Blaze
September 16, 2022
+++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
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Principal's Message
Happy Friday Bobcat Families,
I hope you had as great of a week as we did here in Bobcat Country. Today marks 1 month since the beginning of the 22-23 school year. I can already see tremendous growth in our students! They are coming in daily ready to learn and grow.
Next Friday, September 23rd is an early release day for all Richland One students. Elementary students will dismiss at 11am. Please be sure your students are aware of their mode of transportation. If the mode is different than normal, please notify their teacher or our front office in advance.
Please remember if your students would like breakfast from our Cafeteria, they need to arrive prior to 7:25am daily. Our Cafeteria closes for breakfast at 7:30am. While we do try to keep some breakfast available for tardy students, it is a limited supply. Therefore, there is no guarantee your child will receive breakfast if they arrive at 7:30am.
If you received an invitation for your child to participate in this year's Comprehensive Remediation Program, please return that invitation ASAP. Additionally, our start date will now be Tuesday, September 27th as opposed to September 20th.
We have some exciting events coming up next week and we hope to have as many families participate as possible!
--On Tuesday, September 20th join us at Boca Grande from 4:00 - 8:00pm for a spirit night hosted by our PTO. A portion of your meal costs will be donated to AC Moore Elementary.
--On Wednesday September 21st our PTO will host 5th grade's Playdate on the Playground for all 5th grade students
and families.
--On Thursday September 22nd our PTO will host 2nd grade's Playdate on the Playground for all 2nd grade students and families.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Important Dates and Upcoming Events
September
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- September 15th-October 15th...........................................Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 11-17..............................................................National Arts in Education Week
- September 26-30..............................................................Attendance Awareness Week
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- September 21...................................................................5th Grade PTO Sponsored Playdate, 5:30-6:30
- September 22...................................................................2nd Grade PTO Sponsored Playdate, 5:30-6:30
- September 26...................................................................Fall Picture Day (details below)
- September 27...................................................................Charleston Wraps Fundraising Campaign Begins
October
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- September 15th-October 15th...........................................Hispanic Heritage Month
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- October 5..........................................................................PTO Breakfast Cart for Faculty and Staff
- October 12........................................................................
-----Walk & Roll to School
- October 13.......................................................................Charleston Wraps Fundraiser Ends
- October 14.......................................................................No School for Students, Teacher Workday
- October 20.......................................................................Report Cards Issued
- October 24.......................................................................Early Release Day, Parent Teacher Conferences
Good afternoon! Pleased be informed that the start date for CRP has been changed to September 27th. Parents of students enrolled in the CRP program should have received a notice from Mrs. Romanstine today related to the change in the start date.
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---Picture Day is September 26th---
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----Attendance Awareness Month---
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---STAR BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS---
Parents/Guardians,
Your child will take the Renaissance Star test this year. The first testing window opens Aug. 22 and closes Sept. 2. This means your child's teacher can administer the test anytime during this window so some students may have tested by the time you see this newsletter. Below is a link to help you better understand the test and how the results will be used.
https://www.renaissance.com/2016/09/09/parents-guide-star-assessments/
If you ever have any questions about Star or the results, you may contact your child's teacher or CRT, Kellie Romanstine, for more information at kellie.romanstine@richlandone.org.
-----Parent News and Reminders-----
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.
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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.
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Need to Report an Absence for your Student? Click Below
-----------School News-----------
National Arts in Education Week
National Arts in Education Week is a national celebration recognizing the transformative power of the arts in education. Passed by Congress in 2010 through House Resolution 275, the celebration is designated to bring attention to this cause for elected officials and educational decision makers across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students.
National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September. This year it falls on September 11 – 17, 2022. Save the date for future celebrations:
- September 10 - 16, 2023
- September 8 - 14, 2024
A special Bobcat thank you to our Arts Educators for all they do to enhance the education and learning experiences of our Bobcat Students!
Mrs. Elise Helms, Music Teacher
This is Mrs. Helms' 36th year of teaching music. After retiring in year 32 to pursue other career paths, she found after only one year out that teaching was where she was supposed to be! This will be her 4th year here at AC Moore.
A graduate of Newberry College in Music Education, Mrs. Helms also has her Masters in Administration from USC. Mrs. Helms is active in her church and church choir. She has 2 grown daughters who are both married, one grand cat and one grand dog. Mrs. Helms is an avid animal lover and has 2 dogs and 2 cats of her own.
Dorothy (Dottie) Hanlin, Orchestra Teacher
Mr. Randall Clamp, Visual Arts Teacher
Mr. Clamp has been the art teacher at AC Moore for 18 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design and a Master of Architecture, both from Clemson University. After working in architecture and visual merchandising for over 20 years, he returned to school to study Art Education and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina.
In 2014, he was named the South Carolina Art Education Association Elementary Art Educator of the Year and, in 2016, he was the Teacher of the Year at AC Moore. He earned his National Board Certification in 2011 and his renewal in 2021. Mr. Clamp is the grants writer and manager of the Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Grant and the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Grant. He has two dogs, Freya and Athena, which are the joys of my life!
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A.C. Moore Celebrates Hispanic Awareness Month
Ideas For Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) is an annual celebration in the United States that honors the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to 20 countries and one territory — which includes Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain.
Learn why Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated.
We often see people quick to celebrate holidays without much context behind the actual events. Relying on stereotypes or assumptions is not only hurtful but can keep us from truly understanding our neighbors. Hispanic Heritage Month is no exception. This TEDx Talk below provides insight into what it means to be Hispanic and Latinx, while also asking us to dig deeper into the common stereotypes and assumptions that many in this community face.
What Being Hispanic and Latinx Means in the United States | Fernanda Ponce | TEDxDeerfield
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--A Special Welcome to our Newest Bobcat Family Members!--
During the month of September we would like to introduce you to our newest Bobcat Family Members! We are excited to have them as a part of our A.C Moore community and thankful for the contributions and positive influence they will have on our school students and school.
Joanna Hart, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Joanna Hart is originally from Holly Hill, SC but has lived in Columbia since she began college. She received her BA in Early Childhood education and her Masters in Language and Literacy from The University of South Carolina. She lives in the Old Woodlands neighborhood with her husband Adam and their daughter Addie Cook who is 4. She began teaching Child Development for Richland School District 2 in 2009 and she has been with the Pre-k program ever since. Mrs. Hart is excited to continue with her love of teaching 4 year olds at A. C. Moore.
Nicholas Wilcox, Kindergarten Teacher
Mr. Nicholas Wilcox is Minnesota native, but has been living and teaching in South Carolina for the last 16 years. Most people are surprised to find out that he is a kindergarten teacher because there are so few male kindergarten teachers and when they also find out he is the varsity wrestling coach at Irmo High School it makes the connection even odder. But Mr. Wilcox wouldn't change a thing about teaching early childhood. He loves working with his students and is friendly, fun, and energetic...he loves what he does.
Marisha Frierson, 2nd Grade Teacher
Marisha Frierson recently graduated from Grand Canyon University and is a part of the 2nd grade team this year! Mrs. Frierson is an Army Wife and mother of a beautiful daughter and handsome son. She also owns a gorgeous Standard Poodle and an extremely cute teacup Chihuahua. Mrs. Frierson grew up as a “military brat” but resided in Columbia, SC for the majority of her life...Columbia is her hometown and she is a "Gamecock" for life! Teaching is her passion but working in Special Education is also a love and end goal of hers.
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----Parent and Family Engagement----
MEET OUR PARENT ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST - SYLVIA ROGERS
-------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
Get Your Flu Shot!
Hello A.C. Moore Families,
Prisma Health is offering drive-thru flu shot clinics at local schools again this year. Please see the attached flyer for more details. Flu shots are free, and they are the single best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu. Thank you!
Jennifer Robinson, School Nurse
----------WELLNESS WATCH----------
Remix Your Go-To Foods!
Ready to find out if an everyday dish becomes a new family favorite? Remix your go-to foods into something new and different! Click here to see how eating familiar foods in new ways can keep mealtimes fun and exciting! Plus, getting creative with flavor combinations and cooking styles will help you build nutritious, balanced meals that your family will want to remix again and again.
Take A Look at Your Bobcats...
Engaged in Learning!
------------DISTRICT NEWS------------
Attendance...What You Need to Know
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-Neighborhood News & Community Connections-
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