​Happy SHOUT OUT Fri-YAY!
This week, Sarah Wohldmann, the PTA Hospitality chair, showed our love and appreciation for our Swifty staff with an ice cream treat! The staff were so delighted!
Thanks to all the families who decorated the grounds (either with sidewalk chalk or posters) for our "How Sweet It Is to be Taught by You" event. We will have another event in October.
Events like these are possible because of your Fun Run donations! Thank YOU for donating and supporting our school!

​Happy Instructional Assistant Appreciation Day!
Our IAs can do virtually anything! We cannot thank them enough for all they are doing during this stressful time.
If you have a moment, please give a shout out to our IAs today:
* Mrs. Jordan
* Ms. Owens
* Mrs. Hunt
* Ms. Bowser
* Mrs. Killius
* Mrs. Hindi
* Mrs. Allard
* Mrs. Morales
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO to keep us going!

Hello everyone,


Back to a regular schedule this week!  As we navigate these new online learning waters, our awesome teachers and staff are compiling resources to help you and your child succeed in the virtual world.  Today's newsletter contains links to a couple of those resources.  We have also created an FAQ page on the PTA website to give you a central place for these resources in addition to answering some questions that we hear over and over again.

I am excited about the return of the Positivity Project (P2) this week.  This program has added so many excellent parent resources this year and I can't wait to share them with you.  I think we could all use a little positivity right now.

If you need anything, please feel free to reach out.  We are here for you!

Have a great week!

Your PTA Executive Board
Marie, Deb, Sarah, Dana, Lauren


The Positivity Project Returns This Week

If you have been at Swift Creek, you know how much of a difference the Positivity Project has made in our community.

For those new to the Creek ... The Positivity Project (P2) is dedicated to empowering America’s youth to build positive relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. Their vision is to help schools and families cultivate citizens and leaders who will enhance our communities and country. Positive psychology’s scientifically validated 24 character strengths serve as its foundation. Positive psychology teaches that people have all 24 strengths within them – and that character is not just skills or behaviors, but rather an intrinsic part of each of us.

To learn more about how this program works, watch the How It Works video on their website.

Each week will focus on a different character strength or an aspect of the Other People Matter Mindset.

This week, students will be introduced to the Other People Matter mindset.

New this year! The Positivity Project has created resources for families. We will highlight these resources in upcoming newsletters.


Minutes from Tuesday's PTA Meeting
Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual PTA meeting on Tuesday night.
If you were unable to attend, check out these resources:

• Minutes
• Parent Tips for Online Learning presentation  from Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Hizers:

Tips for Setting Up Your Child's Workspace
Did you receive Mr. Propst's message on Friday?  You can view his message from the PTA website.

Mrs. Hill, our school psychologist, created some tips for setting up your child's workspace.  You'll definitely want to check them out.  You can contact Mrs. Hill at hhill@wcpss.net.

Opportunities to Celebrate Our Staff
Looking for a way to tell our teachers Thank You or need a safe way to say Hi to your Swift friends?

Join us for one of our monthly "decorate the school grounds" events.  

• Tuesday, Sept 15 (this week) -- How Sweet It Is to Be Taught By You
• Monday, Oct 5 -- Bar None, You're the Best
• Sunday, Nov 8 -- We are Thankful for You
• Sunday, Dec 6 -- Education is the greatest gift!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4DA8AF2CA6FE3-decorate


If you cannot attend the live event and would still like to participate, you can make posters or signs that we can hang on the school grounds.  If you have these items to contribute, contact Marie Dexter at 919-602-9993 or mariecdexter@gmail for pick up.

Donations for Oct Hospitality Event
Sarah Wohlmann, our Hospitality Chair, has a special event planned to celebrate our amazing Swifty staff in October but she needs your donations of water, Halloween candy, etc.

Sign up today at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a4faca92aab9-ptahospitality

If you have questions, you can contact Sarah at swohldmann@hotmail.com.

Join the PTA

Show your support for the Creek by joining the PTA. Membership is $8 per person, and anyone can be a member. You can join the PTA online using the NC PTA database, MemberHub. For more information, see http://swiftcreekeswcpssnetptahtml.weebly.com/membership.html.

Have questions? Contact Membership Chair, Danielle Davis at daniellemdavis06@gmail.com

Donate to the Fun Run and Support Our PTA Programs
The Fun Run is the Swift Creek PTA's main fundraiser for the year. We use this money to provide staff assistance, cultural arts programs, school clubs, and so much more. (For the staff assistance, each teacher gets a gift card for supplies at the beginning of the year. We also have grade level grants so teachers can buy supplies for their grade level.)

This year's event, Amazon Adventures, kicked off this past Tuesday.

So far we have raised $475.00 of our $10,000 goal.  You can donate online through our website on GetMovinCrew.  The deadline for donations is Oct 9.

For more information about this event and what the money is used for, check out the Fun Run website at http://swiftcreekeswcpssnetptahtml.weebly.com/cougar-fun-run.html


Rescheduled: Papa Murphy's Spirit Night
Unfortunately, we need to reschedule the Papa Murphy's Spirit Night that was planned for Thursday, Sept 24.  I will announce a new date soon! 

Can't wait that long?  Order online today and use the code RAISE and we will receive 25% of that sale too! 

The shop closest to Swift Creek is at 161 SE Cary Parkway. That is only 8 minutes from Swift Creek ES!


Tell your friends!

How to Check Out Books from the Library!

Did you know that you can now check out books from the Swift Creek library?
Search the card catalog from home and select up to 5 books to check out.  An adult can then pick them up from the school on Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm.

This week, Mrs. Wils created a drop off bin on the bridge at the school so you can drop off your books when you are finished.

Learn more at  https:/bit.ly/34MMadx

If you have questions, contact Mrs. Wils at swils@wcpss.net.

Yes! We Are Still Recycling Squeezable Pouches, Foil Lined Bags, Markers, and Plastic Film!With so many one use items during this pandemic, it seems like we are generating more trash than ever.
However, thanks to Megan Holler, our Recycling Committee Chair, the TerraCycle and ColorCycle at Swift Creek continue!
Though we’re not in school to pick up these items from you, we would like to offer weekly drop offs during our Backpack Buddies collection at Macedonia Church, Saturdays from 8am-10am. (When you arrive, ask for Marie.)
Here is what we are collecting:
Squeezable snack pouches. These can be ANY brand, not just GoGo squeez pouches.
Foil lined wrappers include smaller chip, pretzel, and cookie bags, as well as granola bars, chocolate bars, etc.
Old markers, highlighters and dry erase markers, will also be accepted, as part of Crayola’s ColorCycle program.
Plastic film recycling. The NexTrex competition for schools is currently on hold, but Megan is happy to recycle these items for you. For a list of accepted items: https://www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/.


IMPORTANT: Collection tips:

• Please make sure pouches and bags/wrappers are EMPTY, with CAPs placed back ON the pouches.
• Store empty pouches in the refrigerator, until they can be dropped off.
• Please have items in separate bags, for easy sorting (all pouches together, all foil wrappers together, etc). They all go to separate recycling programs!
• If paper bags can be used for collection, that is ideal, as these can be composted after the pouches or snack wrappers are removed, even with traces of food still on them! (If plastic bags are clean and dry, they will always be recycled.)

For questions about the TerraCycle or ColorCycle programs at Swift Creek, or the current collection plans, please contact Megan Holler at MeganAndrews81@gmail.com.



Mark Your Calendars:
We might not be in the same building but we continue to make things happen in our community! Mark your calendars for these events!

• Tuesday, Sept 15 4:30pm -- Decorate School Grounds
• Tuesday, Sept 22 7-8pm: Virtual Open House
• Wed, Sept 23 6:30pm Wake County School Board Candidate Forum (sponsored by Advocacy committee of Wake County PTA)
• Monday, Sept 28 -- Teacher Work Day
• Saturday, Oct 3 -- Virtual Fun Run
• Monday, Oct 5 -- Decorate School Grounds
• Tuesday, Oct 13 6:30pm -- Oct PTA meeting

Advocacy Alerts:
Important: Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
Students in all grade levels can receive a free breakfast and lunch from an operating location until December 31*. Please visit https://www.wcpss.net/food for a list of operating sites. Students are not required to visit their assigned school and do not have to be present to receive meals. The curbside meal service will operate Monday through Friday from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Students will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost! No student ID number required to receive meals.
*Or until funding is depleted.
Dillard Drive Elementary is a distribution site. Dillard Dr. Elem.,  5018 Dillard Dr.
Monday - Friday 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Curbside Pickup
Serving hot lunches for the day and breakfast for the next day 
Available for all children aged 18 and under Wake County PTA Events

• Wednesday, Sept 23 6:30pm: Wake County School Board Candidate Forum
• Monday, Oct 5: NC House
• Thursday, Oct 8: NC Senate

WCPSS Family Academy Workshop: Thursday, Sept 17 5:30pm
Getting to Know the US Educational System
This is a FaceBook live event.  You can join at   
www.facebook.com/WCPSS-Family-Academy-277563949100964

Did You Miss the Candidate Forum for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction?

The event was recorded. You can view the recording here.

A Conversation about Public Education with Governor Cooper
Thursday, Sept 17 7:00pm
Registration is Required!


Complete the Census! It's Important
Only 58.6% of North Carolinians have completed the Census!
 
Fill out your Census TODAY! 
 
Did you know, the results of the 2020 Census will help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade.
 
That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location. Census results help determine how money is allocated for the Head Start program and for grants that support teachers and special education and much more.

​

​Good evening, Swift Creek families. Can you believe it, we are finishing our fourth week of virtual learning? Although there have been challenges, I am amazed at the resiliency of this community of students, parents, teachers, and others. 
We are constantly reflecting on our practices and how we can improve the teaching and learning process. Thank you so much to everyone who has provided feedback and been patient with us as we consider carefully how to best serve our students. 
Our teachers and instructional assistants are honored each time you allow us into your homes via live meets. You didn’t invite us, nor ask for our faces and voices in your living rooms and around kitchen tables, yet you’ve graciously let us into your space for 2 ½ hours each day. Thank you for your partnership with Swift Creek. 
For your privacy, we would like for you to consider your child’s learning space. The camera on the Chromebooks can project and share more than we want them to sometimes. When possible, please have your child sit with their back to a wall, door, or corner in a low-traffic area. This will help minimize seeing additional individuals in the camera view. If people in the household will be in view, please make sure that they are dressed to be seen by the public, i.e. wearing a shirt and bottoms. Also, if your child has them, encourage them to wear headphones during live meets that would minimize background noise and allow them to focus. Of course, everyone should be mindful of the power of the microphone on devices and eliminate private family discussions from being broadcast online. Finally, we kindly ask that students finish eating prior to a live meet and make sure that their materials for class are nearby. 
To help you create a learning space at home that will help your child thrive, our school psychologist, Mrs. Hill, has created a document which you can access here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I8Gnh51zFxOyXARfuynR_Kwq32SuU7RVbmwqp7eycuM/edit?usp=sharing. "Tips for Setting up a Learning Space for Virtual Learning" has some great ideas to make the best of virtual learning. 
Thank you so much. We need your support during this time more than ever to ensure that our students stay on the path to success. Working together, we will emerge from this experience as a stronger, wiser, and more compassionate Swift Creek community than ever before. I am always available should you need me. Have a wonderful weekend. 
Yours,
Darrell Propst, Principal