I hope you are enjoying the Memorial Day weekend! Just a reminder there is no school on Monday! Hopefully, you can enjoy the day with your family.
Below is information about what is coming up at school the next couple of weeks.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Marie Dexter
Shhh!! We Are Passing a Test in Here.
It is the end of the year, which means EOG testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Here is the schedule:
- Tuesday, May 29: Math (Grade 3) and Science (Krauter: Grade 5)
- Wednesday, May 30: Science (Boyd: Grade 5) and 3rd grade makeups
- Thursday, May 31: Math (Grade 4) and ELA (Grade 5)
- Friday, June 1: ELA (Grade 4) and Math (Grade 5)
- Monday, June 4: Read to Achieve Test (Grade 3) and MakeUps (Grade 4-5)
5th Grade Talent Show Practice: Wednesday & Thursday
If you have a 5th grader in the Talent Show, we will have rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday this week at 2:45. Students will be finished in time to go to the normal after school transportation.
No additional after school practices are being offered. Please encourage your child or group to practice so they are ready to perform at rehearsals.
Friday: Last School Spirit Day of the Year!
Friday, June 1 is the last school spirit day of the year. Whose class will go out on top? Be sure to wear your purple!
Need Volunteers June 7, June 8, and for Summer Garden Maintenance
The end of the year means LOTS of activities, which means we need ALOT of help.
- 5th grade celebration on June 7 -- This is a special day for our 5th grade families. We want our 5th grade moms and dads to have a chance to relax and enjoy the day. We are asking parents from other grade levels to help with setup, during the event, and during take down. Can you help? https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094eafae2ca64-help
- Field Day on June 8 -- We will have two sessions (one in the morning for the younger grades and one in the afternoon for the older grades). We have about 12-11 stations for each session so we need LOTS of help. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094eafae2ca64-field
- Maintaining the school garden -- 1 week during the summer. Now that we have a garden, we need help maintaining it over the summer. This maintenance requires weeding, watering, and harvesting the vegetables. (You get to enjoy any produce that you harvest!) Only a few spots are left, so sign up today. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094eafae2ca64-summertime
Turn in Your Box Tops by June 8
Do you have any Box Tops or Coke bottle tops lying around? Be sure to turn them in before the last day of school on June 8.
In June 5 Tuesday folders, you will receive a Ziploc bag to help you collect Box Tops and Coke bottle tops over the summer.
Yearbooks will be distributed the week of June 4
If you ordered a yearbook, those will be distributed to students the week of June 4. If you are interested in purchasing a yearbook, we have a small number of extras (about 20). You can purchase one for $12 at the front office during the week of June 4. Or to reserve a copy, contact me at [email protected].
Update on School Picnic on June 7 from 5-7pm
Please send in your RSVPs for the family picnic ASAP. This event is for the whole school and is not part of the 5th grade celebration. We will have turkey and ham sandwiches, chips, applesauce, cookies and popsicles.
Food is limited. Of course, you are welcome to bring a picnic dinner for your family as well. If you have questions, contact Marie Dexter ([email protected]).
Meet the Teacher is Aug 21
Meet the Teacher for the 2018-19 school year is Aug 21 from 4-6pm. At 6pm, incoming kindergarten families are welcome to join us for Popsicles on the playground.
New this year! For 1-5th grades, teacher and classroom assignments will not be sent home by mail. Instead, class lists will be posted on the front door of the school a week before Meet the Teacher in August.
Mark Your Calendar:
- June 1 -- School Spirit Day. Wear your purple.
- June 7 -- 5th grade graduation & celebration, Talent Show, Family Picnic (for entire school)
- June 8 - last day of school. Field Day!
- mid-Aug -- Teacher and Classroom assignments posted on the front doors of the school.
- Aug 21 4-6pm -- Meet the Teacher
News from Wake County and Advocacy Updates
WCPSS Has a New Superintendent
Did you hear the news that Wake County has a new superintendent? Here is the announcement from Wake County Public Schools.
https://www.wcpss.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=7209&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=123893&PageID=1
Wake County PTA Has Passed a Resolution on School Year Budget
From PTA President Julie von Haefen
As you may know, the Wake County Board of Commissioners is in the process of reviewing public comment and information regarding their 2018-2019 budget. Wake County Public Schools submitted a budget request of $58.9 million in additional funds for next year, with $11 million of that going towards new or expanding programs such as hiring more counselors, social workers and psychologists. and to support programming for academically and intellectually gifted students above the state allotments.
On May 16, the Wake County PTA Council Board of Directors passed a resolution in support of a minimum $48 million increase in funding. Wake County staff had only proposed a $30 million increase for schools.
Our resolution read in part:
"In summary, Wake County PTA Council recommends that Wake County:
- Fund at least $48M of the school board's request of $58.9M in additional funding to ensure that the current level of service for our 160,000 students is maintained
- Allocate an additional $18M over what is currently proposed by using existing and projected revenues and by using the county's ample fund balance
- Put the School Bond Referendum on the November 6th ballot
- Begin a 3-year plan to hire school counselors and social workers at the nationally recommended student ratios
- Consider the expansion budget of $11M proposed by the school board to hire more counselors, social workers, and nurses and to also expand the number of children who can be served in the Academically Gifted Program. We urge Commissioners to find funds to increase both of these budget requests at some level. Our children desperately need these support services."
We encourage PTA units and members in Wake County to contact the Wake County Board of Commissioners between now and June 4 to express your support of the additional funding requested by WCPSS for 2018-2019. Without the minimum $48 million increase, it is reasonable to assume that the school system would have to adjust its budget. WCPSS has not specified how the budget would be adjusted but it could include hiring freezes, delaying maintenance, reducing positions or displacing staff.
The key reason for the increased funding are growth, the opening of four new schools, legislative impact of the state-mandated class size reduction and needed funding for special education, which was previously funded by a federal grant.
PTA Day at the General Assembly is June 12
Interested in meeting with our legislators about the future of Public Education? The NCPTA has scheduled a PTA day on June 12.
You can register at https://ncpta.org/index.php/2018/05/10/register-for-2018-pta-day-at-the-general-assembly/