We hope you have enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend! What a great chance to go outside and spend some time together.
Again, this week lots of content in this newsletter. The big news this week is the upcoming Fun Run on Friday! We look forward to bringing back this Swift Creek tradition! There are also some volunteer opportunities below, if you are interested.
We hope you have a fantastic week! Please let us know if you have any questions.
Marie Dexter [email protected]
Deborah Killion [email protected]
Sarah Wohldmann [email protected]
Dana Boyer [email protected]
Lauren Nicholls [email protected]
HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
- Friday, Oct 1 Fun Run. We still have volunteer slots available! Sign up now.
THE POSITIVITY PROJECT: open-MindedNess
What It Means
You like to consider new ideas and try new things. You examine things from all sides and don’t jump to conclusions.
Why It Matters
Open-minded individuals are often good listeners and called upon to provide a balanced viewpoint. Both listening and the ability to deliver reasonable and practical advice are marks of good friends and confidantes. This strength helps individuals form meaningful and lasting relationships.
On a group level, open-mindedness is crucial in counteracting groupthink. Individuals with this strength help their group identify the correct goals, evidence, possible alternatives, and final decisions to a given problem.
Check out the new Family Resources section. The password is P2.
FUN RUN UPDATE: WE are getting closer! $9000
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Fun Run so far! We are up to $9000!
Remember our goal is $15,000, so we can pay for all the amazing programs the PTA provides. We have 2 weeks to raise the remaining $6000!
Please submit your donations as soon as possible. You can turn in your donations in these ways:
- Send your donations to school in the manila envelope provided with your Fun Run packet.
- Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/scesFunRunSite
Volunteers Needed:
Help with Outdoor Lunch and Table Cleanup
We are looking for volunteers to help monitor this outdoor area during lunch. To provide a consistent schedule, we are asking that volunteers sign up for a regular one hour weekly time slot. Of course, you are welcome to sign up for more! If you can't commit to once a week, we are also looking for possible subs, if someone is unable to make their shift.
To participate, you first MUST register as a WCPSS volunteer. To learn more about the requirements, what this job entails and to sign up for a shift, see Lunch Volunteers.
If you can't help during the week, no worries! We have weekend opportunities as well. We are looking for folks to come clean the tables over the weekend so they are ready to go on Monday morning. (You never know what "present" Mother Nature has left over the weekend.) To help with this clean up, sign up at http://tinyurl.com/scesCleaning
WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: Handwashing & Why Its so Important!
Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses from the common cold to more serious infections. Everyone washes their hands but it’s important to teach our children the correct way to wash!
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold)
- Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds. Antibacterial soap isn't a must — any soap will do
- Make sure you get in between your fingers, on the backs of hands, and under the nails where germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!
- Rinse and dry well with a clean towel
"Twinkle, twinkle little star. Look how clean my two hands are. Around my wrists and between my thumbs, lace my fingers, I'm almost done. Twinkle, twinkle little star. Look how clean my two hands are!"
When Should We Wash Our Hands? - To stop the spread of germs, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone. It's especially important:
- before eating
- after using the bathroom
- after cleaning around the house
- after touching family pets
- before and after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
- after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
- after being outside (playing, walking the dog, etc.)
It may also help to also explain germs to your kids and how they can make you sick. Here are a few books that may help:
Cultural Arts Update
- Week of Nov 15 -- virtual cultural arts performance for the entire school
- Michael Beadle will visit and be a writer-in-residence for a week in the 4th grade classrooms.
- Billy Jones will do a workshop with 2nd grade classrooms about sound
- In Feb, another cultural arts performance for the entire school. Again, this one will be virtual but it sounds so cool! The performer will teach students how to create a cartoon!
Thank you, April, for organizing these events and for making sure that we receive this grant to help pay for these performances. If you want to give a shout out to April or have any questions about these performances, contact her at [email protected].
REFLECTIONS ENTRIES DUE WED, OCT 27
Every year, the National PTA organizes the Reflections program. During this event, students submit entries in a variety of artistic categories based on that year's theme.
This year's theme is I Will Change the World By!!!
This year, we will have two age categories:
- Primary K-2 division
- Intermediate 3-5 division
Entries are due by Wed, Oct 27. All submissions will be virtual. You can learn more about the Reflections program from the National PTA website: pta.org/reflections
If you are interested in participating, email [email protected] for more information.
BUY YOUR YEARBOOK NOW AND GET 10% OFF
This discount lasts through Sept 30.
https://tr5.treering.com/create-account/1015281241841003
Help Raise Money for the Creek When you Shop Amazon Smile
This past quarter, Amazon shoppers generated $57 for Swift Creek. From the start of this program, together we have earned $864.75 for our school.
Link Your VIC Card
You can link your card to Swift Creek in any of these ways:
- When you check out, ask your cashier or customer service to link your card to 2126, Swift Creek Elementary School Raleigh.
- Log in to your account through the Harris Teeter website and link to 2126.
- Complete this form and we will do the linking for you!
DISTRICT 5 BOARD ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING, THURS, SEPT 30 AT 7:00PM
During this meeting, Kris Nordstrom, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Education & Law project, will provide us with some historical context about public school funding in North Carolina, including an introduction to the Leandro case, and its funding implications.
To attend the meeting on Sept 30, you need to register at https://forms.gle/ozBcWKNq4bQ8VqUQA. This meeting will be virtual. A Google meet link will be sent to you a day or so before the event.
If you have any questions, contact Marie Dexter ([email protected]). She will also share notes in the next newsletter.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Tuesday, Oct 5 -- School Picture Day
- Friday, Oct 8 -- Fun Run Rain Date; Deadline for donations for the Fun Run
- Monday, Oct 11
- Teacher Work Day. No School for students.
- 3-4pm: Virtual Curriculum Night. More information coming soon! This session will be recorded for those who cannot attend.
- Wed, Oct 27
- Teacher Work Day
- Reflections entries due
- Teacher Work Day
THIS WEEK IN PICTURES
Did you know that Dr. Barr, our music teacher, has a fairy living in the music room? I've heard that Melody (the fairy) sometimes makes an appearance during class. Melody even has her own mailbox to receive student mail! This week, her mailbox was certainly full! She might need to hire an assistant to answer it all.
We love watching our Swifties get their hands dirty!