We start with Music Together week. Dr. Barr is looking forward to hosting parents and guardians in her music class. Be prepared to move and groove! https://tinyurl.com/SCESmusictogether
Other ways to get involved!
- Cougar Run Club starts on Wednesday! The Healthy Lifestyles committee can't wait to see all the eager faces of our students. You are also welcome to volunteer at the event.
- We need help with the teacher raffle for Teacher Appreciation week: https://tinyurl.com/scesTA2023
- Our last PTA meeting of the year is Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30pm. We need YOU there to vote in our new board!
- International Night is Thursday, May 18! We still need lots of host families!
- Tuesday, May 23 is the Open House of the temporary space on Timber Drive. We hope you can join us.
- Thursday, May 25 is Field Day!
- EOG Testing starts right after the Memorial Day holiday. We are looking for volunteers to help monitor. https://tinyurl.com/scesTesting23
- 5th grade awards ceremony is Wednesday, June 7!
President, Marie Dexter, [email protected]
Vice President 1, Sarah Wohldmann, [email protected]
Vice President 2, Jessi Andricks, [email protected]
Treasurer, Rebecca Simpson, [email protected]
Secretary, Tina Chadwick, [email protected]
Highlights This Week
- April 17 - 20: Join your Swifty in Dr. Barr's music class: Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/SCESmusictogether
- April 17-21: Occupational Therapist Appreciation Week
- Wednesday, April 19: Data Manager Appreciation Day! Please send your thanks to Ms. Lennon for all her hard work!!!!
- Thursday, April 20 -- Spring Picture Day!
- Friday, April 21 -- Teacher Work Day. No School for students.
The Positivity Project: Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
Here are the three questions from this week:
- Can you name one thing in nature that you appreciate as beauty and/or excellence?
- How do you feel when you notice the excellence in people around you?
- Why do you think it is important to take time each day to appreciate the people and things around you?
To access all the family resources:
- Go to https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/.
- Select your grade level.
- Enter P2 as the password.
- Select the character strength of the week.
Minutes from April PTA Meeting
The kindergarten presentation about the changes in curriculum to literacy was so informative. Below, I've added the slides from their presentation.
In addition, we learned from Mr. Propst that Swift Creek is scheduled to move to the temporary space the Martin Luther King, Jr weekend in Jan 2024. With the move scheduled over a three-day weekend, there was lots of discussion post meeting about how we can best support our staff and students during this transition. Be on the lookout for requests for help as the time draws closer.
The Nominating committee presented the list of officer nominations to general membership. The vote for new officers will be at our PTA meeting on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30. We must reach quorum (20 PTA members) at this meeting for the vote. If you can, please plan to attend this meeting and show your support for our incoming board!
It is not too late to nominate yourself or someone else for an officer position. If you would like to nominate someone please contact a member of our hard-working Nominating committee.
If you have any questions or nominations, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee.
- Sarah Wohldmann at [email protected]
- Jessi Andricks at [email protected]
- Deborah Killion at [email protected]
We Need you in the Pta
Also, if you or someone you love is interested in helping to be Swifty next year, the nominating committee wants to know that too!
If you have any questions or nominations, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee.
- Sarah Wohldmann at [email protected]
- Jessi Andricks at [email protected]
- Deborah Killion at [email protected]
It is Music Together WEek! Join Your Swifty in Music Class
Weekly Wellness: To Build a Better Brain, Just Exercise
“In one, scientists delved into the lives, DNA and cognition of thousands of people to show that regular exercise leads to much sharper thinking. Another study helps explain why exercise is good for the brain. Researchers found that just six minutes of strenuous exertion quintupled production of a neurochemical known to be essential for lifelong brain health. These studies reinforce the idea that “absolutely, exercise is one of the best things you can do” for your brain, said Matthieu Boisgontier, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, who oversaw one of the studies.
Keep on moving!
Monday 5:30pm: District 5 BAC Meeting
The agenda is:
- discussion about Superintendent search
- review WCPSS budget for next year
In addition, please encourage your school communities to attend a listening session with Lynn on Sunday, April 16 at 3pm at Powell Drive Park in Raleigh to share input on what they think WCPSS should be looking for in a superintendent. There is no need for BAC members to attend the listening session if you'll be at the BAC meeting.
DUe Tuesday: Need your input on Superintendent search
We need your help with TEacher Appreciation Week
Sign up to donate items at https://tinyurl.com/scesTA2023
Items are due to Kristen by Friday, May 5.
Recent Hospitality Events
Before Spring Break, the Poblano's Taco truck visited the school so each staff member could purchase a warm, delicious lunch on their Teacher Work Day! They really enjoyed the fresh lunch.
This past Friday, Kristen and her helpers too the Teacher Treat Cart through the school. Staff members were able to select treats, drinks, and items for their treasurer boxes. The staff love these visits, and our helpers love pull around the cart!
Both of these events are possible because of YOUR donations to our PTA. Thank you for all the smiles that you bring to our hardworking staff.
International Night is May 18 from 5:30-7:30
Please join us for this year's event on Thursday, May 18 from 5:30-7:30.
To make this event successful, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Sign Up to Be a Host Family
Visiting our host families is the big draw to this event. Create a small display that explains some of your families traditions -- whether your family is new to America or been here for several generations.
Currently, we have families signed up to represent these countries:
- Italy
- Egypt
- Brazil
- Portugal
- France
- Spain
- Scotland
- Saudi Arabia
- Iran
- Japan
If your family is interested in presenting, sign up at https://tinyurl.com/scesInternational2023
Performances on the Basketball Court
Do you have a talent to share? Or know someone or a group who might be willing to perform? Here is our tentative line up:
- folk dancing led by Dr. Barr
- singer from Guatemala
- Irish dancing
If you are interested in helping with this event in any way, we'd love to have your thoughts and energy! Contact Marie Dexter at [email protected].
Field Day is May 25
Here are the times:
- K-2 10-11:30
- 3-5 12:30-2:30
Update from the Garden
On Wednesday, students will be taste testing some of the mint and planting the small plants from the greenhouse. Jenae helped students start these plants from seed. This is the first time that we've been able to accomplish creating our own transplants!
Be on the lookout for a sign up to water the garden over the summer!
If you have questions, contact Jenae at [email protected].
Need Volunteers for EOG Testing for 3-5 Grades
- Tuesday, May 30: Reading
- Wednesday, May 31: Math
- Thursday, June 1: Make-ups
- Friday, June 2: 5th grade science
If you have any questions, contact our Testing Coordinator Ms. McKoy.
Mark Your Calendars
- NEW: April 10-May 12: Complete WCPSS Panorama Survey for Swift Creek
- April 17-20: Music Together Week. Attend Dr. Barr's music class with your Swifty.
- NEW: Thursday, April 20: Picture Day!
- Friday, April 21: Teacher Work Day
- NEW: May 8-12: Teacher Appreciation Week
- Tuesday, May 9: Early Release. School dismisses at 1:45pm
- Tuesday, May 16 6:30pm: PTA meeting
- Thursday, May 18 5:30-7:30: International Night on the field behind the school
- Tuesday, May 23 5:30-7:30pm Open House at 2600 Timber Drive (temporary space while Swift Creek is being rebuilt)
- Thursday, May 25: Field Day
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day. No School for students or staff.
- Tuesday, May 30: EOG Reading
- Wednesday, May 31: EOG Math
- Thursday, June 1: EOG Make-ups
- Friday, June 2: EOG 5th grade science
- Wednesday, June 7 9:30am: 5th grade awards ceremony on the field behind the school
- Friday, June 9: Last Day of School.
Message from Mr. Propst: Panorama Survey is Open
Good evening Swift Creek Families. Our first week back from spring break was a success. I am constantly impressed with our students and their ability to maintain ROARing behavior, even after a break and despite spring fever! It's all downhill from here. Even we have a lot of learning left to do and many activities planned, this last quarter of school will fly by.
This week, we observed Assistant Principal Appreciation Week. If you get a chance, please let our AP, Mrs. Smith, know how much you appreciate for all that she does for the SCES community. We are thankful for her leadership.
Each year, all Wake County schools invite families to complete a survey about their experiences. This information is used as we plan school improvement initiatives and action steps. Help us make your child’s school experience as positive and beneficial as possible by giving honest, thoughtful responses to the questions in our family survey from April 10 - May 12. You can access the Panorama Family Survey now by copying this url into your broweser: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/54475. We will also be sending home a flyer in Tuesday folders. Thank you for your participation.
Finally, we want to remind all families who carpool in the mornings of a few things to help keep our students safe. First, you may only drop off their students at the curb directly in front of the school. Please pull all the way up to the front. Never drop off your child on Tryon Road or Yates Mill Pond Road. We understand that traffic can be bad in the mornings, but the safety of all students is first priority. We appreciate your help with this.
Remember, next Friday is a teacher workday. Have a wonderful weekend.
Yours,
Darrell Propst, Principal