We hope that today everyone can celebrate the love of their family, even with the cold and yucky weather outside!
Big changes for everyone this week! We know transitions are difficult for everyone -- students, parents, and staff. I am so glad to be in a community that thinks of and strongly supports each other. Even with the changes, I know wee will have a great week!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact any PTA board member.
Have a great week!
Marie, Deb, Sarah, Dana, Lauren
HighLights for This Week
- Monday, Feb 15: No School
- Tuesday, Feb 16: Teacher Work Day; Distribution of EL materials for 3-5
On February 16 (a teacher workday), you will turn in the EL books your child has been using and exchange them for new books.
The hours for the distribution on February 16 are 9:15 - 4:00. The following are the books you will need to return:
- 3rd: Rain School, Nasreen's Secret School, Everything You Need to Know About Frogs, Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle
- 4th: Love That Dog, Animal Defenses
- 5th: The Most Beautiful Rood in the World, Esperanza Rising
- Wednesday, Feb 17:
- 4th & 5th graders in Cohort 2 will be on campus for in person learning February 17-19
- 4th & 5th graders in Cohort 3 will be on campus for in person learning February 22, 23, 25, 26
- 4th & 5th graders in Cohort 1 will be on campus for in person learning March 1-5
Positivity Project
What It Means
You do not seek the spotlight. You let your actions speak for themselves.
Why It Matters
Developing humility is associated with positive developmental outcomes in individuals. It allows a person to honestly reflect on their abilities and acknowledge how and where they can improve. Humility opens them up to new ideas, advice, and (consequently) abilities that pride, arrogance, or pretentiousness often block. Therefore, humility makes them desired members of a team..
For family resources, see the P2 website. The password is P2.
Black History Month
Have you figured out the two famous African Americans so far? If not, check out the clues on the Black History Month page.
Mr. Propst will introduce us to a new person on Wednesday!
At the end of February, your child (with your help) can enter the contest by emailing [email protected] with their guesses of the names of the four people. On the announcements during the first week of March, we will draw one winner from each grade level who will receive a prize from Swifty!
Looking for Some Books for Your Family to Share?
Check out these read aloud:
Reflections DEI Call for Artwork: Due March 1
National PTA is inviting Reflections artists of color and their allies to share artwork that expresses and affirms their beliefs and identities--as well as the importance of Black lives. Select works will be used to help us celebrate diversity. Please submit artwork by March 1. For more information about how to submit artwork, see the National PTA website.
Check Out this Artist
Thank you to Mrs. McIntyre, our art teacher, for sharing this information with students and families this week.
Minutes from Tuesday's PTA meeting
Please review the minutes for more information.
Yearbooks are on Sale
Yearbooks can be purchased from TreeRing at tr5.treering.com/createAccount/1015281241841003
Do you want to donate to our Care & Share Program? This program helps the PTA purchase yearbooks for students in need. There are two ways that you an participate.
- Purchase the yearbook through TreeRing. For the student name, specify Swifty (first name) Cougar (last name).
- Donate to our Care and Share Program through MemberHub!
Thank you for your support!
5th Grade DedicAtions are due in 2 weeks!
Spaces for dedications are still available! Parents, grandparents, sisters, family friends are welcome to submit dedications for your 5th grader. Place your dedication now through our MemberHub store.
- Text only dedications cost $7.
- Text and picture dedications cost $10.
If you have questions, contact Yearbook Chair, Sarah Wohldmann, at [email protected].
Call for NOminations for PTA Officers and Committee Chairs
We are also looking for committee chairs in these areas for next year:
- Advocacy
- Reflections
- 5th Grade Chair
Please contact Nominating committee chair, Sarah Lewis at [email protected].
Rescheduled: Decorating School Grounds
You are welcome to come during that time to decorate or if you have posters, I am happy to pick them up from your house. Text Marie Dexter at 919-602-9993
While on campus, we will be observing school protocols (masks and social distancing).
Sign up for this event or events in March and April here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4DA8AF2CA6FE3-decoratewww.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4DA8AF2CA6FE3-decorate
Garden UPdates
Spring Plantings
This winter has been harsh on our Fall plantings. We are excitedly working on the plans for the Spring garden and hoping for some SUN! With students returning to school, we plan to get the kiddos out in the garden to help with cleaning up garden beds! Have a VA student? No worries! We hope to include them in the process through Google Meets or recordings!
New Pollinator Garden
Garden advocate, Megan Holler, has been working hard with a local nursery to design a pollinator garden for an area near the kindergarten building. She has a design and a list of plants. Now we just need some spring weather to get planting. Look forward for more news soon!
New Cover for Strawberry Garden
Thank you to Matt Howard and the Howard family for creating this awesome new cover for our strawberry garden. Now, we can safely keep deer and squirrels from eating the 2nd grade strawberries!
Join Our Small Business Directory
We would like to support our families during this time. We are creating a small business directory on the PTA website.
If you are a small business owner and you have a child at Swift Creek or you are a staff member with a small business, please share your business information at tinyurl.com/scesBusiness
Spring Book Fair
Mark your calendars for Monday, March 8 and go through Sunday, March 21.
The fair will once again be virtual with Scholastic.
If you have questions, contact Book Fair chair Kristen Sherman at [email protected]
Mark Your Calendars
- Tuesday, Feb 23: BOG for 3rd Graders
- Wednesday, Feb 24: Asynchronous Day
- Monday, March 8: Kickoff of Virtual Book Fair with Scholastic
- Tuesday, March 9: March PTA meeting
- Thursday, March 11: School Pictures for Virtual Academy students. Sign up coming soon!
- March 16: School Pictures for Plan B students
- Thursday, March 25: International Night
Advocacy Alerts
Did you know Friday started the Chinese Lunar New Year? This is the year of the Ox. A fun activity for you and your kids might be to discover what animal represented the year you were born.
Some fun facts:
- This is the longest Chinese holidays.
- More fireworks are set off during this time than any other time in the world.
- Children receive money in red envelopes.
- There are dumplings for every meal.
Check out https://chinesenewyear.net/21-things-you-didnt-know-about-chinese-new-year/ for new things to learn about this holiday.
Happy Lunar New Year, to all our families!
We are excited to announce that the educational version of our award-winning documentary “Kiss The Ground: For Schools” has been released for free to millions of children and teachers across the world! http://kissthegroundmovie.com
This version contains new scenes not in the feature film, including a series of interviews with Rosario Dawson, and featuring Tony Tenfingers, a Lakota Elder, who shares the importance of the once-prevalent buffalo to Native American peoples. It is available as a digital download and/or a DVD, both with subtitles in 18 languages.
Join us to share this far and wide to every teacher, educator, school, community organizer and home school-er so they can claim their copy for free and begin experiencing the very first climate change curriculum focused on drawdown and regeneration. http://kissthegroundmovie.com
Saturday, February 20, 2021 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The American Dental Association is offering free treatments for children ages 4-16: x-rays, exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings, and more. Appointments required. Call (919) 390-6497.