We hope you enjoyed your 4 day weekend! We know our teachers and staff did.
This week, in the Positivity Project, we celebrate Gratitude. To show our gratitude to the staff and all they are doing for our families, the PTA encourages you to participate in Gratitude Day on Wednesday. One of my favorite things is seeing a child's artwork on a bulletin board or behind a teacher's desk. These hand written notes and drawings mean so, so much to our staff and can help get them through those tough moments every day. And this year is full of challenging moments.
Even if you can't get your child to participate, a note from YOU (card, email, flower, favorite treat) means so, so much.
On Wednesday, please help us shower our ENTIRE staff with a bunch of love and appreciation!
Thank you for all you do to keep our community strong! Our parents and families give so much of themselves. It is truly unique to the Creek. We are grateful for you!
Have a delightful week! If you have any questions, please contact any PTA board member.
Marie Dexter [email protected]
Deborah Killion [email protected]
Sarah Wohldmann [email protected]
Dana Boyer [email protected]
Lauren Nicholls [email protected]
HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
- It is a FULL week of school!
- Monday-Friday Virtual Cultural Arts Performance. See the Cultural Arts article below for more details.
- Wednesday, Nov 17 Gratitude Day! Please help us shower our staff with gratitude. See the article below.
THE POSITIVITY PROJECT: Gratitude
In the Positivity Project for the next 2 weeks, students will be learning about the character strength of Gratitude. According to the P2 website, gratitude is the key indicator of happiness so it is appropriate that we spend the most time studying it.
What It Means
You are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
Gratitude is the quality of feeling and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world, and that we have received that goodness. People with the strength of gratitude have a readiness to show appreciation for kindness and also to return kindness. A leading expert, Robert Emmons, calls gratitude a “relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
Gratitude is sometimes resisted, especially in more self-sufficient and independent cultures, due to not wanting to experience a sense of indebtedness. However, gratitude is less about feeling indebted and more about being aware of the consideration, kindness, and generosity of others. It’s also important to note that gratitude is not about ignoring the negative aspects of life; it’s simply being aware of and thankful for what is good.
Why It Matters
Out of all 24 character strengths, gratitude is the single best predictor of individual well-being. It is correlated with increased energy, empathy, happiness and optimism. And, the great thing about gratitude is that it can be intentionally cultivated. Numerous studies have concluded that gratitude is like a muscle. The more you practice it, the stronger it gets – and the more you’re able to reap its benefits.
On a group level, gratitude is associated with reciprocity and social stability. Grateful people are more likely than their counterparts to feel a commitment to others – and believe in an interconnectedness of the world and its people. When a person does a favor for you, you tend to feel thankful and be motivated return the favor. Groups that operate with gratitude, then, are usually more cohesive.
Check out the new Family Resources section. The password is P2.
GRATITUDE DAY: WED, NOV 17
The PTA is encouraging all families to show their support and appreciation of our staff by participating in GRATITUDE DAY on Wed, Nov 17. Participating is easy.
On Wed, Nov 17, have your child bring in a handwritten thank you note or picture or small gift to show your gratitude. Prompts for Thank You Notes or pictures include:
- I thank you for ...
- You are the best because ...
- I appreciate when you ...
While teachers love notes from the students, sometimes it can be hard to get your kiddo to cooperate. (I speak from experience. :-) Parents, guardians, and community members, you are welcome to write notes as well. A simple thank you can go so far right now.
When writing your notes, remember to include all members of our staff! They all give so much to help our students be successful.
- teachers
- instructional assistants
- specialists
- front office staff
- custodian, Ms. Natasha
- cafeteria manager, Mrs. Banks
- instructional support including AIG, Speech, CCR, ESL
Virtual Cultural Arts Performance This Week
- For 4th graders, Michael Beedle will be at the school as a writer-in-residence. He works with the students for the entire week on poetry. This has become an annual tradition for our 4th graders.
- The entire school will participate in a virtual performance by storyteller Doug Berkey. He uses these incredible large masks to tell his stories. Because this performance is pre-recorded, teachers can show the performance to their class when it is convenient.
Minutes from November PTA meeting
One item of great interest came from Mr. Propst about the status of the new school building. Here are the highlights from that discussion.
- Mr. Propst met with the architectural firm last week and really enjoyed getting to know them. They have built several schools
- November 15, they will be meeting with all the staff members, giving them an opportunity to share their ideas.
- Students will have the opportunity to contribute ideas. On Nov 19, they will share with the architects those ideas from the students.
- After winter break, their will be an opportunity for parents to meet and discuss their ideas for the new school building
- Core capacity 500 students with 38,000 sq feet
- Construction will start in July 2023; Occupy the new building Jan 2025
- During 23-24 school year - Swift Creek will be relocated to a facility in Garner.
- Bus times - an additional 10 minutes down Tryon Rd from our school
We hope you can attend our next meeting on Dec 14 at 6:30pm.
Help Treat Our Staff!
Donate to the Teacher Treat Cart
This Friday, November 19, the Teacher Treat Cart will be set up at school for the staff. The cart has drinks, treats, school supplies and fun items for the staff to enjoy for themselves and their classrooms. Please sign up to donate via the following link:
www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4babae2c7-november
When I Say Yummy, You Say Pie!
On Tuesday, November 23, we hope to provide all staff, including the bus and van drivers, with a pie to enjoy over the Thanksgiving break. This means we need almost 85 pies! Please sign up to donate via the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B4BABAE2C7-when
Thank you all for your support!!
What a GREAT Book FAir!
With all of your support, almost $4,000 was raised to benefit the school! In addition, every student was able to take home a free book! This was the first time in TWO YEARS Swift Creek was able to host an in-person fair, and for so many Swifties this was their first book fair experience. The excitement of the students and staff was contagious and the students displayed great ROAR behavior during the preview and shopping days!! Thank you for all your support and we can't wait for the next book fair in Spring 2022!
Editor's Note: Thank you to Book Fair chair, Kristen Sherman, and Mrs. Wils for all their hard work to make this fair happen in a short 3 days. Also thank you to our specialists who helped ALL students do a quick preview on Monday! We couldn't have done this without ALL of your efforts!
Weekly Wellness Tip: 10 Healthy Thanksgiving Activities for Family & Friends
As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, I (Health and Wellness Chair, Lisa Kropilak) thought I would share this blog I recently came across. No matter how you spend your Thanksgiving, be sure to take some time to give thanks and give a hand to others in need!
1. Run (or walk!) a turkey trot. You may just want to lie around in your pj’s all morning, but why not get your day off to a great, heart-pumping start with a jog or walk. It’s also a good way to shed some calories before a big Thanksgiving meal. Many organizations host turkey trots in local cities or you can organize one for your neighborhood and engage families and kids—even your furry animal friends. You may be surprised who will show up!
2. Lend a hand to others. This time of year is especially difficult for some families and individuals who don’t have the means for a Thanksgiving meal. Soup kitchens and meal delivering services typically have an overwhelming response on Thanksgiving, so they are always in need of an extra pair of hands. Check out Feeding America for volunteer food bank opportunities in your area, ask your local place of worship or research online. Whichever one you choose, this activity will spread the spirit of the season.
3. Take a hike. In some parts of the country, this is a nice time of year to get out in nature. Hiking is a great way to enjoy some fresh air and exercise. Find a local trail and go for a pre- or post-meal hike with your friends and family.
4. Lighten up a bit. Grandma’s mashed potatoes sure taste better with lots of butter, heavy cream and salt, but why not complement this side with some items that save on fat, sugar and calories. For example, try using sugar substitutes in place of sugar or fat-free yogurt or sour cream in dips and casseroles. Trade out those snack bowls of candy corn and potato chips with healthier alternatives to satisfy a sweet tooth or salt craving. For other Thanksgiving meal ideas, check out “Tips for Eating Healthier on Thanksgiving” and “Your Tasty Comfort Foods Get Healthier with 9 Smart Strategies.”
5. Eat a healthy breakfast. You may want to hold off eating breakfast to make room for the big meal later, but it’s important that you don’t skip it. That’s because saving up calories for your Thanksgiving meal rarely works. You may end up spending more time overindulging on belly busters instead of a tablespoon-sized portion. Start your morning off on the right foot with a balanced breakfast, like hot whole-grain cereal and an egg-white omelet with veggies.
6. Play outdoor games. A great way to burn off your Thanksgiving meal and stave off the tryptophan coma, is to get your brains and bodies moving with some family-friendly games. The activities are endless. You can play a game of football, turkey tag or a scavenger hunt. Here are 20 Thanksgiving-themed games to try.
7. Walk it off. If games aren’t your thing, another way to work off that Thanksgiving meal is to take a stroll. Walking will burn a few calories and let your mind unwind after being stuck inside. It’s also another way to get your recommended 10,000 daily steps.
8. Stay hydrated. You’ll probably eat lots of sodium-laden foods, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water. In fact, drinking water can actually help suppress your appetite. You will have a better handle on maintaining your portions and staying hydrated could even help to kick start your metabolism.
9. Skip the seconds. Try to resist the temptation to go back for second helpings. Don’t forget, holiday leftovers are much better the next day. Just remind yourself of that turkey/cranberry sandwich you can enjoy tomorrow. Plus, by limiting yourself to one plate, you’re less likely to overeat and have more room for your aunt’s pumpkin pie.
10. Share your gratitude. Thanksgiving is more than what’s presented on the table—it’s about the people who surround it. It’s an ideal opportunity to help teach, reinforce and remind yourself and your children that it’s important to be grateful daily and to express that thankfulness with others.
Click here for the complete article.
Volunteering at School: Register to be a WCPSS Volunteer
Here's how to register.
To register:
- Go to the school and ring the front bell.
- Let the front office know that you are there to register to be a WCPSS volunteer. A staff member will bring a device to you.
- Complete the registration process on that school device.
It takes WCPSS approximately 2 weeks to clear a volunteer, so if you are interested, please go to the school as soon as possible and register. Then you will be ready to go when volunteer opportunities become available.
DO YOU LIKE NUMBERS? LOOKING FOR TREASURER FOR 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
If you are interested, contact Dana at [email protected]. Dana can give you more details about what the job entails and the time commitment.
Mark Your Calendars
- Wednesday, Nov 24. Teacher Work Day. No School for Students.
- Thursday, Nov 25 & Friday, Nov 26: Thanksgiving Holiday!
- Thursday, Dec 16 & Dec 17: Winter Blast for students. More information will be coming soon!
- Monday, Dec 20 & Tuesday, Dec 21: Teacher Work Days
- Wednesday, Dec 22 - Friday, Dec 31: Winter Break
- Monday, Jan 3, 2022: Back to School!