We hope you are enjoying your weekend and spending some quality time with your families. It has been a hard week for our Raleigh community.
This week is a full 5 days! Our next "day off" is the Teacher Work Day on Friday, Nov 4. For our family, the consistency and routine are very welcome!
We wish you a great week! Please check out all the exciting things happening in our community and if you have any questions, please contact any board member.
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 for This Week
- TODAY:
- Deadline for ordering fall spirit wear. We will NOT have another order until the spring, so order now.
- Michael Beadle will be at Quail Ridge Books on Sunday, Oct 16
Every year, the PTA invites writer Michael Beadle to be a writer in residence with our 4th grade classes. The teachers and students LOVE it when Mr. Beadle visits for the week.
Mr. Beadle has published a poetry book. He has upcoming book reading / book signing at Quail Ridge Books for my book, What Makes a Giraffe Laugh.
The date is Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 @ 3 p.m.
- This week: Classrooms who met their fundraising goal for the Fun Run will receive popsicles to have a popsicle party at the time of the teacher's choosing.
- Friday, Oct 21: The Cougar Counter returns! Check out the article below.
The Positivity Project: Integrity
Minutes from October PTA meeting
Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:
The Cary Rotary Club honored us with a $250 check for the Read-a-Book, Get a Book program. (We will receive another $250 check in January.) The Read a Book program is for students who are struggling in reading. Teachers and staff members identify the students who would benefit from this program. Then on mornings before school, these students meet with a volunteer who helps them read a book at the child's reading level. After the child has mastered the book, he or she gets to take it home to help build their home library. It is a FANTASTIC program. The Rotary Club said that Swift Creek is one of its most active schools, and in fact, during one year, we gave away 1000 books!
The Creative Arts Team (CAT) shared their goals for our students in art, media, PE, and music. We thank Dr. Barr, Mrs. McIntyre, Mr. Hines, and Mrs. Green for coming and telling us about what happens in their classrooms.
In his Principal's report, Mr. Propst shared EOG scores from last year and gave us an update as to how Swift Creek is doing after the pandemic.
- Overall, in WCPSS and beyond, EOG scores have trended downward since the pandemic
- Our scores dipped from the 18/19 scores to the 20/21 scores, which was expected due to the pandemic. The area superintendent hoped schools would gain at least ½ that amount back in the 21/22 year. Our school met our pre pandemic scores 100% in the 21/22 school year, which is fantastic!
- Even more good news is that, not only have we met our 18/19 scores, we have met or exceeded GROWTH in all areas. This is not being seen commonly in schools right now.
We hope you can join us for our next meeting, Tuesday, Nov 15 at 6:30pm. We need at least 20 people in attendance because we need to amend the budget to include the return of the Cougar Counter.
Deadline TODAY: Order Your Fall Spirit Wear NOw
https://swiftcreekwinterspiritwear2022.itemorder.com/shop/home/
If you have questions, please contact Spirit Wear chair, Rachel Blackmon at [email protected].
The Cougar Counter Returns
Thanks to committee chair, Sarah Lewis at [email protected], this popular counter will return THIS Friday, October 21. It will be open from 8:45-9:10. First - 5th grade students can visit the counter during this time. (We plan on having the counter open every Friday that we have school.)
Sarah is looking for volunteers to help at the Counter. Please note that to participate you must be:
- a registered volunteer with Wake County Public Schools. To register to be a volunteer, visit the front office. You must register AT the school.
- a paid member of the PTA for the 2022-23 school year.
Sign Up Now to help! https://tinyurl.com/CougarCounter22
Help Us Reach our Membership goal: 150!
We have a membership goal of 150 members. We currently have 114. Help us reach our goal and join today! Membership is only $8 and $4 go directly to the Swift Creek PTA for our programs to help students and staff.
If you have questions about membership, contact Membership chair, Danielle Davis at [email protected].
Weekly Wellness
Sometimes we are looking for an alternative from school lunch or even lunch we make every day. Kids love Uncrustables so why not make our own!
No specialty items needed! Just take 2 pieces of soft bread, preferably whole wheat, and remove the crusts. Add a tablespoon of peanut butter on one piece and jelly on the other. Spread it out BUT not to the corners.
Then take the side of a cutting board or anything similar and press down all sides. Then remove excess. Make the whole loaf and freeze!
You can also be creative – try some almond butter, honey, add bananas or try strawberry, fig or cherry jelly. Be sure to try out some reduced sugar jelly options.
As a reminder, be sure to always check if there is a nut restriction in your children’s classroom.
Optional Family Needs Survey from STudent Support Services Team
There is a due date of October 26, 2022 for holiday support, but families should be able to access this survey year round. If you have any questions about this survey contact school Social Worker, Mykeia Smith at [email protected]
English Version- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSct7BUcSjAYCAJe1N1t2jmog95s_P152CMJU_A_C1v1ojFXwQ/viewform
Spanish Version- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDmHvBWzu-RJHV4kW20ANfvW1ovhqq5q6e6smZfBxOZ5PAnw/viewform
Order Your Yearbook now! 10% Discount Deadline October 31
Yearbooks can be purchased from TreeRing at tr5.treering.com/createAccount/1015281241841003.
We'd love your pictures for the yearbook -- first day of school, from the Fun Run, or just casual pictures. Send them to Yearbook chair, Lauren Nicholls at [email protected].
Spirit Night at City BBQ: Nov 3
Link Your Harris Teeter Vic Card and Help Swift Creek
You can link your Harris Teeter VIC card in these ways:
- At Customer Service or at checkout when you shop. Our school code is 2126.
- Link your card through your account on the Harris Teeter website.
- Send your VIC Number or the phone number associated with your VIC card to Painless Fundraising chair, Jenae Delayen at [email protected]. She will do the work for you.
Thanks for your help in raising funds for the Creek!
Original Works Deadline is Nov 10
You should have received a packet in your child's Tuesday folder a couple of weeks ago.
To participate:
- Have your child create a piece of art on the white sheet provided. When creating this artwork, keep in mind:
- Please leave a little margin around the edges.
- When the child is finished, turn the sheet over and put a T to indicate the top of the picture.
- Review the Original Works catalog and complete the included order form.
- Place the artwork, your order form, and payment in the plastic sleeve provided and return to the school.
If you have any questions, please contact Original Works chair Laura Monaghan at [email protected].
Donate supplies for STEAM Night
https://tinyurl.com/ywd45ckk
More details about the event to come soon...
Food Pantry Needs for October & November
- $15 Food Lion or Walmart gift cards
- loaf bread
- pancake mix
- ground beef
- juice boxes
- Frozen turkey breasts
- potatoes
- gravy
- and more
Sign Up Now
Advocacy: Early Voting Starts Thursday
- To find your nearest early voting location, see https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/early-voting.
- To view YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT, see https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot.
Also, please note: all school board members are up for election in November. Over the summer, the districts for school board were redrawn, so your district might have recently changed.
Wake County PTA Council along with the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and WakeEd Partnership hosted candidate forums earlier this month. You can watch these forums from the Wake County PTA Council's Advocacy YouTube channel.
Also, on this year's ballot is a school bond. The latest email from WCPSS outlined what is planned with this bond money.
Learn more about the 2022 Capital Improvement Program
The upcoming Wake County election ballot will include a proposal for a $530.7 million school bond that will address our schools' critical safety and maintenance needs.
The bond will help fund:
- The rebuilding of seven existing schools
- Significant repairs to schools, such as roofs, heating, air conditioning and plumbing
- Replacements for equipment that has aged out, such as classroom furniture, student and staff devices and security upgrades
- The construction of five new schools on new sites
Learn more about how the funds will be used.
Advocacy: Please respond to WCPSS Bell Survey
As part of the school bell times study, we are seeking input from students, parents, and staff regarding start and end times for elementary, middle, and high schools. Please provide your input by Oct 28.
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open
Magnet and Year-Round application Period is now open
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, Oct 28 2:00pm -- Schoolwide performance (play) to celebrate that we met our Fun Run goal!
- Thursday, Nov 3: Spirit Night at City Barbeque. 20% of sales go back to the PTA!
- Friday, Nov 4: Teacher Work Day No School for Students.
- Tuesday, Nov 8: Election Day. No school.
- Thursday, Nov 10: Early Release Day. School dismisses at 1:45.
- Friday, Nov 11: Veteran's Day. No School for staff or students.
- Tuesday, Nov 15 6:30pm: November PTA meeting in the media center and online
- Wednesday, Nov 23-Friday, Nov 25: Thanksgiving Holiday.
- Monday, Nov 28 - Friday, Dec 1: Fall Book Fair
- Monday, Dec 5: Early Release Day. School dismisses at 1:45.
- Tuesday, Dec 13 6:30pm: December PTA meeting in the media center and online
- Wednesday, Dec 21: Early Release Day. School dismisses at 1:45.
- Thursday, Dec 22 - Monday, Jan 2: Winter Break.
This Week at the Creek
Interested in helping in the garden? Contact Jenae Delayen at [email protected].