Monday and Tuesday are remote learning days for all students. There is no in-person instruction for any student. Check with your child's teacher to see if he or she has any Google meets with the teacher or small groups.
For many of us, the Thanksgiving holiday will look very different this year. I know our dining room table will be a little emptier this year. But yet . . . because of the magic of the Zoom, we will be able to have Thanksgiving with my dad for the first time in at least 25 years. (He lives in Texas.) So even though Thanksgiving might be different, I hope your family is able to create some new traditions this year.
I also hope that you get a chance to rest and recharge over the break. This year has forced us to face new challenges and stretch ourselves so thin. Thank you for all your hard work and all you give to our community.
I am grateful for the amazing community of Swift Creek. The staff, the families, the students. Together, we do amazing things and are soaring to new heights.
Happy Thanksgiving!
If there is anything that we as the PTA Executive board can do for you, please let us know!
Thanks,
Marie, Deb, Sarah, Dana, and Lauren
Positivity Project
This week in the Positivity Project, students will be learning about the character strength of Gratitude.
What It Means
You are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
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.
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.
Family Resources: To access these resources, use the password P2.
Highlights for This Week
- Monday, Nov 23
- All students in remote learning. There is no in-person instruction this week.
- Fall Book Fair begins!
- Tuesday, Nov 24: All students in remote learning. There is no in-person instruction this week.
- Wednesday, Nov 25: Teacher Work Day! No school for students.
- Thursday, Nov 26 & Friday, Nov 27: Thanksgiving holiday!
Book Fair
The Book Fair is back! Swift Creek will hold its Scholastic Book Fair from Monday, Nov 23 to Sunday, Dec 6. Things will look different this year as the entire fair will be virtual! You will be able to shop Scholastic's HUGE selection from your homes and your books will be sent directly to you.
The Fair Link will go live TOMORROW: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/swiftcreekelementaryschool
If you have questions, please contact Book Fair Chair, Kristen Sherman at [email protected].
Before and After School Care
We are excited to announce that our Before and After School Programs are now open. If you need childcare, please reserve your child's spot today. All information can be found on the school website or you can contact the coordinator, Mrs. Kress, at [email protected].
https://www.wcpss.net/domain/10929
5th Grade News
Virtual Tours at Dillard Drive Magnet Middle
At Tuesday's PTA meeting, the principal at Dillard Drive Magnet Middle school, Mrs. Margaret Feldman, talked about the opportunities available at Dillard Drive and the new magnet program.
You can learn about all the new opportunities at Dillard from this flyer.
Virtual Tours will be held on these dates:
- December 1st & 17th, 2020
- January 5th & 20th, 2021
News from WCPSS
- Return to School Guidelines
- Changes in Return to School Guidelines and If Your Child Goes Home Sick
- Applying to Magnet Schools for next year. Are you interested in attending a magnet or year round school next year? The deadline for applications is Jan 28, 2021. For information about a specific school, check that school's website. Many schools are currently conducting virtual tours.
We Need Your Help
Holiday Gift Cards for Teachers
Thank you to everyone who donated pies for our Thanksgiving celebration for the staff. You should have seen their big, bright smiles.
For the holiday season, Sarah Wohlmann is collecting $5 gift cards to include in a teacher thank you gift. You can sign up to help at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4FACA92AAB9-happy
If you have questions, contact Hospitality Chair, Sarah Wohldmann at [email protected].
You can now donate using Venmo! www.venmo.com/Sarah-Wohldmann
Shout Outs
Thank you to Coles Design for helping us create our 5th grade class picture for the class of 2020. Usually, we gather the 5th graders after graduation and take a class picture. However, this year, that wasn't possible. Coles Design used our yearbook photos to create the class picture that now hangs in the front hall!
Painless Fundraising
Here are some easy ways you can earn money for Swift Creek while doing your normal activities:
- Are you an Amazon shopper? Did you know that a portion of your purchase could go to Swift Creek when you shop? Simply use this link: ?smile.amazon.com/ch/57-0788188
- Box Tops are available on a variety of items, such as General Mills cereals, Hefty products, and Ziploc products.
Each Box Top is worth 10 cents to Swift Creek!
Box Tops is going digital! Now instead of clipping, simply scan your receipts to earn money for the Creek. For more information, see https://www.boxtops4education.com/
- Coke Gives. Do you drink Coke products, such as Coke, Sprite, or Minute Maid? Collect the bottle cap from your beverage to add 5 cents to our Painless Fundraising funds! Turn in your bottle caps to the school or enter the codes under Swift Creek Elementary at Cokes Gives.
- Grocery stores
- Are you a member of the VIC program at Harris Teeter? When you buy Harris Teeter brand products, a portion of those sales can go to Swift Creek. Simply link your VIC card to our school. You can do it through the Harris Teeter website or at the customer service desk. Our school code is 2126.
Or you can send your VIC number along with the name associated with the card to Marie Dexter (Painless Fundraising committee chair) at [email protected].
- Are you a member of the VIC program at Harris Teeter? When you buy Harris Teeter brand products, a portion of those sales can go to Swift Creek. Simply link your VIC card to our school. You can do it through the Harris Teeter website or at the customer service desk. Our school code is 2126.
- Lowes Food has several programs to benefit schools, such as Swift Creek. With the Cart to Class program, all you need to do is link your Lowes Food card to Swift Creek and when you buy Lowes Food brand products, part of your purchase goes to the Creek. You can link your card from the Lowes Food website or by contacting Customer Service.
- Are you a regular Publix shopper? Then you can help the Creek when you shop. We are a member of the Publix Partners program. When you create a Publix account, you can associate Swift Creek Elementary with your phone number. Then give your phone number at check out and Swift Creek reaps the benefits!
Recycling
Our recycling efforts at the Creek continue.
- Families, we continue to recycle squeezeable pouches and foil-lined wrappers.
- The squeezable pouches may be of ANY brand, not just GoGo squeeZ.
- Foil lined wrappers include smaller chip, pretzel, and cookie bags, as well as granola bars, chocolate bars, etc.
- Swift Creek also collects old markers, highlighters and dry erase markers, as part of Crayola’s ColorCycle program (https://www.crayola.com/colorcycle.aspx).
- Plastic bags and film. Before you take these to the grocery store for recycling, weigh them and send the weight to Megan Holler, [email protected].
If you have items, you can drop them off at Macedonia United Methodist Church on Saturdays from 8-10am. Or contact Recycling Chair Megan Holler [email protected] or Marie Dexter [email protected] for a front porch pick up.
For more information, see Recycling Programs on our PTA website.
Join the PTA
You can still join the Swift Creek PTA. Information on how to join is available from the Membership page on the PTA website.
If you have questions, please contact Membership chair, Danielle Davis, at [email protected].
Mark Your Calendars
- Monday, Nov 30 -- School returns after Thanksgiving holiday.
- Plan B students: All K-3 in person, 4-5 Cohort B
- All Virtual Academy students continue online
- Monday, Nov 30 -- School returns after Thanksgiving holiday.
- Wednesday, Dec 2: Asynchronous School Day. All students are remote.
- December 2-9: Registration period for Virtual Academy for Spring
- Thursday, Dec 3: WCPSS Virtual Magnet Info Session
- Tuesday, Dec 8 6:30pm: PTA meeting
- Friday, Dec 11: Remote Learning Day
- Monday, Dec 21: Teacher Work Day
- Tuesday, Dec 22 - Jan 1: Winter Break