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Welcome to September! Yesterday I could tell that fall is coming. My daughter insisted on going to our neighborhood pool and while I was in it, I was covered in goosebumps and dreaming of hot chocolate!!
We hope the first "official" week of online learning went well for your family. I am sure there were some adjustments and things to get used to! This is certainly a big change for everyone. But hopefully by Friday, you were getting into a groove. If you are having any problems or have questions, please reach out to your child's teacher. They are ready to help!
Thank you to everyone who has sent a love note to our teachers! They appreciate it so, so much. They are working so hard and juggling so much right now. I know they appreciate your words so much.
We hope you and your family can get some well deserved relaxation over this long weekend! Recharge those batteries and be ready to hit the books again on Tuesday! We can do this! Mrs. Hill, our school psychologist, has created a new Self- Care Choice board for parents! Check it out!
If you need anything, please feel free to reach out. We are here for you!
Your PTA Executive Board
Marie, Deb, Sarah, Dana, Lauren
Monday: Labor Day -- No School
A quick reminder that Monday is Labor Day, so there is no school. We look forward to seeing you back on Tuesday.
PTA Meeting: Tuesday, Sept 8 6:30pm https://tinyurl.com/scesPTAMeet
Our September PTA meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept 8 at 6:30pm. We will be voting on this year's budget so it is very important that we reach quorum (at least 20 people) for this vote.
Join us at https://tinyurl.com/scesPTAMeet
If you have trouble connecting, please text Marie Dexter at 919-602-9993.
Here is the full agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Approve Budget
3. Family Resources
- Choice Board (Ms. Hizer)
- Buddy Families
- Fun Run (Annie Pilz)
- Recycling Update (Megan Holler)
- Hospitality Update (Sarah Wohldmann)
- Reflections (Carrie Fernandez)
- Membership (Danielle Davis)
- No pictures taken during online instruction time
- When can you take pictures?
- Use hashtags #SCESROARS, #ROARtoSoar, #WeSoarHigher
https:
Tuesday: Kick off for This Year's Fun Run: Amazon Adventures
The Fun Run is the Swift Creek PTA's main fundraiser for the year. Fun Run committee chair, Annie Pilz, will be kicking off the event this Tuesday at our PTA meeting.
Stay tuned for more information and check out the Fun Run website at http://swiftcreekeswcpssnetptahtml.weebly.com/cougar-fun-run.html
Thursday 5:30pm: WCPSS Family Academy Workshop: Navigating the Wake County Public School System
This is a FaceBook live event. You can join at
www.facebook.com/WCPSS-Family-Academy-277563949100964
How to Check Out Books from the Library!
Did you know that you can now check out books from the Swift Creek library?
Search the card catalog from home and select up to 5 books to check out. An adult can then pick them up from the school on Thursday from 9-12.
This week, Mrs. Wils created a drop off bin on the bridge at the school so you can drop off your books when you are finished.
Learn more at https:/bit.ly/34MMadx
If you have questions, contact Mrs. Wils at [email protected].
Yes! We Are Still Recycling Squeezable Pouches, Foil Lined Bags, Markers, and Plastic Film!With so many one use items during this pandemic, it seems like we are generating more trash than ever.
However, thanks to Megan Holler, our Recycling Committee Chair, the TerraCycle and ColorCycle at Swift Creek continue!
Though we’re not in school to pick up these items from you, we would like to offer weekly drop offs during our Backpack Buddies collection at Macedonia Church, Saturdays from 8am-10am. (When you arrive, ask for Marie.)
Here is what we are collecting:
Squeezable snack pouches. These can be ANY brand, not just GoGo squeez pouches.
Foil lined wrappers include smaller chip, pretzel, and cookie bags, as well as granola bars, chocolate bars, etc.
Old markers, highlighters and dry erase markers, will also be accepted, as part of Crayola’s ColorCycle program.
Plastic film recycling. The NexTrex competition for schools is currently on hold, but Megan is happy to recycle these items for you. For a list of accepted items: https://www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/.
IMPORTANT: Collection tips:
- Please make sure pouches and bags/wrappers are EMPTY, with CAPs placed back ON the pouches.
- Store empty pouches in the refrigerator, until they can be dropped off.
- Please have items in separate bags, for easy sorting (all pouches together, all foil wrappers together, etc). They all go to separate recycling programs!
- If paper bags can be used for collection, that is ideal, as these can be composted after the pouches or snack wrappers are removed, even with traces of food still on them! (If plastic bags are clean and dry, they will always be recycled.)
Food Collection for Families in Need
Are you interested in donating food to families in need? Currently, Macedonia United Methodist church in partnership with our PTA is helping 12 families (that's 33 children) in our community.
Food collection is every Saturday from 8-10am at Macedonia United Method Church on Tryon Road.
Here are some items that we need next week:
- Food Lion gift cards
- canned meats, such as chicken, tuna, vienna sausages
- juice boxes
- canned veggies
- pasta
- pasta sauce
- cereal
- taco kits
- refried beans
- microwavable meals that kids at home can do on their own -- microwavable mac and cheese, chef boyardee cups, Hormel compleat meals
- snacks, pudding cups, jello cups
- any meals or food item that a child can get for him or herself
You can also donate in these ways:
- Amazon Wish List: http://tinyurl.com/scesFood
- Venmo account: www.venmo.com/Marie-Dexter-1
If you are interested in being added to this weekly email list, contact Marie Dexter at [email protected].
Join the PTA
Show your support for the Creek by joining the PTA. Membership is $8 per person, and anyone can be a member. You can join the PTA online using the NC PTA database, MemberHub. For more information, see http://swiftcreekeswcpssnetptahtml.weebly.com/membership.html.
Have questions? Contact Membership Chair, Danielle Davis at [email protected]
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Papa Murphy's Spirit Night, Thursday, Sept 24 1pm-8pm
Help us earn money for the Creek and take a break from cooking.
Pick up a pizza from Papa Murphy's (Take and Bake pizza) between 1pm-8pm on Thursday, Sept 24 and we will earn 25% of your sale. The shop closest to Swift Creek is at 161 SE Cary Parkway. That is only 8 minutes from Swift Creek ES!
Can't wait that long? Order online today and use the code RAISE and we will receive 25% of that sale too!
Tell your friends!
Easy Ways to Earn Money for the Creek!
It is so easy to earn an extra dime or two for the Creek while you shop. Here are the loyalty programs that we are part of.
- Harris Teeter Together in Education -- Relink Your VIC Card. You have to do this EVERY school year.
- online at harristeeter.com (you will need to create an account)
- at the Customer Service desk -- tell them to link your card to 2126 Swift Creek Elementary in Raleigh
- let me do the work for you! Include your information in this form https://forms.gle/5zH8G911NQvoFi5K7
- Lowes Cart to Class Program. You have to relink your card EVERY school year.
- Publix Partners. Sign up once and earn money for our school forever!
- Participate in Amazon Smile.
- Use the Box Tops app (or collect physical Box Tops).
- Collect Coke bottle caps and enter in Coke Gives!
- Order pizza online from Papa Murphy's and use the code RAISE. We will earn 25% of your purchase.
Note: Box Tops and Coke bottle caps will also be collected weekly during Backpack Buddy Food Collection at Macedonia United Methodist Church 8am-10am. Simply drive by and drop off with Marie Dexter.
For more information about any of these programs, see http://swiftcreekeswcpssnetptahtml.weebly.com/painless-fundraisers.html.
Parent/Family Resources:
We know that this is a tough time for ALL of us. Your Swift Creek community wants to help.
Here are some virtual resources:
- Parent Self-Care Choice Board from School Psychologist, Mrs. Hill. You can reach her at [email protected]
- FaceBook Groups:
- Incoming Kindergarteners: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sceskindergarten
- Virtual Academy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scesva
- PTA Family Buddies!
Sign up to be paired with a family or volunteer to be a buddy. Responsibilities of a buddy are to help our families navigate and answer questions. Having someone to talk to and connect to can mean so much.
If you are interested, complete this form:
https://tinyurl.com/scesFamilyBuddies
You are also welcome to contact any member of our PTA Executive Board at any time! Their emails (Marie, Deb, Sarah, Dana, Lauren) are in the To section of this email.
Mark Your Calendars:
We might not be in the same building but we continue to make things happen in our community! Mark your calendars for these events!
- Monday, Sept 7 -- Labor Day. No school!
- Tuesday, Sept 8
- Fun Run kick off! Details coming soon!
- 6:30pm -- Sept PTA meeting. We will vote on this year's budget.
- Thursday, Sept 24 1pm-8pm -- Spirit Night at Papa Murphy's Pizza
- Monday, Sept 28 -- Teacher Work Day
- Saturday, Oct 3 -- Virtual Fun Run
Advocacy Alerts:
Thursday: NC Superintendent of Public Schools ForumElection day isn't too far away. This week, WRAL will be live streaming a forum introducing the candidates for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction. It is September 10, 2020 7pm-8pm
Moderator: David Crabtree WRAL anchor/reporter
So to wral.com to watch.
Are You Seeking Child Care?
Here is a recent announcement from Governor Cooper:
North Carolina families in need of childcare can call the child care hotline 1-888-600-1685 to be connected with child care options in their communities for school-age children up to age 12.
“Remote learning and new school schedules present challenges if you are a working parent. This resource can help make sure children have safe, reliable care. We will continue working on ways we can help families through this difficult time,” said Governor Cooper.
The hotline is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Licensed child care professionals meeting the NCDHHS health and safety guidelines are available to provide care through this service. For more information about child care during COVID-19, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/information/child-care/child-care-information-families.
Additional State ResourcesDial 2-1-1 provides free, confidential information and is available 24 hours a day to help you find resources within your community. They can connect you with people and groups that can help with questions about access to food, shelter, health care, employment and child care.
Families who need food assistance for their children can text FOODNC to 877-877 to find free meal sites in their communities.
Make sure to prioritize your overall wellness and don’t hesitate to seek additional help.
Optum has a toll-free 24-hour Emotional Support Help Line at 866-342-6892 for people who may be experiencing anxiety or stress due to Coronavirus.