Timberwolf Times -October 16, 2023

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

"It's A Great Day to be a Timberwolf""

Dear Timberwolf Families,

We discussed the importance of Attending School Each Day and On Time during September. Now for October we are going to focus on Literacy. We have a lot of Literacy Events going on in October including:

Our Book Fair Takes place this week - October 16 - October 20, 2023

Book Fair Family Night is on Monday, October 16 from 5pm - 7:30pm

Literacy Night is on Monday, October 16 from 6pm - 7pm.

PTO Read-A-Thon - October 16 - October 27, 2023

Operation Turkey runs through October 20, 2023.

Bus Driver Appreciation Week is this Week - please thank your Bus Driver!

Our Advisory Council Meeting will take place on ZOOM at 6:30pm on October 19, 2023. If you would like to attend, please email me at buchhear@pwcs.edu with the subject line - Advisory Council and then I will send you the ZOOM link. THIS IS A CHANGE of DATE from the original date.

We truly do Everything Better Together as a Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Dr. Andrew Buchheit

Principal

#TimberwolvesROCK

“At T. Clay Wood, Everyone Belongs”

Dear Drivers into T. Clay Wood,

I know I have shared this before but I heard of an incident that took place on Tuesday afternoon. A car by passed the line of cars waiting to turn into our school and entered through the exit lane almost hitting a car trying to exit out this designated exit lane. This practice is very dangerous. No one likes to wait in line (well, I didn't take a poll about this statement, however I am assuming no one or at least most people do not like waiting in line). However, sometimes it is something we have to do. If you have an appointment with someone in the office, you can enter through Patriot parking lot and park in our main parking lot. Please do NOT enter through Patriot parking lot and attempt to join the car pick up line further up the line.

Thank you for your attention to this reminder. I truly do not want any of our students, families, or staff members hurt.

The School Food and Nutrition Services Department will resume offering fat-free chocolate milk with elementary school lunches.

Chocolate milk was removed from the elementary school lunch menu this school year in anticipation of new regulations proposed by the USDA that limit added sugars in school lunches. We have received considerable feedback from students and families with requests to continue offering chocolate milk with school lunch and we are listening. Throughout the week of October 16, elementary school students can select chocolate milk with their school lunch. It will also be available for a la carte purchase.

If you would like to attend our first Parent Tea/Timberwolf Talk presented by Dr. Buchheit on October 27, 2023 at 10:00 am. Please RSVP to me at buchhear@pwcs.edu and include Parent Tea in the subject line. Hope to see you there.

Operation Turkey is being sponsored by our Student Service Leadership Team. It will run from October 10 - October 20, 2023. - Please no Glass item.

Items we will be collecting - Canned fruit, Applesauce, canned vegetables, canned meat and fish, canned potatoes, beans/lentils, soup, broth/stock, pasta sauce, pasta, rice, coffee/tea, one box meals like Hamburger Helper, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, oatmeal, pre-made baking mix, flour, sugar, shelf-stable milk, cooking oil/spray. Gluten free and low sodium items all needed.

Bring items to the front office starting on October 10, 2023.

The Impact Aid survey will be available electronically in ParentVUE on September 30, 2023. The U.S. Department of Education provides funding to our school division based on Impact Aid survey data, which is used for general purposes benefitting all schools.

What is Impact Aid?
Impact Aid is a federal education program that reimburses school districts for lost revenue and additional costs due to the presence of nontaxable federal property (such as military installations, Indian lands, national parks, national laboratories, and Veterans Affairs hospitals) in a community.

What are the funds used for?
Impact Aid, like revenue generated by taxes, can be used for any general fund purpose, such as instructional materials, teacher salaries, transportation, technology, social-emotional supports or facilities. All decisions on how Impact Aid funds are spent are made by school district leaders and locally elected school boards. This flexibility and local control ensure funds are targeted to where the greatest needs exist.

Additionally, Impact Aid data allows us to apply for competitive funding from other sources such as Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) K12 Partnership grants to provide tailored support services to children of active-duty uniformed services personnel. These grants support specific schools in which 10% or more of the student population is military-connected according to Impact Aid data.

When is the Impact Aid Survey available?
The Impact Aid Survey will become available on September 30, 2023, in ParentVUE. Be on the lookout for additional information regarding the opening of the survey.

In case of inclement weather when school is closed, PWCS will provide live virtual (Synchronized) instruction to all students through ZOOM. PWCS Expectation is that all students participate. Attendance will be taken. Students must keep their cameras on to be counted as present. Instruction will take place between 9am - 2pm with 1 hour for lunch and recess time.

Prior to late fall/early winter, please make sure you are able to access the internet. Any family needing assistance with home internet should contact their school during the first month of school to receive a school-issued take-home “hotspot.” If you are not able to access the internet, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at taylorbi@pwcs.edu or 703.594.3990.

PWCS has a late bus link for buses that will be late 15 minutes or more - https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/bus_delays

You can also sign up for the Here Comes the Bus App at - https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/here_comes_the_bus

For more information about buses - please the Transportation Website -

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/index

October 20, 2023 - Our PTO has arranged an Author Assembly on Friday, October 20, 2023 for all students. The Author is Ada Ari. If you would like to learn more information about her - please see her website - www.ada-ari.com If you have questions about the assembly please reach out to our PTO at tclaywoodpto@gmail.com

On October 27, 2023 - we will be visiting the Patriot Marching Band in the afternoon. Permission slips will go home. If you choose to not have your student participate, please let your child's teacher know.

On November 2, 2023, DJ Wood will visit our school during lunch to play some tunes for our students in celebration of a successful completion of the 1st quarter of school. If you prefer your student to eat in the office due to volume, etch this day, please let your child's teacher know.

On November 2, Mr. Taylor and our school counselors will join me in reminding our 3rd-5th grade students about Internet Safety. We will also have an evening event as well for parents. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at taylorbi@pwcs.edu or one of our school counselors at 703.594.3990.

On November 9, we will have a school wide assembly honoring our Veterans and Active duty service members.

If you do not want your student to participate in any of these Whole School assemblies please let your child's teacher know.

Social Media Reminders: T. Clay Wood ES only puts up photos or videos on the Official T. Clay Wood Social Media Sites - on the T. Clay Wood Facebook, X(Twitter), Instagram, and You Tube.

You will see the following Notice on our Official Site -

“This PWCS social media account has been approved by the PWCS Communications Department.”

Social Media sites have to be approved annually by the PWCS Communication Department. Regulation 790-3 , Section B of the Attachment provides further information as well as information about Opt-Out. When filling out the Back to School Packet, information is included that discusses and references this regulation.

Dear Families:

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school.

Here’s what you need to know about the big event.

Student Shopping:

Monday, Oct. 16th-Thursday, Oct. 19th - 9:30-3:30

Family Shopping:

Monday, Oct. 16th-5:00-7:30

Forms of payment:

Ewallet, Cash, Check (made out to TWCES), Credit Card

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/tclaywoodelementaryschool

The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!

Happy reading,

Mrs. Rice

riceml@pwcs,edu

Cell Phones and Watches with text/calling capabilities

We have seen an increase in students using watches to text during the instructional school day. In order to preserve instructional time, students are not permitted to text, on a phone or watch, during the school day.

If you need to relay a message to your child during the school day, please call the front office.

Please refer to the Parent Handbook regarding the use of Cell Phones (which includes calling and texting on watches). It states, "If cell phones are brought to school, they should be turned off and kept in book bags during the school day."

Students may continue to wear the smart watches but calling should be turned off. Our Elementary school students should NOT be receiving messages (or calls) during the school day. If students misuse the watch by sending or receiving calls and/or messages, taking pictures or videos, or making recordings, playing on games or searching the internet, etc.; the teacher will need to have the student put the watch in their backpack similar to a cell phone or another device.

We thank you for your support in ensuring our students are focused on the learning process while at school. We want to be sure watches, phones, other devices are not used to distract from the learning environment or used in a way that is not appropriate for school. I appreciate all our parents and guardians taking the time to have these conversations with their children prior to allowing their students to come to school with a cell phone, smart watch, or other device.

Phones and watches can be removed if students are using them in ways that are distracting or not appropriate to their learning or the learning and safety of other students.

Picture Day - Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Students may dress up in elementary school appropriate costumes on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 during the school day. Students should wear shoes with their costumes. Costumes should not have masks that cannot be taken off during the school day. Students should not bring in anything that looks like a weapon or can hurt anyone.

Friday, October 27 - in the evening for the Costume Bingo -students can wear their costumes to the PTO Bingo game. Adults can as well. Please remember to wear costumes appropriate for elementary school students and again no weapons, etc. (See above). Students should NOT wear costumes during the school day.

Patriot Clubs will once again sponsor a Trunk or Treat Event for elementary school students at neighboring school. It will take place on October 26, 2023 in their front parking lot from 4:30pm - 7:00pm. It is free for our students. Students can dress up for the event.

On Saturday, October 28, Patriot will hold their Fall Festival -see information below.

Operation Turkey - October 9, 2023 - October 20, 2023

Book Fair - October 16 - October 20, 2023

PTO Read-a-Thon runs from October 16 - October 27, 2023

Bus Driver Appreciation Week Oct. 16 - Oct. 20, 2023

• PTO Read-A-Thon Begins and runs through October 27, 2023
• Book Fair Begins
• Family Night at the Book Fair - 5:00pm - 7:30 pm.
• Literacy Night - 6pm - 7pm.
  
  

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Day 1

Wednesday, October 18, 2023- Day 2

Thursday, October 19, 2023 - Day 3

• 3rd grade Field Trip
• Advisory Council Meeting on ZOOM; 6:30 pm. - Email me at buchhear@pwcs.edu if you would like to attend. Put Advisory Council in Subject line, please.

Friday, October 20, 2023 -Day -4

• Author Assembly - Ada Ari

• PTO Chuck E. Cheese Spirit Night.

Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind

It is The Habit of Personal Vision

One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life.

• You begin with the end in mind when you:

  • Set short term and long term goals.
  • Plan the steps you need to take to reach your goals.

  
  

  Kid Language

  Have a Plan: I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.

  Ways to practice Begin With the End in Mind:

  • Lay out your clothes for tomorrow before you go to bed.
  • Get out a pencil and a piece of paper and write down three goals you want to do. Put the paper in a safe place where you can see it.
  • We all have something we need to get better at, like doing our homework, brushing our teeth at night, or obeying our parents. Pick one thing you need to do better. Start doing it.

Our 2023-2024 PTO BOARD

President - Kate Case

VP - Kelsey Fisher

Treasurer - Beth Feliciano-Rivera

Asst Treasurer - Cooper Waterman

Secretary - Sandra Oviedo

Director - Amelia Hunter

Teacher Director - Tiana Marshall

Upcoming Dates:

October 10: MOD Pizza Spirit Night

October 16-27: Read-a-Thon Fundraiser

October 20: Chuck E Cheese Spirit Night

October 23: Fall SEP Starts

October 27,: Costume Bingo Night

Please visit the PTO Facebook page and PTO website for updates and more info: https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/

Next PTO Meeting, November 3,,2023 - 6:30pm.

On ZOOM - Join Zoom Meeting

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/88559394298?pwd=TDh1dWJYSmtWcTVSRUlZajBiUmJNZz09

Meeting ID: 885 5939 4298
Passcode: PTO

Your TCWES PTO has a lot of fun events and projects planned for the year. Come see what this year holds in store for the PTO! Email tclaywoodpto@gmail.com for more information!

PTO Membership is still open!

Membership (tclaywoodpto.com)

As always, keep an eye on our T Clay Wood PTO facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/timberwolvesrock) and our website (https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/) for up to date information

*Every Tuesday - Every Tuesday during the school year Gainesville Papa Johns will give you 40% off your order and donate 10% back to the PTO!

At T. Clay Wood Elementary School, we love to have visitors and volunteers every day. To help ensure the safety of our students, visitors to Prince William County Schools are expected to report promptly to the school’s main office when entering school buildings. Visitors and volunteers will be asked to provide a valid government issued photo identification. There are no exceptions. Every visitor to our school must bring with them a photo id. Visitors will then be issued a temporary identification badge. We will not permit any visitor or volunteer into the building without this identification. Our main goal is to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff at school.

If a situation occurs which makes it necessary for your child’s transportation home to change, please send in a note with your child in the morning giving clear directions as to how your child should go home at the end of the day. Only a parent/guardian can change their child’s transportation plan for any given day. A note from the parent must be received by the office AND the teacher before noon that day indicating the change. This is for the safety of the children and will alleviate any confusion at the end of the day.

Changing Dismissal Routine – Parents, if you are changing your child’s dismissal, you must send an email/note to the office or notify the office by 3:30 pm. The teacher and bus driver cannot accept a change if a student just tells him or her about the change without a note. In these cases, students are sent home the original way. In addition, please try to avoid changing dismissal procedures in the middle of the day and please send all dismissal changes to our office by calling our office at 703.594.3990 or sending a note in the morning. Emails sent to the teacher in the middle of the day may be missed if there is a substitute that day or if the teacher is not able to check his or her email.

3:30 pm - If you must pick your student up early, please arrive before 3:30 pm. We will not be able to call students to the office after 3:30 pm until all car riders are picked up. Students called for dismissal after 3:30 pm will be sent to the car rider area and will be brought up after all car riders are dismissed with the supervising teachers. This way we can reduce interruptions to the classrooms, provide continual supervision for all our students and give our focus in the office to dismissing students. Parents coming in after 3:30 pm will be asked to wait in the vestibule outside of the office and once their students are brought up to come in and sign their students out.

2023-2024 – Calendar link: https://www.pwcs.edu/calendars/school_calendar/index

You can also subscribe to the PWCS Calendar. To learn how, you can go to this PWCS Site and then follow the directions - How to Subscribe to the PWCS School Calendar

Code of Behavior link: https://www.pwcs.edu/about_us/code_of_behavior/index

Link to Family Life Education objectives and Opt out - https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/science___family_life_education/family_life_education

Please take a moment to view our 2023-2024 T. Clay Wood Continuous Improvement Plan by clicking this link: T. Clay Wood 2023-2024 Continuous Improvement Plan

We have three Academic Goals this year - Increase Reading, Math, and Science Achievement Rates for all students at T. Clay Wood to at least 85% or higher.

We also are focused at increasing student satisfaction rates to 90% or higher and increasing number of active business partnerships at T. Clay Wood.

A Prince William County School of Excellence

“A Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence”

10600 Kettle Run Road; Nokesville, VA 20181

Andrew Buchheit, Principal - buchhear@pwcs.edu

Melissa Yuditsky, Assistant Principal yuditsml@pwcs..edu

“A Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence”

School hours: 9:20 am – 4:00 pm

(Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Doors Open: 9:10 a.m.

Students tardy after: 9:20 a.m.

Dismissal: 4:00 p.m.

School Phone Number: 703.594.3990

School Fax Number: 703.594.2653

Attendance Email: cwes-timberwolf-attendance@pwcs.edu

Attendance Phone Line:– 703.594.3992

Motto: “I seek to make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE AT SCHOOL”

Website: http://tclaywoodes.schools.pwcs.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TClayWoodES

Twitter @TClayWoodElem

Instagram: tclaywoodelementary

Email: buchhear@pwcs.edu
Website: http://tclaywoodes.schools.pwcs.edu
Location: 10600 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville, VA, USA
Phone: 703.594.3990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TClayWoodES
Twitter: @TClayWoodElem