Swansboro Elementary Newsletter
February 16, 2024
🎉Celebrating Success 🎉
- On Monday several of our students were recognized for their beautiful collaborative artwork displayed at the Albert J. Ellis Airport. If you have the chance, please go check out all the talented work on display.
- Today we were able to celebrate 444 students who demonstrated mid-year grade level proficiency and/or 50% growth on their i-Ready reading diagnostic. We are extremely proud of our Pirates!
- Some of our Pirates will be competing in the Battle of the Books Competition and Odyssey of the Mind Competition this upcoming week so please join me in wishing them all good luck!
Our 2nd through 5th graders had the opportunity to participate in First Tee golf and character development lessons during the month of January. It was an awesome experience, and a super exciting time! There is now an after-school opportunity for students to join beginning in March. Coach Garrett Grady enjoyed seeing our Pirates during our P.E. activities, and I know he would enjoy seeing some of our Pirates at either of these after school programs also.
Check out more talented work for OCS students here!
STRIDE and Girls on the Run (GOTR)
Registration for Girls on the Run and Stride will be coming up soon for our third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Flyers have been sent home and the programs start the first week of March.
📚💙Read Across America Week March 4-8, 2024 💙📚
📚💙Read Across America Community Night 💙📚 Tuesday, March 5th @ 4:30-6:30pm
We are celebrating our love for reading with a Community Night on March 5th from 4:30-6:30PM. Our Community Night will include the Book Fair, the OCS STEM Van and Colevanelli's Ice and Pretzel Food Truck. There will also be a Book Walk and a coloring station so bring the whole family for a fun-filled meaningful experience!
Guest Readers sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/eYGh4aYf1a Please share this form with anyone you know who might be interested in reading to a class of students! Our librarian, Mrs. Lynch will contact you and arrange a time and a classroom for them to visit.
Purple Up!
April is Month of the Military Child, a time when we celebrate the 1.6 million military children who face challenges due to their loved one’s service. This year you can order a t-shirt to wear on Purple Up Day (April 19, 2024) to show your support. T-shirts can be purchased at Home | Purple Up! Onslow (lifesspecialtees.com) or https://www.lifesspecialtees.com/purpleuponslow/shop/home . Please be sure to put your child’s first and last name in the order details and select the school your child attends in the delivery section. You will also need to keep a copy of your receipt. The t-shirt shop closes on February 25th and will NOT reopen for late orders. T-shirts will be delivered to your child’s school the week of April 1st. Please contact Danielle Merrell at danielle.merrell@onslow.k12.nc.us if you have any questions regarding the t-shirt orders.
🤩💙🏴☠️Pirate Wear Available for Purchase 🤩💙🏴☠️
We have lots of new Pirate wear available for you to purchase in the front office. Please come check them out the next time you are on campus.
Car Rider Dismissal Reminder
Please ensure you arrive no earlier than 2:45pm in the school’s parking lot and no later than 3:40pm. As you know our parking lot is unique and the event we need to utilize that space during the day, it makes it challenging if cars are parked earlier 2:45pm. It is imperative you refrain from logging in to School Dismissal Manager prior to physically arriving in the school parking lot. The cut off time for car riders is 3:45pm. If you arrive after 3:45pm, you will be asked to park in one of the diagonal parking spaces and come in to get your child, as we have to clear the lot for our buses to enter. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to ensure our students are escorted off campus as safely and efficiently as possible.
Social Worker Updates
Remember once a student reaches 10 unexcused absences, they are out of compliance with the NC Compulsory attendance law G.S. 115C-378 (ncleg.net). Per OCS policy ATTENDANCE (onslow.k12.nc.us) handwritten notes can be written to excuse the firs 10 absences of the year. Once your student has reached 10 absences School will require a doctor not to excuse any absence moving forward.
Please take a moment and review these attendance resources:
Attendance Videos - Attendance Works (Bringing attendance home)
Attendance-Works-Spring-Dip-sample-letter_030323v1 break letter 2023.docx
To sign your child up for backpack friends, click here: https://forms.office.com/r/Zcyj7PDGEF
Here is their website: HOME | BackPack Friends
The next food bag delivery to school for backpack friends will be January 11, 2024.
Upcoming Dates
2/19 - Workday/No School for Students
2/22-23 - Battle of the Books Competition
2/23 - Popcorn Friday
2/23 - School Spelling Bee at 8:45am in Cafeteria
2/24 Odyssey of the Mind Coastal Tournament at QCE/SBHS
2/26 - Interim Reports
2/27 - Burrito Shak Spirit Night from 5-8pm
3/1 - Drum Day
3/1 - Wheels, Wings, Water (5th Grade only)
3/4-8 - Read Across America Week
3/5 - Spring Book Fair Night from 4:30-7:00pm
3/13 - Early Release Day for Students
3/13 - OCS Spelling Bee at RSC from 5:30-7:30pm
3/14 - PTO Meeting at 8:45am
3/19 - OCS Multiplication Bee at BCE from 6-8pm
3/20 - SPT at 3:45pm in Media Center
3/20 - 1st Grade Music Concert at 6pm
3/21 - Kindergarten Music Concert at 6pm
3/22 - Popcorn Friday
3/22 - Career Day
3/25-3/29 - Spring Break/No School for Students
4/1 - Workday/No School for Students
4/2 - Autism Awareness (wear blue)
4/3 - Math Counts Competition at CE from 9am - 2pm
4/4 - End of 3rd Nine Weeks
4/5 - Spring Pictures
4/10 - Early Release Day for Students
4/11 - PTO Meeting at 8:45am
4/12 - Kindergarten Cap/Gown Pictures
4/12 - PTO Spring Fling
4/17 - SPT Meeting at 3:45pm in Media Center
4/18 - Fuzzy Peach Spirit Day
4/19 - Popcorn Friday
4/19 - Chess Competition at JCE from 9am - 1pm
4/23 - Burrito Shak Spirit Night from 5-8pm
4/24 - 2nd Grade Music Concert at 6pm
4/25 - K-2 Field Day
4/26 - 3-5 Field Day
4/29 - Workday/No School for Students
5/2 - 3-5 Field Day (Rain Date)
5/3 - Rising 6th Grade Orientation
5/3-4 - Dreamer's Club Musical at 6:30pm
5/3 - K-2 Field Day (Rain Date)
5/6-10 - OCS Employee Appreciation Week
5/6-24 - EOY K-5 Assessment Window
5/8 - Interim Reports for 4th 9 Weeks
5/9 - PTO Meeting at 8:45am
5/10-11 - Dreamer's Club Musical at 6:30pm
5/15 - SPT Meeting at 3:45pm in Media Center
5/16 - Fuzzy Peach Spirit Day
5/16 - 4th Grade Music Concert at 6pm
5/17 - Popcorn Friday
5/27 - Memorial Day/No School
5/28 - Burrito Shak Spirit Night from 5-8pm
5/29 - 3rd Grade ELA EOG & 5th Grade Science EOG
6/4 - 3rd Grade RTA Test & 4th/5th ELA EOG
6/6 - 3rd/4th/5th Math EOG
6/7 - PTO Ice Cream Social
6/11 - Last Day of School!!!
6/11 - Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony at 9am
Safety Reminders
Field Trips
We have several upcoming grade level field trips. It is very important for you to adhere to set deadlines as we need to finalize numbers for our buses, cafeteria, and the field trip location.
Contact our PTO if you are interested in renting our Spirit Rock! 😊
Parent Portal
Note from Nurse Mollie Sammons:
We are seeing an increase in viral illness. It's that time of year. Here are some tips and tricks to help combat the spread of illness. Please remember to keep kids home for 24 hours if they have a fever of 100 or above, vomiting, or diarrhea. Thank you.
- Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. - Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. - Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. - Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives - Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers - Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. - Practice other good health habits.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Lysol or Clorox spray on doorknobs, faucets, pencil sharpeners, water fountains and light switches. Clean your cell phones...they are near your hands and mouth all the time.
Also, MEDICATION REMINDER: Cough Drops, medicated lotions, eye drops, or medications of any kind (prescription, herbal, over the counter) must not be transported to school by students. No medications are allowed at school unless we have received a medication order that has been signed by a medical provider and the parent or guardian. This is an OCS Board Policy 6125.
Lunch Visitors
School Fees
Supplemental Reader: $6.00
Technology $25.00 Usage Assessment Fee (not insurance, rental fee)
Total School Fees: $31 for all K-5 students
*Music: Recorder fee of $5 for 4th & 5th grade only or students can bring in a recorder from home.
- All school fees can be paid online through School Cash Online: https://www.schoolcashonline.com/. You must register for this service and will need your student's identification number. If you already have an account from last year, use will be able to use that account.
Technology Fee: https://onslow.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/21216/250/False/True
- Supplemental Reader: https://onslow.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/21213/250/False/True
Student's Lunch Account: https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/
Menus: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1501179229405&page=menus
Breakfast $1.25
Lunch $2.50
Free/Reduced Meals Application: https://www.lunchapplication.com/
- If you cannot afford these fees, you may request a fee waiver by emailing school administration (lauren.simpson@onslow.k12.nc.us or elizabeth.wilsey@onslow.k12.nc.us). These will be reviewed by administration and you will be notified once approved.
Other Helpful Links
Bus Info: Edulog WebQuery (onslow.k12.nc.us)
SBES Official Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/swansboroes
Before/After School Care: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Domain/121Online School Registration: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1935
Required Documents:
- Birth Certificate
- Updated Immunization Records
- Photo ID of Legal Parent/Guardian
- Proof of Residency (Electric or Water Bill)
HELP US COLLECT BOX TOPS!!!
Swansboro Elementary
Email: lauren.simpson@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/swansboroes
Location: 118 School Road, Swansboro NC
Phone: 910-326-1501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swansboroelementaryschool