Cheetah Chronicles
September 17, 2023
Important Dates
October 6: Report cards go home Tracks 1, 2 & 3
October 19: STEAM Night
October 27: Report cards go home Track 4
What's New
Picture Day Make-Ups Tracks 2 & 4 Tuesday, September 26th
Track 4 Kindergarten, CCK, and ECS1 ONLY
Digital Children’s Reading Initiative
Town Halls
HSES will be hosting Town Halls for students at different times throughout the year. During the month of August, the school focused on Positivity Project Character Strengths & Wellness for our students. During this time, our teachers are working collaboratively to improve teaching skills and students’ academic performance with each other and are not with our students. Our next Town Hall event will be during the month of October. The Holly Springs Emergency Services Department (Fire/Police) will be sharing valuable knowledge with our students and how they serve our community. We would love to have volunteers to support these events and oversee the students during the Town Hall so our support staff can also participate in these meetings. Volunteers are needed from 9:15-10:00 am. Volunteers MUST be an approved WCPSS volunteer.
Please use the sign-up genius to join us and help our staff and students! You can engage with our students as well during this time as we involve community stakeholders in our learning process!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849A9AB2FA3F4CF8-hses#/
Carpool Reminder
Live Bus Updates
In the event that a bus is not running, Holly Springs Elementary will continue to send text and email messages through School Messenger, and post on Twitter. Text and email messages will not be sent through School Messenger if buses are running behind schedule. This is for both AM and PM routes.
Wake County Schools Transportation continually updates bus information for the Holly Springs area HERE.
Remember to refresh the page every 15 minutes in order to see the most up to date information.
If HSES is not listed, that means that all of our buses are running without any issue.
Help Wanted!!
We are still working to hire a few staff members to the Holly Springs Family. Right now, we are specifically looking for a multi-grade IA, Track 5. We are also looking for a daily building substitute. Please email Mrs. Clark if you, or someone you know, would love to work in an amazing school community, collaborate with dedicated educators, and be part of changing the lives of students. dclark2@wcpss.net
WCPSS Volunteer Registration for Parents and Community Volunteers
All WCPSS parent and community volunteers are required to register through the new MyVolunteer system. Please complete your registration on a computer at home or school. It is very difficult to complete using a mobile phone. It can take several weeks for your registration to be approved so don’t wait until field trips to try and register. Register now so you are ready and able to volunteer in the classroom, volunteer for school events, or chaperone at any time this school year!
Click the link below to start your volunteer registration: https://myvolunteer.com/wcpss/volunteer/login
Click create new account.
Complete the online form and select all the schools that you are requesting to volunteer or chaperone for the 2023-2024 school year.
It will then say pending.
Soon after you will receive an email with a customized link for you to complete next steps for your background check. This link expires 10 days from the day you receive the email. Follow the instructions in that email. You will fill out all items in red boxes and then you will review and digitally sign four documents (Summary of Rights Under the FCRA, Disc & Auth, NC Security Freeze Notice, and WCPSS Volunteer Agreement).
If you leave the CRC background site before completing your contact information, you will have to begin the process again.
You must include your social security number to register to volunteer. If you do not have a social security number, please contact volunteers@wcpss.net or call 919-694-8233.
Great news is that this year you will be notified by the MyVolunteer system if you are approved to volunteer!
Please Note: If you are a WCPSS Employee seeking to volunteer/chaperone in the schools, you do not have to complete a criminal background check. However, employees will still need to register in the MyVolunteer system (https://myvolunteer.com/wcpss/volunteer/login) and complete the Wake County Volunteer Agreement and other required forms. Employees must select the “Current Staff of WCPSS” link on MyVolunteer to complete the volunteer registration process and must use their WCPSS email address to complete the registration. Visit the WCPSS website to learn more about Visitor & Volunteer status.
Apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
In order to receive free or reduced-price meals for the 2023-24 school year, families must submit a meal benefits application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper copies are available in the front office. For families who completed the 2022-23 meal benefits application, the benefit continues for their student's first 30 school days of the 2023-24 school year. At elementary schools, full-paid breakfast will be $1.50 and lunch will be $3.25.
Decline Bus Transportation if Not Needed
If your student is assigned to transportation and is not a rider, please complete the information linked HERE so that WCPSS has the most up-to-date information for transportation planning. Note: Submitting this form will remove your student from both yellow bus and vendor (cab) transportation service.
Positivity Project
Click the letter below to learn more about the Positivity Project and to view the yearly calendar:
Track 2 Review Week
Track 3 Being Present
This week our school community will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Being Present and Giving Others My Attention. This means when I’m with other people, I’m present and give them my full attention.
This element of the Other People Mindset is so important today due to the increasing number of distractions vying for our time and attention. Phone calls, text messages, emails, social media notifications all have the dangerous capacity to pull us away from the present moment and, what’s most important -- our relationships with other people.
Just like plants need sunlight to grow, our relationships need attention. If we don’t give our attention to the people we’re building relationships with -- whether family members, close friends, or even distant colleagues -- we can’t build those relationships. It’s vitally important that we pick our heads up from our cell phones and truly listen to other people when they’re talking. A positive culture is built on positive relationships -- and we can’t build positive relationships without attention.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Track 4 Teamwork
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Teamwork. Teamwork means you work well as a member of a group or team. You are loyal, reliable, and dedicated to helping your team achieve its goals.
Teamwork is the ability and willingness to place overall group success as a higher priority than individual achievement. Those who demonstrate strengths in teamwork often work to help all group members find success. These individuals are willing to commit time and resources in order to further group goals and help toward the greater good.
For individuals, teamwork often means deferring or delaying individual accomplishments in order to ensure that the group maintains a high level of success. Their commitment to the larger group effort makes them good teammates. The positive feelings associated with being part of a larger whole -- can be highly beneficial and combat selfishness and egotism.
To practice and encourage the character strength of teamwork with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Counselor Connection
Technology Resources
Parents, please take a moment to watch the following video on how to properly care for your child's WCPSS device. [video link]
For kindergarten and first-grade students, their devices will be left at school. Students from second to fifth grade should bring their device to school every day, ensuring it is fully charged. Establishing a regular habit of charging Chromebooks at home will contribute to your child's success and readiness for school.
Parent Teacher Association
Cheetah Pride Weekend at Needmore Farms - October 14 & 15
2023-24 Reflections Projects
NC State Fair Tickets (HSES: Code 447)
Science Fair
How do I do a science fair project?
1. Get your idea and do some research
2. Ask a testable question
3. Design and conduct your experiment
4. Examine your results
5. Make a conclusion based on your results
ALL HSES Students grades K-5 are invited to participate!
Click HERE if you are interested in participating in the 2023-24 HSES Science Fair.
Order Cheetah Gear!
WalMart Spark Good
Boosterthon
Hey Cheetah Families! We are so excited to be welcoming back Boosterthon this year. Our program will kick off on September 21st.
We need your help! Click HERE to volunteer during the Fun Runs (we need lots of hands to throw color for 4th/5th grade run)!
Tracks 3&4: Friday, September 29th
Tracks 1&2: Thursday, October 10th
Fun Run: 9:35am Grades K&1st, 10:45am Grades 2nd/3rd, 11:55am Grades 4th/5th
Yearbook Photos!
First Day: https://plicbooks.com/go/GDE3B3
FamilyFest: https://plicbooks.com/go/8Z89M1
Pokemon Go: https://plicbooks.com/go/XP3RPV
Salamanders Game: https://plicbooks.com/go/2WG3LJSave the Date - Friday, October 6th!
School Store
Rent the Spirit Rock!
YES, you read that right! We have a NEW SPIRIT ROCK! Our new rock is directly behind our Carpool rock & sits facing the Bus loop. Now our bus and van riders will have a front row view of even more celebrations! Please pay close attention to CARPOOL or BUS LOOP when making your reservations. Choose either the CARPOOL LOOP or BUS LOOP. We cannot guarantee that your week will be available if you rent the wrong rock.
https://app.memberhub.gives/hsesspiritrock
The HSES Spirit Rock is a great way to send a message for all to see! Congratulate your favorite student on an accomplishment, wish a student a Happy Birthday, celebrate a team win or let everyone know how much you love our school. Reserve the Spirit Rock HERE ($25/week).