Cheetah Chronicles
August 20, 2023
Important Dates
FINAL CALL for GPS ORDERS (ends Monday, August 21st)
August 24: Curriculum Night for Tracks 3 & 4
August 29: Cheetah Pride-Chick-Fil-A Day!
September 1: Cheetah Pride Day-Wear your HSES Spirit Wear!
September 4: Holiday, No School
September 5: Fall Pictures Tracks 1&3
September 8: PTA Movie Night
What's New
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.
Picture Day Tracks 1 & 3-September 5
Pictures for Tracks 1 & 3 will be on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 . Picture orders will be placed online this school year, and Strawbridge will provide a code for families to use. Picture envelopes will be available if there are families who would like to purchase pictures but cannot complete the online form. These pictures are prepaid (no preview) and will be the individual pictures that go in the yearbook.
Purchase Code found HERE
Link for Picture Reminders found HERE
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.
Transportation:
This message below was also sent out to families of current bus riders on Thursday afternoon:
You are receiving this message because your child is a registered bus rider for the 2023-24 school year.
To keep you informed, the school board on Tuesday heard a plan for managing the severe shortage of bus drivers during the 2023-24 school year.
At this time, it appears we will begin the traditional calendar school year with more bus routes than bus drivers.
This means:
Some routes may not have a permanent driver, though it has not yet been determined which routes would be affected.
Aside from those routes, we expect more delays and uncovered bus routes this school year overall, because there are no substitute drivers to fill in when a driver is absent.
Transportation staff presented a plan to the board for providing service given the driver shortage. Based on board feedback, transportation staff is reviewing the plan and considering revisions.
We will share more information with you as soon as possible.
As a reminder, if you would like to provide your own transportation this school year, please complete the form at wcpss.net/declinebus as soon as possible.Track 4 Kindergarten, CCK, and ECS1 ONLY
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:
Tracks 1, 3 & 4 Forgiveness
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Forgiveness. Forgiveness means you forgive those who have done wrong and you accept that people make mistakes.
Forgiveness is the ability to move past being injured, and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness can often be seen as a selfless act, but it also carries many benefits for those who practice it. Those who demonstrate forgiveness have the ability to move forward after someone has hurt them. Forgiveness is often rooted in the idea that all people are valuable and worthy of a second chance. Many who forgive have the ability to consider things from another’s perspective.
The ability to reconcile differences and move forward positively is a trait of any effective group. When people work together, conflict is inevitable. However, when people value each other’s contribution and believe in the group’s goal, they become more capable of moving past conflict toward genuinely positive behavior. A group member’s willingness to forgive imperfections of both other members and the group as a whole contribute to overall success.
To practice and encourage the character strength of forgiveness 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
Beginning of Year Tips for Parents
While beginning a new school year it is important to teach our children various coping skills so that when difficult times arise, they have strategies to access.
Here are a few mindfulness videos you can use to help your child:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTN_MtV5TFw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEuFi9PxKuo&t=109s
Your Student Services Team is always here to help!
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
JT’s Creamery Competition
Save the Date - MOVIE NIGHT - Friday, September 8th
Chick-fil-A Cheetah Pride Event - August 29th
School Store
GoPlaySave
Our HSES GoPlaySave coupon book fundraiser starts July 24th (tracks 1, 2, 3) and August 7th (track 4)! Be on the lookout for a GPS envelope (with QR code) and informational flyer sent home with your student. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to help fund our Cultural Arts programs for the 2023-24 school year. GPS ends for ALL tracks on August 21st. Thanks for your support!
www.GoPlaySaveTriangle.com/HSES2024
Become a PTA Member!
Parent/Guardian (1) Membership, click HERE!
Family (2) Membership, click HERE!
Why join the HSES PTA?
Get involved: The #1 reason why every parent should join the PTA is for the benefit of your child. Research shows that children perform better when parents are involved both at home and at school.
Advocacy: Power in numbers.
Access resources: Free e-learning course, e-newsletter.
Be in the know: PTA Takes Action Network provides updates on legislative issues.
Deals: Special offers and discounts from corporate sponsors via our MemberHub site.
Be able to vote in general meetings, have access to minutes from monthly board meetings, as well as receive emails from the PTA about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
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).