Cheetah Chronicles
November 26, 2023
Important Dates
November 30: PTA General Meeting @ 7pm (HSES Media Center)
December 1: Q2 Interims go home Tracks 3 & 4, Cheetah Pride Friday
December 2: Cheetah Blast from 11am-1pm at HSES Field
December 22-January 1: Winter Break
January 2: No School Teacher Workday
What's New
Cheetah Blast
11am-1pm
HSES Field
Raffle Baskets + GameBands
Raffle Baskets: https://app.memberhub.gives/cheetahblast2023/Campaign/Details
Purchase GameBands: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/950545Important Information Regarding the Woods Creek Proposal and Impact for Families
https://www.wcpss.net/domain/21576
Here is very important information regarding the Woods Creek Proposal and impact for families. November 8th is the next board meeting. Remember, there are current stability rules to allow certain families to stay at HSES.
Current students rising into 4th or 5th grades are eligible to remain assigned to their current school with transfer status (no district-provided transportation) through the terminal grade of the school.
Rising Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd or 3rd-grade siblings of eligible rising 4th and 5th-grade students are eligible to join their older siblings with transfer status (no district-provided transportation) through the terminal grade of the school.
Reminder about WCPSS Volunteers and Field Trip Chaperones
Even if you were approved as a volunteer last school year you must be approved again this year. Many field trips are coming up and we do not want you to wait or miss out as it takes a while for volunteers to be approved. Follow the steps below carefully:
Register as a WCPSS Volunteer
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.
Kindergarten Registration for 2024-2025
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens Monday, October 16th. If you have a rising kindergartener for the next school year, you can begin registration on the 16th by going to the WCPSS website under enrollment and then under 2024-2025.
Reminder of the Student Device Agreement
Reminder of the Student Device Agreement (WCPSS issued chromebooks)
Please review the following link reminding everyone that the WCPSS issued chromebooks are to be used for educational purposes only and are the property of WCPSS.Digital Children’s Reading Initiative
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.
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 1
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Kindness. Kindness means you are generous to others and you are never too busy to help out. You enjoy doing good deeds for other people.
Kindness is grounded in the belief of a common humanity in which others are worthy of care, attention, affection, and compassion. Kind people think about the needs and feelings of other people, and then act to help those people. Kind people are selfless. That is why a true act of kindness is distinct from helping another person in order to simply gain something for yourself. An individual with the strength of kindness helps others because it's’ the right thing to do, not because they expect any reciprocal treatment or gain in reputation.
In addition to empathy and sympathy, the character strength of kindness is indicative of an individual’s moral reasoning capacity and level of social responsibility. That means people who develop kindness possess a strong personal ethical responsibility to care for other people. And, their acts of kindness towards others lead to additional acts of kindness by those who have been helped.
To practice and encourage the character strength of kindness 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 3
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary.
Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgement; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting. According to Socrates and Plato, forethought separates acts of valor from acts of rashness. This means that bravery isn’t simply fearlessness, but instead the overcoming of fear.
Overcoming fears is critically important in individual development, as it allows the person to do more and become more. A person can be brave every single day. For example, some people with social anxiety are brave just by leaving their house and talking with people. On a physical level, bravery allows us to overcome fears, such as swimming or playing a sport. And, on a moral level, doing what we know to be right, despite the risks, gives us the sense that we are acting on behalf of a larger purpose.
To practice and encourage the character strength of bravery 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
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Integrity. Integrity means you are honest and speak the truth. You present yourself genuinely and sincerely.
Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. People with integrity practice what they preach and maintain a consistent pattern of behavior aligned with their values. They have the courage not to follow the crowd if it means going against their beliefs. Integrity is closely aligned with the terms of honesty and authenticity. People with integrity tell the truth and have alignment in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Integrity is vital to individual growth. It is correlated with a multitude of psychological well-being measures. Harmony in your feelings, thoughts, and actions makes you better able to personally grow and achieve goals. Authenticity and a lack of pretense make you more likable and trusted by others, meaning your relationships will benefit.
To practice and encourage the character strength of integrity 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
Here is a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activity you can do with your kids at home!
Empathy in Action
Skills targeted: Empathy, Perspective-Taking
How to try it: Spend some time watching a show or movie. At any given time, pause and discuss how the characters are feeling. You might ask: “How are they feeling?” and “How would you feel if that happened to you?” Use this conversation to build on considering how others feel, discussing social cues, and caring about their emotions.Technology Resources
Parent Teacher Association
For our Cheetah-rific 5th Graders!
Yard Signs
Yard Sign (Without Name): https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/962394
OR
(Personalized): https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/962395
T-Shirt Donations
T-Shirt Donation: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/964567
Staff Holiday Luncheon Volunteers Needed - Monday, December 4th 11am-2pm
The HSES PTA will be hosting a Holiday Luncheon for our teachers and staff on Monday, December 4th. In an effort to give our teachers a bit more time to enjoy their lunch, we are looking for volunteers who would be available Monday, December 4th between 11:00am - 2:00pm to assist in transporting classes from the cafeteria to their classroom and overseeing the class until the teacher returns (10-15 minutes). You MUST be an approved WCPSS VOLUNTEER. Once a master schedule is set, we will notify volunteers. If you cannot volunteer the entire time, please note your availability in the comments on the Sign up Genius (any amount of time is appreciated!). If you would like to volunteer with your child's class, please specify teacher's name in the comments on the Sign up Genius. Please reach out to hsesncpta@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you so much!
Sign up HERE:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044CAEA92EA6FB6-46167401-hses#/
Order Your 2023-24 Yearbook!
Save the Date!
Save the Date!
- PTA General Meeting
- Thursday, November 30th
- 7pm
- HSES Media Center
- Join us for a guest speaker!
CheetahBlast (formerly O’Holly Night)
This Winter Carnival is a huge undertaking and we need your help to make it happen! From managing game stations & activities to helping with set up and break down. Feel free to sign up for multiple slots. Thank you so much for volunteering your time to ensure that this event is a treasured memory for all of our Cheetahs and their families.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044CAEA92EA6FB6-46043955-cheetahblast
Yearbook Photos!
Thank you to all the Cheetarific Families who have participated in our events this year! We need your help to ensure all the best moments you captured of your Cheetahs make it into the YEARBOOK! Follow the QR codes for each event, or the links provided. By uploading to the correct event folder it helps get your photos into the yearbook and in the right place!
STEAM Night/Science Fair: https://plicbooks.com/go/TC63RP
Cheetah Pride Fridays https://plicbooks.com/go/TFCNNH
Fall Movie Night (Mario Movie) https://plicbooks.com/go/CD5R8J
Fall Walk, Bike Roll to School https://plicbooks.com/go/GWT37W
Boosterthon
Track 1 https://plicbooks.com/go/46QWKE
Track 2 https://plicbooks.com/go/NG6G29
Track 3 https://plicbooks.com/go/5YXYNA
Track 4 https://plicbooks.com/go/9XCFMM
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).