Timberwolf Times -October 23, 2023

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

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

Dear Timberwolf Families,

SOLES 4 SOULS Shoe Collection to provide shoes to people in need from October 23, 230 until November 3, 2023.

Picture Day is Tuesday, October 24, 2024

Our Advisory Council Meeting was moved to October 26, 2023 - if you are interested in attending this ZOOM meeting at 6:30pm -please email me at buchhear@pwcs.edu

Our first Timberwolf Talk/Parent Tea is 10:00 am on October 27, 2023. Please RSVP to save your place. You can RSVP to me at buchhear@pwcs.edu.

Our Walking Field Trip to Patriot HS will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023 to see the Pride of Patriot Marching Band. Please be sure to return the permission slip to your child's teacher if you would like them to attend with the rest of the school.

Our PTO Read-a-Thon continues until October 27, 2023. In the Evening of October 27; our PTO will hold our Annual Costume Bingo. in the evening.

We will allow students to dress up in costumes on Tuesday, October 31 during the school day. Students should not wear masks to cover their faces for the entire day or bring anything that looks like a weapon or could hurt anyone to school. Students need to wear shoes.

The Next PTO meeting is on Zoom on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

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”

.

Virginia's sales tax holiday for school supplies, emergency items returns this weekend

State lawmakers earlier this year forgot to renew the August tax holiday for school supplies and emergency preparedness items, but the General Assembly approved an amendment during a special session last month.

During the holiday, consumers can buy qualifying items in Virginia without paying the state’s 5.3% sales tax. The holiday begins Friday, Oct. 20, at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. It includes purchases made in-store, online or by mail or phone.

All school supplies priced at $20 or less, and clothing and shoes priced $100 or less, are exempt from sales tax during the weekend.

According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, a school supply is “an item that is commonly used by a student in a course of study.” Items that qualify for the sales tax exemption include binders, chalk, book bags, calculators, tape, compasses, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, index cards, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers and scissors.

Clothing, not including sporting equipment, athletic footwear, or clothing accessories, is also included in the sales tax holiday.

The three-day holiday also includes tax-free hurricane and emergency preparedness products, including portable generators priced at $1,000 or less, gas-powered chainsaws at $350 or less, chainsaw accessories at $60 or less and other preparedness items under $60.

Several energy-saving products are also tax-free, including qualifying Energy Star and WaterSense appliances for home or personal use.

A complete list of items that can be purchased tax-free can be found online at www.tax.virginia.gov.

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.

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.

We are collecting gently worn shoes and new shoes for people in need. When families live in poverty one of the last things they may buy for themselves is a pair of shoes. Please bring the shoes to the collection bins in the front office.

We will be collecting shoes between October 23, 2023 -November 3, 2023.

Please review the website for more information - Soles 4 Souls Website

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.

We are excited to celebrate, recognize and honor our Veterans and Active Duty Personnel and their families for their service, dedication, and sacrifice to our country and its citizens.

For the last few years, we have invited our Veterans and Active Duty Personnel to School so that we can say THANK YOU for your service during a special recognition assembly.

This year, this event will take place on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 9:45 am. If you or your children's grandparents served in the armed forces or are currently serving and you are able to attend our ceremony, please RSVP by clicking on this link: VETERANS/ACTIVE DUTY RSVP LINK

Although the Ceremony will begin at 9:45 am, we are asking all our Veterans and their guests to arrive between 9:25 am - 9:50 am. Everyone should bring a valid photo identification. We ask only Veterans/Active Duty Personnel and their guests to attend.

For planning purposes, please RSVP by Monday, October 30, 2023.

Thank you for your service.

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.

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.

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.

Hi Timberwolves! This upcoming week PWCS is supporting Red Ribbon Week! Please wear RED on Thursday, October 26th to commemorate "Red Ribbon Day" and to show your commitment to keeping your mind and body healthy! If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Robertson, and Mrs. Eng.

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

SOLES 4 Souls Shoe Collection - October 23 - November 3, 2023

Red Ribbon Week _ Oct. 23 - Oct 27, 2023

• KG fire Truck Visit

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Day 6

• Chorus- 8:15 am
• Gifted Open House - See Mrs. Edwards or Mrs. Hale for your times.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023- Day 1

Thursday, October 26, 2023 - Day 2

• Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
• Advisory Council Moved to tonight; 6:30 pm - on ZOOM. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to me at buchhear@pwcs.edu and I will send you the zoom link.
  

Friday, October 27, 2023 -Day -3

• Walking Field Trip to Patriot HS

• Parent Tea - 10:00 am- RSVP to buchhear@pwcs.edu

• PTO Costume Bingo ; 5:30 pm. (Students should NOT wear costumes to school today -but can wear them to school on Tuesday, October 31 AND to the PTO Bingo Tonight).

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.

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

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 30, 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!

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.

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