Timberwolf Time - January 22, 2024
T. Clay Wood - Facts at your Fingertips
Welcome to T. Clay Wood ES
Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024
"It's A Great Day to be a Timberwolf""
Dear Timberwolf Families,
Please note - Friday, January 26 is a PWCS Early Dismissal Day for all Elementary Schools. T. Clay Wood will dismiss at 12:40pm. It will be a Day 0.
We will practice our Lockdown procedures on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 during a Lockdown Drill.
Please be sure you send your students in to school with a coat! We cannot send students out without their coats during the really cold days especially when it is below 32 degrees. Please make sure they come to school each day wearing their coat.
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”
Attendance Letters
As we move toward the end of the 2nd quarter of school; I wanted to take a moment to address the Attendance Letters that some of you may have received this school year.
As I shared at the start of the school year, Prince William County Public Schools is using a new program - Attention2Attendance - to address the Virginia Department of Education concerns about the increase in absenteeism rates since returning back to school full time over the last couple of years. For example, at T. Clay Wood, we have seen an increase in some families taking 2 weeks or more for trips. This amount of time off of school can negatively impact student academic achievement.
This new Attention2Attendance Program sends out letters automatically at certain points. Here are some examples of the automatically scheduled letters:
- Students who have 5 excused absences will get the Excessive Excused Absences Letter 1
- Students who have 10 excused absences will get the Excessive Excused Absences Letter 2
- Students who have excused or unexcused absences equaling 10% of the school year or 9+ more days will receive a Chronic Absence Letter.
- Students who have 3 unexcused absences will receive a Truancy Letter
- Students who are out of school for 15 consecutive days are unenrolled and will need to reenroll when they return with our school Registrar.
Attendance rates also impact school division and schools' accreditation along with SOL results. However, if your student is sick and not able to attend school, yes - you should keep him or her home. For most families, the letters are informational. The letters let all families know what the school has listed as the number of absences -either excused or unexcused. Some families may also be contacted by the school to discuss absences and/or to put in place attendance plans.
The longer we are in school the more letters will be generated due to the number of absences students have. We have seen some students struggle with just coming to school on certain days; if this is the case, please reach out to your child's teacher or one of our school counselors. We also discourage students from taking trips during the school year if at all possible; especially for long periods of time. However, if your student is sick then he or she should stay home as you feel is best.
Please review the attendance letters as informational. Although my signature is on the automatically sent letters, please reach out to our Admin Intern, Mrs. Crawford at crawfola@pwcs.edu if you have any questions. Mrs. Crawford is leading our Attendance Committee and is our Attendance contact. If there is increased concern, one of our school staff will reach out to families to check in.
If you need to be out of school, please make sure you email our attendance email - cwes-timberwolf-attendance@pwcs.edu or contact the school at 703.594.3990. Excused notes or doctors' notes can be sent to Mrs.Kanakasabapathy at kanakav@pwcs.edu
Outstanding Educator Nomination - Due Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
Dear T. Clay Wood Elementary Families,
We are excited to announce nominations for the PWCS Teacher and Support Employee of the year are now open. These awards are an opportunity to recognize the hard work and commitment of our staff. To nominate a teacher and/or support employee who goes above and beyond and excels in their profession, please complete the Microsoft Form by Friday, January 26, 2024 https://forms.office.com/r/esQtK3AeYQ
Support Employees include teacher assistants, clerical, transportation, food and nutrition, custodial and maintenance, security, technical staff.
Winter SEP Registration is open
Winter SEP registration is open for all T. Clay Wood families! A few of the clubs are full but we still have openings for Drama Club, Chess, Archery, Yoga & Art, Arts & Crafts, Floor Hockey and Zentangle Art.
https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/winter-sep-programs.html
Registration for Basketball Club with Mr. Taylor is also open!
https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/basketball.html
Please reach out to the PTO with any questions!
Operation Pajamas
Our Service Leadership Team is organizing OPERATION PAJAMAS, starting January 8, 2024 through January 26, 2024.
We will collect NEW pajamas and socks of all sizes (newborn through adult) to donate to our SERVE shelter. Help us share the warmth this winter! Thank you for your generosity.
School Wide Information
January 24, 2024 - This Wednesday, January 24, 2024, we will practice a lock down drill at our school. During a lock down drill, classroom doors are locked, and lights are turned off in the classroom. Students move away from the any windows and remain silent during the duration of the drill.
We are required to practice one lock down drill during the first 20 days of every school year. All PWCS schools shall also conduct one additional drill after the first 60 days of the school year and one during the 2nd semester of school. Kindergarten students shall be exempt from mandatory participation in the first lock down drill but shall participate after the first 60 days in the drills.
Throughout the school year we will practice a variety of drills in order to make sure all our staff and students know what to do in case of a real emergency. We will practice fire drills, additional lock down drills, tornado drills, earthquake drills as well as other types of drills.
We explain these drills as a way for us all to know what we need to do in case of a fire or emergency and as an extra layer of protection and security similar to homes which have more than one lock on their front door and to make sure all students and teachers are always safe at school. If your students has any concerns with any of these drills, please let your child's teacher and/or one of our school counselors know so they can follow up with your child.
Please understand that Prince William County Public Schools requires each school to participate in these drills for the safety and protection of all our students, staff, and visitors.
I have included the link to the PWCS Crisis and Emergency Information Webpage which provides additional information – https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/risk_management___security_services/crisis_preparedness/index
As well as the link to PWCS Regulation 401.01-2 Crisis Management Readiness - https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/pwcs/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BKF3TF08698D
The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.
April 8, 2024 - Link Up Assembly. This is a fun, energetic, interactive school assembly program that mixes music, video and activities to introduce elementary students to Rachel Scott and her challenge to reach out to others with deliberate acts of kindness. Link-Up focuses on the following five challenges: Be Kind, Accept and Include Others, Choose Positive Influences , Dream Big, Set Goals, Keep A Journal and Start a Chain Reaction of kindness. Here is a link with more information: https://rachelschallenge.org/our-programs/rc-live/ If you have any questions, please reach out to our school counselor, Mrs. Amy Cunningham who arranged it to bring this assembly to our school.
April 23, 2024 - We will hold our annual I Can Assembly. The focus will be on reminding students that they can if they work hard, try their best, and persevere.
May 9, 2024 - The PTO has arranged for a Reptile Assembly. Students will have an opportunity to see a wide variety of reptiles -including snakes.
If you do not want your student to participate in any of these activities or 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.
Save the Date
Heritage Night
Join us for a special evening celebrating our diverse family heritages at T Clay Wood Elementary! On February 22, 2024, from 6:00 - 7:30, come and explore a cultural journey showcasing traditions, foods, music, and more from around the world. This event promises an enriching experience for the entire family. Let’s celebrate our roots together! We look forward to seeing you there.
Transfer Requests
Transfer requests can be made for students in grades 1 through 5 between January 2, 2024- April 30, 2024 Kindergarten transfer requests can be made starting from the first day of Kindergarten registration through 30 days after the kindergarten student registers. Please contact your child's school for more information.
Specialty Program Application Due February 1, 2024
Specialty Program Application Portal (for all programs except the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts) will close on February 1, 2024
- Student acceptances will be communicated in mid-to-late February, and families must accept an offered seat by March 5, 2024.
Help Sessions - Jan. 17, 22, 24, 26, 29, and 31 on ZOOM.
What's Happening at T. Clay Wood during the week of January 22 - 26, 2024
Operation Pajamas -January 22 - 26, 2024
Tuesday, January 23,, 2024 - Day 6
8:15 am - Chorus
7pm - Pyramid Chorus Concert at Patriot HS
Wednesday, January 24, 2024- Day 1
Lockdown Drill
Thursday, January 25, 2024 - Day 2
5:30pm - Gifted Family Night
Friday, January 26, 2024 -Day 0
PWCS Early Dismissal Day for all Elementary Schools - T. Clay Wood will dismiss at 12:40pm
LEADER IN ME CORNER
Habit Five - The Habit of Mutual Understanding
People who seek first to understand, then to be understood try to completely understand another person before presenting their own point of view. Habit 5 means balancing courage and consideration and expressing our views with clarity and respect.
Kid Language
Listen Before You Talk: I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
Ways to practice Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood:
- Try to go one whole hour without talking even once. Instead, just watch the people around you and listen to what they are saying. Good luck!
- Think of someone in your life who you think is a good listener. What do they do that makes them a good listener?
- The next time one of your friends is sad, notice his/her eyes or the way he/she holds his/her body. Tell him/her you know he/she is sad and that you want to help.
Bus Information
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 -
PTO CORNER
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:
Moving forward we have decided to merge the Advisory Council meetings with the PTO meetings to offer families one combined meeting to get all the information they need for happenings at the school and in the community. Due to this change, some of our meeting dates have changed. Please see the schedule posted for new meeting dates. We hope you'll be able to join us!
January 10 - Chipotle Spirit Night
Jan. 10 - SEP Registration opens for PTO members
Jan. 15 - SEP Registration opens for ALL
Jan. 15 - No School
January 18 - Advisory Council/PTO Meeting on ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/84553248885?pwd=Z3hQMUhCSFc2ZG91Z3pOdjF1SEx1UT09
Meeting ID: 845 5324 8885
Passcode: Advisory
Jan. 24 - Boosterthon Registration Opens
Jan. 26 - 1/2 Day School _ Dismissal 12:40
Jan. 29 - No School for Students
Feb. 5- March 11 - Winter SEP
Feb. 7-15 - Boosterthon
Feb. 15 - Advisory Council/PTO Meeting on ZOOM
https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/84553248885?pwd=Z3hQMUhCSFc2ZG91Z3pOdjF1SEx1UT09
Meeting ID: 845 5324 8885
Passcode: Advisory
Please visit the PTO Facebook page and PTO website for updates and more info: https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/
Email tclaywoodpto@gmail.com for more information!
PTO Membership is still open!
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!
T. Clay Wood - Statement of Civility
We are reminding all our School Community to treat our school staff, our students, and one another with civility. Our students are always watching!
Code Orange - Parents/Guardians - make sure you can access internet at this time
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.
Visitors and Identification
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.
Change in Transportation Home
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.
Code of Behavior, FLE Objectives and Opt Out and Calendar Now Online
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
Insurance for your student's device
For Grades 3-5 Students in grades 3-5 this year have HP 360 Windows laptops. If students damage the device, they are responsible for any repairs or replacement for the device. The cost for a total replacement is prorated based on the age of the device and maxes out at $308. Students are also responsible for the case and the charger issued with the device. Insurance is available to cover any damage or total loss of the device. The cost of the insurance is $29.95 and you can purchase it through Securranty. (https://securranty.com/pwcs) We strongly recommend the insurance for the Windows laptops, as they can be susceptible to drops and water damage. Contact Mr. Taylor, our Technology Coach, if you'd like more information or have questions (taylorbi@pwcs.edu).
Students in grades K-2 have iPads this year. Our iPads are Generation 9 and use Lightening charge cables; they are brand new devices this year, fresh out of the box! All iPads come with AppleCare included at no additional cost to families. AppleCare will cover any physical damage to the iPad so long as you return the damaged device to your teacher. AppleCare does not cover total loss the device. If your child loses their iPad, they will be responsible for a replacement cost. Since all devices are new this year, they will not be prorated and the replacement cost will be $285. Insurance is available to cover loss of the iPad. Keep in mind that damage to the iPad is already covered, so insurance would only be beneficial if your child loses their iPad. Insurance is $29.95 and is available through Securranty. Contact Mr. Taylor, our Technology Coach, if you'd like more information or have questions (taylorbi@pwcs.edu).
For Grades K-2
T. Clay Wood Continuous Improvement Plan
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.
Information about T. Clay Wood ES
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