Friday Message

Hello PUE Families,

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for an amazing Boosterthon Fundraiser! With your support, our PTA broke our stretch goal of $50,000 this morning! Your donations will go directly toward teacher supplements, student online subscriptions, curriculum support, wellness efforts, the arts and global program, enriching the educational experience for all students at Pleasant Union Elementary. These funds make a huge impact on our school. Also, the kids really enjoyed sliming me and Mr. Stern. We will get slimed one more time for track 3 when they track back in.

We also wanted to thank our school community for showing up and showing out for Carpool Cassanova. It was a great event for our students and everyone had a blast during morning carpool.

A reminder that there is no school next Tuesday, 11/5 for students. It will be a teacher workday since there will be voting taking place on our campus.

Lastly, as we approach the holiday season, our school has begun a food drive contest between grade levels. This is a part of our school's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), we are focusing on the following goals over the next few months, Goal 2: Zero Hunger and Goal 3: Health and Wellbeing. Each grade level is tasked with bringing in a specific type of food:

• Kindergarten: Tuna or Chicken Pouches

• First: Rice or Stuffing or Corn Muffin Mix

• Second: Canned Baked Beans, Potatoes, or Yams

• Third: Peanut Butter or Single Serve Mac and Cheese

• Fourth: Chicken Broth or Gravy

• Fifth: Canned Soup, Vegetables, or Pumpkin

Food should be unopened and well ahead of the expiration date. We appreciate your support!

A couple of highlights in this newsletter and the upcoming week:

• Food Drive Info
• PUE Holiday Giving Tree Info
• PTA Updates including how to join the PTA (click here).
• Important upcoming dates.

Please make sure to read through for more details and additional items. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

-Mr. Tunstall

Canned Food Drive

As a part of Pleasant Union’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDG), we are focusing on the following goals over the next few months.

• Goal #2: Zero Hunger

• Goal # 3: Health and Wellbeing

*This Month’s theme will be focused on the book Maddie’s Fridge, by Lois Brandt.

**Our Writing Prompt is “If you could only have three items in your fridge, what would you choose? Explain your reasoning for each item.”

Items should be unopened and well ahead of the expiration date.

*Labeled grade level bins will be in the front hallway beginning October 28 and ending November 22.

• Kindergarten: Tuna or Chicken Pouches

• First: Rice or Stuffing or Corn Muffin Mix

• Second: Canned Baked Beans, Potatoes, or Yams

• Third: Peanut Butter or Single Serve Mac and Cheese

• Fourth: Chicken Broth or Gravy

• Fifth: Canned Soup, Vegetables, or Pumpkin

Donations will be shared with Triangle Church of Christ.

Located on Page Road in Durham, this food pantry is doing its part to achieve SDG: Zero Hunger by serving its surrounding community. Their focus is currently on providing Thanksgiving meals, snacks for students in need, and sponsorship of The New Bern House in Raleigh, NC.

Veteran's Day Celebrations

A tradition here at Pleasant Union is to not only host a Veteran's Day Music performance, featuring 3rd graders and our chorus, but also that of sharing bio's and photos of our military heroes!

We post them in our school foyer for everyone to see.

Attached you will find two choices of papers you can use to share.

Feel free to tell us about special family, friends and neighbors who were or are in the military!

Your Veteran can be still alive, or someone who has passed away.

You can use a copy of a photo, or draw a picture, and you can decorate or color your page if you'd like.

All sheets will be returned so be sure to have your name on it!

Please return your papers to Ms. D or to the office.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13q3TUlvNGX_cz09RJXNtBFFciMkrWVHZJrW3snLFhho/edit?usp=sharing

Middle School Information

Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy Information

PUE HOLIDAY GIVING TREE

OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR YOUR PUE STUDENT(S)

The Holidays are quickly approaching and our school is preparing to support families through our Annual PUE Giving Tree.

It is Pleasant Union's hope that during this holiday season the school community will be able to provide gifts to students in need. These items are not guaranteed and are contingent upon the level of participation we have.

If you would like your child to RECEIVE gifts this holiday season, please submit the following form for EACH child by November 15th.

24-25 PUE Sign up to RECEIVE Gifts

PUE Student Artwork at NC State Fair

The NC state fair has 6 pieces of PUE artwork up for the entire length of the fair. Great job panthers for making PUE and your families proud! The following students have artwork on display in the Kerr Scott building:

• Madi M. from Mrs. Sigmon's class

• Addie H. from Mrs. Wells' class

• Elloitt R. from Mrs. Wells' class

• Bentley S. from Mrs. Hoag's class

• Sabine R from Mrs. Gorton's class

• Kay D. from Mrs. Leavitt's class

Art by Me

Hello Track 1-3 parents! It's Maryann Hopper your child's art teacher. It's time for fundraising with Art by Me! This program helps purchase art supplies for the PUE art room.

In your child's Tuesday folder, you will find your Art by Me form. Your child has a unique form with their name on it, postcards with your child's artwork on it and a unique code that you will use to order Art by Me products online.

After your orders are placed, they will either ship to the school or to your house, depending on what you choose. All payments are processed online only. If you have any issues/questions please don't hesitate to contact me at:

mhopper@wcpss.net.

Thanks so much for all your help with this fundraiser!

Parent Resource Trainings

The Family Resource Center of the South Atlantic is providing various trainings on a variety of topics. Checkout the linked flyers below if interested.

Protecting Your Child Online

Parenting with Clarity: Master Communication Skills

New Kidz Art Session

KidzArt after school art class Session 2 begins on Oct 24 (Track 3 students start on Nov 14). Classes meet on Thursdays at 4-5 pm in the Art Room for K-5th grades students. Every week is a new project and returning students are welcome! Your child will bring home a finished artwork that he/she will be proud of each week! For more info contact Chen the owner at cjiang@kidzart.com. To register please visit www.northraleigh.kidzart.com.

Additional Carpool Tag

If your family needs a third carpool tag, it can be purchased here. The memberhub website will allow you to select any quantity, but there is only one tag available for each family. Anyone without a carpool tag will be asked to park and pick up their child from the front office. Families that carpool - the adult will need the carpool tag of each student - not just the number. Contact Ms. McNeill with any questions or concerns.

PUE Backpack Buddies Program (Food Assistance)

Pleasant Union has a food assistant program called Backpack BUddies. Students in this program will receive a bag of non-perishable food every Friday while they are tracked in. If you would like your child to receive food, please complete this form: PUE Backpack Buddies Program

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Mrs. Bratt, K-2 School Counselor at cbratt@wcpss.net or 919-870-4230 ext 20417.

Front Office Reminder

Please remember that per WCPSS policy, any visitor to a school must sign-in at the front office with a photo ID. Please make sure to have a government-issued ID when planning on visiting the school.

Volunteer Registration Open

Volunteer registration is open for the 2024-2025 school year. All volunteers must apply through the new volunteer management system for 2023-24, regardless of any previous volunteer status. Registration can be done on or off school campuses through any mobile device or computer. Individuals will be notified by the MyVolunteer system if they are approved to volunteer.

https://www.wcpss.net/Page/55232

School Meal Accounts

Parents can place money directly onto their child's school meal account through http://www.myschoolbucks.com/. Parents can also place limits on student spending and extra items that students can purchase.

Buses

Bus information can be found here. If you have not already downloaded it, get the Here Comes the Bus App for live GPS tracking. Also, if you plan on using the bus, please join our Remind group for PUE Buses. You will need the code- @7ak6kgh to join. We will use that to communicate when routes are cancelled. Please note that PUE has no control of bus routes or the HCTB app. Please communicate your concerns over bus delays, route cancellations, or GPS tracking directly to the transportation department at 919-805-3030.

Save the Dates

11/16: Parent’s Night Out at Pro 3:5, 5:30–8:00 p.m. – See details and sign up below!

11/20: Chipotle Spirit Event

Boosterthon

HOORAY! PUE’s 2024 Fun Run was an enormous success!

Thank you to all families and friends of the PUE community! Thanks to your incredible support and generosity, we not only met our fundraising goal of $40,000 but we surpassed it AND even beat our stretch goal of $50,000!!

Track 4 runners were awesome today! Tracks 1-2-4 watched both Mr. Tunstall and Mr. Stern get slimed.

*Track 3 families- your students didn’t miss out on the fun, we will slime Mr. Tunstall and Mr. Stern again on 11/12!!

Here are some key Boosterthon highlights and updates:

1. 🥁Fundraiser Total: Together, we have raised a total of $50,611!!! This is the highest amount ever raised in PUE Fun Run history! BRAVO, panthers!

2. 🎉Impact: Your donations will go directly toward teacher supplements, student online subscriptions, curriculum support, wellness efforts, the arts and global program, enriching the educational experience for all students at Pleasant Union Elementary. These funds make a huge impact on our school.

3. 🙌THANK YOU: We extend a BIG thank you to our Specialists who made Boosterthon possible this year. Mrs. Fry, Ms. D., Mr. Stern, and Mrs. Hopper - your hard work made this year’s fundraiser a resounding success! The kids enjoyed meeting Fairweather Fry, Dragon D, Sir Stern-A-Lot, and Heroic Hopper. Thank you to all the parent volunteers and especially our PTA Board, your dedication to our school community is deeply appreciated!

For any last minute donations, our fundraising platform, MyBooster.com, will remain open for one more week!

Don’t forget to submit your corporate matches for the Pleasant Union Elementary Fun Run! PUE will receive 100% of the corporate match, maximizing the impact of your support.

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. Your involvement has made a tremendous difference and showcases the strength of our school community!

November Birthdays

Happy birthday month to these spectacular teachers!

11/6- Ms. Averett

11/23- Ms. Ward

11/25- Ms. Lavin

11/27- Ms. Boose

GoPlaySave-Support Chorus and Music Department

Sales end 11/3. Only a few more days to get your GoPlaySave coupon books. Funds will be raised for PUE chorus and the music department. Click here to see the list of vendors and to purchase.

Parent’s Night Out at Pro 3:5

On November 16, 5:30-8:00 pm, drop off the kids for a super fun night with other PUE friends at Pro 3:5! Pizza, drinks, dessert, and 2.5 hours of organized fun! Cost is $25 per student. Sign up here

Sponsor of the Week

Thank you Pro3:5 Sports for being a 2024-2025 Pleasant Union Elementary Platinum Sponsor. We appreciate your support.

TreeringYearbook

Order your PUE Yearbook before October 31, get 10% off. Shop here.

Harris Teeter VIC Card

An easy way to support our school is by linking your Harris Teeter VIC card to PUE. Remember, you need to re-link every school year! Link Here.

Join the PTA

It’s just $10 per person, and there’s no time commitment required. Join Here – remember, strength in numbers!

PUE Spirit Wear- Last Call!

Get your panther their ‘90s inspired PUE spirit shirts before they sell out. We have limited size/color availability so grab one now! Check out the options here.

PUE grounds maintenance

Do you have a green thumb and like to work outdoors? We are looking for volunteers to help with PUE grounds maintenance: weeding, landscaping, etc. Reach out to collaborationvp@puepta.com if you’re interested.

Spirit Rock

Rent the PUE Spirit Rock. Share birthday messages, congratulations, and celebrations in a fun way while supporting passive fundraising for our school. Rental is $35 for one week. Please make sure you follow the instructions carefully.

1) Check to see if your date is available on Sign-Ups here.

2) Make your payment within 24 hours and make sure you read the fine print instructions here.

Teacher Appreciation and Support

We are continuing the teacher lounge support this year. The PUE teachers and staff work hard to create the amazing community and learning environment for our students. To show our gratitude, the PTA has created a wishlist of items to stock our teachers' lounge. Click here if you would like to donate. Thank you to all of the families who have already donated! We appreciate your contributions!

Donation Links

Harris Teeter-link your VIC card online with PUE

Lowes- link your Lowes Food Fresh Rewards card with PUE

Giveback in MemberHub gives amazing deals that donate back to PUE

Social Media

Like and follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

PUE PTA Website

11/5- Teacher Workday- No School for Students

11/8- Tr. 2 Track-out Day

11/11- Veterans Day Holiday- No School for Staff or Students

11/12- Tr. 3 Track-in Day

11/16- Parent’s Night Out at Pro 3:5, 5:30–8:00 p.m.

11/20- Chipotle Spirit Event

11/27-11/29- Thanksgiving Holiday- No School for Students or Staff