Timberwolf Times - May 20, 2024

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

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

Dear Timberwolves,

Let's have a great week!! This week is a good time to take some time to review school wide expectations with your children. We want all students to have a wonderful ending to a great school year.

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”

Please remind your students to check Lost and Found items. At the end of the school year, all items will be donated to a local charity. Thank you

Dear Timberwolf Families - T. Clay Wood

Preschool Program at T. Clay Wood for 2024-2025,

The Prince William County Public School Preschool Special Education Program has a General Education Preschool Inclusion Program opportunity at T. Clay Wood Elementary School. Our Inclusion Program will serve children ages three and four years old with developmental delays, along with their appropriate peer models. Children must be at least 36 months old by September 30, 2024, and live in the T. Clay Elementary school attendance area.

If you feel your child has a developmental delay, please contact PWCS Child Find at 703.791.8974

If you would like your preschool student to attend as a general education peer in the program, please contact Kristin Baker at bakerkl@pwcs.edu for more information.

There is a cap for both programs so it is important to register asap. There is no cost for the program.

Thank you

T. Clay Wood ES invites any and all former Timberwolves who are graduating from area high schools in 2024 to join in our annual Senior Walk with Patriot HS seniors at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Timberwolf families, please pass this message on to any neighbors with former Timberwolves who are graduating this school year.

Please wear your cap and gown. Seniors, if you are not from Patriot HS coming over with their school administration, please bring your student ID.

“At T. Clay Wood, Everyone Belongs”

Field Day will be Friday May 31st. Parent volunteers are needed to make this day spectacular for our students. Looking forward to another great Field Day.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4AA9AA2BA2F58-49450622-field

Parent-Family liaisons serve as a communication link between home and school. They welcome and orient families to the schools and familiarize the families with the school's cultures, policies, procedures, and practices.

Parent liaisons help build a strong relationship between home, school, parents, teachers, students, and the school community to create a positive network of caring adults, ensure the needs of each student are met, and have the support and services needed for academic success.

It can be challenging for parents to visit the school during workdays and to know what educational support and resources are available to them. We understand there may be linguistic and cultural barriers that prevent parents from being engaged, we will work together to overcome these barriers.

Parent-Family liaisons can connect you with the appropriate people within the school or community who can help you meet your child's/ family needs.

The Parent-Family liaisons establish and build successful working relationships with the families of all children in the school. They appreciate the school's cultural diversity and work to foster unity, cohesiveness, and cooperation among all families.

Parent-Family liaisons provide services such as the following to assist you and your child:

• Encourage open communication between you and school personnel.
• Explain the purpose and process of conferences and school meetings.
• Attend conferences and school meetings with you to clarify procedures and processes.
• Explain school, policies, practices, and programs.
• Provide information about school goals, resources, and activities.

Parent Liaisons can be your first contact if you have questions or concerns about anything related to our school.

Our Parent Liasion may also reach out to you to see how they can support you and your family when it comes to chronic absences and high lunch charges on your accounts.

Our Parent Liasion may also reach out to your to encourage your attendance at various family engagement and curriculum information nights.

If you have any questions, please contact, Ms. Colon at 703.594.3990 or by email at johnsons@pwcs.edu

Kindergarten Registration is now open for the 2024-2025 school year. Please register your rising kindergarten students using the below link as soon as possible.

If you have neighbors and friends who have rising kindergarten students for next school year, please let them know as well.
We look forward to meeting all our new Kindergarten Timberwolf Pups.

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/student_services/registration__new_students_and_transfers_/kindergarten_registration/index

5th grade Timberwolf Families,

We are once again offering the opportunity to order yard signs for your rising 6th grade students. They can be delivered to your door or you can choose to pick them up from the company. This year you can also get a generic sign if you do not want to put your child's name on the yard sign. These are optional.

Here is the link - https://orionpros.com/shop/ols/products/t-clay-wood-2022

• Wednesday, May 22 - HS Senior Walk Day at 12pm - Bring Cap and Gown and Student ID (if not with the Patriot HS group) This is open to all former TImberwolves who are graduating seniors this year from all high schools. In addition, the entire Patriot HS Senior class will also join the walk.
  
• My Spot Day – On May 28, each class will read the book Finding Your Spot in the World: A Story About Diversity by Diane Alber. During class meetings, students will discuss the importance and value of diversity. Students will each write something unique about themselves on a large spot sticker, which they will wear during the day. This will be a visual representation of how we all bring unique gifts to our school community. This book was chosen by our student led Justice League as a way to celebrate our differences and foster acceptance and inclusion of others at T. Clay Wood.
  
• Thursday, May 30 - Cold Stone Spirit Night - Staff Scooping.
• Friday, May 31, - Field Day
• Tuesday, June 4 at 5:45 pm (Doors open at 5:30 pm) - Hooray for K
• Thursday, June 6 at 6:00pm - 5th grade promotion ceremony at Patriot HS (Doors open at 5:30pm)
• Friday, June 7 - Last Day of school - Early Dismissal at approximately 12:35pm.

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.

The PTO and our school has partnered with EPI for our 2024 school supply sale. EPI packs contain teacher-approved items and are delivered before school starts. When you buy from EPI you lock in pricing and avoid not being able to find everything on your list.

SHOP NOW for your 2024-2025 school supplies. Avoid the stores and get all your school supply shopping done online. EPI school supply packs contain all the items and brands our teachers require. Order here with our School ID of WOO224.

The website is EPI School Supply Packs - Educational Products, Inc. and the sale goes through June 25. I also included an updated calendar of events

Monday, May 20, 2024- Day 6

Tuesday, May 21 2024 - Day 1

Wednesday, May 22. 2024- Day 2

• Senior Walk -12pm
• SOL Expedited Retake Window - May 22-

Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Day 3

• Drama Performance - 6:30pm

Friday, May 24, 2024 -Day 4

T. Clay Wood - PTO Slate of Officers - 24-25

Dear Timberwolf Families,

Here is the current slate of officers. We will meet to approve them at the April 18 PTO/Advisory Council

• President: Julia White
• Vice President - Lauren Bell
• Secretary: Crystal MacCallum
• Treasurer: Bethzaely Feliciano-Rivera
• Asst. Treasurer/Past President: Kate Case
• Directors: Amelia Hunter and Tiana Marshall

Current PTO President Kate Case will be available as a board member to provide support and guidance to the new board.

Thank you,
Dr. Andrew Buchheit, Principal

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!

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!

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 see the Transportation Website -

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/index

We are reminding all our School Community to treat our school staff, our students, and one another with civility. Our students are always watching!

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

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).

For Grades K-2

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).

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