The Sylvan Sunday Swoop

Greetings Sylvan Blue Jay Families!

Our Blue Jays are on a roll this year and are striving for excellence in all aspects of school daily! This week we saw many students achieving success through small group instruction. As part of our School Improvement Plan, small group instruction is one of our key strategies to grow our students and meet our goals as a whole school. As your students what they have been learning in small groups!

My name is Megan Mentley. This is my twelfth year as a teacher. I have previously worked in Guilford County Schools, where I’ve taught kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade. I am originally from Canton, MI, and currently live in Liberty with my husband, two sons, and dog. Welcome to Sylvan!

Mrs. Mentley will be joining us this week to set up her classroom and plan with her team. She will begin in her classroom with her 2nd graders on Monday, October 7th. Students that will be in Mrs. Mentley's class will receive communication via email from Thrillshare and a letter being sent home on Monday, September 30th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Hamilton via email at bethany_hamilton@abss.k12.nc.us

On Saturday, our school hosted alumni from when Sylvan Elementary was just known as Sylvan School and served as a high school serving grades 9-12. Some of our alumni currently have grandchildren enrolled in our school now. It was great to chat with our alumni about their fond memories of Sylvan and how our school has contributed to growth of so many people in our community.

Throughout the school year, we are required to participate in School Safety Drills. Below are the drills your students may come home and talk about.

• Fire Drill- Required once a month
• Tornado Drill- Required once a year
• Lockdown Drill- Required twice a year

Why is it important for your child to participate in drills?

How someone reacts during a crisis or emergency depends on how well they have been trained. Research shows how our brains react during a crisis. The cerebellum is responsible for the “fight,” “flight,” or “freeze” responses. The limbic system is responsible for emotions, and the cerebral cortex is involved with processes including language processing, planning, and logic. During times of elevated stress, such as during an emergency or crisis situation, the cerebral cortex (logic and planning) can be overtaken by the cerebellum (fight, flight, freeze) or the limbic system (emotional responses). Being trained, and practicing what steps to take in an emergency, makes it possible for the cerebral cortex to remain in control.

Participating in a drill, rather than solely being told how to respond, allows you to go through the motions and feel how it might feel during the actual event. For example, imagine that you are to give a presentation. There is a difference in outcome between thinking about what you are going to say during the presentation and practicing the presentation by saying what you are going to say. When you practice, you may recognize that your plan does not work, or that your timing is off. The more you practice, the more it becomes automatic, your nerves decrease, and your performance improves. The same is true with drills and training.

The initial training for all school personnel is usually completed at the beginning of the year. Most districts also do a broad overview of the SRP (standard response protocol) with students at the beginning of the year, so they know what to do, especially if an emergency occurs prior to the first drill. As each drill is scheduled for the various directives, students are taught a more in-depth explanation of what actions are expected for that specific directive. Since a lockdown drill can occur numerous weeks into the academic year, the initial lesson is very basic. As time draws closer to the lockdown drill, students are taught about what they will experience, why lockdowns are issued, and what student behavior and actions are expected.

What can your child expect during a “Lockdown” drill?

One drill that has brought up discussion and concern in some parents is the lockdown drill. The lockdown response is used in the event of immediate danger inside the school, such as a school attacker. The goal of this drill, along with all drills, is to acclimate students and staff with the correlated course of action that is in place to best protect them, so they can react quickly and safely in an emergency.

Our first lockdown drill will be happening soon. Once we have completed the drill, we will send out a message via Thrillshare alerting you that we practiced our Lockdown Drill on that day. We encourage you to talk about safety drills with your students.

On Monday, we will participate in GOING GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness. Wear all of your gold and yellow color items to support Childhood Cancer Awareness. On Tuesday, 4th grade will be taking their field trip. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to Mrs. Cabe and Mr. Johnson.

We have had many parents and community members express interest in volunteering at Sylvan with clerical items, cleanings, helping with small groups, or tutoring. We are excited to have all of the support. In order to volunteer on our campus we have a few steps that must be taken before this can happen.

1. Please complete a background check for the district by clicking here. This is the same background check you complete to attend/chaperone field trips.

2. Please complete this form linked here to share with us your best form of contact, availability, and areas that you are comfortable volunteering in.

Once these steps have been completed and your background check has been verified, one of our front office staff or admin will be in touch to set up your volunteer times and days!

Last week, our attendance average was down to 93.8% which was a 1.2% decrease from the previous week of 95% but still we met our goal of 93%. This is good and we look forward to seeing our students daily and helping them learn and grow. Let's keep making attendance a priority! Remember: If you have barriers preventing you from getting your child to school, please reach out to our wonderful School Social Worker, Ms. Kristine Hahn at kristine_hahn@abss.k12.nc.us

Let's get excited for Week 6 of learning, leadership, and collaboration as we soar UP to our Unlimited Potential!

#BlueJaysSoarUP

#SylvanisourHappyNest

GO GOLD for Childhood Cancer!

Fourth Grade Field Trip

Hearing Screenings- Parents must "opt-in" for their child to be screened in Powerschool. If you have any questions about the screenings, please reach out to Mrs. Vincent at sarah_vincent@abss.k12.nc.us. If you have any questions about how to "opt-in" in Powerschool for your child to be screened, please reach out to Mrs. Moon at kristine_moon@abss.k12.nc.us

Kindergarten Field Trip

LIDS FOR KIDZ

Sylvan Elementary will be participating in Lids for Kidz to recognize the work of the Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. This local organization ensures that mileage, gas, transportation, food, and lodging are covered while children with cancer are being treated far from home. Wear your favorite hat!

First Grade Field Trip

ABSS Family University 5:30-7:30

Fall Picture Day

PTA Trunk or Treat 5:30-7:30

Teacher Workday- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

• School begins at 7:50 a.m. for ALL students Pre-K-5. If you arrive after 7:50, you must park and walk in with your students to sign them in before they can go to class.
• School ends at 2:35 p.m.
• If you are signing your students out early (before 2:00 p.m.), you must go inside the front office and check them out. If you arrive early, but after 2:00 p.m., to sign your child out, you must wait until the dismissal announcements are made at 2:35 p.m. We appreciate your cooperation with this matter!
• Families may come to eat lunch with your students. Please reach out to your child's teacher 24 hours in advance to let them know you are coming so they can plan for seating. Remember: NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK MAY BE BROUGHT IN (in advertised packaging). Upon arrival, please sign in at the front office and get a visitor's tag.
• During the afternoon dismissal, all parents/guardians picking up in the car rider line, must have their student's assigned yellow number card visible on the dash or in the window. If you do not have a car rider tag, you will need to park in the overflow lot across the street and come in with your ID to get your student. This is a safety precaution to ensure that ALL students are going home with someone who has permission to pick them up. No passing is allowed in the car rider line. The safety of our Blue Jays is a priority.
• Please note: Traffic turning left into the car rider line cannot block the oncoming traffic on Sylvan Rd. per the Highway Patrol. Please utilize the overflow parking circle to turn around so that you can turn right into the car rider line drop-off.
  

Beginning Monday, September 16th, we will no longer accept transportation changes via email or Class Dojo. All transportation changes must be communicated on the google form linked here. You can also scan the QR code to access the form. Keep in mind that if you child is riding home with another child, this change must be communicated by BOTH parents/guardians. All transportation changes must be communicated on this form no later than 1:00 pm.

Families, please use the linked form OR scan the QR code to indicate the preferred name for your student. For instance, if your student is named Daniel and you prefer for them to be called Danny, indicate that on the linked form. This is in accordance with North Carolina State Law (S.L. 2023-106; Senate Bill 49) Section 115C-76.45.(5).

If you need to submit a note or doctor's note for your student's absence, please use the form linked here. Please note, per board policy, notes must be submitted within 2 school days of the absences. Sylvan will not accept notes after 7 days (1 week).

Blue Jay's before and after-school program is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to complete their homework and engage in fun, educational activities. Click here to register or scan the QR Code.

• Webpage: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/parent-information-portal

• PowerSchool Overview video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPyZ1xP1MrE

• PowerSchool Back to School Forms video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9tfkFY1Ss

• If you are having trouble logging in or accessing your account, fill out the forms below, and our Enrollment Team will assist you.

• English Support

• Spanish Support

Attached is a letter we want every K-5 student to receive. This letter details possible interactions students may have with the AIG Teacher at their school as well as how to refer their child for testing. Our referral process will continue to be the same - parents must send in written notice to their principal that includes details and examples of why they believe their child needs AIG Services. This letter is due the Tuesday BEFORE Thanksgiving Break to be considered for spring testing (which will be in February). This gives the AIG teacher time to conduct informal screenings and observations as well as collect meaningful data to make testing decisions. Any request made AFTER Thanksgiving Break will be looked at the following year.

Please know that we take every incident reported seriously and we investigate to the fullest extent possible. Sylvan does not tolerate inappropriate behaviors of any kind. We are also including the link to the District’s Code of Conduct here. While each of you are familiar with our school handbooks, we wanted to make sure you had access to the District’s Code of Conduct that guides our decisions with consequences. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our administrative team.

Scan the QR Code or click here to access the 24-25 Copy of the Sylvan Elementary Student Handbook.

Viral Illness Policy: Click here for our updated policy on illnesses in ABSS.

We are always looking for people that are willing to drive a bus for Sylvan Elementary. It is a very rewarding opportunity to work with our children. Contact the school if you or anyone you know may be interested in supporting our community.

All students at Sylvan Elementary have the option to receive free Breakfast and Lunch.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Yesterday's Grill Spirit Night. Our PTA was able to raise around $500 to support our teachers and students and we could not have done that with you!

For the month of October, we will be having a Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 25th from 5:30-7:30. We need candy donations for this event and would love to encourage each student to bring a bag of candy to the front office. If you are interested in setting up a Trunk and passing out Treats, or are interested in helping out that night with selling pizza and raffle tickets, please reach out to Ashley Faucette at ashley.faucette@gmail.com or Dana Flick at dana_flick@abss.k12.nc.us .

Want to Join the PTA?

As a parent or guardian of a Sylvan Blue Jay, you are a vital part of our school family. We would love for you to join us in supporting our students and teachers thru our PTA organization. If you would like to join, please reach out to our PTA president Ms. Ashley Faucette at ashley.faucette@gmail.com

We hold monthly meetings in the Sylvan media center, date/times for the meetings will be announced via Dojo, Facebook and our Sunday school newsletter each month! We already have a full calendar lined up for the school year for events and fundraisers and need your help!

An important school improvement goal this year is to increase the percentage of students in 3rd-5th grade who show proficiency on the NC EOG by 7%. In the 23-24 School Year we had 43.8% show proficiency. By June of 2025 we would love to have 50.8% or more show proficiency. We believe in our teachers, staff, and students that we can reach and maybe even surpass this goal.

The NC EOGs are standardized tests. Standardized testing assesses students' strengths and allows teachers to determine which topics need attention. Students in 3rd and 4th grade will take EOGs in reading and math. Students in 5th grade will take EOGs in science, reading, and math.

Here is how you can help your child with this at home:

Standardized tests can measure the knowledge your student has gained in the classroom, plus life skills such as critical thinking and comprehension.

Before the Test

Standardized testing is different than typical classroom testing. Luckily, you have the whole school year to prepare. The following tips can help your student confidently enter their standardized testing session.

Understand the Test Format

Understanding standardized test structure will give a student an idea of what to expect. These tests often include various question types, including multiple-choice, drag and drop and gridded response.

Parents should help students review specific subjects before evaluation. You can also discuss strategies such as quickly moving on to the next question to save time when they do not know an answer.

Try Some Study Techniques for Standardized Tests

Here are a few tips for effective studying for standardized tests:

• Study for a few hours every day.
• Get enough sleep the day before the test.
• Practice reading comprehension.
• Create a study schedule to balance practice time and your regular studies and family time.

Some standardized assessments provide practice tests. Students can use these tools to become familiar with the test process. Let your student know that those exact questions won’t appear on the tests so they don’t waste time memorizing specific questions and answers. To access released NC EOG tests and practice at home, click here.

Use a Timer

Since standardized tests often have multiple timed sections, it’s a good idea to have your student take a practice test with a timer. You can also use a timer to see how long it takes your child to complete specific sections and use this as a baseline to help them lower their times with each practice run.

Test Day Tips

When the day of the test arrives, it’s normal for your student to feel nervous. Here are some testing tips they can follow.

Try to Help Your Student Manage Anxiety

If your learner feels anxious, that’s OK. Encourage them to use the following tips to handle anxiety:

• Try relaxation techniques.
• Close your eyes and breathe deeply.
• Get enough sleep each night.
• Exercise to ease stress and tension.
• Speak to a parent or teacher for help.

Follow Test Day Best Practices

Use these guidelines to prepare your student for the big day:

• Eat a healthy meal before the test.
• Have snacks and water on hand for energy.
• Get to school on time.

Plan Break Time for Your Student After the Test

Continue supporting your child after they complete the standardized test to recognize their accomplishment.

Because standardized tests can be stressful, plan some unstructured free time after school for your child do relax. Whatever hobby or activity they choose to do after their test, make sure they leave the testing space for a change of scenery so they can return feeling refreshed.

Reflect on the Results

Depending on the standardized test your student completes, you may have to wait a days or months to receive the results. During the waiting period, you can ask your student how they thought the test went and if they had trouble with any specific concepts or questions.

Once their results arrive, take the time to sit down with your child and go over their score together. As you review the report, you can use it to identify any future growth areas and set goals with your student.

During the reflection period, you should also take the time to recognize the hard work your child has put into the school year and express that you’re proud of them for completing the test regardless of their final score.

Standardized Testing Resources and Support

Click the links below to access these resources.

NC EOG Released Tests

Understanding Assessment: Resources for Parents

Khan Academy- A great resources for students to practice with curriculum content at home.

It's a Muscle! 7 Effective Strategies for Test-Taking Skills

One of our school improvement goals this year is to increase our reading proficiency (fluency, comprehension, decoding, etc). Early intervention in the younger grades is critical to ensure we are able to support our students as we grow each year. Below are our specific goals for our youngest learning in grades (K-2).

• By June 2025, 80% of students in grades K will be at grade level proficiency as measured by mClass. At the end of the 23-24 school year, we had 77% of our Kindergarten students on grade level.

• By June 2025, 70% of students in grades 1st will be at grade level proficiency as measured by mClass. At the end of the 23-24 school year, we had 67% of our 1st grade students on grade level.

• By June 2025, 65% of students in grades 2nd will be at grade level proficiency as measured by mClass. At the end of the 23-24 school year, we had 62% of our 2nd grade students on grade level.

We know with our amazing students and staff, we can surpass our goals in the 24-25 school year, but we need your help at home. Here is how you can help our youngest learners grow their reading proficiency at home.

If you would like to explore more early literacy resources, click the links below.

FCRR At Home Examples

K Family Involvement Guide

1st Grade Family Involvement Guide

2nd Grade Family Involvement Guide

3rd Grade Family Involvement Guide

Another school improvement goal this year will be to increase our average daily attendance to 94% or higher. While we know life can be hectic, we want to emphasize the importance of students being on time, being present, and ready to learn.

Students who are chronically absent--meaning they miss at least 15 days of school in a year--are at serious risk of falling behind in school. Missing a day of school here and there may not seem like much but absences add up!

When a student misses 2 days a month:

• they will miss 20 days a year.
• they will miss 30 hours or more of math over the school year.
• they will miss 60 hours or more of reading and writing over the school year.
• they will miss over 1 year of school by graduation.

When a student misses 4 days a month:

• they will miss 40 days a year.
• they will miss 60 hours or more of math over the school year.
• they will miss 120 hours of more of reading & writing over the school year.
• they will miss over 2 years of school by graduation.

Lateness=Lost Learning

Students who are late or tardy are also greatly affected too. Every minute counts!

• 5 minutes late each day = 3 days lost!
• 10 minutes late each day = 6.5 days lost!
• 15 minutes late each day = 10 days lost!
• 20 minutes late each day = 13 days lost!
• 30 minutes late each day = 19 days lost!

We want our families to know that we are here for you as partners in your child's education and we are here to support their success. We feel strongly that their success starts with their attendance. This school year we will be implementing the attendance flowchart below to notify and work with families when we are concerned about attendance. We are here to help, so please do not hesitate to reach out!