Cheetah Chronicles
October 15, 2023
Important Dates
October 19: STEAM Night
October 27: Report cards go home Track 4
What's New
STEAM NIGHT: October 19th
Reminder about WCPSS Volunteers and Field Trip Chaperones
Even if you were approved as a volunteer last school year you must be approved again this year. Many field trips are coming up and we do not want you to wait or miss out as it takes a while for volunteers to be approved. Follow the steps below carefully:
Register as a WCPSS Volunteer
All WCPSS parent and community volunteers are required to register through the new MyVolunteer system. Please complete your registration on a computer at home or school. It is very difficult to complete using a mobile phone. It can take several weeks for your registration to be approved so don’t wait until field trips to try and register. Register now so you are ready and able to volunteer in the classroom, volunteer for school events, or chaperone at any time this school year!
Click the link below to start your volunteer registration: https://myvolunteer.com/wcpss/volunteer/login
Click create new account.
Complete the online form and select all the schools that you are requesting to volunteer or chaperone for the 2023-2024 school year.
It will then say pending.
Soon after you will receive an email with a customized link for you to complete next steps for your background check. This link expires 10 days from the day you receive the email. Follow the instructions in that email. You will fill out all items in red boxes and then you will review and digitally sign four documents (Summary of Rights Under the FCRA, Disc & Auth, NC Security Freeze Notice, and WCPSS Volunteer Agreement).
If you leave the CRC background site before completing your contact information, you will have to begin the process again.
You must include your social security number to register to volunteer. If you do not have a social security number, please contact volunteers@wcpss.net or call 919-694-8233.
Great news is that this year you will be notified by the MyVolunteer system if you are approved to volunteer!
Please Note: If you are a WCPSS Employee seeking to volunteer/chaperone in the schools, you do not have to complete a criminal background check. However, employees will still need to register in the MyVolunteer system (https://myvolunteer.com/wcpss/volunteer/login) and complete the Wake County Volunteer Agreement and other required forms. Employees must select the “Current Staff of WCPSS” link on MyVolunteer to complete the volunteer registration process and must use their WCPSS email address to complete the registration.
Kindergarten Registration for 2024-2025
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens Monday, October 16th. If you have a rising kindergartener for the next school year, you can begin registration on the 16th by going to the WCPSS website under enrollment and then under 2024-2025.
Track 1 and 3 Parents:
Fall Picture Retakes will be held on October 17th. There are two links below for you to access. The first link has picture packages and pricing as well as code to use on Strawbridge’s website to order. The 2nd link is for you to sign up to receive updates and information from Strawbridge.
Picture Packages and Order Code
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/holly-springs-elementary-school/fall-retake-tracks-1-3-pictures-10-17-2023/optIn
Town Halls
HSES will be hosting Town Halls for students at different times throughout the year. During the month of August, the school focused on Positivity Project Character Strengths & Wellness for our students. During this time, our teachers are working collaboratively to improve teaching skills and students’ academic performance with each other and are not with our students. Our next Town Hall event will be during the month of October. The Holly Springs Emergency Services Department (Fire/Police) will be sharing valuable knowledge with our students and how they serve our community. We would love to have volunteers to support these events and oversee the students during the Town Hall so our support staff can also participate in these meetings. Volunteers are needed from 9:15-10:00 am. Volunteers MUST be an approved WCPSS volunteer.
Please use the sign-up genius to join us and help our staff and students! You can engage with our students as well during this time as we involve community stakeholders in our learning process!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849A9AB2FA3F4CF8-hses#/
Select Holly Springs Elementary Families-Plan for Reassignment (1st Draft of New Enrollment Proposal)
On Sep. 19, staff members presented the first draft of a new Student Enrollment Proposal to the Board of Education. The draft includes proposed school assignment changes for the 2024-25 school year. Some students at our school are proposed to be affected by this plan. The link below provides you what was sent via school messenger on 9/19. Please use this document found HERE to document if your family may be affected.
https://bit.ly/enrollmentproposal
Reminder of the Student Device Agreement
Reminder of the Student Device Agreement (WCPSS issued chromebooks)
Please review the following link reminding everyone that the WCPSS issued chromebooks are to be used for educational purposes only and are the property of WCPSS.Digital Children’s Reading Initiative
Live Bus Updates
In the event that a bus is not running, Holly Springs Elementary will continue to send text and email messages through School Messenger, and post on Twitter. Text and email messages will not be sent through School Messenger if buses are running behind schedule. This is for both AM and PM routes.
Wake County Schools Transportation continually updates bus information for the Holly Springs area HERE.
Remember to refresh the page every 15 minutes in order to see the most up to date information.
If HSES is not listed, that means that all of our buses are running without any issue.
Decline Bus Transportation if Not Needed
If your student is assigned to transportation and is not a rider, please complete the information linked HERE so that WCPSS has the most up-to-date information for transportation planning. Note: Submitting this form will remove your student from both yellow bus and vendor (cab) transportation service.
Positivity Project
Click the letter below to learn more about the Positivity Project and to view the yearly calendar:
Tracks 1, 2 & 3
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Integrity. Integrity means you are honest and speak the truth. You present yourself genuinely and sincerely.
Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. People with integrity practice what they preach and maintain a consistent pattern of behavior aligned with their values. They have the courage not to follow the crowd if it means going against their beliefs. Integrity is closely aligned with the terms of honesty and authenticity. People with integrity tell the truth and have alignment in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Integrity is vital to individual growth. It is correlated with a multitude of psychological well-being measures. Harmony in your feelings, thoughts, and actions makes you better able to personally grow and achieve goals. Authenticity and a lack of pretense make you more likable and trusted by others, meaning your relationships will benefit.
To practice and encourage the character strength of integrity with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Counselor Connection
Social Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Video for more information from casel.org https://casel.org/what-is-sel/.
Linked are some fun SEL activities you can do at home with your children to reinforce these concepts.
Technology Resources
Parents, please take a moment to watch the following video on how to properly care for your child's WCPSS device. [video link]
For kindergarten and first-grade students, their devices will be left at school. Students from second to fifth grade should bring their device to school every day, ensuring it is fully charged. Establishing a regular habit of charging Chromebooks at home will contribute to your child's success and readiness for school.
Parent Teacher Association
Boosterthon
Kim’s Yong In Martial Arts
Kim’s Yong In Martial Arts is sponsoring the HSES PTA this year and would like to offer Taekwondo classes to HSES students. Master Kim’s teaching philosophy involves his vision to instill a sound mind and strong sense of self-confidence. Students will learn discipline and respect through the art of Taekwondo. Click HERE for more information. Click HERE to sign up.
Save the Date! Pokemon Go Meet-Up on Friday, October 27th
2023-24 Reflections Projects
Yearbook Photos!
Thank you to all the Cheetarific Families who have participated in our events this year! We need your help to ensure all the best moments you captured of your Cheetahs make it into the YEARBOOK! Follow the QR codes for each event, or the links provided. By uploading to the correct event folder it helps get your photos into the yearbook and in the right place!
Cheetah Pride Fridays https://plicbooks.com/go/TFCNNH
Fall Movie Night (Mario Movie) https://plicbooks.com/go/CD5R8J
Fall Walk, Bike Roll to School https://plicbooks.com/go/GWT37W
Boosterthon
Track 1 https://plicbooks.com/go/46QWKE
Track 2 https://plicbooks.com/go/NG6G29
Track 3 https://plicbooks.com/go/5YXYNA
Track 4 https://plicbooks.com/go/9XCFMM
School Store
Rent the Spirit Rock!
YES, you read that right! We have a NEW SPIRIT ROCK! Our new rock is directly behind our Carpool rock & sits facing the Bus loop. Now our bus and van riders will have a front row view of even more celebrations! Please pay close attention to CARPOOL or BUS LOOP when making your reservations. Choose either the CARPOOL LOOP or BUS LOOP. We cannot guarantee that your week will be available if you rent the wrong rock.
https://app.memberhub.gives/hsesspiritrock
The HSES Spirit Rock is a great way to send a message for all to see! Congratulate your favorite student on an accomplishment, wish a student a Happy Birthday, celebrate a team win or let everyone know how much you love our school. Reserve the Spirit Rock HERE ($25/week).