Cheetah Chronicles
January 31, 2021
Important Dates
February 3rd-Asynchronous Day
February 3rd-Student Material Distribution
February 24th-Asynchronous Day
Reminder: Survey Closes Sunday at 5 p.m.
Families,
As we move into second semester, we want to learn more about students' and families' experiences this year. Please take a few moments to complete our anonymous survey. Your feedback is essential as we work to improve teaching and learning for all students. The survey will close on Jan. 31 at 5 p.m (today). If you had more than one child enrolled in WCPSS this past semester, you may complete this survey separately for each child.
Start the survey now. >
Supply Distribution-THIS Wednesday February 3rd
Please come by school on Wednesday, February 3rd in order to collect your student's Quarter 3 Student Materials. It is imperative that your student have access to these materials to support their learning at home. Supply distribution will take place in the Carpool Lane. Please place a sign in the windshield with your student(s) name(s) and teacher name(s). Distribution times are outlined below.
All K-5 students will be receiving a headset in their student materials bag. These headsets have been assigned to your student and will be collected at the conclusion of the school year. Please encourage your student to take care of these headsets, paying attention to keeping the cord in good shape.
All 1st-5th grade students will be receiving a math manipulative kit in their student materials bag. These are also assigned to your student and will be collected at the end of the school year. These manipulative kits contain MANY pieces. Please help your child to understand that these materials are for learning and that the pieces should be returned to the bag after they are finished learning with them.
Student Material Distribution Schedule:
All pick up times will occur on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021.
- 10:30-11:30: Last Name A-F
- 1:30-2:30: Last Name G-L
- 2:30-3:30: Last Name M-R
- 3:30-4:30: Last Name S-Z
- 4:30-5:30: Open Session for Pick Up
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!
Track Change Request Form for 2021-2022
Important: Complete a Meal Benefits Application by Feb. 26, 2021
Parents, please consider applying for meal benefits by Feb 26. For every student that turns in the free and reduced lunch application and qualifies, the school receives federal funds that benefit the student and teachers at the school. These funds provide additional teachers and staff for the school which means more services for students, especially students that are struggling in reading or math. These funds also are used for materials and supplies for students and teachers. These are valuable resources that teachers can use to improve student achievement. Another important reason to apply is the direct benefit of receiving additional stimulus funds for families in the coming months. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin collecting free and reduced lunch data from us to determine the families that will receive Pandemic Electronic Benefits (P-EBT) that will be issued in the coming months. The P-EBT program helps families purchase food for children whose access to free and reduced priced meals at school has been impacted by COVID-19. If you do not apply and qualify for meal benefits, you will miss the opportunity to receive direct P-EBT funds for your family.
Yes, meals will still be free for all students through June 2021 but we still need you to complete a meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for this extra funding next year. Information about applying for Meal Benefits for the 2020-21 school year can be found at www.wcpss.net/Page/1849. Help our school continue to receive this funding by completing an application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper applications can be requested by calling 919-588-3535 or 919-856-2920.
Holly Springs Elementary is looking for qualified staff for the following positions:
Substitute Teacher - https://www.wcpss.net/subs
Everyone is Currently Virtual & 2nd Semester Class Changes
As a reminder, all students will join their classrooms virtually beginning Monday, January 25, 2021. We will continue to learn virtually until a decision is made to return to in-person instruction.
Second semester class changes have been made and families have been notified. These changes were a result of families choosing to move to Virtual Academy or to the WCPSS Current Plan for the remainder of the year. All families impacted should have heard directly from their new classroom teacher. Classroom google meets for families were held on January 21, 2021. Please reach out to your teacher to receive the presentation if you did not attend.
Virtual Academy/Remote Learning Schedule
Scholastic Support Centers
The YMCA is offering Scholastic Support Centers at three convenient locations to assist families in our region. Our YMCA Scholastic Specialists do their very best to partner with parents and school staff to help all our students have a successful experience in remote learning.
See the flyer HERE
· Kraft Family YMCA – 7:30am-6pm
· Apex Baptist Church – 7:30am-3:30pm
· Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church – 7:30am-3:30pm
Registration Link: https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs/school-programs/scholastic-support-centers
Financial Assistance Link: https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs/financial-assistance-programs
Title 1 Pre-K in WCPSS
The Pre-K Title I application process opened in December. Holly Springs Elementary does not have this program, but there are other sites in WCPSS that do provide these services. Parents should follow the procedure below if they are interested in applying for the program:
Pick up the universal application from HSES or any WCPSS elementary school or print it from the Smart Start website (wakesmart.org) or from www.wcpss.net/PLTitleI
Complete the application
Attach the required documents
Mail or take the application to :
Wake County Smart Start
4901 Waters Edge Drive, Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-851-9550
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS April 30, 2021
Parents must attend a screening event to be eligible for Pre-K Title I placement
Calendar Updates
The school board met Tuesday and made some updates to our YR calendar for the spring, which is great news for us! This means that although our April track out is a little shorter, it will provide a much needed break between the end of the year and tracks 1,2,3 start date for July 8 for the 21-22 school year. Please note that spring track out is March 31-April 13 (returning on April 14.) Our last day of school this year is now June 21.
The changes the school board made in going remote in January does not currently impact us since our students will be tracked out and will not arrive back to learning until January 25. At that time we expect all in-person learning, grades K-5, to be daily, with no cohorts, unless the school board meets in January and makes a change. Stay tuned for any updates from us while you are tracked out!
Want to know more about Restorative Practice and Community-Building Circles?
Wellness Sessions for Families
Positivity Project: Hope & Optimism
This week, students will be learning about hope and optimism. Hope and optimism represent a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. They keep a positive attitude despite setbacks – and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieve their goals.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
-MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
P2 for Families
P2 for Families is an easy and effective way for families to discuss the importance of character strengths and positive relationships. It is differentiated for grades Pre-K – 2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each character strength follows a 1-1-3 model: 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to drive conversations around character at home.
Please choose your child’s grade level on the site linked HERE to be directed to all of the character strengths. CODE NEEDED: P2
REMINDER: Free breakfast and lunch for all students during the 20-21 school year
All students (18 years of age and younger) will receive breakfast and lunch for free until June 30, 2021. Encourage your families to take advantage of this service. Learn about changes to meal service and view curbside pickup locations at wcpss.net/food.
Click HERE for more information.
Carpool Families
Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure social distancing and safety of your students. We are working to efficiently and effectively keep our carpool line moving. Please help us by doing the following.
Move car seats to the driver sides of the vehicles so that students may exit from the passenger side.
Ensure that your student knows how to buckle and unbuckle themselves into the car or their car seat.
Pull forward to the Holly Springs sign by the flag poles if you need to assist with a harness or seatbelt
Stay in your cars and do not exit vehicles during carpool. Once your student is loaded into the car, it is important that the car be ready to proceed forward.
Please do not drive around other cars to move forward, please wait in line until your car has been ushered forward.
Carpool Tag Registration for 2020-2021 School Year
Thanks!
Online Bus Attestation Form
If your child is going to ride a bus, you are required to submit this form stating that you and your child will abide by all health and safety protocols. Students are not permitted to ride the bus until this form has been submitted. Starting Monday, 11/30, if your family has not submitted this form, and your child is riding the bus, we will notify you of the need to carpool until the form is submitted. You will need to submit a separate form for each of your children who plan to ride the bus during the 2020-21 school year.
Here Comes the Bus App
Transportation Changes
YMCA-Before/After School Program at HSES
The YMCA will offer before & after school programs at HSES for the Spring 2021 (January-June). See the flyer below for more information and pricing! You can begin January 25th!
Plan B Students: Preparing to Return to School
When your child returns to school, he/she will be expected to bring their Chromebook and any other materials we sent out at the start of the year to school with them. In addition, your child’s teacher has communicated if there are any additional supplies your child(ren) should need.
Please note, we cannot accept wipes, hand sanitizer, separate soaps or shared tissue boxes, as they do not meet the safety guidelines in place for the district.
Please review the details in the Return to Campus handbook, as it contains updated information about processes, protocols and expectations for our students. In addition, here are additional resources to review prior to October 26th:
- Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols and Technology Guidance ○ Student Accountability and Required Health Protocols Signature Page: This form MUST be signed and returned before your child’s first day. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Technology Guidance for returning to school
- Bring Your Own Device Agreement Form can be found here. If you plan to send a personal device, (NOT a WCPSS Chromebook), to school with your child, this form MUST be signed and returned before your child brings the device to school. (In the supply distribution materials)
- Practicing all 3 Ws will be expected all day long for students and staff, so if you have not even started these practices at home, now is the time:
- Wear a mask (over your nose to completely cover the nose & mouth)
- Wash your hands thoroughly (i.e., use soap & water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer)
- Wait at least 6 feet apart, even when wearing a mask
Click HERE for the letter sent to Plan B families with more information.
Important: Did a student/employee go home sick? Please remember that all household members must also go home
Funding Available for Families Impacted by Remote Learning
To help support families impacted by remote learning, Wake County Government has launched a new assistance program called WakeSUPPORTS. WakeSUPPORTS provides funding to working parents, so they can afford to pay for their K-8th grade student to attend virtual school at a safe location with reliable oversight, or receive before and after school care. It also can pay for fees that accompany subsidized childcare for families who meet specific income criteria. To access this support fill out and submit the online form at wakegov.com/WakeSUPPORTS. The application is available in both in English and Spanish. Residents can also pick up an application in person at Wake County’s Swinburne, Northern Regional Center, Eastern Regional Center or Southern Regional Center. If you wish to obtain an application over the phone, you can do so by calling 919-212-7621 or you can email wakesupportschildcare@wakegov.com.
Technology Tips & Resources
Do you have questions about the Google tools your student is using at school? Do you want to know more about available features? Check out Google’s Tech Toolkit for Families and Guardians
Counselor Connection
Book Check Out/Pick Up-UPDATE
Library book request and pickup is going very well. We would like to extend the days books can be picked up to Monday-Friday 9:00-3:00. Book request and the book return is located near the bus loop under the front awning. On inclement weather days these items will be located in the front lobby. Students can check the "my Stuff" tab in their follet account to see when books have been checked out to them and are ready for pickup. How-to videos are located on the Follett page in the students Wakeid portal.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to email Ms. Dixon--sfdixon@wcpss.net.
ESL Updates
School Messenger Updates
You can opt-in to receive School Messenger updates via text message by texting YES to the shortcode 67587 or replying with a YES to the opt-in text message we will send to your phone.
More information on School Messenger, including how to manage the manner and devices you get messages delivered to you, can be found here.
Face Coverings Mandatory in North Carolina
North Carolina will require face coverings of your choice for all Central Office staff and school staff, adult visitors, and all school aged children when they are or may be within six feet of another person, including:
- inside school buildings and anywhere on school grounds, including outside;
- while traveling on buses or other WCPSS vehicles; and
- at all WCPSS work sites.
Updates from the Parent Teacher Association
HSES Spirit Wear Pre-Order
Stay warm while showing your school spirit by pre-ordering one of our new HSES hooded sweatshirts. Orders due by February 10th.
https://hsespta.memberhub.store/store?category=Products
January Cheetah Pride Event-Last Day to Sign Up!
Vision Martial Arts is offering a 6 week course to all Holly Springs Elementary students. They will receive 2 interactive Zoom classes per week with our instructors and a 10 min “Meet the Instructor” meeting before their first class. Each student will also receive a uniform and belt to train in. Our instructors will drop the uniform off at their house before their first class. The cost for the 6 weeks is $69 and the PTA will receive $65 back to the school. You can sign up until the end of January. Thanks for your support of HSES PTA! Click here to sign up: Vision Martial Arts Online Training-Holly Springs
Donations Needed
Your HSES PTA needs your help stocking the staff lounge with snacks! We have an Amazon wish list set up to make it easy. Any items ordered from the list will deliver straight to the school. If you have questions or need a pick up of items, please contact Melissa at melisllew@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/7uB3KFc?ref_=wl_share
HSES Child Face Masks
Time to Relink your Grocery Cards!
This is an easy way to earn money for our school while you shop. If you haven't linked your grocery cards this school year please take a minute to do so. You have to do it every year. You can find these links on our app also.
Lowes Foods: https://rewards.lowesfoods.com/Account/SelectCard...
Harris Teeter:
https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education#/app/cms
Publix:
http://corporate.publix.com/.../corporate.../publix-partners
And you can link your Amazon account too if you haven't already!
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F
Thanks you for supporting our school!!