Greetings Washington Families,

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Washington Weekly!

Thank you so much for all the love you showed our teachers and staff last week! From sweet notes to fun treats, your appreciation really made our team feel special. A huge shoutout to our awesome Wizard PTA for the week-long celebration—our staff definitely felt OUT OF THIS WORLD!

It’s concert week, and we couldn’t be more excited! Our band and orchestra students have been working so hard, and we can’t wait for you to see their amazing performances.

And don’t forget—the Book Fair is coming soon! We’d love your help to make it a success. Want to volunteer? Click here to sign up.

Lastly, save the date for our final General PTA Meeting of the school year. Please attend this meeting to vote to approve the Board and next year’s budget. The meeting will take place virtually on May 20th at 6:30pm. Here is the link https://meet.google.com/tgr-ycbs-aqe?hs=122&authuser=2

Let’s make it a great week at 1000 Fayetteville Street!

Magically,

Catie Burnette

Principal

Bio: Sonya Drum is an arts educator, visual artist, theatrical designer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sonya works as a Magnet Visual Arts Specialist for Washington GT Magnet Elementary, where she is concluding her 24th school year fostering the gifts and talents of young artists and designers. Awards include the 2025 & 2014 Washington Elementary Teacher of the Year, as well as, the 2017 WCPSS Magnet Teacher of the year, and the Magnet Schools of America Division 7 winner. When not teaching, Sonya designs scenery for universities and theatre companies big and small, including: Duke Department of Theater Studies, Redbird Theatre Company, Bulldog Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Raleigh, and The Raleigh Little Theatre. Sonya also works as a graphic designer for the Magnet office, where she designs interior and exterior magnet themed murals.

Alumni: UNC-Greensboro

Favorite Quote: "In the future, we will all be famous for 15 minutes." -Andy Warhol

Favorite Children's Book: Radiant Child - Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

Gifts & Talents: Painting, Sculpture, Graphic Design, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Interior Design, mess making and dilly dallying. Also a former Carolina Rollergirl All-Star.

Is your rising 3rd grader interested in joining band or orchestra next year? Join Ms. Holmes & Ms. Phaneuf for a virtual information session on Tuesday, May 13 at 5:30 PM via Google Meet to learn more about our music program, instrument options, and how to get started! We can’t wait to help your child find their musical gifts and talents!

Are you interested in enrolling your child in Washington’s Before Care Program for the upcoming school year? If so, we need your input! This form is only for families who are considering using Before Care—your response helps us plan for appropriate staffing.

👉 Complete the Interest Form Now!
📌 Learn more about WCPSS Before Care Programs & tuition rates here: WCPSS Before Care Info

This U.S. Department of Agriculture program provides a debit card worth $120 per eligible child that can be used to buy nutritious food during the summer months when schools are out. Most eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the program, but some will need to apply. Visit ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks to determine if you need to apply.

• Parents are needed as volunteers to be hallway monitors during End of Grade testing.
• If you are willing and able to volunteer, please read for more information: 2024-2025 EOG Testing Dates and Hall Monitor Information
• Interested? Sign up to be a hall monitor!
• Please attend one of the brief (10 min) virtual meetings:
• Meeting link: https://meet.google.com/gtf-sboe-vyj
• May 15th at 8:15am
• May 19th at 8:30am
• May 19th at 5:00pm.

Only TWO MORE WEEKS to take the 2025 WCPSS Family Survey! The survey is open NOW and will remain available through May 17. This survey is a great way to hear your thoughts and experiences so we can make our school a better place for everyone. We appreciate your feedback!

We currently have 147 responses and are working towards our goal of 200! Your participation is key to achieving this! To encourage participation, we're offering a raffle for families who complete the survey. Prizes include:

• Special Lunch with the Principals

• Principal for the Day

• Fire Marshal for the Day (assist with a fire drill)

• And more exciting opportunities!

After completing the survey, please let us know HERE by adding your name and your child(ren)'s name(s) to be entered into the raffle. Your feedback means so much to us, and this is our way of saying thanks for taking the time to share it!

The WES PTA is proud to announce the following Nominations for the 25-26 PTA Executive Board:

President - Laura Walton

Vice President - Clarissa Briscoe

Secretary - Erica Saxer

Treasurer - Mrudula Sudarnasam

Please attend the next General Meeting to vote to approve the Board and next year’s budget. The meeting will take place virtually on May 20th at 6:30pm. Here is the link https://meet.google.com/tgr-ycbs-aqe?hs=122&authuser=2

Hello, come and volunteer at the Fair! The success of our Book Fair depends on the support of many aWESome volunteers. From set-up, shopping times, to fair breakdown, we need YOU! There is also a 20% discount for all volunteers as a special thank you. If you are able to help support the fair, but the hours listed do not work for you, feel free to reach out and we will get you in. If you have any questions, you can email Clarissa Briscoe at washingtonmediacenterpta@gmail.com.

Kindergarten: Arlie

1st: Smaya

2nd: Sahasra

3rd: Davion (not pictured)

4th: Leah

5th: Henry

• Monday, May 12: Interims go home
• Tuesday, May 13: Virtual Band & Orchestra Info Session (Rising 3rd Graders), 5:30pm
• Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/kqs-kmfd-mqe
• Wednesday, May 14: Band Concert, 6:30pm
• Thursday, May 15: Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm
• Friday, May 16: Kindergarten Orientation, 12:30pm
• May 19-May 23: Spring Book Fair
• Tuesday, May 20: Virtual General PTA Meeting, 6:30pm (LINK)
• Thursday, May 22: Spring Theater Production. 6:30pm
• Monday, May 26: Memorial Day, No School
• Tuesday, June 10: Field Day!
• Friday, June 13: 5th Grade Promotion, 9:45am

• 2024-25 Student/Parent Handbook (English)
• 2024-25 Student/Parent Handbook (Spanish)