Peek at the Week
PALISADES PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
School Hours
Morning Drop Off: 7:30-8:00
Tardy Bell: 8:00
Latest Time for Early Checkout: 2:15
Afternoon Dismissal: 3:00
School Improvement Team Meetings: 8/19, 9/30,10/22, 11/15, 12/16, 1/27, 2/24, 3/24, 4/22, 6/5 4:15 in the Media Center
- philip.steffes@cms.k12.nc.us (Principal)
- michelleL.bennett@cms.k12.nc.us (Assistant Principal)
- kelli.wallace@cms.k12.nc.us (Assistant Principal)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH
STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO WEAR SCHOOL UNIFORMS ON PICTURE DAY!
ANNUAL TITLE IX LESSONS
Each year, CMS students have the opportunity to engage in a grade level and age appropriate Title IX lesson. This year, Palisades Park Elementary will provide the lessons on Wednesday, September 25. Below is a link to the CMS website providing parents access to preview the lessons. Parents are able to opt out from having their child participate. The required document for opting out is located on the CMS website.
IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION
PLEASE REVIEW AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please review the Parents Bill of Rights information and complete the Student Information Form below. NC schools are required to distribute the information and have forms completed by parents. The forms provide permission for vision, dental and hearing screenings. In fifth grade, parents must inform the school if their child should not participate in RHASE: Reproductive Health and Safety Education. RHASE is provided to fifth grade students at the end of fourth quarter.
In addition, parents must provide consent for a student to be called any other name except for what is on the birth certificate. If your child has a nickname, the parent must indicate this information on the student information form. This includes the use of pronouns or gender identity that differs from the birth certificate.
To complete the Student Information Form, you will need your child's CMS student number. If you need support with obtaining the number, please contact your child's teacher via Parent Square or call the main office at 980-343-9895.
Parents Bill of Rights
Please make sure to access the Parent Bill of Rights information and complete the necessary forms for each of your children.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE REQUIRED STUDENT INFORMATION FORM
BACK TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM NIGHT
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH 6:00-7:30PM
Back to school curriculum night, also known as an open house or parent night, is an event at the beginning of the school year where teachers share information with parents about their child's upcoming school year.
At curriculum night, teachers typically:
- Present information about the curriculum and standards for the year
- Explain classroom policies and procedures, including homework and behavior management
- Share information about resources, standardized testing, and schoolwide expectations
Parents can also visit their child's classroom and ask questions about the daily routines.
Curriculum night is an opportunity for teachers and families to connect and collaborate as the new school year begins. It helps parents understand what their children will learn and experience throughout the year.
A representative from Boy and Girl Scouts will be located in the Cafeteria.
ATTENTION ALL THIRD GRADE PARENTS
NC BEGINNING OF GRADE STATE TESTING
SEPTEMBER 10TH
Purposes of the BOG3 Reading Test
Article 8 Chapter §115C of the General Statutes includes Part 1A, the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program. The goal of this program “is to ensure that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress in reading proficiency so that he or she can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex texts needed for secondary education and career success.” The North Carolina BOG3 Reading Test is linked to the Read to Achieve Program. This test serves several purposes:
- It establishes a baseline measure of beginning third-grade students’ English language arts/reading skills.
- Students who score achievement level 3 or higher on the test demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for third-grade students, which satisfies the requirements of the Read to Achieve legislation.
- Based on demonstrated student outcomes in reading proficiency, the test serves as a teacher-growth tool for determining those teachers who are well-suited to teach reading camps (G.S.§115C-83.3[4a]).
- Data from the administration of the test and the administration of the End-of-Grade 3 (EOG3) Reading Test are used for school accountability growth and student growth for teachers and administrators.
- Students in grade 3 who are not proficient on the EOG3 Reading Test but were proficient on the BOG3 Reading Test (i.e., score achievement level 3 or higher) count as proficient in the performance composite and school performance grades.
Please make sure your child arrives to school as testing will begin promptly at 8:10.
ATTENTIION ALL SECOND GRADE PARENTS
CogAT TESTING
SEPTEMBER 16TH-18TH
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple-choice assessment that measures a student's reasoning and problem-solving abilities. It's administered to all CMS students in second grade.
The CogAT is used to:
- Compare a student's cognitive development to their peers
- Help educators determine instructional strategies
- Qualify students for gifted or talented programs
The CogAT is made up of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions, and is divided into separate test levels.
PPES CALENDAR
PALISADES PARK ELEMENTARY PTSA
September
September
2nd Labor Day (No School)
11th Fall Picture Day (Uniform not required)
- 16th Back to School Curriculum Night (6:00-7:30)
- 16th Boy Scouts Information Night (6:00-7:30)
- 25th Early Release Day (Dismissal is at 12:00)
30th SLT (4:15 in Media Center)
30th PTSA Meeting (5:00pm in the Media Center)
30th Fall Picture Day (Uniforms not required)
Our current Spirit Wear inventory is now available to purchase online on our Givebacks website!
Check it out here!
Be on the lookout for our upcoming Spirit Wear Pre-Sale!
REMINDERS FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR
Remember:
- Morning bus riders should arrive at the assigned stop 10 minutes earlier than the designated time. Please be mindful that the bus may arrive 10 minutes prior or 10 minutes later than the assigned time.
- If your bus is not there according to schedule on the first week, please be patient. Do not call the school for information. Bus drivers have to ensure they are receiving students according to the list provided by CMS transportation.
- Afternoon bus riders may experience later arrival times initially as the bus drivers need to take time to ensure students are dropped off at the correct locations.
- It is not unusual for buses to run late the first week.
- If a bus is running later than 20 minutes in the afternoon, a message will be sent to parents via Parent Square. Please make sure you have downloaded the Parent Square application to your phone.
WE ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!
MORNING AND AFTERNOON BUS RIDERS
For afternoon dismissal:
- Please make sure your child has a tag attached to his/her bookbag indicating first and last name.
- Make sure the tag indicates the mode of transportation for going home: bus, bus number, carrider, ASEP, daycare van, or walker.
If students are going to be walkers in the afternoon, a parent/guardian must be at the top of the steps with a walker tag. Parents should remain on the sidewalk at the top of the stairs during afternoon dismissal. If you did not get a walker tag during Open House, it will be provided on the first day of school. Parents need to commit to being a walker for the duration of the year. On rainy days, walkers will be placed with carriders for pickup unless you inform otherwise. Please make sure your child's teacher is aware that your child will be a walker. All walkers will be called to one location and escorted out together by a staff member. You must have a walker tag for a child to be released to you.
Parents choosing to participate in morning carpool may not enter the parking lot before 7:20. If you are on the lot prior to 7:20, you may be asked to leave and drive to the back of the line. Palisades Park Elementary staff must be able to access the parking lot prior to 7:20. DO NOT PARK AND WALK YOUR CHILD UP TO THE SCHOOL.
We will increase the number of cars being loaded/unloaded during arrival/dismissal. Staff will not be opening car doors. Students must be able to open and close doors. DO NOT WAIT FOR A STAFF MEMBER TO OPEN AND CLOSE CAR DOORS. Practice with your child!
If you didn't get a carrider tag during Open House, please get one on the first day. These will be available during morning dropoff. Carrider tags are only needed for PM Carpool pickup.
Please review carpool procedures at the bottom of this newsletter.
Students are expected to be prepared for school each day. The office staff will not be responsible for delivering lunch dropped for students after arrival.
AM/PM CARPOOL PROCEDURES
ASEP students will not be released prior to 3:30 PM. ASEP parents should remain in their cars until PM carpool is over.
The back entrance to the school is reserved for buses only. Please do not enter this area during the hours of 6:30am -3:30 pm. DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF IN THIS LOCATION!
MAY I EAT LUNCH WITH MY CHILD?
IPAD/CHROME BOOK
The CMS Board of Education approved a flat fee structure for device damage and
replacement costs. Students are expected to take care of their assigned device. K-2nd grade students are assigned an IPAD and 3rd-5th are assigned a chrome book.
• New Device Fee Structure
o $10 for chargers
o $15 damaged device
o $50 lost and stolen
o $5 Miscellaneous (lost part of device)
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
DO YOU NEED TRANSPORTATION NEXT SCHOOL YEAR?
HERE COMES THE BUS- TRACK YOUR CHILD'S BUS
Sign-up for Here Comes the Bus will be available for download at
https://herecomesthebus.com OR through a mobile app available on Apple and Google Play smartphone platforms.
To sign up, parents will need the district code, 73877, and their student's unique ID number to register.