Hawks Happenings

The first five days of school were great! Thank you for your patience with the bus routes, car rider line and sign in procedures that started on Friday. Remember that as everyone becomes more familiar with the procedures, things will move a lot quicker.

Last week we held our first fire drill and bus evacuation drills. This Friday (September 6) we will practice our Perimeter and Full Lockdown procedures since this is a state requirement. When speaking with our students about these drills, we strive to use scenarios that do not scare our students.

• Perimeter Lockdown: we explain that a perimeter lockdown is when a 'mean dog' or animal is outside so we all have to stay in the building. Anyone in the trailers come inside during a Perimeter Lockdown but instruction continues as normal. Schools often have a perimeter lockdown if there is a bear on campus or if there is something going on with law enforcement in the area but there is no threat to our school campus.
• Full Lockdown: we practice what to do if the mean dog gets inside our building. Students are directed to a secure location in the classroom and must stay as quiet as possible. Once locations are checked, the drill is over.

We had a great turnout at our PTO meeting last week. It is not too late to be part of the NBES PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). The group is gearing up for their first big fundraiser and community event - the NBES Fall Festival! Please mark your calendars for Friday, October 25th. More information about volunteering and how you can support this event will come home soon! The next PTO meeting is Friday, September 20 at 8:30 AM in the PTO Trailer. Please join us!

Thank you for all you do to support North Buncombe Elementary School! We are proud that our students are growing, learning and succeeding here at NBES!

Working Together,

Mrs. Heidi Allison

Here are some general reminders:

• Remember that any parent who plans to walk their child to class at morning arrival will need to sign in at the office. You will need to wear a visitor sticker in a visible location as you travel through the hallways. Make sure to bring your ID for a quicker sign in.
• All students are expected to be in their classroom by 8AM. Any student who is not in the classroom by 8 AM will need a tardy slip to gain entry to the classroom. Check in at the main office to get a tardy slip.
• If you are late, please be sure to park in a parking space (not in the car rider circle) and walk your child into the office.
• Tardy students may NOT be escorted to class by parents since classroom instruction has already began. Staff will assist your child to their classroom if they are not sure of the way.
• Reminder for car riders: if your child gets out of the car on the driver's side, they MUST walk in front of your car to the sidewalk. You will look out for your own child walking in front of your car but the car behind you may not know to be on the lookout!

• PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR ID IF YOU ARE CHECKING YOUR CHILD IN TARDY OR CHECKING YOUR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY.

The NBES Book Fair is coming - September 20 - September 27. More information about setting up an online 'wallet' and shopping will be coming home soon!

Encourage your child to wear their best smile to school on picture day!

Buncombe County Schools is looking for a parent/guardian representative from NBES who is willing to serve on the district Media Technology Advisory Council. If this sounds like something you would be interested in and you have time to meet for an hour or so each month, please contact Heidi Allison at (828) 645-6054 or heidi.allison@bcsemail.org. Thank you!

Please contact Ms. Woehl with any questions at angela.woehl@bcsemail.org or (828) 645-6054.

NBES welcomes volunteers! There are many ways for individuals to volunteer at our school. All volunteers must fill out an online volunteer application and be on the approved volunteer list before volunteering.

Level 1 Volunteers - General volunteer - never supervising students

Level 2 Volunteers - Volunteer who supervises/gives directions to students or serves in a leadership role (such as PTO board). This level is required for any parent attending a field trip. This level requires a background check (conducted by Buncombe County Schools).

Parents may get a link to complete a volunteer application by calling the main office at (828) 645-6054. Mrs. Clubb, Mrs. Fender or Mrs. Honeycutt can help you with this process.

Even though lunch is free, you can still send money/load money for your child to buy additional snacks and/or ice cream.

We even have exciting news for families who normally pack their lunch! Lunch boxers may 'complete your meal for free'! Lunch boxers can get at least 3 additional items to complete their meals (example: add a grain, a fruit and a milk)! This is a great support for families! We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity!

At this point, our School Nutrition Department is sharing that families do not need to complete the online Free and Reduced lunch application unless you need this status to help you quality for another community support. We always encourage families to complete this form yearly.

One of our top priorities here at NBES is to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. This includes the car line pick-up of children during afternoon dismissal. Cars should not form a car line anywhere on campus prior to 2:15 PM! It is the parent's responsibility to share this information with grandparents or others who are picking up your children.

Car rider name cards are issued for car riders. This card is to be placed in your car window for afternoon pick-up. If you need additional cards, please contact the school office.

If there have been any changes in pick-up information or custody issues related to your child’s pick-up, please contact the school office to make us aware. Please also make us aware anytime there is a change during the school year.

Please print your child’s (children’s) FIRST and LAST name on the card in large, dark letters. This card should be displayed in view on the driver’s side of the card (on the dashboard, sun visor, etc.). If you arrive at school without your official NBES car rider card, you will be asked to park and office staff will need to approve the pick-up. This means that you will have to walk inside the building to the main office. Remember to bring your ID! This is not meant to be an inconvenience to anyone but your child's safety is our top priority! Please do not ask staff members on duty to compromise this policy and risk the safety of our students.

Car riders are held in the building until their name is called. At that time your child (children) will come out and wait for you at the curb occupied by one of our staff members. All car riders must be picked up in the car rider line.

NBES staff cannot buckle or unbuckle seatbelts/child restraints. Please teach your child how to buckle up so the car rider line can move quickly and efficiently.

Traffic will move more smoothly, quickly, and safely in the afternoon by following these dismissal procedures. Thank you for your cooperation as we all work together to ensure student safety.

We are asking for your assistance in keeping our schools safe. As you know, our schools are usually bustling with activity such as visitors dropping by for various reasons. As a reminder, here are our guidelines when multiple people are arriving at the same time.

If you have buzzed in and are being screened and you notice another visitor is arriving, please don't hold the door and allow anyone in without being screened first.

If the other visitor is 15 feet or less from the door, please buzz in and be screened together. If the visitor is more than 15 feet from the door, please buzz in and ensure the door is closed completely after you enter.

We certainly want to encourage politeness and our visitors understand that it is unsafe to hold doors and allow visitors in without being verified by front office staff first. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Safety of students and staff is the top priority of schools. NBES follows all state and local guidelines regarding school safety. In order to provide a safe learning environment, it is extremely important that all parents, grandparents and visitors to our school follow all safety guidelines. If a grandparent participates in your child's drop off/pick up routine, please make sure that you share all of the information above with them.

Part of having a safe school is making sure that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. NBES has a safety plan that is updated at least yearly. We have a well trained School Resource Officer provided by Buncombe County Sherriff's Department. Staff members participate in safety training yearly. Part of our training with students involves classroom discussions and safety drills. Please see the list below for more information.

Classroom discussions focus on:

• keeping hands, feet and other objects to self
• following teacher directions
• students not opening outside doors for anyone
• staying with the class when transitioning through the building
• how to exit the school quickly when the fire alarm is heard

Safety Drills include:

• monthly fire drill
• bus safety drills at the beginning of each semester
• perimeter and full lockdown drills
• bomb threat/evacuation drill (we won't actually leave campus)
• tornado drill

During safety drills students are assured that we are just practicing what to do in case we have an emergency.

ALL parents and visitors to campus must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor sticker (or a volunteer pass if applicable). Please note that you must sign in even if you are only visiting the cafeteria. Your cooperation in helping us to follow Central Office policy and ensuring the safety of all children is expected and appreciated.

If you have an appointment or scheduled time to be at school in the morning, and wish to walk in with your child, please still plan to follow the established procedure of coming to the office, signing the visitor registry, and obtaining a visitor tag.

Visitors will only be allowed to visit a classroom (during instructional time) if the visitor has scheduled the visit with the teacher beforehand or if the visitor is a scheduled volunteer.

Parents are invited to eat with their child in the cafeteria; however, as a courtesy to other students, we ask that you do not bring outside food such as fast food and/or sodas into the school cafeteria. Parents should arrive at school in time to get a visitor’s pass and report to the lunchroom hallway five minutes before the scheduled lunch time. Please always let the teacher know ahead of time if you plan to eat with your child.

Parents are welcome to join their child during lunch AFTER September 13th. This gives our school time to teach the procedures and expectations of cafeteria behavior to our students. Special holiday meal lunches will be scheduled for specific grade levels throughout the school year. Parents of identified grade levels will be invited to attend these lunches.

The daily lunch menu will be read during morning announcements. Occasionally there will be a menu change due to late deliveries or snow days. You can find links to BCS menus here: https://www.buncombeschools.org/page/menus-and-pricing

Should you desire to bring in a special snack for your child’s birthday or another event, please coordinate this with your child’s teacher so as not to conflict with our lunchroom policies. In addition, any food brought into the school to be shared with students must be store bought with ingredients listed. Please allow school staff to distribute snacks due to their knowledge and understanding of students’ allergies and dietary needs. Our school also encourages healthy snacks and choices.

https://www.ingles-markets.com/tools-for-schools-link

September 3 - Beginning of the year assessments begin for students

September 6 - Perimeter and Full Lockdown Safety Drill

September 10 - BOG Reading Test for 3rd grade students

September 12 - School Improvement Team Meeting

September 16 - Hispanic Heritage Month begins!

September 19 - NBES Advisory Council Meeting at 7:45 AM

September 20 - PTO Meeting at 8:30 AM in PTO Trailer

September 20 - 27 - NBES Book Fair!

September 24 - Picture Day!

September 26 - Title 1 Open House and Curriculum Night

• Session 1 - 5:45 - 6:15 PM
• Session 2 - 6:30 - 7:00 PM

September 27 - Early Dismissal Day (12:25 dismissal) & NBHS Homecoming and Homecoming Parade

October 7 - No School - Teacher Workday

October 8 - No School - Teacher Workday

October 10 - School Improvement Team Meeting

October 18 - PTO Meeting at 8:30 AM in the PTO Trailer

October 24 - Health Fair - please return permission slips

October 25 - NBES Fall Festival (PTO Fundraiser)

October 31 - Early Dismissal Day - School will dismiss at 12:25 PM

Growing, Learning, Succeeding at NBES!

Email: heidi.allison@bcsemail.org
Website: https://nbes.buncombeschools.org/o/nbe
Location: 251 Flat Creek Church Road, Weaverville, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 645-6054
Facebook: facebook.com/www.facebook.comNBuncombeES

Instagram: @northbuncombees