Cheetah Chronicles
March 31, 2024
Important Dates
April 5: Tracks 1,2,3 - Q3 Report Cards Go Home, PTA Pokemon Go Meet-Up
April 26: Track 4 - Q3 Report Cards Go Home, PTA Bingo Night
May 3: Walk to School Day, PTA General Meeting
May 4: Cheetah Pride Day at Needmore Farms
May 10: Kindergarten Orientation
May 30: Track 1 Meet the Cheetahs
June 20: Track 2,3,4 Meet the Cheetahs
What's New
Student/Teacher Characteristics Letters
We welcome letters from parents who wish to inform us of the needs (strengths, characteristics, etc.) of their child for the 2024-2025 school year. As we are unable to meet with each parent, this is a great way to share information about your child. We ask that you not mention a particular teacher’s name, since we will not be able to honor individual teacher requests. All letters should be provided to HSES in a sealed envelope addressed to Ms. McKinnon, Assistant Principal and/or emailed to jmckinnon@wcpss.net. Please send teacher characteristic letters by April 30, 2024. NO LETTERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.
Meet the Cheetahs
Parents and students will meet with their next year's teacher, in the teacher's current classroom regardless of any track or grade level changes. Classrooms will not be set up for the new school year, therefore families are asked not to bring any supplies.
Track 1: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Track 2,3,4: Thursday, June 20, 2024
Time: 4:45 - 5:45
District Technology Policy
The purpose of this section is to provide updated information to families about the use of personal devices which aligns with district policy - smartwatches, cell phones, etc. on school grounds. Board Policy 3225 Technology Responsible Use states:
Students are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct and the applicable “Rules for Use of Technology Resources” set forth in this policy when students use a personal device on school property, at school-sponsored events, on school-based transportation, or anytime a personal device is connected to school system technology resources. As an example, students using a personal device on school property, at school-sponsored events, on school-based transportation, or when the device is connected to school system technology resources, shall not engage in creating, intentionally viewing, accessing, downloading, storing, printing or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages or other material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, or abusive.
Recently, more and more students are wearing Smartwatches or similar items to school. Smartwatches are allowed only if put on Airplane mode in order to disable text messages and phone calls from being received by the watch/device. The watch is considered a cell phone UNLESS airplane mode is activated. Cell Phones should also be in Airplane mode and in student backpacks. If a student's cell-phone is out after the teacher has asked for it to be put away, the cell phone will be placed in the school office for a parent to pick up. The school system assumes no responsibility for personal technology devices brought to school.
Security Procedures Process Change
Please note that we are always looking for ways to advance security within WCPSS. We have been in collaboration with WCPSS Security/Holly Springs Police Department. Each school will use a QR code outside of the building. This will be a little tweak to our process for check in/out and visitors on campus. Please see below for the new directions and make sure you bring your cell phone and ID with you each time! This should also help with not creating a line inside the office. If you have issues, please use the buzzer to the left of the building.
Single Subject Acceleration
Parents interested in having their child evaluated for SINGLE Subject Acceleration (SSA): Please click HERE for the 2024 SSA Parent Information presentation. Please review the entire SSA Parent Information presentation to determine if SSA testing is appropriate for your child. PLEASE NOTE: Embedded in the presentation is the link for the required "SSA Test Request" Google form.
Completed SSA Test Request Google forms will ONLY be accepted during your track's window.
-Track 1 + Track 3: February 21 - March 5, 2024
-Track 4: March 11-22, 2024
-Track 2: April 1-12, 2024.
The same SSA info can also be found on the school's homepage (https://www.wcpss.net/hollyspringses) and http://bit.ly/HSESAIG (access code AIG). If you have questions regarding SSA, please contact Kiersten Bashor (kbashor@wcpss.net), AIG teacher.
EOG Testing Dates (Grades 3, 4, & 5)
Parents/Guardians - The HSES EOG dates have been finalized and can be found here and on the HSES website. It is important that every effort is made for your 3rd, 4th, and/or 5th grade child to be present during EOG testing days. Please plan vacations/trips, doctor appointments, etc. accordingly.
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.
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 Fairness. Fairness means you believe that all people have value. You approach situations with an unbiased mindset and treat everyone with respect.
Fairness is the product of moral judgement — the process by which people determine what is morally right and what is morally wrong. Moral reasoning has been explored and analyzed in two main traditions: the justice reasoning approach and the care reasoning approach.
For individuals, cultivating the character strength of fairness is correlated with highly desirable developmental outcomes. It helps people to become trustworthy friends, responsible citizens, and generally moral people.
To practice and encourage the character strength of fairness 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
Welcome
We would like to introduce you to our “new-ish” School Social Worker, Dedrick Gaddy. He is returning to HSES after several years at Holly Ridge MS. He has a wealth of mental health experience and we are grateful to add him to our Student Services Team.
Parent Teacher Association
Walk to School Day & PTA General Meeting - Friday, May 3rd
Pokemon Go Meet-Up - Friday, April 5th
Bingo Night - Friday, April 26th 6-7:30pm
Cheetah Pride Day at Needmore Farms - Saturday, May 4th
School Store Help!
School Store will be open on February 6th (K-2) and February 13th (3-5)! If you are able to lend a hand from 8:30-9:30am, please sign up HERE! Thank you!
For our Cheetah-rific 5th Graders!
Save the date! 5th Grade Committee Meeting - Tuesday, February 20th at 4:30pm\
Yard Signs
Yard Sign (Without Name): https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/962394
OR
(Personalized): https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/962395
T-Shirt Donations
T-Shirt Donation: https://hsespta.memberhub.com/store/items/964567
Order Your 2023-24 Yearbook!
Yearbook Photos!
Cheetah FamilyFest (summer kickoff)
CheetahBlast (formerly O'Holly Night)
Fall Movie Night (Mario Movie)
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).