Cheetah Chronicles
Week of September 9, 2024
Important Dates
9-9-24 - Welcome back Track 2!
9-13-24 - IA Appreciation Day
9-19-24 - Boosterthon Kickoff Tracks 3 & 4
9-20-24 - School Store (K-2)
9-20-24 - Student Council Meeting
9-23-24 - Kindergarten Safety Day Tracks 3 & 4
9-26-24 - School Store (3-5)
9-27-24 - Boosterthon Fun Run Tracks 3 & 4
9-30-24 - Boosterthon Kickoff Tracks 1 & 2
What's New
Student Assignment Proposal Information
Please us the link below to read information on proposed school assignment changes for the 2025-2026 school year.
HSES Homework Grading Plan
Use the following link to read the HSES Homework Grading Plan for 24-25:
Message from Dr. McKinnon
Dear Holly Springs ES Families,
I hope this message finds you well! As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community, we wanted to take a moment to share some important information regarding our school procedures.
At Holly Springs ES we truly value and appreciate each and every one of our families. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for the success of our students. We warmly welcome all parents and guardians into our school community and encourage your involvement in your child's educational journey.
To ensure the safety of everyone, we have established procedures designed to minimize adult traffic throughout our building during school hours. These measures are in place to maintain a secure environment where students can learn and thrive without interruption. We want to emphasize that these procedures are not intended to make anyone feel unwelcome or unappreciated. On the contrary, they are in place because we care deeply about the safety of our entire school community.
Your cooperation with these safety measures is greatly appreciated. We encourage you to continue to be involved in school activities, attend school events, volunteer in your child’s classroom, and reach out whenever you have questions or concerns. We value your input and participation.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. Together, we can create a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for our students.
Warm regards,
Dr. McKinnon
Health Assessments and Immunization Records
All Health Assessments and Immunization Records are due on the first day of school.
If your child is on track 1, 2 or 3 and you have not already turned theirs in, your 30-day grace period ends on 8/6/2024.
If your child is on track 4 and you have not already turned theirs in, your 30-day grace period ends on 8/27/2024.
After those dates, your child will be excluded from school until we receive both health documents.
You can either drop it off at the front office or send it to school with your child's purple folder.
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.
Volunteer renewal closes Oct. 1
Families and individuals who were approved to volunteer in the 2023-24 school year will receive a reminder email on Sept. 5 about the simple volunteer renewal process for the 2024-25 school year. Encourage families to renew their volunteer status by Oct. 1. Review volunteer renewal details. Contact: Milton Battle (mtbattle)
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 2024-2025 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.
Parent Lunch with Child
Parents are welcome to join their child for lunch at school. To ensure a smooth experience, please note the following guidelines:
Pre-arrangement: Lunch visits must be scheduled in advance with your child’s teacher.
Location: Due to limited space in the cafeteria, parents and their child will need to enjoy lunch at the picnic tables in the courtyard or in the reading garden.
No Friends: Lunch visits are just for you and your child, so friends won't be able to join.
Procedure: Parents will meet their child at the front office and return them to the front office after lunch. Don't forget to check out at the office before leaving.
If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to the school administration.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Breakfast is $1.75 and lunch is $3.50. In order to receive free or reduced-price meals for next school year, families need to submit a meal benefits application. All families must complete an application for the 2024-2025 school year in order to receive benefits. Please allow 10 business days for processing.
Apply for free and reduced-price school meals starting July 1
To receive free or reduced-price meals for the 2024-2025 school year, families must submit a meal benefits application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper copies will be available at the office. For families who completed the 2023-2024 meal benefits application, the benefit continues for their student's first 30 school days of the 2024-2025 school year.
Check out school menus in Mealviewer
Menus will now be available on our interactive website, MealViewer. Monthly school meal menu PDFs will no longer be posted on the district website. In Mealviewer, families will be able to:
View 5 weeks of menus in PDF and print if desired
Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
Choose menu items based on allergens
View nutrients and carbohydrate count for each menu item
Print menus with carb counts per item and items with allergens designated
Security Procedures Process Change-Reminder
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.
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.
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
Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer
We would love for you to come and volunteer this school year at HSES and/or as part of PTA!
Register to volunteer HERE
Positivity Project
Click the letter below to learn more about the Positivity Project and to view the yearly calendar:
Tracks 2, 3, & 4 - Forgiveness
Counselor Connection
How to Utilize the School Counselors
The American School Counselors Associations (ASCA) offers the following tips for making a connection with your child’s school counselors:
Understand the expertise and responsibilities of your child’s school counselor. Counselors can make a measurable difference in every student’s life by assisting with academic as well as personal and social development. Professional school counselors are trained in both education and counseling, which allows them to function as facilitators between parents, teachers and students in matters concerning students’ goals, abilities and weaknesses.
Meet or contact your child"s school counselor at least three times per school year. The beginning of the school year is an excellent opportunity to initiate contact with your child’s school counselor, and doing so can ensure that your child has a positive classroom experience. Find out who the counselors are, as well as what their experience and background are. By communicating with one another at the beginning, middle and end of the school year, parents and counselors can have a definite impact on your child’s success.
Discuss your child’s challenges and concerns. As a parent, you know your child best. However, a school counselor can help you better understand your child as a student. It’s important to encourage your child’s expression of needs, hopes and frustrations. School counselors are trained to help children navigate some of these issues.
Learn about your child’s school and social connections. When you need information or assistance, your child’s school counselor can help you get in touch with the appropriate school officials; learn about school policies on behavior and attendance, navigate the school calendar, and stay connected with the school in many other ways. School counselors can also help you locate resources in the community when you need them.
ESL Updates
Do you have a different home language other than English? Are you willing to volunteer at the school? If you answered “yes” to these questions please continue reading. We are looking for HSES parents who are willing to help translate for some of our English Learning parents during school events such as curriculum night, Literacy night, etc. Currently we have a need for the following languages. Spanish, Amharic.
If you are interested or want more information please contact the ESL teacher, Sarah Rodgers (at srodgers3@wcpss.net.
Parent Teacher Association
The day is here! You can now sign up for our Holly Springs Elementary Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $35,000 for Digital Learning Programs (BrainPop, Freckle ELA/Math, Pebble Go, Generation Genius), Positivity Project, Teacher Grants & Appreciation and Family Engagement. Signing up is easy and free! Anyone who signs up online before kickoff will be entered into a drawing to win a free paw print in front of the school.
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support! Anyone who signs up online before kickoff will be entered into a drawing to win a free paw print in front of the school.
Follow our social pages for updates on our fundraiser.
Key Dates to Remember:
💻 Sign up online OPEN at MyBooster.com – Start TODAY!
🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – Track 3 & 4:9/19 and Track 1 & 2 : 9/30
👟 Event Day – Track 3&4: 9/27 and Track 1&2: 10/08
*Need help signing up? Video instructions HERE.
Fun Run Volunteers Needed!
Want to volunteer for the FUN RUN? Click the image to sign up!
**All volunteers must be approved by wcpss**
Become a PTA Member
Teacher Favorites
Ever wonder what treats to get the wonderful staff of HSES? Well wonder no more!
Click on Teacher Favorites to see, well, the teachers' favorites!
Yearbook Event Links
Took an awesome photo of your student and would love to see it in the yearbook?! Help make it amazing by adding YOURS!
First Day of School: https://plicbooks.com/go/VMXPKY
Salamanders Game: https://plicbooks.com/go/R8UBJY
- Family Fest: https://plicbooks.com/go/C6E6KL
- Movie Night Link https://plicbooks.com/go/6YHAUP
School Store
