"The Parent's Nest"
Weekly News #24
February 4 - February 10, 2024
Eno Valley Mission
Eno Valley Elementary builds purposeful relationships with scholars and families that foster growth and ignite diverse opportunities for leadership and service in their communities.
Eno Valley Vision
Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Eno Valley Motto
Kids First!
Principal's Message
Greetings!
Parents, please remember per the letter you received last week, that starting tomorrow, Monday, February 5th there will be 3 new bus numbers as follows:
Bus 618 will now be Bus 243
Bus 117 will now be Bus 203
Bus 120 will now be Bus 616
Also, please remember that class pictures are scheduled for Wednesday, February 7th.
Everyone, your continued flexibility, and support as we work through a really difficult time in Durham Public Schools is greatly appreciated.
Let’s all continue to work together helping scholars to stay on track! Parents, please continue to read with your scholar for 20 minutes each night, ensure your scholar is completing homework each night, as well as getting plenty of rest and getting to school each day on time. Together we can make it happen and ensure scholars finish this school year strong!
That’s all for now! I look forward to seeing all scholars in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, with the right people this week. Everyone stay safe, stay healthy, and remember: Kids 1st!
Wings up, and SOAR EAGLES SOAR!
Important Upcoming Dates
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
- February 5 - 9: National School Counselor Week
- February 7- Class pictures
- February 9- FIeld trips (K- 2 to Carolina Therater, 3rd to Nasher)
- February 12 - 16: Valentine's Spirit Week
- February 15- Field Trip (5th grade to Hillside)
- Febraury 16- Early Release, school dismisses at 12:15
- February 19- Teacher Workday
- February 20- Evening to Shine at DPAC, 7pm
- February 26- Dental Screenings (PK, K, & 5th)
*ALERT* New Bus Numbers
Please be reminded, 3 of our school buses are now operating with new buses and bus numbers. The new buses are in operation and will be picking up/ dropping off scholars from now on. Please help scholars learn to look for their new bus. The changes are listed below:
Bus 618 will now be Bus 243
Bus 117 will now be Bus 203
Bus 120 will now be Bus 616
School Counselor Appreciation
Show some love for our wonderful school counselors and all they do to support Eno Valley scholars. Share a memory, some kind words, or any appreciation on the School Counselor Padlet.
Valentine's Spirit Week
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Communication and School Partnership
To maintain a successful school-home partnership, communication is a critical component. We have noticed a recent uptick in circumstances where an incident has occurred, a parent/guardian reaches out to schedule a meeting with administration regarding the incident, and during the meeting, it is determined that the scholar never notified a teacher or any adult about the incident. If a teacher or staff member is not made aware of an incident that occurs, it makes it impossible to address and rectify the matter. Please partner with us to ensure effective communication is occurring - if your scholar shares that an incident occurred at school, please ask first - "did you tell your teacher or any other adult about what happened?" If the answer is no, please reach out to let us know about the incident so that we can properly investigate and follow - up. If the answer is yes, please reach out so we can follow - up. We appreciate your continued support!
Elementary Student Assignment
Families with students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, by now you should have received a letter from the Student Assignment office about the new 2024-25 Elementary Student Assignment Plan. The letter is your official notice of your child’s zoned neighborhood school for next year. I want to remind you of our online resource for learning more about your school choices. Visit dpsnc.net/possibilities to see what schools are in your region.
If you want to learn even more about your school possibilities, make plans to attend the Showcase of Schools on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Durham Convention Center. Find all the details online at dpsnc.net/possibilities.
Bus Safety Updates
School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation's students, and is the direct link between a neighborhood and the classroom. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day, and National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. Here are tips to keep our children safe at the bus stop.
Getting Ready for School
Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way.
Encourage them to wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.
Make sure children leave home on time so they can arrive at the bus stop before it is due, ideally at least five minutes early. Running after or in front of a bus is dangerous.
Walking to the Bus Stop
Walk young children to the bus stop or encourage children to walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.
Practice good pedestrian behavior: walk on the sidewalk, and if there is no sidewalk stay out of the street. If you must walk in the street, walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as you can.
Stop and look left, right and then left again if you must cross the street. Do the same thing at drive -ways and alleys. Exaggerate your head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows you are looking left, right and left.
At the Bus Stop
Have children wait in a location where the driver can see them while driving down the street.
Try to avoid waiting in a house or car.
Do not let children play in the street. Playing with balls or other toys that could roll into the street is also dangerous.
Getting On and Off the Bus
Warn children that if they drop something getting on and off the bus, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions.
Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus.
If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited to see you after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.
Mobile Devices
Cell phones and other electronic devices are often permitted on the school bus as long as:
They are in backpacks or other holders, keeping hands free to use handrails while board and departing the bus.
o Sound is muted or headphones, earbuds or similar devices are used.
o Content does not violate the law or school district policy and procedures.
o Use does not create a distraction for the driver
Class Dojo
Eno Valley utilizes Class Dojo as our primary communication tool, and it is pertinent that you are connected to stay in the know. Please make sure that you have signed up for Class Dojo. If you have not signed up or have any questions, please reach out to your scholar's teacher.
Parent Portal
Durham Public Schools utilizes Parent Portal to share information about your scholar's attendance, progress reports and report cards. Please make sure that you are connected to the parent portal to stay abreast of your scholar's academic performance. The first quarter progress reports will be the only information sent home on paper, because we want to give everyone the opportunity to connect to the portal. All other progress reports and report cards will only be available on the Parent Portal. If you need assistance connecting to the Parent Portal, please see the resources below or reach out to the front office.
Click HERE for class lists by grade level
Reminders
- Mornings drop-off is 7:15 - 7:45. Scholars are late after 7:45 and MUST be signed in by a parent/ guardian at the front office
- Afternoon pickup begins at 2:15. Scholars who are not picked up after carpool dismissal ends must be signed out at the front office
- Pre-K scholars are dismissed at 2:05
- Transportation changes must be communicated by 1:00pm each day by calling the front office at (919)560-3915
- Scholars will NOT be dismissed after 1:30pm. If the scholar has an afternoon appointment, they must be picked up before 1:30pm
- Scholars in kindergarten, first grade, and 2nd grade must have an adult present at the bus stop at time of drop off. If there is no one there to receive the scholar, they will be returned to school and need to be picked up by a guardian
- Scholar birthdays are celebrated on the last Friday of each month. There are no cupcakes, treats, balloons, etc. permitted throughout the month
- Lunch with scholars must be pre-approved with administration to minimize disruptions to the scholars' day
Volunteer Information
If you are interested in being a volunteer this year, you must first complete an application and brief background check. You can complete all of this online by registering HERE or following the link below. Please note that volunteer approvals are valid for one school year.
After you register please allow 7-10 days for approval. Once you receive your approval email, you can indicate what kind of volunteer opportunities you are looking for. Volunteers are needed for tutoring, reading, clerical work, chaperones, family events, and more.
For specific questions, contact Assistant Principal, Mrs. Robinson at (919) 560-391, Ext 15810.
Eno Valley Leadership
Dr. Tounya Wright, Principal (tounya_wright@dpsnc.net)
Dianna Robinson, Assistant Principal (dianna_robinson@dpsnc.net)
Wintre' Shaw, Assistant Principal (wintre_shaw@dpsnc.net)