Families,

This coming week on Monday, January 20th, there will be no school for students or staff as it is a national holiday to celebrate the life and legacy of Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our students and staff will spend time in class learning and reflecting so that students reach understanding of how Dr. King's actions still impact our society today.

REMINDER: The time of year has come for us to always be keeping an eye on weather forecasts. Though neither I nor any other Harris Creek staff members have influence on decision making, our district leadership makes informed decisions based on available forecasts and given our large district. Each day, thousands of families rely on school transportation for their children to get to and from school. If school buses cannot operate safely in parts of our district, then school operations will be affected. There will always be multiple ways for you to quickly receive messages regarding school delays or cancellations. The district communications department sends out mass messages and posts on district websites and social media channels. Our PTA Facebook page provides quick notifications as well.

Today and always, thank you for your continued support of your children and our school. Together, we will help our children SOAR to reach their greatest potential!

Email: thuber@wcpss.net
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/harriscreekes
Location: Harris Creek Elementary School, Forestville Road, Raleigh, NC, USA
Phone: 919.217.5100
Facebook: facebook.com/HarrisCreekPta

The Kids Heart Challenge is in full swing, and we’re having a blast! But we need your help to reach 50% of our students registered online. Here’s how you can make a difference:

Download the AHA Schools app for iPhone or Android to search for our school or Click Here and sign your student up. Then you can customize and share a video to send to family and friends where they can learn Hands-Only CPR and warning signs of a stroke and ask for donations!

Already signed up? Thank you! Now, take it further:

1. Make a personal donation to support the cause.
2. Send a quick message to friends and family to rally their support!

Not Signed up yet? There’s still time to join the excitement! Simply:

1. Click Here to sign up online and be part of the action.
2. Complete Finn’s Mission together with your family to learn life-saving skills and become a lifesaver.

We will have limited availability for track changes for next school year. Track changes are considered but not guaranteed. The request window will close on Monday February 17th, 2025.

NOTE: Rolesville Middle School is switching to traditional calendar beginning with the 2025-26 school year and therefore we will plan to open 4th Grade Track 2 for 2025-26.

KidzArt drawing classes Session 3 begins on Feb 5 (Track 3 students begin on Feb 19). Every week is a new project and returning students are welcome! Classes meet on Wednesdays at 4-5 pm in the Art Room for K-5th grades students. Your child will bring home a finished artwork that he/she will be proud of each week! For more info contact Chen the owner at cjiang@kidzart.com. To register please visit www.northraleigh.kidzart.com.

Tennis Time club continues at Harris Creek on Thursdays beginning February 6th! View the flyer below and use the link to register.

Now is the best time to pre-order your yearbook! Click the image above to access the website to place your pre-order. Pre-ordering helps our PTA tremendously and helps avoid last minute rush to get yearbooks to students at the end of the school year. Thank you!

Registration for Kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year is now open. If you have a rising Kindergarten student, please complete the enrollment process as early as possible to help our school plan for next year. Thank you!

Have an awesome school related photo you think would be best for the yearbook? Field trip pics? First day of school? Pics from Spirit nights at our community partner restaurants? ALL submissions should be sent for consideration directly to Jostens using this link!

Please consider uploading photos periodically rather than waiting until later in the school year.

Thank you in advance!

• Jan 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No school for staff or students
• Jan 24: Track 3 last day before track out
• Jan 27: Track 4 returns
• Jan 28: PTA General Membership Meeting 6pm
• Feb 3-7: National School Counselor Week
• Feb 5: Shadow Factory Cultural Arts Assemblies Tracks 2&4
• Feb 10-21: Spring Book Fair
• Feb 12: Live Storyteller Cultural Arts Assemblies
• Feb 12: Family Literacy Night + Book Fair Open Hours 4:30-7pm (date change)
• Feb 14: Track 2 last day before track out
• Feb 17: Track 3 returns
• Feb 26: Shadow Factory Cultural Arts Assemblies Tracks 1&3
• Mar 9: Daylight Savings Time begins
• [SAVE THE DATE] May 9: Eagle Fun Fest 5:30-8:30pm

There's no better way to prepare your child for Kindergarten than Pre-K!

Families of children who will be 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2025 can apply for Pre-K services for next school year starting on January 13. The Wake Pre-K application will allow families to submit one application to determine their eligibility for one of three different services:

• WCPSS Title I Pre-K
• NC Pre-K
• Telamon Head Start

The online 2025-2026 Wake Pre-K Application will be available January 13. Eligibility for the Title I program is based on academic need. Eligibility for NC Pre-K and Telamon Head Start is based on financial need. Applicants will be considered based on how well they fit the program criteria. Applications are NOT first come, first served. The deadline to apply for a Wake County Public Schools Title I Pre-K is June 13. See the flyer below for more details.

Per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Section 1111(d)(2), schools receive the federal identification of TSI-AT in North Carolina by having one or more of the following subgroups receive a subgroup performance grade score at or below the lowest 5% of schools across the state during the 2023-2024 academic year; and being identified as a consistently underperforming subgroup for the previous year. Subgroup performance scores are provided for the following subgroups of students: (1) Students with Disabilities, (2) Economically Disadvantaged, (3) Black, (4) White, (5) Hispanic, (6) Asian-Pacific Islander, (7) Multi-racial, and (8) English Learners.

As a designated TSI-AT school, Harris Creek Elementary School is required to develop a comprehensive improvement plan that specifically addresses how the school will improve student achievement for the subgroup(s) consistently underperforming. Please use the links below to access the family notification letters in both English and Spanish.

Every 2 years, public schools in NC are required to create a School Improvement Plan based on state guidelines. Schools set goals based on historical data, future school vision, and the school district Strategic Plan. Our staff recently voted to approve the plan for 2024-2026. The plan is highly detailed and includes goals, action steps, and timelines. The graphic below, created by School Improvement Team Chair Emily Waters, captures a brief overview of the plan.

Harris Creek is qualified to receive federal Title 1 funding again this school year. If you were unable to attend the informational meeting on October 14th, please access the below linked presentation to learn more.

We are grateful for the outreach from many of our parents and community members asking how they can help support school meals and alternative food distribution efforts.

Individuals or organizations that want to donate to the Districtwide Angel Fund to help students who don't have enough money to purchase their school meals can complete this form to send with their donation, and those that want to engage others in their community in this effort can use this flyer for outreach.

WCPSS offers the Family Academy Parent Workshops to the WCPSS school and community to provide parents with the tool to help their children with their academic success.

Harris Creek Elementary is now recruiting tutors for our Parent and Community Team (PACT). PACT will be coordinated by Intervention Team Lead Dawn Zuccarini and will support the academic growth of students at Harris Creek during the 2024-25 school year. Are you already a WakeTogether HELPS trained tutor? Then this is a perfect opportunity to help your own school community! Did you know that many companies in our area (including WCPSS) offer "Community/Volunteer Leave" days/hours to employees? Be sure to check if your employer offers this type of leave which you can use to volunteer as part of PACT. Thank you for considering!

Did you know that our school has an online spirit wear store? Our school colors and logo can be found on items of all sizes and types at this online store. Check it out today!

HCES Carpool Expectations (updated for 24-25)

Please read the linked document in it's entirety.

ID Checks Take Place in The Front Office

Family members who do not have a carpool tag will be required to park (disabled spots) and come into the front office to have their ID checked to verify they are a student contact. This is a return to pre-pandemic procedures and to address staffing shortage. In addition, cars without carpool tags will remain in the carpool line rather than advance past the cones. If you need a new carpool tag, please come to the front office anytime during school hours. Thank you!

Students May Not Be Dropped Off Until 8:45am

Please be reminded of the expectation that students may not be dropped off until 8:45am. Students may not line up at the front door. (except while Tracks 1,3,4 are tracked in together and an adult is present - until September 6th)

Carpool Efficiency Reminders

Please remember to pull forward as far as possible in both AM and PM carpool, have your student(s) open their own door, and put on your hazard lights if assistance is needed (AM). If needing to help your child get in the seat, please pull forward and into a parking space so that the line can keep moving. Thank you!

Please Display Carpool Number Tags Every Afternoon

In order to ensure an efficient carpool process, please remember to hang carpool number tags to display clearly from your vehicle's rearview mirror. Please reference the image below for proper placement. This is a critical step to ensure students leave their classrooms and come outside to the correct location on the sidewalk to be picked up. Thank you!

Bus Tracking App

Please use the Here Comes the Bus app (App Store or Google Play Store) to monitor the location of your student’s bus and when it is approaching his/her stop. To sign up: https://herecomesthebus.com/parents/get-started/ . The WCPSS school code for school bus tracking is 67500. You will need to use your child's student ID number as well.

You can also follow @HCESBuses on Twitter to confirm when your child's bus leaves campus each afternoon.

If your family needs more than 2 carpool tags or you have lost one, please use the link below to submit payment for additional tags. Tags may be picked up in the front office after payment has been processed.

If you are a first time carpool user, you can stop by the front office to get 2 carpool tags for free.

Some areas for attention for all families as we establish routines:

• Please drive slow (less than 15mph) at all times through carpool lanes
• The carpool loop fills up early and usually around 3:15pm or sooner. Please do not park and expect to get out of your spot after this time. Other options include parking in a higher row or parking in the bus loop parking lot
• During afternoon carpool, always WAIT until the car in front of you starts moving. Families may not pull out and go around the car in front of them even if their child is already in the car as it creates unsafe conditions
• After 3:45pm when the carpool line has started moving, drivers should not use their phone to ensure they are always ready to drive forward when it is time

The new online school payment system is called School Cash Online. Here is the description of the new service:

SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. We accept many different payment forms so come in and check us out!

Families can register now by clicking the image below. When it comes time to pay for field trips and other needs, you'll be all set up!

Although opportunities to attend meetings and to volunteer are available and will be offered, it is not a requirement for PTA membership. Please consider joining the PTA and supporting our school in whatever capacity you are able.

• January PTA Newsletter
• Upload Yearbook Photos
• [AMAZON WISH LIST] Help Stock The Teacher's Lounge! 😋
  
• Join the PTA
• Upcoming PTA Meeting Dates: 1/28/25, 4/1/25
• Teacher Breakfasts/Lunches: TBD
• PTA Angel Fund: Please consider a donation to fund field trips for other Eagles! Click the link to donate: all donations go towards funding individual students for future field trips
• Check out the School Spirit Wear Online Store!
• Follow the Harris Creek Elementary PTA Facebook page

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW!

We are changing how we handle pre-orders and want to be sure EVERYONE hears the news!

1) PRE-ORDERS END MARCH 28th 2025 and are processed directly via our printer Jostens. You get all sorts of personalization options via the link below.

2) LIMITED GRADE 5 special graduation AD sales END FEB 13th 2025!!

Those purchasing grade 5 celebration ads will work directly with Jostens on their ads. Don’t miss out as space is limited. Once they are gone they are gone for good!

3) ALL pre orders will be processed and delivered when we receive the yearbooks. A SMALL amount of overages purchased for new students will be placed on sale via our pta site at the END of the school year.

We do not guarantee a specific delivery date of these so please choose the pre order option. Limited PTA staff have jobs and responsibilities and do their best to handle last minute orders. With this much advanced purchase time we hope to avoid a last-minute scramble!

HCES School Counselors Jessica Krauss and Mark Speight have created this excellent resources for parents and caregivers to support their child's and their own mental wellness. Use the links below to access the video and attachments. The goals of the workshop are:

1. Understand why mental wellness is important for Elementary School Children
2. Identify mental health warning signs and how to address them early on
3. Learn ways to support your child’s mental health and wellness

The second half of the school year can be a time of exponential academic growth for students! When it's time to help your child at home, be sure to use the below linked Google Site to support you.

Families: please use the below linked Google Site to access math curriculum information and resources for all grade levels K-5th. Information and resources are grouped by unit and lesson. To find out which unit and lesson your child is currently learning and/or which unit/lesson they need more practice with, please contact your child's teacher.

• Apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals 🍕🍴🍌

• Click this link for full details: Free/Reduced Meals. Please allow 10 business days for processing. For every student that turns in the free and reduced meals application and qualifies, the school also receives federal funds that benefit the students and teachers at the school. If you have not completed a free or reduced-price meal application and think your child may be eligible, pick up an application at your child’s school or apply online.

• Cafeteria Menus: Menus are available on the interactive website, MealViewer.

• School Cafeteria Angel Fund: Our school cafeteria maintains a special account for when students forget to bring money for school meals on a day here and there. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please send cash or check in with your child or drop it off at the school with Cafeteria Manager Rachel Shepard. Thank you for your generosity!

• MySchoolBucks App: With a MySchool Bucks account paying for school meals is easy. Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com or call (855) 832-5226 to enroll. You'll need your child's Student ID number, available in your registration materials or at your school. Once your account is established you may:
  

• Securely deposit funds to your child's account
• Check balances
• Set spending limits

• Questions about applying for free and reduced meals:

  (919) 856-2920 (English)

  (919) 588-3535 (English and Spanish)

  cnsmealbenefits@wcpss.net

REPLACEMENT CHARGER POLICY

Each student is issued a charger with their Chromebook. If that charger breaks, or goes missing, we will replace it at no cost to you ONE time. After that, Media and Technology Committee along with HCES Administration, has determined it is necessary to pass along replacement costs to the students.

At this time, if your student loses or breaks their second charger, they will need to see the tech office. They will be advised to have you pay a $20 replacement fee on our payment portal (School Cash Online) to receive a new charger. Use the button below to order

For safety reasons, it is not advised to order your own replacement as standards must be met for wattage, manufacturing guidelines etc. Once paid for, we will handle securing a charger for your student.

Please note: we have a running record of all replacements that have been made to date that will be used to determine eligibility for a replacement charger.

WCPSS Technology Webpage: Acces information regarding:

• Smartphone/Device Safety
• Consent For Technology And Digital Resource Use
• Technology Related Policies
• Student Device Program
• Online Safety at School
• Online Safety at Home
• Digital Wellness

Reminder: Students should restart their WCPSS devices once per week.

Restarting also can resolve many other common issues impacting student devices. Always restart a WCPSS device before contacting the Help Desk. Thank you!

Parents Helping Parents (PHP) prevention philosophy is grounded in a self-help model based on the belief that parents are capable of developing their own solutions when given the space, encouragement, and community resources that they need. Thus, it is the parents themselves who decide the direction a conversation will take during a Parent Support Group meeting or Parent Stress Line.

​

Through a combination of trust, mutual support, honesty, and collective wisdom, involvement with PHP can become the foundation for a parent's own personal growth and change.

General health guidance can be viewed here: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/168

We recognize that you may be receiving a large volume of communication and we want to make sure you always see the information you need the most!

Set your SchoolMessenger message preferences by creating a SchoolMessenger Parent account. With this account you can select what information you receive and how you would like to receive it. You can create your account by downloading the SchoolMessenger app on your mobile device or go to https://go.schoolmessenger.com/.

Notes:

• Use the email address entered for your student in PowerSchool to sign up.
• Most messages from Mr. Huber and WCPSS are sent as email and text using the General School Info broadcast.
• To receive text messages, text YES to 67587.
• For more information and instructions on how to create an account, visit: https://www.wcpss.net/schoolmessenger.

As Harris Creek Eagles, we SOAR!

Website: https://www.wcpss.net/harriscreekes
Location: Harris Creek Elementary School, Forestville Road, Raleigh, NC, USA
Phone: 919-217-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarrisCreekPta
Twitter: @harriscreeekelem