Timberwolf Time - January 15, 2024

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

"It's A Great Day to be a Timberwolf""

Dear Timberwolf Families,

Please note - Monday, January 15, 2024 is a National Holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. There will be no school for students and staff.

As a reminder, on Friday, January 26, elementary schools will dismiss on a half-day schedule for parent/teacher conferences. ​​​​​​​T. Clay Wood's Dismissal time will be 12:40pm.

We will practice our Lockdown procedures on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 during a Lockdown Drill.

Please be sure you send your students in to school with a coat! We cannot send students out without their coats during the really cold days especially when it is below 32 degrees. Please make sure they come to school each day wearing their coat.

We truly do Everything Better Together as a Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Dr. Andrew Buchheit

Principal

#TimberwolvesROCK

“At T. Clay Wood, Everyone Belongs”

Dear T. Clay Wood Elementary Families,

We are excited to announce nominations for the PWCS Teacher and Support Employee of the year are now open. These awards are an opportunity to recognize the hard work and commitment of our staff. To nominate a teacher and/or support employee who goes above and beyond and excels in their profession, please complete the Microsoft Form by Friday, January 26, 2024 https://forms.office.com/r/esQtK3AeYQ

Support Employees include teacher assistants, clerical, transportation, food and nutrition, custodial and maintenance, security, technical staff.

Our Service Leadership Team is organizing OPERATION PAJAMAS, starting January 8, 2024 through January 26, 2024.

We will collect NEW pajamas and socks of all sizes (newborn through adult) to donate to our SERVE shelter. Help us share the warmth this winter! Thank you for your generosity.

January 2024

T. Clay Wood Elementary School is commemorating Braille Literacy Month! Throughout January, TCWES is raising awareness to champion braille literacy. The school is introducing braille to all students, emphasizing the significance and benefits of braille literacy. Braille, a tactile code devised by Louis Braille, consists of raised dots arranged in patterns to symbolize letters, numbers, words, and punctuation. This tactile system empowers individuals who are blind, granting them access to information and ensuring their environment is inclusive.

During library sessions, students will engage in various activities related to braille literacy. They will read books about braille, learn how to write names and short phrases in braille, explore tactile books and activities, participate in entertaining games adapted with tactile elements and braille, use a braille writer, and even take home a braille bracelet!

To learn more about braille, visit the following websites!

https://www.wsblind.org/blog/2022/1/19/6-facts-about-braille-for-braille-literacy-month

https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/january-is-braille-literacy-month/

https://www.wsblind.org/blog/2023/1/30/reasons-to-learn-and-use-braille-braille-literacy-month

https://www.perkins.org/celebrating-braille-literacy-month/

January 9, 2024 - Our School Counselors have arranged for the Blue Sky Puppet Theater to present the puppet show: Super Pig. Students will learn anti-bullying techniques, recognize the importance of helping others, see everyday people doing helpful things, and understand the importance of reading and writing. For more information - click here: http://www.blueskypuppets.com/superpig_storyboard.html

April 8, 2024 - Link Up Assembly. This is a fun, energetic, interactive school assembly program that mixes music, video and activities to introduce elementary students to Rachel Scott and her challenge to reach out to others with deliberate acts of kindness. Link-Up focuses on the following five challenges: Be Kind, Accept and Include Others, Choose Positive Influences , Dream Big, Set Goals, Keep A Journal and Start a Chain Reaction of kindness. Here is a link with more information: https://rachelschallenge.org/our-programs/rc-live/ If you have any questions, please reach out to our school counselor, Mrs. Amy Cunningham who arranged it to bring this assembly to our school.

April 23, 2024 - We will hold our annual I Can Assembly. The focus will be on reminding students that they can if they work hard, try their best, and persevere.

May 9, 2024 - The PTO has arranged for a Reptile Assembly. Students will have an opportunity to see a wide variety of reptiles -including snakes.

If you do not want your student to participate in any of these activities or assemblies please let your child's teacher know.

Social Media Reminders: T. Clay Wood ES only puts up photos or videos on the Official T. Clay Wood Social Media Sites - on the T. Clay Wood Facebook, X(Twitter), Instagram, and You Tube.

You will see the following Notice on our Official Site -

“This PWCS social media account has been approved by the PWCS Communications Department.”

Social Media sites have to be approved annually by the PWCS Communication Department. Regulation 790-3 , Section B of the Attachment provides further information as well as information about Opt-Out. When filling out the Back to School Packet, information is included that discusses and references this regulation.

Join us for a special evening celebrating our diverse family heritages at T Clay Wood Elementary! On February 22, 2024, from 6:00 - 7:30, come and explore a cultural journey showcasing traditions, foods, music, and more from around the world. This event promises an enriching experience for the entire family. Let’s celebrate our roots together! We look forward to seeing you there.

Transfer requests can be made for students in grades 1 through 5 between January 2, 2024- April 30, 2024 Kindergarten transfer requests can be made starting from the first day of Kindergarten registration through 30 days after the kindergarten student registers. Please contact your child's school for more information.

Specialty Program Application Portal (for all programs except the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts) will close on February 1, 2024

• Student acceptances will be communicated in mid-to-late February, and families must accept an offered seat by March 5, 2024.

https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/advanced_academics___specialty_programs/specialty_programs/index

Help Sessions - Jan. 17, 22, 24, 26, 29, and 31 on ZOOM.

The clinic is in need of pants in all sizes boys and girls. We have spills, accidents, and slips in the mud. Our goal is to have students miss as little instruction time as possible.

Another great option is to throw a spare pair of pants in your student's backpack for those just in case moments that can occur.

Kindly,

Ms. Ousley

Operation Pajamas -Jan. 8 - 26, 2024

Principal Appreciation Week

No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Tuesday, January 16,, 2024 - Day --

Snow Day

Wednesday, January 17, 2024- Day 3

2 hour Delay -

Thursday, January 18, 2024 - Day 4

6:30 pm - Advisory Council/PTO meeting -on ZOOM

Friday, January 19, 2024 -Day 5

Habit Five - The Habit of Mutual Understanding

• People who seek first to understand, then to be understood try to completely understand another person before presenting their own point of view. Habit 5 means balancing courage and consideration and expressing our views with clarity and respect.

  Kid Language

  Listen Before You Talk: I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.

  Ways to practice Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood:

  • Try to go one whole hour without talking even once. Instead, just watch the people around you and listen to what they are saying. Good luck!
  • Think of someone in your life who you think is a good listener. What do they do that makes them a good listener?
  • The next time one of your friends is sad, notice his/her eyes or the way he/she holds his/her body. Tell him/her you know he/she is sad and that you want to help.

PWCS has a late bus link for buses that will be late 15 minutes or more - https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/bus_delays

You can also sign up for the Here Comes the Bus App at - https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/here_comes_the_bus

For more information about buses - please the Transportation Website -

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/index

Our 2023-2024 PTO BOARD

President - Kate Case

VP - Kelsey Fisher

Treasurer - Beth Feliciano-Rivera

Asst Treasurer - Cooper Waterman

Secretary - Sandra Oviedo

Director - Amelia Hunter

Teacher Director - Tiana Marshall

Upcoming Dates:

Moving forward we have decided to merge the Advisory Council meetings with the PTO meetings to offer families one combined meeting to get all the information they need for happenings at the school and in the community. Due to this change, some of our meeting dates have changed. Please see the schedule posted for new meeting dates. We hope you'll be able to join us!

January 10 - Chipotle Spirit Night

Jan. 10 - SEP Registration opens for PTO members

Jan. 15 - SEP Registration opens for ALL

Jan. 15 - No School

January 18 - Advisory Council/PTO Meeting on ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/84553248885?pwd=Z3hQMUhCSFc2ZG91Z3pOdjF1SEx1UT09

Meeting ID: 845 5324 8885

Passcode: Advisory

Jan. 24 - Boosterthon Registration Opens

Jan. 26 - 1/2 Day School _ Dismissal 12:40

Jan. 29 - No School for Students

Feb. 5- March 11 - Winter SEP

Feb. 7-15 - Boosterthon

Feb. 15 - Advisory Council/PTO Meeting on ZOOM

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/84553248885?pwd=Z3hQMUhCSFc2ZG91Z3pOdjF1SEx1UT09

Meeting ID: 845 5324 8885

Passcode: Advisory

Please visit the PTO Facebook page and PTO website for updates and more info: https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/

Email tclaywoodpto@gmail.com for more information!

PTO Membership is still open!

Membership (tclaywoodpto.com)

As always, keep an eye on our T Clay Wood PTO facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/timberwolvesrock) and our website (https://www.tclaywoodpto.com/) for up to date information

*Every Tuesday - Every Tuesday during the school year Gainesville Papa Johns will give you 40% off your order and donate 10% back to the PTO!

We are reminding all our School Community to treat our school staff, our students, and one another with civility. Our students are always watching!

In case of inclement weather when school is closed, PWCS will provide live virtual (Synchronized) instruction to all students through ZOOM. PWCS Expectation is that all students participate. Attendance will be taken. Students must keep their cameras on to be counted as present. Instruction will take place between 9am - 2pm with 1 hour for lunch and recess time.

Prior to late fall/early winter, please make sure you are able to access the internet. Any family needing assistance with home internet should contact their school during the first month of school to receive a school-issued take-home “hotspot.” If you are not able to access the internet, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at taylorbi@pwcs.edu or 703.594.3990.

At T. Clay Wood Elementary School, we love to have visitors and volunteers every day. To help ensure the safety of our students, visitors to Prince William County Schools are expected to report promptly to the school’s main office when entering school buildings. Visitors and volunteers will be asked to provide a valid government issued photo identification. There are no exceptions. Every visitor to our school must bring with them a photo id. Visitors will then be issued a temporary identification badge. We will not permit any visitor or volunteer into the building without this identification. Our main goal is to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff at school.

If a situation occurs which makes it necessary for your child’s transportation home to change, please send in a note with your child in the morning giving clear directions as to how your child should go home at the end of the day. Only a parent/guardian can change their child’s transportation plan for any given day. A note from the parent must be received by the office AND the teacher before noon that day indicating the change. This is for the safety of the children and will alleviate any confusion at the end of the day.

Changing Dismissal Routine – Parents, if you are changing your child’s dismissal, you must send an email/note to the office or notify the office by 3:30 pm. The teacher and bus driver cannot accept a change if a student just tells him or her about the change without a note. In these cases, students are sent home the original way. In addition, please try to avoid changing dismissal procedures in the middle of the day and please send all dismissal changes to our office by calling our office at 703.594.3990 or sending a note in the morning. Emails sent to the teacher in the middle of the day may be missed if there is a substitute that day or if the teacher is not able to check his or her email.

3:30 pm - If you must pick your student up early, please arrive before 3:30 pm. We will not be able to call students to the office after 3:30 pm until all car riders are picked up. Students called for dismissal after 3:30 pm will be sent to the car rider area and will be brought up after all car riders are dismissed with the supervising teachers. This way we can reduce interruptions to the classrooms, provide continual supervision for all our students and give our focus in the office to dismissing students. Parents coming in after 3:30 pm will be asked to wait in the vestibule outside of the office and once their students are brought up to come in and sign their students out.

2023-2024 – Calendar link: https://www.pwcs.edu/calendars/school_calendar/index

You can also subscribe to the PWCS Calendar. To learn how, you can go to this PWCS Site and then follow the directions - How to Subscribe to the PWCS School Calendar

Code of Behavior link: https://www.pwcs.edu/about_us/code_of_behavior/index

Link to Family Life Education objectives and Opt out - https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/science___family_life_education/family_life_education

Please take a moment to view our 2023-2024 T. Clay Wood Continuous Improvement Plan by clicking this link: T. Clay Wood 2023-2024 Continuous Improvement Plan

We have three Academic Goals this year - Increase Reading, Math, and Science Achievement Rates for all students at T. Clay Wood to at least 85% or higher.

We also are focused at increasing student satisfaction rates to 90% or higher and increasing number of active business partnerships at T. Clay Wood.

A Prince William County School of Excellence

“A Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence”

10600 Kettle Run Road; Nokesville, VA 20181

Andrew Buchheit, Principal - buchhear@pwcs.edu

Melissa Yuditsky, Assistant Principal yuditsml@pwcs..edu

“A Community of Leaders and Learners Achieving Excellence”

School hours: 9:20 am – 4:00 pm

(Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Doors Open: 9:10 a.m.

Students tardy after: 9:20 a.m.

Dismissal: 4:00 p.m.

School Phone Number: 703.594.3990

School Fax Number: 703.594.2653

Attendance Email: cwes-timberwolf-attendance@pwcs.edu

Attendance Phone Line:– 703.594.3992

Motto: “I seek to make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE AT SCHOOL”

Website: http://tclaywoodes.schools.pwcs.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TClayWoodES

Twitter @TClayWoodElem

Instagram: tclaywoodelementary

Email: buchhear@pwcs.edu
Website: http://tclaywoodes.schools.pwcs.edu
Location: 10600 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville, VA, USA
Phone: 703.594.3990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TClayWoodES
Twitter: @TClayWoodElem