Timberwolf Times -April 17, 2023

Welcome Back to School - 2022-2023

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

Dear Timberwolf Families,

Social Media Awareness Week - On April 20, 2023 we will have a brief Assembly for all our 3rd -5th graders on using the Internet Safely presented by Mr. Taylor, our Instructional Technologist. Later this evening, we will have a presentation aimed at parents on ZOOM by Megan Caesar, LPC and McKenna Toler from Youth for Tomorrow.

Spinny Johnson, former Harlem Globetrotter, will conduct an assembly focused on the importance of education, respect, goal, setting, determination, and perseverance. Here is a link to check out his website - https://spinnyjohnson.com/ If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Cunningham at 703.594.3990.

Our Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 6:30pm on ZOOM. If you would like to attend, please email at buchhear@pwcs.edu and I'll send you the ZOOM link.

Attendance Email: cwes-timberwolf-attendance@pwcs.edu Phone:– 703.594.3992

All 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.

2022-2023 – Back to school information: https://www.pwcs.edu/parents/backtoschool

2022-2023 – Calendar link: https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=654031

Code of Behavior link: https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=340225&pageId=767701

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

Masks will continue to be optional if students would prefer to wear them

.

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

“Like the Sun, I am here to Shine”

Social Media Awareness Week - On April 20, 2023 we will have a brief Assembly for all our 3rd -5th graders on using the Internet Safely presented by Mr. Taylor, our Instructional Technologist.

Later this evening, we will have a presentation aimed at parents on ZOOM by Megan Caesar, LPC and McKenna Toler from Youth for Tomorrow. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at 703.594.3990

Thursday, April 20 - Internet Safety/Social Media Awareness Night on ZOOM:

You do not need to RSVP - just show up at 6:30 pm using the ZOOM link below.

We are asking all participants to turn their videos on during the presentation.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/89771126227?pwd=UkhDUjVpS0dpRm54Y0FRVmR2ckdxUT09

Meeting ID: 897 7112 6227
Passcode: TCWES

Megan Caesar is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. Megan has worked with adolescents and their families in a multitude of settings including outpatient services, juvenile detention, inpatient acute care, and residential treatment. She has 12 years of experience providing clinical services to youth, young adults, and families who present with varying mental health diagnoses, complex trauma, and sexual exploitation/trafficking. Megan serves as the Assistant VP of RTC Clinical Services at Youth For Tomorrow where she oversees clinical and case management for their residential treatment program. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Reset180 an organization providing services to adult survivors of human trafficking.

McKenna Toler is a Supervisee in Social Work working towards her licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. McKenna has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from George Mason University and has 5 years of experience providing both clinical and case management services to at risk youth and their families. McKenna has extensive experience working with families and youth who have experienced mental health challenges, complex trauma, and sexual exploitation/trafficking. McKenna currently serves as a Therapist in Youth For Tomorrow’s residential treatment program. She has a passion for training youth and parents regarding trauma, exploitation, and online safety.

Screen time parental controls tool now available free to parents and guardians

PWCS seeks to shape students into digital citizens using information technology to better the world around them. This includes using digital tools to explore and exchange ideas safely and responsibly. In support of this, many parents and families have asked PWCS for potential solutions to monitor children’s online activity on personal devices.

PWCS has robust monitoring in place within the PWCS network on PWCS-provided devices to keep students safe and identify potential concerns. Through a partnership with Bark, PWCS is pleased to provide a potential solution for families who may wish to monitor personal devices provided to their children.

Through this partnership with PWCS, Bark is now offering all PWCS families Bark Jr for free (normally $5 per month) and Bark Premium for 20% off full price (now $80 per year).

Using Bark Jr, parents and guardians can manage screen time, block websites and apps, and get location alerts. Bark Jr works on Apple, Amazon, and Android devices.

Bark Premium monitors texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and platforms, web searches and saved photos & videos. Parents will receive parental monitoring alerts for issues like cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation. Bark Premium can also help manage screen time, block websites and apps, and get location alerts and check-ins.

Parents/guardians can get the discount via this link or sign up using J4S5MQ3 as the referral/promo code when signing up via Bark website.

Please see the PWCS website for additional resources for digital citizenship, internet safety and media literacy.

President - Kate Case

Vice-President - Tabitha Rich

Treasurer - Bethzaely Feliciano-Rivera

Asst. Treasurer - Jessica Murray

Secretary - Sandra Oviedo

Board Director - Kelsey Fisher

Board Director - Tiana Marshall

When picking up or dropping off your children - please follow all safety procedures:

• Do not drive around the loop while on your phone - we have seen some near collisions when drivers appear to be texting.
• Follow the speed limit and drive vigilantly - young children can dart out in the road, cars come from all areas as do buses, and vans
• Do not enter the building through the exit lane.
• If students are entering and exiting the car, please have them enter or exit on the passenger side. If you have to have them come around the driver's side then have the student walk in front of their own car and not behind it.
• If your student arrives tardy, please part and walk him or her to the office. Students should not be dropped off when the staff is inside.
• If you are parking in the parking lot, please be sure to get out of your car and walk your student to the cross walk. Students are not allowed to walk unaccompanied in the parking lot.
• Please do not leave your car unattended while in the car loop. Cars are allowed to line up in the loop even though it is our fire lane ONLY if they are attended so they can quickly be cleared if needed.

Kindergarten registration starts in PWC on Monday, March 20, 2023.

We need your help! Please pass the word to your neighbors who have rising Kindergarteners for the 23-24 school year. It is important for planning and staffing purposes to get all our rising Kindergarten Timberwolves registered as soon as possible.

Registration for PWCS is now available online. KG families will start the process online by going to this site:

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/student_services/registration__new_students_and_transfers_/kindergarten_registration/index

Registration is required for all new students.

You can share with families that they can begin registration on March 20,2023.

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/student_services/registration__new_students_and_transfers_/p_w_c_s_registration_process/index

It is important that we register our rising Kindergarten (and all other new students coming to T. Clay Wood in the fall) right away.

Thank you in advance for your help and support!

Padres/tutores: ¿Tienen un estudiante de kindergarten que necesitan inscribir? Se requiere la inscripción de todos los nuevos estudiantes. Comiencen la inscripción en línea ahora. Por favor visite: https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/student_services/registration__new_students_and_transfers_/kindergarten_registration/index

Student Placement for 2023-2024

We are beginning to look at student placement for the 2023-2024 school year.

Placement of students is an important decision and we consider it very carefully.

If you have information that you feel is significant for us to be aware of regarding your child’s placement, we would like to know about it.

These letters are OPTIONAL and we do NOT expect or require anyone to send placement input. This is just optional for those families that feel there is some additional information which they would like to share with us.

It is very important to note, however, that we cannot accept any specific teacher requests or any requests to have students placed with other students. (The only exception would be siblings).

When placing students, we look at individual learning styles, class make up and how classroom teachers can support individual learning needs.

I can assure you that all our teachers are excellent educators and are dedicated to doing their best for all of their students.

I know your children will be happy, safe, and successful in any one of our teacher’s classrooms.

However, please share information, which you feel would assist the placement committee as we develop our class lists, regarding your child’s:

· learning style,

· academic strengths or weaknesses,

· organizational skills/work habits,

· how you feel your child learns best

· PLEASE DO NOT List any specific teachers or students with whom you want your child placed.

You may share this information with me by emailing me at buchhear@pwcs.edu or mailing a letter to my attention. If you are moving out of our school ☹ - please let me know as well. THANK YOU!

If there are students with whom you feel your child should NOT be placed with, you may include this as well. Please do NOT include names of students with whom you would like your child placed.

I cannot accept letters asking to place your students with specific students or specific teachers.

I will share each letter with the current classroom teacher as well since their input will also be a significant part of the placement decisions.

I will accept letters of input between April 10, 2023 thru April 28, 2023

😱📢 Calling all T. Clay Wood families! We would love to have you join our Relay For Life Team as we come together to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The walk will be held on June 10th, at 3:00 - 10:00pm in Manassas at the Harris Pavilion.

Mrs. Scarce and Mrs. Hanover are the co-captains and would love to see you at the first team meeting as we brainstorm fundraising ideas, spirit nights, and other ways to bring our team together. It will be held on Thursday, March 23rd at 4:15 in room 209, children are welcome. Please RSVP to Andrea Hanover (hanoveab@pwcs.edu) if you are able to make it to the meeting next week, we hope to see you there.

Follow this link to join our Timberwolf team today:

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=103969&pg=team&team_id=2673595

Relay For Life | Cancer Walk | Cancer Fundraising Events

Relay For Life events are life-changing cancer fundraising events that help communities across the globe fight back against cancer.

secure.acsevents.org

Think Win-Win

4th grade:

Monday -- Young/Cortash

Thursday -- Aracich/Browning

Friday -- Sanfilippo/Curry

5th grade

Day 1 -- Van Gelder/Watson

Day 2 -- Van Gelder/Watson

Day 3-- West/Wood

Day 4 -- West/Wood

Day 5 -- Smith/Warren

Day 6 -- Smith/Warren

Thursday, April 20 - Internet Safety/Social Media Awareness Night on ZOOM:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/89771126227?pwd=UkhDUjVpS0dpRm54Y0FRVmR2ckdxUT09

Meeting ID: 897 7112 6227
Passcode: TCWES

Thursday, April 27 - STEAM (Science, Technology, and Math) Night

We will administer a quick Leader in Me survey for our students in 3rd-5th grade, our teachers, and parents starting the week of April 24. This survey provides us information about the Leader in Me Program effectiveness and implementation. If you would like to opt out your student out of this brief survey, please email Mrs. Cunningham at cunninax@pwcs.edu

Lock Down Drill will take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

School Wide Focus: Habit 4 - Think Win-Win

Internet Safety Week

National Volunteer Week

Timberwolf Trekkers - April 17- May 26, 2023

Monday, April 17,, 2023 -Day 5

Spinny Johnson Assembly

Monday - is Mindful Monday - please review the pledge at this link with your student and discuss ways they can remember to be safe when online. The Focus is to be mindful of one's comments, words, and actions both online and inperson with peers and teachers: T. Clay Wood Online Safety Pledge

Tuesday, April 18, 2023- Day 6

2nd grade Living with Native Americans Assemblies from Jamestown Federation .

Tuesday is Tech Free Tuesday - After students complete any school work, please encourage them to put down their devices, video games at home and do something technology free that afternoon.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - Day 1

Report Cards go home

4th grade Life in Jamestown Assembly from Jamestown Federation

Volunteer Appreciation Tea - Contact your child's teacher if you have a question.

Wednesday is Why Wednesday - Review the APPs on this link (and below) and discuss WHY you need to be mindful and careful about using the APP or WHY you might not want to use this APP as an Elementary School student - APPS Parents/Guardians should know

Thursday, April 20, 2023 - Day 2

Internet Safety Assembly for 3rd-5th grade

6:30 pm Internet Safety and Social Media Awareness Assembly for Parents/Guardians -on ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/89771126227?pwd=UkhDUjVpS0dpRm54Y0FRVmR2ckdxUT09

Meeting ID: 897 7112 6227
Passcode: TCWES

Thursday is Online Safety and Social Media Awareness Assembly - 3rd-5th grade students during the day and Parents and Guardians at 6:30 pm on ZOOM.

Friday, April 21, 2023 -Day --

No School - EID

Friday is Friend Friday - Encourage your students to play with a friend off of a device and supervised.

2022-2023 Calendar - As a reminder, due to current supply chain issues with paper, the Communications Department will not be printing the 2022-23 School Guide and Calendar at this time. A printable PDF version of this year's School Calendar and Reference Guide, as well as a printable PDF Month-at-a-Glance Calendar, are available on the PWCS Calendar webpage.

Monday - is Mindful Monday - please review the pledge at this link with your student and discuss ways they can remember to be safe when online. The Focus is to be mindful of one's comments, words, and actions both online and inperson with peers and teachers: T. Clay Wood Online Safety Pledge

Tuesday is Tech Free Tuesday - After students complete any school work, please encourage them to put down their devices, video games at home and do something technology free that afternoon.

Wednesday is Why Wednesday - Review the APPs on this link (and below) and discuss WHY you need to be mindful and careful about using the APP or WHY you might not want to use this APP as an Elementary School student - APPS Parents/Guardians should know

Thursday is Online Safety and Social Media Awareness Assembly - 3rd-5th grade students during the day and Parents and Guardians at 6:30 pm on ZOOM.

Friday is Friend Friday - Encourage your students to play with a friend off of a device and supervised.

Transfer requests can be made for students in grades Kg through 5 between January 3, 2023 - April 30, 2033. Kindergarten transfer requests can be made starting in January or through 30 days after the kindergarten student registers. Please contact your child's school for more information.

As a reminder, all students currently attending T. Clay Wood on a transfer need to resubmit their transfer request by the due date.

• Think Win-Win

  
  

I want everyone to be a success. I don’t have to put others down to get what I want. It makes me happy to see other people happy. I like to do nice things for others. When a conflict arrives, I help brainstorm a solution. We all can win!

People who think win-win believe that there is plenty for everybody and that one person’s success in not achieved at the expense of others - win-lose.

Kid Language

Everyone Can Win: I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank Accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives.

Ways to practice Think Win-Win:

• Ask an older person what the golden rule is. After you know, try it out on someone.
• Try to go one whole day without sulking, pouting, or feeling sorry for yourself.
• The next time you want to argue or fight with someone about who should get the best toy, ask, “How can I make you happy too?”
• Make a “wish poster”. Start by drawing a line down the middle. On one side, cut and paste magazine pictures of things you want (like an ant farm). On the other side, cut and paste pictures of things your mom or dad want (like a clean room). Together, look at your “wish poster”. See how you can work with each other to make both your wishes and your parents’s wishes come true.

Recently, we have noticed that some of our buses have been late in the mornings. Sometimes we are notified and sometimes we are not. If you have concerns about your bus being late, please call Transportation at 571-402-3940. If you are not able to get them on the phone, please call us and we can do our best to find out the situation with your bus.

You can also go to https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/index which is the Transportation site and there is a Bus Delays section that you can click on to give you updates on any delays by school.

There is also an app called “Here Comes The Bus.” Click on this link that it will walk you through getting this app. https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/here_comes_the_bus

You will need your student’s ID number and the School Code – 76348.

Interested in Volunteering at T. Clay Wood? You can first check with your student's teacher. Then you can also look into these areas:

1. Welcome Table:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FAFAD28A4F5C52-welcome

2. Library Volunteers -

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4AA4AF2AA5F94-library

3. Book Fair- -

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C4AA4AF2AA5F94-tcwes2

Upcoming Dates:

SAVE THE DATES FOR UPCOMING TCWES PTO EVENTS

April:

Tuesday, April 11th - 6:30pm PTO Meeting

Thursday, April 27, 2023 - STEAM night Fun

May:

Monday, May 1st-5th - Teacher Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 23rd-31st - Boosterthon Fun Run

When bad weather or other emergency situations occur, it may be necessary for Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) to modify normal operations by canceling, moving to virtual/remote learning, delaying opening, or closing schools early.

Code Red: Schools Closed For Students And Employees. (Exception: Inclement Weather Employees)

"All Prince William County Public Schools and Offices will be closed Code Red."

• Schools and offices are closed.
• Virtual classes are canceled.
• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will not open.
• All school activities (day and evening) are canceled including field trips, team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities (day and evening) are canceled including Adult Education, night school classes, and recreational programs scheduled in school buildings.
• Students may use the day optionally to catch-up or voluntarily work on assignments already assigned.

Employees

Reg 404.04-1

• Employees do not report for work UNLESS declared inclement weather employees. Those designated as inclement weather personnel will report at times specified to perform essential duties as dictated by the event. Refer to Reg 404.04-1 for more information on Inclement Weather Employees.
• Teaching staff may voluntarily elect, but are not required, to employ "telework" or other work-at-home strategies to enter data, grade student papers, or otherwise supplement their normal work efforts (per Regulation 561-1, "Telework"). Time spent in this manner is strictly voluntary and shall not be counted against contract hours or otherwise compensated.
• All professional development activities including virtual are canceled.

Code Orange: Virtual Learning Day For Students And Remote Work For Non-Essential Employees.

"All Prince William County Public Schools are operating on Code Orange."

• Asynchronous Learning Day for students and remote work for non-essential employees.
• School buildings and office buildings are closed.
• Buses will not operate.
• In-person and live virtual classes will not occur. Students enrolled in Virtual Virginia should follow their schedule.
• Students should use the day to work asynchronously on assignments related to curriculum previously taught.
• Teachers will hold live office hours via Zoom. Please refer to your school for the schedule.
• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will not open.
• All in-person school activities (day and evening) are canceled including field trips, team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• Remote (virtual) activities may occur.
• All non-school activities (day and evening) are canceled including Adult Education, night school classes, community use including recreational programs scheduled in school buildings.
• Visit the Aquatics Center website for operation schedule during inclement weather.

Employees

• Inclement weather employees are expected to report to sites.
• Employees whose jobs cannot be done remotely (e.g., Food and Nutrition, Transportation, and Facilities) will receive specific instructions from their supervisor.
• Refer to Reg 404.04-1 for more on inclement weather employees.

Code Green: Schools Closed For Students And Teachers

"All Prince William County Public Schools will be closed Code Green."

• Schools are closed. Offices are closed to the public.
• Virtual classes are canceled.
• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will not open.
• All school activities (day and evening) are canceled including field trips, team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities (day and evening) are canceled including Adult Education, night school classes, and recreational programs scheduled in school buildings.
• Students may use the day optionally to catch-up or voluntarily work on assignments already assigned.

Employees

• All employees on the teacher salary scale (Pay Grade 12) and less-than-250-day non-exempt employees do not report for work.
• All 250-day classified employees report to work at 10 a.m.
• School Based/Central Office Administrators report to work at 10 a.m. (pay grade 13 and above, including Principals, Assistant Principals, High School Directors of Student Activities, and High School Directors of School Counseling, and central office administrators.)
• Admin Interns do not report.
• Teaching staff may voluntarily elect, but are not required, to employ "telework" or other work-at-home strategies to enter data, grade student papers, or otherwise supplement their normal work efforts (per Regulation 561-1, "Telework"). Time spent in this manner is strictly voluntary and shall not be counted against contract hours or otherwise compensated.
• Inclement weather employees report on time. Refer to Reg 404.04-1 for more information on Inclement Weather Employees.
• Liberal Leave is in Effect - Employees may request approval to take leave in the event of extreme weather or a similar emergency which prevents them from safely reporting.
• Professional Development activities may be canceled so check with the department or school sponsoring the activity.

*The Division Superintendent has the authority to delay the reporting time of all School Division employees.

Two-Hour Delayed Opening: Schools Will Open Two Hours Late

"All Prince William County Public Schools will open two hours late."

• In-person and virtual PWCS classes will begin two hours late. Check with your school for specific bell times.
• A.M. bus transportation will operate on a two-hour delay.
• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will open two hours late.
• A simplified breakfast will be offered. Lunch will be served.
• Field Trips are canceled.
• Athletic activities will be decided by appropriate personnel on an individual basis depending on road conditions.
• Morning and full-day preschool students will follow the two hours late arrival. Morning preschool students will be dismissed one hour later than the regular schedule. Afternoon preschool students will arrive one hour later than usual. See more about Preschool Schedules here.

*Parents/guardians please do not bring students to school early when a delayed opening is in effect because school staff members may also be delayed in getting to school.

*Parents/guardians have the option of not sending their child to school. However, the student is expected to make up all assignments. Your student will not be penalized academically, and your student will be given an excused absence.

Employees

• All employees on the teacher salary scale (Pay Grade 12) and less-than-250-day non-exempt employees report for work or telework two hours late.
• Inclement weather employees report on time. Refer to Reg 404.04-1 for more information on Inclement Weather Employees.
• School Food and Nutrition Services employees report on time.
• Bus drivers, bus attendants, route managers, and dispatchers report to work one hour late.
• School Based/Central Office Administrators (Pay grade 13 and above) report to work or telework one hour late or at a specific time as directed by the Superintendent.
• All 250-day classified employees report to work or telework one hour late or at a specific time as directed by the Superintendent.
• Liberal Leave is in Effect - Employees may request approval to take leave in the event of extreme weather or a similar emergency which prevents them from safely reporting.
• Professional Development activities may be canceled so check with the department or school sponsoring the activity.

Early Closing: Schools Will Close One Hour Early

"All Prince William County Public Schools will close one hour early today."

• In-person and virtual school day will end one hour early.
• The after-school SACC program will not open.
• Buses will run in usual order.
• Morning preschool and full-day preschool students will be dismissed one hour earlier than the regular schedule. There will be no afternoon preschool. See more about Preschool Schedules here.
• Lunch will be served.
• Field Trips are canceled unless already departed. Late activity bus runs are canceled.
• All school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All evening non-school activities are canceled.

Employees

Early Closing (One-Hour)

• Teachers, teacher assistants, library media assistants, sign language interpreters, and school nurses (employees whose primary responsibility is working with students) may be excused early by the principal.
• Administrative staff and all other non-exempt employees remain on the normal work schedule unless specifically excused by an announcement from the Superintendent.

Early Closing: Schools Will Close Two Hours Early

"All Prince William County Public Schools will close two hours early today"

• In-person and virtual school day will end two hours early.
• The after-school SACC program will not open.
• Buses will run in usual order.
• Morning preschool and full-day preschool students will be dismissed two hours earlier than the regular schedule. There will be no afternoon preschool. See more about Preschool Schedules here.
• Lunch will be served.
• Field Trips are canceled unless already departed. Late activity bus runs are canceled.
• All school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All evening non-school activities are canceled.

Employees

Early Closing (Two-Hour)

• Teachers, teacher assistants, library media assistants, sign language interpreters, and school nurses (employees whose primary responsibility is working with students) may be excused early by the principal.
• Administrative staff and all other non-exempt employees remain on the normal work schedule unless specifically excused by an announcement from the Superintendent.

Cancellation Of After-School Activities And Evening Programs

"All activities scheduled in Prince William County Public Schools or on school grounds for this afternoon and evening are canceled."

• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will close at 5 p.m.
• All afternoon and evening school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All evening non-school activities are canceled.

Cancellation Of Weekend Activities

"All activities scheduled in Prince William County Public Schools or on school grounds for this weekend are canceled due to expected inclement weather conditions."

• All school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities are canceled.

Cancellation Of Saturday Activities

"All activities scheduled in Prince William County Public Schools or on school grounds for Saturday are canceled due to expected inclement weather conditions."

• All school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities are canceled.

When bad weather or other emergency situations occur, it may be necessary for Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) to modify normal operations by canceling, moving to virtual/remote learning, delaying opening, or closing schools early.

Cancellation Of Sunday Activities

"All activities scheduled in Prince William County Public Schools or on school grounds for Sunday are canceled due to expected inclement weather conditions."

• All school activities are canceled including team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities are canceled.

Cell Phones and Watches with text/calling capabilities

We have seen an increase in students using watches to text during the instructional school day. In order to preserve instructional time, students are not permitted to text, on a phone or watch, during the school day.

If you need to relay a message to your child during the school day, please call the front office.

Please refer to the Parent Handbook regarding the use of Cell Phones (which includes calling and texting on watches). It states, "If cell phones are brought to school, they should be turned off and kept in book bags during the school day."

Students may continue to wear the smart watches but calling should be turned off. Our Elementary school students should NOT be receiving messages (or calls) during the school day. If students misuse the watch by sending or receiving calls and/or messages, taking pictures or videos, or making recordings, playing on games or searching the internet, etc.; the teacher will need to have the student put the watch in their backpack similar to a cell phone or another device.

We thank you for your support in ensuring our students are focused on the learning process while at school. We want to be sure watches, phones, other devices are not used to distract from the learning environment or used in a way that is not appropriate for school. I appreciate all our parents and guardians taking the time to have these conversations with their children prior to allowing their students to come to school with a cell phone, smart watch, or other device.

Phones and watches can be removed if students are using them in ways that are distracting or not appropriate to their learning or the learning and safety of other students.

Dear Parents,

T. Clay Wood ES and Prince William County Schools has purchased an incredible reading program for your student for this school year. It is entirely free for your student to use this year. We are encouraging all students to use the program each day.

Lexia is a program to help your student with reading. We are encouraging all students to use Lexia for 10-20 minutes per day. (at least 40-60 minutes a week). Lexia is engaging and works at your students personalized reading level.

All students have been shown how to access Lexia. Please help your student remember to log on to Lexia and work on Lexia each day.

Below are the 3 step directions to access Lexia:

1. Go to https://clever.com/in/pwcs

Log in - Clever

https://clever.com/trust/privacy/policy. https://clever.com/about/terms

clever.com

2. Log in with Office365

3. In Clever, scroll down until your see the blue globe for Lexia Core 5- Click on the Lexia

DIRECTIONS FOR ACCESSING LEXIA:

-Login to your child’s Office 365 account

-Click on the 9 dots (also called the “waffle”) on the top left-hand side of the screen

-Click on “Clever”

-Scroll down to “Apps purchased by schools”

-Click on “Lexia Core5”(The app with the world)

OR

-Login to Canvas

-Click on account

-Click on “Clever”on the right-hand side

-Scroll down to “LexiaCore 5” under “PWCS Resources”

-Click on “Lexia Core5” (The app with the world)

PWCS has partnered with Paper to provide K-12 students with unlimited tutoring, 7 days a week—at no cost to families.

Students can get help with their homework, receive feedback on their writing assignments, or ask questions about any academic subject. Experts are available to assist students with any subject or content area via a secure, chat-based platform.

Tutors are currently available to help students in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

You can access Paper right from your student's Clever Account. Or you can use this Link to Access Paper: https://paper.co/

Learn how to use the Free Online Paper Tutoring Service by clicking on this PWCS Link: https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/Instructional_technology/paper

Our Prince William County School Transportation Department continues to update and implement some tools to help us all when it comes to buses. I have included some helpful links below that are now on their PWCS Transportation Webpage. I believe these will help families throughout the school year. Please take a moment to check these out.

1. The main Transportation Website - most of the below links can be accessed from this site: PWCS Transportation

2. Delayed Bus Page will inform you of any buses that are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes late. Delays will be removed after 12pm for morning runs and after 5:30 pm for afternoon runs. Bus Delay Site

3. Here Comes the Bus APP - See real-time map location for students' buses and get push notifications when the bus gets close by - Info on Here Comes The Bus App

4. Looking for your student's bus schedule? Remember it is located in the Hub which you can access in your ParentVUE account -

5. Transportation Contact for T. Clay Wood (PWCS Western Area Transportation): trns-westernbusroutes@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6593

Early Dismissal

We encourage all families to avoid, when possible, taking students out early from school. Instruction and learning continues until the end of the day. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment, please notify your teacher and school office at cwes-timberwolf-attendance@pwcs.edu and plan to arrive before 3:15pm.

Please park and report to the office. Please do not leave your car unattended in the pickup line. All parties picking up a student from the office must show a photo id.

Please do not make changes to your child’s dismissal time after 3pm. Anyone other than parent/guardian must have prior written approval to pick up a student even if listed on the emergency card.

Dress Code Reminders

All students are expected to dress appropriately and maintain a reasonable appearance. The Prince William County Schools’ Code of Behavior has addressed several areas that are considered improper dress in any Prince William County school. Please refer to the Parent Handbook in the Timberwolf Folder and the School Division’s Code of Behavior.

Cafeteria

PLEASE NOTE - if Packers/Lunch Bringers would like to purchase school milk, the cost this year is $1.00. If a student who has purchased lunch, would like a 2nd lunch, the cost this year for the 2nd lunch is $4.00

Volunteering

Please feel free to coordinate times to volunteer in the classroom with your child's teacher. Teachers and students appreciate our volunteers. Thank you again for everything you are doing to help us build our Positive School Community. I want to formally invite all parents to become involved in your child’s education at T. Clay Wood Elementary School. It has been shown that strong parental involvement and interest in education is a crucial factor in student success. There are many ways to volunteer at T. Clay Wood Elementary School as well. Joining the PTO or Advisory Council, helping out in your child’s classroom, volunteering in the library, working at our Welcome Table Counter and chaperoning field trips are just a few of the many, many ways you can become a part of our Community of Leaders and Learners. Please review the regulation on volunteering: Regulation 511-10

Classroom Interruptions

In order to limit interruption to the teaching and learning environment and protect instructional time, if you drop off forgotten lunches, homework or materials, we will ask you to leave these in the front office. We will inform the teacher who will pick it up at a more convenient time. We want to thank you in advance for your understanding of this procedure and hope you know that our only intent is to maximize your children's instructional time.

Change in Transportation Home

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.

Bus Passes

If it is necessary for a student to ride a bus home other than the one he/she is normally assigned, a bus pass is required and must be approved by the office. A note must be sent to school indicating the bus number that the child should ride and a phone number to verify the information. Thank you for helping us ensure the safety of all our students.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Drop off and Pick Up - When dropping your students off in the morning, please drive all the way around to the front of the drop off area in front of our school. Please do not allow students to exit your vehicles until staff members are outside. If you will be picking your students up frequently, please come into our office to sign up for a car pick up tag. You can get a tag on August 19, 2022 during the Open House Meet and Greet and Orientation times. If you choose to park in the parking lot, you will need to park your car and walk your student to the cross walk.

Drive Carefully

Drive Carefully - Drive carefully and obey the posted speed limits around our parking lot and the neighboring streets. Please pay close attention to posted speed limits and reduced speed limits during the start and ending of our school day and Patriot High School’s day. There are many students and families driving in our two parking lots and around these neighborhoods. Please be extra careful and follow all signs and cones and directions. Please do not enter the parking lot through the exit lane. Car drop offs and pick up should enter through the T. Clay Wood Entrance and not through Patriot HS.

Student Inclement Weather and Emergency Dismissal Plan

In the event of inclement weather, power failure or any situation in which we are faced with an early closing of our school; we will activate our Automated Auto Dialer Calling system to inform our parents of the early closing. We will send out both a phone message and email message with the early closing information. Please make sure your phone number and contact information is updated. We will also place this information on our school website, Facebook and Twitter sites.

I encourage you to sign up for PWCS Weather alerts from PWC Schools. You can access this link from the PWC website or by this link:

https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/communications/p_w_c_s_weather_alerts_subscription

Kindergarten teachers will contact their students’ parents to confirm dismissal.

If schools close early, the SACC program will not open. Parents of students who attend SACC will be contacted by our SACC staff. Parent of SACC students should have an Emergency Back-up Plan.

When school does close early, we will send your children home via their regular dismissal method for that day, unless we hear differently from you.

Please contact the school office immediately in case of a change to their dismissal procedures

All Students in Prince William County Schools will be issued a school laptop or similar device. Students and their families are responsible for the safe and appropriate usage of the devices.

Families can opt to purchase low cost insurance to protect the device in case of accidentally damage. Here is the link for information on the optional digital device insurance. https://securranty.com/pwcs If purchased, the insurance covers unlimited repairs or replacements for everything from broken screens, lost chargers, and accidental damage, with a zero deductible for one year on a school-issued HP device. The insurance cost is $32.95, which may be significantly less than repair or replacement costs without insurance.

I do encourage all families to consider the optional low-cost insurance. After last year, I observed it was very beneficial for families to purchase the insurance PWCS was offering for the devices.

As we get ready to start using the devices again, please look for emails from Mr. Taylor about how to reset passwords, etc.

Also this is a good time to remind all families to always know what your students are doing when they are on the internet, using devices to complete their school work, using social media, texting with friends, or playing online games. We continually are reminding our students about appropriate and acceptable use of technology. I encourage all parents and guardians to regularly check what their students are doing on the internet and while using technology -(school devices, gaming systems, home devices, phones, etc). Just as you monitor where your children go in person, I encourage you to monitor where they go on the internet.

I would also encourage all families to consider adding parental controls on their personal devices that students use. If you have any questions about student devices, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Taylor, our Instructional Technologist at TaylorBi@pwcs.edu. Thank you.

Phones - Reminder: If students bring in phones to school they must remain in their backpack and turned off. Please let all your family members know not to call your elementary school student during the day. If you need to change dismissal, please let our front office know by calling 703.594.3990.

Also I recommend that all parents and guardians turn off the Air Drop feature on their Iphones. I have heard of students at secondary schools air dropping inappropriate photos into all phones that can receive airdrop and then other students accepting those photos. You can turn this off on your students' device.

PWCS is now a fully one-to-one School Division; laptops are provided by PWCS for every student and all instructional staff. As such, the use of personal devices by students and staff for any instructional or official PWCS business is strongly discouraged. The PWCS technology support will not support issues with Personal Technology Devices.

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: 9:15 am – 3:55 pm

(Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Doors Open: 9:05 a.m.

Students tardy after: 9:15 a.m.

Dismissal: 3:55 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.pwcs.schoolfusion.us/
Location: 10600 Kettle Run Road, Nokesville, VA, USA
Phone: 703.594.3990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TClayWoodES
Twitter: @TClayWooElem