Timberwolf Time - December 18 ,2023

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

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

Dear Timberwolf Families,

Fun Packs - We wanted to address a question we were asked about the Fun Pack Pictures. When they are returned to us, the company does shred the pictures. They are not just disposed in a trash can. Please return your packets if you choose not to purchase any of the pictures by Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

We look forward to seeing all our students next week - the week of December 18. Although there are only 3 days of school, we are encouraging all families to send their students in each day. We have a solid week of learning along with some additional fun events. As you know all PWCS Schools and schools in Virginia are looking at reducing the absenteeism rates that have risen over the last few years.

Next Week -we will have some fun school spirit weeks

Monday, Dec. 18 - Dress as your favorite holiday movie character

Tuesday, Dec. 19 - Hat Day

Wednesday, Dec. 20 - PJ Day

We will also have our whole school sing along - which is one of my most favorite events of the school year. Many grades are also having their fall/winter celebrations next week.

Marsteller Middle School Chorus will present to our 5th graders and the Patriot Chorus will be singing in the halls.

Our building will be warm - heat is on; learning will be strong; and lots of fun events. I'll even be playing some music.

Wednesday, Dec. 20 is PJ Day. Students, staff, and visitors/volunteers can wear school appropriate pajamas. Please remember shoes must be worn at all times.

As a reminder, this week we will only have 3 days of school. I encourage all students to attend these 3 days unless they are not feeling well. We will have important learning going on each day.

"Parents are a child's first and most important teacher"

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”

1st grade - Harrison Rich

2nd grade - Elizabeth White

3rd grade - Zane Dukes

4th grade - Logan Gibson

5th grade - Christian Blake Williams

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.

Let's ring in the new year with some new habits!

Please join us for our next parent tea on Friday, January 12th at 10 AM.

Our School Counselors and Mental Health Team will be focusing on Proactive Parenting: Developing Habits and Fostering Leadership at Home.

Our students have a head start on being Proactive since it's Habit 1 of our 8 Habits of Happy Kids, but let the count down begin for a Proactive happy home too!

😀😃😀😃😀😃😀😃😀😃

Please RSVP to Dr. Buchheit at buchhear@pwcs.edu

On December 20, we will have a school wide Holiday sing along. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Meyer and your classroom teachers.

On January 3, 2024 - We will have a brief behavior expectation reminder assembly. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Buchheit and/or your classroom teacher.

on 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

on 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.

on 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.

Dress as a character from your favorite holiday movie

PTO and families sponsoring Holiday Cookie Bar

Patriot Chorus Visit

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 Day 4

Holiday Hat Day

Chorus; 815 am

Marsteller Middle School Chorus Visit

KG Winter Holiday Celebration

1st grade Winter Holiday Celebration

Wednesday, December 20, 2023- Day 5

PJ Day

School Sing Along

3rd grade Winter Celebration

5th grade Winter Celebration

4th grade Winter Celebration

Thursday, December 21, 2023 - Day -

Winter break for students and staff

Friday, December 22, 2023 -Day -

School Resumes on Tuesday, January 2, 2023

Habit Four - Think Win-Win

The Habit of Mutual Benefit

• Think Win-Win is the belief that everyone can win. It’s not me or you—it is both of us. It is a belief that there are enough good things for everyone; it is an abundant way of thinking. Think Win-Win is being happy for others when good things happen to them. As a parent, not everything is negotiable, but if you go into discussions with your child with a win-win mindset, you’ll find a lot less resistance.
  
  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.

Think Win-Win isn’t about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.

Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing—if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it’s not fair, and I’m going to make sure you don’t get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good!

To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, but you also have to be brave. That balance between courage and consideration is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win.

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!

December 4-8 - Penguin Patch Holiday Shop

January 10 - Chipotle Spirit Night

January 18 - Advisory Council/PTO Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting

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