Timberwolf Times -October 30, 2023

Welcome Back to School - 2023-2024

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

Dear Timberwolf Families,

Hey there Timberwolves! I hope you all have had a great week. Can you believe we are heading into November. October has been a lot of fun - Literacy Night, Book Fair, PTO Read-A-Thon, Operation Turkey, Red Ribbon Day, Space Week, and lots of other things that made this a busy week.

PTO Costume Bingo Tonight - looking forward to seeing all our students and their great costumes.

We are coming up to the end of the 1st quarter. If your students have any missing work, please remind them to send it before the end of the grading period. Please double check with your child's teacher about the grade level policy. Students are out 6 days in November -November 6, 7, 10, 22, 23, and 24. Please plan ahead to make child care arrangements.

I would like to believe that by this point in the year, all our Timberwolf Families have seen that I strive to communicate in a transparent manner, frequently to keep everyone informed, and with the well-being of our students in mind at all times. If you ever doubt this, please reach out to me. I cannot promise we will always agree on everything but I hope you will feel we had an open and respectful student centered dialogue and that I have listened to your concerns.

I wanted to reemphasize our commitment to the safety and well -being of all our students, staff, volunteers, and families when they are here at T. Clay Wood Elementary. We take all safety concerns very seriously and when appropriate we will also inform our school community of any issues or concerns. I want every single student to feel that they belong and feel safe and respected at our school while they are learning to their fullest potential and becoming life-long learners.

We require valid IDs for all visitors and volunteers entering our school building. In addition, Mr. Young, our Security Assistant, conducts periodic checks throughout the interior and exterior of the building and also helps us direct traffic during arrival and dismissal. We conduct periodic drills to make sure all students and staff know how to respond in case of an emergency.

I would encourage all our stakeholders to continue to reach out to me or someone at school when you have an issue or concern or you read something on Social Media about our school that makes you concerned. I find Social Media a positive tool when sharing good things that are happening in a school community. I feel it can also be a questionable and one sided source of information when presenting personal perspectives about specific issues related to individual students, staff, and situations at our school.

Please note, we are not able to respond to social media posts even if it is to correct incorrect information, elaborate on an incomplete account, or to provide a different view point on an issue. Therefore, please do not take lack of a response by the school on Social Media to mean agreement, acknowledgment, or affirmation to anything posted. Please also keep in mind, that we are also bound by student and staff confidentiality for many situations and may not always be able to elaborate on an issue or situation. However, if there is anything that could be a concern for general student or staff safety and welfare, then we make sure to always inform our school community.

I would always recommend that if you have any situation you feel needs to be addressed that you reach out to the school administration, counselors, or the classroom teacher. I believe strongly that the only way for us to resolve an issue, address a concern, or apologize and try to correct a situation is to have a conversation with school staff. I often recommend when you are having an issue in the classroom to first reach out to the classroom teacher. More times than not this is the best avenue to resolve most classroom issues.

I also hope you can be reassured knowing everyone here, including me, has the best interest of your children at the forefront of everything we do, every single day and that we take all issues very seriously, especially, when it relates to the safety, health, and well-being of our students.

You may not always agree on the resolution of a situation or our process for handling an issue but I can let you know we consider every issue and concern seriously and would never brush anything off or hide anything. In fact, just like we share with our students, we use any mistakes we might have made as a learning opportunity to continually improve and get better. There may be times that the way an issue is resolved is not the way one might have hoped. However, I hope you know that we will always follow all the correct procedures and protocols to ensure the well being of our students.

I hope that you, like me, recognize what an amazing school we have. We have incredible teachers and staff, awesome and hardworking students, and supportive and involved parents. With a lot of negativity out in the world, I appreciate everyone who helps us promote to our students all the positive and joyful things I see happen each day at our school. We want all our children to feel happy and proud to be Timberwolves and to feel safe and have a sense of belonging.

Thank you, as always, for entrusting your children to all of us at T. Clay Wood and for all you do to help make our school a positive, safe, and respectful learning community.

Speaking of Social Media, we will hold another Online Safety and Social Media Awareness evening on Wednesday, November 8,. 2023 at 6pm.(ZOOM LINK BELOW). Mrs. Caesar and Mrs. Toler from Youth for Tomorrow will join Mr. Taylor, Our ITC, Mrs. Cunningham, our Assistant Principal, and me to share ways parents can continue to monitor and supervise student online usage. They will also let you know the potential "dangers" of some of the Social Media including Online Gaming Sites. Just like adults, students can feel attacked, bullied, or isolated by Online comments and Group texts. We will share what to keep an eye out for, ways to monitor and supervise your students, and even ways to model how you would expect students to behave when online. I always remind our parents that just like you know where your students go and who they are visiting when they walk out the door, you will want to do the same every time they go online. We will also hold an assembly during the school day next week for our 3rd-5th grade students. Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Robertson will remind students how to stay safe online.

A few other quick reminders:

• If your children go Trick or Treating, please remind them to be careful , especially when crossing streets. It is always best to have adult supervision if going out in the evening.
• Please continue to drive carefully around our school building - do not enter through the exit lane of our school. Thank you for driving with care and caution at all times.
• We continue to encourage your students to read each afternoon for at least 20 minutes.
• We will allow students to dress up in costumes on Tuesday, October 31 during the school day. Students should not wear masks to cover their faces for the entire day or bring anything that looks like a weapon or could hurt anyone to school. Students need to wear shoes.
• SOLES 4 SOULS Shoe Collection to provide shoes to people in need from October 23, 230 until November 3, 2023.

Sincerely,

Dr. Andrew Buchheit,

The Very Proud Principal of T. Clay Wood Elementary School.

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”

On November 8, 2023 at 6pm we will host an Internet Safety/Social Media Awareness night for all parents and guardians. This evening is just for adults. We will also review age appropriate information with students in 3rd-5th grade during the school day on November 2, 2023.

On November 8, 2023 at 6pm on ZOOM, Mrs. Caesar and Mrs. Toler, from Youth for Tomorrow and Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Cunningham will join me in an evening focused on increasing parent and guardian awareness of the hidden challenges for students when they go on line. This event is just for adults. No RSVP is required. The session will NOT be recorded due to the potential personal nature of some of the information.

I really encourage all our parents and guardians to try and join us on this date and time.

We will hold this event on ZOOM - Here is the link -

Join Zoom Meeting
https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/83238452822?pwd=NkhrQWNVSlQyUEVLYllyM094WU5nQT09

Meeting ID: 832 3845 2822
Passcode: Internet

Students may dress up in elementary school appropriate costumes on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 during the school day. Students should wear shoes with their costumes. Costumes should not have masks that cannot be taken off during the school day. Students should not bring in anything that looks like a weapon or can hurt anyone.

Friday, October 27 - in the evening for the Costume Bingo -students can wear their costumes to the PTO Bingo game. Adults can as well. Please remember to wear costumes appropriate for elementary school students and again no weapons, etc. (See above). Students should NOT wear costumes during the school day.

We are collecting gently worn shoes and new shoes for people in need. When families live in poverty one of the last things they may buy for themselves is a pair of shoes. Please bring the shoes to the collection bins in the front office.

We will be collecting shoes between October 23, 2023 -November 3, 2023.

Please review the website for more information - Soles 4 Souls Website

We are excited to celebrate, recognize and honor our Veterans and Active Duty Personnel and their families for their service, dedication, and sacrifice to our country and its citizens.

For the last few years, we have invited our Veterans and Active Duty Personnel to School so that we can say THANK YOU for your service during a special recognition assembly.

This year, this event will take place on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 9:45 am. If you or your children's grandparents served in the armed forces or are currently serving and you are able to attend our ceremony, please RSVP by clicking on this link: VETERANS/ACTIVE DUTY RSVP LINK

Although the Ceremony will begin at 9:45 am, we are asking all our Veterans and their guests to arrive between 9:25 am - 9:50 am. Everyone should bring a valid photo identification. We ask only Veterans/Active Duty Personnel and their guests to attend.

For planning purposes, please RSVP by Monday, October 30, 2023.

Thank you for your service.

Dr. Andrew Buchheit, Principal

Our Parent Liaison, Ms. Colon has coordinated with Red Robin to promote reading - From Ms. Colon:

Our school has partnered with Red Robin restaurants in Prince William County to promote reading for our students! A bookmark will be coming home with your student on Wednesday (10/25/23) to keep track of books read by your student. Once five books are read and titles are written on the bookmark, your student will need to bring their bookmark back to school to obtain their teachers signature to validate the bookmark. Once your student’s bookmark has returned home, you student may celebrate their accomplishments by bringing their bookmark to any three Prince William County Red Robin locations to receive a free kid’s meal. The closest Red Robin location to our school is Manassas (Bristow) 9945 Sowder Village Square, Manassas, VA 20109

On Saturday, October 28, Patriot will hold their Fall Festival -see information below.

on November 2, 2023, DJ Wood will visit our school during lunch to play some tunes for our students in celebration of a successful completion of the 1st quarter of school. If you prefer your student to eat in the office due to volume, etch this day, please let your child's teacher know.

On November 2, Mr. Taylor and our school counselors will join me in reminding our 3rd-5th grade students about Internet Safety. We will also have an evening event as well for parents. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at taylorbi@pwcs.edu or one of our school counselors at 703.594.3990.

On November 9, we will have a school wide assembly honoring our Veterans and Active duty service members.

If you do not want your student to participate in any of these Whole School 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.

SOLES 4 Souls Shoe Collection - October 23 - November 3, 2023

SEP Oct 23 - Dec. 8, 2023

• KG Pumpkin Day

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Day 5

• Chorus- 8:15 am
• Costume Dress Up Day
• Be safe if going out.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023- Day 6

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - Day 1

• Advisory Council moved from October 19; 6:30 pm on Zoom. If you would like to attend, please email me at buchhear@pwcs.edu for a ZOOM link.

Friday, November 3, 2023 -Day -2

Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind

It is The Habit of Personal Vision

One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life.

• You begin with the end in mind when you:

  • Set short term and long term goals.
  • Plan the steps you need to take to reach your goals.

  
  

  Kid Language

  Have a Plan: I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.

  Ways to practice Begin With the End in Mind:

  • Lay out your clothes for tomorrow before you go to bed.
  • Get out a pencil and a piece of paper and write down three goals you want to do. Put the paper in a safe place where you can see it.
  • We all have something we need to get better at, like doing our homework, brushing our teeth at night, or obeying our parents. Pick one thing you need to do better. Start doing it.

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:

October 10: MOD Pizza Spirit Night

October 16-27: Read-a-Thon Fundraiser

October 20: Chuck E Cheese Spirit Night

October 23: Fall SEP Starts

October 27,: Costume Bingo Night

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

Next PTO Meeting, November 30, 2023 - 6:30pm.

On ZOOM - Join Zoom Meeting

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/88559394298?pwd=TDh1dWJYSmtWcTVSRUlZajBiUmJNZz09

Meeting ID: 885 5939 4298
Passcode: PTO

Your TCWES PTO has a lot of fun events and projects planned for the year. Come see what this year holds in store for the PTO! 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!

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