Wizard Words- February 20, 2017

WIZARD WORDS

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A newsletter from Washington Elementary and Washington PTA

February 20, 2017

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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

 

Dear Families,

Our school dining room is starting a new service. They will provide reminder phone calls on Wednesday afternoons to families who are nearing a low balance on their child’s school meal account. Child Nutrition Services has developed a system so only those families who need the reminder will get a phone call. We expect the service to begin late February.

While many WCPSS families use MySchoolBucks.com and receive low balance notifications, our Wednesday phone calls will help us reach more families.

WCPSS families who use MySchoolBucks.com can view their child’s purchases and account balance at any time and receive low balance notifications based on a self-determined threshold.  They can also use MySchoolBucks.com to manage payment of their child’s school meals. MySchoolBucks.com offers a no-cost, secure sign-up, and is easy to use.

Also, please see the Washington website for the SSA (Single Subject Acceleration) nomination window and dates for information sessions for the 2017-2018 school year .

~Mr. Grant

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, February 20th: Weather Make-up Day

Thursday, February 23rd 5:30 pm: Math and Science Night & General PTA Meeting

Wednesday, March 1st  9:30am: PTA Board Meeting (Conference Room, all are welcome)

Saturday, March 4th 5:15 pm: Jelly Beans Spirit Night

March 7th - 9th: Staff Appreciation Week

 

 

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PTA PRESIDENT

 

Dear Washington Parents,

I look forward to seeing you at our Math and Science Night on February 23. The committee has worked extremely hard to bring you a night of excellent programming that will have your family declaring their love for these subjects. My thanks to all our hard working PTA members who are making this night possible.

At 6 pm, we will have a very brief PTA meeting in the cafeteria in order to approve the minutes from our November meeting and to vote on some minor budget adjustments to the 2016-2017 operating budget. We are operating within budget and the board is working to make sure our PTA is working within our mission and by-laws.

This is the time of year where life starts to speed up, and soon my year will be up as your PTA President. But before that happens, we have many more things to do that will need your volunteer support. We will host WES Staff Appreciation Week in March, Cultural Night in April and our annual Spring Fling Celebration in May. We will keep you posted on our volunteer and donation needs that will help make those events a success.

More importantly, I am asking you to think how you can serve in leadership roles next year on our PTA. In order to keep our PTA thriving, we need new leaders, diversity, and new ideas. In other words, we need you.

It’s hard to take that next step. I get it. We work full-time. We have busy lives. We have kids. How can we find the time to be Vice-President or a future President? All of that went through my head two years ago before I said I would serve as PTA Vice-President. I kept waiting for someone else to come forward and that someone never came.

We are at that point again. We need someone to take the leap. Will it be you? We know you have many gifts and talents, and you are just what we need to help us continue to succeed.

I’m not a perfect President. But, I have a board that supports and helps me along the way. The board would do the same for you. I’m in this role because I care about our school. I know you care about our school, too.

Please consider giving your name to our nominating committee so that we can be confident that our PTA continues to thrive in future years. You may email Kristen Beck at beckclanqueen@gmail.com for more information.

Many thanks,

Leigh Hines
WES PTA President 2016-2017 

 

MATH AND SCIENCE NIGHT!

 

 

 

 

Thursday, February 23rd

Event starts at 5:30 pm with food truck sales provided by Cockadoodlemoo! (http://cockadoodlemootruck.com/about.html)

Activities and events will begin at 6:00 pm.

We will have lots of hands-on demonstrations in astronomy, mathematics, engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, horticulture, and health & wellness. Plus, don’t forget the make-and-take activities and the egg drop contest! The Quiet Zone will be available for families that need a break from the noise or crowds of the event. 

In order to make this event a success we need your help! Please sign up at the link below to volunteer a little bit of your time.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080F4BAFAB23A46-family

 

IT'S TIME TO TURN IN BOX TOPS!

 

Have Box Tops sitting in your kitchen drawer?  Please turn in any collected Box Tops to the front office by February 24th for our March submission deadline!

Thank you!

 

 

JOIN US FOR JELLYBEANS SPIRIT NIGHT!

 

 

  

 

Jellybeans will be hosting a private School Spirit Family Skate on March 4, 2017 from 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm. It will cost $5.00 per person, which includes skate rental; roller blades are $1.00 extra.

Admission charge will apply to all, except for non-skating teachers and parents. Parental supervision is required during the event. Parents and siblings are welcome to skate, too! Skaters are welcome to stay for the public session from 7:00-10:00pm at no additional charge, but must arrive by 6:30pm to get the discount.

Jellybeans does not allow any gum or outside food or drink, but the snack bar will be open!

Cary location: 1120 Buck Jones Road 919-467-5283

 

  

 IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR OUTSTANDING STAFF!

Greetings Washington Families!

The Staff Appreciation Committee needs your help! During the week of March 6th, we will be hosting the popular Wizard Oasis Spa for the staff in our magically transformed teacher’s lounge. This year we have 3 days of some relaxing spa activities for our wonderful staff. There will be warm foot baths, hand paraffin dips, neck warmers, a spread of snacks and beverages, and professional chair massages! Our staff work so hard; they deserve a relaxing break!

Every year, we ask that each grade level help provide snacks and drinks for our wonderful Washington staff during their visit to the Wizard Oasis Spa. Please go to the website for your child’s grade to see what treats you can donate:

Tuesday 3/7 – AU1, AU2, 4^th & 5^th grade food and drinks: AU1, AU2, 4th and 5th grade sign-up

Wednesday 3/23 – 2^nd & 3^rd grade food and drinks: 2nd and 3rd grade sign-up

Thursday 3/24 – CCK, K & 1^st grade food and drinks: 1st grade, K and CCK sign-up

We will also need a few volunteers to help the spa run smoothly (it’s actually a lot of fun!). Please go to the website listed below to find details about what is needed and how you can help. 

Volunteers: Volunteer sign-up

We thank you for rolling up your sleeves with us to treat the staff to a fabulous week of goodies and pampering! Please check the Washington PTA Facebook page or website (www.wizardpta.org) for more info and these links!

Advocacy is the Heart of PTA

 

Did you know the PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in the United States? As a member of the Washington PTA, you are part of the more than 4 million members nationwide who share a commitment to improving the education, health, and safety of all children. For more than 100 years, the PTA has been a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.  

Are you interested in advocating for public education here in Wake County and North Carolina?  Here are a few ways you can get involved:

• Attend North Carolina PTA's Advocacy Day on March 14 at the NC General Assembly
  • NCPTA Advocacy Day Information
• Become informed about education issues by signing up for NCPTA's Advocacy Newsletter and read the website at: http://ncpta.org/index.php/advocacy/legislative-updates/
• Watch Public School Forum's TV show "Education Matters" on WRAL, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. for a weekly review of education issues and timely topics.  You can watch past shows here: https://www.ncforum.org/education-matters/
• Attend WCPSS School Board meetings.  A calendar of meetings can be found here: http://www.wcpss.net/Page/100
• Attend WCPSS Board Advisory Council meetings for Washington's district, or the district you live in.  Find out more at: http://www.wcpss.net/Page/3726

If you'd like more ideas on how to get involved or are interested in serving on Washington PTA's Advocacy Committee, contact Julie von Haefen at julievonhaefen@yahoo.com.  

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Important Links:

• Washington Elementary School
• Wake County Public School System
• Washington PTA
• Washington PTA on Facebook
• Washington MemberHub
• Amazon Smile
• Wake County PTA Council
• National PTA