Laptop and Hotspot Distribution Begins Aug. 17 WCPSS will begin distributing laptops and hotspots to families who requested them on August 17 from five high school distribution centers. Parents will be contacted directly with pick-up details. To accommodate social distancing and keep our families, staff, and volunteers safe, families will be assigned a date to collect their requested devices.  Student and Parent Guides to Technology The resources on this site show students how to log in to their Wake IDs and student email, how to set up and use Chromebooks and Internet hotspots, how to connect to WiFi, how to use learning systems such as Google Classroom and Canvas, and much more. We will continue to add new resources and updates.

Meet the Teacher/ Google Classroom Orientation 

Meet the teacher will be held in one session with all three teachers on your child’s grade level. This is to allow you and your child to begin to get to know each teacher that may teach your child during the school year.  During this time teachers will orient you to Google Classroom. Please connect to the Google Meet on your scheduled day/time.  These sessions are for Plan B Transition and Virtual Academy families since both groups are working remotely at the start of the year. Once a decision is made for Plan B to return to campus, we will have a separate session to present information and answer questions for Plan B families.  Please check your email for the individual Google links to your child's classroom meets. 

  

Thursday  August 13th

10:30-11:30 am Kindergarten  

11:30-12:30 pm First Grade

12:30-1:30 pm   Second Grade 

 

 

Friday   August 14th

10:30 -11:30 amThird Grade 

‬11:30 -12:30 pm Fourth Grade 

‬12:30 - 1:30 pm Fifth Grade 

 

 

 

Materials Pick Up

Each grade level has specific instructional materials that will be used to support Remote/Virtual learning.  Teachers are gathering these materials for you to take home to your child. Please note when your pick up day/time is scheduled.  Times are designated by grade level and last names and to allow for social distancing and a quick pick up. 

 

To complete the pick-up please drive through the parking lot carpool style using the Boylan Ave. entrance.  We ask that you display your carpool tag or make a sign with your child’s last name and display it in your windshield. Please remain in your car. We will bring your child’s materials to you.  You will then exit onto Devereux St. Thank you! 

 

Pick Up Times:

Monday 17th Grades K-2:

11:00-12:00pm   Kindergarten 11:00-11:20  A-I    11:20-11:40  J-R 11:40-12:00 S-Z

12:00-1:00 pm  First  12:00-12:20  A-I  12:20 12:40   J-R  12:40-1:00   S-Z

1:00-2:00pm  Second 1:00-1:20  A-I 1:20-1:40  J-R    1:40-2:00 S-Z             

 

Tuesday 18th Grades 3-5

11:00-12:00 Third  11:00-11:20  A-I 11:20-11:40 J-R 11:40-12:00 S-Z

12:00-1:00  Fourth 12:00-12:20 A-I 2:20-12:40  J-R  12:40-1:00 S-Z

1:00-2:00  Fifth 1:00-1:20  A-I  1:20-1:40  J-R      1:40-2:00  S-Z

 

Wednesday 19th will be a Materials Pick Up  MAKE-UP DAY from 11:00 -12:00 pm 

(To avoid long lines it is important for you to come on your assigned day)

 

Schedules

Teachers are working on finalizing their grade level daily schedules.  We will have them to you next week as soon as they are finalized.  Please know today was the first teacher work day and we are all working diligently to make the best decisions for our students.   Please also note that instruction will start each day at 8:30 am with morning meetings in each classroom beginning on August 13th.  WCPSS has designated the first two weeks of school as an orientation period.  Due to various events, setting up classroom expectations, meet the teachers events and material pick-ups, there will not be 2.5 hours of live instruction immediately. Teachers will be increasing live instruction time over the orientation window with 2.5 hours of live instruction daily in place by August 27th. 

 

 Welcome Back Family Parade 

You are invited to begin the new school year to welcome back the students and staff by participating in a parade on Friday, August the 21st from 11:30 am-12:30pm.  The parade will be routed around the PMES school block.  Teachers will be located around the school block to greet you. We look forward to seeing you then! More information regarding the route will be sent closer to the date. 

Dear Partnership Families,

Thank you for your questions and support as we work on the details for starting the school year. We will share information with you such as schedules, materials pick-ups, meet the teacher events, supply lists, etc. as soon as they are finalized.

We wanted to send you this short message to make sure you are aware of some important information (versión en español) that was shared last Friday by WCPSS.

Particular deadlines and information to know:

• Technology survey to be completed by ALL families (deadline: July 29)
• New application period for Virtual Academy (today through July 29 at 5:00 pm)
• Updates for students with IEPs

If you have any questions, please contact us!

Sincerely,

Dr. Mark Kenjarski, Senior Partner 
Mrs. Michele Tempke, Senior Partner 

July 23, 2020

 

Partnership Pioneer Families:

 

Reminder: Please Join Us: 

Dr. Kenjarski and Ms.Tempke will host a Google Meet, today, Thursday, July 23rd at 4 pm to review the current plans and to answer questions.  Here is the login information:

Meeting ID

meet.google.com/xmo-ggzh-iry

Phone Numbers

(‪US‬)‪+1 240-623-1090‬

PIN: ‪968 256 179#‬

 

Changes to Plan B

The district announced on Tuesday the delay of bringing students back on campus in Plan B. Instead, all students will begin the school year in online instruction. This decision was made after close examination of current Wake County COVID-19 data. You may view local Wake County Government data here. This site is updated three times per day.

 

The first two weeks of school for all students will focus on orientation, meet and greet opportunities, and distribution of supplies. Students will not be initially divided into groups A, B, C during the first two weeks.

 

Please note the start date for Modified calendar schools has been changed from Aug. 3rd to Aug. 13th.  This date applies to both VA and  Plan B transition students.  The last day of the school year will be June 11, 2021. 

View updated calendars.

 

WCPSS Technology Survey

To have a better understanding of device and technology needs, WCPSS is asking all families to complete a technology survey for each student, regardless of the school he or she is attending or the choice of plan, the reopening of school complete this survey. 

 

If you are unable to answer the survey online, please call us at PME and we will help you complete the survey. You may also leave this information on our voice mail.  Be sure to include your name/student name if doing so. 

 

The following are the questions you will answer:

Please indicate which of the following best describes the situation for this student: (ipads and other tablets may not work well with K-12 resources)

 

    *The parent/guardian will provide a laptop (either Chromebook, Windows 10, or Apple) for this student.

    *This student has a district provided Chromebook that he or she will continue to use.

    *This student will need a district provided Chromebook.

Please indicate which of the following best describes the situation for this student: (District hotspots will allow up to 9 connections, please request only one per family)

 

    *This student has internet access at home. 

    *This student has a district provided hotspot.

    *This student will need a hotspot for internet access. 

 

New Application Period of WCPSS Virtual Academy

All students will have a second opportunity to apply for the WCPSS Virtual Academy on July 27 - July 29. The application will close on July 29 at 5 p.m.  If you have applied to the WCPSS Virtual Academy and would like to withdraw or change your application, please contact us at PME. Please remember each child needs a separate application.

 

To help understand all the differences between WCPSS Virtual Academy and Plan A/B/C, view this comparison chart. 

 

More Questions?    Watch the Virtual Academy Open House

 

Frequently Asked Questions are posted and updated on the WCPSS Virtual Academy website.https://www.wcpss.net/virtual-academy

 

Families wishing to maintain the continuity of a fully online learning environment for the semester or full school year, regardless of any decisions made by the state or district to move into Plan A, B, or C during the school year, should enroll in the WCPSS Virtual Academy.

 

Before/After School Care

We have postponed our Before and After Care Program registration on Monday. It will be rescheduled closer to when Plan B students return to campus for in-person instruction.

 

 

July 16, 2020 

 

Partnership Pioneer Families, 

 

FYI: WCPSS Virtual Academy Open House

There will be a virtual open house featuring information about the new WCPSS Virtual Academy on Thursday, July 16 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. WCPSS officials who are designing the Virtual Academy will be on hand to address questions that have been collected from families and teachers over the last several weeks. You may submit your questions via this Google form. They will address those questions that are the most common among our community. Attend the Open House on Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m.: www.youtube.com/user/WakeCountySchools. It will also be archived on the YouTube channel.

 

Reminder: Virtual Academy Applications Accepted July 10-20

Information is available for the WCPSS Virtual Academy, which will offer fully-online instruction for families who wish for their children to learn at home full-time. The application window is July 10-20. For further information visit the Virtual Academy Website:  https://www.wcpss.net/Page/43730

 

FAQ’s from Google Survey:  

Please read the Questions/Answers document linked above that were submitted on the Google Form from last week’s PME School Message. There were a great number of questions and we will continue to work on answering them as more information becomes available. The sections and page numbers are listed below.

Virtual Academy page 1

Plan B page 5

Transportation page 10

Health Practices and Social Distancing page 11

Other Questions page 13

 

More Questions?

Dr. Kenjarski and Ms.Tempke will host a Google Meet on Thursday, July 23rd at 4 pm to review the current plans and to answer questions. Please join us:

Meeting ID

meet.google.com/xmo-ggzh-iry

Phone Numbers

(‪US‬)‪+1 240-623-1090‬

PIN: ‪968 256 179#‬

After reading the FAQ and if your question has not been answered, please submit your question on this Form.  We will review the questions you submitted and provide as many answers to them as we can during our Google Meet on Thursday at 4:00pm.  

 

Child Nutrition

Child Nutrition Services wants you to know that you can apply online to qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. Visit www.wcpss.net/meals to determine if you qualify and to complete the online application. The website includes the application information and frequently asked questions. Families will be able to obtain paper applications once school has reopened.

 

Summer Hours

The school building is currently open for summer hours Tuesdays 9am-12pm and Thursdays 12-3pm.  Please be sure to follow mask and social distancing requirements.

 

Please also be sure to check your email regularly for Wake County Public School System emails for the latest updates from the school system.

 

July 11, 2020

 

Partnership Pioneer Families,

Hope you are enjoying the summer break.  Here are a few updates:

 

Plan B

The WCPSS school board voted on a framework for reopening schools. School will resume for the Modified Year Round schedule on Monday, August 3rd.  WCPSS’ Plan B framework will divide students into three groups. One third of the students will be on campus for a week while the other two groups are engaged in virtual learning. Groups will take turns rotating each week. Groups will be made based on transportation requirements for bus routes, grouping siblings together, and making sure the three groups are even in size for social distancing. 

 

WCPSS Central Office and all individual schools in the county are working on creating plans to implement Plan B including how teachers will teach students on campus, teach students receiving online instruction under Plan B, and teach students receiving full time online instruction under the Virtual Academy. Plan B, which has approximately one third of students on campus each day, enables schools to practice social distancing. The number of students and staff in any given space is based on 50 sq feet per person.  Any guidelines provided by the Governor related to the maximum number of people that can congregate inside/outside will also impact groupings of students. 

 

All staff and adult visitors will be required to wear masks and elementary students will be encouraged to do so. Masks will be required for students on buses and contracted transportation.  All staff and students will also need to go through a daily health screening. WCPSS has created a guide for a  Return to Campus Guide for Families with more information on these topics.

 

WCPSS Virtual Academy  

WCPSS has decided to create a Virtual Academy where families may elect to have students learn completely virtually without coming to campus. Students in the Virtual Academy will commit to attend for the fall semester with a WCPSS recommendation for the whole year. Students attending the Virtual Academy will be taught either by teachers at their existing school or possibly by teachers from other schools, depending on the number of students signed up at each grade level. 

 

Students will continue to receive services through their assigned school. These services include, but are not limited to: AIG, ESL, Intervention, 504 services, and special education.

 

If, at the end of the first semester or at the end of a full year,  students attending the Virtual Academy wish to return to the school for in person instruction they will be able to return as long as the school is operating under Plan A or Plan B. Students in the Virtual Academy will retain their magnet status and can apply as normal to a magnet middle school if they are a rising 6th grader at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Please refer to the Virtual Academy website or the Senior Partners for questions. The application window for the Academy  is July 10-20, 2020.

 

Transportation

The deadline for families to decline transportation service is Monday, July 13th at 5 p.m. If you had children riding the bus last year and you are considering registering for the Virtual Academy, but have not yet decided, you do not need to decline their seat at this time. If you do register for the Virtual Academy, your children will be automatically removed from the transportation system for the first semester of school. Students will be automatically assigned to the bus again once schools reopen on a normal schedule with all students in the building. Please use this transportation link to decline or request transportation.

 

Child Nutrition

Child Nutrition Services wants you to know that you can apply online to qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. Visit www.wcpss.net/meals to determine if you qualify and to complete the online application. The website includes the application information and frequently asked questions. Families will be able to obtain paper applications once school has reopened.

 

Summer Hours

The school building is currently open for summer hours Tuesdays 9am-12pm and Thursdays 12-3pm.  Please be sure to follow mask and social distancing requirements.

 

Questions?

Please complete the following survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DszPz9Jf-v5mjJdgDSB6ceDHeaDmcKfaKT9uCXgogQI/edit  with any questions that you may have regarding this information.  We will review the questions you submitted and provide as many answers to them as we can at this time.  

 

Please also be sure to check your email regularly for Wake County Public School emails for the latest updates from the county. 

                                                Final Personal Item Pick Up

 

We will have our very last student belongings and medication pick-up opportunity this Thursday, May 28th from 9-11 am.  If your child will not be attending a WCPSS school next year, you should also return any borrowed Chromebooks or hotspots or any PMES school items your child possesses.  To complete the pick-up/drop off please drive through the parking lot carpool style using the Boylan Ave. entrance.  We ask that you display your carpool tag or make a sign with your child’s last name and display it in your windshield. Please remain in your car. We will bring your child’s belongings to you and collect returned materials. You will then exit onto Devereux St. Thank you! 

                                           Student End of the Year Feedback  

Please check your email inboxes today for your child’s year end feedback for the first three quarters of instruction of the 2019-2020 school year. There were no grades assigned for standards for the 4th quarter.  If an email address was not available this information was sent to you via US postal service. If you feel additional information is needed regarding your child’s performance, please request a phone or video conference with your child’s classroom teacher prior to the end of the school year. 

 

                                            Partnership Teacher Parade: Parade Route

You are all invited to wrap up the school year and say “Goodbye” on the last day of school, Wednesday, May 20th from 12:30-1:00 by driving by PMES for a send off from our teachers. The parade route will follow the carpool procedures.  Cars are to enter Wills Forest from Glenwood Avenue, turn left onto Boylan Avenue, then left onto Devereux Street.  You will cruise down Devereux St. then turn right onto Glenwood Ave, right onto Hinsdale, right onto Boylan and then exit left onto Devereux Street.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, staff will be positioned 6 feet apart from one another along the sidewalks.  Parents and students are to remain in their cars and no stopping to take pictures or to socialize will be permitted.  We hope to see you in your car on the 20th waving your goodbye to the 2019-2020 school year!! We are all excited to see your faces. This event is scheduled rain or shine.

 

                                           WCPSS Remote Learning Survey

Wake County Public Schools sent a survey to all families this week to provide feedback on their students’ remote learning experience thus far. This is the first of two surveys that they will send to you.  They are designed to help them improve remote learning.  Please complete the survey by May 20th:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N985N68 

 

                                            Medication/Materials Pick Up

We will have our final student belongings and medication pick-up / drop-off of library and dot books on Tuesday, May 19th based on last name. We will also be distributing class pictures if you ordered one. If your child will not be attending a WCPSS school next year, you should also return any borrowed Chromebooks or hotspots. To complete the pick-up/drop off parents will drive through the parking lot carpool style using the Boylan Ave. entrance.  There will be a location for you to stop to obtain or drop off the items. We ask that you display your carpool tag or make a sign with your child’s last name and display it in your windshield. Please remain in your car. We will bring your child’s belongings to you and have a box for you to return materials. You will then exit onto Devereux St. We will be using a staggered schedule based on last name.

• 8:00-9:00 Student Last Names A-E
• 9:00-10:00 Student Last Names F-J
• 10:00-11:00 Student Last Names K-P
• 11:00-12:00 Student Last Names Q-Z

 

                                                        Materials Pick Up/Drop Off

We are planning a materials pick-up and return of borrowed items, such as for library and class books, the last week of school.  More detailed  information will be released next week. Yearbooks may be picked up on Monday the 11th from 9-10 am and Tuesday the 12th from 4-5 pm.  

 

                                                    Student End of the Year Feedback

Teachers will provide year-end feedback for students regarding both their strengths and needs from an academic and social-emotional perspective for the 2019-2020 school year through the date of the school closure.  Feedback will be written in the comment section on the elementary report card and then emailed to parents on May 15th.  They will be sent through postal mail if an email address is not available. Providing student feedback prior to the end of the school year will allow parents to request a phone or video conference with the teacher if they would like additional information and feedback.

 

                                                   Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a great time to check in on your own self-care strategies.  The following are some helpful and easy to do self-care tips: get outside every day;  focus on the present and what you can control; find major humor in something each day; participate in  Virtual Calm Down Rooms (click on link & scroll down and check out the many options)!  This is an unusual time in our history, but it also provides us with an awesome opportunity to practice effective self-care.

  

                                                               Virtual Field Day

We are excited to announce that Friday, May 15th will be designated as PME’s Virtual Field Day.  Coach Hardy has created nine fun stations for your child to participate in which will be posted virtually.  Your child will be able to choose any or all of the stations he or she would like to participate in, either on that day or beginning on Monday, May 11th, as the stations will be posted on his site for easy access.  Please send any pictures or videos of your child completing a station(s) to Coach Hardy, dhardy@wcpss.net.   We would all love to see your child being active and having fun.  

 

                                             Partnership Teacher Parade: Mark Your Calendar

You are all invited to wrap up the school year and say “Goodbye” on the last day of school, Wednesday, May 20th from 12:30-1:00 by driving by PMES for a send off from our teachers.  Teachers will be located around the school block to wave goodbye. There will be a special surprise for the 5th grade students as well.  More specific details about the route of the parade will be provided next week.  We hope to see you in your car on the 20th waving your goodbye to the 2019-2020 school year!!

 

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT):

North Carolina approved the distribution of additional resources to families receiving free or reduced-price lunch. The additional benefits will be through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) to help families buy food during the COVID-19 school closure. Learn more about the P-EBT program on the NC DHHS website. You may also contact our  school social worker, Ashley Davis, acdavis@wcpss.net .

 

 Applying for Federal Free or Reduced Price School Meals

There are many families’ economic and employment situations that have changed during this pandemic. Families can apply at any time for free or reduced price lunch, which may also qualify them for other state and federal benefits. The following link will take you the application site:  www.wcpss.net/meals  

  

 Classroom Placement Requests

Parent Input Letters - If you would like to provide input on your child’s classroom placement for the next school year, you are welcome to write a letter addressed either to Dr. Kenjarski (mrkenjarski@wcpss.net), for students entering grades 3-5, or Mrs.Tempke (mtempke@wcpss.net), for students entering grades K-2, describing characteristics of a teacher you think would be best to work with your child.  Please do not include teacher names in your letter, as specific teacher requests will not be considered.  Please submit your letters by May 8th.   

 

 Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8th.  Please consider having your children send kind words, emails, ecards, videos, etc. to their teachers during this week to show their appreciation for all of the hard work they are doing now and have done throughout the school year. If you wish to mail a small item via US mail  to your teacher you are welcome to send it PMES.  We will be certain your teacher receives the item.  

 

Virtual Field Day

We are pleased to announce that Friday, May 15th will be designated as PME’s Virtual Field Day.  Coach Hardy will have nine fun stations for your child to participate in posted virtually.  Your child will be able to choose any or all of the stations he or she would like to participate in, either on that day or any day, as the stations  will be posted on his site for easy access.  Please send any pictures or videos of your child completing a station(s) to Coach Hardy, dhardy@wcpss.net.   We would all love to see your child being active and having fun.  

 

Partnership Teacher Parade: Mark Your Calendar

You are all invited to say “Goodbye” on the last day of school, Wednesday, May 20th from 12:30-1:00 by driving by PMES for a send off from our teachers.  Families are invited to drive by our parade of teachers during that time frame.  Teachers will be posted around the school block to wave goodbye.  There will be a special surprise for the 5th grade students as well.  More specific  details about the route of the parade will be provided closer to the date.  We hope to see you in your car on the 20th waving your goodbye to the 2019-2020 school year!!

 

Governor Cooper announced today that schools will be closed the remainder of the school year.  Although we are sad to hear this announcement, we would like for everyone to remain safe and healthy. Remote learning will continue through the last day of our school year, May 20th.

 

Please continue to support and encourage your children to complete their classwork daily. We would like as much participation by our students as we can get in our online schooling.  Your children’s teachers are putting a great deal of work into teaching the remaining instructional standards for the school year. As suggested on the WCPSS Remote Learning Site, designating a specific time and location for your child to work with minimal distractions is important for optimal remote learning. Please remember, as posted in your child’s daily schedule, specialists, PE, Music, Art, Connect, Interactive Community, are providing lessons and activities as well.  You can access the Specialist’s websites through your child’s Google classroom or the PMES website  by clicking on the  Remote Learning tabs. We appreciate your support and efforts at home assisting our students in their learning!

 

If your child should experience any technology issues, please access the WCPSS Help Desk for families. You can contact the Help Desk through the online system at StudentTechHelp.wcpss.net  or call at 919-694-8100 from 7:00am - 5:00pm with Spanish speaking operators available.

 

Grades - The NC State Board of Education provided specific guidelines to us related to grading.  Elementary students (K-5) will receive no final grades.  Instead of a final grade, teachers will provide year-end feedback for students regarding learning from the school year.  

 

Parent Input Letters - If you would like to provide input on your child’s classroom placement for the next school year, you are welcome to write a letter addressed either to Dr. Kenjarski (mrkenjarski@wcpss.net), for students entering grades 3-5, or Mrs.Tempke (mtempke@wcpss.net), for students entering grades K-2, describing characteristics of a teacher you think would be best to work with your child.  Please do not include teacher names in your letter, as specific teacher requests will not be considered.  Please have your letters submitted by May 8th.   

 

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8th.  Please consider having your children send kind words, emails, ecards, videos, etc. to their teachers during this week to show their appreciation for all of the hard work they are doing now and have done throughout the school year.  

Teacher Spirit Video: Grab your sunglasses, you are about to get BLINDED by your teachers' dance moves: https://www.wcpss.net/domain/16522