Fall Break

We are officially on Fall Break beginning September 27th.  Students return to school on Tuesday, October 12th. The following link will take you to the Modified Calendar for the 2021-2022 school year: https://www.wcpss.net/cms/lib/NC01911451/Centricity/Domain/19/21-22%20MOD.pdf

Please continue to have your child read daily. Enjoy your break!

 

Calendar of Events

• September 27th - FALL BREAK

• October 12th - Students Return to School for Second Quarter
• October 15th - First Quarter Report Cards come home
• October 16th - Planting Day 8:30-12 

Back To School VA Event

VA families are invited to meet up for a socially-distanced dinner at the PME playground on Monday, September 27 from 4-6:30. Families should bring dinner of their choice to the playground and are asked to wear masks when not eating. We hope to see you all there!

 

October Online VA Family Meeting

Thank you to those who were able to attend the September online VA family meeting last week. The October meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 27 from 3:00-3:30pm. A PME guest will provide an activity for the students from 3:00-3:15 pm. From 3:15-3:30 pm the guest will be available to answer parent questions and talk with families. The link to join will be shared closer to the event date.

 

Google Meet Each Tuesday with Mrs. Helton

Mrs. Helton, our School Counselor will have an open and standing Google Meet every Tuesday from 2:15 - 2:45pm. Please log on to check in, chat or just connect!  Please see the PTA Monday Morning Memo for the link.

 

Open House

Please join us on Thursday, September 30th for our virtual Open House. Two sessions are scheduled to provide you the opportunity and flexibility to attend if you have multiple children.  The first session is scheduled from 5:30-5:55 pm and the second session is 6:00-6:25 pm.  To join the Open House, please log in to your child's class using his or her student device.  During this session, you will learn important classroom information to support your child's academic success for the 2021-2022 school year.   

 

Open House

Please join us on Thursday, September 30th for our virtual Open House. Two sessions are scheduled to provide you the opportunity and flexibility to attend if you have multiple children.  The first session is scheduled from 5:30-5:55 pm and the second session is 6:00-6:25 pm.  To join the Open House, please log in to your child's class using his or her student device.  During this session, you will learn important classroom information to support your child's academic success for the 2021-2022 school year.   

Picnic Table Delay

The vendor we ordered the picnic tables from is no longer able to supply them. We have ordered them from a different vendor. They are scheduled to arrive in October after break. We thank everyone who offered to volunteer to assemble the tables.  

 

Lunch Survey

We had 74 families respond to the survey we posted in last two week’s Principal’s Message. Out of the 74 responses, 70% of families felt completely comfortable or mostly comfortable with having volunteers assist in the cafeteria. Out of the families that responded 38% of families would consider being a future volunteer.  We will continue to assess our supervision needs and send more information out regarding possible future volunteer opportunities. 

 

Calendar of Events

• September 24th - End of First Quarter
• September 27th - FALL BREAK
• October 12th - Students Return to School for Second Quarter
• October 15th - First Quarter Report Cards come home

The Frolic - Fundraiser/Online Auction Information

Each year, Partnership Magnet Elementary's PTA, volunteers, and staff work together to stage THE FROLIC - our school PTA’s biggest FUNDRAISER. Frolic proceeds help fund programs for the students like Art, P.E., the Library, and other projects. With the help of many volunteers, we have created an online auction. This auction is a helpful and fun component to our Frolic and is designed to augment our fundraising efforts. Your support and bidding will add to the success of this year's Frolic, which will be held on Friday, September 17th. 

 

The auction site is https://www.32auctions.com/frolic21. The auction opens the morning of Saturday the 11th and closes on Saturday the 18th.  We appreciate all of your support to make this fundraiser a success. Thank you! 

 

Lunch Survey

We had 43 families respond to the survey we posted in last week’s message. Out of the 43 responses, 51% of families felt completely comfortable and 23% feel mostly comfortable with having volunteers assist in the cafeteria.  Out of the families that responded 46% of families offered to be a future volunteer.  We are going to leave the survey open for one more week to hopefully obtain more responses.  Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJtdzsFFfqIK0CbWlJtzIW1rsdZIdZT1-qalaR1Af44GVppQ/viewform?usp=sf_link 

 

Calendar of Events

• September 17th - Frolic! (during the day, student centered event)

• September 24th - End of First Quarter

• September 27th - FALL BREAK

• October 12th -Students Return to School for Second Quarter

 

 

Specials

WCPSS created asynchronous specials for Art, Music, and PE.  These subjects are graded. Please be sure you are having your child complete assignments in those subject areas. 

 

The Frolic - Fundraiser/Online Auction Information

Each year, Partnership Magnet Elementary's PTA, volunteers, and staff work together to stage THE FROLIC - our school’s biggest FUNDRAISER. Frolic proceeds help fund programs for the students like Art, P.E., the Library, and other projects. With the help of many volunteers, we have created an online auction. This auction is a helpful and fun component to our Frolic and is designed to augment our fundraising efforts. Your support and bidding will add to the success of this year's Frolic, which will be held on Friday, September 17th. 

 

The auction site is https://www.32auctions.com/frolic21. It  opens the morning of Saturday the 10th and closes on Saturday the 8th.  We appreciate all of your support to make this fundraiser a success. Thank you! 

 

Parent Volunteer Lunch Survey

We have received inquiries from parents asking if they would be able to assist by volunteering for lunch duty.  At this time we are able to have approved, essential volunteers in the building.  As a school we are being selective on how parent volunteers are able to serve in the school by asking them to assist in a classroom either before or after school or work in locations, such as the basement or outside, while students are not located.  

 

We would like your feedback as to how comfortable you would feel with a parent volunteering to supervise for a period of time in the cafeteria and if there is enough parent interest in doing so.  Please complete the survey by September 10th to help us make an informed decision about implementing this idea.  Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJtdzsFFfqIK0CbWlJtzIW1rsdZIdZT1-qalaR1Af44GVppQ/viewform?usp=sf_link 

 

Carpool: Arrival/Dismissal

At PMES, student safety is a primary concern.  We continue to refine our carpool procedures as new situations arise that may be unsafe.  Further, PMES would like to maintain a positive relationship with the community surrounding our school.  We continue to receive complaints from neighbors and PMES families regarding behaviors that are perceived as not courteous.  Please do not rev engines, block driveways, go around other cars who are stopped either waiting to move forward or who are loading or unloading cars.  Students should also be safe in the parking lot.  This means parents should keep children next to them while walking through this area. Cars should not be pulling in or out of the lot while students are arriving or dismissing.  One last reminder, there are no left turns allowed onto Glenwood Avenue from Devereux Street during arrival and dismissal times. The Raleigh Police Department has issued tickets for doing so.   

 

Tardies

Students are considered tardy if they are not in their classrooms by 8:30 am.  During arrival time, we end carpool when the bell rings at 8:25 am.  If you arrive after that time and no staff member is outside to open the car door, you must park, walk your child to the door and sign your child in for the day.  We are seeing an increase in the amount of students arriving tardy each day.  Please allot a few extra minutes in the morning to have your child arrive on time to allow him/her to be prepared and ready for the school day.  

 

Calendar of Events

• September 6th - No School Labor Day Holiday
• September 7th - School Resumes (Traditional Calendar Teacher Workday)
• September 8th - PTA Board Meeting 5:30 pm
• September 17th - Frolic! (during the day, student centered event)

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Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

Due to the number of cars pulling into the parking lot during morning arrival and dismissal we will close the Boylan Avenue gate in order to maintain safety for students walking through the parking lot.  We have received several reports of cars pulling out of spaces and students almost getting hit.  While walking children through the parking lot students should be right next to their parents or holding their hands.  Please do not permit the children to run ahead.   Thank you all for your cooperation.  

 

We understand that students are taking time to get out of their cars during carpool and you need to get to work, etc.  This year students are managing heavier backpacks, putting on masks, etc. and, in general, more students are carpooling this school year.  Please be patient and wait the extra few minutes to stay in line and not attempt to go around a car which is letting out students. We have had near misses when cars are going around, with cars coming down the street at the same time, and when the car dismissing students begins to pull out and is not anticipating another car going around them.  We appreciate your patience. 

Frolic: Raffle Tickets

It is time to sell raffle tickets to support our school.  An envelope has been placed on the table in front of school with 24 raffle tickets for your child to sell.  Please turn in tickets as you sell them. If you need more, send Ms. Martin an email at mmartin@wcpss and she will provide you with more tickets. The link in your email has detailed information regarding the raffle procedures. 

 

Frolic T-Shirt Order Form:  Due Monday, August 30, 2021

If you would like your child to have a complimentary Frolic t-Shirt please complete the form in your email.  You may also order adult t-shirts.  

 

Picture Day:  

Strawbridge Studios will be at PMES on Friday, September 3, 2021 to take student individual pictures. To accommodate student schedules, the VA student time slot is from 11:45am -12:15pm.  Pictures will be taken in the art room. Please see your email for the link for pricing information. 

  

Family Activity Poll

Based on your feedback from the VA survey we would like to potentially schedule a PME VA Back to School Night in early September.  Please check which of the following activities you would feel comfortable and interested in participating with other PME VA families on this one question poll asap in order for us to plan a family activity that meets everyone’s needs.  The poll link is located in your email. 

 

VA Family Meeting

PMES will host a virtual family meeting on September 8th from 3:00-3:30pm.  A PMES guest will provide an activity for the students from 3:00-3:15 pm.  From 3:15-3:30 pm the guest will be available to answer parent questions and talk with families.  The link to join is in your email.  

 

Calendar of Events:

Frolic Order form due: Monday, August 30th

Picture Day: Friday, September 3rd 11:45-12:15 pm

No School: Monday, September 6th

VA Family Meeting:  Wednesday, September 8th 3:00-3:30 pm 

Frolic: Friday, September 17th

Dreambox

Please encourage your child to complete Dreambox at home.  This is a math program which is research based promoting an increase in understanding math concepts. This math program is an adaptive, instructional tool designed for students to engage in game-based activities that support their current level through personalized instruction. Your child is able to access the program through the WakeID portal.

 

Outdoor Seating

We have been investigating possibilities for alternative eating locations this school year in an effort to reduce the number of students in the cafeteria for lunch. This has been a challenging task for our small school campus. We are creating an outdoor eating area by our storage shed area on the Hinsdale St. side of the building. We have ordered additional picnic tables which are scheduled to arrive in mid-September. We are in the process of creating seating charts for students for the outside area as well while adjusting the seating arrangement for the cafeteria to create more social distancing. We plan to start this new inside and outside eating procedure early next week. Students who eat outside may use a yoga mat or beach towel to sit on while eating. You will be notified by your child’s teacher if your child will eat outside in order to provide you with the option of sending in a mat or towel. On days where it is raining, students will eat in the library hallway. Thank you for your flexibility as we attempt to mitigate Covid exposures.

 

Volunteers in School Buildings

Partnership Magnet Interactive Community believes strongly in parents volunteering for the good of the school. The NC Department of Health and Services has now given schools the opportunity to determine the essential volunteers who may enter school buildings during the day. Given the current pandemic climate, we will be permitting essential volunteers to come into the building during school hours, but they should not enter areas where students are present or working with students. All essential volunteers must be pre-approved for their activity by a PME staff member. Volunteers should not come to the school unannounced to help. Approved essential volunteers should come to the front door to sign-in and must sign-out of the building on the volunteer clipboard located at the front desk. All volunteers in the building must wear a face covering, not come if they are feeling sick, and otherwise follow all WCPSS safety protocols. 

 

HVAC Systems

We have received a number of questions regarding the adequacy of the air filters for our HVAC systems. Our school’s HVAC systems have been designed in accordance with the NC mechanical code and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommendations. In response to the pandemic, WCPSS upgraded to use MERV 13 air filters, which are capable of catching small particles such as viruses. 

 

WCPSS Policies

Please read over the following WCPSS policies.  There have been changes and additions to them beginning this school year. 

• 4310: Honor Code (New Policy Manual) (Spanish)
• 4309: R&P Student Behavior - Student Code of Conduct (New Policy Manual) (Spanish)
• 4316: Student Dress Code (New Policy Manual) (Spanish)

Calendar of Events

• August 27th - Interim Reports Sent Home
• September 2nd -Coffee & Chat session 12:30-1:00 pm Video call link - check your email meet.google.com/mzn-cfsj-etx 
• September 3 Picture Day

• September 6th - No School
• September 8th - PTA Board Meeting 5:30 pm
• September 17th - Frolic! (during the day, student centered event)

Frolic Donations

PMES is having a Frolic Donation Drive from August 23 to September 1! Please bring in your class basket items and other donations to the silent auction during this window. We will be happy to take your items straight from your car during morning or afternoon carpool! You can also donate Frolic games supply donations via this Sign-up Genius Link. Thank you for making our auction fantastic and fun. 

 

Grade-level basket themes are: 

 Kindergarten – Superheroes & Princesses / Dress-up fun 

   1st Grade – Science Lab / Craft and Create 

   2nd Grade – Travel Fun / Puzzles & Games 

   3rd Grade – Sports / Take Me to the Beach 

   4th Grade – Lego Mania / Fun in the Kitchen 

   5th Grade – Gift Card Grab Bag