School Campus Safety Reminders

Safety remains our top priority at all times. Lately, we've noticed a rise in the number of community members walking to and from the American Tobacco Trail via the carpool lane turnaround point on our campus. It's important to clarify that this area isn't an official entrance to the trail, and our school isn't designated as a parking area for trail access. While our staff will continue to maintain supervision of students during recess, we've collaborated with our security department to install signage (depicted below) that reminds individuals of this important information. 

Stories from Specialists

Arts in Motion with Ms. Burise

Masterpiece Club is exploring and creating every Tuesday morning!  The third-graders and I have studied the art of VanGogh, Warhol, O’Keeffe, Klimt, and author and illustrator Jan Brett.  We are composing and improvising on xylophones, metalaphones, and pitched and unpitched percussion.  I love working with these imaginative students.  Masterpiece Club continues through May 7^th.

Grade Level Updates:

• Kindergarten students are using their knowledge of a steady beat to design ways to show this with the chant “Bee, Bee, Bumblebee.”  Students are playing instruments and crafting poems about spring as well.
• First-graders are studying birds in their classrooms.  In my class, students are creating their own unique birds and writing poems to accompany them. We are also learning “Sing, Sing, Sing” about spring, spring, spring!
• Second-graders are focusing on Earth Day in April.  We are singing a piece called “Green”. We are improvising on percussion instruments to add to the piece as well as writing poems about the importance of Earth Day.
• Third-graders are using oil pastels and watercolors to paint the globe and continents.  They are also generating poems about taking care of the earth!
• Fourth graders have started creating a timeline connecting the American Revolution to the eighteen different variations of the song “My Country Tis of Thee.”  They are also making predictions about the future of our nation on the timeline.
• Fifth graders are ready to rap.  Our UNITY RAPS will be performed at 6:15 on Thursday, May 9^th on the White Oak stage.  They have done such a fantastic job of capturing the important qualities a successful leader needs to be unforgettable.  I AM REQUESTING THAT ALL FIFTH GRADERS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PERFORMANCE.  They will need to be at school from 6-7pm for the raps.  I will send out more details in Talking Points as the performance gets closer.  Fifth graders will be starting a printmaking project soon in my class.  I am anticipating great patterns and prints from this talented group!

Spring Carnival Success!

Thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed our carnival with the White Oak community! It was so much fun to have all the families out together on a nice spring evening, enjoying games, inflatables, and time with one another!

Carnival Online Auction & Raffles 

• Congratulations to all the Online Auction Winners! These families have already been sent information.
• Congratulations to the Raffle Winners! Check out the list HERE! 

If you have won something in the Online Auction or Raffle, congratulations! We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy your winnings!  Pickup Information: Please come to the office during morning or afternoon carpool tomorrow, Monday, April 22nd. If that doesn't work for you, please contact woesptapres@gmail.com to determine another day soon that works for you!

• For the Teacher Experience Winners: We will first communicate with staff and then share those raffle winners.  

Ticket Pre-Sale Raffle

Even though the carnival is over, we wanted to congratulate Azlaan Khan in Ms. Kovacs’ class for being our final pre-sale ticket raffle winner! We hope you and your family had a great time!

Additional PTA Updates

Spirit Night at BB's Crispy Chicken

Please join us on Wednesday, May 1st, from 5-9pm for our final spirit night of the year for an evening of fun at BB's, located at 1147 Parkside Main Street in Cary! We will have our popular student and teacher raffles, so come out for your chance to win! We hope to see you there!

Yearbook Pictures Needed

Did you capture some fun moments at the Spring Carnival? Do you have any great photos you would like to share for the yearbook? If so, please send the pictures to woesyearbook2023@gmail.com as soon as you can to help with our wonderful yearbook!

Yearbook Orders

It's time to order yearbooks for the 2023-24 school year! If you would like to order a yearbook, please go to this link by April 28th:

2023-2024 Yearbook Strawbridge Studios

PTA Board Nominations for 2024-25

Are you interested in serving on the PTA Board next year? Or do you know someone you would like to nominate for the PTA Board? If so, please email woesptanominations@gmail.com to let us know or if you have any questions! Elections will take place on May 9th at our General PTA Meeting. 

Save the Date

• Monday-Friday, 5/6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week - Details to come
• Thursday, 5/9 - General PTA Meeting

Upcoming Dates

WCPSS Calendar

THANK YOU for all of your support! 

Robin Swaim, Principal

Kevin Boynton, Assistant Principal 

& all the Explorer Staff 

Follow Us!

www.wcpss.net/whiteoakes

919-694-0202

Facebook: @WhiteOakES

Twitter: @WhiteOakElem