Principal Updates on February 24, 2025
Good morning Sycamore Creek Families! We hope your family enjoyed the snow last week and that you are ready for the busy week ahead!
We have so many events planned for this week:
- All Week - Book Fair
- Monday - Club Pictures
- Tuesday - 2nd grade CogAT Virtual Parent Information Meeting
- Tuesday - 3rd grade Read to Achieve Virtual Parent Information Meeting
- Wednesday - Family Book Fair, 5-8 PM
- Thursday and Friday - Battle of the Books
- Friday - Deadline to Submit a Track Change Request for 2025-2026
- Saturday - Saturday Make-up Day for All Tracks
Saturday Makeup Days
Last week, school was closed for students on Wednesday-Friday, February 19-21st. Although banked time was used for one of the days, two of these missed days require a Saturday makeup. The beauty of a Saturday make-up is we are only in school half a day, but it counts as a full day for students.
Our two Saturday make-up days are:
- Saturday, March 1st - For All Tracks
- Saturday, April 5th - For Tracks 1 and 3 only
Our first makeup day for students and staff on all tracks will be this Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Details about Saturday Make-up on March 1st:
- School hours will be 8:30 AM -12:00 PM for students. This is the same arrival time, but dismissal is 3 hours early.
- Buses will run at normal time in the morning.
- There is no before or after-school care or daycare transportation.
- Breakfast will be served
- Lunch WILL NOT be served.
- Please send your child with snacks.
- Literacy and Math instruction are a priority for the day.
- There will be no recess.
- Students will have a modified Specials time that follows the February 21st specials schedule.
- Please notify your child's teacher about how your child will go home on Saturday.
Update for all Walkers
Just a reminder to all parents who have children that are approved walkers: In order to be approved as a walker, students must live within walking distance of the school and actually walk home to be a SCES walker. Walkers should not be walking to a parked car on a neighborhood street to avoid the carpool line. We want to be sure we are honoring our community’s neighborhood guidelines. Our neighborhood community notified us again last week that they will be monitoring closely and towing cars that are parking. Just to reassure you, our carpool line runs very smoothly, especially when only two tracks are in. We finish by 3:15-3:20 PM each day. The only time it is a little longer is when all three tracks are in and even then, with all carpool students tracked in, we are done before 3:30 PM.
Deadline for Track Change Request for 2025-2026 is Friday
Our track change window for the next school year closes this Friday, February 28th.
Sycamore Creek Track Change Request Form
As you know, per WCPSS School Board decision, Pine Hollow Middle School will follow a traditional school calendar beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
The Book Fair is This Week!
The Sycamore Creek Book Fair is this week from Monday, February 24th to Monday, March 3rd. Due to inclement weather, there will be NO PREVIEW DAYS. Teachers will notify families of their assigned purchase day, and students will have 20 minutes to shop. The Book Fair will also be open every morning (8:00-8:30 AM) and all day on March 3rd (8 AM - 2 PM) for any last-minute purchases. Please visit our Book Fair Website to set up your student's eWallet and preview available books.
Don't forget Family Book Fair Night is on Wednesday, February 26th, from 5-8 PM! We hope that you will stop by to shop with your family!
The PTA is in need of a few more volunteers to run the Book Fair! Sign up here to help as cashiers, book fair helpers, or pack-up crew. We appreciate your support in making this a fun event at Sycamore Creek!
3rd Grade Parent Virtual Read to Achieve Information Meeting
There will be a virtual 3rd grade Read to Achieve Virtual Parent Information Meeting on February 25th at 5:30 PM. This meeting will include information about Read to Achieve and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Here is the link to join: https://meet.google.com/gag-qzwh-ayd
2nd Grade Virtual Parent Meeting about CogAT
New this year, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to all students in second grade. Track 1 students tested last week. Tracks 3 and 4 students will start testing on March 10th. Parents interested in learning more are invited to attend a virtual informational session about second grade CogAT testing on Tuesday, February 25th at 5:00 PM at https://meet.google.com/bse-hemi-oxy Please contact Mandy Hochbrueckner (mhochbrueckner@wcpss.net) or Alysa Estrela (aestrela@wcpss.net) with any questions.
Sycamore Staff Update
Join us in welcoming Mrs. Becky Byrd as the newest member of our Sycamore Creek staff. She will be serving as a media specialist when Track 1 is tracked out.
SMILE! Spring School Photos
Spring school pictures will be next Tuesday, March 4th. A proof or portrait package of individual pictures will be sent home with information on how to order. (Allow 3-4 weeks) Class pictures can be pre-ordered. An envelope for classroom group photos was sent home with each student.
Single Subject Acceleration
Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of placing a student in a higher-grade level in one subject area. WCPSS will be providing students with the opportunity for SSA testing this spring. Testing is optional, and students can only request to test in one subject area: math or ELA. Parents can find more information on SSA, including dates, deadlines and test request forms, here. Additional SSA information can be found within this Parent Orientation presentation.
*Test Requests must be submitted during our school’s calendar window:
Year-Round Track 1: Feb. 17- 28
Year-Round Track 3 and 4: March 17- 28
Read Across America Week
Please help us celebrate Read Across America next week, March 3rd -March 7th. Sycamore Creek will celebrate “Press Pause, and Read On” to match our school-wide theme. Encourage your child to participate by showing his/her love for reading! If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Lyons alyons@wcpss.net. If you are on X, tweet your pictures throughout the week @sycamorecreekes and @mrs.lyons@crocsandnoble! #readacrossamerica
Monday: Game On!
How can you show off your enthusiasm for our school theme? Wear your best video gaming gear to start off our week of reading!
Tuesday: Drop Everything And Read
Throughout the day, DEAR will be announced at random. Students should bring their favorite books, reading gear, and prepare to DEAR.
Wednesday: Multiplayer Mode Wednesday
Your class will collaborate and vote for their class theme for this day. Stay tuned for your teacher’s email with their dress theme for the day. Buddy up and read with a classmate OR a different class!
Thursday: Totally Tubular Thursday
Knowledge is POWER! What is your favorite invention? The Ninento? Super Mario Kart? Wear and share one fact about an invention of your choice.
Friday: Elevate Your Gear
Let go of the ordinary and be extraordinary! Dress like your favorite book character! Can you share a book talk/review on your book with someone? No costume masks please.
Backpack Buddies Donations Needed
The Backpack Buddies pantry is currently low on canned vegetables (corn, green beans, sweet peas), canned protein (chicken, Vienna sausages) and individual mac & cheese cups. If anyone is able to donate these items, they would be greatly appreciated! Please make sure to check expiration dates before donating, as we are unable to accept expired items. Don't have time to shop? Take advantage of our Amazon Wishlist to order items to be delivered directly to Sycamore Creek! BP Buddies Amazon Wishlist Thank you for your support of the SCES Backpack Buddies program!
Volunteer Registration
For new volunteer registrations, click the link to start your volunteer registration: https://myvolunteer.com/wcpss/volunteer/login. On the MyVolunteer site, you will find disclosure and authorization forms, the WCPSS Volunteer Agreement, as well as a summary of rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You must review these documents and provide the requested information. Make sure you include your name and contact information when you begin the registration process. If you leave the CRC background site before completing your contact information, you will have to begin the process again. You must include your social security number to register to volunteer. If you do not have a social security number, please contact volunteers@wcpss.net or call 919-694-8233. You will be notified by the MyVolunteer system if you are approved to volunteer. If you have any issues during the volunteer registration process, contact the MyVolunteer customer support team at 877-272-0266 or customercare@mycrc.com.
Weekly Wellness Check for SCES Families
We want to know if your family needs any assistance and support throughout the school year. Please complete the survey if you have any specific needs or questions we can help you with.
Upcoming Important Dates
- February 20- February 28th - Book Fair
- February 24 - Club Pictures
- February 25 - 2nd grade CogAT Virtual Parent Information Meeting
- February 25 - 3rd grade Read to Achieve Virtual Parent Information Meeting
- February 26 - Family Book Fair, 5-8 PM
- February 28 - Deadline to Submit a Track Change Request for 2025-2026
- March 1 - Saturday Make-up Day for All Tracks
- March 4 - Spring School Pictures
- March 10 - Track 3 & 4 2nd grade CogAT test
- March 20 - Student Led Conferences for Tracks 3 and 4
- April 3 - Student Led Conferences for Track 1
- April 5 - Saturday Make-up Day for Tracks 1 and 3
- April 8 - School Spirit Night at Goodberry’s
- April 11 - Super Crocs Day for Tracks 1 and 3 (rain date April 17)
- April 24 - School Spirit Night at Jersey Mike’s
- May 2 - Super Crocs Day for Track 4 (rain date May 6)
- May 8-9 - SCES Spring Musical performed at PHMS
- May 15 - STEAM Night
Important Links to Access Easily
- 2024-25 Year-Round Calendar
- Mealviewer
- SCES Student Handbook (link to be added)
- Volunteer Registration
- BP Buddies Amazon Wishlist
Have a great week! Please let us know how we can support you!
Mrs. Brunson, Principal
Mrs. Griffin, Assistant Principal
Mr. Hermanson, Admin Intern
