Greetings Parkside Families – This will be my last email as your principal! It is hard to believe that 4 years ago I began working on all things Parkside – from creating our motto and mascot to having info sessions with parents to hiring every single staff member. It has been an amazing time in my life and I am both sad to leave and excited to take the wonderful work I’ve been able to do with our school to greater Wake County community. THANK YOU for your continued love and support in all things every step of the way!

A few reminders follow as we move into Winter Break. Importantly – the next two days and after, if you bring your child to school in the morning by car, or the walk, please have them arrive as close to 8:45 as possible. We have more and more students being dropped off early and waiting outside our doors for them to open. This is dangerous as there is NO supervision for students before 8:45 – thank you for helping keep you and all students safe (and warm!) every day.

The following is information from the PTA regarding any seasonal appreciation you may want to show the Parkside faculty – thank you and stay warm!

The Parkside PTA has set up a gift crowd for the Parkside Faculty - Each classroom teacher will have a staff partner (instructional assistant, specialist, intervention, AIG, special education, etc.) so that ALL staff are shown love and appreciation during the following dates. Thank you, in advance, for all the ways you and your students show the Sandpiper Staff that they are loved and appreciated throughout the year!! Any Gift Crowd donations can be made until noon on 12/23 via this link: https://app.giftcrowd.com/join-event/mTgEh-mRyn and the staff pairings are noted here: PTA Staff Pairs.pdf b

Other Reminders:

• Wednesday December 21^st – Early Release, 1:45 dismissal and PJ Day!
  • Please note – no lunch visits on early release days – thank you!
• Winter Break – December 22^nd – January 2^nd; Tracks 1, 2, and 3 return January 3^rd.

As we move into winter, more viruses are circulating around the county! Please help us keep all students and staff healthy by keeping your student home whenever they have symptoms of illness. It is required that anyone with a fever (at or over 100.4) stay home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol, advil, etc.). Additionally, with any symptoms of illness it is recommended that students take a covid test (rapid/at home are fine) as indicated in the county’s website of when to return recommended actions (https://www.wcpss.net/whentoreturn ). Please let me know if you have any questions, thank you!

Calling all 5th graders to help the PTA design the yearbook cover. See this flyer (here) for requirements and details on how to submit your designs. The artist who creates the winning cover will get a free yearbook!

Coats, Gloves, and Hats, oh My!Some days it can be pretty chilly outside!  This is a good time to ensure your student has any attire needed to be warm as we play outside even in when the temperature is in the 40s and 50s!

That is it! Again, thank you and may the coming days, any holidays you may celebrate, and the New Year find you healthy, happy, and loved.

Warmly,

Teresa Caswell, Ed.D., Principal