Greetings Parkside Families!  This is your proud principal, Teresa Caswell, writing with some thanks, reminders and a few updates.  Welcome to the merry merry month of May! Our Sandpiper home is coming along – you will see that playground equipment is being installed if you live in or drive by the neighborhood.  I still anticipate that we will have limited occupancy granted to the community until our meet the teacher date of July 8^th. If that changes, I will let you know!! 

 

IMPORTANT:  If you know you will NOT be attending Parkside next school year, please complete this form to let me know https://forms.gle/59NHv2LC12tALKNf8  Parkside’s staffing and class creation is based on student enrollment.  Thank you so much!

 

Thank You!

I would like to extend my gratitude to our PTA executive board: President, Mark Dixon; Vice-President, Nikki Johnson; Secretary, Jen McKay; and Treasurer, Punkaj Sahasrabudhe.  They are already working hard on behalf of the entire school community having spent many hours planning, meeting, and creating the processes and structures necessary to ensure our students and staff have the resources and support necessary to THRIVE!  Thank you so much to each of them for being model Pipers Paving the Way! :)

 

Reminders:

Wednesday May 8th - 11:30am and 2pm Kindergarten Orientation at the Carpenter Firestation YMCA – please enter the main YMCA doors and follow the signs to the left.  Parents will be in one room while kiddos play games with amazing YMCA staff for 45 minutes in another. I look forward to seeing many Kinder parents (all tracks) at one of these two times to talk about all things Kindergarten at Parkside (and the transition to public elementary school!). Please RSVP via this google form: https://forms.gle/Bp5oXywWofuQiAKv6

 

Updates:

Track Assignments – All track placement postcards were sent April 18^th by postal service.  If you have not received one, please email me.  Also, please accept my sincerest thanks for understanding that the process is meant to fill our school efficiently and equitably.  I am proud at the resulting balanced tracks and sincerely appreciate the positive support I have received from all of you – we are truly creating the phenomenal Parkside experience we are all desire!

 

Before and After Care

• Before care will be provided by Parkside staff – we are in the process of setting that up with WCPSS. Registration will be by track in June – more information is forthcoming the last week in May. 
• After care will be provided by the YMCA – they are aware that the link has had issues, however, registration is now open and can be accessed at the Carpenter Firestation YMCA or at the following link: https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs-services/childcare/after-school/northwest-cary-ymca/northwest-cary-ymca-%E2%80%93-after-school

 

Walk Zone – The Morrisville Police Department has approved two crossing guards – one at Parkside Valley and Willingham and the other at Parkside Valley and Corsair. I recently met again in Breckenridge with Wake County transportation and they are continuing to review the distance and pathways for students to get from school to home to ensure the safest, timely routes. We should have information in the next two weeks.

I have heard of some areas of the Breckenridge community who are starting carpool rotations for their students to help with the walk zone – this and other strategies will continued to be shared as final walk/bus zones are created in the near future.

 

Upcoming Events:

May 11^th – Saturday – 11am – Band Show and Tell at Brier Creek Elementary Media Center (rising 3^rd through 5^th graders can elect to be a part of the Piper Band taught and directed by Summerglen Music’s Christina Thompson and Andrew Munger.  Band sessions will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00pm. This is a pay-for program.

June 1^st – Saturday 1pm – Second opportunity to see and review band instrument choices.

 

Other upcoming events:

May (Sunday, May 19^th, 1pm – Rain Date: Sunday June 2^nd) 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th grades – Picnic with the Principal – Pullen Park: Bring your sandpipers and lunch and meet me at Pullen Park one Saturday to enjoy the weather, have lunch (bring your own), play and get to know each other as a school-family.

 

June:

Kinder and First grade- popsicles with the principal (Saturday at one of the sending school playgrounds–2pm - Saturday June 8^th).

5^th Grade BBQ (6pm - Saturday June 8^th, location to be determined.  Rain date: Thursday June 13^th) – All incoming 5^th graders, and their parents, along with Parkside administrators, teachers, and other support staff (specials, counselors, etc.)… join us for an evening just for those who will be the first 5^th grade class of Parkside Pipers!

 

July:

July 8^th – Save the Date!  Track 1 at 10am, Track 2 at 11:30am, and Track 3 at 1pm - Teacher Meet and Mingle and view the school (assuming full occupancy). Track 4 is invited to view the school at 3pm; Track 4 Meet and Mingle will be July 26^th in the combined gym/café. On July 8^th – families in the walk zone are encouraged to walk to Parkside to a) see how the walk goes, discuss expectations with your child and, b) support our limited parking.  Please adhere to your tracks meet the teacher times – for these reasons and to ensure your child’s teacher is ready to receive you!

Our May flowers are definitely beginning to bloom!  Please let me know if I can help you in anyway as we move closer to our new year together.