Dear Turner Creek Families, 

 

I hope this email finds you well.  Track 4 students will bring home Quarter 2 report cards on January 26.  Our Track 1 and 2 Kindergarten students went to Marbles Museum today on a field trip.  Their excitement was contagious as they prepared to leave this morning.  I hope they each came home with fun stories to tell.  

 

I enjoyed collaborating with our PTA Board this week.  We get together each month to plan school events, share updates, and do important work to make sure our school remains an amazing place to work and learn.  Below, you will find a new opportunity to raise money for Turner Creek while you shop.  I hope you consider signing up.  I appreciate the hard working members of our PTA board who make these things possible.  

If you need anything at all, you can reply to this email or email me directly at ksmall@wcpss.net 

 

 

Updated 2022-2023 Year-Round Calendar

 

 

**New Announcements*

 

Cary Chamber of Commerce Honor a Teacher Award 

 

Excellence in teaching – we know it when we see it. It can be the teacher who spends extra time with the students who need it most, or the teacher who is creative enough to inspire a real love of learning in a student. Perhaps it’s a teacher who cares enough to be involved with their students beyond the classroom. Whatever their methods, certain teachers make a real impact on students and their learning abilities. 

 

We would like to recognize one such teacher and we need your help. The Cary Chamber of Commerce has been a leader in supporting education in our community through numerous programs and activities. One of the most critical needs of Wake County schools is that of attracting and retaining the best classroom teachers. With the Cary Chamber of Commerce's Honor a Teacher Program we hope to help our school system in meeting that challenge.

 

Building on the success of the Discovery Award first sponsored by the Ashworth family in 1991, followed by the Clara Knoll Award in 2000 by Barry and DJ Mitsch, the Cary Chamber has secured sponsors to develop a teaching awards program for all schools in the Cary Area.

 

We are asking our community to nominate teachers for this award. Included with your nomination, please describe why you feel this particular teacher deserves this award. Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, February 17 at 5:00pm. These nominations will then be narrowed down to finalists that will be interviewed by a designated committee.

 

Here is the link to the nomination form: https://forms.gle/73dpXwsWGcNqh2HX7

 

If you have any questions, please email Kelcey Ashworth, Vice President of Education & Member Business Services, at kashworth@carychamber.com.

 

 

Valentines Day

 

Track 1, 2, & 4 students will exchange Valentines during Morning Meeting on Tuesday, February 14.  Teachers will provide you with a class list with the first names of students.  Students are welcome to bring in cards to exchange with classmates.  If participating, students must bring in one card for each student.  Homemade cards are the best!  Non-food items can also be exchanged (stickers, pencils, erasers, etc.) We will not be exchanging any food items on Valentines Day.  If you send in candy, the candy will be sent back home with your child. Thank you for helping keep students safe and healthy this Valentines Day.

 

 

Global School Play Day

 

Turner Creek will be celebrating Global School Play Day again this school year.  Teachers will be sending more information about what this will look like in your child’s grade level through their weekly communications.  

 

Dates:

 

February 1 - Tracks 1 & 2

February 24 - Tracks 3 & 4

 

Why?

 

In his TEDx lecture, Peter Gray clearly argues the case that today's kids do not grow up playing and this has negatively impacted them in many ways. It's time we return the gift of play to this generation.

 

On Global School Play Day, students will shut down the devices, spread out their toys and play!  See more information here (linked).

 

 

Sign Up for the Give Backs Program to raise money for Turner Creek

 

This program is brand new and an easy way to give back.  

 

All you have to do is sign up, search for Turner Creek Elementary PTA as the worthy cause, link up your payment methods, and enjoy shopping or eating and they give back to our school a portion each time! Each establishment has different percentages they give back.  The program alerts you when you’ve earned back to the school!

Please follow this invite link below and let’s start earning rewards for Turner Creek!

 

https://www.givebacks.com/referrals/93C70E7C4E

 

 

Positivity Project

 

This month one of the character strengths our school community will be focusing on is the character strength of Prudence. Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices.

 

Prudence is the ability to do the right thing for the right reason, at the right time. It’s a future-oriented way of thinking that helps a person set goals, make plans, and have the discipline to accomplish them. It is cognitive -- more a strength of the head than of the heart.

 

Prudence supports effective individual self-management. Whether aspiring for an athletic record, academic grade, or purchasing a car, foresight and planning are necessary. However, even with a plan, long-term goals can only be obtained by overcoming those impulses and desires that steer you away from your goals. Prudence provides the wisdom to know which character strength to leverage, at which time, to achieve your desired end state.

 

To practice and encourage the character strength of prudence with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.

 

 

***Repeat Announcements***

 

Track Change Requests for the 23-24 School Year (form linked)

 

To request a track change for the 2023-2024 school year, please complete this form for EACH CHILD attending Turner Creek Elementary.  This form is only for 2023-24 Turner Creek students. (Track change requests for year-round middle schools must be submitted directly to the middle school.)  

Track Change Requests are not guaranteed.  The deadline for filling out the request form is Friday March 3, 2023.  Decisions for track change requests will be finalized and communicated no later than May 1, 2023 and will be based on availability at the requested track and grade level.  

 

 

23-24 School Year Planning (form linked)

 

The number of students enrolled in the new school year impacts many decisions we make while planning.  This includes the amount of instructional money we earn, the number of teachers we can hire, and the number of Specials (art, music, etc.) students will have.  If your child does not plan to return to Turner Creek next school year, please let us know by filling out the form linked above.  

 

 

Late Field Trip Payments

 

The online payment window for field trips has passed. If you have not yet paid for your child’s field trip but would like them to participate, please either send in a check with your student or come to school between the hours of 9:45 AM- 3:00 PM to drop off a check. Make checks payable to Turner Creek Elementary.

 

Please contact jhawkins@wcpss.net or rlumpkin@wcpss.net with any questions.

 

 

22-23 EOG Dates for 3rd - 5th Grade Students

 

Attendance is important during EOG testing.  Please do not plan trips or appointments for these days. 

 

Track 1: 

• Math: May 24

• Reading: May 23

• Science: May 19

Track 2, 3 & 4:

• Math: June 21

• Reading: June 20

• Science: June 16

 

BackPack Buddies Update

 

If you are interested in supporting this program, here is a link for our current needs:
(Items in red are in HIGH need) 

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zG8HKy1-9zCJcQYo0gRXVuN1nOe2kdTIcyn8q1Ql7tw/edit?usp=sharing.

 

You can drop food off at the office at any time, or use the links to have donations directly shipped. Target has a much better deal on our high need items, if you want to support: 

 

https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/treefrogfoodpantry 

 

If your family is in need of food support please send an email to jhawkins@wcpss.net saying that you are interested, your child's name, and the number of children under the age of 18 in your household. We will send home a permission form with your student and food home on Fridays.

 

 

Purchase a 2022-2023 Turner Creek Yearbook

 

Information has been sent home with students about buying this year's Turner Creek Yearbook! 

We are totally re-doing the format to make sure all clubs, events and special classroom memories are documented. It will have a student designed cover and we included extra autograph space this year! The year book will be 70 pages and all in color.​​​​​​​

The cost of the yearbook is $20 until January 31st. The price will then be $25.

 

 

Register for Kindergarten for 2023-24

 

Kindergarten registration for the 2023-24 school year is now open. All families with children who will turn five on or before Aug. 31, 2023 should register your child online. Use the address lookup tool to find your base school and view your year-round and magnet application school choices. Learn more about the registration process at wcpss.net/kindergarten. 

 

 

Celebration Books Flyer Linked

 

Donating a book is a very special way to honor your child while promoting a love of reading and supporting the Turner Creek Media Center. If you would like to participate in this program, you can fill out this online form.

 

 

Staff’s Favorite Things (Linked)

 

I ask staff to share their favorite things so we can show them we care throughout the year.  

 

 

2022-2023 Caregiver/Student Handbook (Linked)

 

Please bookmark our handbook.  It will be a “first stop” as you have questions about the everyday operations at Turner Creek.  This handbook will always be in “draft” form as we are in a world where change is the new norm.  I hope it will be a good resource for you and your family. 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Thursday January 26: Quarter 2 Report Cards come home for Track 4

Friday February 3: Quarter 3 Interim Reports come home for Track 1 & 2 students

Wednesday February 1: Global School Play Day for Tracks 1 & 2

Wednesday February 8: Spring Pictures for Tracks 1 & 2

Tuesday February 14: Track Out Day for Track 2

Wednesday February 15: Track In Day for Track 3

Thursday February 23: Spring Pictures for Tracks 3 & 4

Friday February 24: Quarter 3 Interim Reports come home for Track 3 & 4 students, Global School Play Day for Tracks 3 & 4

 

Take Care,

Kristin Small, Principal