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Mr. Corey's Weekly Message - 4/25/25

 

CONNmunity!  Here is your weekly Principal Message [warning, it’s full of lots of information, please read to the bottom and don’t skim this time (smile…..I know some of you like to just skim…..!!!)]  

 

Thank Yous & Celebrations!

Happy National Occupational Therapist Week to our Ms. Anderson!  We appreciate all that you do for our students!!!

We are in the final stretch, the 4th Quarter.  Hold on to your seat, because these weeks usually seem to fly by. I encourage you to remain optimistic and reflect on the why and end result, when it gets tough.  Students may experience a little fatigue but continue to remind them that THEY CAN DO IT and THEY ARE RESILIENT!!!  

Big IDEA WEEK was a SUCCESS!

 

We had students applying our IDEAS Design Cycle to create prototypes and plan pitches that included a budget, research, a logo, and so much more! We had 30 teams that chose to 3D print an object to enhance their innovative idea! Our panel of judges consisted of four professors from NC State University and the Magnet Coordinator from Centennial Magnet Middle School!  Our appreciation goes to them for spending their day listening to the pitches of our students.  

 

Here are our Grade Level Winners

 

Kindergarten: Flower Power 1st Grade: AWH - Animal Water Helper

2nd Grade: The Hum Home 3rd Grade: The Bubble Filler

4th Grade: The Bug Tech 5th Grade: Slip Slop

 

Our Overall Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design Winner:  5th Grade Team The Brella Pack

 

Updated technology in our Media Center!

 

Yes!  We are continuing to grow our technology tools to enhance and amplify all student learning and application of our IDEAS Design Cycle using our NEW Glowforge, a laser cutting and engraving tool. It is able to cut paper, cardboard, wood, and acrylic and engrave glass, ceramic tile, stone, and more! What we need are your Amazon boxes (or other cardboard packaging that arrives via delivery to your home)! Please bring broken down cardboard boxes so our students can create using our Glowforge! 

 

Conn PTA Updates

 

- CONNival is on Thursday May 1st from 4:15-6:15 pm. If it rains, the event will move indoors on May 1st but will run from 4:45-6:45pm.   We need your help to make sure everything runs smoothly at CONNival! Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/ZsuYxEP

 

- CONNtrepreneur Fair -  This year's CONNival will include an inaugural CONNtrepreneur Fair -- an opportunity for all students to feature their homemade art, jewelry or cool craft, and celebrate Emma Conn's 70th anniversary! Please sign up here to agree to donate your creation to be auctioned for sale at CONNival: https://signup.com/go/YiFwnrg

 

-Save the date: Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5 - May 9! Be on the lookout for ideas in your student’s weekly folder (in late April) and by email on how we can all celebrate our “superhero” teachers and staff!

 

-Join us on Saturday, April 26th from 9-11am as we transform our front garden bed and plant native flowers. We hope you can join us!!

 

Conn Foundation Informational Session - May 8th 

We are in the preliminary stages of forming a Foundation for Conn ES, which will serve to support the work of Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design in addition to the wonderful work that the PTA is doing.  The function of a PTA and of a Foundation are not identical.  To learn more about it, please review Please review the following Informational Flier and spread the word.  I have also included a personal message from the parent volunteers who are spearheading this initiative below: 

At Conn Elementary, we believe every child deserves a classroom filled with opportunity, support, and the personal attention they need to thrive.

However, like many public schools in North Carolina, we’re facing significant challenges—budget cuts and a shortage of qualified teachers and instructional assistants. Our educators are doing their best, but they can’t do it alone.

That’s why we’re launching the Emma Conn Foundation — a non-profit, community-driven initiative designed to directly address these challenges.

By raising funds specifically for staffing, salaries, and educator support, we aim to ease the strain on our teachers and ensure all Conn students get the quality education they deserve.

We’re kicking things off with an informal, public Info Session and Launch Event at 5:30pm on May 8 at Pelagic (RSVP), and we’d love for you to be a part of it.

This is your chance to learn more about the foundation, the work we’ll be doing, and how you can help create lasting change for our school and our kids!

This is just the beginning of something truly impactful, and we can’t do it without the support of our community. Your involvement — whether it’s through volunteering, spreading the word, or donating — will help us build a stronger, more sustainable future for Conn Elementary.

We hope to see you on May 8 as we take our first step toward making a difference! 

Chelsea Eshraghi, Kaitlin Spencer, & Stephen Taylor
Emma Conn Foundation

Problem Solved!  - Accessing Homework Resources to support learning at home

After much perseverance, we have been provided with a solution to help families gain access to homework resources for families.  Try clearing your browser history, cache, and cookies, or try accessing the site using an incognito/private browser window?  Sometimes stored data can interfere with how a website loads and using a fresh session can resolve the issue.  

If needed, here are some quick guides based on the browser you're using:

Clear Cache and Cookies:

Open an Incognito/Private Window:

Once you have followed these steps, see if you can access Homework Resources page.

Reminders

Parents, guardians, and community members of Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design,  thank you for engaging with me in my second “Conn ES Principal & Parent Coffee Chat” on Friday.   I would like to invite you to my third and final chat for this year on Friday, May 16, from 9:15 – 10:00.  During this time we will continue to discuss topics and questions that are important to you.  Feel free to bring your favorite morning Cup O' Joe (coffee) or hot tea or water. In order to help me focus the conversation, please complete the form 7 days prior (by May 9th).  Here is the link https://forms.gle/b2J9RJ7LLqTYYdiL6

Please follow the expectations outlined in Volunteer Training. Volunteers support school-designated needs but are not WCPSS staff. You may come across confidential student information (e.g., identification, behavior). Sharing such information if you are not the legal guardian violates FERPA and may result in losing volunteer privileges.

We value your help—please stay in compliance. Any disciplinary concerns should be reported to administration, who will address them per district guidelines and best practices.

 

Illuminating Connections for Alignment,

 

Mr. John Corey

Proud Principal of Conn Magnet Elementary

 

Important Dates to Remember/Reminders 

  • May 1st - Connival [Rain Date is May 9] - 4:15-6:15

  • May 7th - 1st Grade Field Trip to NC Zoo

  • May 16th - 3rd Conn Principal Coffee Chat

  • May 26th - Memorial Day [No School]

  • June 3 - EOG Math (3rd, 4th, & 5th)

  • June 4 - EOG Reading (3rd, 4th, 5th)

  • June 6 - EOG Science [5th only]

  • June 12th - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony [10:00-10:45]

  • June 13th - Last Day of School