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Mr. Corey's Weekly Message - 5/9/25

 

CONNmunity!  Here is your weekly Principal Message [warning, it’s full of lots of information, please read to the bottom.

  

Thank You's & Celebrations!

May 5th - 9th was Teacher Appreciation Week and I want to especially thank our fabulous PTA for showering teachers and staff with love, gifts, words of appreciation, snacks, meals, etc.  We are VERY grateful and thankful for all of the teachers and staff that serve in the role of providing instruction to our students and we are very grateful for a thriving and supportive PTA.  Together we can accomplish great things for children!!!

Hiring Updates

Until it is officially approved by the WCPSS Board of Education, we are not able to announce names but know that we have tentatively secured teachers in multiple grade levels and support positions.  We have a few more weeks of interviewing and will continue to push forward until we have all positions hired.  Please be patient until we officially release the information.

 

Conn PTA Updates

 

Let us know how our PTA is doing.  At the end of the survey, you can enter your email for a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards! Your email will not be linked with the responses you provide in the survey.  CONN PTA END-OF-YEAR SURVEY

 

Help clear the lost and found! Check out front for GREEN AND PURPLE jackets from Monday, May 12th through Friday, May 16th. After Friday the leftover jackets from this group will be donated. The rack will be near the door buzzer and will be out from about 8:30 until 4:15. Up next week: blue jackets!

 

Thank you to everyone who showed up on April 26th to clean up our front garden bed!

 

Conn Foundation Information 

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 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.

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

 

 

 

🌍 Mr. Warholik Selected for South Africa Institute! 🐘🦁

We’re proud to announce that Mr. Warholik has been selected as one of only 12 educators statewide to participate in the South Africa Institute, conducted by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, from July 20 to August 4, 2025!

As part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, Mr. Warholik will:

  • Search for the “Big 5” wildlife species—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo

  • Take a bush walk with safari rangers in Kruger National Park

  • Hike the majestic Drakensberg Mountains

  • Cruise through coastal wetlands alongside hippos and crocodiles

  • Explore South Africa’s incredible wild lands—from game reserves and grasslands to beaches and estuaries

📣 Student Engagement Opportunity

Mr. Warholik is required to have students follow his adventure! During the trip, he will share daily blog updates, and students will have the opportunity to ask questions and respond to blog posts about South Africa and the amazing animals he encounters.

📬 Stay Tuned

Blog access details will be shared before the end of the school year. We’re excited for our students to connect with this global learning experience in real time!

 

YMCA After School pickup begins at 4:15 PM. Please note that Conn staff are unable to assist with Y check-out during school dismissal. Thank you for your understanding!

🥶 Cooler Pickup Reminder

If you lent a cooler to 1st or 4th grade for their recent field trips, thank you! We kindly ask that all coolers be picked up from the front office by Wednesday, May 14.

We appreciate your support and help in keeping our office area clear!

 

Reminders

Parents, guardians, and community members of Conn Magnet Elementary School of Entrepreneurial Design.  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.

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 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