President’s Message: 09.25.11
By Beth Satterfield
It was great to see a packed house on Friday night at Bingo – everyone seemed to be having fun! Thanks to all of those who came early and stayed late to set up and clean up – and for everyone who participated. This year we used one of the document cameras (aka Elmos) to project the BINGO card numbers that had been called. This is a great piece of equipment that is used by your child’s teacher daily! Your participation in fun events like BINGO and fundraisers like Citipass helped purchase these for all the teachers.
Now we’re turning our attention to getting Smart Boards in every classroom. I’m excited to announce that three PTA-purchased Smart Boards have been ordered and are on their way. Ms. Wahl has ordered her 6 – which brings our totals at Weatherstone to 12 Smart Boards. We are very close to having two Boards in every grade – but we want one in every classroom!
At Bingo we had some surprise guests, Captain Kyle and his friend Dan from Boosterthon. They called two Bingo games and got everyone excited for our Boosterthon Fun Run – which will happen October 20th. This will be a very important FUNraiser. I urge you to participate, but even if you can’t pledge – I beg you to come on the 20th and cheer your child on in his or her fun run. I went last year, and I had chills when the children ran out onto the field. The music was fun and the excitement and thrill of accomplishment was palpable. Every child can participate – I even had the privilege of zooming a child around the field in her wheelchair. I’m not sure who had more fun! I hope to see you there.
As always, let me hear from you!
Beth Satterfield
PTA President
President@WeatherstonePTA.com
Come Grow With Us!!!
By Explorer Express
September is PTA Membership month and our membership continues to grow! Remember that this is the final week of the grade level contest. Help your student’s class earn their own cupcake party! The tallest flower in each grade by the end of next week wins the party.
It is easy to become a member of the PTA:
- You can sign up online from any computer at www.weatherstonepta.com and submit your payment via PayPal or send in a copy of the online membership confirmation with your payment (cash or check payable to WES PTA) with your child.
- You can fill out the PTA form included in the Explorer Express or the PTA membership / Student Directory form available on the PTA website. Select a membership level, attach your payment, and return it in your student’s folder or to the front office.
Admiral’s Club Level Updated list:
Thanks to the latest Admiral Club members: Jim Blount and Sohyun Park!
Nichelle Weintraub,
VP Membership
Click here for a printable form.
Transportation Update
By Explorer Express
Thank you for your patience as we iron out the bus schedules. We know these first few weeks have been rough for many families! We’re sorry – and want you to know we’re working closely with the Cary Transportation Department and our wonderful drivers to make sure that all students are routed properly and on schedule. We’re confident things will be much better soon. You can help us by having your student arrive at the bus stop approximately 10 minutes early each morning. Please also remind them that the rules we have in place on the buses are for their safety and security. Thankfully, carpool procedures are running smoothly in the morning and afternoon.
However, please remember the following carpool rules:
- In the morning, students should not be dropped off until the staff and safety patrol members
begin opening doors at 8:45 AM. (Prior to 8:45 AM there is no adult supervision outside to monitor students).
- In the afternoon, we ask that all families use the school-provided carpool placards. (Thanks to the Balbe family for donating the printing and paper for these!)
- If you need a new carpool placard, please let Mrs. Palmquist (in the front office) know and we will send it home with your child.
- All students should sit on the passenger side of the car (so that we do not have to load or unload students in the middle of the road).
- All students should be unloaded in the carpool lane next to the curb.
- Unless directed by a staff member, cars should stay in line and not pass each other.
- Parents should refrain from using cell phones while in the carpool lane.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!
Tim Chadwick,
Assistant Principal
Free Workshop for Parents and Teachers of Children with Disabilities
By Explorer Express
Join us on Tuesday, October 25th for a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities. Teachers and other professionals who work with this student group are also encouraged to attend! Parents and families with children with disabilities often find the “world” of special education complicated and difficult to navigate. There are lots of processes to follow and lots of paperwork too! This workshop will help to take the mystery out of special education and provide participants with an overview of IDEA and the “Special Education Process”.
The workshop will take place on October 25th from 6:30 – 8:00pm at Davis Dr. Elementary School. Register by October 14th by sending an email to LMCNEILL9@NC.RR.COM. For more informaion, visit the PTA-SEIC webpage at http://www.dde-pta.org/seic and look for full workshop description in announcements on right-hand side of page.
Lisa McNeill,
Davis Drive Elementary and Middle Schools PTA SEIC (Special Education and Inclusion) Liaison
What do YOU think “Diversity” means…?
By Explorer Express
Reflections is a cultural arts program sponsored by the PTA, in which students compete at the school-level, county-level, state-level, and even nationally! Students may submit original works of art in the following areas: Visual Arts, Literature, Dance Choreography, Photography, Film Production, and Musical Composition. This year’s theme is “Diversity Means…”, so encourage your child to start “reflecting” on all the possible ways to think about diversity. Reflections is open to all students, and are judged by age group (K-2 grade and 3-5 grade). Please watch for sign-up information in Tuesday folders on September 27th. Entries are due November 4th.
Recent Wake County-level Winners from Weatherstone:
2010 Theme: ”Together We Can…”
- Anna Counter- 1st Place, Film Production (3-5 grade)
- Minji Kim- 2nd Place, Visual Arts (K-2 grade)
- Hyun Kim- 2nd Place, Visual Arts (3-5 grade)
2009 Theme: ”Beauty Is…”
- Caylen Peel- 1st Place, Literature (3-5 grade)
Beth Campbell
WES Reflections Chair
Media Center News
By Explorer Express
Our Media Center is open for students and parents each school day from 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM. Kindergarten and first grade students come once a week with their teachers. Second through fifth grade students come individually throughout the day with their teacher’s permission and a Media pass. Circulation will begin September 26th.
Please note the following check-out limits:
- Kindergarten/First graders – one book
- Second graders – two books
- Third graders – three books
- Fourth/fifth graders – four books
- Parents – four books
Books are due two weeks after checkout, at which time they need to be turned in or renewed. Overdue lists are sent to teachers weekly. No daily fines are collected. If a book is lost or ruined, the book must be paid for at the replacement price.
If a book is damaged, send it to the Media Center to be repaired. Please do not try to repair damaged books at home. There are special glues and tape for book repair. A damage fee will be determined when the book is returned.
We look forward to lots of reading this year!
Phyllis Edgerton,
WES Media Specialist
WES Math Club Info Sessions: 10/4 and 10/6
By Explorer Express
The Weatherstone Math Club (a.k.a. the Number Crunchers) is for students in grades 3-5. In October of each year, students who are interested take a timed multiplication, division, addition and subtraction test. Students who earn 75% or better on the test and are consistently exceeding expectation in their math classroom are invited to be a part of the WES Math Club.
There will be an informational meeting on October 4th from 8:15am to 8:45am and October 6th from 4:00pm to 4:30pm. (You may pick which session to attend, both sessions have the same information).
The purpose of the Math Club is to learn, practice and improve on the 24Game and other fun and enriching math games. The 24Game is a unique mathematics teaching tool that has proven to successfully engage students in math – putting emphasis on understanding the process and patterns, or the “method behind the math,” not just obtaining the correct answer.
Students not only become more successful in math, but become better critical thinkers and problem solvers. Meetings are held bi-weekly in the Fall and weekly in the Winter and Spring – culminating in a tournament each year. This is the Math Club’s third year at WES. The club will be run this year by Ms. Kelly Topoll (3rd grade), Ms. Misty Foster (4th grade), Ms. Heather Whalen (3rd grade) and Math Club Chair, Choots Humphries.
Student Directory
By Explorer Express
Why add your information to the student directory? Adding your student’s name to the directory allows other students in their class, school, or grade to contact your child for playdates, birthday parties, or other activities. We welcome everyone attending Weatherstone to participate in the student directory.
If you have not yet provided your student(s) information to be included in the WES student directory, please fill out this online form or print this PTA/Student Directory form (.pdf). Please fill it out, and send it in with your student. If you have already provided your information when joining the PTA, you do not need to submit it again.
Please note that the Student Directory is only distributed to PTA members. All parents are encouraged to join the PTA – entry-level membership starts at $7.00.
