Kindergarten & New Student Registration for 2014-2015

Rising Kindergarteners and new students to Banks Road Elementary can pre-enroll beginning January 13, 2014. In order to attend Kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before August 31st of the current school year.

Please read the list of required documents needed in order to register your child(ren) at our school.

Required Documents and other requirements:
Registration must be completed at your child's base school. (Banks Road Elementary must be your base school) To view the school assignment for your child, go to the base school for your address.
Completed Registration Forms
Parent/legal guardian photo ID
A certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county or state health department where the child was born.

PTA Chili Cook Off

 

Here we go! Mark your calendars for the BRES 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off sponsored by our PTA. Do you have a great chili recipe that you want to enter in the cook off? Visit the PTA website to complete the registration form. Registration is just $10. The Grand Prize includes a 2014 Cook_off "Golden Spoon," your name on the plaque to be displayed at the front of the school, and $100.00 restaurant gift card.

2nd and 3rd place will also receive restaurant gift cards.

Where? In the Multipurpose Room/Cafeteria
When? January 16th coinciding with the General PTA meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Entry Due Date? January 10, 2014

Any BRES family or staff member can enter! This is sure to be one of the "hottest" events of the year. Whether you want to cook and complete or just want to eat, it is sure to be a lot of fun!

$1 per bowl (or a hotdog for those who prefer) after the judging. Chips and drinks available, kids activities and more!!!

Read to Achieve Information

Third Grade Parents,

Do you know about Read to Achieve and how it may impact your child and your family? Be on the look out for information coming to you regarding parent information sessions, information about upcoming Intercession camps, and information regarding the EOG re-test and portfolio requirements.

Questions? Please contact me at cgraf1@wcpss.net or call the school at 919-890-7333. Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Inclement Weather Information

Trailblazer Parents,

The winter months bring unpredictable weather patterns to NC. Please see below for information on how to access the latest school closing, delay or early release communication methods. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Mrs. Graf

In the event that schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, please monitor the Wake County Public School System’s own electronic media and local television, radio, and print news media for the latest information.

In the event a decision is made to dismiss early after students are already in school, parents will also be notified via the district-wide Emergency School Messenger telephone system. BRES will not send out an individual call via the School Messenger system in order to not overload the system and interfere with the system-wide WCPSS notification call.

Parents should use these resources to stay abreast of school closings, delays, and early dismissals:

Wake County Public School System Electronic Media

How to find it:
WCPSS Twitter www.twitter.com Follow @WCPSS
WCPSS Facebook www.facebook.com/WCPSS
WCPSS website www.wcpss.net
Emergency Notification Email Sign up at http://www.wcpss.net/signup/newsletters/signup/
Local News Media How to find it
WRAL, Channel 5 www.wral.com

WTVD http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/index
NBC 17 www.wncn.com
News 14 Carolina (TWC News) http://centralnc.twcnews.com/
News and Observer www.newsobserver.com
Area Radio Stations WRAL 101.5 www.wralfm.com
G-105 www.G105.com
AM 680 www.wptf.com
Foxy107.1 www.foxync.com
K97.5 http://hiphopnc.com/
WQDR www.947qdr.com
WUNC 91.5 www.wunc.org
LaLey 101.1 www.laleync.com

(additional radio stations will carry school announcements)

Winter Break Reminder

Our school will be on winter break from December 23rd - January 1st. We'll see Track 1, 2, and 3 back on January 2nd, and Track 4 back on January 23rd. A reminder that 2nd Quarter Report Cards will come home with Track 2, 3, and 4 students on Friday, December 20th, which is our last day before Winter Break begins.

Parents, please note that due to the technical difficulties with the North Carolina software used for creating the report cards, some grades may not populate. Teachers have been given permission to hand write the grades for any subjects that did not populate. Specialists have worked over the past two weeks to enter grades as well. Music, PE and Art grades that did not populate will be sent home during the week of January 6th.

As always, we want you to have the most current information on your child's progress. If you have any questions, please schedule a conference with your child's teacher by calling the school at 919-890-7333 or emailing the teacher directly.

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

School Assignment Information for 2014-2015

Trailblazers,
The Office of School Assignment has updated their webpage with great information about the assignment process, applying to magnet schools, requesting a different school calendar, and more. This blog post contains information regarding student assignment. Please do not hesitate to contact the Front Office should you have any questions regarding the assignment process.

Also, all Trailblazer students were sent home with a Student Assignment Strip. The strip contained the school assignment for your child for the 2014-15 school year. If you you have questions about this assignment or need to seek information about the school options for your family, please contact the Front Office at 919.89.7333.

Thank you, Mrs. Graf

(From the WCPSS Student Assignment Webpage: http://www.wcpss.net/parents/student-assignment/index.html)

In Wake County, students are assigned to a base school based on their "domicile" within the county. For more information about the concept of "domicile", see Board Policy 6201. To determine the base school for any address, use the address lookup tool.

Transportation is provided to a student’s base and calendar option schools unless the student lives in the walk zone of the school. School district transportation is provided to students who were grandfathered under the 2011-12 Choice Assignment Plan. Grandfathered students will receive district transportation through the grade span of the school or until the family has a change of address. Younger siblings who join their grandfathered sibling at the same school can receive district transportation until the older sibling moves to the next school level.

School assignment for current students

School assignment for new students

Current students will receive an Initial Notice of School Assignment for the 2014-15 school year in December, 2013. Students will be assigned to stay in their current schools with their current level of transportation through the final grade of the school, provided there is no change of address for the family. Rising 6th and 9th graders will be assigned to their base school. Students who wish to stay in their current schools do not need to do anything.

New student enrollment for the 2014-15 school year begins Jan. 13, 2014. Students new to the district and incoming kindergartners will be assigned to their base schools. To be eligible for kindergarten, students must be five years old on or before Aug. 31, 2014. Go to the base school for your address to enroll your student.

Capped schools
In some cases, a school may be "capped", meaning the school has reached the maximum number of students it can serve. If a student’s base school has an enrollment cap, they will be assigned to an overflow school. Transportation is provided to a student’s overflow school.

Request a change of assignment

Current WCPSS students, as well as students who pre-register for the 2014-15 school year, can participate in any of the 2014-15 school application processes.

Students with disabilities can participate in all school application processes. Students with disabilities who are served in regional programs will have school assignments based on their program needs as defined by their individual education plans (IEP). Contact Special Education at (919) 431-7334 for more information.

If you wish to apply for a change of school assignment, the following options are available:

Request an assignment back to your base school

Application period: Dec. 13 – Dec. 20, 2013. Base Declaration closes Friday, December 20 at 10:00 p.m. Complete the application now.
Students who are not attending their base school can apply for an assignment back to their base school. View Details >

How to apply: To apply, click here to complete the Base Declaration application online. The application will be available Dec. 13 – Dec. 20, 2013. Results will be available in the online application account after January 27, 2014.

How students are selected: Assignment to a student’s base school are granted based on space availability and are not guaranteed. Assignments may be denied if the base school has a cap on its enrollment. Students requesting assignment to a capped base school may be placed on a wait list, may request assignment to the overflow school for their capped base school, or may remain at their current school until a seat becomes available at their base school. Students who are not granted assignment back to their base school may not appeal the decision.

School Messenger December 10, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Tuesday to you!

First things first, I have great news for you. I have shared all year how hard the Banks Boomers have worked on their audition for the Pieces of Gold. On Friday afternoon, we received news that we made the program. This is wonderful news for our Boomers and I want to congratulate them for their hard work and efforts. I also want to thank Ms. Loftin and all of you, our parents for bringing your child to rehearsals and supporting us every step of the way. Ms. Loftin will be sending home details regarding the upcoming rehearsals and information regarding the Pieces of Gold event.

Last week we conducted our school wide spelling bee. A big congratulations goes out to Mallory Ayers, our spelling bee winner and representative at the regional bee. A big congratulations also goes out to Cristal Delaguila, who is our runner up. Both of these students spelled extremely challenging words. I also want to thank all our student representatives who participated in the spelling bee. All of the children did a wonderful job. A special thank you goes out to Ms. Foxworth, who organized the event, our judges and our PTA who sponsors the event each year.

This week:
Thursday, December 12th: 1:00 PTA Meeting in the Conference Room & Annual Movie Night! This PTA sponsored event has become a favorite tradition here at BRES. Join us in the multipurpose room at 6:00 p.m. for our free movie and a bag of popcorn. You are welcome to bring snacks, drinks, blankets or sleeping bags. Students are permitted to wear school appropriate pajamas!

Student Council is collecting Winter Wear items (coats, gloves/mittens, scarves, and hats). All donations can be dropped off in the collection box outside of the front office. We will collect items from December 2 through the end of January 2014. Thank you!

Next week: Monday, December 16th: Track Out Academy begins. For students selected to attend, parent permission slips should be returned no later than this Friday.

Tuesday, December 17th: 4/5 Reindeer Games Rehearsal afterschool, Mural Club afterschool, Grades 2-5 Tracks 2-4 ELA Case Benchmark

Wednesday, December 18th: Grades 2-5 Math Case Benchmark Assessments, GOTR at 4:15 p.m.

Thursday, December 19th: Grade 5 Science Case Benchmark, Student Council Meeting at 8:00 a.m., Winter Performance begins at 6:30 in the Multipurpose Room

Friday, December 20th: Last of day of school before Winter Break!

Did you know we are TWEETING? It's true. :) Check out our updated website with the Bus Twitter account and my Twitter account. I am posting pictures of the learning and teaching process in action as I walk through classrooms, sending out information about events, sharing articles or research about education in general and even updating you with special moments here at BRES. You don't want to miss out on Ms. Livengood's bus posts either! She is posting when buses depart campus so you will know if a bus has been delayed or when to be at the bus stop to meet your child. Follow us at CarmenMonteroGraf@BanksRoadES and @BanksRoadBuses!

That's it Trailblazers. All of this information will be posted on the BRES school website and the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school should you have any questions.

Always Trailblazer Proud, Mrs. Graf

Going shopping on Black Friday? Here is how you can fund BRES PTA...

Trailblazers,

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and so is the holiday season. Many of you will consider making purchases on line. If you do, here is a simple way to support our school and PTA. Thank you for all that you for BRES.

Principal (and Black Friday  Shopper),  Mrs. Graf


Do you shop at Amazon.com?

If you do, you can help raise money for Banks Road PTA. It’s simple, Click Here and click on “Start Shopping at Amazon.com”. Amazon will send Banks Road Elementary PTA a check for 6% of all money spent at Amazon.com using this special link (4% on electronics). Since we teamed up with Amazon, Banks Road PTA has raised $45.97. With your help and the holidays fast approaching, our goal is to raise $250 during the next quarter. Please think about “Fund Your PTA” the next time you are shopping at Amazon.com!

Read to Achieve Information

Trailblazers,

With second quarter coming to a close after the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to bring back to forefront the expectations for our students in reading. Students must make sufficient gains in their reading skills and be reading at benchmark to be considered proficient. Students who are working on the regular standard course of study are held to the same proficiency standards with few exemptions. While reading behaviors and skills are learned over time, students must master grade level targets/ benchmarks each year in kindergarten, first grade and second to be on track for proficiency. Third grade growth in skills and proficiency at each benchmark is especially critical, as promotion from third grade is contingent upon reading proficiency beginning this school year.

Have questions? Please contact me via email at cgraf1@wcpss.net or call me 919-890-7330. I want to be sure you are informed and I have resources to share with you to support your child at home.

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf


NC Read to Achieve Program

The Read to Achieve Program is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of 2012 and applies to all schools at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Watch the Implementation of the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program Parent Guide video >

The State Goal § 115C-83.1A.
The goal of the State is to ensure that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress in reading proficiency so that he or she can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex text when needed for secondary education and career success.

The 7 Components of Read to Achieve

Developmental Screening and Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA)
Elimination of Social Promotion
Successful Reading Development for Retained Students
Parent/Guardian Notification
Accountability Measures
Comprehensive Reading Plan
Facilitating Early Grade Reading Proficiency

Read to Achieve Parent Resources

Read to Achieve Parent Letter
Read to Achieve Glossary
Read to Achieve Parent Information (color) - (black and white)
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Read to Achieve Guidebook
Comprehensive Reading Plan K-12
Reading Rockets - Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Colorín Colorado - Colorín Colorado is a free web-based service that provides information, activities and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners (ELLs).
U.S. Department of Education - Reading tips for parents

2014-15 Kindergarten Registration Is Coming!

Trailblazers,
The new school year will be here before you know it. It is time to mark your calendars for information regarding enrolling rising Kindergarten students. This will be the first of many reminders. Please below for the required documents need to get your child enrolled in school.

Trailblazer Proud, Mrs. Graf

Enroll for the 2014-15 school year

Rising Kindergarteners can pre-enroll beginning Jan. 13, 2014 at their assigned base school. To view the school assigned to your address, visit http://www.wcpss.net/preview. Parents can sign up to receive an email with the latest events and news.

Families whose primary language in not English should visit The Center for International Enrollment, Crossroads 1, 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC 27518 to get assistance with paperwork.

Required documents:
Completed registration forms
Parent/legal guardian photo ID

Proof of residence in the form of a current electric, city gas or city water bill, signed lease agreement or closing statement in the name of the parent(s) or court-appointed guardian with a closing date within 45 days. Telephone, cable television bills and driver's licenses do not qualify.

A certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county or state health department where the child was born.

Immunization records. For a list of all required immunizations, visit the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. If you do not have a certified immunization record, contact your physician or the Wake County Human Services. A new series of shots can be administered. If a record of completed immunizations is not received after 30 days, the principal is required by law to suspend the child from school on the 31st day until evidence of immunizations is presented.

Additional items needed later:

A completed Kindergarten Health Assessment. North Carolina law requires that a kindergarten health assessment be completed on or before the first day of school before a child can enter kindergarten. The health assessment must be completed no more than 12 months prior to the date of entry. Physical examination forms are available at Wake County schools, area doctors' offices or at the Wake County Health Department. Parents whose children do not have a regular physician can get health assessments and immunizations through the Wake County Health Department. First-time appointments should call (919) 250-3947.

If coming from another school system, a completed Discipline Status Enrollment form is required.

School Messenger November 12, 2013

Good afternoon Trailblazers,

Happy Tuesday to you!

Thank you to everyone who attended our B & N Book Fair in Cary last Thursday evening! It was great to see everyone and to the Boomer's did an outstanding job with their performance! Thanks again for coming out and spending the evening with us and supporting the school!

Coming up:
November 13th: GOTR at 4:15

November 14th: Family Fitness Night: Get Ready for Healthy Fun! Our PTA Family Fitness Night begins at 6:30 p.m. There will activities for the whole family. This event will be held in our multipurpose room. Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit BRES families. Come on out and have some fun family time with our free activities.

November 21st: PTA Board Meeting in the Media Center at 6:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend!
December 3rd: School-wide Spelling Bee (this is a new date due to an events conflict)

Calling on talented Trailblazers! We are looking for students to enter the PTA Reflections Contest. Students can enter in several categories: dance choreography, film production, music composition, photography, literature, and visual arts. All work must be original work done by the student inspired by the theme "Believe, Dream, Inspire". All artwork must contain a title and include an artist statement less than one hundred words. The deadline for submission of entry is Wednesday, December 11th. Please email the PTA with any questions about this process at banksrdpta@gmail.com.

Our PTA and Mr. Day want to thank everyone who has made a donation or sponsored a child for our annual present drive. It‘s not too late to fulfill a child’s holiday wish. For your convenience, we have extended the deadline to Wednesday, November 13th. If you would like to help, please fill out a flier and return it to your child’s teacher. Fliers are available on the PTA website or in the front office. Don’t have access to the internet, please call the school and leave a message for Mr. Day, our school Guidance Counselor.

Did you know we are TWEETING? It's true. :) Check out our updated website with the Bus Twitter account and my Twitter account. I am posting pictures of the learning and teaching process in action as I walk through classrooms, sending out information about events, sharing articles or research about education in general and even updating you with special moments here at BRES. You don't want to miss out on Ms. Livengood's bus posts either! She is posting when buses depart campus so you will know if a bus has been delayed or when to be at the bus stop to meet your child. Follow us at CarmenMonteroGraf@BanksRoadES and @BanksRoadBuses!

That's it Trailblazers. All of this information will be posted on the BRES school website and the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school should you have any questions.


Always Trailblazer Proud, Mrs. Graf

School Messenger November 6, 2013

Good afternoon Trailblazers,

Happy Wednesday to you! This is Mrs. Graf with your weekly announcements.


Tomorrow, Thursday, November 7th: Barnes and Nobles Book Fair with the Boomers Performance, Tracks 2 & 4 JDRF Walk and Student Council Meeting at 8:00 a.m. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a Scavenger Hunt led by Ms. McCool. At 6:30 the Banks Boomers perform and immediately following the performance I will read our Banks Book of the Year: Mrs. Smith Incredible Storybook. There will be plenty of time to peruse books and resources at Barnes and Nobles in Cary across from Cary Towne Center. Also, all Boomer students need to wear their Boomer t-shirts, jeans and sneakers for the performance and be at Barnes and Nobles at 6:00 p.m. There will be a table to order spirt wear, buy a raffle ticket for a Kindle Fire, pre-order our BRES yearbook and you can even purchase our very own drink called the "Trailblazer!" Ms. Loftin sent home a bright orange reminder with all Boomers today. I can’t wait to see you there!

Friday, November 8th: Early Release at 1:15 p.m. Staff Development from 1:45-4:15 p.m.

Looking ahead on the calendar:

November 11th: Holiday, No School
November 14th: Family Fitness Night: Get Ready for Healthy Fun! Our PTA Family Fitness Night begins at 6:30 p.m. There will activities for the whole family. This event will be held in our multipurpose room. Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit BRES families. Come on out and have some fun family time with our free activities.
November 21st: PTA Board Meeting in the Media Center at 6:30 p.m.
November 26th: School-wide Spelling Bee

Calling on talented Trailblazers! We are looking for students to enter the PTA Reflections Contest. Students can enter in several categories: dance choreography, film production, music composition, photography, literature, and visual arts. All work must be original work done by the student inspired by the theme "Believe, Dream, Inspire". All artwork must contain a title and include an artist statement less than one hundred words. The deadline for submission of entry is Wednesday, December 11th. Please email the PTA with any questions about this process at banksrdpta@gmail.com.

Our PTA and Mr. Day want to thank everyone who has made a donation or sponsored a child for our annual present drive. It‘s not too late to fulfill a child’s holiday wish. For your convenience, we have extended the deadline to Wednesday, November 13th. If you would like to help, please fill out a flier and return it to your child’s teacher. Fliers are available on the PTA website or in the front office. Don’t have access to the internet, please call the school and leave a message for Mr. Day, our school Guidance Counselor.

Did you know we are TWEETING? It's true. Check out our updated website with the Bus Twitter account and my Twitter account. I am posting pictures of the learning and teaching process in action as I walk through classrooms, sending out information about events, sharing articles or research about education in general and even updating you with special moments here at BRES. You don't want to miss out on Ms. Livengood's bus posts either! She is posting when buses depart campus so you will know if a bus has been delayed or when to be at the bus stop to meet your child. Follow us at CarmenMonteroGraf@BanksRoadES and @BanksRoadBuses!

That's it Trailblazers. All of this information will be posted on the BRES school website and the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school should you have any questions.

Always Trailblazer Proud, Mrs. Graf

School Messenger November 2, 2013

Good afternoon Trailblazers,

October has come and gone and we are starting the month of November with many great events. Please see below for important information:

Tuesday, November 5th : Boomers Practice at 8:00 a.m., 4th & 5th Grade Winter Program Practice for all 4th and 5th graders and the Boomers from 4:15-5:30 p.m., Mural Club at 4:00 p.m. with Ms. Stephenson.

Wednesday, November 6th : Classroom spelling bees for Tracks 1 & 2; GOTR at 4:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 7th : Barnes and Nobles Book Fair with the Boomers Performance, Tracks 2 & 4 JDRF Walk and Student Council Meeting at 8:00 a.m.

Friday, November 8th : Early Release at 1:15 p.m. Staff Development from 1:45-4:15 p.m.

Looking ahead on the calendar:

November 11th: Holiday, No School
November 14th: Family Fitness Night: Get Ready for Healthy Fun!
November 21st: PTA Board Meeting in the Media Center at 6:30 p.m.
November 26th: School-wide Spelling Bee

Calling on talented Trailblazers! We are looking for students to enter the PTA Reflections Contest. Students can enter in several categories: dance choreography, film production, music composition, photography, literature, and visual arts. All work must be original work done by the student inspired by the theme "Believe, Dream, Inspire". All artwork must contain a title and include an artist statement less than one hundred words. The deadline for submission of entry is Wednesday, December 11th. Please email the PTA with any questions about this process at banksrdpta@gmail.com.

Our PTA is working with Mr. Day on our Kindness Counts Present Drive. If you would be willing to sponsor a student or a family this holiday season, please see Mr. Day. Forms were sent home in Friday folders earlier in October.

Did you know we are TWEETING? It's true. Check out our updated website with the Bus Twitter account and my Twitter account. I am posting pictures of the learning and teaching process in action as I walk through classrooms, sending out information about events, sharing articles or research about education in general and even updating you with special moments here at BRES. You don't want to miss out on Ms. Livengood's bus posts either! She is posting when buses depart campus so you will know if a bus has been delayed or when to be at the bus stop to meet your child. Follow us at CarmenMonteroGraf@BanksRoadES and @BanksRoadBuses!

That's it Trailblazers. All of this information will be posted on the BRES school website and the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school should you have any questions.
Always Trailblazer Proud, Mrs. Graf

Winter Performance Practice is THIS week!

Here is a reminder from Ms. Loftin regarding rehearsal this week and the upcoming performance.

"Reindeer Games" rehearsal reminder:

November 5th 4:15-5:30 pm is our next after school rehearsal for ALL 4th and 5th graders. Please pick up your child in the multipurpose room at 5:30 pm.

November 19, December 10, and December 17 are the next rehearsals.

DECEMBER 19, 2013 is the performance. Students to school @ 5:45 for 6:30 performance.

If you child cannot attend, please contact me. If you have any questions please email me at lloftin@wcpss.net. Thank you for all that you do to support our music program here at BRES. Ms. Loftin

A reminder from Ms. Loftin our Music Specialist

Boomer Reminder!

I hope you all enjoyed the students’ first performance at PAC night! I am very proud of each of the Boomers. All of their hard work is paying off.

We have our performance at Barnes and Noble in Cary this Thursday November 7, 2013. All Boomers need to be at the Barnes and Noble of Cary at 6:00 pm. Students need to wear their Boomer shirt, Blue jeans, and sneakers.

The Address is:

Barnes and Noble

760 SE Maynard Rd Cary, NC 27511

We also have our performance at Crabtree Valley Mall later this month. Our performance is November 21, 2013 @ 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions please email me at lloftin@wcpss.net. Thank you, Ms. Loftin

School Messenger October 28, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Monday to you! Here is a reminder about upcoming events at BRES:

Tuesday, October 29th is our first Parents are Connected night. The evening will begin at 5:30. Invitations have been sent home and we have received over 300 RSVP's. This is wonderful! I will share out briefly information regarding our Title I Program, federal funds, and the plan that BRES is following to support our students with reading success. There will be a hands-on activity for you to participate in with your child. We will end the night with a preview performance by our Banks Boomers. This is a great way for you to learn more about the curriculum and see your how your child is working to master the complex reading process. This information is not for just "struggling" readers; the information presented will include how to support students in going deeper with complex standards and how children performing at or above grade are challenged with the demands of the Common Core standards. It is sure to benefit every parent and student who attends! We have received over 300+ RSVP’s and I am looking forward to sharing this information with you.

Tuesday, the 29th is also the first afterschool meeting for the Mural Club for students on Track 4. If you are not certain if you have been confirmed to participate in Mural Club, please call the school or send Ms. Stephenson an email.

Tuesday evening the 29th is also afterschool practice for all 4th & 5th graders to prepare for the Winter Performance. Practice will run from 4:15-5:30 p.m. We will dismiss students that stay for rehearsal from their classrooms at 4:10 p.m. to head to the MPR for rehearsal. Rehearsal ends at 5:30 p.m. just in time for you to join us at our Parents are Connected Night. Don’t forget that the Boomers will perform this evening to close out our PAC Night.

Also all week, fourth grade students on Track 2 & 4 will work with Author-in-Residence Richard Krawiec. To learn more about this author please visit: http://rkeditor.com.

November 1st, Friday: Trailblazer Jogging Club. Meet Ms. Williford out on the track at 8:00 a.m.

Did you know we are Tweeting? Follow me for pictures, resources, links and reminders at @BanksRoadES! That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website under the Parents tab and on the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening!

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf



Carmen Montero Graf
Principal
Banks Road Elementary
10225 Chambers Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919).890.7333
cgraf1@wcpss.net
http://banksprincipal.blogspot.com/

Learning with pumpkins in Ms. Bethel's Class

A big thank you goes to Ms. Howrigan who took these beautiful pictures of the learning and teaching process in action.

Ms. Bethel's class learned about the characteristics of pumpkins, estimated weight and confirmed their estimations, estimated circumference and confirmed the actual circumference. They also predicted floating or sinking and counted seeds!

Love to see Trailblazer learning in action! Mrs. Graf

Track 4 Delay In Report Cards

Dear Trailblazer Parents,

Please see the information below regarding Track 4 student report cards. They have been delayed due to system software issues. This information came home today with every student on Track 4. It is also posted on our school website. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Dear Parents,

Due to an unanticipated software outage in a statewide computer system, first-quarter report cards for Track 4 students will be sent home beginning next week.

Pearson, the third-party software provider, is currently working to address the outage in its system, which has impacted teachers throughout the state. Once the system is restored, teachers will be able to continue to enter grades, and schools will be able to print report cards.

Based on communication from the software company, we anticipate that Track 4 report cards will be available beginning Friday, November 1.

Thank you,

Wake County Public School System


Queridos padres:

Debido a un interrupción en el sistema informático de todo el estado, las boletas de calificaciones del primer trimestre de los estudiantes con Ciclo 4 serán enviadas a casa empezando la próxima semana.

Pearson, el proveedor tercero de software, está trabajando actualmente para tratar la interrupción en su sistema, que ha impactado los maestros de todo el estado. Una vez que el sistema se restablece, los maestros podrán seguir entrando las notas y las escuelas podrán imprimir las boletas de calificaciones.

Basándose en la comunicación de la compañía, anticipamos que las boletas de calificaciones de los estudiantes con el Ciclo 4 estarán disponibles a partir del viernes 1 de noviembre.

Gracias,

Wake County Public School System

Parent Information Regarding Report Cards

When parents of elementary school students receive their first report cards of the 2013-14 school year this fall, they’ll notice much more detailed information about what their students are learning in school.

The redesigned report cards are one benefit of the new electronic grading system that all public schools across North Carolina have adopted this year. They offer more in-depth information about how well students are understanding and applying the concepts they are being taught.

For example, instead of seeing just a single grade for the subject of mathematics, the parent of a fourth-grade student will also see whether the student has mastered specific skills required for fourth-grade math, such as being able to measure angles.

Students will be evaluated on a 4-point scale, with a score of 1 showing that the student does not yet demonstrate an understanding of the standards, and a score of 4 indicating the student consistently demonstrates in-depth understanding of the concepts being taught.

Every report card will be accompanied by a guide showing parents how to interpret the new information it provides. View the guide and a helpful video online. >>

Report cards are just one way for teachers to communicate with students and parents about a student’s academic achievement, work habits, and classroom behavior. Parents may also request a conference with the teacher to discuss their student’s progress and ways to support their learning in and out of school.

Report card schedule:

Friday, October 11
Modified-calendar schools
Year-round schools
(Tracks 1, 2, 3)

Friday, November 1 (new date due to delay)
Year-round schools
(Track 4)

Monday, November 4
Traditional-calendar schools

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding report cards. Thank you, Mrs. Graf

It's been a great week and more...

Trailblazers, 

It's been a great week of teaching and learning here at BRES. Our students and teachers have been working diligently putting forth their Banks Best with the learning and teaching process. 

Track three tracks out tomorrow. We welcome our Track 4 students back on Monday. 

Tomorrow, Friday the 18th is early release. We will begin our dismissal process at 1:15 p.m.  

Please call the office if you have any questions. 

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf 

Banks Boomers are on their way...amazing!

I had the opportunity today to sit in on a Banks Boomers rehearsal. They worked with Ms. Loftin on their Pieces of Gold audition song, "Fly a Kite." Let me tell you how proud I am of these boys and girls! They are well on their way to an amazing audition for the Pieces of a Gold program. The students are on point with their choreography, voice and stage presence. I know with continued practice they will be able to refine their performance by the audition date. Way to go Boomers and Ms. Loftin! Check out the Boomers practicing today:

School Messenger October 10, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Thursday to you!

First things first, report cards go home tomorrow, Friday, October 11, 2013.

Tomorrow also begins our first Spirit Weekend. What’s Spirit Weekend? It’s our PTA Spirit Night but it lasts all weekend. Come on out to Buffaloe Bowling in Garner on Rt. 401 Friday, Saturday or Sunday and mention BRES. A portion of the funds go right back to our PTA.

Friday (tomorrow) is also the Kindergarten Field Trip for students on Tracks 1 & 3.

Friday, the 11th at 8:00 a.m. the Trailblazer Jogging Club will meet on the back track. If it rains, don’t worry the club will meet inside.

4th Grade Parents: All week your child has had the opportunity to learn about writing from an author. Author Richard Krawiec has been our Writer-in-Residence this past week. Check out the Principal’s Desk blog for more information about our visiting author.

This coming Monday, October 14th: The GOTR will meet at 4:15 p.m.

And on Tuesday, October 15th: Students on Tracks 1 & 3 will have their JDRF Walk during Specials times. Students participating in Mural Club will meet on Tuesday after-school with Ms. Stephenson as well.

Looking Ahead Trailblazers:

October 18th is Early Release Day and dismissal will begin at 1:15 p.m. It is also a track out day for students on Track 3. I know they are looking forward to a break. And we all know that if Track 3 is tracking out, then that means Track 4 students and teachers will be back to school on Monday, October 21st.

Be on the lookout for information regarding upcoming events including our first Parents are Connected Night on October 29th, , our Classroom and School-wide Spelling Bees, our Barnes and Noble Night and our Family Fitness Night. More information about all of these events will be posted and shared very soon.

That’s it Trailblazers! We have a wonderful week of learning, teaching, growing and leading at BRES. This information is already posted on the school website and will go out tonight on the Principal’s Desk Blog!

Have a great evening…on purpose! My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf


Carmen Montero Graf
Principal
Banks Road Elementary
10225 Chambers Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919).890.7333
cgraf1@wcpss.net
http://banksprincipal.blogspot.com/

Parent Guide to Understanding the Elementary Report Card

When parents of elementary school students receive their first report cards of the 2013-14 school year this fall, they’ll notice much more detailed information about what their students are learning in school.

The redesigned report cards are one benefit of the new electronic grading system that all public schools across North Carolina have adopted this year. They offer more in-depth information about how well students are understanding and applying the concepts they are being taught.

For example, instead of seeing just a single grade for the subject of mathematics, the parent of a fourth-grade student will also see whether the student has mastered specific skills required for fourth-grade math, such as being able to measure angles.
Trailblazers,
This Friday, October 11th we will be sending home the new elementary report cards with all students on Tracks 1, 2 and 3. These new report cards are formatted different from report cards in the past. I am sharing information from the WCPSS website with you to support your understanding of the new report card and its components.

The report cards will be accompanied by a letter giving you additional information. Please read below for more information on the grading scale and the report card distribution schedule.

As always, please feel free to contact me or your child's teacher should you have any questions. Thank you, Mrs. Graf


Students will be evaluated on a 4-point scale, with a score of 1 showing that the student does not yet demonstrate an understanding of the standards, and a score of 4 indicating the student consistently demonstrates in-depth understanding of the concepts being taught.

Every report card will be accompanied by a guide showing parents how to interpret the new information it provides. View the guide and a helpful video online. >>

Report cards are just one way for teachers to communicate with students and parents about a student’s academic achievement, work habits, and classroom behavior. Parents may also request a conference with the teacher to discuss their student’s progress and ways to support their learning in and out of school.

Report card schedule

Friday, October 11
Modified-calendar schools
Year-round schools
(Tracks 1, 2, 3)

Friday, October 25
Year-round schools
(Track 4)

Monday, November 4
Traditional-calendar schools

Read more about grading in elementary school. >>

Tags: Results

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 5:27 pm and is filed under Front Page News, Parents.

Catching Up on So Many Things

Alright Trailblazers,
I am having issues with the text widget in Blogger, so I have not been "blogging" at my typical rate. I have been "tweeting" though so you may have missed some information if you not following me at Carmen Montero Graf @BanksRoadES on Twitter!!

Here is an update from our PTA Coin Drive:

Overall Classroom Winners
1st Place: Mrs. Bethel $193.09
2nd Place: Ms. Stover $206.72
3rd Place: Ms. Bishop $310.82

Winners by Track
Track 2:
1st Place: Ms. Esposito $21.75
2nd Place: Ms. Wern $10.75
3rd Place: Ms. Creel $8.98

Track 3:
1st Place: Ms. Shamblee $80.32
2nd Place: Ms. Chesser $79.57
3rd Place: Ms. Arthur $63.99

Track 4:
1st Place: Ms. Blackmon $145.05
2nd Place: Ms. Stover $206.72
3rd Place: Ms. Bishop $310.82.

We raised over $2,000.00 with spare change! These funds will go directly back to the students at BRES. The funds will be used to supplement field trips, classroom subscriptions and more!

Thank you to everyone who supported our school with the Coin Drive during Spirit Week! Mrs. Graf

School Messenger September 30, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,
Happy Monday to you!
First things first, the Fall Festival was amazing this past Friday evening! Thank you to everyone who supported this event with volunteering, organizing and attending. It was a beautiful night and I am certain that we raised funds to support our PTA! I have already “tweeted” a couple pictures and have sent out a blog about the night so please be sure you check visit the Principal’s Desk blog and the Twitter feed.

Welcome back Track 1 staff and students! It was great to see your smiling faces today!
Track 1 and 3 students participated in our JDRF Kickoff event today during PE. Students will be coming home to share how we are working to build our knowledge of healthy lifestyles and how they can support JDRF.

This week we have several events planned. Please mark your calendars for the following:
• Tuesday, October 1st: Banks Boomers 8:00 a.m. Music Room with Ms. Loftin
• Tuesday, October 1st: Mural Club at 4:00 p.m. with Ms. Stephenson
• Vision screenings will be conducted this week with students on Tracks 1 & 3 in grades K & 2
• Author Visit with David Ira Rottenburg is Wednesday, October 2nd for 4th and 5th grade students
• Trailblazer Run Club is Friday, October 3rd at 8:00 a.m. Students participating in the run club, please meet with Ms. Williford out on the track.

That’s it Trailblazers! We have a wonderful week of learning, teaching, growing and leading planned here at BRES. This information is already posted on the school website and will go out tonight on the Principal’s Desk Blog!

Make it a great evening...on purpose! Mrs. Graf

Fall Festival Success

Thanks to everyone for all their work and preparation for our Fall Festival. It was absolutely amazing! Horses for Hope, the cake walk, the hayrides, the pumpkins, the face and hair painting and the silent auction were highlights of the night. 

Thanks to the volunteers and our PTA for their time in planning and working all of the stations tonight. The night was a success because of you! 

A special thanks to Mr. Day, Ms. Stephenson, Mrs. Blackmon, Ms. Chesser, Mrs. Stover, and Evan Froning for getting dunked in the tank for fun and to support grade levels.

Speaking of the dunk tank, check out a before and after shot of me in the tank.  It's always fun to watch the students line up and try their best to dunk me! 

Thanks again for joining us at BRES tonight and celebrating our five year anniversary! My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf 

School Messenger September 28, 2013

Happy Early Release FRIDAY to you! Here is a reminder about upcoming events at BRES:

Just one last reminder that our Fall Festival begins in just an hour. Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank: Ms. Stephenson, Ms. Blackmon, Ms. Stover, Mr. Day, Ms. Chesser and will it be Mrs. Livengood or Mrs. Graf in the tank? You will have to come to find out! Also, there will be face painting, silent auction and more! Last week I mentioned some of the items for the Silent Auction, Trailblazers our planning team has really outdone themselves!

At the door, the punch card will be $7.00 and the wrist band will be $15.00. Both items allow you to partake in all of the free games. There are just a couple of cost games such as the dunk tank!
It’s going to be a wonderful evening here at Banks Road Elementary. Come on out and join in our school community fun!

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

School Messenger September 23, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Monday to you! Here is a reminder about upcoming events at BRES:

September 24th: Banks Boomer’s Practice at 8:00 a.m.

September 26th: Picture Retakes Tracks 2-4 Forms are available at the front office.

September 27th is Early Release: 1:15 p.m. dismissal September 27th is Fall Festival: Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank: Ms. Stephenson, Ms. Blackmon, Ms. Stover, Mr. Day and will it be Mrs. Livengood or Mrs. Graf in the tank? You will have to come to find out!

Also, there will be face painting, silent auction and more! Last week I mentioned some of the items for the Silent Auction, Trailblazers our planning team has really outdone themselves! There are 4 1- day Hopper passes at Disney,
Carowinds: 4 regular admission tickets. Valued up to $228; Tweetsie Railroad: 4 one day admission tickets. Valued at $148; American Girl Doll: Kit doll and Book. Valued at $110;
The Umstead Hotel and Spa: Includes a one night stay and breakfast for two at Herons. Valued at $319.

How can you join in the fun? First you can pre-purchase a Punch Card for $5 or a wrist band for $12. At the door, the punch card will be $7.00 and the wrist band will be $15.00. Both items allow you to partake in all of the free games. There are just a couple of "cost" games such as the dunk tank! Want more information on the silent auction items and Fall Festival? Visit the school website, click on the parents tab and then click on PTA!

Did you know we are Tweeting? Follow me for pictures, resources, links and reminders at @BanksRoadES!

That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website under the Parents tab and on the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening!

My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

Delay in Report Cards: Important Information for Trailblazer Parents

Trailblazer Parents,
Please read below for information from our district regarding report cards and the new Homebase system. Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Dear Parents,

This letter is to inform you that first-quarter report cards will be delayed for all year-round elementary school students. Students in tracks 1, 2 and 3 will receive report cards on October 11. Track 4 students will receive report cards on October 25.

Report cards are delayed because of required software modifications to our new student information system, Home Base. The new system uses software called PowerSchool to track attendance, grades and assignments. The new software requires a change to accommodate the report card format. This issue affects elementary report cards only. We are currently working with the vendor to resolve the issue, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Teachers remain committed to keeping you informed regarding your child’s progress. If at any time you have questions regarding your child’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Letters will be sent home informing parents of the change. Thank you for your continued support.

Growing Forward with WCPSS: Information about the Bond Proposal

Growing Forward is the WCPSS campaign for the school bond proposal. If approved by voters on October 8, 2013, Wake County would issue bonds and provide funds totaling $983.7 million for WCPSS capital projects.

Capital Improvement Program 2013 (CIP 2013) is the proposed new building program for Wake County to provide 16 new schools; 6 major renovations creating additional 1,343 seats; life cycle equipment replacement, technology, and security at most schools; and land acquisition for new schools. The16 new schools include 11 elementary, three middle and two high schools. Green ES, Vandora Springs ES, Lincoln Heights ES, Brooks ES, Rolesville ES and Garner HS will undergo major renovations.

Want to learn more about the bond? Find out more infomration by following this link: http://www.wcpss.net/growing-forward/index.html

Thanks, Mrs. Graf

Guidance Program at BRES: All About Mr. Day

Great things are happening at BRES in our Guidance Department. Mr. Day joined us in July as we are thrilled that he is a part of our Trailblazer Team. Mr. Day has brought to Banks a wide variety of experiences that will support our total school program.


Want to know more about Mr. Day? Here is information about Mr. Day: I was born in Washington, Pennsylvania , just south of Pittsburgh. I am a huge fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams. Go Steelers! I attended Washington and Jefferson College where I played soccer, was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and majored in History. I earned my Master's of Science in Education in School Counseling from Duquesne University. Prior to coming to Banks Road Elementary School I was a high school counselor. I am married and have two beagles, Jake and Olympia. I enjoy drag racing, working on cars, running, and watching and playing all sports.

School Messenger September 12, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Thursday to you! Here is a reminder about upcoming events at BRES:

*Friday, 13th: School Spirit –Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green.
During Spirit Week bring in all of your loose change. All monies donated will go into Grade Level Fund to help offset the costs of field trips, specific classroom supplies such as subscriptions, etc. The class that raises the most money will win a Pizza Party, 2nd and 3rd Place will get Popcorn Parties.
*No Book Club with Ms. McCool tomorrow morning.
*Tonight is School Spirit at McDonald’s from 5-8 p.m. Meet me at McDonald’s for a quick bite or an ice cream cone. I’m stopping by about 5:30 for a bit.
*September 19th: Student Council Meeting 8:00 a.m.
*September 27th is Early Release: 1:15 p.m. dismissal
*September 27th is Fall Festival: Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank, face painting, silent auction and more!

That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website and on the Principal’s Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening!

No Yearbook Club 9/12

Yearbook Club will not meet this Thursday morning. The club will convene on the 2nd Thursday of October at 8:00 a.m.  

Time to Plan for our Holiday Performances: Ms. Loftin Needs Your Help!

Ms. Loftin planned and executed great performances last year for the Banks Boomers and our Holiday Show. This year she has been preparing students in the Boomers, during her classes and before school for our new programs. Please take a moment to follow this link and sign up to help out at one of our performances. It's a great way to see how the show comes together from behind the scences! Mrs. Graf http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DA4AE2CA75-thereindeer

School Messenger September 4, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers, Happy Wednesday to you! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Here is a reminder about upcoming events at BRES: • September 5th: Student Council Meeting Media Center 8:00 a.m. • September 6th-13th is Spirit Week o Friday, 6th: School Spirit-Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green to show school spirit. o Saturday, September 7th: Beautification Day-Come on out and help us spruce up our campus from 9-12. It’s a great way to show school spirit! o Monday, 9th: Hat Day! o Tuesday, 10th: Dress to Impress (Sunday Best) o Wednesday, 11th: Patriot’s Day-Wear Red, White and Blue o Thursday, 12th: Wacky Tacky Day- you don’t have to match! o Friday, 13th: School Spirit –Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green. • During Spirit Week bring in all of your loose change. All monies donated will go into Grade Level Fund to help offset the costs of field trips, specific classroom supplies such as subscriptions, etc. The class that raises the most money will win a Pizza Party, 2nd and 3rd Place will get Popcorn Parties. Looking on further into September here are three “Save the Dates”: • September 12th is School Spirit at McDonald’s from 5-8 p.m. • September 19th: Student Council Meeting 8:00 a.m. • September 27th is Early Release: 1:15 p.m. dismissal • September 27th is Fall Festival: Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank, face painting, silent auction and more! That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website and on the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening! My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

Volunteer Information--Reminder

Just a reminder if you plan to volunteer, attend a field trip or supoprt us with Field Day you must be a "cleared" volunteer with WCPSS. Please read below for information regarding this process. The following information describes the procedures for reactivation for continuing volunteers, the process for new volunteers to obtain clearance, and a summary of the appeal procedures. Reactivation for Continuing Volunteers • All continuing volunteers approved for the 2012-2013 school year MUST reactivate as a volunteer no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 2013. Volunteers may go to any WCPSS site and register through the intranet. Access to the volunteer system is: WCPSS Intranet – Business Applications – Volunteer Registration. • After October 31, 2013, individuals previously approved may not volunteer without a new criminal record check. To avoid unnecessary costs to the school system, principals and their staff should encourage continuing volunteers to reactivate early in the school year – and no later than October 31, 2013. • The volunteer system will be open daily for reactivation/registration from July 1, 2013, through October 31, 2013 for 24 hours a day. • From November 4, 2013, through May 19, 2014, the volunteer system will be open on Mondays only, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. However, during this time period, the volunteer system will be closed on the following Mondays: November 11, 2013, December 23, 2013, December 30, 2013, and January 20, 2014.

Easy Fundraiser from the NC State Fair!

Here's an excellent way for you to get your advance gate tickets to the NC State Fair (Oct. 17-27) and help Banks Road Elementary raise money. For every $7.00 adult advance ticket sold, two dollars will be returned to the school. For every children's advance ticket ($3.00), one dollar will be returned to the school. Please feel free to forward this email to relatives, neighbors, and friends. The more tickets sold from Banks Road Elementary supporters, the more money is returned to the school. To be sure the money goes back to us, you will need to enter our school code number, which is (325) and is also available from the advance ticket online site: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1742475&cobrand=ncstatefair13-wakecounty Don't wait too late: Once the fair starts, the ticket price increases, and no money comes back to us.

Did you know...?

Mural Club and Jogging Club are coming to BRES! I can't wait for these great student opportunities to begin. :) Mrs. Graf 

Week of September 1-5, 2013

Happy Labor Day!

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events and dates: 

• September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday-No School

*Banks Boomers will have chorus practice  on Tuesday, September 3rd at 8:00 a.m.
*September 5th: Student Council 8:00 a.m. Media Center
• September 6th-13th is Spirit Week 
Friday, 6th: School Spirit-Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green to show school spirit.
o Saturday, September 7th: Beautification Day-Come on out and help us spruce up our campus from 9-12. It’s a great way to show school spirit!
o Monday, 9th: Hat Day!
o Tuesday, 10th: Dress to Impress (Sunday Best)
o Wednesday, 11th: Patriot’s Day-Wear Red, White and Blue
o Thursday, 12th: Wacky Tacky Day- you don’t have to match!
o Friday, 13th: School Spirit –Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green.

• During Spirit Week bring in all of your loose change. All monies donated will go into Grade Level Fund to help offset the costs of field trips, specific classroom supplies such as subscriptions, etc. The class that raises the most money will win a Pizza Party, 2nd and 3rd Place will get Popcorn Parties. 

Looking on further into September here are three “Save the Dates”:
• September 12th is School Spirit at McDonald’s from 5-8 p.m.
* September 19th: Student Council 8:00 a.m. Media Center
• September 27th is Early Release: 1:15 p.m. dismissal & Fall Festival: Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank, face painting, silent auction and more! 

That's it Trailblazers! See you at school on Tuesday! Mrs. Graf 

Transportation Updates

Here is information regarding Transportation rom WCPSS Transportation Department. We have been fortunate not to have very many delays with our buses in the afternoons. Parents: Go online first: Most parent questions can be addressed by visiting the transportation website at www.wcpss.net/transportation. Parents are encouraged to visit the Web to view routes, find their bus stops, report a concern, or request a stop if they do not have one. Parents and schools may also view Live Updates on the site for information on morning bus routes and possible schedule changes. Please note: Routes are updated regularly online. If you have provided parents with print-outs from the website, they may now be outdated. If a parent cannot locate a child in the afternoon, he or she should: · Call the school to verify that their child’s bus has departed the school and check whether it was delayed. · Be present at the stop, or verify with a neighbor or other parent that the bus arrived, and the child did NOT get off the bus. · If the child did not get off the bus, parents may call the school or transportation at (919) 805-3030 and follow the prompts to report a missing student. These calls will ring transportation staff until 6 p.m., after which they will be answered by after-hours security. In some cases, parents may also be asked to leave a voicemail on the emergency system. When a caller leaves a message on that system, staff members receive an immediate notification so they may begin researching to locate the child. I hope you find this information helpful. Mrs. Graf

School Messenger Monday August 26, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

Happy Monday to you!

Thank you for coming out to support our PTA and BRES at Pelican’s on 401 this past Thursday evening. Our next Spirit night is scheduled for September 12th at McDonald’s in Fuquay Varina from 5-8 p.m.

Speaking of our PTA, the clothing drive has been extended. We are in need of specific sizes and items. Please call the school or visit the school website for this information. I appreciate your support with this drive.

Early Release dismissal went smoothly for all of our students on the bus and carpool. I know the carpool was line was long, but we made it went quickly once it started moving. Thank you for adhering to our carpool expectations . Once we dismissed the students, our staff engaged in professional development related to best practices with Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) and Teacher Leader Corps. Both of these sessions will result in direct positive work with our students in the classrooms!

This week we have no before or after-school activities. Banks Boomers Chorus students there is NO practice tomorrow, Tuesday 27th due to Ms. Loftin’s track out. Boomer’s practice will pick back up next Tuesday morning, September 3rd.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events and dates:
• September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday-No School
*September 5th: Student Council 8:00 a.m. Media Center
• September 6th-13th is Spirit Week
Friday, 6th: School Spirit-Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green to show school spirit.
o Saturday, September 7th: Beautification Day-Come on out and help us spruce up our campus from 9-12. It’s a great way to show school spirit!
o Monday, 9th: Hat Day!
o Tuesday, 10th: Dress to Impress (Sunday Best)
o Wednesday, 11th: Patriot’s Day-Wear Red, White and Blue
o Thursday, 12th: Wacky Tacky Day- you don’t have to match!
o Friday, 13th: School Spirit –Wear your BRES t-shirt or school colors of blue and green.

• During Spirit Week bring in all of your loose change. All monies donated will go into Grade Level Fund to help offset the costs of field trips, specific classroom supplies such as subscriptions, etc. The class that raises the most money will win a Pizza Party, 2nd and 3rd Place will get Popcorn Parties.

Looking on further into September here are three “Save the Dates”:
• September 12th is School Spirit at McDonald’s from 5-8 p.m.
* September 19th: Student Council 8:00 a.m. Media Center
• September 27th is Early Release: 1:15 p.m. dismissal & Fall Festival: Join us in celebrating the five year anniversary at BRES beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be games, the dunk tank, face painting, silent auction and more!

That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website and on the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening!
My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

Clothes Drive Continues

We have extended our Clothes Closet Drive until Monday. We could still use some more items... - XS and Small Boys clothing - new underwear (Boys and Girls), kids size XS - M - new socks (Boys and Girls) kids size S & M - new flip flops (all sizes) - gently-used shoes (all sizes) Please check for any extra clothes around your house this weekend, or pick up an item or 2 if you are out shopping. The Clothes Closet is to help any child in need of a change of clothes at school. You can send the clothes in with your child, hand them to an attendant at car pool, or place them in the drop box in front of the main office. Thank you for your support!

Banks Best on Early Release!

Have you ever wondered what teachers do on Early Release Days after the students are dismissed?

BRES teachers are committed to continuous professional growth. We began our school year with the theme of D.O.T.S. Huh? Well in the world of education we like to use acronyms so here you go: D=data and accountability, O=opportunities to collaborate, T=tight alignment to the curriculum (Common Core) and S=strategic focus! Everything we do can be categorized under one of these four areas. You may notice that our halls are peppered with DOTS in blue and green. Classrooms have blue and green dots throughout and we are even wearing dots!

On Friday's ER our teachers continued their study of SIOP or Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol. Staff collaborated to learn more about the eight components of SIOP and how it can support the learning of all students. Our study of SIOP will continue throughout the school year. SIOP falls under "S" and "T" of our DOTS. We have a strategic focus on increasing student success with the Common Core for all students. After hands on learning through a gallery walk the staff shared out how SIOP will impact their teaching and the work they do with children in the classroom each day. After delving deeper into SIOP we shifted our focus to 21st century skills with a presentation from our own teacher leaders Ms. Torrey, Ms. Rodger, Ms. Bishop and Ms. Wern who serve as our Teacher Leader Corp. They attend district trainings and come back to BRES and share their knowledge, skills and ideas with the staff. The session presented on ER day allowed for teachers to use the tool of Discovery Ed to find clips, sound bits, articles, and additional electronic resources that align to the Common Core to integrate into their lesson plans and student activities.

Check out the photos of our teachers and staff giving their Banks Best today on Early Release day!

Vote for Banks on Target Gives Back (FB app)!

Calling on all Trailblazers! Give with Target started on Wednesday the 14th. This is the program where all you have to do is vote for BRES and we will receive $1 for each vote. It's super easy---and you are probably on Facebook anyways, right? Last year our school was given a Target gift card with about $300 dollars on it. We used the gift card to buy school supplies and items for our students. Here is what I cut and pasted from the Give with Target website page: Beginning Aug. 14, guests can visit Target’s Facebook page to access the app and vote for a school of their choice once per week. Once a school has received 25 votes, Target will donate $1 per vote, with a maximum donation of $10,000 per school. Once your on FB, search "Target Gives Back" and select our school name or type in our school name. The campaign runs through Sept. 21, or until the full $5 million has been allocated, so don’t forget to vote each week and share the news with friends, family, teachers and other community members. For best performance, use a mobile device or a Google Chrome web browser to access the appPlease just log in to FB, search Target Gives Back and vote for Banks Road Elementary! Thanks! Mrs. Graf

Upcoming Parent Academy Opportunities

WCPSS Parent Academy has session being offered this week on How to Support your Kindergarten Student in School. 8/21 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reedy Creek Middle School & 8/22 6:30-8:30 p.m. Millbrook High School Both sessions will be offered in Spanish as well. Como apoyar a su estudiante de Kindergarten en las escuela 8/21 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reedy Creek Middle School & 8/22 6:30-8:30 p.m. Millbrook High School

Hot Off the Press...New Report Card Date for Track 1 Students

Parents, WCPSS teachers are transitioning to a new computer-based reporting system. Track 1 first quarter report cards will be distributed when students return from track out to ensure teachers have time to learn the new system and load grade information. Thank you for your patience during this transition. If you have any questions, please call the school at 919-890-7333. My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

Changes on Website: Parent Page

Trailblazer Parents,We have cleaned up some items on our website. Our new and improved Parent Page is perfect for you! You can access all of the School Messengers from me, click on the link that will take you to the PTA website, or peruse the other links to learn about how to volunteer at Banks, etc. Please take a moment to visit our website "new and improved" Parent Page at http://banksroades.wcpss.net/?page_id=29 :) Mrs. Graf

School Messenger August 19, 2013

Good evening Trailblazers,

This is Mrs. Graf the Proud Principal of Banks Road Elementary School! I have a few announcements for you:

First things first, I want to thank everyone who came out for Open House this past Thursday evening. I hope that you learned more about your child’s classroom and the grade-level classroom expectations.

If you came out last Thursday, you were given our Banks Book of the Year! We have a book for every family to have in their hands and in their homes. Our teachers and staff will use this text in multiple ways throughout the school year. This is a text that you can read with your child and discuss in numerous ways. We will share more about Ms. Smith’s Incredible Storybook as the year progresses.

Picture Day is this Wednesday, August 21st for students on Tracks 3 & 4. Wear your Sunday best or your favorite outfit and be sure to bring your best smile!

Mark your calendars for this Thursday. It’s our very first Spirit Night sponsored by our PTA. Come on out to Pelican’s Sno-Balls and have a cool treat. You can come out anytime between 3-9 p.m. Don’t forget to mention that you are supporting Banks Road when you make your purchase. If it’s raining on Thursday, mark your calendars for our rain-date of the August 27th.

This Friday is our very first Early Release Day. Dismissal will begin at 1:15 for all students carpool and bus. Please be sure you call the school to notify us of any transportation changes.

Also, this is the last call regarding our PTA Clothing Drive. We are in need of several items to support students who have a spill or accident at school. A small flyer was sent home this past Friday outlining the details of our needs. Our clothing drive ends this Friday. Feel free to drop off the items in the box in the lobby, in the carpool line to one of our staff members or send in with your child.

That’s it Trailblazers! I have posted this information on the school website and on the Principal's Desk blog. Please call the school if you have any questions. Have a great evening!
My Banks Best, Mrs. Graf

Open House Success

Thank you for coming out to our 2013-14 Open House last night! We had a great evening with you. Every family that attended Open House last night received our Banks Book of the Year, Ms. Smith's Incredible Storybook and attended classroom presentations. Parents also attended the administration session on basic Banks practices for attendance, our new PBIS initiative, and school safety. Classroom teachers shared information on classroom/grade level expectations, the Common Core curriculum and classroom expectations. Home School Compacts were also distributed last night. The Compacts share our school commitments to our students and you regarding student academic growth and success. These Compacts were developed with teacher and parent input from a session held in June. Our PTA was on hand to share about upcoming events and sell Spirit Wear items.  Check out the photos below from last nights event! Thanks again for coming out! 

Mural Club is coming!

Ms. Stephenson is creating a Mural Club at BRES. The club is open to 5th grade students that have earned and maintained a level 3 in conduct in Art Class and have completed the application form and application research page. The club is an opportunity for students to work together as a team to create murals throughout the school building. The club will meet on Tuesday afternoons from 4-5 p.m. during Quarters 2 and 3. Students do not have to attend meetings during their track out. Students need to be able to commit to attend all meetings when tracked in. 

If you are interested in joining the Mural Club you may pick up an application from  Ms Stephenson. Due dates are as follows:  Tracks 1& 4 is September 9th. 

Track 3 is September 23rd. Track 2 is TBD. 

Professional Development Snapshot

This year our staff is connecting the DOTS!  We are using data, strategically using opportunities to collaborate, have a tight alignment to the Common Core curriculum, and a Strategic Focus on what our students need instructionally to succeed. We will be delving deeper into the Common Core with a whole staff book study using the text The Common Core ~Teaching K-5 Students to Meet the Reading Standards.

Ms. Stephenson is decorating our halls!

Ms. Stephenson is at it again! Our main hall is bursting with color down by the art room. Please be sure to check out the display where students learned about individuality, differences in people and how collaboration and teamwork can result in a beautiful piece of art. Thanks Ms. Stephenson for this project and all that you do for our students!