Volunteering at Banks Road Elementary School in 2013-2014

All new parents who wish to volunteer at Banks Road in the new school year must register.   WCPSS will not require any approved 2012-2013 volunteers who plan to continue for the 2013-2014 school year to register for a new CRC;  however, any continuing volunteer must reactivate his/her status no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 2013.

The following information describes the procedures for reactivation for continuing volunteers, the process for new volunteers to obtain CRC 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 at a school site. 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.  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.

Last Day of School

We finished the last day of school with hugs, smiles and well wishes to our students.  It's so hard to believe that another school year is done.  In reflecting on the year we have accomplished so much as a school community.  In addition to our strong classroom daily instruction, our partnership with the PTA has allowed for our Trailblazer community to participate in many family oriented activities and events such as the Fall Festival, Family Fitness Night and Movie Night. 

In preparing for our opening of 2013-2014 our staff will participate in professional development on Monday, July 1st and Tuesday, July 2nd.  We will focus on deepening our understanding of the Common Core curriculum at all grade levels, explore English Language Arts further through the lens of rigor and prepare for our first full year of implementation of the Positive Behavior Support model. 

We patiently await the end of grade test scores and know that our students put forth their best efforts during the testing window.  When those scores are released we will study and analyze the data to identify areas where we can celebrate success and areas where we will need to grow.

I look forward to seeing students and families on the first day of school.  Students on tracks 1, 2 and 3 will return for their first day on Monday, July 8, 2013.  Students on Track 4 will return on July 29, 2013.

Your Principal,
Mrs. Graf

Kindergarten Staggered Entry Information

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 staggerd entry will be July 8-11, 2012.  Meet the Teacher will be Friday, July 12th  from 4:30-5:30.  This session will be floating.  The first full day is July 15th following normal school hours.

Track 4 staggered entry will be July 29-August 1st.  Meet the Teacher will be Friday, Ausgust 2nd from 4:30-5:30.  This session will be floating.  The first full day is August 5th following regular school hours.

Your Kindergarten child will either have an AM session (9:00-11:45) or a PM session (12:30-3:15).  Please see the postcard mailed to the home address provided to the school during registration.  If you did not receive a postcard pertaining with staggered entry, please call the school.

Parents are responsible for transportation for your child for the staggered entry session.

No snacks or lunch is needed for the staggered entry session. 

Questions? Please call the school at 919-890-7333.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Single Subject Acceleration

Single Subject Acceleration(SSA)

In March of 2013, a district level committee approved criteria for Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) which allows students to accelerate in English/Language Arts OR Mathematics.  The initial criterion was based upon multiple indicators including formal test data and individual student performance data.  As a result of student portfolio reviews at the school and district level as part of the SSA process, as well as parental input, the SSA criteria were reexamined by the Central Services Committee and district leadership. 

As a result, the district criteria for Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) have been revised for students nominated in spring of 2013.  The revised criteria are as follows:

·         Score of 80% on the above grade level, district benchmark assessment in Mathematics

OR

·         Score of 85% on the above grade level, district benchmark assessment in English/Language Arts.  In order to qualify for SSA in either Mathematics OR English/Language Arts, your child must meet this requirement.

Parents or teachers may nominate students for this accelerative practice no later than the first 5 days of school so that testing and any resulting placement may occur before the first ten days of the 2013-2014 school year.

For any further questions, please contact sfoxworth@wcpss.net.  Thanks! Mrs. Graf

5th Grade Celebration

Good afternoon Trailblazer families,

We are so excited about the conclusion of our school year this Friday and the celebrations that will be taking place around the school. Your students’ have been working hard this school year and it is only fitting that we commemorate their accomplishment and wish them continued success as they blaze trails into greater heights of academic excellence.

A few notes about the 5^th grade Awards Day Celebration:

• You do not need to sign in at the office in order to attend the celebration.
• The doors to the auditorium will open at 9:20 am. Guests will be admitted at the back cafeteria doors across from the food service line.  Should you choose to arrive early, please form a line outside of those doors.
• Tickets have been distributed.  Each student received 4 tickets. Ticketed attendees will be admitted into the auditorium first. Please have your tickets ready for the collection before arriving outside of the doors of the auditorium.
• Ticket holders will be admitted to the auditorium at 9:20. Ticket holders will be asked to quickly find seats and fill in the auditorium starting from the front and working their way to the back. Please do not save seats.
• At 9:35, non ticket holders will be admitted into the auditorium. Please find a seat quickly and refrain from saving seats. We have acquired additional seating this year and if everyone is seated there is a clear view of the ceremony.
• Promptly at 9:45, the program will commence. Please make sure you are seated. The processional has students walking down the isles of the auditorium and for safety reasons it is best to keep the isle clear.
• At the conclusion of the program, please exit from the doors you were admitted in. If you for some reason need to enter the build, we ask, for the safety of the other students on campus, that you exit the auditorium through those doors, sign in with the office and receive a visitor’s pass.
• There will be a sign out sheet available on each class table if you wish to continue your family celebration outside of school grounds. There will be no need to go to the office to sign out your 5^th grader.

 The 5^th grade class of 2012-2013 has worked hard in preparing for this celebration. With your help, I am positive that this moment will be as special for them as it is for you.

A special thanks to Ms. Johnson and the 5th Grade Team for working on the logistics of this special event.  Questions?  Please call the school at 919-890-7333.  :) Mrs. Graf

Meet the Teacher is on Tuesday, June 25th

Just a reminder about Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, June 25th.  Remember that this is NOT for rising Kindergarten students.   There is a separate Meet the Teacher for Kindergarten.  Please read below for details. 

2013-14 Meet the Teacher (Grades 1-5 only):
Tracks 2, 3 & 4- June 25th 5:30-7:00 p.m. floating

Kindergarten Meet the Teacher:
Tracks 1-3 Friday, July 12th from 4:30-5:30 floating
Track 4:  Friday, August 2nd from 4:30-5:30 floating

All sessions are "floating" and that means you can come anytime between the start and end times listed above. 

Questions?  Call the Front Desk at 919-890-7333.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

2013-14 Bus Routes

Trailblazer Parents,

The bus routes for the 2013-14 school year are posted on our school website under "Parent Info"  AND  also on the right hand side under "2013-14 Preparation."  Click here to visit the BRES school website:  http://banksroades.wcpss.net/ and find out your bus stop and bus number.

If you do have any questions regarding the bus stop or the routes, please call the school at 919-890-7333.  Thanks so much!  Mrs. Graf

Celebrations Next Week

Trailblazer Community,

I can't believe it is here...the very last week of school for Tracks 2, 3 & 4!  We have much to celebrate here at BRES and we are so happy that you were here to learn and grow with us this school year. 

Next week we will celebrate each and every day:

Monday:  Black and White Day!  Wear black and white.
Tuesday:  Backwards Day! Wear something backwards!
Wednesday:  Wacky Tacky Day
Thursday: Hawaiian Day
Friday:  School Spirit Day! Wear blue and green or your BRES t-shirt!

Congratulations to our Student Council Representatives who have been working hard this year to establish our program.  They have given us their input and support in making BRES the best possible school we can be!  Our representatives are working with 5th grade to maintain our Learning Garden as well. 

Next week also brings many classroom celebrations.  I can't wait to see you beaming with pride as you watch your children get "celebrated" for their hard work and academic achievements this school year.

Our 5th grade celebration will held on Friday, June 28th at 9:45 a.m.  Please remember your tickets that were sent home.  Only 4 tickets will be permitted at the doors and all other guests will be seated in a different section of the multipurpose room and/or Cafe.  Please remember we want each family to be able to enjoy this event and this is the reason we have distributed and are requiring the use of the tickets.  I am certain that you will enjoy this celebration of learning. 

Questions?  Please call the school at 919-890-7333.  Your Proud Principal, Mrs. Graf

Single Subject Acceleration Update

Trailblazer Parents,

New information regarding the Single Subject Acceleration process will be sent home next week.  This change has occurred from the recent School Board meeting.  Questions?  Please contact our AIG Teacher, Ms. Foxworth at sfoxworth@wcpss.net.  Thanks!

No make up day required and EOG testing continues

Trailblazers,

We will not need to make up school from Friday, June 14th when the school was without power.  Field Day will be conducted this Friday, June 21st.  NC Extend II EOG testing will continue this week.  Testing should be complete by Friday.  Please call the school if you have any questions regarding Field Day or the EOG testing schedule.

No school at Banks today!

We do not have electricity at school. School is CANCELLED today, June 14th.

Phone lines are also down. Please email me at cgraf1@wcpss.net.

Have a great day. Mrs. Graf

Testing Updates

Just a reminder that end of grade testing for third through fifth graders on tracks 2, 3 and 4 begin on Tuesday, June 11th.  Testing will continue on Wednesday and Thursday.  Track 4 students in 5th grade will also take the Science EOG on Friday morning.  Testing takes precident over all school wide events including Field Day.  Testing for students who are absent will be administered on the day the student returns in the morning.  It is our goal that we will 100% attendance for all students during our testing window.  Questions about testing?  Please contact Ms. Foxworth at sfoxworth@wcpss.net or Mrs. Graf at cgraf1@wcpss.net. Thank you.

Track 1 Celebrations

Friday, May 31st marked the last day of school for students on Track 1.  There were many celebrations on Friday.  The school was buzzing with excitement as parents, grandparents and extended family members joined in the classroom celebrations. 

Fifth Grade Track 1 celebrated in style with a remarkable ceremony that was student led, enbraced the Common Core curriculum and highlighted the talents our students.  A special thank you goes out to the fifth grade teachers, Mr. Richardson who enlightened us all with his rendition of "You Raise Me Up" supported in back up vocals by our fifth grade students and our PTA who provided refreshments and decorations.

It was very special day for all.  It was particularly special for me as I was able to see my first daughter walk across the stage marking the end of her elementary experience.  What a proud moment!  I was busy with the ceremony so I don't have many photos of the event to share with you.  Here's the one I was able to snap of my own walking in at the beginning of the ceremony!  I'll send more as soon as I get them!

And one more thing....I am so PROUD of all the students for their hard work, dedication thorughout the school year.  I am so PROUD of our Trailblazer parents for the support and dedication you have given our school over the past year.  Thank you!

Family Fancy Dance Pictures are Ready for You!

Thanks again to all who attended our very first Family Fancy Dance at the end of May.  Diane McKinney was the photographer on hand that evening and all of our pictures from the dance are ready.  To view your pictures go to:

http://bresfamilydance.shutterfly.com/

All pictures from the danfe will be on this page and will be sorted into albums in 30 minute increments at the time taken.  This is a free website where pictures may be downloaded, prints purchased, albums created and printed.  You can even make coffee mugs!

Please note this is not Diane McKinney's photography site.  This information is also available at the front office.  Thanks!