Transportation Update

We have had a great week with our transportation for students. All of our buses are arriving on campus each morning. In the afternoons the buses are arriving and leaving campus with in the 3:45-4:15 time frame. This is great news for your after school activities and evening family time!

Carpool is getting better each day. On Friday, we moved numerous cars and still were completely finished by 4:10. This week we continuously improved our loading time. The Fuquay Police Department has also been supporting us at the turn in from Banks Road onto Chambers. We appreciate their support with monitoring traffic and helping many of you be able to turn left from the school!

I have received many positive comments about the changes in carpool and our bus departure times. Thank you for your positive feedback. And thank you for all that you do to support Banks Road Elementary School!

School Spirit ROCKS at BRES!

Mrs. Mueller's Class (above)

Mrs. Harrower's Class (below)

Mrs. Nelson's Class (below)

I just finished celebrating school spirit with three wonderful classes. Ms. Harrower, Ms. Mueller and Ms. Nelson's class were our winners for 100% participation last Friday wearing our school colors of blue and green or an official BRES t-shirt. Way to go! The classes enjoyed their school treat in the cafe with me at lunch time. Check out our photos to see the fun we had today!

Mr. Fisher and I are on our way out to tally the participation numbers for this week. I can't wait to see how many classes have 100% participation! Stayed tuned...

Transportation Updates & Carpool Reminders

Parents,

Thank you for working with us this past week with the bus transportation delays due to traditional school starting. We understand that many of you are waiting at bus stops, have after-school activities to attend and want to have your time with your family in the evenings. I want to assure you that BRES is constant communication with WCPSS Transportation Department. We are actively working to inform you of any bus delays by posting the information on the school website, the Principal's Desk blog and updating the outgoing message on our main school phone line. Additionally, the office staff and administration answer as many phone calls in the afternoon so that we can inform you about the each bus situation personally. It is my hope that these delays will decrease soon and we will be able to get back to our pre-traditional school bus dismissal times. Until then, please continue to inform of your bus concerns. You are always welcome to call the Garner Transportation Department at 919-662-2408 as well to communicate your concerns. We thank you for your continued flexibility with the transportation delays.

I also want to address the carpool lane. As I have shared before that we have an increase of students participating in carpool this year. We realize that the students are not coming out to the cones at 3:45. It typically takes us 5 minutes to call out numbers and direct students to their cones, but this has not been the case in August. The first three weeks of school was smooth. When track 4 came in and combined with Track 1 we now have our two largest tracks together and it is simply taking more time to line our students up and begin the dismissal process. Additionally, many of our students are still learning their carpool numbers. Please encourage your child to come into carpool, find their grade level cone, sit "criss-cross applesauce," and listen for their number.

Also, I am including our carpool expectations for you. When we follow these expectations it supports us in having a smooth and safe dismissal in the carpool lane. You can help us maintain a safe and orderly dismissal by please adhering to the following guidelines:

-Only utilize the designated carpool lane in our side parking lot

-Please do not park and walk up to the carpool dismissal area. This is not safe and it causes confusion and congestion.

-Carpool tags must be hung in the rear view mirror

-No Cell Phone Use once the line is moving

-Pull forward to the first available cone for loading and unloading children (even if you see your child at another cone. We will bring your child to the right cone. This supports us in being able to move 5 cones/cars at a time.)

-Only load and unload children in the designated loading zone–if you need to help your child buckle their seat belt please pull to an empty parking space to the left so the line can keep moving.

-If there is a delay in getting your child out to your car we will ask you to pull up past

Cone 1. We will bring your child to you.

Please be patient with us as our goal is to ensure each student is delivered to you safely.

I want to share with you that I am working with WCPSS and local agencies to identify and possibly implement alternative strategies to reduce the vehicle congestion from Banks Road onto Chambers, such as adding an additional carpool lane. As soon as a strategy has been recommended I will be sending out information to notify of you of the changes. Thank you for all that you do each day to support a positive and safe school environment.

Buses on Campus

Route 2, 6 & 7 buses arrived on campus at 4:36 p.m. We are presently loading students. These buses will run their assigned routes. For questions and concerns about transportation, please call 919-662-2408.

Attention Parents: Transportation Delays

We are experiencing transportation delays with bus routes 2, 6, & 7. These buses have not arrived on campus yet. We have called and notified the Transportation Department. For questions and concerns, please call Garner Transportation at 919-662-2408. We apologize for this delay.

Goal Setting "Olympics" Style

Yesterday I shared more about our theme for this school year "Going for the Gold." This year we are working to support students in achieving their potential. Each student has a growth target for reading, math and science standardized assessments (grades 3-5.) Additionally, we work to support the growth of good character and citizenship at BRES. Each student will be "Going for Gold" not only academically but personally. See below for examples of how our teachers are making direct connections for students between goal setting and achieving dreams-- just like our Olympic athletes!

Ms. Blackmon's class has talked about the qualities needed in being a good student and a character "warrior." Students created classroom academic and personal goals. This display is hanging outside Ms. Blackmon's class in the hallway.




Students in Ms. Sonntag's class compared themselves to the Olympians and developed Olympian Profiles. Each student discussed their goals for the school year. This display is out in front of Ms. Sonntag's classroom in the hall.

Feature Teacher: Ms. Blair

At the beginning of the school year, I shared that I would feature a teacher on the blog so that you can get to know the new members of our teaching staff. Here is my latest edition of my "feature teacher" section. Introducing Ms. Emily Blair, English Second Language (ESL) teacher at BRES!

This is Ms. Blair's seventh year of teaching, and she is excited that it's here at BRES! Her teaching experiences include third grade, elementary Spanish, ESL, and Global education in both Wake County and South Florida. She has a Bachelor’s in early childhood education from Ohio University with a minor in Spanish, and a Master’s in ESL from Arizona State University. Ms. Blair has spent time both teaching and studying in Mexico, and she is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. In her free time she loves to read, travel, spend time with friends and family, and cheer for the Steelers!

Ms. Blair has already made an impact at BRES. When you visit our school you may see labels up around the office, restrooms and in classrooms. Ms. Blair has shared resources with the staff and has an outstanding blog full of great information. Visit her blog at http://banksesl.weebly.com/ . Ms. Blair can be reached by calling the school or by email at eblair@wcpss.net. We are glad to have Ms. Blair join our BRES family this year!