Inclement Weather and School on Friday, January 25th

Parents,

We will operate on a 3 hour early release schedule Friday, January 25th.  We welcome students to school at our regular start time but will release at 12:45 p.m.  We will begin carpool and bus dismissal procedures promptly on Friday, January 25th. 

Stayed tuned to news stations for any updates or changes to the 3 hour delay decision.  Please call the school with any questions at 919-890-7333.  Stay safe and stay warm, Mrs. Graf

Parents Are Connected Night a Success

Wow and thank you! Tonight is a wonderful example of true Trailblazer spirit. We had a wonderful turn out for our K-2 Parents Are Connected night (or PAC). Our event began in our Cafe with refreshments and fellowship and ended with parents and children engaging in the learning and teaching process together! Our K-2 teachers presented critical literacy skills to support students in mastery of and efficiency in reading. Parents were given resources in English and Spanish to take home for use when reading and working with their child. Ms. Little, Ms. Milham and Mr. Gordon were our teacher leaders for our Kindergarten parents. A Kindergarten classroom was set up in stations for students to take their parents through and participate in many Daily 5 activities. Ms. Bethel and Ms. Bishop were our teacher leaders for First Grade. They shared the Cafe reading structure and reading strategies for parents to refer to when reading with children. Ms. Parker and Ms. Chesser were our teacher leaders in Second Grade. They presented the reselling star for non fiction texts and the Common Core standards for reading and understanding texts. Students and parents engaged in reading texts, shared reading and partner reading. Check out these amazing pictures of learning in action!

Kindergarten Learning Stations

A full house of Kindergarten parents and students!

Kindergarten parents and students listening and learning during the whole group presentation.

Now it's time to ENGAGE!  Parents and students worked through literacy activities together during centers.  Our students became the "teachers" of their parents guiding them through how to complete an activity and sharing with them why the activity supports their learning. 

Read to Someone Station

Read to Someone

Listen to Reading Station

First Grade presentation on the Cafe reading structure and fix up reading strategies.

First Grade parents and students review fix up strategies to use when reading at home. 

Ms. Bishop presents the retelling star.

Second Grade engages in non fiction reading!

Parents and students engage in partner reading.

Your turn, my turn!

3 Hour Early Release on Friday, January 25th

WCPSS has called a 3 hour early release for all schools for Friday, January 25th.  Banks Road Elementary will dismiss students at 12:45 p.m.  Bus and carpool procedures will begin promptly.  Please stayed tuned to news stations WRAL and NBC 17 for additional updates.  Please call the school should you have any questions at 919-890-7333.  Stay safe and warm, Mrs. Graf

QR Code for our Book Fair

Parents,

Book Fair is scheduled to begin on January 30th.  To support you in accessing the wonderful books and resources that will be available in the Media Center feel free to use this QR code.  You can scan the QR code with your smart phone and peruse our book fair items.  If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. McCool our Media Center Coordinator or call 919-890-7333.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Boosterthon Fun Run is Coming!

                                                           

The PTA has joined forces with the Boosterthon Program in organizing and supporting our main school fundraiser this February.  We will use the funds raised from the Fun Run to purchase large outdoor umbrellas and technology, such as Smart Boards and Apple products for our student use.  Follow this link to learn more about the Boosterthon program:  http://www.boosterthoncoach.com/.  Get ready because beginning in February we will go all out with our promotion of the Fun Run!  We will be showing videos, conducting mini classroom lessons on character, leadership and good choices along with healthful living tips for our students and families. 

Character Education Valued and Recognized

Our character education program is taking off at BRES!  Through the good works of our PTA and our guidance counselor, our BRES Character Education program is coming to fruition.  At our General PTA Meeting we honored over 50 students who were nominated by their homeroom classrooms for consistently demonstrating the character traits of Integrity or Kindness.  Each child was called to the stage, given a certificate and congratulated for personal efforts in demonstrating character.  Parents, grandparents and family members were in attendance to cheer the students on as they accepted their award.  It was a very proud moment for our parents and for me!

Our character education program will continue to grow here at BRES!  We currently seeking volunteers to support our K-2 character program by reading a book to a class and discussing the character trait (it's easy and we have everything prepared for you).  Can you help us?  Email Ms. Wu, our guidance counselor at ewu@wcpss.net or call the school at 919-890-7333 and we can answer any of your questions. 

Additionally, we are working on getting a special bulletin board up where we will display each nominated student's photo for the character trait of the month.  Here is a list of our character traits for the upcoming months at BRES:

Jan-Good Judgment

Feb. Diversity *

Mar-Respect

Apr- Perseverance

May- Courage

Jun- Self-Discipline

* More information to come...

Here are few pictures of our celebration on January 10th at the General PTA Meeting.

Base Declaration Period Results

To all our parents that have declared Banks Road Elementary School as your "base school" for the 13-14 school year:

Student Assignment has posted the results of the base declaration period.  Click here to find our your results:  http://www.wcpss.net/blog/2013/01/parents-may-view-results-from-base-declaration-period-beginning-jan-18/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wcpss%2Fma+%28Morning+Announcements%29 .  You will need your password information.  Please call the school at 890-7333 with any questions.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf