New school year, new school!

OK followers...here we go! As many of you I transitioned from the Principal at Banks Road ES to take on the position of Principal of East Garner Elementary here in Garner, NC!  Although I was sad to leave Banks I looked forward to the challenges of the new principalship.  I took some time away from blogging to get my knee deep in my new position.  Since East Garner follows the traditional calendar, I am finally taking the time to switch over my blog to reflect my position change.  If you were a Trailblazer follower, I hope that you will choose to keep following! I will be posting district information, information for my new Explorer parents, and still information about the teaching and learning process regardless of where your children go to school!

I will also share my thoughts on education, homework, tips on supporting your child in school and much more!

Be on the lookout for posts about how to sign up for the volunteer process so that you can attend our school events such as field day, classroom activities and volunteering in the classrooms.  Additionally, the beginning of the year brings about many reminders about processes, procedures and activities that will be happening here at East Garner ES but also in our district.  I will post this information pretty routinely so that you will be in the know about the opportunities for your children and for your family.

For now Explorers, should you need to contact me, please feel free to call the school at 919-773-7411 or email me at cgraf1@wcpss.  And don't forget to follow me on Twitter at the handle @eastgarneres.  I consistently tweet information for you about school, events and education.

My Explorer Best, Mrs. Graf

A PTA Update

Trailblazers,

An update from our PTA...

Happy Snow Day!!!

I just wanted to update you all on the Fun Run.  Due to the weather last week, we have changed our Fun Run scheduled for T1/T3 to March 4th. Classes will be running at the same time slots as before.  

T-shirt decorating has also been reschedued for those who have not decorated yet. Track 3 will be on 2/25, with the exception of Ms. Garvey's class. They will be spray painting on 2/26.  The rest of Track 1 that has not spray painted, will be doing their shirts on the 27th. 

Prizes will be awarded on Fridays, starting this week.  We have changed the last day to collect money for ALL tracks to Mar. 20th. If tracked out, the student will receive their prize when they return.

Due to this weeks weather, nothing is set in stone :) I will update you if this changes.

We will collect money on Mondays and Fridays. Please place collections inside your classroom to the right of the door.  Please indicate you have a collection ready for pick-up by placing the PTA magnet on the outside of your door.  If you need a new magnet, please let me know.  I heard the first collection was a bit intrusive and to minimize this we will plan to collect in the afternoon and only pop in to grab collections ready. We do not want to interrupt your class. 

Important dates:  

Mar. 2nd:  Steel Drum Band will be joining the student's as our music guest during the day.

Mar. 10th:  Footworks Percussion Dance will perform once during the school day and again from 6-7PM for those student's who cannot participate during the day.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you and enjoy your day!  ~ The Banks Road ES PTA

WCPSS Parent Academy is hosting the Second Annual Family Summit

The WCPSS Parent Academy is hosting the Second Annual Family Summit on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in collaboration with the NC Alliance of Black School Educators. The event will be held at Millbrook High School, 2201 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh, NC for all Wake County Public School families.

The objective is to provide families with a variety of informative and engaging workshops on academics and social/emotional development to share strategies on student success.

We will be offering separate Spanish workshops for our Latino families. In addition, upon request we will provide interpretation service in Arabic, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. 

The conference is FREE of charge, will provide FREE Continental Breakfast and Information Fair.

Read to Achieve Camp Update

3rd Grade Parents,
Coming home this Friday in folders are invitations for the Read to Achieve Camp.  Please remember that attendance is not required this school year, but I would like you to consider having your child attend camp if they receive an invitation.  If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Reed at lreed@wcpss.net.   She is our Read to Achieve contact.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

Middle School Math Placement Information

5th Grade Trailblazer Parents,

It's time to mark your calendars for a parent information session regarding middle school math placement.  Come learn about placement guidelines, resources to support success in math that are available in all middle schools, math progression in middle and high school and the options that are afforded to you and your middle school student.

Session 1:  February 18, 2015 East Garner Magnet Middle
Session 2:  February 19, 2015 East Millbrook Magnet Middle
Session 3:  February 23, 2015 Davis Drive Middle
Session 4:  February 26, 2015 Durant Road Middle
Session 5:  March 2, 2015  Holly Ridge Middle
Session 6:  March 5, 2015  Carroll Magnet Middle

All sessions are at 6:00 p.m. in the school auditorium.

Questions?  Check out the math placement resource website at http://wake-ms-math.weebly.com or call 919-431-7439.

It's Box Tops Time!

Just a reminder that we are in COLLECTION mode for box tops!  Send in your box tops in a plastic baggie with your teacher name on it.  Drop the baggie in the box in the cafe.  The classes that collect the most box tops per track will win an Aunt Anne's preztel party!  Let's make our school a cut above the rest!  The contest runs from January 19-February 27th!  Come on Trailblazers let's get clipping!

PTA Events Scheduled...It's going to be GREAT!

Trailblazers,

Our Writer in Residence, Allan Wolf, will be working with 4th graders on 1/26 and 1/27. The poet will also be joining us the evening of 1/27 for the "Student Art Show."

1/22/15- Student council meeting: Thanks to the group of student's making Fun Run posters.

***student council members will hold up signs during their assigned pep rally***

Fun Run Details:

January 26th:

3:00pm Pep Rally for Track 3 All Classes

Packets go home for all of Track 3 Classes. 

February 9th:

Track 4B T-shirt making day.

February 10th:

Track 4A T-shirt making day

February 11th:

Track 2 T-shirt making day

February 12th

Track 1B T-shirt making day

February 13th: 

9:30am - Pep Rally Tracks 1, 2, 4. All K/1 classes.

10:15am - Pep Rally Tracks 1, 2, 4. All 2/3 classes.

11:00am - Pep Rally Tracks 1, 2, 4. All 4/5 classes.

Packets go home for all Tracks.

February 16th: MONDAY MONEY COLLECTION

February 18th:

Track 3 T-shirt Making Day

February 20th 

Postcards with Reminders and Photos of prizes sent home with Tracks 1 & 3

Track 1A - T-shirt making day.

FRIDAY MONEY COLLECTION

February 23rd: MONDAY MONEY COLLECTION

February 27th

9:30am - Fun Run 5th Grade - Track 1 & 3

10:00am - Fun Run 4th Grade - Track 1 & 3

10:30am - Fun Run 3th Grade - Track 1 & 3

11:00am - 1 hour break

12:00pm - Fun Run Kindergarten - Track 1 & 3

12:30pm - Fun Run 1st Grade - Track 1 & 3

1:00pm - Fun Run 2nd Grade - Track 1 & 3

FRIDAY MONEY COLLECTION

March 2nd: 

MONDAY MONEY COLLECTION

March 5th 

Postcard Reminders and photos of prizes sent home with Tracks 2 & 4

March 6th 

Prize Deadline - Track 1 only. Money must be turned in by this date to receive a prize.

Give out Prizes to Track 1

FRIDAY MONEY COLLECTION

March 9th:

 Monday Collection Monday

March 12th

9:30am - Fun Run 5th Grade - Track 2 & 4 

10:00am - Fun Run 4th Grade - Track 2 & 4

10:30am - Fun Run 3th Grade - Track 2 & 4

11:00am - 1 hour break

12:00pm - Fun Run Pre-K - Track 2 & 4

12:30pm - Fun Run 1st Grade - Track 2 & 4

1:00pm - Fun Run 2nd Grade - Track 2 & 4

1:30pm - Kindergarten

March 13th:

FRIDAY MONEY COLLECTION

March 16th: 

MONDAY MONEY COLLECTION

March 20th

Prize Deadline - Track 2-4. Money must be turned in by this date to receive a prize.

Give out Prizes to Track 2-4.

FRIDAY MONEY COLLECTION (LAST DAY)

March 27th

Track 2&4 Rock-n-Roll Party

April 2nd

Track 1 & 3 Rock-n-Roll Party

TBD - Ice Cream Party for top classes in each track.

GRAND PRIZES :

TOP PRIZE- Apple IPad Mini with $25 iTunes gift card

2nd Place- Apple iPod Touch with $25 iTunes gift card

3rd Place-  Dr. Dre Beats Solo On Ear Headphones

4th Place - Boombox We probably want to determine exactly which one this is. 

5th Place - Kindle Fire

Enter to win a 32” TV just by getting one donation!

****More prizes to be given out to top earners below this list including gift cards, passes to Interskate, passes to defy gravity.

1st Pledge - BRES Pencil and Entered to win 32” TV!!

$10 - BRES Pencil, Entry to win TV, BRES Color Changing Cup, Homework Pass 

$25 - BRES Pencil, BRES Color Changing Cup, Homework Pass, BRES Super Stylish Sunglasses

$50 - BRES Pencil, Entry to win TV, BRES Color Changing Cup, Homework Pass, BRES Super Stylish Sunglasses, BRES Cinch Backpack

$100 - BRES Pencil, Entry to win TV, BRES Color Changing Cup, Homework Pass, BRES Super Stylish Sunglasses, BRES Cinch Backpack, Rock-N-Roll swag bag.

$101 +- BRES Pencil, Entry to win TV, BRES Color Changing Cup, Homework Pass, BRES Super Stylish Sunglasses, BRES Cinch Backpack, Rock-N-Roll swag bag, Mystery Prize and VIP Dance Party pass.

Ice Cream Party for top earning class in each track!

Top Earning Teacher/Staff Member - $100 Gift Certificate to The Big Easy Restaurant

School Wide Goal - $20,000

We are hoping to raise money towards musical instruments (African drums and an auto harp), amongst other things.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Thank you for all you do every day!