Hawks Happenings

October is such a special time. I love when the weather cools down and pumpkins start to decorate every porch! This month we will dig deeper into grade level curriculum, host parent conferences, have our first PTO fundraiser, support Eblen Charities and celebrate Hispanic Heritage month! We will be very busy this month! Please note the safety information listed below. Also note that we are starting to prepare for winter weather. A form will be sent home for you to record how your child goes home if we have a early dismissal due to inclement weather. Please complete this form and send it back to your child's teacher ASAP.

I'm looking forward to a great month of growing, learning and succeeding here at NBES!

-Mrs. Allison

• PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR ID IF YOU ARE CHECKING YOUR CHILD IN TARDY OR CHECKING YOUR CHILD OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY.
• On Thursday, October 19th, we will hold our Evacuation Drill. This drill is similar to a fire drill but we line up in a different area and further away from the building.

• Each classroom teacher will work with students to create some exciting goals for their classroom collection.
• Students are encouraged to participate but this is completely optional!
• Please remember that Halloween costumes should be saved for events outside of school unless they align with announced school dress up days. (Note that in late February/early March we will have a Book Character Parade Day - you may want to save costumes for this event).

What happens when we must close our buildings to students due to inclement weather?

• If a weather event is truly severe and impacts power or the internet in our area, the day would be a ‘no school’ day where no instruction would occur.
• For significant but less severe weather events, we are able to utilize a certain number of remote learning days that will count toward our state-mandated instruction per year. This means we will not have to make up those days later in the school year.

Remote learning (beginning at 10 a.m.) would be asynchronous on the first day of the weather event and synchronous on all subsequent days of that weather event. Any work assigned must be made up within five days.*

• Asynchronous means that the teacher will assign tasks that will be completed online, but there will be no live teaching.
• Synchronous means that there will be a blend of live virtual instruction and independent work.
• Should an isolated area of the county be severely impacted by a storm or your family has extenuating circumstances, please work with your school and teacher to make up the work.
• If we expect a weather event, we’ll ask all students to take their school-issued device home with them.

What happens during a delayed start?

Should a minor weather event cause us to delay starting school for students, you will receive more specific instructions that day to let you know when to drop your child off or have them at the bus stop.

• The bus schedule and campus opening adjust to match the time delay.
• For example if we are on a two hour delay, bus pick up times are two hours later and the building opens at 9:15 for student drop off.
• Breakfast is served on a two hour delay but not on a three hour delay.

What happens during an early dismissal?

Should we have to send students home early due to a weather event, students will eat lunch before they leave. The district will let families know when they can begin picking up students or expect them on the bus. We’ll also include information for after-school activities and athletics. If a parent is delayed in picking up their child from school, the child will be safe and supervised until the parent arrives.

Please note that it is our policy that if weather is impacting more than two districts, the schedule change will impact ALL BCS Schools.

We want to remind you of the various ways you can receive weather and emergency notifications.

• The fastest way to receive notifications is through the Buncombe County Schools app for your smartphone or tablet. Simply download the app and turn on push notifications. Visit buncombeschools.org/app to download the app for iOS or Android.
• Please follow Buncombe County Schools on social media. (@BuncombeSchools)
• Also, our local TV stations post the most up-to-date closings and delays on-air and online via their weather ticker.
• Please ensure your phone number and email address are correct. This information should be verified each school year. You can check that in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Finally, if you don’t have internet access, you can call our weather hotlines for updates: 828-255-5939 (English) or 828-255-5948 (Spanish).

Please log on to buncombeschools.org/notifications to learn more about the ways you can stay informed during severe weather or emergency situations! We also maintain a list of inclement weather daycare providers in our area.

Be on the lookout for information coming home about our Fall fundraiser - the PTO Glow Dance-a-Thon! The kickoff will be held on Monday, October 16th and the Dance-a-Thon will be held on Friday, November 3rd!

📣Make sure to complete your Volunteer Application so you can volunteer with special events such as field trips! Remember that the school asks that the Level 2 application is completed even if you are not officially chaperoning a field trip but you are shadowing the group. Follow this link to complete the application: https://www.buncombeschools.org/o/bcs/page/volunteering

📣Contact us at nbespto@gmail.com or on Facebook: North Buncombe Elementary PTO if you would like to help, have questions or are interested in joining our GroupMe chat to stay even more involved.

📣Sign up for Ingles Tools for schools and help our school earn funds while you shop - our school code is 10787: https://www.ingles-markets.com/tools-for-schools-link

NBES welcomes volunteers! There are many ways for individuals to volunteer at our school. All volunteers must fill out an online volunteer application and be on the approved volunteer list before volunteering. Potential volunteers may go ahead and start on this process by following the link below. Thank you in advance for your support!

Level 1 Volunteers - General volunteer - never supervising students.

Level 2 Volunteers - Volunteer who supervises/gives directions to students or serves in a leadership role (such as PTO board). This level requires a background check (conducted by Buncombe County Schools).

https://www.buncombeschools.org/o/bcs/page/volunteering

To attend a field trip, volunteers must have Level 2 status!

Link your Advantage Card to NBES to help support our school each time you shop! Remember to sign up EACH year!

https://www.ingles-markets.com/tools-for-schools-link

ALL parents and visitors to campus must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor sticker (or a volunteer pass if applicable). Please note that you must sign in even if you are only visiting the cafeteria. Your cooperation in helping us to follow Central Office policy and ensuring the safety of all children is expected and appreciated.

If you have an appointment or scheduled time to be at school in the morning, and wish to walk in with your child, please still plan to follow the established procedure of coming to the office, signing the visitor registry, and obtaining a visitor tag.

Visitors will only be allowed to visit a classroom (during instructional time) if the visitor has scheduled the visit with the teacher beforehand or if the visitor is a scheduled volunteer.

Parents are invited to eat with their child in the cafeteria; however, as a courtesy to other students, we ask that you do not bring outside food such as fast food and/or sodas into the school cafeteria. Parents should arrive at school in time to get a visitor’s pass and report to the lunchroom hallway five minutes before the scheduled lunch time. Please always let the teacher know ahead of time if you plan to eat with your child.

Parents are welcome to join their child during lunch AFTER September 15th. This gives our school time to teach the procedures and expectations of cafeteria behavior to our students. Special holiday meal lunches will be scheduled for specific grade levels throughout the school year. Parents of identified grade levels will be invited to attend these lunches.

The daily lunch menu will be read during morning announcements. Occasionally there will be a menu change due to late deliveries or snow days. You can find links to BCS menus here: https://www.buncombeschools.org/page/menus-and-pricing

Should you desire to bring in a special snack for your child’s birthday or another event, please coordinate this with your child’s teacher so as not to conflict with our lunchroom policies. In addition, any food brought into the school to be shared with students must be store bought with ingredients listed. Please allow school staff to distribute snacks due to their knowledge and understanding of students’ allergies and dietary needs. Our school also encourages healthy snacks and choices.

October:

Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 - October 15

10 - PTO Meeting @ 12:45 PM in Room K04 (please sign into the front office first)

12 - School Improvement Team Meeting at 3PM in the Media Center

13 - Kindergarten field trip (remaining classes)

16 - PTO Dance-a-Thon Glow Party Kickoff in the PM (PTO School Fundraiser)

19 - Evacuation Drill in the PM (similar to a fire drill)

20 - Second Grade field trip to Cherokee

23 - 27 - Eblen Charities Spirit Week

24 - Second Grade visits NBHS Agriculture Day

24 - BCS District Advisory Council at 6 PM at Erwin High

27 - Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

31 - Early Dismissal - School will dismiss at 12:25

31 - End of the Grading Period

November:

3 - PTO Dance-a-Thon Glow Party!

8 - Music in the Schools Program - 9 AM

9 - Fourth Grade Field Trip to Raleigh

10 - No School - Veterans Day (Observed)

13 - Report Cards sent home!

14 - PTO Meeting @ 12:45 PM in Room K04 (please sign into the front office first)

17 - Makeup Picture Day

21 - Career Day

22 - 24 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday Break

December:

8 - Staff Holiday Luncheon - Volunteers Needed!

12 - PTO Meeting @ 12:45 PM in Room K04 (please sign into the front office first)

December 20 - January 2 - No School

January:

3 - Welcome Back to School!

Growing, Learning, Succeeding at NBES!

Email: heidi.allison@bcsemail.org
Website: https://nbes.buncombeschools.org/o/nbe
Location: 251 Flat Creek Church Road, Weaverville, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 645-6054
Facebook: facebook.com/www.facebook.comNBuncombeES

Instagram: @northbuncombees

Twitter: @NorthBuncombeES