MCES Family Updates
News from Principal Miller - April 1, 2024
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Thank you!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to track out! I want to extend a huge thank you for your generous donations to the MCES PTA! It is because of you and your donations, that our PTA has raised just over $40,000! As a reminder, today is the last day of the Mane Event fundraiser and nothing would would be more exciting to reach our $45,000 goal! As a reminder, $30,000 funds the PTA's general budget for the 2024-2025 school year and any funds raised after that go to enhance our school campus. Click to give here. Thank you for your support of the MCES PTA and school community!
Upcoming Events and Important Dates!
April 1-7 - Spirit Week at Crazy Glaze in Fuquay Varina
April 22 - Students return to school from Track Out
May 2 - COLTS Around the World Event - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
May 6-10- Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 23 - Transition to Middle School Parent workshop at 6:30 p.m.
May 24 - Dance Fest at 9:00 a.m. -Grades K-5th located on the K-2 Playground
May 27 - Memorial Day Holiday - No School for Students
May 30 - MCES Art Show 6:00-7:30 p.m.
June 6 - Kindergarten Orientation for future #KinderColts at 6:30 p.m.
The Positivity Project
Click the letter below to learn more about the Positivity Project.
Each week your child's classroom will learn more about the 24 Character Strengths highlighted through The Positivity Project.
Character Strengths for December
- April 22 - Reviewing COLTS expectations
- April 29 - Love of Learning
COLTS Around the World - PTA Event
Our COLTS Around the World Festival aims to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that make our school community so vibrant. The festival will showcase cultures and countries from around the world with table displays, games, crafts and performances. Table displays will be arranged by volunteer families from our school. These displays will feature information about the country or culture they represent, including but not limited to location/region, language, customs, foods, and traditions.
We would like to include as many of our families as possible in the Cultural Exhibits.To sign up to lead or create and exhibit table for a country or culture, please use this link:
Middle Creek Elementary School PTA: COLTS Around the World (signupgenius.com)
End of Grade Testing - (EOGs) - Please mark your calendar.
EOGs will begin on June 12th and end on June 25th.
June 12th - 3rd and 4th Grade Reading
June 13th - 3rd and 4th Grade Reading Make-Ups
June 14th - 3rd and 4th Grade Math
June 17th - 3rd and 4th Grade Math Make-Ups
June 18th - 5th Grade Reading
June 19th - No School
June 20th - 5th Grade Math/3rd Grade Read To Achieve Test for select students
June 21st - 5th Grade Science
June 24th - Make-Up Testing Day
June 25th -Make-Up Testing Day
June 27th - Remediation and Retesting for eligible students
June 28th - Remediation and Retesting for eligible students
Tissues and Disinfecting Wipes
Our specialists teachers are in need of classroom donations for tissues and disinfecting wipes. Please consider donating to our specialist classrooms. These classrooms include - music, art, PE, media, STEM, SEAL, intervention, and AIG.
Stable Hands - THANK YOU!
A HUGE thank you to our Stable Hand volunteers! Over the January track out, our Stable Hands volunteers helped with some large projects on campus! The volunteers removed over 20 original TVs (think box/tube TVs from 2000) and brackets from classrooms to clean up the classroom spaces. In addition, two volunteers gave the counselor's office, hallway, and principal office a fresh coat of paint. The Stable Hands also helped with removing old classroom materials and organized furniture for a pick-up to district storage. The Stable Hands were a huge help with these projects and we appreciate them!
If you are interested in volunteering in our "Stable Hands" program that serves to foster greater engagement with Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers and other male role models from our MCES families and community.
Goals of the program:
- Provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
- Serve as a resource and positive difference maker
- Cultivate partnerships with families and the school community
As a "Stable Hand" you can volunteer to:
- Assist during lunch times
- Read in classrooms
- Assist during arrival and dismissal
- Be a positive presence throughout the school
- Share passions and inspire a new generation
If you, or someone you know is interested in learning more about the program, please sign up HERE.
Please contact Josh Hewitt (jthewitt@gmail.com) with questions.
Volunteers - Important Update
We LOVE having volunteers at MCES helping in our classrooms and on field trips! In order to volunteer at the school and on field trips, all volunteers (even district staff) must be approved through WCPSS. Please read below for more information.
Please complete the WCPSS Volunteer Registration process at this link:
Get involved with the Middle Creek Elementary PTA!
Support our school and get involved by joining the PTA today! A portion of your contribution pays for state and national PTA dues. The remaining dues stay at Middle Creek Elementary to support our programs and students.
PTA programs only happen with volunteers like YOU! We have opportunities to fit every schedule and experience level. Commitments vary from one-time events to joining a committee or leading a program. Every bit helps. There is no wrong way to volunteer!
Click HERE to join the PTA, connect to the MCES PTA app (Middle Creek Elementary), or contact Emily Penny, MCS PTA President (mcespresident@gmail.com).
Carpool Safety Reminder
Cars should not drive around cars within the carpool line that are unloading children. Please wait until all cars pull forward to exit the carpool line/school.
If you have a child that needs assistance please pull past the bike rack to assist them once he/she is in the car. Thank you for your cooperation!
A Reminder about Front Door Entry Procedures
As you come on campus as a visitor or to check in/out your child, please remember the following procedures. Ring the buzzer & stand in front of the camera. An office staff member will ask you the purpose of your visit. You will need to state the purpose of your visit and have a photo ID available. Once you're buzzed in, come directly to the front office. Only the members of your party should enter the school. Please do not hold the door open behind you for people not in your party. You will need to make sure that you have a valid form of ID to use our visitor management system to sign in as a visitor or check in/out your child. You will be asked for identification & have your picture taken during this process. Thank you for your help in this process.
Here Comes the Bus
Here Comes the Bus translates GPS data into an easy to use customizable map that works on a computer, tablet or smartphone. The app allows you to see where the bus is and how close it is to your stop.
Get started with Here Comes the Bus at https://herecomesthebus.com/parents/get-started/. You will need the district code and your student’s ID number to sign up. For your smartphone or tablet, download the Here Comes the Bus app from the App Store or Google Play.
The WCPSS school code for Yellow Bus is 67500. The WCPSS school code for Vendor Transportation Services is 67501. Learn more about Here Comes the Bus for Vendor Transportation Services.
When entering your student’s last name on the app, spell it as it appears on your Home Base/PowerSchool account. If there is a hyphen in the name, make sure you include it. Only enter the first 18 characters of your student’s last name. If your name is, Yellow-School Bus Wake, you will enter Yellow-School Bus in the last name field.
Once activated, you can customize or edit features, including how the app will communicate with you and the size of the notification radius.
Returning to School Following an Illness
All information shared below can also be found at: https://www.wcpss.net/WhenToReturn
Pre-Pay for School Meals Online - Check out the MCES APP for ease!
PRE-PAY FOR MEALS ONLINE
With a MySchool Bucks account paying for school meals is easy. Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com or call (855) 832-5226 to enroll. You'll need your child's NCWISE ID number, available in your registration materials or at your school. Once your account is established you may:
- Securely deposit funds to your child's account
- Check balance
- Set spending limits
For families needing assistance, please use this link to apply for free or reduced meal options for your family. Please do this before July 1, so the application can be processed before school begins. Applications are also available in the front office.
The cost of the meals will be:
Breakfast - $1.50
Lunch - $3.25
BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENU WITH MEAL-VIEWER
Monthly breakfast and lunch menu PDFs will no longer be posted on our district website.
Menus will now be available on our interactive website, MealViewer.
On the MealViewer website, families can:
- Set up multiple profiles at the schools of your choice
- See any menu changes posted by the manager at each site
- Choose menu items based on allergens
- View nutrients for each menu item
- Add nutrients for meals eaten, even partial meals
- Submit ratings on your favorite items
- Print menus
Resources For Families
The Student Services Team (SST) is looking to support our students and families in removing barriers to student learning and academic success. Some of these needs may include mental health and/or emotional, medical, social, or other basic life needs. Our goal is to connect you with appropriate community resources for assistance. Please contact the school at (919) 773-9555 if you have any questions or need more information. Please ask to speak with Lis Fillard or Thelma Cherry.
WCPSS and MCES Technology Policy
The purpose of this section is to provide updated information to families about the use of personal devices which aligns with district policy - smartwatches, cell phones, etc. on school grounds. Board Policy 3225 Technology Responsible Use states:
Students are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct and the applicable “Rules for Use of Technology Resources” set forth in this policy when students use a personal device on school property, at school-sponsored events, on school-based transportation, or anytime a personal device is connected to school system technology resources. As an example, students using a personal device on school property, at school-sponsored events, on school-based transportation, or when the device is connected to school system technology resources, shall not engage in creating, intentionally viewing, accessing, downloading, storing, printing or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages or other material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, or abusive.
Recently, more and more students are wearing Smartwatches or similar items to school. Smartwatches are allowed only if put on Airplane mode in order to disable text messages and phone calls from being received by the watch/device. The watch is considered a cell phone UNLESS airplane mode is activated. Cellphones should also be in Airplane mode unless being used as a device to support classroom learning.
The school system assumes no responsibility for personal technology devices brought to school.
At MCES, if a smartwatch or phone is a distraction and a teacher/staff member has to ask for the device to be put away more than once, the device is collected and stored in the office for an adult family member to pick up. Cell phones should be stored in student back packs during the school day.
Has Your Phone Number/Email Changed?
Please email Roxanne Carter, Data Manager, rcarter@wcpss.net if your email address(es) or phone number(s) have changed. We rely on the information in PowerSchool to contact you for emergency situations and to send you school messages.
Contact Us At
Email: cmiller6@wcpss.net
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/middlecreekes
Location: 110 Middle Creek Park Avenue, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: 919-773-9555
Facebook: facebook.com/MiddleCreekElementaryPTA
Twitter: @middlecreekes