Monday, March 2, 2020

March 2nd-6th

Underwood Families, 
It is hard to believe that we are already in March! Here are some updates and some information from our school to you. Please feel free to contact me or your child’s teacher if you have questions. 

First Friday (March 6) Theme:  Basketball Team Attire 
Our First Friday theme is Basketball Team Attire. If basketball is not your thing, feel free to wear team gear from another sport. 

Read Across Underwood on March 20th
“....to help motivate kids to read, bring the joys of reading to students of all ages, and make all children feel valued and welcome.”       (National Education Association) - More information to come from Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Trowell. 

Single Subject Acceleration 
Any student who is enrolled in Wake County Public School system during the SSA Test Request Window is eligible for testing. Double Single Subject Acceleration, being accelerated for the second time in the same content, is allowed. However, if a student is already receiving Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) instruction in one area, math OR ELA, that student cannot be tested in the other content area. If you would like for your student to take the assessment to see if they qualify for SSA complete this form Test Request Form and turn it into your classroom teacher by March 18th.  Testing would take place the week of March 23-27. Contact Jennifer Page (jpage5@wcpss.net) or Heather Callahan (hcallahan@wcpss.net) if you have additional questions. FAQ -- https://drive.google.com/a/wcpss.net/file/d/1AXhZdnAA4dtd-PTUmcKPip2gJ1qHKy-K/view?usp=sharing

PRIDE Monthly Focus 
This month we are focusing on I- Identifying Self Control. Here are some of the 
Common Sense Media Videos we will sharing with the students during our daily 
messages.  

Digital Safety: 
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/pause-think-online 
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/we-the-digital-citizens 
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/internet-traffic-light 

Recommended for viewing with your child (not being shared with the whole school) 
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/teen-voices-who-youre-talking-to-online
https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/teen-voices-who-are-you-on-social-media 

Carpool Safety Guidelines
 We are so fortunate to utilize our Safety Patrol for arrival and dismissal.  As a reminder, please respect the following to keep our student leaders safe:
  • Maintain a speed limit of 5 MPH or less
  • Remain in your car
  • All students exit and enter the car on the right hand side of the car
  • Refrain from using cellphones in the carpool line
School Improvement Plan 
Our school’s Vision -- At Underwood Gifted and Talented Elementary, we challenge each child to develop individual talents and to demonstrate academic, creative and social growth in order to become productive, responsible citizens. 

Some ways that we do this: variety of elective offerings, PRIDE behavior structures, emotional regulations through teacher choice of relationship building, safe places in learning spaces, and breathing strategies. 

Calendar of Events
March 3rd: Magnet Meet and Greet for Accepted Families 
March 3rd: Quarter 3 Interims go home / Promotion and Retention Letters go home 
March 4th: PTA Board Meeting at 9:30
March 4th: Pieces of Gold Performance at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
March 6th: First Friday: Basketball Team Attire 
March 6th: ACT Theater Performance 
March 9th: Teacher Workday 
March 10th: Leadership Meeting
March 18th: SSA Applications are due to school