Hello Parkwood Families,

This is your Principal, Ms. Fearrington with your weekly message.  We have completed another great week at Parkwood and our Panthers are getting into their routines and working hard in class.  Here are some reminders and important information as we head into the next week:

Parent/Teacher Conferences: 

All of our Parkwood teachers will begin to reach out for parent/teacher conferences soon.  These conferences will be held between October 17^th through November 18^th.  If you have already met with your child’s teacher, that is great and continue to communicate to ensure you know your child’s progress as we near report card time.

Early Release Day & Early Pick-up:

October 24th is an early release day.  Dismissal will begin at 12:15pm, so please follow the dismissal procedure as stated above.  All students will need to be picked up by 12:45pm.  All dismissal changes need to be made prior to 11am.  Early pick-up will end at 11:45am.  Please remember that early pick-up during the normal school day ends at 1:45pm.  We will not be able to call students to the office after that time for dismissal.

Teacher Workday:

Monday, October 31st is a teacher workday for all traditional calendar DPS schools.  Students will not attend school on that Monday.  Please refer to the district school calendar provided and linked here for important dates.

DPS New Strategic Plan:

As we celebrate the successful conclusion of DPS’s current strategic plan, we are excited to launch a new strategic planning process. Over the next nine months, DPS is partnering with RTI International’s Center for Education Services to facilitate a community driven process for creating a strategic plan that reflects the needs and goals of our students, families, and community.

With that in mind, the strategic planning team is seeking the participation of students, staff, parents/guardians, and other community members in an online questionnaire around what’s next for our schools and district. Please take 3-5 minutes to complete this brief, anonymous questionnaire to provide your insight on the district’s future direction and priorities. 

Your voice will be instrumental in establishing this new direction for our district. All feedback, ideas, and suggestions are welcome. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

Report Cards:  The first quarter ends on October 28^th and report cards will be available on November 2^nd for all families through parent portal.  If you do not yet have a parent portal account or cannot access your account, please reach out to Ms. Joann Brosh, our data manager at joann_brosh@dpsnc.net and/or Ms. Jacqueline Boone, our school secretary at Jacqueline_campbell@dpsnc.net, to assist with creating or accessing your account.  Please request a paper copy through your child’s teacher if you cannot access your parent portal.  It is imperative that you gain access to your account immediately to receive future progress reports and report cards that will be available on November 2nd.

Breakfast & Lunch:  I want to remind all of our parents that this year breakfast remains free at all DPS schools.  However, lunch is no longer free and child nutrition will be sending balances to families this month for the beginning of the year.  Lunch is currently $3.75 daily and if you do not have money on your child’s account, that balance has accumulated.  If you need assistance with lunch this school year, please fill out this link or request a form from the front office.  Ms. Jacqueline Boone, our school secretary, will be happy to assist you.

COVID Protocols and Information:

As we move into the cold and flu season, we are seeing more students with symptoms.  If your child has a fever and is showing signs or symptoms that are COVID-19 related it is important to keep your child at home to ensure they receive rest and are symptom free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.  If your child has symptoms, please get your child tested to ensure they are not positive for COVID-19. 

Arrival & Dismissal:

There have been some concerns brought to my attention by staff and parents regarding the carpool line during arrival and dismissal.  All students in both carpool lines are to be dropped off at the specified location where staff are available to guide them to the school building.  Please do not drop off students in the parking lot.  This is dangerous and can lead to an accident.  We want to ensure all of our students are safe at all times.  During dismissal, it is important to remain patient as we are calling students and placing them in their cars.  I specifically want to address the lower lot due to the merging lane that has been made by the cones.  As a staff, we cannot place someone to assist where the two lanes naturally come into one.  We have placed the cones as a natural merge to ensure traffic flows smoothly into the front of the school.  Both lanes can be used but it requires everyone taking turns merging into the lane efficiently.  There are days when the traffic is heavier and this is when we see the concerns occur where cars are not allowing other cars to merge into the line.  Please be patient and courteous!  We know everyone is trying to pick up their child and most likely has other places to be.  Thank you for your assistance, patience and flexibility!

Tardies & Attendance:

As an early start school, we know as the temperature begins to drop and students are waking up while it is still dark, it gets harder to get to school on time.  Please have your student at school by the instructional bell at 7:45am.  It is very important that students are in their classrooms and ready for instruction at the beginning of the day.  This sets the tone for the day and creates an environment for academic success.  All students that arrive after 7:45am, are tardy, and will need to report to the main lobby to give their name to the front office.  Please do not drop students off at the top lot after 7:45am.  The black gate to the E building will be closed and students will have to walk down the sidewalk to enter into the main building.  Please bring your student to the front of the school after 7:45am.  All students in both carpool lines are to be dropped off at the specified location where staff are available to guide them to the school building.  Please do not drop off students in the parking lot.  This is dangerous and can lead to an accident.  We want to ensure all of our students are safe at all times.  Dismissal procedures begin at 2:15pm and end at 2:45pm.  Please make sure you have your student picked up by that time.

There are many ways to stay connected to our community.  Please follow Parkwood Elementary on our Facebook page and website.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or need assistance!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and as always Parkwood Panthers…Show PRIDE!