PSE 101A Guide to PSE by Parents for Parents

MORNING CARPOOL• Remember your child has to get to school in time to

walk to class, put their things away and be in their seat before the bell rings (and maybe eat breakfast).

• At the entrance to the school, take turns letting cars in coming from both directions.

• The center lane is for buses only.• Don’t block the thruway.

Hint: Carpool can be very crowded on rainy days and the day after a long weekend or holiday.

AFTERNOON CARPOOL

• Some people pick up every day, but you can pick your child up from carpool anytime. Just write your teacher a note that day.

• Be patient and accommodate parents and staff leaving the school while lined up for carpool.

• Don’t block thruway openings. • Remember, we are a green school. Please turn your vehicle off

when you can.

Hint: If you are leaving the school at the end of the day, try to leave before the bell rings, it can be difficult to get out once

carpool has begun.

PSE TRAFFIC PLANUse this traffic pattern when dropping off or picking up at PSE for the following:

• Morning Carpool• Afternoon Carpool• Afterschool Activities

(jump rope team, chess club, Girls on the Run, etc.)

GETTING YOU IN AND OUT

• PSE is a busy place, with many volunteers and visitors each day! Everyone must first visit the office upon arriving on campus and everyone (including students and teachers) must be wearing a name badge.

• Push the button by the door to gain entry.• Have your license with you and follow the instructions

on the computer to print a visitor badge.• You must also check out in the office before you leave.

Hint: If you forget to stop in the office, you will be chased down and reminded!

OOPS… THEY MIGHT NEED THIS!

• Eventually your child will leave something at home that they will need at school that day.

• Take it to the main office, they will deliver it to your child’s classroom.

• Get it there as early as you can, it might take a little while for a volunteer to get it to them.

Hint: Put a sticky note on the item with your child’s name, teacher and grade!

SNACK TIME!

• The school sees this as an important part of your child’s day: refueling is essential for elementary age students. Not all schools allow snacks.

• Pack foods that give your child the best nutrition for being in the classroom and learning until they get home or get to lunch.

• Snack and water bottle should be packed separate from lunch.

Hint: Snack time is also work time, students read, listen to a book or catch up on work.

LUNCH TIME! EATING AT SCHOOL• If your child eats at school, print out the school lunch menu for the

month and let your child know what their choices are for that day. Look for a link in the Rocket Review at the beginning of the month.

• In order for their lunch to cost only $2.75, they MUST take a main item, one fruit, one veggie (can take two) and a milk.

• Any other combination of items is considered a la carte, they are priced separately and it is more expensive.

• PayPams is a wonderful parent tool, plus it follows your child on through other CMS schools.

• Kindergarteners can only have dessert on Fridays. Several families continue that rule past kindergarten.

Hint: You can see specific items your child has purchased for lunch on the PayPams website.

LUNCH TIME! PACKING LUNCHES

• Students are only in the cafeteria for 25 minutes.

• Students need to be independent during lunch and able to open as many items as possible.

• We are a green school, please try to include reusable containers; less paper and plastic.

• Lunch 101 DemoHint: Later in the year when your children get tired of the same lunch items from home, jump on the internet to find

new creative ideas that kids love!

LUNCH TIME FOR YOU AT PSE

• You are welcome to come eat lunch with your child at PSE. Bring your lunch from home or purchase lunch from the cafeteria and pay with your child’s PayPams account.

• Class lunch schedules are posted on our website.• Follow normal procedures for checking in at the

office then go to the cafeteria to meet your child.• No outside food is allowed.

Hint: Adults can purchase tea from the cafeteria to have with your lunch for $1.00.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT SCHOOL

• Order dessert from the cafeteria by filling out the form found in the office and downloadable on our website under “School Areas” then “Rocket Cafe” click on “Celebrate Your Birthday With Us”. Send the form in with your child or turn it in to the office.

• Come to school to eat with them. Older kids can go around passing out their birthday treat to friends in their class.

• You can also sign up to paint the rock in front of the school for their birthday. The cost is $10 and it is first come, first serve. The sign up notebook is in the office.

Hint: If your child’s birthday is over the summer, celebrate at school on the same day of a different month or celebrate their half

birthday.

CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS

• Each class is only allowed to have 4 parent volunteers during the celebration. Please do not put your teacher in an uncomfortable situation and show up for the celebration.

• Volunteering for a class celebration is fun, but you will be very busy the whole time, setting up then typically being at a station.

• PSE has a strict no candy policy for the entire school including lunches, snacks, classrooms, “treasure boxes” and celebrations. Please do not send candy to school for any reason including attached to Valentine cards.

Hint: If you have already worked one celebration, step back and let other parents have a turn unless no other parents are available

and they need you.

LOST SOMETHING?

• PSE has a Lost and Found located in the gym. Your child can go check it during the day or you can check it when you are on campus.

• LABEL EVERYTHING!! Lunchboxes, water bottles, coats, hats etc.

• If something is lost, first we look for a name on the item so it can be returned, if there is no name it gets put in Lost and Found.

Hint: Order personalized labels online that can easily be ironed into clothing

items.

NOTES TO TEACHERS• There are several occasions when you will need to send a

note to your child’s teacher. If they need to know the information, don’t rely on email, they may not check it in time.

• Examples: A change in afternoon transportation or if your child is being picked up during the day for an appointment.

• Always be sure to put the date on your note and sign it. Hint: Order or print your own personalized

note pad to use when writing notes to your teacher. Www.vistaprint.com is a good source for cheap printing.

PSE ACRONYMS AND LANGUAGE

TD – Talent DevelopmentTA – Teacher’s AssistantEC – Exceptional ChildrenESL – English as a Second LanguageASEP – After School Enrichment ProgramDOL – Daily Oral LanguageAR – Accelerated ReaderRR – Rocket Review

• Rocket Café – Cafeteria• Multipurpose Room – Gym• Learning Village/Learning

Cottages – Outdoor Classrooms• Blacktop – Bus Lot• Track – the whole area down by

the track• Language of Civility – Using

good manners when speaking to others

• Lobby Guard – Security System at PSE

WHAT IS PAIDEIA?Paideia comes from the ancient Greek word for “the upbringing of a

child.” Today, Paideia schools continue the classical ideal of an education that fosters critical and creative thinking skills, to prepare

students to lead full lives as citizens of a democracy.

• You will hear “Paideia” often at PSE. There are so many facets to this impressive program, it is important to learn what it all means by visiting www.paideia.org.

• Active Learning – Rather than just making students memorize information and recall it on tests, Paideia schools actively engage students by teaching them to think.

• Seminar – Teaching through open-ended questions which facilitates a collaborative, intellectual dialog about a text.Hint: PSE is a National Paideia School. This sets

us apart from other schools and it is one of the many reasons why we are so successful.

Be very proud of this!

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

• *Challenge Run (Fall and Spring) – Students are challenged to run as many laps around the track as they can in the amount of time allotted for their grade level. This is not a competition among students, everyone does their personal best. Kids have water and popsicles after, parents and siblings are invited.

• Book Fairs (Fall and Spring) – School fundraiser where several books and other items are sold in the media center. Parents and siblings are invited to come shop with their student’s class.

• Fall Family Night Dinner – Held in conjunction with the Fall Book Fair, all PSE families are invited to come have dinner at PSE (pizza) and shop at the Book Fair.

• Spring Ice Cream Social – Held in conjunction with the Spring Book Fair, all PSE families are invited to come have ice cream, watch the jump rope team and the percussion group perform plus, shop the Book Fair.

MORE EVENTS & HAPPENINGS• Rocket Art – Fall fundraiser featuring student artwork transferred onto

various gift items (key chains, pillowcases, notecards, necklaces etc.).

• Rocket Raffle – School wide fundraiser featuring creative items or experiences from each person on staff at PSE. Raffle tickets are sold for each item/experience, winners are chosen at random and announced at the end. This is a popular PSE tradition with both students and parents!

• *Gallery Walk – This special spring evening fundraiser, held at PSE includes all PSE students. We invite families to purchase their budding PSE artists' masterpieces with all proceeds supporting the art, music and PE programs and PSE.• Kid’s Night Out (KNO) – Evening fundraiser at PSE in the winter with movies and popcorn . Parents drop their PSE student off to watch a movie and eat popcorn with their friends. Grade levels are grouped together and age appropriate movies are shown.

EVEN MORE EVENTS & HAPPENINGS• Reflections - Annual NC PTA student art competition open to all students.

This year’s theme is, “The world would be a better place if…” and the art categories are: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. Entry into this competition is voluntary.

• Spring Carnival – This free Saturday morning event held on our track includes games, bounce houses, a bungee jump and food plus the very popular Teacher Pet Parade. All PSE families are welcome.

• Field Day – Each grade level spends a school day at the YMCA Hemby Rec. Center participating in outdoor games and activities.• *Celebration of Nations – This popular school wide event takes place on the blacktop and is the culmination of each class’ yearlong study of a specific country. Classes parade in costume and do a dance from their country. All PSE families are invited.

STILL MORE EVENTS & HAPPENINGS• Dinner Nights – Area restaurants host a night when they donate a

portion of your meal cost back to our school. Be sure to tell them you are with PSE! Check the Rocket Review for dates and restaurants.

• Spirit Week – Students are allowed to show their school spirit by wearing a designated item each day. For example: your favorite team jersey or shirt, a certain color (based on your grade), pajamas, and on Friday everyone wears PSE shirts and colors.

• Staff Appreciation Week – A week of honoring our staff with something each day. Parents are asked to help resupply the classroom one day (wipes, tissues, etc.) and to send in flowers on Friday. Your Room Parent will coordinate this.

SIBILINGS ARE A PART OF PSE TOO!There are many occasions when we welcome pre-school siblings at PSE. However, they are never allowed in the classrooms for any reason. Plan on bringing anyone in your family to the following PSE events:

• Celebration of Nations• Spring Carnival• Gallery Walk• Book Fair• Ice Cream Social• Family Night Dinner• Challenge Run• Lunch Daily

If you are not sure if you can bring a younger sibling to an event, meeting, etc. always ask. A quick call to the office or an email to a teacher is wiser than just bringing a sibling and hoping it is ok. If it is not, you will be asked to leave.

Hint: The more exposure kids have to PSE before they come here, the more comfortable they are when they arrive. Take advantage of the opportunities

available to bring siblings.

FUN STUFF AT SCHOOL!School Store – You can send in money with your student to make purchases at the School Store. Open each week Tuesday through Friday from 7:25 - 7:55 am located in front of the cafeteria.

Cafeteria Concerts – Held three times a year during lunch, students can sign up to perform (mostly singing and playing an instrument). Watch the Rocket Review for dates and sign up info.

Art Appreciation – Art lesson and activity taught once a month in each classroom by a parent volunteer.

Character Education – Lesson and activity taught one a month in each classroom by a parent volunteer. CMS focuses on a different trait each month including respect, responsibility, honesty, caring, justice and fairness, citizenship, courage, perseverance and hope.

Specials – Every day classes attend a special. They rotate through art, computers, media, music and PE (note that they are in alphabetical order).

Casual Fridays - Teachers are allowed to dress casually and many students wear their PSE shirts or colors.Hint: Put a calendar up and write what special they have each day.

Remind them to take library books on media days and wear sneakers on PE days.

INFORMATION IS EMPOWERING

• Read the Parent Handbook posted on the PSE website.• Read the Rocket Review. It comes out every other week.• Read all emails from teachers and from the school. *Be sure to

sign up to receive school emails through the PSE Listserv link on the PSE website.

• Become familiar with the PSE website and check it often for updates.

• Check your grade level and teacher wiki page often.

Hint: Have your student show you all of the safe, educational websites they can go to from the PSE page. Also, become familiar

with the website, www.commonsensemedia.org.

The best way to feel empowered is to stay informed throughout the year.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES1. PTA Volunteer Opportunities Handout2. School Volunteer Opportunities:

– Planning Days – One day per month when teachers from each grade level meet to plan or have in-service instruction. Parents sign up with the teacher to teach their student’s class for the full day or half of the day.

– Junior Achievement – One week of lessons through the JA programs that are grade specific.

– Grade Level Specific – Each grade level has various opportunities to help in the classroom.

Hint: Volunteer in the classroom while they are young, there are fewer opportunities as they get

older.

FEELING OVERWHELMED?PSE Parent Ambassadors

to the RESCUE!!

Sign up today or contact Elizabeth Campbell at

ecampbell26@carolina.rr.com to be matched with a PSE Parent Ambassador who will answer your questions and help

you all year!