NewsFlash | School Psychology Week, holiday giving and yearbook covers + dancing on Thursday

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

If you missed out on Science Go Round, be sure to check out the pictures on Twitter! Those JYJ teachers are seriously brave. A great big thank you to Science Go Round committee chair Katie Cavillo and to all the volunteers and presenters who made it such a great day!

 

Small steps change lives

During this week, schools throughout the country will celebrate National School Psychology Awareness Week to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students do their best. We share our school psychologist, Ms. Nasto, with another WCPSS school — she is at Joyner working closely with our counselors, social worker and staff for two and a half days a week. Following this year’s theme that “Small Steps Change Lives,” the PTA blog offers several ways families can help children make positive changes in small increments. 

Bring cheer for families in need

The holidays are nearing and Joyner has several options for giving back during this time. Once again, JYJ will have the snowman tree to help out our families in need of assistance during the holidays. If you would like to help by donating gifts, please take a number off the snowman tree located in the front office starting Monday morning (Nov. 21). We have more families needing assistance this year, so there are more numbers on the tree — just take a number, fill out the bottom portion and return it to our school counselors (Andrea Burston and Beth Vincent) or Elizabeth Ferriter in the front office. They will use this info to keep track of returned gifts. Please return all wrapped gifts (in a bag please) with the tag number attached by Monday, Dec. 5.

We are also collecting new socks to donate to Note in the Pocket, which provides clothing to children in need enrolled in WCPSS schools, as well as travel-size toiletries (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc for men and women) to donate to Interact of Wake County. Look for collection bins at the school’s front entrance. Thank you for all of your support, if you have questions please contact Andrea Burston.

 

Design the next JYJ yearbook cover

All students are invited to submit an entry for the JYJ yearbook cover contest! Design a creative cover with a Joyner theme using markers, crayons or colored pencils on an 8.5×11″ page in portrait orientation. Turn in entries to your classroom teacher or the front office by Wednesday, Nov. 30. Teachers and staff will vote on the submissions, and winners will be announced on the WJYJ news in mid-December.

 

Spaces left for Study Buddies

Looking for a small way to make a big difference at Joyner? We still have 20 slots open for study buddy volunteers. Available times include the 20 minutes right before pick up — come read with a student, then pick up your kids without having to get in the carpool line! Contact Kate Parke at kparke24@gmail.com for more information.

 

You shared, we’re listening

Thanks to everyone who participated in the PTA School of Excellence Parent Survey! We had a great response rate and want to share the feedback and next steps with all of you.

More than 90% of respondents answered ‘Always’ or ‘Frequently’ to these three questions, making them some successes we can celebrate:

  • Our school and PTA communicate with families in multiple ways.
  • Families feel encouraged to volunteer.
  • Families feel they are treated fairly regardless of age, gender, race or cultural background.

More than 40% of respondents answered ‘Sometimes’ or ‘Never’ to these questions, so we’ll be looking closer here for ways to improve:

  • Families feel they are collaborative partners that share in the decision making for areas such as policy, curricula, budget, school reform, safety, and personnel.
  • Families feel they have input in the development of our school improvement plan.
  • Our school includes students in parent-teacher conferences as active participants in discussions of expectations and work quality.

We will submit the full survey results to the National PTA this month. They will review it and send us a Roadmap to Excellence, which will contain recommendations specific to Joyner. We’ll use those recommendations to make changes that strengthen our family-school partnership through the school year. We have a lot to be proud about as a community, and we’re excited to do even more in the future — stay tuned!

 

Volunteer signup ready for the Book Fair

Get your holiday shopping done and help out the PTA at the same time! The Joyner Book Fair is coming to the media center the week of Dec. 5. See the signup in MemberHub to pick a 1-hour shift (or two or three) and help make the Book Fair a success: https://memberhub.com/HSR6192I4713.

 

Get your dancing shoes ready!

Here’s your checklist for the second annual J.Y. Joyner Foundation Dance-a-Thon this Thursday (that’s TOMORROW) from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

1. Everyone over 4 needs a wristband to enter. LAST CHANCE FOR ADVANCE SALES is this morning in the lobby (wristbands $3 or Family Pack $20). After that, wristbands will be available at the door for $5 and bonus tickets for $1 each. Your kids can exchange bonus tickets for water, sweets, DJ shout-outs and glow swag.

2. This is NOT a drop-off party. All children must have an adult responsible for them.

3. Do parents dance? Totally. Plus: look for the Dads Dance-Off sometime around 6:15. Last year it was a crowd favorite. Dads, limber up!!

4. Have dinner at the Dance-A-Thon! Please RSVP on FB so the Food Trucks can be prepared, and check out their menus here: https://www.facebook.com/events/144541742682269/

5. REMEMBER TO BRING CASH! Small bills if possible. Raffle tickets, entry wristbands, bonus tickets, and most food trucks are cash-only.

6. The evening looks clear and cool. Bundle up, then keep warm on the dance floor!

7. Entry is via the carpool driveway on Noble Road. The back path by the gym will NOT be lighted, and playgrounds are off-limits.

8. Is this a fundraiser? Yes, sponsored by the Joyner Foundation. Last year, the Dance-A-Thon combined with the Spring Gala funded an entire teacher position. Pledges are tax-deductible and still can be made online. Share the link with aunts, uncles, grandparents, anyone who would like to help support your child’s education. All funds go back into our school.

Questions? Email Kate Whitney kwaves16@hotmail.com or Anne Elizabeth Harrell anne.harrell@gmail.com.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Nov. 1-16: JYJ Foundation Dance-A-Thon wristbands and raffle tickets for sale in the lobby; collect Dance-a-Thon pledges (PayPal option: http://joynerfoundation.org/#)
  • Nov. 15: Dance video entries (20 seconds max.) due by NOON to kparke24@gmail.com
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (food trucks will start serving at 5 p.m.)
  • Nov. 30: Yearbook cover designs due
  • Dec. 2: Early release
  • Dec. 5-9: JYJ Book Fair
  • Dec. 5-9: Hour of Code

Small Steps Change Lives

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Thanks to our school counselor, Erin Nasto, for the following post.

During this week (Nov. 14–18, 2016), schools throughout the country will celebrate National School Psychology Awareness Week to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students do their best. Our school psychologist is Mrs. Nasto. We share her with another WCPSS school and she is here working closely with our counselors, social worker and staff for two and a half days a week. This year’s theme is “Small Steps Change Lives.”

There are many ways families can help children make positive changes in small increments. As parents and caregivers, you can:

  1. Praise attempts, as well as success, and make sure that you focus on the effort or hard work put into the success.
  2. Emphasize that learning and growing requires trying new things and that success comes from small steps to a long-term goal.
  3. Help your child internalize a sense that they can achieve by reinforcing the skills already developed and encouraging them to try new challenges.
  4. Create an environment at home that allows your child to explore building (playing with blocks, helping with projects, and more), drawing (crayons, finger paints, paper), and music (on the radio, with children’s instruments, or through formal training through school or community resources). This may help to identify special interests.
  5. Emphasize the importance of deliberate practice of a new or old skill for further development, and that talent is developed over time through skillful practice.
  6. Help your child work through setbacks, or lack of self-confidence, by helping to identify negative thoughts that may suggest concerns about his or her ability to be successful. As a parent, you can help children see what the small steps are and how persisting and overcoming obstacles is a part of succeeding. Help your child realize that setbacks are not permanent or all-encompassing.
  7. Demonstrate, through your own behaviors, how to identify and achieve long-term goals by thinking aloud, creating a pathway of short-term goals, and using problem solving and decision making skills along the way.
  8. Encourage your child to participate in community activities that may help them to develop positive behaviors, such as being grateful. In particular, volunteer activities may encourage the development of positive behaviors. Consider participating in community events yourself as role model.

NewsFlash | Study Buddies meet today, Science Go Round tomorrow, holiday on Friday

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Study Buddies information session

Please join us in the library THIS MORNING (Nov. 9) from 8-8:30 a.m. to learn more about the Study Buddies program beginning at Joyner. The program will pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — no prior teaching experience necessary. For more information, contact Kate Parke kparke24@gmail.com.

 

No Fuss Fundraiser comes close to goal

Many, many, many thanks to all of you who contributed to the PTA’s annual No-Fuss Fundraiser this fall! With your help, we raised $22,517.56 (plus $500 outstanding from corporate matches) — so just about $2,000 shy of our goal. Through the great efforts of our Jagwear team, the clothing sales earned more than expected, so we’re hopeful not to have to cut funding to any PTA programs despite not quite reaching our No-Fuss goals. Thank you again for your continued support of the Joyner PTA in so many important ways.

Sounds of science drops this Thursday!

The Science Go Round Committee still needs a few more volunteers to help during our spectacular science event on Thursday, Nov. 10 — sign up to assist in a classroom or bring a cart/dolly to help move materials. JYJ’s annual Science Go Round is a fun-filled day when scientists and parents give hands-on demonstrations to our students, connecting science application with the real world. Contact Katie Calvillo at 919-272-3225 or Katie@calvillo.com.

 

Design the next JYJ yearbook cover

All students are invited to submit an entry for the JYJ yearbook cover contest! Design a creative cover with a Joyner theme using markers, crayons or colored pencils on an 8.5×11″ page in portrait orientation. Turn in entries to your classroom teacher or the front office by Wednesday, Nov. 30. Teachers and staff will vote on the submissions, and winners will be announced on the WJYJ news in mid-December.

 

Last week to pre-pay for the Dance-a-Thon

It’s just over a week before The J.Y. Joyner Foundation cranks up the disco balls and cracks the glow sticks! Here’s how to get ready:

  1. Buy your wristbands and raffle tix. Advance wristband sales and raffle ticket sales continue in the front lobby through Nov. 16. Everyone ages 5 and up must have a wristband to enter. Wristbands are $3 in advance, $5 at the door, or reserve your Advance Family Pack for $20. Also, don’t forget to enter the raffles for amazing music-related prizes ($1/raffle ticket) or a carpool pass ($10/raffle ticket)! Check out the prizes in the front lobby.
  2. RSVP on the Facebook event by clicking here to let the food trucks know how many people to expect.
  3. Please get your pledges in by Nov. 15 on the orange pledge form or the SUPER easy PayPal link on the JYJ Foundation website. The class with the most sponsorships gets its own DJ Shout Out!
  4. If your child wants to make a dance video (20 seconds or less) that will be shown on the big screen Nov. 17, get on it! Videos are due to kparke24@gmail.comby NOON on Nov. 15.
  5. Just shimmy on over Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the JYJ overhang — food trucks will start serving at 5:00. We’ll see you on the dance floor!

Questions? Email Kate Whitney or Anne Elizabeth Harrell.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Nov. 9: Study Buddies meeting, 8-8:30 a.m., media center
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 10: Picture make-up day
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 1-15: JYJ Foundation Dance-A-Thon wristbands and raffle tickets for sale in the lobby; collect Dance-a-Thon pledges (PayPal option: http://joynerfoundation.org/#)
  • Nov. 15: Dance video entries (20 seconds max.) due by NOON to kparke24@gmail.com
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 30: Yearbook cover designs due
  • Dec. 2: Early release
  • Dec. 5-9: JYJ Book Fair
  • Dec. 5-9: Hour of Code

NewsFlash | Science by day, dancing by night plus elections next Tuesday

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Volunteer to help make Science Go Round

The Science Go Round Committee is looking for volunteers to help during our daylong science event on Thursday, Nov. 10 — sign up to greet presenters, assist in a classroom or just bring bagels. JYJ’s annual Science Go Round is a fun-filled day when scientists and parents give hands-on demonstrations to our students, connecting science application with the real world. Know someone who might be interested in sharing their science expertise with children in a hands-on way? Contact Katie Calvillo at 919-272-3225 or Katie@calvillo.com. Want to volunteer to help out? See the signup at https://memberhub.com/HSR6192I4512.

 

Look for lost items

Missing a jacket or lunch box lately? Be sure to check out the JYJ lost and found this week to see what treasures your kids have left behind. Everything left after Friday, Nov. 4, will be washed and donated to Note in the Pocket.

 

Check your Jagwear

Any changes to Jagwear orders must be completed by this Thursday, Nov. 3. After Thursday, no new Jagwear will be available until the 2017-18 school year, so act fast! Contact Ameshia at aturlington@att.net.

 

Did you know it’s election season?

Unless you’ve been living under a very isolated, sound-proof rock, you obviously know that election day is next Tuesday, Nov. 8. Did you also know that all ALL seats on the Wake County Board of Education are on the ballot? Be sure to read up about your candidates and turn the ballot over to see your school board nominee on the back of the ballot.

Also, don’t forget that Wake County public schools (including Joyner) will open on a 2-hour delay next Tuesday to accommodate voting.

 

Design the next JYJ yearbook cover

All students are invited to submit an entry for the JYJ yearbook cover contest! Design a creative cover with a Joyner theme using markers, crayons or colored pencils on an 8.5×11″ page in portrait orientation. Turn in entries to your classroom teacher or the front office by Wednesday, Nov. 30. Teachers and staff will vote on the submissions, and winners will be announced on the WJYJ news in mid-December.

 

Study Buddies information session

Please join us in the library next Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 8-8:30 a.m. to learn more about the Study Buddies program beginning at Joyner. The program will pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — no prior teaching experience necessary. For more information, contact Kate Parke kparke24@gmail.com.

So you think you can dance?

Grab your dancing shoes and join The J.Y. Joyner Foundation on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for the second annual Dance-A-Thon! Bunn DJ Company will spin tunes under the overhang while Broughton’s Dance Team shows off their moves. Add in disco balls, glow sticks, awesome raffle prizes, food trucks—and, yes, dancing dads—and it’s a night to remember! The best news of all? The Dance-A-Thon raises money to keep our school strong. So get sponsored by friends and family! You can collect cash or checks using the orange pledge sheets from Wednesday Folders, or share the link for PayPal donations at the Joyner Foundation website: http://joynerfoundation.org/#.

Use the neon green order forms to reserve wristbands for Nov.17 for the whole family! Wristbands are required for everyone age 5 and up, so get yours in advance ($3 each or $20 for an Advance Family Pack, including 4 wristbands and 10 bonus tickets redeemable for water, glow sticks, snacks, etc.) or the night of ($5 each). The Foundation will be selling wristbands AND raffle tickets in the lobby NOW through Nov. 15.

KIDS: Make your own kid-appropriate dance video (20 seconds maximum) and email it to kparke24@gmail.com. The Foundation will show as many as possible on the Joyner News and then reveal them all on the big screen Nov. 17!

 

Parenting in the age of social media

If that headline made your stomach clench, then consider attending a discussion on “Social Media and the Middle School Student: A Primer for Parents” on Nov. 2 (today) at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Daniels Middle School. Speaker Natalie Riche, outreach specialist from the NC Department of Justice, will cover everything from gaming apps to social networking apps to hiding apps to the dynamics of texting. Families from Daniels, Carroll and Martin middle schools as well as rising 6th grade families are invited to attend. Please fill out this quick anonymous RSVP survey to help make this opportunity enriching for all families that attend.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Nov. 1-15: JYJ Foundation Dance-A-Thon wristbands and raffle tickets for sale in the lobby; collect Dance-a-Thon pledges (PayPal option: http://joynerfoundation.org/#)
  • Nov. 3: PTA executive committee meeting, 7 p.m. (conference call)
  • Nov. 10: WCPSS Magnet Fair, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Southeast Raleigh High School
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 15: Dance video entries (20 seconds max.) due by NOON to kparke24@gmail.com
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

NewsFlash | Science Go Round, Dance-a-Thon and much more ahead

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

A HUGE thank you to committee co-chairs Melanie Jones and Juli Openshaw and to all the volunteers who helped make the Jamboree such a smashing success! With a little cooperation from the weather, we had a great night celebrating together as a Joyner family. Hope that your airbrush tattoos are still going strong!

 

Help find presenters for Science Go Round

The Science Go Round Committee is looking for volunteers to present to Joyner students at our daylong science event on Thursday, Nov. 10. JYJ’s annual Science Go Round is a fun-filled day when scientists and parents give hands-on demonstrations to our students, connecting science application with the real world. Do you love gardening, cooking or astronomy? Do you work or do research in a field of science like dentistry, pharmacy, medicine, agronomy, physics or food science? Even if you don’t do any of those things yourself, maybe you know someone who does… ask your family members, friends, co-workers or neighbors if they might be interested in sharing their science expertise with children in a hands-on way. If you are interested or want more information, please contact Katie Calvillo at 919-272-3225 or Katie@calvillo.com.

 

Open House set for end of Disability Awareness Month

Across Wake County public schools, 21,000 students have identified disabilities. About 10 percent of students at Joyner have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to help meet their learning needs. Learn more as we wrap up Disability Awareness month by attending the WCPSS special education open house on Nov. 3 or read one Joyner mom’s explanation of what it means to be “uniquely capable.”

 

Study Buddies information session

Please join us in the library on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 8-8:30 a.m. to learn more about the Study Buddies program beginning at Joyner. The program will pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — no prior teaching experience necessary. For more information, contact Kate Parke kparke24@gmail.com.

 

Azalea planting this Sunday

Thanks to Julie Dalton and her crew (see below), we’ve got 50 1-gallon azaleas already picked up and ready to plant around campus. Sign up now in MemberHub to help out this Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1-3 p.m. Burn off all that early Halloween candy you’ve been sneaking or help your middle/high school students get those community service hours in.

WRAL azaleas for Joyner

So you think you can dance?

It’s Dance-a-Thon time again! Grab your dancing shoes and join The J.Y. Joyner Foundation on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for the Second Annual Dance-A-Thon. This year it’s bigger and better than before! The Foundation has the Bunn DJ Company spinning tunes and Broughton’s Dance Team showing their moves, plus Dads-Dance-Off, limbo, glow sticks, food trucks and more! New this year: Class Songs and a raffle, with fantastic music-related prizes. Best of all: Every dollar raised helps keep our staff at full strength. Details on tickets, pledges, raffles, the dance video contest and more in your Wednesday folder this week.

KIDS: Starting this week, make your own kid-appropriate dance video (20 seconds maximum) and email it to kparke24@gmail.com. The Foundation will show as many as possible on the Joyner News and then reveal them all on the big screen Nov. 17!

 

We’re listening — here’s your chance to speak up

We at Joyner know that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community is important for the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. As part of the program, we need your feedback at the beginning of the year.

Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at Joyner and complete this 31-question survey: PTA School of Excellence Survey. Your response will be anonymous. (Paste this link in your browser if the hyperlinks above don’t work: http://bit.ly/JYJPTAsurvey.)

 

Parenting in the age of social media

If that headline made your stomach clench, then consider attending a discussion on “Social Media and the Middle School Student: A Primer for Parents” on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Daniels Middle School. Speaker Natalie Riche, outreach specialist from the NC Department of Justice, will cover everything from gaming apps to social networking apps to hiding apps to the dynamics of texting. Families from Daniels, Carroll and Martin middle schools as well as rising 6th grade families are invited to attend. Please fill out this quick anonymous RSVP survey to help make this opportunity enriching for all families that attend.

 

Register and sign in to volunteer at JYJ

Be sure to complete the volunteer registration with WCPSS before the end of the month! If you wait until November, you’ll have to start the process over, even if you’ve been approved in the past. Stop by the Joyner media center or any WCPSS school and fill out the online form. Also, any time you come into school to volunteer or visit, be sure to sign in at the main office.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Oct. 31: Make-up day — school in session
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

NewsFlash | Jamboree, Teacher Appreciation and the end of No Fuss Fundraiser this Friday

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Join us for the Jamboree this Friday!

Don’t forget to bring cash to the Jamboree this Friday — Chick-fil-A is cash only and the ever-so-popular glow sticks and raffle tickets will require cash as well. We still have some spaces open for volunteers, so please sign up in MemberHub to work a fun 1-hour shift at the Jamboree.

As a special addition to this year’s Jamboree, two of our parents have organized a quiet zone near the doors into the cafeteria for students with special needs or anyone just needing a break from all the noise. We need adult volunteers to supervise this area, so please see the signup in MemberHub to help out. Wondering why we might need a quiet zone? Check out this blog post from a Joyner mom.

No Fuss Fundraiser ends Oct. 21

We’re still about $5,000 short of our PTA goal for the annual No Fuss Fundraiser, so now is your chance to be a hero and make your donation! Just click through to the PTA website now — every little bit truly helps (although feel free to make a gigantic donation if you’re in the mood). Your contribution will help provide technology and books for classrooms, appreciation events for teachers and staff, cultural performances for students, academic and athletic programs and so much more! If you’ve already joined and donated, THANK YOU! If you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?

 

Early release means Appreciation Day

While you’re getting your cash for the Jamboree and making your gift to the No Fuss Fundraiser, don’t forget that this Friday is early release and a Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day. All teachers’ “Favorite Things” responses have been posted to the files section of their classroom hubs (thanks, Alli Corsmeier!), so you’ll know just what treat your teacher and staff/specialist will love the most.

Here’s the theme for this month: “Our teachers are OUT OF THIS WORLD!” Have your child bring their teacher/staff member some “rocket fuel” — think Starbucks gift card, favorite energy drink or soda, Smoothie gift card … be creative!

 

Azaleas #ftw!

Congratulations to Joyner — and a big thank you to Julie Dalton — for a winning application to the 31st annual WRAL Azalea Celebration! Joyner will receive 50 1-gallon azaleas to plant around campus. What’s that? You want to come help plant them? We’d be delighted! Sign up now in MemberHub to help out on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1-3 p.m. Come plant one as a family and watch it bloom and grow each year!

Safety first

If you’re bringing your child to school in the morning, you have two options: 1) park legally and walk your child up to the front door or 2) go through the carpool line under the overhang. Anything else — like pulling up to the curb to let your child jump out on Lowden Street or Noble Road — is dangerous and not allowed. Please be respectful of the rules and help us keep all our students safe!

 

We’re listening — here’s your chance to speak up

We at Joyner know that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community is important for the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. As part of the program, we need your feedback at the beginning of the year.

Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at Joyner and complete this 31-question survey: PTA School of Excellence Survey. Your response will be anonymous. (Paste this link in your browser if the hyperlinks above don’t work: http://bit.ly/JYJPTAsurvey.)

Enjoy giving feedback and want to share more? North Carolina wants your input on the state’s K-12 education plan for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Details at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/2016-17/20160921-01.

 

Register and sign in to volunteer at JYJ

Be sure to complete the volunteer registration with WCPSS before the end of the month! Stop by the Joyner media center or any WCPSS school and fill out the online form. Also, any time you come into school to volunteer or visit, be sure to sign in at the main office.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Oct. 21: Early release and teacher appreciation
  • Oct. 21: Joyner Jamboree, 5:30-8 p.m.
  • Oct. 31: Make-up day — school in session
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Parent Perspective: Uniquely Capable

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Blog post written by Jamie Jackson, Joyner Elementary School parent

In recognition of WCPSS Disability History and Awareness Month, I wanted to share with you what living with a disability is like for our family, in hopes that it will give you and your families useful strategies for interacting with people with disabilities.

I was recently visiting my child’s school when, upon learning whose parent I was, my child’s classmates were eager to share his struggles with me. I heard some phrases such as “doesn’t listen” and “doesn’t do his work,” among others. It really struck me how acutely my child’s classmates notice and point out his differences, even just a few weeks into the school year.

To provide some background, my child is transitioning from a setting where 12 out of 12 students in his class had various disabilities. We quickly grew accustomed to lots of understanding and support from other parents, all of our teachers, and all of the other students too. This school year is my child’s first in a mainstream classroom. Although he is adjusting well, after visiting the school, it made me wonder how he copes with the onslaught of social and academic expectations that he may not even understand.

If I could say something directly to his classmates and their parents, it would be: We are ALL uniquely capable, which is the theme of this year’s Disability History and Awareness Month.

We should all expect to interact with people with disabilities every day. We often cannot see the disability with our eyes and we may wonder if we come across people with disabilities very often. I can assure you that you do! If we all anticipate that we will interact with people with different abilities than our own, we will likely view our days through a softer lens: with much more understanding, patience, and a helping attitude.

People with disabilities desire acceptance and kindness. My child loves friends who will slow down their pace so that he can more successfully interact with them. He feels the compassion of those who patiently keep trying to understand him if he struggles to share his perspective. Sometimes people with disabilities behave in unexpected ways, and it’s so helpful for them to have the space to interact with the others in ways that build their confidence and allow them to have just a few successes each day.

My child recently participated in a dance performance at school and, while he may have struggled more than some of the other children, it was a huge success for him that he was able to participate. Most importantly, he had fun! He loved the “thumbs up” and “high fives” he received from the staff. We felt very happy to see his smiles, and we beamed with pride as he did something that was harder for him than it might be for some other children.

It’s true that families with disabilities hope that you have these conversations in your home and that you also that you model this acceptance in your own interactions with the variety of people you meet every day. The interactions that I remember most when I am with my child are the ones that encourage him to be himself and to feel that he is liked and loved.

NewsFlash | Seeking input, volunteer opportunities and gratitude for sunny weather

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

After a tough weekend and a bumpy start to the week, we hope that all our JYJ families are safe and able to come back to school! We know many are still without power, but we’re grateful to all who are helping with the clean-up at Joyner and schools across the county. 

 

Tell us what you think

We at Joyner know that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community is important for the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.

We need your help — but it doesn’t require volunteer time or money! As part of the process, National PTA requests feedback from families at two points in the school year – the beginning and end. Your feedback in the beginning of the program will help to generate a customized Roadmap to Excellence, which will provide specific recommendations for improving our family-school partnership.

Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at Joyner and complete this 31-question survey: PTA School of Excellence Survey. Your response will be anonymous. (Paste this link in your browser if the hyperlinks above don’t work: http://bit.ly/JYJPTAsurvey.)

New iPad Covers & Cases

Mrs. Bell, our technology facilitator, needs some help from parents. We have 40 new (and 30 old) iPads that need screen covers and cases. So that’s 70 iPads that need to be wiped down, have a protective screen put on and then inserted back into its case.
We will meet next Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 8:30 a.m. in the media center. Just 10 volunteers could knock this out in 30 minutes!
Click here to signup:  https://memberhub.com/HSR6192I4211

 

Volunteers needed for the Jamboree

The Joyner Jamboree is set for Friday, Oct. 21, from 5:30-8 p.m. — but we need lots of help from our amazing JYJ volunteers to make this annual event happen! Please sign up in MemberHub to volunteer for 1-hour shifts at the Jamboree — lots of great (and easy) jobs still available, like selling glow sticks, working the basketball shootout or cleaning up after all the fun is over.
Joyner Jamboree -- volunteers needed!

No Fuss Fundraiser ends Oct. 21

We’re in the final weeks of the annual No Fuss Fundraiser, so now is the time for all you procrastinators to make your donation! Just click through to the PTA website now and make a gift toward our $25,000 goal — every little bit truly helps (although feel free to make a gigantic donation if you’re in the mood). Your contribution will help provide technology and books for classrooms, appreciation events for teachers and staff, cultural performances for students, academic and athletic programs and so much more! If you’ve already joined and donated, THANK YOU! If you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?

 

More ways to volunteer at JYJ

Looking for a direct way to impact students and teachers at school? We have lots of good options for you!

  • Joyner’s PTA is launching a Study Buddies program to pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — the goal is to match pairs for the school year to meet for 15-30 minutes. No prior teaching experience necessary — we will hold a training session to get you prepared. If you are interested, please email Kate Parke at kparke24@gmail.com — and don’t forget to register as a WCPSS volunteer!
  • Ms. Hale needs support checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. Click this link for the MemberHub sign-up to volunteer in the media center. Contact Helen Green at HelenHeathGreen@gmail.com with questions.

Fund for the Fottas

If your child attended art camp this summer, you may have already heard about art teacher Ryan Fotta’s plans to adopt a child with his wife, Elissa. Read more at their website, http://www.followingtheredthread.com, where you can buy t-shirts or make a donation to help them bring their daughter home. While this isn’t a PTA program, we love the opportunity to help grow the Joyner family by one more child.

 

TEK clubs start today

If you registered for one of Joyner’s TEK Clubs and received your club assignment, your first session starts after school today. Contact Duval Fisher at duval@tailoredenrichmentkids.com with questions.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Oct. 21: Early release and teacher appreciation
  • Oct. 21: Joyner Jamboree
  • Oct. 31: Make-up day — school in session
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

NewsFlash | Volunteer at the Jamboree and other great ways to support JYJ

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Volunteers needed for the Jamboree

The Joyner Jamboree is set for Friday, Oct. 21, from 5:30-8 p.m. — but we need lots of help from our amazing JYJ volunteers to make this annual event happen! Please sign up in MemberHub to volunteer for 1-hour shifts at the Jamboree. Forms about the event will come home in folders this week. This family-friendly night of fun is for the whole family, but only children need the $5 wristband to participate in the bouncy house, climbing wall, tumble track, face painting, the haunted hallway and more! Food is also available for purchase at the event.
Joyner Jamboree -- volunteers needed!

Disability Awareness Month

October is Disability Awareness Month in Wake County. Did you know Albert Einstein had dyslexia? Would you have guessed that actress Emily Blunt had a stutter? Have you wondered how Evelyn Glennie could be both deaf and a full-time solo professional percussionist? Check out these links, then watch this video where kids explain autism and why it’s okay to be different — could be a great discussion topic with your family at the dinner table tonight.

 

No Fuss Fundraiser ends Oct. 21

We’re in the final weeks of the annual No Fuss Fundraiser, so now is the time for all you procrastinators to make your donation! Just click through to the PTA website now and make a gift toward our $25,000 goal — every little bit truly helps (although feel free to make a gigantic donation if you’re in the mood). Your contribution will help provide technology and books for classrooms, appreciation events for teachers and staff, cultural performances for students, academic and athletic programs and so much more! If you’ve already joined and donated, THANK YOU! If you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?

 

Registration still open for select TEK clubs

Some TEK Clubs still have spaces for the fall — contact Duval Fisher at duval@tailoredenrichmentkids.com with questions or for registration information. Clubs will begin next Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 3:30-4:45. Cost is $135 for six sessions. Club listings may be found at http://www.tailoredenrichmentkids.com.

 

More ways to volunteer at JYJ

Looking for a direct way to impact students and teachers at school? We have lots of good options for you!

  • Joyner’s PTA is launching a Study Buddies program to pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — the goal is to match pairs for the school year to meet for 15-30 minutes. Times will vary between early morning, lunch and afternoon. Instead of racing off after drop-off or sitting in carpool waiting for school to get out, come inside and read with a student in need of a little more academic encouragement! No prior teaching experience necessary — we will hold a training session to get you prepared. Study Buddies is a great way to help support academic growth at Joyner and also help our kids reach their full potential as learners. If you are interested, please email Kate Parke at kparke24@gmail.com — and don’t forget to register as a WCPSS volunteer!
  • Ms. Hale needs support checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. Click this link for the MemberHub sign-up to volunteer in the media center. Ideally, she would like to have a volunteer each morning between 8:00 and 8:30, but books can be checked in and shelved anytime during the day. Contact Helen Green at HelenHeathGreen@gmail.com with questions. (Need a distraction? Check out #letmelibrarianthatforyou on Twitter or Instagram.)
  • The Spelling Bee chairperson is looking for volunteers to help make copies of and distribute copies of the spelling word list. Classroom bees will start in December, but lists need to go out to students in the next few weeks. Contact jgmurawski@yahoo.com to help out.

Fund for the Fottas

If your child attended art camp this summer, you may have already heard about art teacher Ryan Fotta’s plans to adopt a child with his wife, Elissa. Read more at their website, http://www.followingtheredthread.com, where you can buy t-shirts or make a donation to help them bring their daughter home. While this isn’t a PTA program, we love the opportunity to help grow the Joyner family by one more child.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Oct. 21: Early release and teacher appreciation
  • Oct. 21: Joyner Jamboree
  • Oct. 31: Teacher workday
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)
  • Nov. 10: Science Go Round
  • Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day (no school)
  • Nov. 17: 2nd Annual JYJ Foundation Dance-a-Thon, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 

The NewsFlash is produced (almost) every week by the Joyner PTA. Have an announcement to include in a future edition of the NewsFlash? Submit your article via this form. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @pta_joyner.

NewsFlash | Picture day, spirit night, TEK registration, staff appreciation, Jagwear orders, OM applications (phew!)

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Eat mor chikn

Make plans to have dinner at the North Hills CFA this Thursday, Sept. 29, for Joyner’s first spirit night of the year. CFA will donate 15% of sales from 4-8 p.m. to the PTA — be sure to invite your neighbors and tell them it’s your pleasure to represent Joyner.

 

Last call for Jagwear

Stop by the school entrance this morning to check out the colors, styles and sizes for this year’s Jagwear line. Don’t get left behind — go ahead and buy gifts for the year now. You MUST place your orders by Sept. 30. Did we mention no more sales this year? Forms are available online.

 

Join PTA, give to No Fuss Fundraiser

We know you’re probably tired of hearing about it — but not as tired as you would be if you were “helping” your child sell cookie dough or wrapping paper or coupon books or some other product. If you’ve already joined and donated, THANK YOU! If you haven’t done it yet, just click through to the PTA website now and mark it off your list.

 

Need a haircut before Thursday?

Warm up your smile and get your outfit ready — school pictures are this Thursday, Sept. 29. Order forms went home with students last week. Please note that you do have to pay 6.75% sales tax on your order — if you’ve already sent your in to your child’s teacher, please update your amount to include the tax.

 

Teacher/Staff Appreciation this Friday

Don’t let your kids forget to write a note to their teachers (including their staff/specialist) for this Friday’s appreciation day. Our theme is “It’s going to be a SUPER school year!” Our teachers are SUPERHEROES – have your child write their teacher/staff member a note telling them what the teacher’s/staff member’s super power is. Let them have fun and be creative! Be sure to check the staff/specialist assignment list. (As a side note, the “Favorite Things” forms will be available on MemberHub in the next few weeks.)

 

After-school club registration tomorrow

Registration forms may be turned in by parents or students tomorrow 9/29 from 8-8:30 a.m. in the media center — enrollment is first come first served. Descriptions for the TEK after-school enrichment clubs are available online. TEK employs Joyner teachers to lead the clubs, which will run for six consecutive Wednesdays from Oct. 12- Nov. 16 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. Club cost is $135 per student. Contact TEK (Duval Fisher & Julie Sullivan) at duval@tailoredenrichmentkids.com or visit http://www.tailoredenrichmentkids.com for more details.

 

Sign up for OM by Friday

Students interested in joining an Odyssey of the Mind team at Joyner must complete the application by Friday, Sept. 30. Click here for the online application. Contact joynerom@gmail.com with questions.

 

More ways to volunteer at JYJ

Looking for a direct way to impact students and teachers at school? We have lots of good options for you!

  • Joyner’s PTA is launching a Study Buddies program to pair adult volunteers with students in each grade that need a little extra one-on-one time reading or doing class work — the goal is to match pairs for the school year to meet for 15-30 minutes. Times will vary between early morning, lunch and afternoon. Instead of racing off after drop-off or sitting in carpool waiting for school to get out, come inside and read with a student in need of a little more academic encouragement! No prior teaching experience necessary — we will hold a training session to get you prepared. Study Buddies is a great way to help support academic growth at Joyner and also help our kids reach their full potential as learners. If you are interested, please email Kate Parke at kparke24@gmail.com — and don’t forget to register as a WCPSS volunteer!
  • Ms. Hale needs support checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. Click this link for the MemberHub sign-up to volunteer in the media center. Ideally, she would like to have a volunteer each morning between 8:00 and 8:30, but books can be checked in and shelved anytime during the day. Contact Helen Green at HelenHeathGreen@gmail.com with questions. (Need a distraction? Check out #letmelibrarianthatforyou on Twitter or Instagram.)
  • The Spelling Bee chairperson is looking for volunteers to help make copies of and distribute copies of the spelling word list. Classroom bees will start in December, but lists need to go out to students in the next few weeks. Contact jgmurawski@yahoo.com to help out.
  • The Joyner Jamboree will be here before you know it! In addition to marking your calendar for Oct. 21 for this fun-filled, family-friendly event, please sign up in MemberHub to volunteer before, during and after the Jamboree.

Joyner Jamboree -- volunteers needed!

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Sept. 29: School picture day
  • Sept. 29: TEK club sign-ups, 8-8:30 a.m., media center
  • Sept. 29: Spirit night at Chick-fil-A at North Hills, 4-8 p.m.
  • Sept. 30: Early release and teacher appreciation
  • Sept. 30: Last day to buy Jagwear
  • Oct. 21: Early release and teacher appreciation
  • Oct. 21: Joyner Jamboree
  • Nov. 8: 2-hour delay for all WCPSS schools (election day)

The NewsFlash is produced (almost) every week by the Joyner PTA. Have an announcement to include in a future edition of the NewsFlash? Submit your article via this form. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @pta_joyner.