NewsFlash | Run Club starts, HCM continues, TEK Clubs coming soon

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Week — be sure to thank your bus driver! In North Carolina, more than 800,000 students board over 13,000 school buses each day. Learn more about school bus safety at http://www.ncbussafety.org.

 

Support Joyner 5K to fund enhanced learning

Wondering why you should donate to the Classroom Challenge, buy a cheerleader sign or sponsor the Joyner 5K? The JYJ PTA will use the funds to bring innovative technology to Joyner students by:

  1. Providing tech updates and advances to daily learning in Spanish, art, PE, technology and music classes;
  2. Introducing robotics learning and transformational knowledge, including early coding skills; and
  3. Remodeling and upgrading multi-media equipment and services, with a focus on the student-operated daily WJYJ News.

So here’s how you can help:

  1. Collect some spare change to bring in for the Classroom Challenge (great prizes for the winning classes).
  2. Sign up in MemberHub to volunteer on race day.
  3. Register online to run/walk on March 5.
  4. Sign up as a 5K sponsor on the PTA website.
  5. Did we mention you can volunteer on race day? And you don’t even have to run!
  6. Sponsor an awesome race course cheerleader sign like the ones shown here:

Keep up the great work!

As you get ready for the 5K, don’t forget all the other activities leading up to the big day. We’re now into week 2 of the Healthy Choice Marathon!

  • The theme for week 2: Be fit with friends! Exercise with a friend or family member each day.
  • Keep encouraging your teachers and staff in the weekly staff wellness challenges! This week we’ll see who can complete the most (different) exercise activities in a week. Next week is the hashtag challenge — who can post a healthy choice(s) using our #JYJ175K hashtag on social media?
  • Reading books is part of a healthy life — you can help gets books to kids who need them by donating gently used books at school as part of the WAKE Up and Read annual book drive. If Joyner collects 2,600 books, students get to dress up as their favorite book character on Friday, March 3.

 

Run Club starts tomorrow

Run Club starts this Thursday after school for all who are already signed up. Thanks to all the volunteers who stepped up to make the JYJ Run Club possible — we still need volunteers for tomorrow, Feb. 16! Contact Shanna Schroeder (shannas@us.ibm.com) if you are able to help. Parents must pick up their athletes at Kiwanis Park at 4 p.m. or sign a release for them to be delivered to JYJ afterschool.

If you missed out on tomorrow’s session, you can still click here to register your child and click here to sign up as a volunteer for Feb. 23 and March 2. Registration closes on Tuesdays at midnight each week and children must be registered to attend. Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer twice and are not required to run.

 

Send in yearbook photos

Time is running out to get your photos in the JYJ yearbook! As you take pictures on field trips, while visiting your child at lunch and attending school events, please take a minute to send those pictures to joyneryearbook@gmail.com. If you’re sending from a phone, make sure to choose “actual size.” Your kids love seeing themselves in the yearbook and you can make that happen!

 

TEK Club spring preview

Tailored Enrichment Kids is excited to return this spring to JYJ with the TEK After School Club Program. Clubs will run on Wednesdays for six sessions, March 22-May 3, from 3:30-4:45 a.m. TEK supervises students prior to clubs starting. Club cost is $135 per child and participation supports the JYJ staff members who teach the clubs. Registration forms will go home Wednesday, Feb. 22, and registration will be on Wednesday, March 1, from 8:00-8:30 a.m. in the media center. Full club descriptions are on the TEK website at http://www.tailoredenrichmentkids.com/joyner-clubs.html. Please contact Duval Fisher at duval@tailoredenrichmentkids.com with any questions.

Want to do more?

  • Sign up to help Ms. Hale in the media center.
  • Bring in new and used shoes for Mr. Fotta’s collection to support his family’s adoption trip.
  • Want to serve as a committee chair for next year’s PTA? Just reply to this email and let us know what committee you’re interested in.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Feb. 16: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • Feb. 20: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • Feb. 23: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • March 1: TEK Club registration, 8-8:30 a.m.
  • March 2: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • March 3: Carlotta Santana Dance Ensemble performance for all grades
  • March 5: Joyner 5K
  • March 20-24: Writer-in-residents with 4th graders
  • March 22: Number Drummer performance for all grades
  • March 31: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • April 10-14: Spring break

NewsFlash | Sign up for run club and 5K, plus teacher/staff appreciation this Friday

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Happy National School Counseling Week — don’t forget to give some extra love and appreciation to our fabulous counseling team, Andrea Burston and Beth Vincent! Also, tomorrow (Feb. 9) is Mr. Charles’s birthday — be sure to wish him a very happy day as he helps you cross the street in front of the school!

 

Joyner 5K registration open now!

Registration is now open for the 6th annual Joyner 5K Run/Walk on March 5 at 2 p.m. Click here to register yourself, your children and all your friends who want in on the action!

Want to know more about what’s happening with the Healthy Choice Marathon this week?

  • Collections for the Classroom Challenge are happening every morning in the front lobby and the carpool loop. Bring your spare change (or bills) and contribute!
  • Check out details about 5K sponsorships and the Classroom Challenge on the PTA website.
  • Reading books is part of a healthy life — you can help gets books to kids who need them by donating gently used books at school as part of the WAKE Up and Read annual book drive. If Joyner collects 2,600 books, students get to dress up as their favorite book character on Friday, March 3.
  • Keep encouraging your teachers and staff in the weekly staff wellness challenges! This week is the Step Master Challenge to see who can take the most steps in a work week. Next week we’ll see who can complete the most (different) exercise activities in a week.

 

Run Club starts next week!

Thanks to all the volunteers who stepped up to make the JYJ Run Club possible! The club will meet Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 2 from 3-4 p.m. Volunteers pick up kids on campus and escort them to Kiwanis Park, where the kids stretch, move and run or walk on the greenway. Parents must pick up their athletes at 4 p.m. or sign a release for them to be delivered to JYJ afterschool.

The JYJ Run Club is free and open to all JYJ kids. It is fueled entirely by the efforts of parent volunteers. Last year more than 200 kids and 50 parents participated each week. Click here to register your child and click here to sign up as a volunteer. Register for all three sessions at once — registration closes on Tuesdays at midnight each week and children must be registered to attend. Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer twice and are not required to run.

If you have questions, please contact the Run Club co-leads: Fraley Marshall (fraleycmarshall@gmail.com), Melanie Jones (melbartoljones@gmail.com) or Shanna Schroeder (shannas@us.ibm.com).

 

Pick a way to appreciate teachers/staff this Friday

For this Friday’s early release day, the PTA’s teacher/staff appreciation committee invites students to join in around the theme “We couldn’t have PICKED a better teacher!” As part of the Healthy Choice Marathon, feel free to send in something healthy you’ve picked to show how much you appreciate your teachers and staff.

 

Shoe collection for Mr. Fotta’s family

Art teacher Ryan Fotta and his wife appreciate all the support and encouragement from the Joyner family — they’ve been matched with their little girl and are now doing a shoe donation drive to help bring her home.  They are collecting shoes of any kind — used, gently worn or new — to help fund the final part of adoption journey, but the fundraiser also gathers the shoes to support micro-businesses in developing countries like Haiti. Get a jump on your spring cleaning by checking your closets for any shoes you can donate and bring them to school — collection boxes are in the front lobby and by the art classroom. The goal is to collect 300 bags of shoes with 25 pairs of shoes in each bag.

 

Storytelling artists come to Joyner

The PTA Cultural Arts committee brings a series of great performers and artists to school each year. This Thursday, Silver Trout Arts will provide music and story telling for all grades. The program  emphasizes the idea that there are “…so many ways to share a story” — including songs, poetry, a puppet fable, storytelling and even a little dancing. The performance offers interactions for students and opportunities for teachers to carry the program into their classroom writing curriculum. Learn more at http://www.timmyabellmusic.com/residencies/.

Help out in the media center

Sign up to help Ms. Hale in the media center — main needs are checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. 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. Even 15 minutes can make a big impact — drop in when you have a few minutes, even if you don’t sign up.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Feb. 9: Silver Trout Arts performance — music and story telling for all grades (funded by PTA)
  • Feb. 9: Crossing Guard Mr. Charles’s birthday!
  • Feb. 10: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child pick out their teacher/staff member’s favorite healthy snack to bring in.)
  • Feb. 16: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • Feb. 20: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • Feb. 23: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • March 2: Run Club, 3-4 p.m.
  • March 5: Joyner 5K
  • March 31: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • April 10-14: Spring break

NewsFlash | HCM kick-off, JYJ Run Club and mini-grants in action

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Healthy Choice Marathon kicks off this Friday

The 2017 Healthy Choice Marathon launches with a kickoff assembly this Friday during school! Here’s everything you need to know to get started:

  • Today is the last day to submit entries to the video contest. Send your child’s 30-second videos to HCM Chair Kate Sonawane at katecoward@yahoo.com — please include children’s names and grade level in the email message.
  • Encourage your child to wear red on Friday (Feb. 3) for the kickoff as part of National Wear Red Day for heart healthy awareness month.
  • Mark your calendar for the 6th annual Joyner 5K Run/Walk on March 5 at 2 p.m. — registration opens on Monday, Feb. 6.
  • Get ready to cheer on your teachers and staff in the weekly staff wellness challenges — next week is the Step Master Challenge to see who can take the most steps in a work week.
  • Check out details about 5K sponsorships and the Classroom Challenge on the PTA website.

 

Make Run Club possible

In the weeks leading up to the Joyner 5K, the PTA has offered a weekly JYJ Run Club for students after school on Thursdays in February — but it can’t happen without your help. Several wonderful parents have already volunteered this year, but we still need help with kindergarten, 2nd grade and 5th grade as well as two people to serve as leads for the program each week (with support from the volunteers who led last year). If these positions aren’t filled, we won’t be able to offer the JYJ Run Club this year. Please contact Shanna Schroeder at shannas@us.ibm.com.

 

We love our school counselors!

Next week, Feb. 6-10,  is National School Counseling Week. If you’ve ever walked into school a little grouchy in the morning and left with a smile because you saw JYJ counselors Andrea Burston and Beth Vincent when you walked in, then you KNOW how lucky we are! We all appreciate their hard work and their important contributions to student achievement and success at Joyner. Be sure to give them a heartfelt thank you next week.

 

Blog post: Mini-grant helps students focus

The Joyner PTA funds an annual mini-grant program to help teachers and specialists to implement ideas that might not otherwise become part of the classroom environment. This year, third grade teacher Mrs. Millsaps used her mini-grant to help her students focus during what can sometimes be a challenging year. Read her blog post to learn more about how she and her students are using sensory stools, desk cycles and fidget tools to calm their bodies and positively direct all that wiggly energy in the classroom: https://joynerpta.com/2017/01/31/mini-grant-profile-helping-student-focus-on-learning/. Desk cycle

Help out in the media center

A new sign-up is now available to help out Ms. Hale in the media center — main needs are checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. 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. Even 15 minutes can make a big impact — drop in when you have a few minutes, even if you don’t sign up. Thanks to PTA volunteer Helen Green for getting things organized and helping volunteers with the process!

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Feb. 3: Wear red for the Healthy Choice Marathon kickoff assembly
  • Feb. 9: Silver Trout Arts performance — music and story telling for all grades (funded by PTA)
  • Feb. 10: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child pick out their teacher/staff member’s favorite healthy snack to bring in.)
  • Feb. 20: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • March 5: Joyner 5K
  • March 31: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • April 10-14: Spring break

NewsFlash | HCM videos and kick-off, media center volunteers

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Show us your healthy moves

We’re gearing up for the 2017 Healthy Choice Marathon! Encourage your students to create a 30-second video showcasing their favorite healthy activity on their own or with JYJ friends. Dancing, playing sports, running, jumping, stretching… show us what you love to do to stay healthy! All videos meeting the above criteria will appear on the JYJ News, and all who submit videos will be entered into a drawing. Two students’ names will be drawn from each grade level to receive a prize, plus these 10 lucky winners will be asked to appear onstage during the HCM kickoff assembly on Friday, Feb. 3! Videos submissions will be accepted through Feb. 1 and will be aired beginning today. Send 30-second videos to HCM Chair Kate Sonawane at katecoward@yahoo.com — please include children’s names and grade level in the email message.

Speaking of the HCM kickoff, get your red outfits ready! Friday, Feb. 3, is also National Wear Red Day for heart healthy month, so we’re asking everyone to wear red to help rev up the Healthy Choice Marathon!

 

Get ready to run (or walk or volunteer or all of the above)

Join us for the 6th annual Joyner 5K Run/Walk on March 5 at 2 p.m.! This fun family event aims to teach kids about the benefits of making healthy lifestyle choices and raises money to fund annual programs for our 700+ student body. Over the past five years, more than 3,100 race participants have helped fund character education, Battle of the Books, campus beautification, Science Go Round, First in Fitness, technology updates, media center projects…and so much more. Registration for the race opens on Feb. 6. Questions? Contact Arinn Widmayer at arinnwidmayer@gmail.com.

Interested in helping with run club? Shanna Schroeder is looking for volunteers to continue this great program — contact her at shannas@us.ibm.com.

 

Help out in the media center sign-ups

A new sign-up is now available to help out Ms. Hale in the media center — main needs are checking in books and getting them back on the shelves. 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. Even 15 minutes can make a big impact — drop in when you have a few minutes, even if you don’t sign up. Thanks to PTA volunteer Helen Green for getting things organized and helping volunteers with the process!

 

Sports with Coach Scott

A few spots have opened up in Sports After School. Coach Scott picks up the kids at Joyner in the walker hallway after school and escorts them down to Kiwanis Park for fun games, activities, nature walks and a variety of sports. The program is open to students in K-5 and runs every Tuesday. Cost is $15 per session or $60 per 4-week session. Pick up your child at 4:30 at Kiwanis Park. Contact Coach Scott at 336-963-4555 or sportswithcoachscott@gmail.com with questions or to register.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Jan. 27: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • Jan. 31:  Magnet application period closes for WCPSS
  • Feb. 3: Wear red for the Healthy Choice Marathon kickoff assembly
  • Feb. 10: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child pick out their teacher/staff member’s favorite healthy snack to bring in.)
  • Feb. 20: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • March 5: Joyner 5K

NewsFlash | Spelling Bee, HCM video contest, Joyner 5K

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Good news — there’s no snow in this week’s forecast! Check the WCPSS website for a detailed listing of make-up days from last week’s unexpected break. Want even more good news? The PTA will provide hot chocolate and cupcakes for teacher appreciation on this Friday’s early release — no student effort required (although feel free to show your teacher some extra love).

 

Registration and magnet period open for 2017-18

Have a rising kindergartner? Registration is now open — click here for details. Looking at magnet middle schools or other options? Find all your magnet information here. The magnet application period closes Jan. 31.

 

Enter now for your 30 seconds of fame

We’re gearing up for the 2017 Healthy Choice Marathon! Encourage your students to create a 30-second video showcasing their favorite healthy activity on their own or with JYJ friends. Dancing, playing sports, running, jumping, stretching… show us what you love to do to stay healthy! All videos meeting the above criteria will appear on the JYJ News, and all who submit videos will be entered into a drawing. Two students’ names will be drawn from each grade level to receive a prize, plus these 10 lucky winners will be asked to appear onstage during the HCM kickoff assembly on Friday, Feb. 5!

Videos submissions will be accepted by e-mail any time from Jan. 18 through Feb. 1 and will be aired beginning Jan. 25. Send 30-second videos to HCM Chair Kate Sonawane at katecoward@yahoo.com — please include children’s names and grade level in the email message.

 

Need some motivation to exercise?

Join us for the 6th annual Joyner 5K Run/Walk on March 5 at 2 p.m.! This fun family event aims to teach kids about the benefits of making healthy lifestyle choices and raises money to fund annual programs for our 700+ student body. Over the past five years, more than 3,100 race participants have helped fund character education, Battle of the Books, campus beautification, Science Go Round, First in Fitness, technology updates, media center projects…and so much more. Check out our website at https://joynerpta.com/5k-running-club/ for more info. Registration for the race starts soon, so stay tuned! Questions? Contact Arinn Widmayer at arinnwidmayer@gmail.com.

Interested in helping with run club? Shanna Schroeder is looking for volunteers to continue this great program — contact her at shannas@us.ibm.com.

 

Volunteer sign-ups

Two opportunities coming this week still need some volunteer help:

 

Sports with Coach Scott

A few spots have opened up in Sports After School. Coach Scott picks up the kids at Joyner in the walker hallway after school and escorts them down to Kiwanis Park for fun games, activities, nature walks and a variety of sports. The program is open to students in K-5 and runs every Tuesday. Cost is $15 per session or $60 per 4-week session. Pick up your child at 4:30 at Kiwanis Park. Contact Coach Scott at 336-963-4555 or sportswithcoachscott@gmail.com with questions or to register.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Jan. 19: Schoolwide spelling bee, 3:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 20: Early release and teacher appreciation provided by the PTA
  • Jan. 27: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • Feb. 10: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child bring their teacher/staff member’s favorite fruit.)
  • Feb. 20: Snow make-up day (school is in session)
  • March 5: Joyner 5K

 

NewsFlash | Magnet open houses, yearbook photos

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Welcome back and happy new year! Thanks to your generosity last month, Joyner collected 871 pairs of socks and 5 boxes of toiletries for those in need — what a great way to end 2016. 

 

Get set for 2017-18

Sure, you still have your holiday decorations up and you can’t remember to write 2017 for the date — but it’s already time to think about next school year! [Deep breath.] Have a rising kindergartner? Registration starts on Thursday — click here for details. Looking at magnet middle schools or other options? Find all your magnet information here.

 

Yearbook committee needs your pictures

As you take pictures on field trips, while visiting your child at lunch and attending school events, please take a minute to send those pictures to joyneryearbook@gmail.com. If you’re sending from a phone, make sure to choose “actual size.” Your kids love seeing themselves in the yearbook and you can make that happen!

 

Chaperone the Spelling Bee

We still need volunteers for the schoolwide Spelling Bee on Thursday, Jan. 19, including helping with breakdown from 6:30 to 7 p.m. as well as chaperones for the kids before and during the bee. Our pronouncer this year is Loretta Bohn, a former Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant!

 

Get out your paint brushes

Here’s your chance to show appreciation for the JYJ staff by making a positive change at the school.  Carnela Hill, an interior decorator and friend of Ms. Burton, has graciously offered to redo the staff bathrooms for free! She is looking for talented painters to help repaint the four staff bathrooms on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. Because of the small areas we are working in, this is a parent-only volunteer opportunity. Can’t make it Saturday? We need your help taping off trim ahead of time. See the sign-up on MemberHub.

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Jan. 16: Holiday
  • Jan. 19: Schoolwide spelling bee, 3 p.m.
  • Jan. 20: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child bring their teacher/staff member’s favorite fruit.)
  • Jan. 27: Teacher workday
  • March 5: Joyner 5K

NewsFlash | Last day for socks/toiletries donations

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Today is the last day of school for 2016! If we could wrap up our gratitude for all that you do to make Joyner a wonderful learning space for all children, we’d have to use an entire package of wrapping paper to cover the box. We hope you’re able to make some time to rest during the break and enjoy time together — we’ll see you at school again on Jan. 3!

 

Socks and toiletries accepted today

If you’ve been procrastinating, now’s your final chance to donate new socks for 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) for Interact of Wake County. We’ve already collected more than 600 pairs of socks — can we make 800 by next week? Look for collection bins at the school’s front entrance and a huge thank you to all who have already donated!

 

Spelling Bee sign-up for January

Congratulations to all the winners in our classroom bees last week! Click here to volunteer for the schoolwide Spelling Bee on Thursday, Jan. 19, including setting up in the gym from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and helping with breakdown from 6:30 to 7 p.m. as well as chaperones for the kids before and during the bee. Our pronouncer this year is Loretta Bohn, a former Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant!

 

Give new life to old markers

As you clean out your craft drawers to make room for new supplies, please remember that Joyner is  collecting dried up markers again this year for the Crayola ColorCycle Project. The collection bin is in Mr. Fotta’s room this year. We can recycle all shapes, sizes, brands and styles of markers!

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Dec. 22: J.Y. Joyner Foundation event with The Blasa Gliders and The Geb at Kings Barcade (14 W. Martin St., Raleigh), 7:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 22: Teacher workday
  • Dec. 23-Jan. 2: Winter break (school closed)
  • Jan. 16: Holiday
  • Jan. 19: Schoolwide spelling bee, 3 p.m.
  • Jan. 20: Early release and teacher appreciation (Theme: “We couldn’t have ‘PICKED’ a better teacher than you!” Have your child bring their teacher/staff member’s favorite fruit.)
  • Jan. 27: Teacher workday
  • March 5: Joyner 5K

NewsFlash | Book Fair, Hour of Code and PTA meeting this week

Posted on by Cyndi O'Neil

Have an hour to volunteer this week?

We still have lots of spaces for Hour of Code volunteers and a few spots at the Book Fair — please click the links to sign up if you have an hour to give this week. The Book Fair hours are: Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Thursday 7:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. before the PTA Meeting and Holiday Concert at 6:30; and Friday 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Don’t forget that the online book fair is open now!

Be sure to look for the book requests from Joyner teachers, including our special ed team — all of our teachers would love your support in purchasing books for their classrooms. Consider buying one book for your child’s teacher and one for your class’s assigned specialist or another teacher that you don’t know.

 

PTA meeting this week before holiday concert

Make plans to join us for the PTA general membership meeting on Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The holiday concert will follow at 6:45 p.m., featuring performances by Joyner’s 1st grade students and Gold Choir. Click the following links for meeting materials:

 

Donations accepted through Dec. 21

We are still 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 — collection runs through Dec. 21. Thanks to all have already donated!

 

Spaces left for Study Buddies

Looking for a small way to make a big difference at Joyner? We still have some 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.

 

Get ready to spell!

Classroom Spelling Bees will be held on Friday, Dec. 16, in all 3rd-5th grade classrooms. The top two spellers will advance to the school bee. Your child should have received the list of study words, rules and resources last month. If you do not have the word list, please see your child’s teacher.

Click here to volunteer for the schoolwide Spelling Bee on Thursday, Jan. 19, including setting up in the gym from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and helping with breakdown from 6:30 to 7 p.m. as well as chaperones for the kids before and during the bee. Our pronouncer this year is Loretta Bohn, a former Scripps National Spelling Bee contestant!

 

Give new life to old markers

As you clean out your craft drawers to make room for new supplies, please remember that Joyner is  collecting dried up markers again this year for the Crayola ColorCycle Project. The collection bin is in Mr. Fotta’s room this year. We can recycle all shapes, sizes, brands and styles of markers!

 

Quick links

Calendar items

  • Dec. 5-9: JYJ Book Fair
  • Dec. 5-9: Hour of Code
  • Dec. 8: PTA general membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. and JYJ holiday concert (1st grade and Gold Choir) at 6:45 p.m.
  • Dec. 16: Classroom spelling bees
  • Dec. 22: Teacher workday
  • Dec. 22: J.Y. Joyner Foundation event with The Blasa Gliders and The Geb at Kings Barcade (14 W. Martin St., Raleigh), 7:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 23-Jan. 2: Winter break
  • March 5: Joyner 5K

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

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