Black History Showcase  Don’t forget to come to school this Thursday, Feb. 23^rd, for our annual black history presentation at 6 p.m.  An afternoon dress rehearsal will take place at 1:45 p.m..Students are putting on a Black History Showcase this year!  You won’t want to miss this showcase.  Hope to see you there.

Field Trips  We have two field trips this week.  Third grade is going to the Morehead Planetarium and kindergarten students will be participating in an in-house Science field trip.

Artist in Residence Program  Second and fifth grade students will be participating in a week long Artist in Residence program next week that focuses on Chinese culture.  You will be seeing colorful costumes, beautiful dancing, and possibly a few dragons as well around the school.

Book Drive  Friends of the Library are continuing their FAO Book Drive.  Please donate books that are in gently used to great condition.  You can donate your books by putting them in the drop off box by the library.  Books will be shared with students for summer reading.  Thank you in advance for helping us share the joy of reading!

Annual Yard Sale  Our 12^th Annual FAO Yard Sale will be Saturday, March 3 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Please bring your donations of good, clean, unwanted items to the gym on Friday, March 2^, 2012 between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and/or between 2:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.  Items are tax deductible. Tax deductible forms will be available at drop off.  Volunteers are still needed for this event.  If you can help, please let the office know by calling 856-7899.

Thank you everyone for all you do to make our school such a great place to work and learn!

Early Release  Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 is an early release day.  Students are dismissed at 12:30 p.m.  Please pick up your children at 12:30 p.m.  After School students can be picked up at the regular time.

No School      Monday, Feb. 20th and Tuesday Feb. 21st are teacher workdays.  No school for students.

Quality Assembly  Wed. Feb. 22nd we are having our second quarter Quality Assembly at 2 p.m in the school gym.

Black History Showcase  Thursday, Feb. 23rd is an important day at Olds.  Fifth graders are presenting the Annual Black History Play.  This year they will be presenting a Black History Showcase at 1:45 p.m. and again at 6 p.m.  We hope to see you there!

Here are some updates regarding January events.

New Staff  I would like to introduce several individuals who have joined the Olds team.  First, we have Melanie Goggans who will be a student intern with the Kindergarten team under the direction of Mrs. Brann.  We also have Amanda Gary who will be a student intern with 4^th grade under the supervision of Mrs. Van Horn.  Finally, I would like you to meet Mrs. Carroll Lowell.  She will be teaching Art and Great Leaps Reading at our school.  I know all of you will join me in welcoming these talented individuals into our school community.

Cold Weather  Yikes!  It is cold out there.  Students want to go outside to play even when it is cold.  Please make sure they are bundled up appropriately on colder days.  We will make a decision about outside play on a daily basis.  We generally keep children inside if the weather dips below freezing at 0° Celsius or 32 ° Fahrenheit.

Lost and Found  All of our lost and found items have been laid out in the front foyer of the school for pick up.  Please take the time to come in and check for lost student items.  There are many nice coats, hats, lunchboxes and sweatshirts.  All items not picked up by this Friday, Jan. 6^th will be donated to children in need of warm clothing.

Spelling Bee  Applications for our school wide spelling bee are due this Thursday, January 5^th.  Please stop in the front office if you need to pick up a form.  The spelling bee will be held on Thursday, Jan. 19^th at 3:30 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to attend and cheer for our wonderful school spellers.

AG Meetings  Mrs. Russell, our teacher for academically gifted students, is holding an AG meeting for parents of fourth grade students on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8:00 a.m. in the room 2118.  She will be holding a meeting for parents of 5^th grade AG students on Thursday, Jan. 12^th. At 8 a.m. in room 2118.  A meeting for parents of third grade students will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25^th at the same time and place.

Early Release  We have an early release day on Friday, Jan. 13^th.  Students are dismissed at 12:30 p.m.  Students in the after school program can participate in a program that starts at 12:30 p.m. and lasts until 6:00 p.m.

Holiday  Monday, January 16^th is a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King.  No school for students.

Teacher Work Day  Monday, Jan. 23^rd is a teacher work day.  No school for students.

Science Fair  It is time for our wonderful Science Fair once again.  Students are working hard on their projects.  Students will be presenting their projects on Jan. 26^th and 27^th.

Field Trips  Second graders will be going to Poe Health Center on Friday, Jan. 20^th .  Our first graders will have an in school Science fieldtrip on Thursday, Jan. 19^th.

Report Cards  We will be sending second quarter report cards home in your Tuesday Folders on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress, you are encouraged to make an appointment with your child’s teacher.

Student Assignment Information Sessions 

Additional information sessions have been made available to parents on the Choice Student Assignment Plan.  Information is available on our school website under Principal News and on the WCPSS website.

The following related information is from Mr. Poston in the Communications Department.

Families May Attend Extended Office Hours and Sessions for Information on Choice Student Assignment Plan

Families seeking more information on the Choice Student Assignment Plan can visit the Wake County Public School System Administration Building during extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays or attend one of the information sessions being held across Wake County.

The Student Assignment Department and Center for International Enrollment will open for extended hours beginning Tuesday, January 10 – Thursday, February 23. The extended hours will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Student Assignment Department is located in the Wake County Public School System Administration Building at 5625 Dillard Drive in Cary.

You can use Triangle Transit and CTRAN public bus service to travel to the school system offices:

1. TTA Route 305: Raleigh to Cary
2. TTA Route 305: Cary to Raleigh
3. TTA Route 303 Midday to CTRAN Route #6 to CTRAN Route #2: Raleigh to Cary
4. CTRAN Route #2 to CTRAN Route #6 to TTA Route 303 Midday: Cary to Raleigh
5. CTRAN Route #6 to CTRAN Route #2: Cary to Crossroads
6. CTRAN Route #2 to CTRAN Route #6: Crossroads to Cary

The school system will offer a series of helpful information sessions designed to walk parents through the process of selecting a school through the new Choice Student Assignment Plan for 2012-13. These will be offered throughout Wake County, frequently through the assistance of community partners and host organizations. Spanish interpreters will be available at each session. All are open to the public:

Again, Happy New Year.  We look forward to working with you to ensure a successful learning experience for your children.     Dr. Wheeler, Principal

School Messenger  -  Jan. 4, 2012

We wish all of you a safe, enjoyable, fun winter break.

We will see you on Tuesday, January 3, 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here are updates on events and issues at our school.

Break   Wednesday, December 21, 2011 is the last day of school for students before the break.  No school for students from Thursday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Jan. 2.  School begins again for students on Tuesday, Jan.3, 2012.

Lost and Found  We have set up lost and found tables in the front foyer of the school.  Before leaving for the break, please stop in and check for lost items.  You may find things you did not realize are missing.  The tables will be taken down on Tuesday night, Dec. 22, 2011.  Please come by before the end of the day this coming Tuesday.

Absence Notifications  You may have received a phone call letting you know that your child was absent.  This is an automated system that is new at our school this year.  If you send your absence note in and then receive a call, keep in mind that the system might not be quite as efficient as you.  If you have any questions, call us at 856-7699.

Lice  There have been repeat cases of head lice in our school community.  The upcoming winter break is a good time to get a handle on this problem.  Teachers are bagging up all material items and cleaning the rooms.  You can help by following the directions sent home in your Tuesday Folder.  Please be particularly vigilant about children sharing items like clothing and combs.

Pizza  Every second Wednesday of the month is pizza night.  Wake County Papa John’s pizza restaurants will be donating a portion of their proceeds to all schools in the Wake County Public School System.  All of the donated funds will be divided evenly between our 165 WCPSS schools, so be sure to order pizza to support our schools on these days and to spread the word to your neighbors, family and friends in Wake County!

School Enrollment  If you have questions about school enrollment for next year, please feel free to call our office at 856-7699.  We will do our best to help you.  Also, be sure to visit the the school assignment section of the WCPSS website.  Information about the enrollment process is provided on the website.

PARENT READING WORKSHOP  Mrs, Mazzola, your school’s reading specialist, is hosting an Open House Reading Workshop for parent/guardians of all Kindergarten, first grade and second grade student on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. The workshop begins at 9:20 a.m.  Hope you can come!

GET A SLICE OF THE PIE   It’s back! Papa John’s is partnering with the Wake County Public School System to help us raise funds in support of our 165 schools.  Every second Wednesday of the month, beginning in December, Wake County Papa John’s pizza restaurants will be donating a portion of their proceeds to all schools in the Wake County Public School System.  Watch your Tuesday Folder and our school website for more information.

If you feel like you need to make a change in next year’s assignment, you can participate in the choice selection process, where you’ll be given multiple school options. The priorities for available seats include sibling placement and proximity. More information about the plan will be available in the coming days at assignment.wcpss.net.  We’ll keep you posted so that you can make the best decisions for your family. We are focused on student achievement and providing your child with a world-class education. Our school appreciates your support.

Please keep a look out for information that is scheduled to come home this week with your child’s initial school assignment for next year.  Finally, you might want to attend some of the sessions explaining the new assignment process.  The information is printed below for your convenience. 

Need to Learn How to Choose Your School? Parent Info Sessions Begin

Updated Nov. 10, 2011 – The Wake County Public School System is beginning a series of helpful information sessions designed to walk parents through the process of selecting a school through the new Choice Student Assignment Plan for 2012-2013. These will be offered throughout Wake County, frequently through the assistance of community partners and host organizations.

All sessions are open to the public:

The Thanksgiving Season is upon us and there are many special events to be thankful for at our school.

Kindergarten Families    One event that we are grateful for is the arrival of our long awaited for additional kindergarten teacher.  We anticipate that Ms. Marilyn Kasper will begin familiarizing herself with our children and setting up the new classroom this coming Tuesday, November 15^th.  We will be hosting a “Meet Your Teacher” event for her kindergarten students and their families on Thursday morning at 8 a.m.  Students will go to their current classrooms at 8:15 a.m.  Ms. Kasper will then be available to talk with parents until 9:00 a.m.  Students will begin reporting to their re-assigned classrooms on Friday, Nov. 19^th.  If your child is being re-assigned to a classroom, you would have received a call from Dr. Wheeler and a letter stating which kindergarten classroom your child should report to on Friday.  If you have any questions, please call the office at 856-7699.  We are more than glad to assist you and answer any questions.

Community Service Event    We have been collecting funds for the Stop Hunger Now foundation.  We are working in partnership with the Forest Hills Baptist Church to raise funds and make food packages for hungry families.  As part of the program, a hot dog dinner will be provided this coming Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 5-6 p.m. for all people who are helping package meals that same evening from 6 to 8 p.m.  Be sure to sign up Monday to participate in this giving opportunity.  Also, be sure to drop some change in one of the jars that are placed around the school to help support the Stop Hunger Now program.

NCSU Homecoming Parade    We have been invited to participate in the NCSU Homecoming Parade this Friday, Nov. 15^th.  We will have face-painting at 4:45 p.m. here at school and then walk to Hillsborough Street at 5:25 p.m.  This has always been a really fun event for our Olds family.  Dress in red and join the Olds and NCSU Pack in the parade this Friday.  See you there!

Raleigh Holiday Parade   The Raleigh Holiday Parade is this Saturday, Nov. 16th.  Our safety patrol will be marching in the parade.  The parade starts at 10 a.m.  Our safety patrol students should arrive by 9 a.m.  Join the fun and cheer our fifth grade safety patrol students as they march through Raleigh downtown streets.

Annual Thanksgiving Feast    Our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011.  The cost per person is $7.00 for the meal.  Fees are due Monday, Nov. 14^th.  (If you wish to attend and have not sent in your event funds, please contact the office as soon as possible.) This is a wonderful event characterized by good food, good people, and good cheer.  You won’t want to miss it.

Annual Food Drive    Our annual food drive to help feed the hungry in Raleigh begins this coming week.  Boxes will be in the front foyer for children, parents, staff and guests to “drop in” their donated non-perishable goods.  Please be sure to drop a can of beans or other non-perishable food item in one of the boxes throughout the week and on the day of our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Luncheon.  Help us spread the positive feelings and good wishes of the holiday season with others. I would like to give a special thank you to Mrs. Julie Nau, one of our alumni teachers, for kicking off this giving opportunity each year.

PTA Meeting   We will hold an Olds Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA) board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 at 5:45 p.m. in the school Media Center.  The general meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.  We hope that you will be able to attend.  We sincerely thank our PTA Board, Committee Chairs and their volunteers.  We are grateful for all you do for our students and school!

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY!  We are thankful for all of you!

Fred Olds is partnering with Forest Hills Baptist Church to support Stop Hunger Now this coming Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2011. You will notice jars around the school to collect change, please help us fill the coffers. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. The organization is driven by a vision of a world without hunger and a mission to end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources. Further information can be read on the Stop Hunger Now website: http://www.stophungernow.org

Remember, this time of year especially, how lucky we are to have so much and share what you can with those in need.  This event will take place at the Forest Hills Baptist Church.  There will be a hot dog dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. and we will be packaging food from 6 to 8 p.m.  If you are able to participate in the packaging, please let the office know by phone (856-7699) or email Dr. Wheeler at mwheeler@wcpss.net by 2 p.m. Monday, November 14.  You also can sign up in the office on Monday during the day.  We hope to see many of you at this giving event.

(This message was sent out via School Messenger over the weekend.)

Need to Learn How to Choose Your School? Parent Info Sessions Begin

The Wake County Public School System is beginning a series of helpful information sessions designed to walk parents through the process of selecting a school through the new Choice Student Assignment Plan for 2012-2013. These will be offered throughout Wake County, frequently through the assistance of community partners and host organizations. If your group is interested in inviting WCPSS staff to help parents understand the student assignment process, please contact the Office of Family and Public Engagement at 919-431-7800.

More information sessions are being planned, but these are the first ones scheduled: