Updating Information

Hello. This is Dr. Wheeler with a few school updates.

PTA Meeting.  We are holding a PTA meeting this Thursday at 7p.m. in the Media Center. We will be discussing the new PTA website and technology.

Plan Ahead For Spring Fling.  Save the date for Olds Spring Fling! It will take place on Friday, May 17th, 6 to 8 p.m.

Report Cards.  Third quarter ends on March 27, 2013.  Report cards will go home in Tuesday folders on April 16, 2013.

Spring Break.  March 28th  is a workday for staff and no school for students.  March 29^th is a holiday and the start of spring break.  Students and staff return to school on Monday, April 8, 2013.  We hope you are able to relax, smile, laugh, and enjoy the Spring weather.  Happy Spring Break!

Assembly and Biomedical Modeling and Animation Competition.  Come see models built by students in Grades 3 through 8 at a unique competition.  The competition involves a student’s ability to construct a model using any common form of materials that conveys and represents an important concept(s) of biology that has been documented and described in the scientific literature or textbook at the Nanometer (1X10^-9 meter) scale.  Several Olds students are participating. Come March 21st at 6:00 at NCSU.Please see below for more details.

Biomedical Modeling and Animation Competition

Thursday, March 21, 2013

6:00 P.M. at North Carolina State University

Lecture Hall 1021 Engineering Building I (EB1) – Centennial Campus

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

911 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27695

Models should be delivered between 4:00 and 6:00. Judging will take place beginning at 6:00.

Prizes will be awarded at 7:15.

The Keynote speaker is Michael Astrachan, the Creative Director, President and Owner of XVIVO | Scientificanimation and a global leader in the medical and scientific animation field.  He will share his work and vision of scientific animation. Due to his dedication to scientific accuracy and high artistic quality,  his work has been featured in the New York Times, showcased on NPR.org, displayed in science museums internationally, gone viral on YouTube, and is used by speakers at TED and TEDMED. Students will have an opportunity to meet him and ask questions. Olds Elementary upper elementary students will have an opportunity to hear him at an assembly on Thursday, March 21^st.  You can hear him that evening at the NCSU event.  There is no charge to hear him speak. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to hear and see one of the world’s best!

Fifth Grade Fieldtrip to Washington D.C.

March 6, 2013
Dear Parents and Guardians of Olds Elementary Fifth Grade Students, this is Dr. Wheeler, your principal.
You may have heard that the Washington DC area is expecting snow. The question that we are being asked is whether we will still be going on the trip tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. The answer at this time is yes.
We have been in touch with Mr. Holbrook, head of the organization that is working with us on the Washington DC trip. He is in regular contact with people in the Washington area and weather information sites. We also are in touch with weather sites for the Washington area and have first hand reports of what the weather is like at this time. In general, it is expected that roads will be clear by tomorrow. Groups from two other Wake County schools plan to leave Thursday morning about the same time as us for a fieldtrip to Washington D.C.
All of this is to let you know that we are monitoring the situation. We still plan on leaving at 5 a.m., Thursday, March 7th and will return Friday night, March 8th.are still going. Please have your child wear appropriate clothing for walking outside on a wet, cold day. Hats, gloves, scarves, coats and possibly boots would be appropriate. I personally plan on wearing Uggs and putting an extra pair of shoes in my travel bag. Don’t forget to pack healthy snacks, water, and napkins for your child to use on the bus and during the day.
If you have any questions, please call the office at 919-856-7699. See you in the early morning if not before at school.

Upcoming Events

Hello.  This is Dr. Wheeler with your school updates.  The information in this message will be posted on the Principal News portion of the school website.

FAMILY NIGHT DINNER AND MOVIE  A special family event will take place this Friday, Feb. 1^st  at Olds Elementary.  From 5 to 7 p.m., we will have a BBQ dinner in the school cafeteria.  If you have an order in already, you can pick your dinners up and take the home or you can eat them in the cafeteria.  If you would like a BBQ dinner for $8 from Clyde Cooper’s, you can still get one.  Please call the office to make an order.  Starting at 7 p.m., your family can join the fun and excitement o f a movie night at Olds.  We will be showing the movie “Finding Nemo.”   Be sure to bring your blankets and pillows.  We hope to see all of you there.   Popcorn and other refreshments will be available for a small fee.  All proceeds from these family events will go towards the fifth grade Washington D.C. field trip.

CURRENT ADDRESS  Have you moved recently?  If yes, please be sure to let the office know.  Call us at 919-856-7699 or drop in and visit Ms. Shanita Robinson in the office.  We need to have your accurate address in order to help you with registration for next year.

SCIENCE FAIR  Don’t forget Science Fair is next week!  We really look forward to seeing all of the students’ scientific efforts!

Thank you and have a good day!

 

 

Alert: Three hour delayed start Monday, Jan. 28, 2013

Good Evening Parents.  This is Dr. Wheeler with a message about a 3 hour delay to the start of school on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013.  This message will be posted on our school website under Principal News.

The following message has been sent out from central office Sunday evening: “All Wake County Public School System schools will operate on a three-hour delay on Monday, January 28, due to the threat of inclement weather. The safety of our students, parents and staff remains our top priority.”  For Olds Elementary students, this means that all students may enter the building at 11 a.m.  The late bell will be at 11:30 a.m.  Please drive safely and we will see your children late Monday morning.  Thank you and have a good evening.

New School Alert to Parents: Change to 4 Hour Early Dismissal

Dear Parents:    We just received notice that we are on a four hour early dismissal.  This should be a follow up to the school messenger phone call made to your homes.  Due to a shift in weather conditions, we ask that you pick up your child at 11 a.m.  Buses are on their way to school as this is being typed.  Bus students will be geting on their buses shortly.  Walkers and car pool students should be picked up at 11 a.m. using the regular pick up procedures.  The After School Program is cancelled.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE LEAVING THE SCHOOL AT 11 A.M.  Thank you in advance for helping us get our children home as safely and quickly as possible!!

Family Messages

Please note that we have a three hour early release Friday, Jan. 25th!

Good evening this is Dr. Wheeler, your Olds Elementary Principal.  I have a few announcements for you.  The announcements will be posted under Principal News on our school website.

Due to the threat of bad weather, school will end early on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013.  School will end at 12 p.m., noon.  We will be on a three-hour early release schedule.  ALL students will leave school at noon by bus, car, or walking.  This includes After School students.  The After School Program is cancelled for Friday, Jan. 25^th due to anticipated bad driving conditions.  Please make arrangements for your child to go home at noon, 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25^th.

Due to weather conditions, the BBQ plate fundraiser has been postponed. More information will be available soon. Thank you for your support! 

Our fifth graders are working hard to set up a fun-filled movie night for all of us a week from Friday.  Watch for more details!

Science Fair is coming up February 6th, 7th, and 8th.  Tri-fold boards for your Science displays can be purchased at all craft stores as well as Walmart, Target, and office supply stores.  We are truly looking forward to the wonderful Science that our students will be sharing with us.  Please remember that kindergarten and first grade students will share on Wed., Feb. 6th; second and third grade students will share on Thursday, Feb. 7th; fourth and fifth grade students will share on Friday, Feb. 8^th. It is going to be a spectacular Science Fair event.

Thank you and please email Dr. Wheeler at mwheeler@wcpss.net with any questions, concerns, or suggestions for making our wonderful school even better.

Upcoming Events

Good evening parents and students.  This is Dr. Wheeler with a few important reminders.  the information is posted under Principal News on our school website.

Hot Box Pizza:  We have a fun fundraiser called Hot Box Pizza.  You can help us raise funds for the fifth grade Washington DC fieldtrip by calling or ordering online a pizza from Hot Box Pizza on Thursday, January 17th.  A flyer is coming home today or tomorrow in your child’s bookbag.  Please look for it.  You can contact Hot Pizza Box for pick up or delivery by calling 919-832-9292 or website: www.gethotboxpizza.com.

Science Fair:  Our annual Science Fair is coming up soon.  Kindergarten and first grade students will be presenting Feb. 6th, followed by second and third grade students on Feb. 7th, and fourth and fifth grade students on Feb. 8th.  Please visit the Principal News section of our school website for details on the Science Fair.  Many thanks to all the volunteers who are making this wonderful event possible for our students.

Science Fair FAQs

What are the correct dates for the science fair?

Wednesday, February 6                                Kindergarten and 1^st Graders

Thursday, February 7                     2^nd and 3^rd Graders

Friday, February 8                           4^th and 5^th Graders

 

When are the projects due to school?

Students should bring their projects to school the morning of the science fair. They can set up in the gym area from 8:00 AM until 8:25 AM. They must be in their classrooms when the bell rings at 8:30 AM. After announcements their teachers will send them back to the science fair area.

How much space do the students have for their projects?

The students will have approximately 3 feet of space on a table. The tables are standard 6 feet long folding tables and 2 students will share a table.

Do students get a snack during the science fair?

Students will be in the science fair area until about 10:00 or 10:30 so they may miss morning snack with their class. Students may bring a snack and water with them to the science fair.

Do the science fair presentations have to be done on the computer?

My guidance has been – if your student is expected to turn in most of their homework using the computer, then they should do their science fair using computer software such as Word and Excel.

If your student is still doing most of their homework by hand, then I would encourage them to do their science fair project by hand also.

What can you do to help your child prepare for the science fair?

1. Let them do as much of the project on their own as they can

2. Ask them lots of how and why questions

3. Give them an opportunity to practice “presenting” their project to you

How does judging work?

All students will get a participant ribbon.

Kindergarten and First Grade students will be judged by a parent volunteers.

All other students will be judged by volunteers from science departments at NC State. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be awarded for each category (collection, demonstration, experiment), on each day (K/1; 2-3; 4-5). Multiple ribbons will be awarded in the event of a tie. From all the 1st prize winners, the judges will also select a “best in show” for each day.

How are projects judged?

You should have received a judging form when we returned the project proposal to your student. This is what the judges will use to judge the students’ projects.

Judges Forms are on the next pages:

Judging Form Introduction

Parents and Students,

Thanks for participating in the 2013 Fred Olds Science Fair!

To help you prepare, we are providing you with the judging forms that will be used in this year’s Science Fair. There are separate judging criteria for each of the project categories (Experiment, Demonstration, and Collection). 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be awarded for each category, on each day (K/1; 2-3; 4-5). From all the 1st prize winners, the judges will also select a “best in show” for each day.

While these forms should help you understand what the judges will be looking for, don’t let the judging scare you!  Have fun with your project, discover something you didn’t know before (or maybe even something that no one knew before?), and be proud of yourself for what you’ve done.

EXPERIMENTS
Criteria	1 point	2 points	3 points	4 points	Points
Problem:  Is the problem well defined? How new and original is it?	No statement of problem	Incomplete statement	Complete, well defined and well written problem statement	Complete, well defined and well written problem statement. New and original problem.
Hypothesis:  How well is it defined? How testable is it?	No hypothesis	Hypothesis is incomplete or unclear	Hypothesis is complete, but not testable	Well-defined hypothesis that is clearly testable
Design/plan:  Was the hypothesis properly tested? Was an experimental plan developed to test it?	Plan or design is not listed	The experiment only tests part of the hypothesis	Experiment tests the hypothesis  Sufficient plan to test the hypothesis	Experiment tests the hypothesis, and is clearly defined and explained
Variables:  Were experimental variables well defined and controlled?	No variables identified and no controls	Variables are identified but not controlled	Variables are identified and partially controlled	Variables are carefully identified and controlled
Procedures:  Are experimental procedures coherent, well described, and properly reported?	Procedures are not listed	Procedures incomplete	Procedures are complete and listed step by step	Procedures are complete, listed step by step, and fully quantified
Use of Sources: Did the student consult sources to prepare for or plan the project or to study the results?	No evidence of background research AND no sources cited	Some evidence of background research OR some sources cited	Some evidence of background research AND some sources cited	Background research is relevant, sufficient, well-documented and sources are cited
Visuals and Presentation	No visuals, display or presentation	Visuals and presentation included	Visuals and presentation were clear and helpful	Visuals and presentation were clear, helpful, and well realized
Ability to address questions	Student is not able to answer judge’s questions	Student attempts to answer judge’s questions but does not demonstrate appropriate level of knowledge	Student’s answers judge’s questions at an age-appropriate level	Student is able to answer the judge’s questions and discuss the topic with confidence
				PROJECT TOTAL:
				POINTS POSSIBLE:	32

January 3, 2013

School News

Happy New Year.  This is Dr. Wheeler, Principal at your child’s school, Olds Elementary.  The following announcements will be posted on our school website under Principal News.

Student assignment information for our students will be coming home in your child’s homework folder.  Please watch for the envelope. 

We will be conducting end of quarter assessments beginning Monday, January 7^th and continuing over the next couple of weeks.   Make up assessments will begin the week of January 20^th. Please help your child do his or her best by ensuring plenty of rest and a good breakfast.

Monday, January 21, is a holiday to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.  No school for students.

Tuesday, January 22, is a teacher workday.  No school for students.

Science Fair is coming up soon.  We are so excited that the number of students participating is higher than ever.  Way to go students!  We look forward to seeing your scientific efforts the week of January 20^th.

Yummy News!  Our fifth graders will be working with parents to host a BBQ night on Friday, January 25^th from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Proceeds will be used to help fund our fifth grade Washington DC fieldtrip.  Stay tuned for more details in the next few weeks.

Report cards will go out in our Tuesday folders the last week of the January.

Please call the office at 919-856-7699 if you have any questions.

Thank you and have a good evening.

Fifth Grade News

Greetings to all parents of our current fifth grade students.

A fifth grade parent information session on Human Growth and Development will be held tonight, Jan. 3, in the Media Center at 5:30 p.m.  We hope to see you there.

The fifth grade field trip to Poe Center is tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013.  Please make sure your fees and your permission slips are in to the teachers.  Your child will not be able to go on the fieldtrip without them.

Our annual fieldtrip to Washington, D.C. is scheduled for March 7^th and 8^th.  All required fees must be collected by February 14^th if we are to meet our payment schedule.  If we do not have enough funds at that time, we will cancel the fieldtrip.  Fieldtrip funds will be returned to parents.  This will not be necessary if we all pitch in and help.  You can help us meet our Washington D.C. fieldtrip financial goals by paying for your child and helping with the fundraisers.

Thank you and have a good evening.

School Safety and Winter Break

Dear Olds Families,

This is Dr. Wheeler with some updated announcements.  All of the information and more will be posted on our school website under Principal News.

 School Schedules.  This Friday is the last day before winter break.  Students have an early release and will leave at 12:30 p.m.  Parents of carpool students and students who walk should be available to meet their children at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.  After school students will follow their regularly scheduled program.  Students return to school on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

 Monkey Joes.  Come to Monkey Joes at 6220 Glenwood Ave. on Dec. 30 at 2 pm to bounce for Olds!   20% of the proceeds from admission and other purchases will be donated to Olds to help send deserving 5^th graders on their field trip to Washington D.C. It also will be a great chance for your children to burn off some energy and see their friends.  Can’t wait to see you there!

 Donations.  There is still time to make donations to the school for the fifth grade fieldtrip and other school initiatives like technology.  Please call the office for details if you need them.

 School Safety.  I know the events of last week at the elementary school in Newton, Connecticut weigh heavily in all of our hearts and minds.  Some parents are very concerned and have asked about safety at Olds.  We, as all Wake County schools do, have emergency plans in place for various situations. 

      School Plans.  In order to make sure our plans are the best possible, Dr. Robinson met with our school safety supervisor this week to review all of our school safety plans.  Our plans are good ones, but we think we can do even better.  Starting in January, we will be implementing a few minor changes to better ensure the safety of students, staff, families, and community members.  A description of the plans will be sent home to you after we return to school in January.

     As a school community we remain committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, parents, volunteers, and community members.  We continue to appreciate your support and are thankful for the joy each of your children bring to our lives.  Please know that our school and the district have an aligned emergency plan in place ready to go as needed.  Further information about school safety in Wake County Schools is available on the district website.

Finally, Dr. Robinson and I wish all of you a very safe, loving, and rejuvenating winter break.  We will see you on January 2, 2013 when we return to school.    Dr. Wheeler

Further Information about School Safety

 District Level Plans. 

• The safety and welfare of our students is our number one priority.
•  Wake County Public School System has a comprehensive Emergency

Operations Plan in place.

• Every school also has its own emergency plan. Staff and students are

familiar with their roles and responsibilities during an emergency, and

practice them through drills.

• Our school staff and district-level staff work in collaboration with WCPSS

Security, local law enforcement and other crisis-response agencies to

provide a safe learning environment for our students on a daily basis.

• In some emergency situations, it may be necessary for a school to be

placed on lockdown.

 What is a lockdown?

A lockdown is a precautionary measure in response to a threat directly to the

school or in the surrounding community. In a lockdown:

• All school activities are moved indoors.

• All exterior doors on campus are locked.

• No one is allowed to enter or exit the building.

• Parents may not come to the school during a lockdown.

• Parents are also discouraged from calling the school directly. Additional calls

hinder the ability of staff to respond to the primary task: keeping everyone

safe.

There are three lockdown codes at WCPSS:

• Code Red – used when there’s a direct threat to the school or in the immediate

area of the school

• Code Yellow – used when there’s a danger in the surrounding community, i.e.

police searching for a criminal suspect in the area

• Code Green – used once the lockdown has been lifted

How will I know if my child’s school is on lockdown?

Once a lockdown is put into place, police and school administrators work

together to first ensure the safety of everyone on the school campus. Once the

situation has been stabilized, a phone message, email and/ or paper letter will be

sent to parents to inform them that the school was placed on a lockdown, the

nature of the incident, and about how long the lockdown was in place.

In larger emergencies, such as a Code Red lockdown or lockdowns that affect

numerous schools, WCPSS will take the following steps to notify you:

• dispatch an emergency phone message

• update the WCPSS Facebook page, Twitter account (@wcpss) and the

WCPSS home page

• notify and update the local media as the situation develops

Emergency phone messages are sent to phone numbers that parents have

provided to the school. Letters are usually sent home with students at the end of

the day, or the following day if the lockdown happened close to dismissal.

Why didn’t I receive a phone message? Each situation differs in the level of

severity and how it impacts the school day and families. For instance, if a Code

Yellow Lockdown is put into place but is lifted after just a few minutes with

minimal impact to the school day, your principal may decide he or she will send a

letter home for information purposes. In other cases, principals will decide to

send both an emergency phone message and a paper letter home.

In a more severe Code Red Lockdown, parents will receive multiple forms of

communication. This could include multiple phone messages, as well as written

letters after the fact. During a Code Red Lockdown, parents should also look to

the WCPSS home page and the WCPSS Twitter (@wcpss) and Facebook

accounts for the most recent information. Parents are also encouraged to watch

or listen to local media for updates.

Parents: please ensure your school has your most up-to-date emergency

contact information on hand.  In the event of a lockdown or other emergency,

school staff will use that contact information to contact you. If you have not

received a recorded phone message from your school during a lockdown, please

check your contact information with the school.

Can I come to the school and take my child home? During a lockdown, your

child’s school is a secure area. School officials and law enforcement are working

together to keep everyone safe, and no one is allowed to enter or exit the school.

To ensure everyone’s safety we ask that parents please refrain from coming to

school campuses during a lockdown. Once the all-clear is given, students and staff will be permitted to enter or exit the school again.

http://www.wcpss.net/blog/2012/09/for-parents-what-happens-during-a-lockdown/

School Safety Is Important.   The Superintendent has posted information on the district’s website about the various steps we take as a school system in order to make sure that our schools are safe and that our staff members know what to do in order to keep students safe. You know that your children have participated in drills over the years and this year have also experienced a lock down. These drills and activities help us be better prepared.  We continue to ask for your cooperation in signing into the office whenever you visit our campus, honoring our request that you wear a visitor badge, and always observing the routines and procedures for signing children out early.  If you have any questions or concerns about these procedures, please contact Dr. Wheeler or Dr. Robinson by email or call the office at 919-856-7699 with your concerns and/or questions.