Welcome to Weatherstone – President’s Message
2010-2011 Accomplishments:
- WES Staff truly felt appreciated. The Hospitality Committee provided monthly staff lunches, early release day snacks, a wonderful staff appreciation week in February – as well as a luncheon in May with fabulous door prizes.
- Your children’s classrooms were supported. Each teacher received a $300 reimbursement for materials purchased for their classrooms. Each student in grades 3-5 received an “agenda” – an organizational tool/calendar that helps them keep track of their assignments and prepares them for middle school.
- Grade-level needs were supported. The PTA gave nearly $2,000 through our Mini-Grants program that benefited all students. We provided staff development materials for a new reading program that is being implemented in the school, purchased books that support reading test objectives, and brought in EOG testing materials and enrichment kits that were shared by the upper grades.
- Special Programs were made possible for your child. The Accelerated Reader program, Chorus, Jump Rope club, First in Fitness, Math Club, Reflections Program, Running Club, School Store, all receive PTA money and volunteers. The Talent Show is completely coordinated by PTA members (including much time put in by PTA member and WES music teacher Ms. Harward) and your children.
- Your child learned about the world around them. K-2nd graders learned about everyday heroes like our National Guardsmen, EMS, Police, Firefighters and Recycling and Sanitation services at our Community Helper Day The Cultural Arts Chair worked to bring three presentations to all students at WES: Einstein Alive, the Healing Force (African culture and drumming) and Trent Arterberry’s “The Bigg Show.” All received good reviews from teachers and children! We also provided two days of hands-on science learning through our Science Day and our Science Fair. All of these programs were paid for and coordinated by our PTA volunteers.
- Technology was provided for WES classrooms– Boosterthon funds were designated for the purchase of two “Student Response Systems” with 32 clickers and 9 interactive Mobis that can be used by teachers to provide new ways of learning and exploring Math and Science and other subjects.
- Parents were “in the know.” – Your money was spent on a new and attractive information sign to be installed in the fall of 2011 between the drop-off and pickup carpool lanes, helping keep parents informed of what’s happening at our school. Our newsletter, the Explorer Express is written and distributed by PTA volunteers. We funded the creation of a new logo, Web site and electronic newsletter to debut in fall of 2011.
On behalf of the PTA Board I welcome you all to the new school year! I’m thankful to report that we have a fully-staffed PTA Board with many
new members. We have a new Assistant Principal, Tim Chadwick – as well as many other new faculty and staff this year. Please be sure to take time to introduce yourself and welcome them to the Weatherstone Family. This year our PTA has finally “sailed” into the 21st century and we are tweeting, calendar-synching, e-mailing and blogging. I hope you’ll take advantage of these new options to connect yourself to our school.
Our Board has been working hard all summer preparing for this year – especially our Web site team, led by our new VP of Communications Kira Wolfe and our Webmaster Jim Farrell. Thanks to all of you, and our PTA Board for the many hours they have invested. Please explore the site and let us know your thoughts!
Here are a few of the many projects that are either completed or in the works, including:
- New logo and cool new spirit wear (including re-usable sticky ties!)
- $9,000 matching grant from Wake County Schools in order to purchase anchored soccer goals, extend fence height to 10 feet along Maynard (to stop all our PE equipment from bouncing over the old four-foot fence) and a new master plan for our entire campus that will include playground enhancements and outdoor classrooms (come to the 9/13 meeting at 6 pm to hear more! Come to our 9/20 meeting at 9:30 a.m. to be a part of it and give feedback!)
- New school information sign to be up soon
- New copier coming in September
- Electronic newsletter coming to your inbox the first week of September (say goodbye to paper and hello to a tree or two of saved paper)
- Expanded Family nights including Bingo 9/23, Book Fair 11/17, Math and Technology Night 1/19, International Night 2/28, Science Night 3/27, Night of Arts 5/10
- Kindergarten Social on 9/1 and New Parent Coffee 9/21
Please take the time to explore our site and find out about all the exciting things happening at Weatherstone. It’s taken me a year to get my arms around all the many things our PTA does and I am truly amazed and incredibly proud to be a part of it!
I challenge you to get involved – take a look at our volunteer opportunities and find out how you can be a part of our thriving WES community. Our PTA is enriched by a diversity of opinions, experience, skills and resources. Whether you have time, talent, services or can just join to show your support – we’ll take it.
I can honestly say that my life and my children’s lives are richer because of the time I’ve invested in the PTA.
I look forward to meeting you at one of our meetings or hearing from you!
Useful Links
North Carolina PTA Website – Every child. One voice.
