DATES TO REMEMBER:FEBRUARY 16 – 20 – PRESIDENTS DAY W/E – NO SCHOOL

FEBRUARY 23 – READ-A-THON ENDS – KEEP ON READING AND BRINGING IN DONATIONS!

FEBRUARY 24 – TALENT SHOW @ SHILOH POINT ES 5-6:30 pm (K-2) or 7-8:30 pm (3-5)

FEBRUARY 28 – LIBRARIAN APPRECIATION DAY

MARCH 2 – DR. SEUSS DRESS-UP DAY - $1 (See flyer below)

MARCH 5 – 9 – EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN’S WEEK (specific dress-up information below)

MARCH 7 – SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY

MARCH 9 – EARLY RELEASE @ 11:50 /PARENT CONFERENCES

Big Creek ElementaryFebruary 15, 2018

www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/bigcreek

WILDCAT NEWS

MENU FOR 2/21 - 2/23

WEDNESDAY – BREADED CHICKEN CHUNKS OR BUFFALO STRIPS OR VEGGIE CHIK’N NUGGETS

THURSDAY – NACHOS (CHEESE, CHICKEN, BEEF) OR TACO SALAD OR BLACK BEAN BURGER

FRIDAY – PIZZA OR TURKEY CHEF SALAD OR GARDEN VEGGIE BURGER

*highlighted items are our vegetarian selections

Power up for learning with BREAKFAST at school. Student appetites may not wake up right away so breakfast at school is a great option. We offer many nutritious breakfast items such as chicken biscuits, pancakes, French toast sticks, chocolate muffin tops, yogurt smoothies, and much more. Check out our entire menu on the Big Creek website!

The cafeteria serves Wildcat Breakfast daily from 7:10-7:40!

MENU FOR 2/26 - 3/2

MONDAY – POPCORN CHICKEN OR TURKEY & CHEESE ROLL-UP OR BLACK BEAN BURGER

TUESDAY – PASTA W/SAUCE/MEATBALLS OR PIZZA MUNCHABLE OR VEGGIE CHIK’N NUGGETS

WEDNESDAY – NACHOS (CHEESE, CHICKEN, BEEF) OR TACO SALAD OR GARDEN VEGGIE BURGER

THURSDAY – GRILLED CHEESE W/TOMATO SOUP OR BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP OR BLACK BEAN BURGER

FRIDAY – CHEESE QUESADILLA OR TURKEY CHEF SALAD OR GARDEN VEGGIE BURGER

GEORGIA PARENT SURVEY

Parents, we are looking for your feedback. We would like for you to complete the Georgia Parent Survey, that contains 24 questions. The survey can be completed using your personal computer, smartphone or tablet. The data collected will be used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating which is an indicator in our academic accountability system, the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Education.

http://gshs.gadoe.org/Lists/Par

ents/NewForm.aspx

NOTES FROM THE NURSE:

If your student tells you they do not feel well in the morning before school, it is important for their health and the health of others to keep them home. Some viruses can still cause illness without the presence of a fever. We do not want to spread germs to other students, teachers, or staff. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been seeing a lot of students in the mornings before the school bell rings at 7:40. If your child is feeling unwell before school starts, please plan to keep them home and call the doctor’s office when they open. Most pediatricians open at 8:00. They have a nurse line you can speak with to see if you should bring your child in. In addition, if a student has a temperature of 100 or more the student may not come to school until the fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of medication. So, for example, if a student has a fever (greater than 100.0 F) at 7 am and without the use of medication it is gone by 12 pm, that student may not return to school until after 12pm the next day. We appreciate you taking this seriously and helping reduce the spread of viruses in our school!

Exceptional Children’s Week – March 5th – 9th

The theme is “Connecting Educators, Students and Communities.” It is a week to celebrate the exceptionalities and

unique qualities of all people. There will be a color to wear each day in celebration and awareness of exceptionalities:

Monday - wear purple to represent epilepsyTuesday - wear blue to represent autismWednesday - wear orange to represent ADD & ADHDThursday - wear yellow to represent down syndromeFriday - wear green to represent cerebral palsy

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Big Creek After School Activities

Sponsored by The Learning Bridge

All after school activities meet from 2:30 - 3:30 on given meeting dates. Payments are made directly to The Learning Bridge. The cost for each activity ranges from $40 - $55 depending on if there are any extra fees for supplies. All after school activities meet for four weeks.

The following activities will begin meeting on Thursdays and each session lasts 4 weeks. The fourth session of after school activities for 2017-2018 will meet on March 8, March 15, March 22, and March 29. Forms are due back no later than Tuesday March 6.

Chess and MORE $40 (Mrs. Cox-Open to K-5)Chess and MORE….Love Chess, never played or just love some good competition, come hang out with Mrs. Cox for some friendly FUN. We will mainly focus on Chess and how to play, because chess makes you SMART, but the MORE part will be other board and card games. We will incorporate the other games as time permits. We will have a variety of games that my club students have voted on. Come develop critical thinking skills, improve your memory, improve your concentration and build your confidence. Max number of participants is 30.

Star Wars Club $40 (Mrs. Warstadt Open to 3-5)Are you a Jedi, or a Sith? Would your light saber be blue, green, purple or red? Do you think Rey is a Jedi? If you know the name of the world’s most famous Wookiee…if you know the difference between an X-wing and a TIE fighter…then this club is for you. Max number of participants is 15.

Roaring Wildcat Reporters $40 (Ms. Vavala-Open to 5)Come be a part of Big Creek's first-ever student led newspaper! We will work together to create a spectacular piece of news that the WHOLE school will get to see! If you love to write, take photos, and show your creativity then this is the place to be.

Science is FUN!!! $50 (Mrs. Singh-Open to 3-5)Do you wonder why and how things work and have fun too? Then come join me in exploring the answer to your Why..through exciting, creative, scientific, and hands on experiments. The club will surely make you walk away saying "Science is Fun! Science is Cool! I can do Science!"

Craft Club $45 (Ms. Stewart-Open to K-3)Do you like to create things? This is the club for you! We will be making holiday themed items each week. Activities include arts & crafts and maybe a snack or two! This club will be full after 25 students sign up, so don’t waste any time getting your form and payment in!

STEM Club $45 (Ms. Dorsey-Open to K-2)Practicing teamwork, students will engage in various hands on activities involving science, technology, engineering and math. Students imagination will grow and their creativity will soar!

Kids in the Kitchen $55 (Mrs. Brown and Ms. Knoup-Open to K-5)Do you like MasterChef junior - do you like to cook? Then this is the club for you! Come learn how to make a variety of delicious and fun single serve snacks! Kids will get to make and assemble a variety of fun snacks. All ages are welcome! We serve snacks at the end of clubs too! Be sure and get your form in today, we fill up quick.

Around the World $50 (Mrs. Kidd-Open to 1-2)Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Are you interested in other countries and languages? Do you like nature and animals? Do you love to sing, read, and do arts and crafts? If so, this is the club for you! Join us on a world traveler adventure! Pack your suitcase and grab your passport...this airplane only has 15 seats, so book your ticket now!

BIG CREEK AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIESChild’s Name: Payment (circle one): CASH CHECK # Grade: Homeroom Teacher:

Parent Name: Phone #:

Parent Name: Phone #:

E-Mail:

How my child will go home at 3:30 pm: CAR RIDER NUMBER _______ or LEARNING BRIDGE ______

EMERGENCY CONTACT: If school is dismissed early due to weather or any other circumstances, parents will be called. If parents cannot be reached, the emergency contact listed below will be called:Name _____________________________________________________________Home Phone ___________________________________________ Work/Cell # ___________________________________________

Is your child on any form of restricted pickup: ________YES ________NO (This pertains to students with custody situations only. Otherwise, we always use Infinite Campus. We never release a student to anyone other than their parents/guardians without written permission. We will use your information from Infinite Campus to verify identity.)

Special instructions: (Allergies, Dietary, Medical, etc.)___________________________________________________________/NONEFees and Payment Agreement The cost of each after school activity is $10.00 per meeting date (ex. 4 meetings =$40). Some activities will charge a supply fee.

****Please make your checks payable to The Learning Bridge****All payments are non-refundable. If your child displays behavior that interferes with the goal of the club, your child will be unable to participate in the remaining club sessions. Please put your child’s name and the club name on your check or cash in a marked envelope. Clubs must have a minimum of eight children. Pick up time is 3:30pm prompt . Any student not picked up by 3:35pm will come to the front office and the parent will be called. All families received a car tag in their Open House folder of the youngest sibling. If you cannot find yours, please stop by the front office before the first club meeting. For safety reasons, you must have a car rider number before we can release your child to you.

I understand and agree that all fees must be paid by the club sign up date deadline (March 6th).

Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________________________________________Date: ____________________________

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY NAME: __________________________________________________________________

My daughter Mackenzie and her classmate Jake began their education in 2006 as kindergarteners here at Big Creek!!

Fast-forward more than 12 years! Today they are Junior’s at South Forsyth High School and are participating in the 2018 Students of the Year program! This is a seven-week initiative in which select high school students

from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We are currently in week 4 of our campaign. They have a goal of raising $50,000!! They fight for

people like Connor McMahon, a classmate who has had leukemia 3 times – and this last time (2017) he was able to receive a life-saving experimental treatment called CAR-T. Thanks to LLS he is winning his battle against cancer!!!! Their mission is not only to meet this financial goal but also to bring attention to blood

cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled. And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases. In fact, drugs first approved for blood cancers are now approved to treat patients with stomach cancers, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

We really are changing the face of blood cancer and we need your help!

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They will not only support LLS-funded research but will help provide critical information and support for patients, and advocate for laws to ensure patients can access the care and treatments they need.

Please visit our website and share this information with friends who would also like to donate. To learn more about the treatment that cured Connor, please click here: https://llsdata.box.com/v/FireWithFire

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere we thank you for your support!

Please donate by clicking this link or go to: http://events.lls.org/ga/AtlantaSOY2018/FoCoCure

Father Daughter Dance

The BCES Father Daughter Dance needs YOUR help! Please volunteer a little of your time to make

this a magical evening for our girls. We need people to help decorate beforehand, as well as people

to help during the dance. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4daaab22ab9-father

NEW this year! We have teamed with a local artist to provide silk flower wrist corsages for $10,

available for purchase at the dance! Not only is this a great price, but Big Creek PTO will receive a

percentage of every corsage sold! There will be a variety of colors available. Please remember to

bring cash or check to take advantage of this amazing corsage deal, and make your little girl's

evening even more special!  

 

Read-A-Thon Update

Our second and final fundraiser of the year was very successful.  So far we have raised $22,425.75

and readers logged 34,705 minutes of reading.  You can contribute to the fundraiser through

February 23.  The money that we raised will be used to purchase even more furniture and new

bookshelves for our Media Center!

 

Talent Show

The Big Creek Talent Show is scheduled for Friday February 24th at South Forsyth HS.  Tickets will

be sold at the door.  Adult tickets are $5 and child tickets are $3.  Concessions will be sold before the

performances.

*Please attached flyer*

PTO Fact

Did you know that every parent/guardian/teacher at Big Creek is a FREE PTO member?  The PTO

Website is full of important information.  Be sure to create your free account so you can purchase

event tickets and spirit wear.  Visit our website at www.BigCreekESPTO.com

 

Honoring our HeroesThank you for participating in the Honoring our Heroes competition. All of your entries were wonderful, amazing and heart-warning filled with joys and cries according to the Judge! Here are the grade level winners:

K: Chloe Kraft

1st: Misha Patel

2nd: Varsha Ramakrisnan

3rd: Nishna Chippa

4th:  Harmehar Kaur

5th: Ana de Barros

Please join us for Big Creek Elementary’s Father Daughter Dance

Enchantment Under the SeaDate: Friday, March 9, 2018

Time: 7pm to 9pm

Location: Piney Grove Middle School Cafeteria; 8135 Majors Road, Cumming

Tickets are $15 per couple (BCES student and her father/grandfather/uncle or family friend!) and $7.50 per individual (additional BCES sibling) in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Remember to bring $10 cash or check to purchase 5x7 formal photos at the dance!

Please return the bottom portion with your cash or check no later than February 23, 2018. Be sure to turn in exact amount of cash- NO CHANGE WILL BE GIVEN.

Tickets are also available online at https://bigcreekpto.membershiptoolkit.com/father-daughter-dance If you choose to purchase tickets online, you DO NOT need to return this form.

Spirit Wear

The cold weather is still here...and PTO has plenty of long sleeve shirts to keep your kids warm.  In long sleeve, the two options are gray or purple shirts for $20.  There are plenty of short sleeve shirts available for $15 as well.  Order your BCES Spirit Wear online only (you must be logged in to your account to purchase).

FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

Student(s) Name(s): ______________________________________________________________

Grade(s): ________________ Teacher(s): ____________________________________________

Cash Amount Enclosed: ________________ Check Amount Enclosed: ________________

Please make checks payable to Big Creek PTO. Tickets are non-refundable. This Father-Daughter event is for students of Big Creek Elementary and their escorts only - this is not a family event

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Please join us for Big Creek Elementary’s Mother Son Dance

“Superheroes Unite”

When: Saturday March 10, 2018Time: 7pm to 9pm

Superhero Costumes are encouraged!

Location: Piney Grove Middle School Cafeteria8135 Majors Road

Tickets are $15 per couple (BCES student and his mother/grandmother/aunt or family friend) and $7.50 per individual (additional BCES sibling). Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Remember to bring $10 cash or check to purchase 5x7 professional photograph at the dance!

Please return the bottom portion of this form with your cash or check no later than March 1, 2018. Be sure to turn in EXACT amount of cash- NO CHANGE WILL BE GIVEN.

ORYou may purchase tickets online at https://bigcreekpto.membershiptoolkit.com/mother-son-event

If you choose to purchase tickets online you DO NOT need to return this form

MOTHER/SON SUPERHERO EVENT

Student(s) Name(s): ________________________________________________________________

Grade(s): ____________________ Teacher(s): ___________________________________________

Cash Amount Enclosed: ____________________ Check Amount Enclosed: ___________________

Please make checks payable to Big Creek PTO. Tickets are non-refundable. This event is for students of Big Creek Elementary and their escorts only- this is not a family event.