Friday, November 15th

Nelva and Susan have a Pink basket in the office for staff, students or families to place a card for Mrs Huddleston.  We will deliver en masse next Friday, November 22nd.  Remember, our communication with students is that she is taking care of some medical issues and should be able to return in the spring.  Cancer is not a taboo subject in schools, yet we must be sensitive and aware that the emotional growth and development of our students follows a normal distribution.  Be honest with compassion and empathy. 
  
Welcome Mr. Davis to our administrative team.  His first day was outstanding.  He worked with staff and students to learn our culture and commented:

• "Instruction is important here.  Staff and students were kind as they welcomed me to their rooms, yet they kept moving forward with the lesson."
• "It is evident that relationships are the core of this school."

On Saturday we will be promoting our school and educating the public on our new site.  Focus on what we want to do and how a new site will accelerate our student growth.  We will also be working under a new enrollment timeline. 

 Your child is entering kindergarten:

• Children who will be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2020, may enroll in kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year. 
• November 16: Magnet School Fair at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, Education Building. Visit with students, teachers, and principals from each magnet school.
• December 15 - January 10: Parents also can apply to one of our magnet schools: Ashley, Brunson, Diggs-Latham, The Downtown School, Konnoak, Mineral Springs, Speas and Moore. All but the Downtown School offer magnet-express transportation to those outside of their zones. Magnet applications are available at any elementary school and online at http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/magnet . Applications will be available starting February 15 and must be submitted by January 10. For more information, please call 727-2519.
• Parents of elementary students can choose among the four or five schools in their geographic zone. To find out your residential school and zone, visit the School Locator or call 748-3302.
• January 27 - February 7: To register and choose a school in your zone, please go to your residential school and pick up and fill out a Choice card between January 27 and February 7. Rank your top three choices on the card and return it by February 7. All children are guaranteed a spot in their residential schools or one of their three choices. Siblings also have the right to attend the same school. Transportation is provided to every school in a student's zone.
• One exception: If your child was accepted into a magnet school and you want your child to attend that school, you should not complete a choice card; it will override your magnet assignment. 
• February 29 - March 6: Parents also can apply to schools outside of their residential zone between February 29 and March 6.  Transfers are granted if space is available, and you must provide your own transportation. Applications will be available at every elementary school and on our Web site. Please make in-zone choices even if you plan to apply for an out-of-zone school, in case there is not space available at the out-of-zone school you desire.
• We urge all parents, especially those unfamiliar with the Choice process, to visit the schools in their zones. Parents should call schools in which they are interested in for more information.
• The North Carolina General Assembly recently enacted a law imposing mandatory caps on class sizes in grades Kindergarten through third that went into effect starting with the 2017-2018 school year.  The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is required to comply with this legislation.  It is important to our Board of Education that we share this new law with our families, as it limits their ability to grant choices requests.

Your child is currently in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade:

• November 16: Magnet School Fair at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, Education Building. Visit with students, teachers, and principals from each magnet school.
• December 15 - January 10: This is the only time to apply to a magnet school (Ashley, Brunson, Diggs-Latham, Konnoak, Mineral Springs, Speas, Moore, and the Downtown School). You will find out whether you were accepted by mail around the last week in January. For more information visit wsfcs.k12.nc.us/magnet .
• Mid-January: Your child will bring home a letter showing his or her school assignment for next year. It also will explain which other schools are in your zone and what choice you can make. If you want to stay at your assigned school, do nothing. If you'd like a different school, it's time to start investigating.
• January 27 - February 7: This is the time to visit other schools in your zone, ask questions and make a decision for next year. Rank your top three choices and turn them in by February 7. You are guaranteed one of your three choices or your residential school. Please make in-zone choices even if you plan to apply for an out-of-zone school. You will find out your school assignment around Mid-February.
• One exception: If your child was accepted into a magnet school and you want your child to attend that school, you should not complete a choice card; it will override your magnet assignment. 
• February 29 - March 6: If you're interested in a school outside of your zone, now is the time to apply. There must be space available and you must provide your own transportation. You'll receive your assignment by mail around Mid-March.
• The North Carolina General Assembly recently enacted a law imposing mandatory caps on class sizes in grades Kindergarten through third that went into effect starting with the 2017-2018 school year.  The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is required to comply with this legislation.  It is important to our Board of Education that we share this new law with our families, as it limits their ability to grant choices requests.