South Preston School

#PCSREADS Nearly 18% of the way towards our goal countywide. Keep up the great work and reading kids!!!

Good evening. Just a reminder that tomorrow, November 5th, Election Day, there is no school for students and staff in Preston County. Again, tomorrow the 5th, there will be no school for students in Preston County. See you all back Wednesday.

This is just a reminder that there is no ASE tomorrow, Monday, November 4, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.

The Preston County Consolidated Middle School Wrestling Team (Squires Wrestling) will have two informational meetings along with sign-ups on Monday, November 4, 2024, and Friday, November 8, 2024, at 6:00PM at the new wrestling facility at the Preston High School Campus. If you are unable to attend any of the two meetings you can also sign up online with, the following link, visit our Facebook Page or contact your school office. Thank you . https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-PqnwoTLbRn12WedAe-5vQ8vxfqMxt_OPZEv_0JvaDY/viewform?edit_requested=true

PTO hoagie and pizza orders are due on Friday. The K-5 Halloween parade is tomorrow, Thursday, October 31, at 1:15. Students will parade down the sidewalk in front of the school. After the parade, parents wishing to sign out their child will need to go to the exterior gym doors facing the playground.

With the exception of Aurora's 6th-8th grades (due to technical difficulties), your student should've brought their first grading period report home with them today. Please go over this with your student and if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your student's teacher(s) and/or administration.

As a reminder, we kick off Red Ribbon Week with Pajama Day tomorrow. It’s also the first day of the book fair.

3rd and 4th grade ETA at South is 5:55. Please meet the bus at the old Tunnelton Denver Elementary School parking lot instead of entering our main parking lot.

The 3rd and 4th-grade field trip is in heavy traffic leaving Pittsburgh. ETA at South Preston is now 5:45.

PCS Staff: November 1st kicks off your first wellness challenge of the year. All information is provided below, and any additional questions or clarification can be emailed to Justin Hough at jhough@k12.wv.us. We can only do our best when we're at our best. At the end of the month, you'll certify at the following link or by scanning the QR code - https://forms.office.com/r/R6rMGbQgjf Remember, there will be 6 winners a month for the exclusive and cool Preston Strong Hats courtesy of Affordable Signs, then we will have a grand prize and second place drawing courtesy of Titan Roofing in March. We're already Preston Proud, now it's time to get Preston Strong.

LSIC Meeting September 10, 2024 Attendance: Margaret Guillory-3rd Grade Teacher Tracey Riekenberg-5th grade teacher. Jordan Young-SPED Jana Wolfe (TEAMS) -Parent Carrie Dalton (TEAMS) Dean of Students Lindsey Powell (TEAMS) Parent Lena Cline-SPED teacher Jim Hoit-Principal Meeting was called to order by Mr. Hoit-Principal and led the Pledge of Allegiance. A reading of the minutes from the last meeting were read and approved. Election of Officers: Nominations and fulfillment of offices Chair Jordan Young Vice Chair Lindsey Powell Secretary Tracey Riekenberg It was discussed that we need 2 more parents and 2 at large members. Members discussed potential members and will contact them before the next meeting. Mr. Hoit will create a Facebook page for the LSIC Team members to use to serve as a reminder for upcoming meetings and essential information. Meeting Dates: Meetings were scheduled for the year at 5:00 as follows: Wednesday, November 13 Wednesday, January 15* Weather permitting. Wednesday, May 7 Field Trips There is funding available this year for field trips. The potential for no funding for field trips will be the 2025-26 school year. This is contingent upon the school levy. PTO and teachers are working on scheduling dates and potential trips for this year. Youth in Action has funding with Title I The 8th grade DC trip was discussed. The major concern is transportation as the current bus line is too expensive. Other companies will be contacted for a price. Attendance Mendy Shaffer, Community School Specialist, is SPS attendance contact. Incentives for attendance will be given to encourage better attendance, i.e., popcorn/prizes Data will be shared on SPS attendance as it becomes available. Questions were raised about the policy change made by the state/county on attendance. Mr. Hoit clarified any questions regarding the changes in the policy to ensure accurate information is relayed to parents and the community. PBIS Jenny Tanner, teacher, presented a PowerPoint describing the new PBIS program at SPS. The presentation described the steps being taken this year to promote positive behavior. A matrix of expectations, (Responsible, safe, and respectful) was developed to be taught to students during the beginning of the school year and reviewed anytime there is a long break from school. More emphasis is being placed on interventions rather than office referrals to correct behavior. A weekly positive behavior referral is expected from all staff-teachers, service personnel, and staff, on a student. This is an opportunity to highlight a student doing something positive as outlined in the behavior matrix. Students will be called to the office by Miss Dalton and will earn a trip to the book vending machine. A program for entering discipline is being set up by SPS administration. Parents will receive a pamphlet that explains the process of PBIS that SPS is using. Miscellaneous -Parent notes are 5 per semester and 10 for the year -There will be no more educational leave only what is deemed “educational merit” eliminating vacations from the educational leave policy. -After 5 parent notes the attendance director will set up a meeting with the parents and students. -Chaperone list for the year is strong however, more chaperones are needed for hard jobs, not just parties and fun activities. A motion to adjourn was made by Margaret Guillory and seconded by Jenny Tanner.

There will be a class for those interested in becoming a substitute teacher on Monday, November 4th at 9:00 AM in the Preston County BOE Boardroom. An Associates or a Bachelors Degree is required for the license. Come join our team and start a new career, second career, or just make a little extra money while supporting the students of Preston County. Any questions, reach out to us at 304-329-0580.

There's a Halloween dance for students in grades 6-8 tomorrow, Oct. 25, from 6-8 pm. Admission is $5, and concessions will be sold. Costumes can’t have masks or weapons.

Music Programs at both South Preston and Terra Alta East Preston were recipients this year of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation Grant. This grant will help to support both schools in their music education efforts by providing musical instruments to those students in need, thus growing our bands and giving a student the ability to be in the band, who might not have been able to acquire an instrument otherwise. To date, all schools in Preston County with middle school bands have been recipients of this grant. Preston County Schools would like to thank VH1, Conn Selmer and WV Cabinet Secretary, Department of Arts, Culture and History , Randall Reid-Smith. Today was another day to be Preston Proud.

Good evening. Just a reminder that tomorrow, October 25th is a professional day for staff and no school for students in Preston County. Again, tomorrow the 25th, there will be no school for students in Preston County. Have a great weekend.

There will be a final live informational session as it relates to the Levy on the upcoming ballot this evening at 6pm on the following YouTube channel. https://m.youtube.com/@mountaindigital

November's Breakfast and Lunch Menus There is a new item in November for lunch which resembles the McRib Sandwich, as well as trying out boneless wings with a variety of sauces for our students to try to see which dipping sauces they like. We will also be trying out a breakfast burrito. Feedback from the survey was appreciated and taken into account, and from December on, all menus will be based on a majority of the surveys favorites, and removal of those items a majority didn't like or wants less of. Any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to email Justin Hough, Director of Child Nutrition and Communications at jhough@k12.wv.us

FLEX practice will be tomorrow from 6:00–8:00 pm for any middle school boy interested in playing basketball.

Due to forecasted inclement weather, tomorrow's PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade field trip has been rescheduled to Thursday, October 24.

Preston County Schools Upcoming Staff Wellness Challenge: Don't let time be an excuse to not take care of you. We're only at our best, because you're at your best. From November through February (4 Months), Staff is invited to participate in a wellness challenge. You can do this for personal benefit, pride, or county bragging rights. At the end of each month, certify yourself at the link provided on that month’s calendar (posted on Facebook). 6 winners will be chosen each month to receive a “Preston Strong” hat, courtesy of Affordable Signs Unlimited. Those 24 winners will also be placed into a drawing in March for a grand prize (TBD, but a goodie). The county will also keep track of school submissions and will post our "Top Schools" each month.