COOL CAT NEWS

Email: dbrooks@horrycountyschools.net
Website: https://www.horrycountyschools.net/Page/4560
Location: 4580 Highway 472, Conway, SC, USA
Phone: (843)365-3777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonElementary/

Our entire school is excited to read The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney!

Each week, students will answer a question about the book to earn points for their class. At the end of the book, the three classes with the most points will win a pizza party!

We will also share a weekly summary of the chapters along with an optional family activity you can enjoy at home. We hope your family will join Humphrey on his adventures and have fun reading together!

Chapters 1–2: The Return of Mrs. Brisbane and Night Life

Weekly Summary:
Humphrey, the classroom hamster in Room 26, is very upset when his beloved teacher, Ms. Mac, leaves and Mrs. Brisbane returns. Humphrey quickly notices that Mrs. Brisbane is very different from Ms. Mac—and she does not seem excited to have a classroom pet! As Humphrey observes the students and his new teacher, the class discusses nocturnal animals. Later, Humphrey is left alone at school overnight for the first time. Although the dark classroom seems a little scary, curious Humphrey is ready to learn more about the people and world around him.

Optional Family Activity: A Hamster’s-Eye View
Choose one room in your home and imagine seeing it through Humphrey’s eyes. What would look enormous? Where would you hide, sleep or explore? Draw a picture of the room from a hamster’s point of view, or tell your family about the adventure you might have there.

Family Conversation Starter:
How can getting to know someone help change your first impression of them?

All car riders will enter the building in the mornings at the cafeteria entrance instead of using the front door from 7:00-7:25 a.m. This will be for those eating breakfast and for those not eating breakfast. We do want to encourage all of our students to eat. We have a hot breakfast option and a cereal option. If you choose to park and walk your child up to the school we asked that you use the crosswalk at the front of the school where Officer Smith stands. Please do not use any of the other cross walks. This is for safety of our students.

It is our goal to have a safe arrival and dismissal every day, and we need your help! Your child’s safety is our main concern. Please follow the procedures below.

MORNING DROP OFF· Students may be dropped off at 7:00 a.m.. Breakfast is served from 7:00-7:20 a.m. in the cafeteria. Anyone arriving after 7:20 will not be able to eat breakfast.

· Remain in your car and in a single file line at all times. It is important to keep one lane open for emergency vehicle access if needed.

· Please make sure your child is ready to unload prior to arriving at school (book bag, homework, lunchbox, etc.)

· We will unload 9 cars at a time, and there are 9 numbered stations where you can drop off your child. Duty attendants have been placed at each station to supervise and expedite students getting out of cars – please follow their directions explicitly.

· Please DO NOT drop your child in the teacher’s parking lot. It is very dangerous, and children are not allowed to cross the driveway without a parent.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP

· Students are dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

· Remain in your car and in a single file line at all times. It is important to keep one lane open for emergency vehicle access if needed.

· Display your car rider tag prominently. The front office can provide additional tags if needed. Only those cars with tags will be allowed to pick students up in the line. Others will be asked to park and visit the office for verification.

· We will load 9 cars at a time, and there are 9 numbered stations where you can pick up your child. Duty attendants have been placed at each station to supervise and expedite students getting in cars – please follow their directions explicitly.

If for any reason you need to park, please DO NOT park in a handicap parking space if you do not have a handicap sticker.

Do you want to go on a field trip with your kids?

It's so important that you complete the HCS Volunteer Application NOW!

No one will be allowed to attend with the students if they are not an approved HCS Volunteer for the saftey of our students.

Please send in a note with your child to make a transportation change or email jmccracken@horrycountyschools.net. When emailing, please make sure you receive a response. All transportation changes MUST be made by 12:00.

-Orders will be taken until September 8th. No orders will be accepted after this date.

-Choose between two different logos

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Short-sleeve T-shirts ($15), Long-sleeve T-shirts ($19), Hooded ($25)

-Place your orders and pay through MyPaymentsPlus using the link below. When paying online, write the confirmation number on the order form and return it to the school with your child.

https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome

5th-grade chorus rehearsal will begin Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 2:30 PM. Students need to be picked up by 3:30!

2nd grade students will be performing the musical Pajama Party at Family night on Thursday, September 17th. at 5:45 PM. 2nd grade Parents, please check your email regarding the musical. Please fill out the form linked below. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Day.

2nd grade Program - Google Forms

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvvxTKS3cCaKQ3o5synMGKcUyQXhRnxzl9WHj-HyWcLbFokA/viewform

A Note From the School Counselor...

Your child will be visiting the guidance classroom a few times throughout the year for guidance lessons. During guidance, I will teach character education lessons. Some examples may be emotional awareness, drug prevention, career awareness, friendship, bully prevention, diversity, body safety, and conflict resolution. Please ask your child what they are learning in guidance each month to reinforce good character.

As the Kingston Elementary School Counselor, I am here to help everyone! In addition to seeing students during guidance lessons, I also speak with students individually or in small groups. Some examples of small groups that may be held this year are Social Skills, Anger Management/Conflict Resolution, Organization/Study Skills, Family changes, Peer Mediation, and Grief. If you would like to speak with me or have questions about what the school counselor does, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.

I look forward to supporting you and your child(ren) this school year!

Martina Moore

School Counselor

(843) 365-8259

mmoore001@horrycountyschools.net

Office Hours 7:10 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Students are encouraged to wear school colors or Kingston T-shirts every Friday. School colors are blue and white. Wearing school colors each week is a proactive way of reminding students to maintain our safe and caring school. Each class that has at least 50% or more students wearing school colors will have their class name entered in a drawing. Two classes will win the Cool Cat sign to be placed on their door for the week, as well as some type of incentive (candy, ice cream, chips, etc). Each week we hope to choose a different class. Please encourage your child to participate in Spirit Day every Friday! Congratulations to our Spirit Day Winners: Miss Harmon's 2nd grade class and Mr. Lipak's 5th grade class. 🎉

Sept. 7: Schools Closed

Sept. 14 -17: Book Fair

Sept. 17: Family Night 4:00-6:00 pm

Sept. 18: Interims Available in the Parent Portal

Sept. 25: Grandparents' Breakfast

Oct. 2: Kona Ice

Oct. 8: School Pictures

Oct. 12 & 13: Schools Closed

Oct. 26-30: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 29: Report Cards Available in the Parent Portal

Our #1 goal is to ensure that Kingston Elementary is a SAFE environment for our Cool Cats. To do this, we hold a variety of safety drills throughout the year. Safety drills enhance school safety by allowing students and staff to understand proper emergency procedures outside of a crisis situation.

What drills will our Cool Cats participate in throughout the school year?https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qk4owoUpCM4aSSCXmdeiBSUmmCjfkol5u9Eq2cmks1A/edit

If any of these items belong to your child, please have them stop by the front desk, or you can call the school.

Please put your child’s name on their water bottles, lunchboxes, and coats. This helps us return lost items to their owners!