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/

Attendance Email: KEAttendance@horrycountyschools.net

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Reminder: All World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser money is now DUE! Please make sure to turn in your full payment as soon as possible. Also, note that partial boxes cannot be returned.

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

Spring Break is a great opportunity for students to relax with a good book and continue building strong reading habits. Students are invited to log pages in Beanstack throughout the break and keep their reading streak going. The Read to Rise Spring Break Challenge will be available in Beanstack April 3-13.

3rd Quarter Academic Celebrations are being held in person and virtually. If you cannot attend in person, please use the link below for all K-5th celebrations. When you log on to the Meeting Link, please mute your microphone and keep it muted throughout the awards ceremony to ensure a smooth and respectful experience for all participants.

We look forward to celebrating our students’ achievements with you!

Google Link: https://meet.google.com/xho-ywms-iur?pli=1

**4th-grade students in Mrs. Stacharowski's and Mrs. Parker's classes who are on the field on April 17 will have their Academic Celebration on April 24.

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After-school tutoring begins Tuesday, January 13, 2026. This is for grades 2nd-5th, by invitation only. There will be NO bus transportation. Students will need to be picked up by 4:00. The last day will be March 26, 2026.

2026-27 Registration for new students grades K-1 for students new to Horry County Schools is now open. (This includes any student who was not enrolled in a Horry County School at the end of the 2025-26 school year. If your child attended Kindergarten at an HCS school during the 2025-26 school year, they are considered a returning student and do not have to complete this pre-registration process.)

Please note that your child must be:

• Five (5) years-old by September 1, 2026 to be in kindergarten.
• Six (6) years-old by September 1, 2026 to be in 1st grade.

You will be asked to upload the following documents:

• Parent/Guardian Identification Card
• Proof of residency
• Student’s birth certificate
• Student’s immunization records

Click here to begin the pre-enrollment process.
Link: https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=46505&culture=en

The application window for the 2026-2027 school year for our Child Development program is now open.

Applicants must be a resident of Horry County to apply for and participate in the Child Development program. Children receive priority points based on application questions and an individualized DIAL-4 screening score. Children with the most priority points are qualified for Pre-K Child Development during each round. Eligibility for the program is determined by the results of a developmental screening assessment, family income level, parent questionnaire responses, and other contributing factors that may indicate a need for kindergarten readiness support. Please note: Transfer Requests are not accepted for students in the Child Development Program.

In order to be considered for the Child Development Program, your child must:

• Be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026
• Reside in Horry County
• Have a completed online application and complete DIAL-4 screening (scheduled by your attendance area school)

You will be asked to upload the following documents:

• Parent/Guardian Identification Card
• Proof of residency
• Student’s birth certificate
• Student’s immunization records
• Child’s Medicaid card or parent’s proof of income

Application Completion
You must apply to your attendance area school. If you do not know your child’s attendance area school, information can be found on the Horry County Schools Attendance Zone Lookup tool.

Once the online application has been completed & submitted, someone from the school will reach out to you to schedule a DIAL-4 screening appointment. Your child will need to attend the DIAL-4 screening to be eligible for consideration for Child Development. Screenings will begin in March and will continue until all program spots are filled. If this application is completed after July 15, your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list. If openings become available at your child’s school, you will be contacted to schedule a screening appointment.

Click here to begin the application process for the Child Development Program.
Link: https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=46505&culture=en

Our entire school is reading Winnie The Pooh! For the next several weeks, we’ll be reading it together as a school community. 📖

To make things even more exciting, homeroom classes will compete for a pizza party at the end of the book by answering questions! 🍕

We’re also inviting families to be a part of the fun. Each week, we’ll send home discussion questions so you can talk about the story together.

Let’s get reading — and may the best class win! 🎉

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Your input is important! As part of our Title I program, we are required to collect feedback from at least 50% of our families through the Title I Parent Survey. Your responses help us improve programs and support for our students.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBZA5qwuLXLS0ARVTEs5ZLFDyAiEjTnqmfECyYV5VZyl2zRQ/viewform?usp=header

Thank you for your time and support! Your voice makes a difference in our school community.

Art students of the week are Eli Grissett, Kobe Snowden, Presley Elliott, Dallas Benton, Mayson Martin, Jahlani Snaders, Annalise Mills, Cade Campbell, Aylin Jimenez Castro, Slader Ward, Hayden Tindal, Emily Lowrimore

These students created original art projects and followed all art room procedures. Thanks for being a GREAT art student this week! ~ Mrs. Holt

These students showed the qualities of excellent engineers (courtesy, creativity, and collaboration). The following students won Engineer of the Month for February! ~Mrs. Mercier

Layton Richardson, Lila Campbell, Andrew Torres, Maci Squires, Keelan Williams, Hadasha Macon, Raashea Jenkins, Anthony Brown, McKenzie Pettengill, Katelyn O'Brien, Collins Kersey, Thomas Vereen, Journee Reed, Bailey Hopkins, Talen Warren, Crowley Cheuvront, Paris Melchor Aguilar, Alvaro Gallegos-Hernandez, Ellie-Mae Petry, Adamari Lopez, Jack Bowering, Alan Jordan, Carolyn Carrigg, Oliver Bryant, Alan Sandoval

Music Students for the Month of February:

Riley Sullins, Logan Harding, Cairo Taylor, Kaydence Taylor, Sophia Gonzalez, Scarlett Holton, Charlotte Pulley, Luke Wiggins, Eli Grissett, Hayden Lewis, Riley Hall, Brently Cline, Naiyah Nguyen, Mayson Martin, Brooklyn Chambers, Genevieve Walker, Declan Lysowski, Grey Westbury, Irelyn Hoxter-Bennett, Ruth Barron, Draven Davis, Allison Schmitt,

Naomi Gavina Ibarra, Tanner Ray, George Ernest

Congratulations to our R-Card winners! These students demonstrated that they were RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and READY.

Lily Johnson, Carson Clayberg, Hadley Jordan, Devin Doyle, Ace Bullock, Hannah Fullwood, Sawyer Jackson, Jeremyah Davis Owens, Caleb Mills, Adrianna Hooper, Emma Ammons, Zeria Flores, Nicholas Cummings, Eli Grissett, Karson Chestnut

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 with at least 50% of students wearing school colors will have its class name entered into a drawing. Two classes will win the Cool Cat sign to be placed on their door for the week, along with an 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: Mrs. Watson and Mr. Lipak's 5th-grade classes! 🎉

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.

Please email all parent notes and medical excuses to KEAttendance@horrycountyschools.net

Please review the New Attendance Policy online at https://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments-services/policy-and-legal-issues/attendance-policy-updates

A few items to highlight:

Parent notes are accepted. Parents may submit notes for up to 6 school days, and these days will be counted as parent-excused absences. Parent notes will NOT be accepted during designated state testing dates.

A parent has up to 3 days upon the student’s return to submit medical notes or a parent-excused note. A parent may also submit a parent-excused note prior to the absence. These notes may be delivered in person or emailed to KEAttendance@horrycountyschools.net

For more information, contact Kristi Bratcher in the attendance office at 843-365-3777 or email: Kbratcher@horrycountyschools.net.

Students may submit as many medical notes as needed. However, after 8 full days of medically excused absences, the student will be required to make up missed instructional time.

Students who miss 3 consecutive, full-day, unexcused absences must have an Attendance Intervention Plan. Students who miss 5 or more full-day unexcused absences must have an Attendance Intervention Plan.

At the elementary level, students who have 10 unexcused tardies and/or 10 unexcused early dismissal days must have an Attendance Intervention Plan.

For Child Development (CD) Students only: After 10 consecutive unexcused absences, CD students may be removed from the program.

Thank you for your interest in the Kid Power program! We are thrilled to offer this valuable resource to our students and families. Due to high demand and full enrollment, we are currently unable to accept any new students at this time.

We appreciate your understanding and will notify you as soon as space becomes available.

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.

Click on the picture for more information.

Life skills are an integral part of our community at Kingston Elementary. We work hard to teach children the necessary skills to find success in social, emotional, as well as academic situations. Teachers work hard through-out the year to integrate a monthly life skill focus into classroom curriculum to strengthen our school-wide success. Your support at home makes a big difference. Thank you so much for all you do!

Perseverance is a skill you will need throughout your life! Never give up, work hard and make it happen!

What are ways you can show perseverance?

1. Save up your money and do extra chores to buy something special.

2. Help a younger child learn to ride a bicycle or play a new game.

3. Spend hours practicing to play an instrument.

4. Show commitment, pride and a positive attitude by completing tasks.

5. Be patient and willing to work hard.

Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help your child this year!

Martina Moore

School Counselor

(843) 365-8259

mmoore001@horrycountyschools.net

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

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wI6Mp8lsFMF04TfVSZzVnckV8hrOdq8cyH7hQKxnwY0/edit?usp=sharing

We are hosting two types of camps this summer and would love to have the local community come to them. Both camps will be run by our staff and are designed to bring enjoyment, love for soccer, and exposure to our environment.

Junior Chants Day Camps are designed for ages 5-13 for age-appropriate training exercises, small-sided games, improving soccer skills, and ultimately a fun and enjoyable experience. We are tailoring this camp for all ability levels, from beginner to youth club soccer level; everyone is welcome.

ID Camps are designed for ages 14-21 and are aimed at identifying talented and driven soccer players who want to compete and play collegiate soccer. They will give the players a feel of what it is like to be in a high Division 1 environment and the day-to-day of the players.

Link to our website: https://coastalcarolinamenssoccer.totalcamps.com/About%20Us

March 2 - April 17: SC ALT Testing Window

March 16-April 2: MAP Testing

March 24: End of 3rd Quarter

March 27: 3rd Quarter Behavior Incentive

April 2: Report Cards Available in the Parent Portal

April 2: Career Day/Fine Arts Day

April 3-10: Spring Break

April 17: Academic Celebration

K/1st - 7:45 am, 4th/5th - 9:00 am, 2nd/3rd - 1:15 pm

April 22: Purple Up Day (Wear Purple)

April 24: Kona Ice

April 24: Academic Celebration for Mrs. Stacharowski's and Mrs. Parker's 4th-grade classes

April 28: Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night

Kingston Elementary regularly implements the following safety procedures: Random Wanding, Fire Drills, Lockdown/Intruder Drills, Tornado Drills, etc.

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

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Tuesday (March 31)

Breakfast: Cereal OR Sausage Biscuit, Toast, Fruit, Juice, Milk

Lunch: Soft Beef Taco OR Turkey & Cheese Sandwich OR PBJ Uncrustable, Vegetables, Fruit, Milk

Wednesday (April )1

Breakfast: Cereal OR Muffins, Toast, Fruit, Juice, Milk

Lunch: Cheese Pizza OR Turkey & Cheese Sandwich OR PBJ Uncrustable, Vegetables, Fruit, Milk

Thursday (April 2)

Breakfast: Cereal OR Strawberry Pancake Puffs, Toast, Fruit, Juice, Milk

Lunch: Corn Dog, Veg. Blend Juice, Craisins, Apple, Goldfish, Milk

Monday (April )13

Breakfast: Cereal OR Mini Maple Pancakes, Fruit, Juice, Milk

Lunch: Soft Chicken Taco OR PBJ Uncrustable OR Hot Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, Fried Okra, Vegetables, Fruit, Milk