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Irwin Academic Center PTA
Weekly Hoot Newsletter

This email newsletter, as well as social media, will be the PTA's primary method of correspondence.  Be sure to encourage other Irwin parents to sign up to receive our Weekly Hoot by sending them this message.  Once they receive it, they can click here to subscribe.

December 6, 2021 

Book Fair is opening this week! Come see what awesome titles are available and pick up a few holiday gifts while you're there. 

In this issue

Important Dates

December 8 - Early Release Day
December 8-16 - Book Fair

December 15 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Breakfast
December 16 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Lunch

December 20 - January 3 - Winter Break 

Load the Irwin PTA calendar to your calendar app using the links found here - never miss an update! 

Book Fair

Book Fair is coming!
The 2021 Irwin Book Fair starts next week on Wednesday, 12/8, and runs through 4 PM on 12/16.

Here are a few things to know: 

1. Parent Shopping: Parents will be able to shop with kids on 12/8 (early dismissal day) between 1:30-4:30PM. Parents will also be able to shop Thursday 12/9 until Wednesday 12/15 from 4:30-5:30PM. Parents will access the Media Center from the traffic circle door. 

2. In-School Shopping: Students will preview books and create wish lists Thursday 12/9 and Friday 12/10. Students will be permitted to make purchases 12/13-12/16. 

3. Payment: The preferred method of payment is E-Wallet. Mrs. Carter will send a link to sign up for that. Payment may also be made with cash. 

4. Volunteers: We are in dire need of volunteers to help run the register 12/13-12/16. All volunteers must be PTA members and registered as a volunteer through CMS. Please sign-up to volunteer here: 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EADA92FA5F94-irwin1

To register as an approved volunteer through CMS: http://www.cmsvolunteers.com
 

Turkey Trot Recap

Irwin students love their annual Turkey Trot on the day before Thanksgiving break, and it was perfect weather to race on 11/23/2021!  The students raced their hearts out and enjoyed the friendly competition. After the race, the PTA donated $200 each to the Center for Community Transitions and Hope Haven charities. 

Staff Spotlight

Each week, we would like to do a short interview with teachers and staff so that our Irwin families can better know them and why they make Irwin so special! This week we are spotlighting Ms. Pearce, our Assistant Principal, and Ms. Haines, our awesome LI/TD Magnet Coordinator.
Ms. Pearce:
 
What made you want to become an educator? 
"My mother was a 2nd grade teacher and loved her students and career. I spent a lot of time volunteering for her school as a teenager and also while I was in college. Education was an obvious path for me."  
 
What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
"I love professional soccer. My favorite teams to cheer for are Brazil, Chelsea FC, Matildas, and the Carolina Courage!" 
 
How do you spend your summer breaks? Or, what do you enjoy doing when not at Irwin? 
"Our family goes to Jekyll Island every summer. We also visit family and friends out of state. We try to make summer as adventurous as possible!"

What are your must-have smartphone apps? 
"Apple podcasts, Apple Music, Webull, YouTube, and Twitter."
 Ms. Haines:
 
What made you want to become an educator? 
"As a child, I knew I always wanted to help people. Originally, I wanted to be an attorney or nurse; specifically, a pediatric nurse because I have always loved working with children. As time went on, I had the opportunity to be a student in a teacher's classroom who I grew to really love. She was caring, loving, firm and very classy. She cared about all of her students and wanted nothing but the best for them.  She became close to me and my family and we kept in touch throughout my years of schooling. Once I became a senior in high school, I knew from that experience that I wanted to be in education."

What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
"As a child, I did commercials."
 
How do you spend your summer breaks? Or, what do you enjoy doing when not at Irwin? 
"I enjoy traveling and being with friends and family."
 
What are your must-have smartphone apps? 
"Nothing special but ---- Amazon, Apple Pay, IG, Zen Planner (workout app), Pandora, Apple Music, Cash App, Any rewards apps, and Email."

Teacher & Staff Appreciation

December

We are preparing for the December Teacher & Staff Appreciation events and need your help! With the holiday season upon us, and a desire to show just how much we love our staff, the PTA will host a Breakfast on December 15th, a Lunch on December 16th and a Winter Break send-off on December 17th.

If you would like to support the breakfast, please sign-up at this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AA4AC23ABFA7-20211

Holiday Gifting & Favorites Forms

Teacher & Staff Favorite Forms

There is something so very special about showing how much you appreciate others through gifts. Please do not forget to include our teachers, administrators, and staff on your holiday shopping lists! For your convenience, staff favorite forms are updated and available at this link: http://www.irwinpta.org/teacher-
favorite-forms.html


Adopt-a-staff-member returns this school year! This is a way for us to ensure other personnel at Irwin, in addition to teachers, receive holiday gifts from our families. Be on the lookout for classroom pairings in Parent Square soon.

Bus Driver Gift Cards

Last but certainly not least, the PTA is collecting monetary donations to purchase gift cards for Irwin’s bus
drivers. These drivers get our kids to school and back home safely every day and we want to give them a small token of appreciation. If are you able to support, please donate by December 13th at this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AA4AC23ABFA7-busdriver1

Open House Dates for Prospective Families

Irwin has scheduled Virtual Open Houses for prospective families.  

Share the dates with your friends and family, and anyone who might be interested in finding a school home at Irwin! 

Tuesday, December 14th @ 9:45 a.m.
Thursday, January 6th @ 9:45 a.m.
Tuesday, January 18th @ 9:45 a.m.

The dates are posted to the school website under "Announcements."

Parents need to click this link https://forms.gle/yyBjx6ZcpGzrUAQ99 to sign up to attend.
 

Randolph Middle School Open House Dates

Q&A Parent Information Live Zoom Sessions for Prospective Families for the 2022-23 School Year

The following Zoom sessions are for parents to come and participate in a Q&A session after watching our Parent Information Presentation video 

  • December 9th, 2021- 6:00 pm

  • December 14th, 2021- 9:30 am

  • January 6th, 2022- 6:00 pm

  • January 18th, 2022- 9:30 am

Parent Information Presentation Video

Parent Presentation Slide Deck can be found in the RMS website under “Lottery Information” 

 

ZOOM Link: https://bit.ly/ParentQsAs 

Passcode:424507

Piedmont Open IB Middle School Open House Dates

Piedmont is hosting both virtual and in-person Open House sessions for prospective students. 

Please use this sign up link to attend one of the upcoming sessions: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4caeac2fa46-piedmont
  • December 8 - 2-3:30 pm, in-person School Showcase 
  • December 13 - 6:00 pm, in-person
  • January 6 - 6:00 pm, virtual
  • January 11 - 6:00 pm, in-person

CMS Lottery Sibling Guarantee

Parents -
If you have a current child at Irwin and a sibling you'd like to lottery in, be sure to read this important information! 
Amazon Smile
Planning back to school shopping? Football parties?  Birthday parties? Anything else under the sun? 
Amazon donates to Irwin Academic Center's PTA when you shop @AmazonSmile!
Just click here and shop as usual... your PTA will get a teeny tiny cut of your purchase dollars with no further cost to you! 
Support Irwin while you shop!
Register your loyalty program cards every year:

 
Harris Teeter VIC Card, school #1150.  Sign up here to link your VIC card to Irwin! (Did you know you need to re-link every year?)

Amazon Smile program: 
sign up here by choosing Irwin Academic Center PTA
Got info for the Hoot?  The Hoot is published every Monday.  Any information to be included can be sent to secretary@irwinpta.org by the Saturday prior.  
Copyright © 2021 Irwin Academic Center PTA, All rights reserved.


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