Exploris Grade 8
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful break! Thank you for all our thoughtful cards and gifts to round out last year. We are thankful for you and our students and look forward to a solid 2022 with them! We are going to kick off Map testing this week as we return to learning.
It is cold, flu, and COVID season! To help limit the spread of germs and sickness, remember that masking, handwashing, and sanitizing surfaces are still our best means of defense against the spread. 8th grade is fully masked while indoors- the mask should cover both the nose and the mouth. While the omicron and delta variants of Covid-19 are still circulating we are encouraging N(K)95 masks or double masking if you are using cloth. Unless it is raining, 8th graders are eating outdoors to lower the risk of transmission- DRESS FOR THE WEATHER; bring appropriate outerwear to wear outside during lunches.
Make sure you have a working Chromebook or laptop. We must be ready if 8th grade has to go virtual due to Covid; if you do not have a working device that holds a charge please see your crew teacher so we can issue you a Chromebook.
We are starting our second novel. Please remember students need their copy of the novel, Crow, next week!
OUTWARD BOUND PREP and UPDATES:
- Outward Bound Course – Preparation Information This is an official OB page for Exploris. Their official packing list is posted on this page. We have found students DO NOT need everything on this list. Our version of the packing list.
- 2018 Outward Bound Pics
- The Exploris School Outward Bound Sign-Up – Many of you still have paperwork to complete, so please get that in ASAP so that we can ensure your child’s participation.
- The final total of $900 (another $300 payment) is due January 14, 2022 for your planning purposes. Crew teachers will reach out in this week with another payment update and final payment info. (pay online here) or Scholarship Application
- Covid Protocols for OB
- We are still working on scheduling a parent meeting with Outward Bound.
High School Corner: Parents please update us if you have new information
- Exploris counselors@exploris.org
- Wake County Early Colleges, Magnets, & Year Round
- Charter and Private Schools
WCPSS Base – Directly through the base school’s Student Services
- Most do not start enrollment in Spring – No action needed now. Orientations in spring and summer. We will get you connected to other 8th grade families attending the same base so you can coordinate a session with their student services.
Exploris Support for High School Transition:
- Counselor Corner Website: Transition to HS
- Transition to HS: Google Drive Resources
- Letters of Recommendation: Please email teachers/counselors what you need asap (even if you add name to the application)
Updates from Admin:
- Buy your yearbook today at Yearbook at Jostens.
- Deadline for personal tribute ads for yearbook is Jan. 10th. ALL families are invited to purchase an ad to honor/thank their scholar, their teachers, etc. Go to Yearbook at Jostens for the easy process to upload pictures and design your ad!
- Dear Exploris Families, our best advertisement is YOU! Please share with your networks and any interested families this information about Exploris’s open houses and lottery: Looking for a free, public k-8 school with a hands-on approach, strong academics, values of social & environmental justice, and firm belief that kids can change the world? Check out www.Exploris.org ! Applications for the 2022-2023 school year are open!
Club Updates:
- Magic the Gathering Club will continue to meet each Monday at 3:15 in 8S. Please email kelly@exploris.org if you would like to join.
- Run Club will continue to meet Thursday at 3:15 in 6E. Please email kelly@exploris.org if you would like to join.
- The Women’s Center Volunteering Elective is looking for donations! Please check the posters in your grade level room for what you can donate! Donation boxes are located in your grade level room or on the pew by the front door. All donations must be in by Thursday Jan 6th.
Helpful links:
Counselor Referral Form: Please use this link and complete the form.
Important Information regarding lunches:
- FAQ about Green Planet Lunch Program
- Exploris Online Ordering System Link
- Step By Step Guide: Create an account and how to order
Parent and Teacher Organization Resources:
- The Exploris Parent Teacher Organization is dedicated to supporting our teachers, supporting our students and building our school community. All parents and teachers are automatically members of the Exploris PTO. Please get involved!
- Please follow the PTO Blog to get weekly Exploris Updates: http://explorispto.org
- Link your grocery cards, use Amazon Smile, and support Exploris with these easy fundraisers: https://explorispto.org/fundraising/passivefundraising/
- Exploris School Directory: https://explorispto.org/directory/
THIS WEEK
| Monday 1/3 | Teacher Workday |
| Tuesday 1/4 | CNN10 Humanities: Read 30, 8A word pics Expedition: MAP Reading Test Lunch@Halifax Mall |
| Wednesday 1/5 | CNN10 Humanities: Read 30 mins, #8 paragraph Expedition: MAP Math Test Lunch @ Morgan Street Food Hall/Working Lunch Afterschool: Drama Club and Ultimate Frisbee |
| Thursday 1/6 | CNN10 Humanities: Read 30 mins Expedition: MAP Language Test Lunch @ Moore Square Afterschool: Run Club |
| Friday 1/7 | CNN 10 Quiz Humanities: Read 30 mins (bring Crow Monday!) Elective I Elective II |
| Next Week | Friday, Jan 14 – FULL PAYMENT toward Outward Bound DUE ($900 total) |
Important Dates (Exploris CALENDAR):
Monday, Jan 17 – MLK Holiday
Tuesday, Jan 18 – Flex Day
Friday, February 18 – Teacher Workday – Portfolio Conferences
Monday, Feb 21 – Teacher Workday – Presidents’ Day Holiday
Thursday, March 10 – End of Second Trimester
Friday, March 11 and Monday March 14 – Teacher Workdays
Spring Break – Friday, April 8 (3:15pm) – Tuesday, April 19 (8am)
Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 22 – Outward Bound Trip
Monday, April 18 – Teacher Workday (we will be on Outward Bound)
Tuesday, May 3 – Eid al Fitr Holiday
Monday, May 30- Memorial Day Holiday
Friday, June 10 – Graduation (10:30 am), early dismissal
Friday, June 10 – End of Third Trimester, last day of school
8th Grade Contacts
Jessie Francese, Jfrancese@exploris.org
Cori Greer-Banks, cori@exploris.org
Paula Mancini, pmancini@exploris.org
Adrian Findlay, adrian@exploris.org
Kelly Fauth, kfauth@exploris.org
Who’s Who?
Adrian Findlay – Crew, Math, Expedition
Jessie Francese – Crew, Humanities, Expedition
Paula Mancini – Crew, Math, Expedition
Cori Greer-Banks – Crew, Humanities, Expedition
Kelly Fauth – Special Education
Jamie Butler – Art
Julius Debnam- Health and Wellness
Nikki Kovach – Digital Literacy
Aurelia Autman – World Cultures and Spanish Language
Michelle Duncan – School Counselor
Michelle Butterworth – Interventionist
Mary Margaret Moffitt – Development Coordinator, but mostly just about anything you need!
Josh Corbat – Directors of Resources
Deborah Brown – Middle School Director
Exploris 8th Grade 