Keeping You Informed 
Oct. 5, 2018
October is Bully & Drug Prevention Month!
Schools Share Important Lessons in Many Ways
Hall Woodward Bully Pledge Class
Hall-Woodward Say No to Bullies
Reynolds Students Sign Pledge
Reynolds Students Rally Against Bullying
High School Students Sign Pledge
Kernersville Elementary Socks out bullying
Kernersville Elementary "Socks" Out Bullies
Beverly Miller with Board memebers
2018-19
Keeping You Informed, t he official district newsletter, is all about you!
It's meant to compile important information in one easy to find place! We aim to keep you up-to-date on district news, information, announcements from the Administration Center, and important training sessions. We showcase unique things happening around the district and there's often fun, sometimes free, offerings just for you, our employees.
ACROSS THE DISTRICT
Medical and Dental Benefits Open Enrollment Underway
Help Sessions Available
It's that time of year to enroll for your annual benefits. All full and part-time employees as well as new hires who qualify for benefits please know that open enrollment in the state health plan started Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018  and runs through Oct. 31, 2018. To ensure you get the medical coverage you want in 2019 you must take action

Ameritas Dental coverage opened Oct. 1, 2018 and runs through Oct. 31, 2018. If you do not want any changes to your dental plan, you do not need to take action here.

One More Flu Clinic & A New Time on Oct. 11.
See the information below! e
Teacher Academy Logo
WS/FCS Teacher Academy Professional Development
Teacher Academy is excited to offer professional development opportunities planned and presented by Teacher Academy Teacher Leaders for any and all teachers in our district.

These sessions are open to all schools and all teachers. Each workshop will be presented in three sessions and it is the expectation that participants will attend all sessions in the series .

The workshops are limited to first come first serve with a max of 25 participants. Act fast as these sessions start in early October. You will find directions below to help navigate the registration process with ease.  

REMINDER
Flexible Benefits Plan Open Enrollment Continues
WS/FCS will continue to have Pierce Group Benefits/Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company as the flexible benefits plan provider.

For those still needing to meet with a representative, there will be 3 makeup days - November 13, 14, 15 at the Education Building, room 121, from 7:30am to 5:30pm – drop in only (no appointments scheduled). 

All employees should take the upcoming opportunity to review the benefits offered under the cafeteria benefits program.  

Annual enrollment starts August 20 and runs through Nov. 15 .

Deadline to make any changes or enroll is November 15!

EC Times Newsletter
The October Exceptional Times Newsletter is now available. This is a publication for the Exceptional Children's Division of WS/FCS.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
National Board Support Sessions
National Board support sessions for this year continue. See the schedule below!

Renewal Candidates - Information session Sept. 26 at West Forsyth from 4:15-6:00

Initial Candidates - all sessions are in the West Forsyth Library from 4:15-6:00
  • Sept 19 - Introduction to National Boards
  • Oct 10 - Internalizing the Standards
  • Nov 14 - Unpacking Component 4
  • Jan 9 - Unpacking Component 3
  • Feb 13 - Unpacking Component 2
  • Mar 13 - Unpacking Component 1
  • Apr 10 - Guided Reading of entries

Interested teachers can email Debra Troxell with questions.
Just For You
Business 40 Closes in November
Business 40 is closing in November. If you haven’t made your plans to get around Winston-Salem, you may want to attend a public Open House to receive some direction.
 
Open Houses by NCDOT will be held at the following Winston-Salem locations:
  • Tuesday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. - BB&T Ballpark, 951 Ballpark Way
  • Tuesday, Oct. 16, 4:30-7:30 p.m. – Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce Street

The same type of information will be available at both meetings. Attendees will receive pocket-sized detour maps of downtown Winston-Salem and will be able to ask questions about the project. 
Grants, Benefits, Training and More
Collaborative Learning Conference
Collaborative Learning Conference PowerSchool Learning Class
If you attended the 2018 Collaborative Learning Conference, we invite you to join the PowerSchool Learning Class so that you may access presentations and materials from the sessions that you attended. Thank you for participating in the CLC!

Class is open for registration until Jul 31, 2019. Students and parents with PowerSchool Learning accounts may enroll themselves by going to

Enter HR4RG .
Financial Education Grants
On Monday, September 10, Truliant Federal Credit Union will open its grant application period for the Financial Education Grants.

The grant program provides funds of up to $5,000 to public school teachers, grades 6-12, who wish to incorporate financial education/wellness into their curriculum. Funds can be used to improve existing programs or to implement a new program. Funding may be provided to support classroom activities, professional development opportunities or new and innovative ways to teach financial education. Topics might include budgeting, saving, investing, entrepreneurship, business and economics. The program provides financial education grants to school systems in communities where the credit union has Member Financial Center locations. Truliant has a total of 34 locations in North and South Carolina, and Virginia.

Teachers may apply individually or collaborate and apply as a department. A preliminary budget is required to demonstrate how the funds will be spent. Teachers can access the grant application by visiting https://www.truliantfcu.org/About-Us/Community-Involvement/Financial-Education-Grants.

NEW THIS YEAR – a committee of retired educators will review each application and grant recipients will be decided based on the merit of their application using a rubric scoring system.

Completed applications, including all documentation required, should be submitted by Friday, October 12, 2018, at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be shared in November. 
COMING SOON!
Oct. 17 Early Release Day
Oct. 26 End of First Quarter
Oct. 29-30 Teacher Professional Days
Nov. 12 Veteran's Day Holiday
Nov. 17 Magnet Fair
Take a deep breath, and enjoy the weekend!
Brent Campbell
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer