Hour of Code: Like thousands of schools around the world, Wiley will be participating in Hour of Code events during the week of Dec. 7-11. Hour of Code introduces children to computer science, a rapidly growing field with many career opportunities. We need volunteers to make these events run smoothly. If you can assist us and are in the computer science field, please sign up only as a speaker. This means we will have you speak about your job for a few minutes and then help with the activities. If you are not in the computer science field and can come to help out with the classroom activities, please sign up as a volunteer. Volunteers do not need any computer science experience. This event is always a lot of fun, and we really appreciate your assistance! Here is the link to our Sign-up Genius form. For more information, contact Jill Molloy (jmolloy@wcpss.net)

First Grade Service Field Trip:  Have you heard about our first graders' exciting experience gleaning sweet potatoes?  If not, you’re missing out!  First graders gleaned sweet potatoes at a Johnston County farm and then rode the bus to a senior living center to donate them!  Their produce was also added to our weekly Backpack Buddies food bags.  Wow! Thank you first graders for your incredible service to our community!    

Winter Thanks Spirit Week … Wiley Gives Back:  Only at an International Studies Magnet School would Spirit Week themes be linked to the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals! That’s Wiley for you! Inspired by our fifth grade students and their work throughout the first and second quarters, you’ll see student-initiated “take action” projects connected to our spirit week themes.  Opportunities to ‘give back’ are highlighted each day and you will receive (via email) a student-created message daily to introduce you to the next day’s theme. In addition to our incredible 5^th graders, big thanks also goes out to several 2^nd and 3^rd graders for their inspiration behind additional themes AND to our PBIS Club for getting the word out. It promises to be an experience like no other!  You’ll find the week’s agenda here and at the end of this blog post! 

Growth Mindset:  Perhaps you’ve heard your student talking about the brain and its connection to mindset. Our entire staff is participating in a book study of Mindsets in the Classroom, led by Dr. Mary Whitehouse, our School Psychologist.  Mary is leading us through thoughtful conversation and reflection as we work together to help students (and ourselves) understand how persistence, effort, and a focus on learning develop our intelligence.  The book, authored by Mary Cay Ricci is geared specifically for educators and builds upon much of the research done by Carol Dweck as showcased in her book Mindsets. We hope to offer a parent study on the topic in the Spring. 

A message from our partners at the Alexander YMCA:  At the Y it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This year, we are hosting our second annual Presents of Peace event and inviting families in our outreach programs through the Alexander YMCA to participate in a dignifying and uplifting Christmas shopping experience!  

Presents of Peace is an event where we partner with families to make a mutual investment in the gift-giving process.  The Presents of Peace “store” will take place on December 12th from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Families will be able to shop for their children and purchase each of them 3 items: a clothing item, a toy, and an educational item.  All proceeds from the event will benefit our Annual Campaign, which funds all of our Outreach Programs (which includes Wiley’s Y Learning Program and students), and many of our families will also be attending the event to shop for their kids!

There are different ways that you and your family can get involved. We currently have hundreds of tags on Christmas Trees at the Alexander Y that list items we will use to stock our store. To help us stock the store you can choose a tag off of the tree and return the unwrapped gifts to the Y by Thursday December 10th. You also can give of your time, by signing up to volunteer the day of the store. You can sign up by clicking here. If possible, please sign up by Thursday, December 2, or ASAP if you would like to help! 

If you have any additional questions about how to get involved, please feel free to contact Sarah Peterson at Sarah.Peterson@ymcatriangle.org

Enloe Charity Ball:  Christine, an Enloe High School student opened our staff meeting this morning to share information about the Student Council’s annual Charity Ball benefitting Learning Together Preschool.  If you’d like to learn more click here. 

Have You Walked Your Art Today?  If you’re looking for a fun community activity this weekend, you may wish to consider visiting some of our teachers and several Wiley families at Boylan Heights’ Art Walk on Sunday (12/6) from noon-5pm.  (boylanheights.org)

Wiley Spotlight

This week's Wiley Spotlight shines on our Broughton High School interns. Their class in Early Childhood Education allows them to share their time & talents with our Kindergarten and First Grade Students each week.  

We love them ... and so do our students!  

 

 Upcoming Events

Thursday, 12/3:  Ms. O’Brien’s class participates in Special Olympics
Monday (12/7)- Friday (12/11):  Hour of Code

Tuesday, 12/8:  Third grade field trip to Morehead Planetarium

Friday, 12/11:  PTA hosts Winter Thanks for Wiley Staff

Friday (12/11) – Friday (12/18): Winter Thanks Spirit Week … Wiley Gives Back

Monday (12/14):  Wiley Restaurant Night @ Village Draft House – Cameron Village

Tuesday (12/15):  First Grade Field Trip to Marbles

Friday (12/18):  International Showcase (various hours throughout the morning – more details to come); Early Release – dismissal @ 1:15pm

News from our Wiley PTA

VOLUNTEER & DONATE FOOD FOR WINTER THANKS (12/11): Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer and donate food for Winter Thanks!  We have such a wonderful community of parents supporting our teachers and helping to show them just how much they are appreciated. However, we still are in need of a large number of volunteers in the classrooms and with cleanup after the breakfast. Any and all help is very much appreciated!

We are also still in need of fun gift items to raffle off for the teachers .  If you are a small business owner who can donate a gift certificate or a fun item for our teachers, please contact Tina Hlabse at thlabse@gmail.com. 

To learn more about the event or volunteer using Sign Up Genius, click here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094daeab22a31-winter

WILEY RESTAURANT NIGHT: VILLAGE DRAFT HOUSE: Join us Monday, December 14th for the first Wiley Restaurant night (day) of the year at the Village Draft House Cameron Village.  The restaurant will donate 10% of all sales ALL DAY LONG to the Wiley PTA.  Please come out to share some food and fun with Wiley families and support your school!  

SPIRIT WEEK

Day of the Week	Give Back Opportunity	Show your Spirit
Friday (12/11)	Wiley Students & their families show their thanks to the Wiley staff @ Winter Thanks! Community Partner: Wiley PTA	We Are Wiley! Wear your Wiley t-shirt.
Monday (12/14)	Bring in a (small/medium sized) gently-used or new stuffed animal to share some comfort with the child of a refugee family. Community Partner: USCRI Refugees United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Sustainable Cities & Communities	Dress in your coziest and most comfortable clothes. It’s pajama day! Feel free to bring your favorite stuffed animal - just don’t get it mixed up with the one that you’re going to donate.
Tuesday (12/15)	Bring in a canned food/nonperishable food item to donate. Community Partner:  Interfaith Food Shuttle/ Backpack Buddies United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Zero Hunger	Meal times are wonderful times to connect with one another.  Mix it up at lunch!  Sit with someone you don’t know well. Crazy Mismatch Day (including hair!)
Wednesday (12/16)	Clean out your closets!  Bring in gently-used jeans or tennis shoes to donate to those in need. Community Partner: Note in the Pocket United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: End Poverty	Dress for Success Assemble an outfit that makes you feel successful.
Thursday (12/17)	Bring in a new or gently –used easy reader or board book. (Target age: preschool) Community Partner: Learning Together Preschool United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Quality Education	Is there anything better than getting lost in a book? Dress as your favorite book character.
Friday (12/18)	Each class will spend time today making holiday cards for our senior friends. Community Partners: local senior living centers United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	You … Us Express your cultural background by wearing a flag on your shirt or clothing from your native country. (Or, wear your Wiley t-shirt.) *International Showcase throughout the morning. Families are welcome to join us. Invitation to follow with more details and times of presentation.