Hello, Wildcats.

A reminder that the first PTSA meeting of the year is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28. It will be in person but outside, near the big kid playground. All members of the Payne community are welcome to attend. Kids can play on the playground while the adults tackle agenda items that include: this year’s events, volunteer opportunities and the upcoming officers’ election.

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AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

Payne Mom and volunteer after school enrichment coordinator Kate Abend shares the following message:

Enrichment programming for all of our PK3 through 2nd grade after school students will begin Thursday, Sept. 30. The fall session will include soccer for PK3 through 2nd Grade, dance for PK3 through Kindergarten, and tumbling for first and second grades. PK3 and PK4 have enrichment on Mondays and Wednesdays and Kindergarten through second grade have enrichment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will be grouped with their regular after school class, and the activities will occur onsite at Payne from 4-5:35 p.m. All students will participate regardless of ability to pay. Please see attached for information on recommended tuition, a waiver form, and a schedule showing class days and times for each grade. We are still working to develop plans for the winter and spring enrichment sessions.

To learn about additional clubs and enrichment programming for third through fifth grade students, visit https://paynedc.org/about/after-school-programs/

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COVID TESTING AND CASES

Principal Byrd provided an update on Covid testing and cases at the school in a Sept. 23 virtual meeting with parents and caregivers. Here are a few notes from the meeting:

• Since the school year started, testing of asymptomatic students has found one positive result for Covid.
• Overall, there have been 8 positive cases so far this school year. One of those cases occurred this week.
• In most of these positive cases, the school became aware after a child, already at home for feeling sick, tested positive. 
• Principal Byrd was unaware of a student who quarantined due to close contact and later tested positive for Covid. 
• Virtual school will be offered if at least 25 percent of the class is quarantined. All children in quarantine will be provided homework packets and excused from school. 

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PRETZELS, PTSA, CAFFEINE & QUESTIONS

The PTSA is launching periodic “office hours” outside of the Pretzel Bakery. The first is today, Friday, Sept. 24, from 8:20-9:20 a.m. If you miss us today, the next one will be scheduled soon. This is an opportunity to meet, discuss ideas, ask questions and, of course, eat pretzels and drink coffee. Editor’s note: Sweet pretzel is the best. Change my mind. 

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TALKIN’ TURKEY

If you thought we were done promoting Farmer Creef Science Teacher Mr. Creef’s incubation project, wow, you must have egg on your face. 

The focus this fall is on baby chickens, but in the spring, Mr. Creef hopes to broaden the brood and include ducklings and poults. What’s a poult, you ask? Why it’s a cute baby turkey, before they get big and really ugly interesting looking. It’s also worth mentioning that the science project is made possible by a $600 Donors Choose donation that funded five five-egg incubators. 

Look how cute poults are: 

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FUN ON FACEBOOK. Principal Byrd posted this great photo of her meeting this week with the student government leaders. Do you follow Payne on the official Facebook page?