PTO Newsletter 8/9
What a fantastic first week of school we’ve had at PPE! From our fun-filled Sneak-a-Peek and Popsicle Party to an amazing turnout on the first day of drop-off, the excitement was contagious. Percy had a blast celebrating his (67th!) birthday with so many pirctures, smiles, and hugs. This week’s newsletter is packed with important updates and exciting events you won’t want to miss!
A huge THANK YOU to Osborne State Farm, Avenue South Orthodontics, and Curated Homes for sponsoring our Back to School activities. Sponsorships help us underwrite the costs associated with things like kindergarten totes, new family yard signs, the popsicle party and the fall event, and we are so grateful for the support of our local community!
Important Dates
Note: Dates are subject to change. The BEST way to stay updated is with our PTO Google Calendar – view and subscribe here!
- August 15: Open House & Invest Kickoff
- Grades K-2 @ 5 PM
- Grades 3-5 @ 6 PM
- September 2: No School (Labor Day)
- September 5: Picture Day Part 1 (Individual Photos)
- September 9: Tiger Cup Golf Tournament at Old Natchez
- September 17: PTO General Meeting (all welcome!)
- September 19: Percy’s Vintage Closet
- September 20: Fall Community Event: Topping-Out Ceremony and Ice Cream Social
Upcoming School Events
August 15: Open House (Parents Only)
Open House is next Thursday, August 15 so come join us! Hear important information from your child’s classroom teacher, school leadership, and the PTO regarding what’s ahead for the school year. We officially kick off our INVEST Campaign (our largest school fundraiser that supports ALL students) at Open House and can’t wait to tell you more.
5:00 – Kindergarten through 2nd grade parents will meet in their classrooms
6:00 – 3rd through 5th grade parents will meet in their classrooms
Parking: thank you for your patience as we know parking is a challenge during construction. If the two side lots are full, please find parking along Otter Creek or Wilshire Dr. Please be courteous of each other and our neighbors.
September 9: Tiger Cup Golf Tournament – REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Percy Priest PTO’s Tiger Cup Golf Tournament is Monday, September 9th at Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin and registration is now open. Enjoy 18 holes of golf with PPE friends, family and/or neighbors. Register individually or with your foursome by Clicking Here to Register Registration for this year’s event will close on Sunday, August 25th.
We need you!!! We need you not only to participate, but also to sponsor this fabulous event which directly supports our children, their teachers, and the school. Funds raised from this event will support enrichment, extracurriculars and teacher supplies throughout the school year. Learn more about how you can support PPE by clicking on Sponsorship Opportunities here Not only does this give back to our wonderful school, but also is a great way to advertise your business. We would like all sponsors committed by Friday, August 30th to ensure all printing is complete by the date of the event. Please sign up today!
Mamas and Mimosas
Ladies ~ Not a golfer but want to learn more? Back again this year is Mamas and Mimosas, a group lesson at 10 am with several ONCC golf pros who will share tips on basic golf terminology, putting, driving and more. Enjoy a drink (or two), some fabulous bites and a spectacular view while you learn about this great game. Max capacity for this is 20 people so please register today by Clicking Here!
Volunteer Opportunities
Can’t commit to the entire day? That’s ok – consider volunteering at the event or helping with prep by contacting jennifercjones2@
~Jennifer Jones and Ashley Tummins, Co-Chairs
September 20: Fall Community Event
Save the date for a very unique back to school community event! Due to construction we need to get creative with our annual fall community event. But thanks to construction we can combine our annual fall gathering with the “Topping Out” Ceremony for an exciting experience. A Topping Out Ceremony is a celebration of a big milestone in construction. It is the celebration for the “top” of the building structure being completed. In our case, since the gym is the last sequence of construction we will have completed installing all of the roof structure of this area by September 20th.
We will all meet at PPE for fun, community, an ice cream bar with lots of toppings (get it?!), and to experience this cool ceremony.
More details will be coming soon!
Back to School
Transportation
Bus Riders
If you live more than 1¼ mile from school, you should receive information from the MNPS Transportation Department that details your child’s bus route number and pick-up and drop-off times and locations. This information can also be accessed here.
There is also the Remind App that helps parents keep up with their bus. To join, send a text message to 81010. The content of the message should be as follows:
- For Route 1 Pink Bus please text @ppebus1
- For Route 2 Orange Bus please text @ppebus2
- For Route 3 Blue Bus please text @ppebus3
- For Route 4 Purple Bus please text @ppebus4
- For Route 5 Yellow Bus please text @ppebus5
Walkers
Students are eligible to be walkers if they live in the school zone and are close enough to school that bus transportation is not provided. Walkers are dismissed through the front door. The preferred method of dismissal for all non bus-riders is the car rider loop.
Arrival – Students who walk to school will enter the school through the front doors and front entrance.
Dismissal – **Due to continued construction of our new building, we will no longer have a separate walker dismissal from the rear exit. Walker dismissal will be from the front of the school.** If you walk to pick up your student, you should have a car rider number and report your number to Ms. Cathy or school staff in the front loop. The preferred dismissal method for non-bus riders is the car rider line. If you are a walker family, but drive to pick up your student, please use the car rider line for dismissal.
Car Riders
***IMPORTANT! Please approach the Priest Road drop off line/flow from East Ashland only. See image below for help***
Car Rider Numbers will be distributed to new families at the All School Sneak-a-Peek and Popsicle Party, as well as on the first day of school. Returning families will continue to use the same number. Please work with your child to learn his or her Car Rider Number before school starts, or even consider writing it on their tote bag/tag.
Teachers and staff as well as 4th Grade Ambassadors will be available to help kindergartners, and PTO volunteers are assigned to help parents navigate the traffic circle. Please be patient and follow the safety rules – NO cell phone use during arrival and dismissal per Tennessee State Law and the safety of our children.
Car Rider Protocol – Drop Off
Drop off begins at 7:35am, and students must exit out of the passenger side of their cars. Students can use this extra time to enjoy breakfast in the Café or head directly to their classrooms. Breakfast is free to all students. The front doors close at 8:00am. After 8:00 am, parents will be required to walk children in, and sign them in at the front desk.
In order to prepare your child to exit your car, please have them ready with tote in hand, and goodbyes finished, once you cross the first Tiger Paw. Remember – parents, grandparents and other caretakers, please do NOT exit your car during drop off.
Car Rider Protocol – Pick-Up
Dismissal begins promptly at 3:00pm. Parents, grandparents, and other caretakers are encouraged to begin lining up before 3:00pm along Otter Creek and Priest Road.
** Have your car rider number ready to go and visible. This number is used to call your child out front.
Round One Dismissal – The first group of cars lined up in the semi-circle will resemble the graphic included in this document, including buses in the third row.
Rounds Two, Three, and Four Dismissal – The first round of cars and the buses leave the semi-circle, and Mrs. Cathy or another school representative will wave your car in when it’s your turn. Cars will be lined up in three rows between the Tiger Paws. Once you are in your spot, please put your car in park and wait for students to be dismissed to your car. You will be able to exit your car at this point to let your child know where you are in line. Teachers will dismiss children to cars by turning a STOP sign to GO or SLOW.
First Day Forms: due August 30
At the beginning of each school year, we send home several documents that MNPS requires parents and caregivers to review, sign and return. These forms have been sent home and need to be returned to homeroom teachers by August 30th.
Parents must also complete certain required MNPS forms online through the MNPS “Permissions Portal”. To do so, visit the MNPS Student-Parent Handbook page. Scroll halfway down the page and you will see the “Permission Forms” section and a blue button to the right that says “Permissions Portal”. Click there to begin.
School Fundraisers
Pre-loved PPE Attire Needed!
It is that time of year- time to clean out your Tiger’s closet before school starts! From now until September 13th, we will be accepting gently used clothing items or accessories that have PPE’s logo for our “Percy’s Vintage Closet” sale on September 19 (conveniently after drop off from 7:30-9)! Anything you’d like to pass on to another Tiger, please drop off on the school’s front porch. Look for the marked plastic bins that say “Pre-loved PPE attire” and we’ll take it from there. Thank you!
Roar Store – grab your spirit wear for back to school
The Roar Store is a wonderful way to show Percy Priest Spirit and fundraise for our PTO. Students can wear Percy Priest Spirit wear shirts any day to school in place of collared shirts. They can wear the spirit shorts/skorts on Fridays. This gear, along with PPE accessories, can be purchased through the Roar Store. The Roar Store shop will be open in person on the following back to school days:
- August 15: Open House
- September 20: Fall Community Event (at PPE)
Psst – want to help out with the Roar Store this year? Our amazing spirit store is completely parent run and operated and they need your help. Email pperoarstore@gmail.com to volunteer.
General Announcements
Yearbook
Help us capture this amazing school year! Throughout the year, please send any Percy Priest pictures you would like added to the yearbook to Grace Bryan (615-804-5514) or Gillian Stewart (615-598-7854). Please include all grades and names of people in the picture. We would love photos from class parties, first day of school, lunch, field trips, etc.
August 14: MY PENGUIN FRIEND Free Movie Screening for PPE Family and Friends!
THE PONS FAMILY WITH ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS INVITES YOU TO SCREEN THE FAMILY MOVIE BASED ON THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY
FILM: MY PENGUIN FRIEND
DATE: Wednesday, August 14TH
TIME: 6:00 PM
THEATER: REGAL GREEN HILLS (3815 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215)
RSVP: HERE
NOTE: Tickets are First Come First Serve. All tickets are FREE. If you have any questions, please contact Corby Pons: corby@witpr.com
Dad Bod Run Club
All PPE Dads are cordially invited to join this prestigious club!
1. You are invited to join one of our normal runs (details below)
2. You are invited to a Happy Hour at the Agnew’s house: Friday August 23rd at 5:00pm at 1200 Vintage Place.
3. You are invited to our 2nd annual ice bath on Saturday August 24th immediately after our normal run.
Details for our normal runs:
When: (Almost) Every Saturday +/-6:45am (We know it’s early, but your kids will be up at 5:07am anyway)
Who: All ability levels are welcome! In the past, we’ve been accompanied by strollers, pets, and brothers-in-law, too. Sometimes, somebody brings coffee for post-run recovery.
Routes: We run in one or two groups along the following routes:
- +/- 3 miles to Radnor and back to PPE
- +/- 5 miles through Radnor and back to PPE
Some folks run fast, some run slow. All are welcome!
Questions? Lewis Agnew at Lewis.Agnew@gmail.com or 615-712-4318
Download GroupMe App & join: PPE Dad Bod Run Club
We’re a UniCycle School! UniCycle is a school uniform recycling program that collects and distributes “outgrown, not worn out” items to MNPS students. Together, we’re giving outgrown school clothing a second life, removing barriers to education, and creating community in our schools.
What should you bring in for the collection basket? Any clothing that meets dress code requirements! Clean out closets– it will all be put to use by students citywide who will start their day with comfort and confidence. Find our bin in the front foyer!
Get Involved!
Come Have Lunch!
Parents, grandparents and special friends are welcome to eat lunch with students! To help us with space and accommodating guests, we ask that visitors sign-up to come eat lunch using the bookings link below. Please be sure to select the correct grade level and teacher. When signing-up, we also ask that you only sign-up for one day at this time. Thank you for your help and we hope to see you for lunch soon. Sign up to come eat lunch with your student!
2024-2025 School Year Volunteers Needed
Can you help out this year? There are so many ways to volunteer, both big and small and WE NEED YOU. It is incredibly rewarding to get involved in the PTO so start here by indicating how you want to help volunteer.
Grandparents and Special Friends Email List
We know there are many grandparents, family and special friends of PPE students who would like to be involved. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for the PPE Grandparents, Family & Friends List here.
Check out the latest updates of our new school coming along!
Small Fundraisers Spotlight
For a list of all of our ongoing small fundraisers, please visit our Small Fundraisers webpage.
Mabel’s Labels will donate 20% of all proceeds generated by label orders for your child’s clothing, accessories and bags, so anything they lose is easily returned to them. Simply go to www.campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for Percy Priest Elementary PTO. Purchase your labels and they will ship direct to your door. This is a perfect way to keep your child’s items out of the PPE Lost and Found this season!
How to Stay Connected
Email Lists
New families – Be sure to sign up for our school newsletter, which includes grade-level information each week. Register today.
Add PPE happenings to your calendar automatically!
You can subscribe to our PTO calendar and have all of our events show up on your calendar, so you never lose track of important dates! Following the links below will prompt you to subscribe to the calendar via your preferred calendar app. Any time the PTO updates an event through the website, it will update on the calendar of all subscribers (how often your calendar pulls updated info will be based on your individual personal settings – every 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 week, etc).
For Calendar Apps (apple calendar etc), click here.
For Google Calendar, click here.