PTA newsletter link: https://www.wileypta.org/pta-newsletter

Open House & Curriculum Night – Tuesday, September 23

Join us on Tuesday, September 23, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. for our annual Open House & Curriculum Night! This event is a great opportunity to learn more about your child’s grade level, including curriculum, classroom expectations, and upcoming events. To support families with multiple children, we will offer at least two sessions. Kindergarten families will also have a chance to meet and engage with our Language teachers.

 

Please note: this event is designed for parents and guardians. Childcare will not be provided, and children who attend must remain with an adult at all times, including during presentations.

Arrival & Dismissal Safety Reminder
The safety of our students and families during arrival and dismissal is our top priority. We ask that all families be mindful of pedestrians and traffic patterns when arriving and leaving school.

As a reminder:

Families should wait at the top of the parking lot until 8:45 AM for arrival and 3:30 PM for dismissal before entering. This allows others to safely enter and exit the parking lot before carpool begins and ends.

Walker families are encouraged to use the carpool line if parking is unavailable or if parking rules cannot be followed. Please also be mindful not to block neighborhood driveways.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe.

Family Resource Support
We want to ensure our families are supported with resources in our community. Listed below are some areas where we may be able to connect you with local services. If your family has a need in one or more of these areas, please complete the form linked here: Family Resource Form.

Based on your responses, we may need to gather additional details to best accommodate your needs. For specific or immediate concerns, please reach out directly to school administration, your child’s homeroom teacher, or our new social worker, Jane Hartley (jehartley@wcpss.net).

We are here to partner with you and connect you to the resources you need.

Volunteer Registration & Renewal for 2025–26

All WCPSS parent and community volunteers must register through the MyVolunteer system. On the site, you’ll find the required disclosure forms, the WCPSS Volunteer Agreement, and a summary of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Be sure to include your name, contact information, and social security number when registering. If you don’t have a social security number, please contact volunteers@wcpss.net.

 

Once your registration is complete, the system will notify you when you’re approved.

Volunteer Renewal: If you were approved for the 2024–25 school year, renewing for 2025–26 is quick and easy. The renewal window is July 1–October 31, 2025.

Start your registration or renewal here: MyVolunteer Login 

Free & Reduced-Price Meals

To receive free or reduced-price meals for the 2025–26 school year, families must complete a meal benefits application at MySchoolApps.com. If you applied last year, your benefits will continue for the first 30 school days of this school year. Every approved application not only supports your student but also provides our school with valuable federal funding. Menus are available anytime on Mealviewer.

Dismissal

Dismissal begins at 3:45 p.m. If your child’s afternoon transportation needs to change, please inform both your child and their homeroom teacher prior to dismissal. For same-day changes, we ask that you call the front office before 2:30 p.m. Early communication helps us ensure messages are delivered promptly. While we understand that emergencies may arise, timely notice allows us to support a smooth dismissal process.

Office closed from 3:30 to 4:15 for daily dismissal

The office is closed for dismissal from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. daily, and students will only be released during this time in the case of an emergency. This is our busiest time of day, and we are fully focused on ensuring a safe and timely dismissal for all students. If you need to pick up your child for an appointment or special occasion, please do so before 3:30 p.m. If your early dismissal can wait, we ask that you remain in our carpool line, as every minute of instruction matters. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Excused Absences for Religious/Educational Reasons 

As you plan for the school year, please submit requests for excused educational or religious absences at least 2–3 weeks in advance of the requested dates. Per policy, excused educational absences must involve experiences comparable to school-based learning and must be educational in intent from the start. To verify the experience, students may be asked to complete an academic assignment such as a journal entry, reflection, project, or presentation. Please note that family trips or vacations not designed as educational experiences will not be excused. Use the linked form to submit your request well before the planned absence. Typically excused educational absences are reserved for extended absences (4 days or more)  and not one or two days before a weekend.

Transportation

BUS RIDERS: Please be patient with transportation as we work together to make sure that your child is safe and delivered to school in a timely manner. Remember that if your child is a bus rider they are required to have a bus tag to get on the bus in the afternoon and students in kindergarten and first grade are not allowed to get off the bus unless an adult is visible and recognizable.

 

Bus Updates & Notifications: Our bus delay notification system is back for the 2025–26 school year! Families can receive real-time updates through SchoolMessengerand check for delays at wcpss.net/busupdates (site available again Wednesday). You can also download the free Here Comes the Bus app app for up-to-the-minute bus status.

 

CARPOOL:  If you need a carpool tag please visit our receptionist in the front office. Our carpool is extremely quick and efficient. Please make sure that your carpool number is hanging in your window and facing the outside during dismissal. The first few weeks will be the slowest, but if you pay attention, follow the traffic pattern, and stop at the correct cone (and not your child)  we will be done in 30 minutes or less.  Cars should line up and wait at the entrance of the parking lot until 3:30. PLEASE STAY IN LINE AND DO NOT JUMP WAITING CARS. 

 

WALKERS: Visit the office if you need a walker tag. Remember that if your child is actually walking home they must leave the premises at dismissal. Families who choose to hang around and play at the playground must adhere to our playground rules. PLEASE DO NOT PARK YOUR CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF VALLEY VIEW ST. OR BLOCK DRIVE WAYS!

Teacher Shout Out 

This year we want to share and shout out all the amazing things that Wiley teachers are doing for your students. If you have an amazing story to share or just want to tell a teacher how much you appreciate all they do, use this link:  Comments will be shared with the teacher and the Wiley staff. 

Wiley PTA

Want to Know What’s Happening at Wiley?
Stay connected by following Wiley PTA on Instagram and Facebook for reminders, updates, and highlights. Visit www.wileypta.org to explore our calendar of events - the easiest way to see all school and PTA activities in one place. While you’re there, you can also shop our Wiley Wear, join or renew your PTA membership, and access the Family Directory. Be sure to check back often so you don’t miss a thing!

Lost and Found Reminders!

Help us keep track of belongings this year—please label everything! Labeled items are never donated.

 

The Lost and Found is located in the room connected to the cafeteria, next to the water fountains. Students can check during lunch, and parents are welcome to look through it anytime during school hours. A note in your child’s lunchbox can also be a great reminder to retrieve lost items.

 

One helpful trick is to show your child a picture of the missing item. If it’s hanging in the photo, it’s probably hanging up at school too. Another tip is to check the playground first if something was lost recently, since items can take a little while to make it to the Lost and Found.

 

Unclaimed items are donated after one month. Before donations are made, anything with a name is set aside—so labeling really is the best way to make sure your child’s belongings return home.

Wiley Band

Registration for the Wiley Band is now open and will continue through Sept.15. 

 

Band starts the week of Sept. 8. Beginning Band meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 8-9 a.m. and Continuing Band meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8-9 a.m. Questions? Contact band@wileypta.org.

Register for Fall After-school Clubs

Wiley PTA coordinates three six-week sessions of after-school clubs throughout the school year. The clubs are administered by TEK, which compensates our teachers for leading them so participation directly supports our teachers. TEK will send club placement information once registration is complete.

 

The fall session will run on Tuesdays, Sept. 30–Nov. 18, from 4:15–5:30 p.m. (Please note there will be no clubs on Nov. 4 or Nov. 11.) Learn more about club topics and register here.

Calling All 3rd Grade Caregivers!

We need third grade parent/caregiver volunteers to help lead Mathletes. This six-week program will run twice a week starting in October from 8:45-9:30 a.m. No math expertise is required—just your time and energy! Mathletes focuses on helping students increase their multiplication fluency through fun activities, and your support makes it possible. If you’re interested, please email vp@wileypta.org.

In-person PTA Meeting

Join us at Open House on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. for our first general meeting. Meetings are generally held virtually the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. The PTA meeting schedule can be found here.

Wiley PTA Annual Fund

The goal for this year’s Annual Fund is $18,000 which amounts to $43/student. Donate to support the events, programs and initiatives that Wiley PTA provides for all students, families and staff. Double the impact of your donation through corporate matching. Check with your company’s HR to determine if your gift can be matched.

Grounds Volunteers Needed
Calling All High Schoolers: Help Wiley and Earn Service Hours

Do you have a high schooler or know one in need of service hours? Wiley PTA is launching a Junior Sustainability Committee this spring! We’re inviting high school students to help with grounds work at Wiley every weekend in April and early May, with two-hour volunteer shifts available. It’s a great way for older students to give back to their elementary roots—plus it helps keep our campus looking beautiful for our Wiley students!

 

Know a teen who may be interested? Share this opportunity and sign up here.

Wiley Foundation

Paint the Rock!

Big occasion coming up? Reserve a date to celebrate and paint the rock! The entire year is open. Sign up here!

Wiley Soirée

Join us October 25 from 7-10 p.m. for a festive, adults-only night out downtown just before Halloween, benefiting the Wiley Foundation and the Cecilia Rawlins Fund. These organizations not only enrich every child’s experience at Wiley but also provide vital support for families facing unexpected hardships, reminding us that no one in our community stands alone. Come dressed up, soak in the downtown vibe and enjoy an evening of connection with the parents, teachers, community members, and friends who make Wiley and the Raleigh community so special. Click here for tickets and sponsorships!

Cecilia Rawlins Fund

The Cecilia Rawlins Fund (CRF) supports students and families at Wiley with essential living assistance including food, housing and other necessities. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please visit rawlinsfund.org or contact Stephanie Schweickert (StephanieSchweickert@gmail.com).

 

We'd like to extend a warm thank you to board members who rolled off in 2025: Hadley Cairns-Heath, Kathy Foglia, Jill Grifenhagen and Casie Kerr. Thank you for your years of service and dedication to the Wiley community!

 

CRF board members for the 2025/2026 school year include: Stephanie Schweickert (President), Jack Goodman (Treasurer), Jeff Whiteside (Secretary), Emily Hoppes (Backpack Buddies Liaison), Somer Hamrick (Past-president), Eleanor Talley (Past-president), Peter Webb (Member-at-Large), Riane Wubbenhorst (Member-at-Large), and Allie Pruden (Teacher Liaison).

Upcoming Dates