Good afternoon Bobcats,

I hope you all had the best time at the Family Dance on Friday!  Everyone looked so wonderful and looked like everyone was able to connect with others from our wonderful community.

One change in schedule - there is NO stargazing tonight.  CHAOS has rescheduled tonight's star party due to clouds. We don't want to have a star gazing event without being able to see the stars. :-)

NEW DATE:

They are now coming on Monday, February 23rd, 6-7:30, K8 Blacktop. 

Bring the family, a blanket and a warm beverage-- they will help us navigate the skies above Eno River Academy. 

Have a wonderful week,

Kristin

Congratulations & Good Things:

• Community connections and fun was had at the Family Dance on Friday!

•  The RED-iculously appreciative staff treats last week were a wonderful pick-me-up!!

General Updates and Reminders

• Spring Pictures grades K-8: Students in grades K-8 will have the opportunity to have their spring pictures taken the morning of March 2. These are photos of the whole child. The company we use is Strawbridge Studios. No payment is needed on picture day. 

• ERA's Board of Directors will have their next regular monthly meeting Tuesday, February 24 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the ERA HS conference room and virtually at this link.  The draft agenda can be found here.  Public comments are welcome and can be made in person, live over Zoom, or submitted in advance (no later than 1 p.m. Feb 24) to board@enoriveracademy.org.  We hope to see you there.  More information and links about ERA's Board can be found here. 

• Middle School Dance: Save the Date - March 20, 2026 from 5-7pm

  • $5 to enter

  • Bring money for snacks and drinks

  • Sign up genius to provide snacks and drinks - Thanks in advance!!

• Girls on the Run: Registration is open for Girls on the Run for 3rd- 5th graders! Practices will be on Mondays and Wednesdays after school until 4:30, starting Feb. 23rd and ending with a 5K on May 16th. No need to be athletic - everyone goes at their own pace and practices include encouraging social-emotional curriculum. We are excited to have some awesome coaches, including Mrs. Sapp, Mrs. Patrick, Mrs. Snyder, and a few other parents! Reach out with any questions (meganleerobertson@gmail.com). 

**Early bird registration discount is valid until February 8th (use code  SP26EARLYBIRD when registering). Registration closes Feb. 23rd.*

• HS Curriculum Night will be February 18th at 6:00. Come out to learn about our course offerings and special sessions for rising freshmen and seniors.

• PROJECT SUPPLY NEEDS– Collecting All of February:

STEM is launching a lot of upcycling projects and we need help. 

Anyone able to do hands-on help with middle school (from 1-3pm, end of February/March), please email cpreddy@enoriveracademy.org. Any help welcome, but also looking for anyone handy with tools and woodworking. We are constructing “Gravity Games,” a set of permanent tracks in the woods for a large wooden bead to run down. 

For many different  STEM projects we are needing:

–empty 1 and 2 liter bottles

–empty tissue/small shoe boxes

–paper towel and toilet paper rolls.

–large cardboard boxes (think small moving box sized and bigger, flattened, please)

–clean plastic twist caps (soda, water, etc)

–metal flatware/silverware we can bend 

–bamboo (anyone have access to this invasive growing near them? Reach out!)

–an old metal or wood windchime we can upcycle

–a large wooden bowl (we will be cutting holes in it)

–canning funnels

–wood scraps (2x2, 2x4, plywood, door trim)

–sparkling water cans (no sugar drinks, please!)

–cereal boxes, flattened

–nails, washers and bolts (some to be used to make sound, some for construction)

There is a collection bin in the front office. Thank you so much! 

• ✨Sharing the Skies: Star Gazing–It’s hard to study the stars during the day! 

  • Bring the family, a blanket and a warm drink– join us for a guided tour of our night sky. Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS) will be coming to ERA on February 23rd at the K8 Blacktop from 6-7:30 to point out our winter constellations and share the images from their telescopes. Feel free to bring your own telescope if you have one!

  • There is no fee, but CHAOS accepts donations. 

  • 💡Heads up, we will be turning off all lights 💡during the presentation (6:15 ish) and ask for cell phones to be stored so our eyes can experience the darkest skies possible! ✨

• 26-27 Calendar has been approved by the Board of Directors!

• Teacher Work Day Camps are Available this Spring!

  • 

  • Sign up for Teacher Workday Workshops by emailing Ms. Heather at asp@enoriveracademy.org

• The newest edition of Eno Aura, ERA's literary magazine, has hit the digital shelves! Congratulations to all the published authors and artists for sharing their unique voices and visions. Experience the magic of Eno Aura now!

• 5th grade students won the ERA STREAM Challenge with their idea to create a nature-based play and outdoor learning space (for more info, click here)!

We are now preparing to build this space and are asking for family support through donations. If you have any of the following and are willing to contribute, we would be grateful:

• Kitchen Play Items - Pots, pans, lids  -  Plastic or metal bowls and plates  -  Old utensils

• Outdoor / Build Items - Scrap wood or pallets in good condition - Old picnic table (safe and sturdy  -  Outdoor pots or planters

• Music Items - Metal pots, pans, lids (great for sound!)  -  Old rubber mallets

• Other Helpful Items - Large outdoor storage bins with lids  -  Extra mulch or landscaping materials

***All donated items must be clean, safe, and in usable condition.

• Click here to purchase your 2026 yearbook. Lower school, please note that our book is K-12, so please ignore the "upper school" in the title. 

  • ATTENTION: We need your photos! Please send yearbook@enoriveracademy.org photos of the following. Or click here to submit photos:

• Fall Break Travels/Adventures

• Halloween photos

• NC State Fair photos

• Pumpkin patch/carving photos

• Haunted Houses/Corn Mazes

• Middle School-- WE NEED MORE SUMMER FUN PHOTOS!!! 

• Spirit Week

• Club events

• Extracurricular activities and hobbies!

• Your pets!

PTO Corner 

BIG THANK YOU to The Mad Popper in Durham for the generous popcorn bar donation for February's Staff Appreciation Event! So yummy!!

BIG thanks to all the families that donated and supported the RED-iculously appreciative staff treats last week! They were much appreciated and enjoyed by all!

Mark your calendars 

Teacher Appreciation Week will be celebrated April 27th - May 1st this year! Stay tuned for more details. There will be opportunities to donate items, donate towards gift cards for staff, volunteer to help supervise students during lunch/ recess, decorate, set up/ clean up, and more!

Have a connection or idea? Let us know! 

The Staff Favorites List is here!!!! You asked, and we collected the info! Want to start the New Year off with a surprise or treat for your teacher ?!

Want to do a random token of appreciation as the year goes on ? . . you can check out what our staff would really like!

2025-2026 Staff Favorites List

This Week in Athletics

Running Club - we need parent volunteers!!! Please reach out to Ms. Snyder (ssnyder@enoriveracademy.org) if you are able to attend on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm.  Our athletes thank you in advance!!

Families, please share your thoughts about the Athletic Program on this form. We would love to get volunteers to work on a Booster Club 

and/or fundraising opportunities.

Middle School Athletics: Tryout Information

• girls soccer - Tryouts will be February 23rd & 24th from 3:15 - 5:00. See flyer for more information.

• boys tennis - Tryouts February 26th & 27th from 3:30  - 5:00. See flyer for more information.

• baseball - Tryouts will be February 23rd & 24th, starting at 4:00. More information to come. Join the Band app to stay up to date.

• running club - This will start in March. The club will meet from 3:30 - 5:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Join the Band app.

If your student is interested, please ensure their Dragonfly account is set up and up to date. Many required forms can be completed directly on the site. Two forms - the physical exam and medical eligibility form - must be completed by a physician. If your student needs a physical, Fast Med typically offers them for around $25.