Jun 9, 2016 - School Staff will be attending Professional Development training on ...... week, specializing in video gam
Dates to Note Another amazing year is drawing to a close. We are finishing up our SOL Testing and we are very proud of our Dolphins! They worked so very hard to show what they know and do their best. Please take a moment and compliment you child on how hard they worked. Remember we have an Early Out on June 14th and 15th with dismissal at 1:10 each of those days. Students will bring home their Report Cards on the last day of school and included inside their Report Card will be SOL Parent Reports for students in third, fourth and fifth grades. As a school we have plenty to be proud of. Our Teachers and staff have provided a safe, engaging learning environment where every child had the opportunity to try new things, take a risk and shine in their own classroom community. It’s been a great year for our Dolphins and we look forward to next year bringing new ideas and programs to SES. This summer our School Staff will be attending Professional Development training on Responsive Classroom. With the help of our wonderful PTA and SCPS, Teachers will be trained in Responsive Classroom techniques that embrace school communities. It is a research-based approach to K-5 teaching that focuses on the strong link between academic success and the emotional growth in a strong school community. Teachers will participate in a week long training at the end of June. Look for further information coming in September from your classroom teachers. The summer is a busy time as we begin planning for next school year. I encourage you to take time to provide us feedback on how your child learns best. A student profile form was sent home to all families at the beginning of May. We certainly want your input on how your child learns best, please return those forms to our front office by June 15. Every summer we set our academic school goals for the coming year. Our Leadership Team will meet this summer to review student data and analyze student academic progress. There certainly are many areas to celebrate and as well, we will identify areas we need to improve upon. We welcome community feedback and encourage our families to get involved in this process. Coming soon… Stafford County Public Schools will be moving to a new Website Host during the summer months. You will see our County and School Webpages with a different look. School Wire will be the new website host and it certainly will have plenty to offer and user friendly with social media. More information to follow from SCPS. Mr. Raska and I wish you and your family a restful summer. Thank you for your genuine support of SES. I have a special place in my heart for the incredible children you give us everyday and the wonderful families I serve. Enjoy your summer,
Mary W. Foreman, Principal Mary W. Foreman
June 3 VA Readers Celebration 4-6:30 pm June 8 SOM Breakfast June 9 DARE DAY June 10 5th Moving On Party 4-5:30 pm
AWARDS
BELIEVE IN ALL MEMBERS OF T RUST AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. LISTEN TO, AND VALUE R ESPECT, EVERYONE’S OPINION. THAT OUR DIFFERENCES U NDERSTAND ARE OUR STRENGTHS. GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT S UPPORTFOR ALL. AND ENGAGE T HINK POSITIVELY IN LIFE-LONG LEARNING.
6/9-3rd 9:15am 6/10-K 9:15 am 6/13–2nd 9:15 am, 1st 2:30 pm 6/14– 4th 9:15 am 6/14- 5th 6:30 pm@SMS Please click here to see the new SES school calendar located on our webpage!
September
97.54 %
February
95.38 %
October
96.46 %
March
92.63 %
November
95.34 %
April
95.6 %
December
94.40 %
May
94.95 %
January
97.48 %
June
The first place winner of the pizza party with 20.646 lbs of pop tops for the Ronald McDonald House was Ms. Knight’s 5th Grade!
STAFFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1349 Courthouse Road · Stafford, Virginia 22554 (540)658-6340
Dear Parent/Guardian, As we near the end of this school year, it would be helpful for us to know the students that will not be returning to Stafford Elementary for the 2016 - 2017 school year. Please help us prepare for the next school year by filling out the information below and returning as soon as possible. Parent/Guardian Name: ____________________________ Child(ren)’s Name(s):
______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________
______ We are moving to another school within Stafford County. ______ We are moving out of Stafford County. ______ We are moving overseas & will need to hand-carry a sealed copy of my child’s records to the new school (out of the U.S. only) and request to pick them up on____________________ *.
Please provide the name and address of the new school: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ My child’s last day will be: ___ June 15th or ____________ other date (please specify) *Requested student records (overseas only) will be available for pick up Monday -Thursday from 8:30am – 4:00pm, beginning 6/23/16. If you need to pick up the records prior to this date, please note that above. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
It seems like it was just a week ago when we all gathered in the SES Dolphin Dining Room for Kindergarten Orientation, and all of the sudden we are ready to finish a successful year of Kindergarten with some fabulous friends!
We have been building our kicking skills in a variety of station and game-like activities. Our focus on fitness is always a priority; and we have included a special unit on it with exercises that address major components including flexibility, strength, cardiorespiratory fitness,
In Language Arts we have introduced all 26 uppercase and lowercase letters; 26 letter sounds (21 consonants, plus the five short vowel sounds); three digraphs (ch, sh, th); and all 24 high frequency words listed on our report cards. We have also administered the Spring PALS Assessment. Your child’s teacher will be sending home your child’s PALS Summary Sheet soon, if she has not already done so. If you have any questions about your child’s PALS, please contact their teacher.
balance, and agility. We integrated some gymnastics tumbling (log rolls and animals walks) and
In Math, Kindergarten is reviewing many of the concepts that we have introduced this year. We have also administered the final portion of the AMC (Anywhere Math Assessment). Your child’s teacher will be sending home your child’s AMC, if she has not already done so. If you have any questions about the information on the AMC Report, please contact their teacher.
Keep active this summer!
balance skills into our end of year activities as well. As the year begins to wind down, we are coming full circle and returning to some different forms of tagging games and activities that students have voted as their favorites!
Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey https://twitter.com/PEatSES
In Science, we learned about seeds and plants, parts of a plant, and the things they need to grow. All of the classes have been planting – but every class has been planting different things, like flowers, beans, and other vegetables. Please ask your child to share what their class planted! During Social Studies we have been learning about Memorial Day and Independence Day, and why we celebrate these two holidays, as well as Betsy Ross and the American Flag. We will be celebrating our “Mock 4th of July” on Friday, June 3rd. Please allow your child to dress in Red, White & Blue, or other patriotic clothing! Small flags labeled with names are also encouraged! If you would like to donate something to help with this festive celebration of our country’s birthday, please contact your child’s teacher. During the first week of June we will also be participating in our family life lessons, and our Family Trees are due on Monday, June 6th. Be creative and have fun with this last Kindergarten project! We are getting very excited about our Kindergarten End of Year Awards . This event will be held on Friday, June 10th at 9:15. The children need to be in their classrooms by 9:00, so that we can take attendance and have time to calm last minute nerves. We will begin to line the children up at 9:05, so please have your child at SES on time and if possible, please have your child eat before coming to school.. They have worked so hard all year long; it would be a shame if they missed any part of the festivities. We will have plenty of “helping hands” in the classrooms to get the children prepared, so if you are bringing your child to school with you, we ask that you go directly to the Dolphin Dining Room. After the awards assembly has concluded, the children will return to their classrooms. Some of the classrooms will have additional activities in the room, so please plan to stay for the classroom portion as well. Your child’s classroom is a perfect place to take pictures of your child with his/her teacher at the conclusion of all of the events. The children will be wearing their Kindergarten T-shirts that you purchased earlier this spring. Please make sure they wear a shirt to school that can be easily changed into their classroom t-shirt. As part of our End of Year Celebration, all Kindergarten Classes will be having a pizza party for lunch. Each classroom will be looking for families to make donations of items such as plates, napkins, drinks, side items (fruit, veggies & dip, chips, etc) and desserts. If you would be able to help out with one of these items, please contact your child’s teacher to see what she needs specifically for her classroom.
Mrs. Hassen, Mrs. DuPont , ,Mrs. Sweet, Mrs. Judd
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time and art supplies. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration.
Miss Miller
The Kindergarten students have been doing an excellent job with practicing a steady beat in music! This past month, the students learned how to play their xylophones while keeping a steady beat. We used the xylophones to interpret a story through songs and instrumental playing. Jason Collett
It’s hard to believe that the end of the year has arrived. We are so proud of each and every one of our students. It is always amazing to see the growth in each child – academically and socially. They came to us just learning how to read and write and they leave us, ready for second grade! We know how busy the summers can be, but we encourage you to keep those skills fresh for second grade. Make sure your child is reading during the summer. Take him/her to the library and explore a new genre of books. Grab some activity books at the dollar store or book store, and encourage your child to have “school” time during the summer. Check out teacher web pages for links to great educational websites. There are plenty of things to do to prepare the kids for next year. Before you know it, you’ll be out shopping for next years school supplies! We would like to say thank you to all of the parents who supported us this year. Without your help, we couldn’t do many of the things we do during the year. We have been on fun and exciting field trips and say thank you to the chaperones! We have had many celebrations through out the year and we say thank you for the treats and goodies! We are always asking for help in the classroom and we say thank you to our trusty volunteers who came in time and time again to work with students or small groups. We say thank you to everyone for working with your child on his/her homework and studying for spelling tests. Thank you for helping to give your child the education he/she deserves!
Be sure to join us for our last awards ceremony on June 13th at 2:30 pm and our end of the year picnic on Tuesday, June 14th. Have a terrific summer!
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time and art supplies. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration.
Miss Miller
The first graders have been practicing how to read melodies through singing, and playing xylophones. The students have learned several songs in which they have to create melodies on the xylophone. First grade classes are also learning how to read notes on the musical staff. Mr. Collett Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey https:// twitter.com/PEatSES
We have been building our kicking skills in a variety of station and game-like activities. Our focus on fitness is always a priority; and we have included a special unit on it with exercises that address major components including flexibility, strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and agility. We integrated some gymnastics tumbling (log rolls and animals walks) and balance skills into our end of year activities as well. As the year begins to wind down, we are coming full circle and returning to some different forms of tagging games and activities that students have voted as their favorites!
Mrs. Machi, Ms. Ferdock, Mrs. Carr, Mrs. McElwain,
Keep active this summer!
Do you believe how quickly this year has passed? Our second graders have blossomed and grown, learning many new skills and developing into independent workers. As the summer approaches we strongly encourage you to help your child keep abreast of the many skills that they have learned throughout the year. We suggest that you and your child read as much as possible over the summer. Frequent trips to the local library are highly this time of the year, the library
recommended. During
offers many programs geared for children of all
ages that are free to the public. If you and your family are going on a trip, have your child keep a daily written journal about the
activities and events they have done.
As you are traveling during the summer, have your child read the road maps and talk with your child about any historical sites you see or pass. When you and your
Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey Our students have been working hard on their skills in soccer with stations that teach basic skills of trapping, using inside and outside parts of their feet, passing towards a target and dribbling the ball in and out of cones. These skills were transferred to game-like setting inside and outside of our PE room. The kids have been given more autonomy in selecting their favorite games to end the school year. Great team work and cooperation Dolphins! Have fun this summer and practice all your skills!
family go out to a restaurant, have your child read the menu and have them add up the cost of their meal. Ask them different questions using addition and subtraction strategies regarding the menu. Please visit our classroom websites which will link you to various educational sites to review SOL skills that have been taught this past year. Your child will be able to continue to use First in Math for their math skills. All of these websites will be available to use as supplemental work. Our last unit in Second Grade will be in Science as we study Magnets. The students will be learning about how magnets attract and repel. They will also learn the many uses of magnets in everyday life. This month the students will also be taking the Math Predictor to evaluate the skills they have learned throughout the year.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE AWARDS ASSEMBY ON JUNE 13th 9:15 a.m. The Second Grade Team would like to wish everyone a very safe and happy summer. We look forward to a brand new beginning in the fall and meeting our new Second Graders. Thank you to all our parents for all your support, either helping in the classroom, being a chaperone, and especially for faithfully working with your child throughout the year. It has been an outstanding year. Together we do make a difference! Keep cool!
Mrs. Shockey, Mrs. Robens, Miss Johnson, Ms. Thompson, Mrs. Greene
Second grade students have been practicing songs about our 50 United States. Students have learned folk dances as well as songs, and have learned how to play percussion instruments with multiple parts to accompany our songs! Our Dolphins have been practicing musical tempo words as well. I am so impressed with these musicians! Mr. Collett
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time, as well as art supplies. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration. Miss Miller
Our students have been working hard to show their learning on the SOL tests! The third grade teachers have utilized technology and other creative activities to help prepare students for the tests. We have REALLY been working hard to do our best and show what we know. Looking ahead to summer - did you know that just by reading four books at their instructional reading level over the summer, your child can help prevent the “summer loss” of knowledge? Please help your student get the best start for next school year by helping them read all summer long! Encourage your child to take advantage of real life learning opportunities, and you will help foster a love of learning that will promote success for a lifetime. Practicing those multiplication and division facts over the summer is essential as you look forward to fourth grade. First-In-Math logins will still work for most of the summer. There are websites out there that you can print free practice worksheets on. There are tons of free cool multiplication and division games out there. You might want to consider a math workbook that goes over all of the skills that we have learned this year, as well. It has been a pleasure working with your children this year. See you at the awards assembly 6/9 at 9:15 am. Ms. Baker, Ms. Davis, Mrs. Campesi, Mrs. Jacobson, Ms. Swiger
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time, as well as art supplies. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration.
Miss Miller
Third graders continue to do well on their recorders! Students have now learned four different notes on the recorder and now have started “Recorder Karate”. This past month which has been really exciting for my students. Mr. Collett
Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey https://twitter.com/PEatSES
Our students have been working hard on their skills in soccer with stations that teach basic skills of trapping, using inside and outside parts of their feet, passing towards a target and dribbling the ball in and out of cones. These skills were transferred to game-like setting inside and outside of our PE room. As a reward for team work and cooperation, the kids have been given more autonomy in selecting their favorite games to be played at the end of school year. We will be having a lot of fun during our last two weeks!
At the writing of this newsletter, our fourth graders are almost done with their Math SOL Testing. You would be so proud of your child if you could see him or her working on the test! They used the strategies they have been taught, went through scratch paper like crazy, and were completely dedicated to doing their best!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR JUNE June 14th Final Awards Day begins at 9:15 June 14th – 4th Grade Picnic (Look for more information about time, snacks, and volunteer needs)
Fourth grade is a wonderful time of life! Students develop as thinkers, build some life-long friendships, and solidify foundational skills that will be used in all the later grades. We are all very proud to send these darlings on to fifth grade as confident students who are ready to tackle the next challenge! During the summer months some students may forget to make reading a part of their daily routine. However, in order to maintain the gains made this year, it is important that your child use some of his or her free time each week to practice the reading skills that we worked so hard to obtain. Reading, math skills will need to be rehearsed during the summer. The SES Webpage will remain up and running while school is out. We hope you will consider making “math practice” part of your child’s weekly routine. It will make a huge difference when school starts up again in September, especially for the kids who had to work extra hard to succeed in math this year. We want the newly-found confidence to follow them to fifth grade starting on Day One! The place to begin is our school webpage. www.stafford.elementary.schoolfusion.us/ The local library is a wonderful place to spend long, hot summer days. They have lots of activities for kids and did you know that they can get their own library card? Check out the library website for information about summer activities. Library Point Thank you for giving us the blessed opportunity to teach your children . Mrs. Bond Mrs. Kral Ms. McCabe Mrs. Mumpower Mrs. Schreiber
Fourth grade students have completed their FitnessGram post-tests and began a soccer unit incorporating the skills of dribbling, trapping, and passing using inside and outside parts of their feet. Students are also going to be incorporate other kicking games modified from traditional kickball and will be preparing to end the year with more tagging games and a little gymnastics unit as well! Way to go, Dolphins!!! Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time, as well as art supplies. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration.
Miss Miller
Fourth grade students are currently on a recorder unit which includes improvisation, as well as songs such as “Everest” and “Irish BAG.” They will continue to play recorder until the end of the year. Mr. Collett
What a great year this has been in the 5th grade! Our students have worked hard all year long and are finally ready to go on to middle school next year. We are all very proud of their efforts, determination, and perseverance that each 5th grader has shown this year. We know our students will continue to flourish as they move on to middle school! With the end of the year quickly approaching, there are many important dates that we would like parents to remember:
Thursday, June 9, 2016 DARE Day 9:30 am-1:30 pm
It’s the end of the year and that means the time has come to complete unfinished art projects, straighten up, organize, purge and pack for next year. It is a time for me, as well as the students, to sit down and reflect upon the year that has gone by. I’m inspired by the student artwork. The theme of Jazzy Art provided an endless number of themes to investigate. We created Jazz hands, studied Abstract Art and looked at the visual artists of New Orleans. I would like to thank the many SES parents who have donated ideas, time, as well as art supplies these past years. You all help make the spirit of art echo through the SES halls on a daily basis and I am grateful for the inspiration.
Miss Miller
(6 chaperones needed per class, see field trip form if interested)
Friday, June 10, 2016 Moving On Celebration 4:00 –6:00 pm (Students will need to be picked up at 6:00 pm)
Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Moving On Ceremony 6:30 -8:00 pm at Stafford Middle School Also, remember to have your child do some work over the summer to help keep the curriculum fresh in their mind. They can read a book, play educational games on the internet, etc…The fifth grade teachers have many excellent websites on their classroom webpages for review and practice. It has been a great year and we will surely miss all of our wonderful students over the summer! Paul Davis
Ellie Knight
Stephanie Lee
Melissa Mason
The fifth grade classes have learned up to eight notes now on the recorder. Students are learning how to improvise, create their own melodies, as well as read music on the staff. We have practiced rounds with the recorders and the fifth grade students will play recorders through June. Mr. Collett
Fifth grade students have completed their FitnessGram post-tests and began a soccer unit incorporating the skills of dribbling, trapping, and passing using inside and outside parts of their feet. Students are also going to be incorporate other kicking games modified from traditional kickball and will be preparing to end the year with more tagging games and a little gymnastics unit as well!
Tiffany Sharon
Way to go Dolphins and best of luck in Middle School! Ms. Pfahler and Mr. Amey
Summer MATH Fun!
Summer Fun with Reading and Math Calendars Summer is almost here! You’ve worked hard this whole school year and now it’s time to take a break, go on vacation, and relax! While you are enjoying your summer vacation, we want to encourage you to do some reading and mathematics! In your June report card, you will find two calendars packed with activities to keep your skills sharp for next year! Your Math calendar will have five week’s worth of math questions. Each day, you can answer a question and then explain your thinking to somebody else! Ask that person to initial the box that you have completed. Return your completed calendar to Mrs. Laden in September for a cool prize. Keep playing math games with First in Math! Your school log-in is good through August 31, 2016. Challenge yourself to move on the next level and keep your math skills sharp.
STUDENT NAME Username: _______ Password: _______
The Reading calendar will contain a selection of 35 fun filled activities. Choose your favorite 15 activities and have an adult initial the box after you have completed your selections. Return your initialed calendar and any special writing to Mrs. Bondesen in September for a cool prize. If you have a RAZ-Kids account, you can keep playing all summer long. Be sure to login using your teacher’s name and your password.
How do we end the summer as excited and relaxed as we start the summer?? Here are some ideas from a school in Texas. • Balance activities, routines and down time. Children should maintain a regular rhythm of when they rise, when they go to bed, when they do chores and when they can expect to participate in family meals and activities. They also need to be involved in responsible activities. But healthy structure doesn’t mean that children should be busy all the time. Some parents keep their children scheduled nearly all the time. They confuse good parenting with doing their utmost to develop a child’s talents, maximizing every opportunity and scheduling the child to the limit. Constant activity is stressful, especially when always focused on improvement rather than recreation. This is a mistake. Downtime must be a part of any healthy mix. • Define limits s and responsibilities. Set reasonable daily limits on the amount of time children spend watching television, playing electronic games or amusing themselves on the computer. The time children spend doing chores can be increased over the summer. Some major jobs can be assigned over an extended period of time for older children. • Schedule physical activity into your child’s week. In addition to setting limits on sedentary activities, it is important to promote physical activities. Offer suggestions about activities that can be done either individually or with others. Scheduling physical activity makes it much more likely to occur. Be sure your child has the clothing, shoes and athletic equipment she needs. Offer to provide transportation if it is necessary. Make sure you model physical activity yourself, and plan physical activities for your family. • Involve your children in planning family and personal activities. This gives them more ownership of the results, and ensures that all your family’s needs will be included. Brainstorm together, and list all of the activities each family member would like to do over the summer: for example, biking on the Katy Trail, going to a Cardinals game, exploring the Science Center or the History Museum, visiting grandparents, reading twenty books, vacationing at the lake or enjoying one of the many area parks. Take a calendar and note when some of these events need to be scheduled and when the rest can be worked in. Post the family "wish list," and check each item off when it has been accomplished. Review and celebrate your accomplishments together at the end of the summer season. • Make academics part of the mix. Three months is too long for an academically talented child to go without intellectual stimulation and skill building. For starters, expect your child to read for pleasure an hour each day. Keep a record, and set achievable goals for your child’s reading. Many libraries hold special summer reading programs for children, with intermittent
https://www.kidsa-z.com/main/ Login
rewards along the way. Look for other ways to put fun and structure into learning • Encourage your child to pursue her passions. Gifted children often have strong interests they cannot explore during the regular school year. The summer is an ideal time for a child to explore these interests. This may be done independently, or with some parental guidance. A word of caution for stay-at-home moms: be careful that misplaced guilt about not spending "quality time" with your child does not prevent you from sending your child to a structured program where she can benefit from the challenge, stimulation and interaction with others. For example, attending a sleep-a-way camp or a second two-week Summer Academy may be more valuable for a child than more time at home with mom. Have you ever wanted a “one stop shopping place” for information related to parenting gifted children? Check out this website http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/50-essential-links-for-the-parents-of-gifted-children/ for 48 Essential Links for the Parents of Gifted Children. This site contains links for organizations, blogs, twitter, resources, and articles. Also see the Davidson Institute for Talent Development’s website which contains numerous tip sheets for parents of gifted students: http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/browse_articles_114.aspx Topics range from academic acceleration to worry, stress, and depression.
Kathy Carpenter, Gifted Resource Teacher
LOST AND FOUND IS LOCATED IN THE “CHAIR CLOSET” INSIDE THE LUNCHROOM. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD CHECK FOR THOSE MISSING COATS AND GLOVES! All items will be donated at the end of the year.
AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS . . ALL
MEDICATION NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP BY A PARENT BY June 15 at 1:10 pm. Medication will NOT be sent home in a student backpack. Please contact the nurse if another adult will be picking up the medication. Silver Notes
are awarded to the students that have been “caught” doing an amazing job showing Dolphin Pride!
The Dolphin store The Stafford Elementary School Store was a great success. Thank you for your support and we will see you again in September.
Are you on Twitter? If so, follow our school! Our Twitter handle is @SEdolphins. Twitter is a wonderful micro-blog to stay on top of what is happening in our school while on the go. You can even set up notifications on your device so you will know every time we Tweet something out. Twitter is a great resource for you as a parent or student. By following certain educators, leaders, and hashtags can open your learning up to a world outside of your own personal learning network. You can check out this nice list of educational hashtags to follow. Here is nice Parents Guide and Tutorial for Twitter
Amara C. Alyssa S. Ava L. Yann A. Please Note:
Family Life Education instruction will be taught June 6-10 for K-5 students. Any parent wishing for their child to NOT participate should submit an Opt-Out Form. Opt-Out Forms were given out in the SCPS Code of Conduct in the beginning of the year. Should you wish to review the SCPS K-5 Family Life Curriculum, it is located on the SCPS Website and as well, a copy in our School Front Office.
I can’t believe we’ve made it to the end of the school year. Mrs. Cox and I have really enjoyed sharing the library with all of our SES students. So many have shown a great interest in reading and I’m very proud of them. Because the end of the academic year is upon us, I want to remind everyone to limit screen time (TV and video games), get outside, have fun and read, read, read over the summer! There is a free program offered by the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, with great prizes. Please make sure that you encourage your students to read for at least 20 minutes every day. That’s all it takes to keep reading skills current. And even if you can’t make it to the public libraries, but have internet access at home, your students can use their Follett Shelf eBook accounts. User names for students are: last name, first name middle initial (with no spaces or commas in between) and passwords are the students’ six digit birthdays (mmddyy). Just like the public library, access to our eBooks is free. If your student has problems with his or her account over the summer, please just send an email to
[email protected]. I will be checking my email regularly and will respond as soon as possible. Please help us with our library inventory – return any overdue books and contact us about lost or damaged books. Taking care of library books is a responsibility we work to instill in our students. We’d like to have ALL of our books available in our library next year! Thank you for making this a great school year! Mrs. MacLeod and Mrs. Cox
Our area offers many summer opportunities for children, and they go beyond sports camps! 4-H 2015 Junior Camp – An overnight camp with fun classes, such as performing arts and swimming. July 17 – 21st. All youth ages 9 to 13. http://offices.ext.vt.edu/stafford/ George Washington’s Ferry Farms/Historic Kenmore – Summer Explorers - The George Washington Foundation is offering an exciting range of short, 1 & 2-hour programs and extended day camps for children during the 2016 summer season. Children, ages 4-12 can connect with history through hands-on participation in fun and engaging activities that will help them better understand colonial lifestyles and archaeology. http://www.kenmore.org/education/SummerExplorers.html James Madison’s Montpelier - A variety of summer opportunities for children and the entire family. http://www.montpelier.org/visit/calendar-events Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center – Free Summer Art Camp and other exciting offerings. Click on “Education” and “Youth & Family Programs.” Summer 2016 programs will be posted soon! www.famcc.org. Summer History Camp in Historic Fredericksburg – Come explore history and follow in the footsteps of George Washington, his family, and his friends. June 20-24 for rising 3rd – 6th graders. Call 370-0732 ext. 24 or e-mail
[email protected] Pots and Palettes – Painting & Pottery classes and Enrichment programs. www.potsandpalettes.com. LibertyTown Arts Workshop - Variety of classes in introduction to art, pottery, origami, mosaic and more. Classes for adults and children. http://www.libertytownarts.com/ site/ Rappahannock Summer Music Camp - Instrumental Performing Arts Camp for ages 8 – 18. June 26 – July 2, 2016 “Pay in Full Special Pricing Discount” deadline is March 1st. http://www.rsmusiccamp.com/ Yamaha Music – www.ymsfred.com Click New Students to view offerings. Camp She-EO - Career exploration, professional and personal development for young ladies age 8-16. Exposes motivated young ladies to business, entrepreneurship, finances and goal-setting. http://www.sheeoacademy.com/ The Camps at Fredericksburg Academy – Enriching one-week day camps featuring arts, outdoor adventures, hands-on science and more for rising kindergartners through rising seniors, June 13-August 12, 2016. http://www.fredericksburgacademy.org/page.cfm?p=1527
ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages Mrs. Radebaugh
[email protected]
It is hard to believe that we are at the end of the school year. We are finishing up SOL testing. Students have worked very hard this year at SES! They have done so many amazing things. I am proud of our students’ dedication and persistence in their work – I know it will pay off in the end!
Stagedoor Productions – Summer performance arts camps. All camps will be held at Lafayette Upper Elementary in Fredericksburg through Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation http://www.stagedoorproductions.org Drama Kids International - Their summer camp and weekly drama classes are held at various locations throughout Stafford, Prince William County, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania. http://www.dramakids.com/va3 Click on “Class Schedule.” Riverside Theatre – 2016 Summer Theater Camp. July 25 – August 5, 2016. http://www.riversidedt.com/SummerCamp.aspx Bricks4Kids – In their summer camps, children will enjoy using LEGO® Bricks to build specially-designed models, play games, explore the world of engineering, architecture and movie-making. http://www.bricks4kidz.com/virginia-fredericksburg/ Ursus Summer Latin Program – It introduces 2nd - 5th grade students to Greco-Roman culture, mythology, and Latin language through various interactive activities. https:// sites.google.com/a/spotsylvania.k12.va.us/riverbend-latin-website/extra-curriculars/ursus-latin-outreach-program Friends of the Rappahannock - Volunteers can donate time to help us for a day at a special event, such as a river cleanup or a fundraiser, or you can sign up for longer term volunteer positions to include advocacy, restoration and more. In addition, they offer summer camps, but they fill up very quickly. Put them on your radar early next year! http://www.riverfriends.org/ Engineering for Kids - Kids ages 4 to 14 are introduced to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education through programs such as after-school programs, classes, camps, workshops, and birthday parties. They also offer programs for home-schooled students, scouts events, in-school field trips, and parent's night out events! http://www.engineeringforkids.net/Stafford/Index.html iD Tech Camps – College of William & Mary (ages 7-17) Kids and teens learn one course topic per week, specializing in video game design, iPhone® app development, programming, video editing and more. https://www.idtech.com/locations/virginia-summer-camps/williamsburg/id-tech-college-of-william-and-mary/ Stafford Parks & Recreation Department – www.staffordparks.com Children’s Museum of Richmond: Fredericksburg – http://www.c-mor.org/plan-your-visit/fredericksburg Classes and exhibits.. Headquarters Library – Family summer programs. www.librarypoint.org – Click on Events and then Classes & Events. Growing Kids Academy – http://growingkidsacademy.com – Summer Camp 2016. School age children go on exciting field trips every week! Dr. Yum’s Cooking Adventure – This kids cooking camp focuses on preparing exciting and healthy, plant-based recipes . http://www.doctoryum.com
May was a busy and wonderful month for our STEAM Club members. Our field trip to the Air and Space Museum on May 7th was wonderful. Thanks to all the parents that brought their children to SES on a Saturday to enjoy a great field trip. Special thanks to all the chaperones! May 15th was the annual SES Extravaganza and our STEAM Club members did a fabulous job running the art stations. We appreciate the PTA’s support in providing free food and drinks. Our final meeting on May 19th was a terrific family event....thanks to all who participated. It was a great year and we can't wait to do it again next year. S.T.E.A.M. Club
ATTENTION ALL MUSIC GROUPS!
THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR! YOU ALL HAVE BECOME WONDERFUL, TALENTED MUSICIANS ! Mr. Collett
[email protected]
WSES-The Afternoon News Thank you for all your work producing the news show every day. We have lots of fun ideas to make it even better next year!
GREEN GARDEN MEETINGS HAVE ENDED FOR THE YEAR! HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND KEEP YOUR GARDENS CLEAN AND GREEN. SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!!
SES SAFETY PATROL Our Dolphin Patrols did a fabulous job this
year! Thank you for your dedication to your job and for helping to keep our school a safer place and for setting a great example for others. Attention Fourth Graders! Now is the time to fill out your application to be a Dolphin Patrol next year when you are a fifth grader! You will be given an application soon. FILL IT OUT COMPLETELY and HONESTLY! Then you will need to ask your fourth grade teacher to give you a recommendation. Your teacher will then give your completed application to Mrs. Bond or Mr. Davis. They will be able to choose Dolphin Patrols very efficiently when the new year starts! Good Luck!
Student Council Association (SCA) News The SES Student Council worked hard this year to support our SES community as well as our Stafford community. Our most recent endeavor was to collect items for the Stafford County SPCA. Due to your generosity and the hard work of our SCA students, we collected so many much needed items. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the families that helped to make this a success. We also had our final meeting on May 18. The students participated in group challenges and finished off the year with laughter and some treats. It has been a great year with a group of very thoughtful, insightful group of students and we are so proud of each and every one of them!
The SES Flagraisers are hard at work! These fourth graders are doing a marvelous job. Through rain, sleet and snow they have not wavered in their duties. These students are entrusted with raising and lowering our state and national flags each day. Students are placed on three person teams and carry out their duties in two week intervals. We would like to recognize the following Flagraisers for having carried out their duties with aplomb. Jesse G.
Daniel T.
William M.
Jyoti D.
Morgan D.
Carmen H.
Chloe E.
Adam R.
Nick S.
Sam O.
Hashim K.
Lizzie F.
Aiden F.
Alisha F.
Natalia T.
Adam C.
Chris F.
Angie E.
Terence H.
Mark Y.
TJ G.
Logan C.
Hannah M.
Sarah J.
Nathanael Y.
Summer B.
Tyler L.
Darisius H.
Jack G.
Allen M.
Kaylee G.
Chance W.
Josh K.
Tegen P.
Jayden K.
Crysta M.
Madison S.
Jasmin R.
Sean C.
Jackson B.
Elizabeth E.
Daisy L.
Jayla F.
Ariana S.
John M.
Johnathon H.
Carmen H.
Samira C.
Student of the Month Celebrations
DOLPHIN AMBASSADORS 2015-2016
We could not pull off such a valuable program without the unending support of the SES PTA, SES Administration, and our beloved parents. The hard working Ambassadors are greatly appreciated. Thank you all!
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
WE DID IT! Stafford Elementary collected and donated 174 pounds of POP TOPS to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Richmond VA. A huge thanks to each student who diligently collected and brought in those valuable tops. The Ambassadors proudly delivered the pop tops last month! Congratulations to Ms. Knight’s fifth grade class for collecting the most tops for the entire school year. They collected a total of 21.96 pounds! Her class will be rewarded with a lunch party. Thanks to all the fabulous classes that have helped the Ronald McDonald House continue its mission of cost free accommodations for the families of sick children. Let’s see if we can collect even more next school year. Keep tabs on those tabs and bring them in next school year.
Everyone had a great time celebrating the student from each class whom best exemplified the character trait of Dependability for the month of May.
SES DONATED 173 POUNDS OF POP TOPS TO THE RONALD MCDONALD
Kg Benjie A. Lucy B. Jack W. Sarah P.
1st Tristan T. Rayhan Z. Ryan H. Gillian J.
2nd Drew C. Taylor S. Abby N. Brady F. Colette J.
3rd
4th
Cole R. Reynold N. Nolan M. Abigail A.
Benjamin M.
Callie B. Jace W.
5th Conner M Jonathan R.
.
TH
5
HOUSE OF RICHMOND. PLACE WITH 12.535 LBS- MRS. HASSEN’S KINDERGARDEN CLASS 4TH PLACE WITH 13.884 POUNDS- MRS. MACHI’S 2ND GRADERS
3RD PLACE WITH 13.904 POUNDS- MRS. LEE’S 5TH GRADE CLASS 2ND PLACE WITH 15.39 POUNDS- MRS. SHARON’S 5th GRADERS WINNING CLASS WITH 20.646 POUNDS WAS MS. KNIGHTS 5th GRADE CLASS!
Congratulations to the following students:
Summer is upon us. Please remind students to reflect upon the many lessons on responsibility, courage, respect, cooperation, perseverance and other important character traits we’ve covered this school year. These skills can help to make their summer activities fun and safe for everyone involved. Don’t forget to check the SCPS website for fun, educational and innovative summer activities for your students.
A huge thanks and job well done goes out to our fifth grade Ambassadors: Luke S., Isum A., Kiara W., Maggie D., Madisyn
F., Olivia C., Amara C., Lauren S., Lauren M., Ryann H., Jeremiah M., Katherine Y., Liz A., Matthew M., and Nina D. We look forward to hearing about the many great things these student leaders shall accomplish as they embark upon their middle school adventure.
Looking ahead… Get a head start on Small Group signups for next school year. Permission slips can be downloaded from the counselors’ page on SES’ website or sent home with your student. Parents we have school supplies available to those families that would like assistance in obtaining the needed materials for next school year. Please contact the Counseling office.
It is hard to believe that June is already here and I am finishing my first year as Assistant Principal at Stafford Elementary School! This school year has afforded me many opportunities to learn and grow within the Dolphin community. I am definitely grateful to be a part of such a warm and welcoming family. The end of the school year is a busy time for us, as we celebrate the accomplishments of this school year, anticipate a fun-filled summer, and look ahead to the 2016-17 school year. I know it’s hard to believe, but as soon as we close the books on this school year, we will begin preparation for our students and families to rejoin us in the Fall. It’s a busy summer! With this in mind, please be sure to complete the student profile sheet and return to SES prior to the end of the school year. These aid us greatly as we begin the process of forming classes for the upcoming school year. While we respectfully ask that you not list a particular teacher, we certainly want your input regarding your child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style so we can find the best possible teacher match! Please have a safe and enjoyable summer. We look forward to seeing you in the Fall. As our 5 th graders go onto middle school, we wish them the very best in their future endeavors! Sincerely,
Brian Raska
School Bus GPS “My Stop” for Parents An exciting new feature of Transportation's Versatrans Routing and Planning software allows parents to see GPS information on the location of their child's bus. There are 2 ways to access My Stop: The web address is: mystop.staffordschools.net Smart phone users can find an "app" in the App Store or the Play Store. Search for 'my stop' and choose “Versatrans My Stop”. The User Name is: Student’s ID number The Password is: Student’s ID number After logging in, users will see an icon moving on a green route. The icon represents the actual location of the bus. Arrival times will be automatically recalculated if the bus is running late. A notice of "No Active Routes found" just means that the parent can only see the route for 30 minutes before it begins and for 30 minutes after the child is dropped off. My Stop allows the user to toggle to see a sibling's bus GPS information. Siblings are linked by their home phone numbers.
From the Cafeteria~ LUNCH MONEY LEFT ON YOUR CHILD'S ACCOUNT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WILL REMAIN IN THEIR ACCOUNT FOR USE NEXT YEAR. IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR THE MONEY ON HIS/HER ACCOUNT WILL BE TRANSFERED TO THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
School is in session from 9:00 until 3:40 STUDENTS CANNOT ARRIVE BEFORE 8:35 AM.
B r e ak f a s t an d L u n c h Pr i c e s 2 0 14 - 2 0 15 Breakfast Lunch with milk Regular………..$1.45 Regular (k-5)……….$2.50 Adult…………..$1.75 Adult………………...$3.35 Juice $0.50 Milk $0.50 Dessert $0.50 The Stafford School Board has a contract with Scholastic insurers to provide student accident insurance for the school year. Premiums for 2015-2016 vary depending on the coverage desired by the parent or guardian. Your child will be given a flyer to bring home explaining the various options available to you. If you do not have insurance coverage for possible accidents at school, we strongly urge you to obtain this insurance. You must make payments directly to the company.
Please notify us if your child is going to be late or absent. You can do this by going to the SES website and clicking on the “Report An Absence” link. Reporting the absence on-line will eliminate the need to send a written note upon return to school.
Please begin planning for the day when your child may become sick or injured in school. A designated “emergency response person” must be written on school forms to assist when a parent is at work or unable to come to the school and pick up your child. It is important that the Emergency Card be promptly filled out and returned to school should the need arise in the very first few days of school. Please begin researching those numbers now.
www.myschoolbucks.com and click on “Enroll Now” Create an account for yourself and your children. (You will need the student’s school, grade, birth date & student ID #) Provide credit or debit information. Select the automatic pre-payment option if desired.
BUS CHANGES
There is a transportation form to complete if your child is going to ride a bus other than his/her assigned bus; or is going to change buses any time during the school year. The form necessary to make the change is in this newsletter for you to complete and return to the office as soon as possible. If your child is going home with a friend on their bus for one day only, both your child and the child he/she is visiting, must provide letters to the office. Passes will be issued for that day only.
BUS SAFETY
CAR RIDERS
Bus safety is an important issue with our children. They must remain seated at all times and converse with their neighbors in a regular tone of voice. It is unsafe to be turned around or moving down the aisle while the bus is in motion. All behavior concerns will be reported to the office by the bus driver, and appropriate actions will be taken. If you will be picking up your child every day, he/she is considered a car rider. They will meet you on the pick-up line, which is on the far left side of the school . Please note the proper traffic pattern to follow when picking up or dropping off your child, included in this newsletter.
When the occasional need arises for you to pick up your child after school, the process will be handled by the secretaries in the main office. OCCASIONAL PRIOR NOTICE VIA EMAIL, NOTE, OR PHONE CALL CAR RIDRS IS REQUIRED BEFORE 3 p.m. Please see notice to the right for procedures.
Traffic Patterns
To ease the flow of traffic, and provide for the safety of our children and staff, we have an established traffic pattern for you to follow. Please do not park in the bus lanes or drive between the buses when you are on the school grounds. Please refer to the map, or ask one of the guards if you have any questions. The amount of daily car riders requires your patience!
If you know that you will be picking up your child every day, please fill out the Car Riders form and join the pick-up lane each day. However, we realize that is occasionally necessary to pick up your child for doctor’s appointments, and other after-school events. In an effort to ensure the safety of the students in the building at this very busy time of day we will maintain this procedure:
NO CHILD will be picked up at the office after 3:00.
Sometime during the day you must obtain a “Temporary Car Rider RED Pass” from the office. The secretaries will require ID before issuing the pass.
Your child will be called to car riders at the end of the day and meet you there.
Once you have your pass, you will join the “car riders” lane and pick up your child at the side of the building. At that point you will turn in the pass to the person assisting the students to their cars. Children will not be released without the pass.
In the effort to increase student-security, no one will be met at the front doors at dismissal.
PTA
NEWS!
Spring Yard Sale is 7am-12 pm on June 4th Don’t get rid of your junk...sell it! The PTA will be having a Spring Yard sale on June 4th (rescheduled from May 21st)from 7:00am-12:00pm. $20.00 will get you two parking spots. A flyer was sent home with your student. If you need more information contact
[email protected]
PTA Executive Board Election Results Congratulations to the newly elected Board Members! The SES Executive PTA Board for the 2016-2017 school year... 1. President- Ellen Jung 2. Vice President Membership- Kara Conover 3. Vice President Ways and Means- Renee Kuzcka 4. Treasurer- Rebecca Khalik 5. Corresponding Secretary- Laura Wessinger 6. Communications Technology Secretary- Kimberly Minnery 7. Teacher Liaison- Stephanie Grover 8. Parliamentarian- Brian Clubb
A Note from the President: As you read this, the 2015-2016 school year is within days of coming to an end. I am sure there are some that will welcome the end of the year, while others find it difficult to say good-bye to close friends and faculty as they leave Stafford Elementary. On behalf of the SES PTA, I want to thank all our event chairs and volunteers who put in countless hours to make sure we had fun, diverse activities. I also want to thank the SES community for supporting the PTA as volunteers, supporters, donators, buyers of Spirit Wear and customers at Spirit Nights. Throughout the year your generous gifts of time and funding contributed to the success of our Book Bingo, Fall Dance, Yard Sale, Basket Raffle, Boosterthon, Spirit Nights, Talent Show,Theater IV, After School Enrichment, Food Drive, and Veteran's Day. Your incredible support and commitment have contributed greatly to the educational experience of our children. The Executive Board and I wish a fond farewell to our 5th grade students and encourage them to fully embrace every opportunity as they begin the next step in their school career. Your presence will be missed. To our amazing SES Staff, we thank you for inspiring our children to reach and go beyond their potential. We appreciate the exceptional gifts you bestow upon our children every day.
Ellen Jung Many special thanks to our outgoing Board members and all their accomplishments: Jessica Beirne, Libby Lafferty, and Samantha Hill. Welcome to the new faces on the Board: Kara Conover, Rebecca Khalik, and Kimberly Minnery. Thank you to Ellen Jung, Laura Wissinger, Renee Kuzcka, Stephanie Grover, and Brian Clubb who will be returning to serve on the 2016-2017 Board.
The PTA Board President: Ellen Jung Vice President: Jessica Beirne VP Ways & Means: Renee Kuczka Communications/Technology Secretary: Samantha Hill Recording Secretary: Laura Wissinger Treasurer: Libby Lafferty Parent/teacher Liaison : Stephanie Grover Parlimentarian: Brian Clubb
SES PTA Online WWW: pta.stafford.elementary.schoolfusion.us
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook: Stafford Elementary School PTA
The
school year is quickly coming to a close. The kids at Stafford Elementary are not the same as when they
walked through the doors on the first day of school. Kindergarteners are inches taller and 5 th graders are now Middle Schoolers! The days seemed long, but the school year flew by. Let’s take a moment and remember some of the fun we had together! The PTA started the school year off with an Ice Cream Social for new families and Kindergarteners. Shortly after that we saw all families at Open House dropping off arms full of school supplies and loading up on new Dolphin Spirit Wear (yes, everything was used and worn out too!). October was a fun month for our Dolphins. Budding readers joined us for a fun evening of Book Bingo and the school had a blast at the first ever Trunk-or-Treat and Fall Dance. Dynamite the Dolphin even made his dancing debut at the Fall Dance too! The school community provided a bounty when it came to the Holiday Food Drive. Our school was able to help those who needed a little extra around the Holidays. The highlight of December was the Pancake Breakfast and Holiday Fair. The cafeteria has never seen so many pancakes cooked in the kitchen! Santa certainly enjoyed his share after taking pictures with our Stafford Elementary Dolphins! Not even a little snow could stop the PTA from having its annual Basket Raffle. It was worth the wait too! This past year we had a Disney World Ticket basket that was donated and received by one lucky Dolphin! The grade levels did not disappoint in their themes and creations either. Boosterthon came to our school again and rocked our school in a BIG WORLD RECESS way. The PTA cannot wait to use the money that we earned from this fundraiser for Technology and Wellness to make our students healthy 21st century learners. Our most recent events were the Talent Show and Art Extravaganza. It is amazing to see how talented our Dolphins are when it comes to fine arts. Thanks to those that made these events extra special and memorable! It certainly was a busy year, packed with fun community events, after school and before school activities, and ways to show our gratitude to the hard working staff at Stafford Elementary School. The PTA thanks those volunteers that stepped up to help. We look forward to another successful school year in 2016-2017. In fact, as you get ready to enjoy your summer…the PTA is already hard at work planning for next year!
