Grafton Gazette
JAN/ FEB 2019
Grafton Village Elementary School
Email: _@staffordschools.net
Website: www.staffordschools.net/gves
Location: 501 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Phone: 5403735454
Twitter: @GVESGrizzlies
A message from the Principal
Dear Families,
Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that 2019 has begun. We are quickly approaching the halfway point in our school year and there is still much to look forward to as we prepare for the second semester.
Our annual Grafton Village Talent Show sponsored by our PTA will be coming soon to the stage at GVES. The event will take place on Friday, February 8th. This event combines our traditional talent show with the option for students to showcase their public speaking by reading a short story, essay or poem. We look forward to enjoying the talents of our students!
As the weather turns colder, we begin to look at appropriateness of outdoor activities. We will look beyond a specific temperature and consider factors such as wind chill, whether the ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside. When the weather turns extremely cold, we have to balance students' needs for physical activity with the dangers that come from too much exposure to the cold. To keep our Grizzlies safe during these cold weather months, we have decided that our classes will not go outside for recess or PE when the wind chill is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
During this time of the year, inclement weather often becomes an important topic for families. With snow creeping into the forecast, I would like to remind parents that there are several ways to get up-to-date information on early dismissals, delays, and closings. In addition to local radio and television stations, you can visit www.schools-out.com or the Stafford County Public Schools website at http://stafford.schoolfusion.us. The county also has a link on their website to sign up for alerts such as road closures, inclement weather warnings and school closings and delays. This service allows you to receive email and text messages with this information. You can register at https://staffordalert.com . Finally, you can call 540-658-6698. Please review your plan with your child if school would unexpectedly dismiss early.
We also continue to need assistance to make our Car Rider area work as smoothly as possible. For parents who are dropping children off in the morning, please make sure your child is ready to disembark from your vehicle as quickly as possible when you enter the drop off area. We want the drop off to happen at an adequate pace so having students bundled up with backpacks ready and any school paperwork prepared before pulling up helps our staff to keep the line moving. Also, be aware that the Car Rider staff is required to close the school doors and return to the building at 9:00 as they have assigned work that begins in our classrooms at that time. If you arrive after 9:00, you will need to park and walk your child in through the front entrance. We appreciate your assistance as this helps all families who utilize the Car Rider drop off.
On a final note, we are excited to announce our Teacher of the Year and Service Employee of the Year recipients. Mrs Katie Hall has been selected as our Teacher of the Year. Katie is a Kindergarten teacher at Grafton. She started her career at GVES in 2008 after graduating from Penn State. Katie is an excellent representative of quality teaching at Grafton Village. Michelle Carlson has been chosen to be our Service Employee of the Year. Michelle is our bookkeeper. She previously worked at Grafton Village and also at Hampton Oaks Elementary and Anthony Burns Elementary prior to returning to GVES. Congratulations, Katie and Michelle!
Calendar
1/9 Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ Talent Show Practice 4:00- 5:00 pm
1/11 PTA General Meeting 8: 45- 9:45 am
1/16 Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ Talent Show Practice 4:00- 5:00 pm
1/17 DARE graduation @ Stafford High School
1/21 Martin Luther King Day- NO SCHOOL
1/23 Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ Talent Show Practice 4:00- 5:00 pm
1/24 4th grade field trip to Fredericksburg 9:40- 1:45 pm
1/28 Now a Full Day of school
1/29 Professional Day- Students no school
1/30 Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ Talent Show Practice 4:00- 5:00 pm
2/6 Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ Talent Show Practice 4:00- 5:00 pm
2/8 PTA Talent Show 6:30- 7:30 pm
2/13 Spring Clubs (K- 2)/ Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am/ 5th Grade Awards ( 9:15- 9:55)/ 4th Grade Awards (10:00- 10:40)/ 3rd Grade Awards (2:30- 3:10)
2/14 Early Release- ELEM ONLY/ Valentine's Day
2/15 1st Grade Awards (9:15- 9:55)/ 2nd Grade Awards (10:00- 10:45)
2/18 President's Day- NO SCHOOL
2/20 Spring Clubs (K-2)/ Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am
2/21 Field Trip- Kindergarten to see play @ George Mason (9:15- 1:00)
2/26 Breakfast Buddies (AM) 8:15- 8:45 am
2/27 Spring Clubs (K- 2)/ Chorus Rehearsal 8:00- 8:45 am Breakfast Buddies (NZ) 8:15- 8:45
Counselor's Corner/ Kindness and Compassion
AROUND TOWN- When your youngster regularly puts others first, kindness and compassion become second nature. Take advantage of big and small opportunities for her to make a difference in the community. Pay it forward - Make it a family policy to do two kind things for each one done for you. Be sure to let your child know that even small things count. Someone might hold the door open for her to enter a restaurant, for example. To pay the kindness forward (twice), your youngster could hold the door for another person- and offer to get an elderly couple's order when it's called. For times when she can't pay it forward right away, your child can watch for chances to catch up during the day. Encourage a can-do attitude- In tough situations, your youngster may want to show compassion but feel that his actions won't make a difference. For instance, he might want to help a neighborhood family who lost everything in a house fire. Remind him that while some things are too big for him to fix completely, there's still plenty he can do. Then, brainstorm ideas together. His list could include everything from donating clothes from his own closet to bigger things like having a yard sale to raise money for the family.
AT HOME- What do kindness and compassion look like? Use these activities to help your child spot kindhearted actions in her daily life. Make a reminder- Look up compassion and kindness in the dictionary together. Then, have your youngster collect quotations about these qualities from books or websites. Example: "Always try to be a little kinder than necessary." -J.M. Barrie. Ask your child to invent her own sayings too, such as "Be a ray of sunshine and brighten someones's day," Next, let her use her favorites to create a place mat. She can write the quotes graffiti- style on construction paper. Slip the paper into a plastic sheet protector so her place mat lasts longer. Tip: Suggest that your youngster spread the compassion message by making a place mat for each family member. Catch Kindness- Show your child how much kindness happens around him every day- he'll see ways he can be kind, too. Have him make a label to stick on a clean, empty jar. It might say "Be kind" or "We're a kind family." Place the jar in an easy- to reach location along with slips of colored paper and a pen. Now tell everyone in the family to add a note to the jar when they "catch" someone being kind. For instance, "Dad made soup for me because I didn't feel well" Or "Jeremy cleaned up the dog's muddy paw prints so Mom didn't' have to do it." Once a week, read the slips aloud. Then, start a new batch.
The Counseling Department is focusing on Kindness and Compassion!
Did you know that WEDS. JAN.23 is PENGUIN DAY at Grafton Village Elementary School?
Wear Black and White , or , penguin shirts, jackets, gloves, hats, etc. and while you’re at it-- see what you can learn about penguins!!
Showing Kindness
The Clinic Chronicle by Amy Pisciotta, RN
In accordance with Virginia State law, parents of students in grades five through ten will receive this yearly information sheet containing important facts about Scoliosis and Scoliosis screening. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature or turning of the spine. It affects 2-3% of the population or an estimated 600,000 people in the United States. If left untreated, scoliosis can progress to a serious problem, causing back pain and degenerative arthritis of the spine. It may lead to disk disease or sciatica. It can also threaten the psychological well-being of a young adult when there is an obvious deformity. Although scoliosis may result from an injury, a birth defect, or a crippling disease, 90% of cases are from unknown causes. It may run in families and affects girls seven times more often than boys. It most frequently develops during the growth spurt between ages 10 and 15, but can also develop or progress later in life. Early detection and intervention may prevent further structural deformity and resulting secondary problems. Scoliosis screening is an observation of the student’s spine while standing as well as performing a forward bend. A scoliometer, a device for measuring the amount of abnormal curvature in the spine, may also be used during screening. Treatment of scoliosis varies between no treatments needed, bracing of the spine, to spinal fusion surgery. Since the development of scoliosis is gradual and usually painless, scoliosis may develop without the parent or child being aware. It is important for parents to monitor their child’s development during these growing years and to have students checked by the family physician routinely. The signs of scoliosis may include uneven shoulders, a shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other, uneven waistline creases, one hip higher than the other, and/or a leaning to one side. If you have concerns about your child’s spinal health, contact your family health care provider or school nurse for follow up. If you do not have a primary care physician, with your written permission, the school nurse can provide an initial screening. Should further evaluation be necessary she can direct you to other health care resources.
Parents of 5th grade students, it is time for your child to receive his or her Tdap vaccination. The Tdap is a combination vaccine that has tetanus and pertussis in the vaccine (pertussis is known as whooping cough). This vaccine is required for entry into 6th grade and that time is fast approaching. You can either go to your child’s physician or the health department does vaccines on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. There are two types of shots, those that are not 11 years old yet and another for those over 11 years old. Once your child receives the vaccine, please send in something from his/her physician so I can put it officially in their record.
Remember the policy for keeping children home who are sick: Your child has to be fever free (less than 100.2) for 24 hours without the aid of medication, vomit/diarrhea free for 24 hours, and/or released from your physician for an illness. If you child is diagnosed with strep throat, scarlet fever, they have to be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school. We are encouraging hand washing and coughing into your sleeve here at Grafton and we want to have a very healthy 2019. Please consider getting your family the flu shot, there have been recorded cases in a couple of states so it is starting to rear its ugly head. Winter is always a virus favorite season. Thanks for your diligence and we will always encourage hand washing here at Grafton.
The Book Buzz from Mrs. Lieser, Librarian
Spring Book Fair 2019
Can you believe the spring book fair is right around the corner?
Our Spring Book Fair will be open on the following dates:
March 20- 22 (8:30- 4:00)
March 25- 27 (8:30- 4:00)
March 28 (8:30- 7:00)
(Open for Curriculum Night)
Virginia Reader's Choice Reminders:
The VRC deadline is rapidly approaching. Students enrolled in the program must have successfully completed 6 out of the 10 books by March 25th. Those students will be invited to a voting party in the library after Spring Break! The field trip will be announced at the party for students that have finished all 10! I am so impressed by how hard these students have been working!
We are in need of the following donations for our Makerspace area:
- Pipe cleaners
- Straws
- Popsicle sticks
- Paper clips
- Rubber bands
- String
- Clothes pins
- Plastic bottle tops
- Duct tape
- Empty paper towel rolls
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Small boxes like tissue boxes
Anything you can supply would be wonderful!
Bright Ideas from Susan Kesler:
Using Environmental Science Investigations to Challenge Students
Source: Parenting for High Potential
Happy New Year! Many children are strong advocates of sustainable living, caring deeply about the world around them and its future health. Parents can support this interest by providing guided investigations into the environment.
Environmental science integrates physical, biological, and information technology sciences to the study of the environment and the development of potential solutions to problems facing the local, national, or global community. Parents seeking to create environmental explorations for their children have an unlimited variety of ways to proceed. A young learner might measure the amount of rain or snow that falls for a week, and then graph this data and compare it with that a few weeks before and after. A slightly older child might consider their community’s need for a bike path, design a thoroughfare, and advocate for its adoption with elected officials.
Parents can ensure their child’s investigations follow the scientific method. This means that a child and his/her parents will:
- Make observations of the world around them
- Think of interesting questions involving these observations
- Formulate hypotheses regarding these questions
- Develop testable solutions or predictions
- Gather data to test solutions or predictions
- Develop general theories related to what they have seen
Furthermore, a variety of organizations, associations, museums, and other groups provide programs that are ideal for a child with a keen interest in the environment. Check out:
Go Green Initiative – gegreeninitiative.org/wp – grassroots initiative of parents, teachers, and children seeking to create a culture of conservation.
Green Map System – www.greenmap.org – Map making tools that children can use to create maps that show the cultural and environmental state of their communities
Pulse of the Planet – www.pulseplanet.com – Online radio series that provides 2-minute sound portraits of environmental issues, blending interviews with extraordinary natural sounds.
Versal – versal.com – An online learning environment for students that permits individualized explorations.
Students for the Environment – www.epa.gov/students – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency site that provides games, homework assistance, videos, and science fair projects.
Regardless of the path chosen, environmental science investigations provide a great means to expose children to the sciences and an outlet to provide them with an appropriate level of challenge.
Mrs. Feeney's Art Message
Hope everyone enjoyed their winter break!
Art Projects Kindergarten: The students will be creating a collage painting based on the book “The Snowy day” Ezra Jack Keats. Then they will create a clay heart bowl and paint it using glazes.
1st Grade: The students will be creating a collage painting based on the book “The Snowy day” Ezra Jack Keats. Then they will create a clay butterfly and paint using glazes. 2nd Grade: The students will be creating a collage painting based on the book “The Snowy day” Ezra Jack Keats. Then they will create an abstract snowman based on the art of Pablo Picasso.
3rd Grade: The students will be creating collage based on the art of Pablo Picasso collage of a guitar. Then they will create a three dimensional clay rose and paint using glazes.
4th Grade: The students will be creating a crazy line portrait using a variety of lines and coloring using colored sharpies. Then they will create a cityscape based on the art on Georgia O’Keeffe.
5th Grade: The students are making a poster design of an inspiration quote. Some artwork will be chosen to use on the walls of our school. They can use a variety of mediums of their choosing. The next lesson will be creating a three-dimensional clay fossil and painting using watercolors. Supplies needed for art class -Art shirts (extra t-shirts would be greatly appreciated) -Wrapping paper rolls
Music "Notes" from Mrs. Greven
Our 11th annual Sock Drive will run from January 16th-23rd. Please consider donating NEW socks (all varieties and sizes) to benefit Brisben Center and MICAH Ministries in Fredericksburg. Over the last 10 years, GVES students have collected over 14,000 pairs of socks for donation!
All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will continue to use recorders in January. Please remind your student to practice a little bit every day. Practice at home helps make our music time more effective. Students must bring their recorder to music class. Here are a few reminders about recorders:
· Always keep your recorder in your backpack. This will be your recorder’s home and you will always have it when you need it at school or at home.
· When washing your recorder, use warm soapy water, rinse and air dry. If the joints become tight, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the joints.
· Practice, practice, practice. Take a break from your homework and practice for 5 minutes. Or if you are watching your favorite television program, practice during the commercials.
The GVES Chorus had a very full holiday season. Between a Winter Concert, two Fields Trips and our School holiday sing-a-long, they were quite busy sharing their holiday spirit. Great job to our GVES singers who put on excellent performances each time! Thank you to Mrs. Marschall for accompanying our performances.
Mark your calendar: The 43rd Annual Stafford County Fine Arts Festival is on Saturday, March 30th and Sunday, March 31st at Brooke Point High School. GVES will have artwork displayed all weekend. GVES will also be represented with students in the 3rd grade Festival Musical. GVES Chorus will also perform! Stay tuned for more details to come!
PE News
Happy New Year! PE classes are participating in activities to keep our bodies healthy and active during the cold winter months.
· We have started 2019 with our dance unit, focusing on line dances. Students in Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade are learning and perfecting the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Biker Shuffle, and the Cha Cha Slide. Our younger students are enjoying Baby Shark, the Bunny Hop, the Chicken Dance, and the Macarena.
· We will begin our annual fundraiser to support the American Heart Association with Hoops For Heart. We will kick off the event on February the 1st and end on February 22nd. More information will be coming home soon. Fundraising will be done online, and we will focus on basketball dribbling, passing, and shooting skills in class.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
David Bridi
Bevin Menezes