MES Communication
January 28-February 10
Hello BEAR Nation!
I hope I am finding everyone well. During the week of January 29th, our 3rd through 5th grade students will take their mid-year SOL growth assessment. Once complete, we will send reports to all parents. While this assessment holds the name SOL, it does not generate an official score like our annual spring assessments. That round of SOLs will take place near the end of April and into May. I hope you will browse through the topics below to stay in the know.
Thank you for your support and partnership.
Mr. Machi
Lunch Menu (Jan. 29-Feb 9)
FREE Breakfast and Lunch is available daily. Students may decline a meal at any time. Available Everyday: Hummus, or Sunbutter & Jelly
Specials Rotation (Jan. 29-Feb 9)
Moncure is operating on a six-day rotation this year. Please look for specific Specials information from your child’s teacher!
SCPS 2023-24 Calendar
To help you to prepare for the year ahead, I encourage families to access the SCPS 2023-24 School Calendar. Please print or keep this link handy, as it will help you to prepare for holidays or periodic days off.
Mid-Year SOL Growth Assessments (Grades 3-5)
All 3rd-5th Grade students will participate in their mid-year SOL Reading and Mathematics Growth Assessments. Please, encourage your student to take their time on these assessments. Students who race to finish do not display their true ability. Together, I am hoping we can encourage all students to shine! Look for reports to be sent home after these assessments conclude. Thanks for your help!
SOL Growth Assessments Testing Dates:
Reading: Tuesday, January 30th
Math: Thursday, February 1st
WIDA Assessments
All English Language Learners will take their annual WIDA assessments is running NOW through the end of February. These tests are an opportunity for students to show off their second language acquisition from one year to the next. There are 4 parts to these assessments (Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing). With over 300 students taking these assessments at Moncure, good student attendance is very important for us to test everyone. Like all assessments, it is important for students to take their time and do their best. Any encouragement from home is appreciated!
Barn Hill Preserve
The Barn Hill Preserve provided our students with an awesome learning experience. Unfortunately, they visited our school after spending a few days at other schools. As a result, they did not come with enough materials to fill all student orders. They have assured us that materials will be sent to Moncure within the next two weeks. Once these materials arrive, our PTO knows exactly who needs to get them.
Notice of School Lockdown Drill – Monday, January 29
Anne E. Moncure Elementary School will conduct a “Full Lockdown” procedures drill on Monday, January 29th. Our drill will be conducted under the supervision of Moncure’s Crisis Team to prepare for the occurrence of a potential crisis. Moncure’s staff, Stafford County Public Schools, and our Sheriff’s Department are committed to providing all of our students with safe education settings.
What does a “Full Lockdown” look like? Upon encountering dangerous individuals or receiving information from the Sheriff’s Department, all staff and students are directed to follow “Full Lockdown” procedures; as established by our Stafford County Sheriff’s Department and Stafford County Public Schools Emergency Procedures Plan. All doors remain locked, children are secured, instruction is halted, and no one is allowed to enter or exit our building until an “all clear” comes from the Sheriff’s Department and / or school Administration.
Concerning our exercise, Moncure’s staff and students will conduct a “Full Lockdown” drill as directed by our county. If we were to be involved in an actual emergency, constant communication would also be maintained between our school, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Department, and our Superintendent. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
As a community, we all play an important part in the training for and implementation of lockdown procedures. These procedures are reviewed by administration, safety and security, and staff at the beginning of each school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thanks again for your cooperation and support.
House Point Standings (As of January 28)
Yuukanna House Event
We are so excited to invite our Yuukanna House to the first house event of the year - Cocoa, Cookies and Competition: Family Game Night. We are excited to begin house specific events at Moncure. This is a great chance for our Yuukanna House to get to know one another. Mark your calendar for February 22nd.
Help Moncure Celebrate Black History Month
Throughout the month of February, Moncure will celebrate prominent Black Americans from past and present. Like last year, we invite families to send us inspiring quotes, photos, and/or tributes to family members or other prominent figures in black history. Your digital entries will printed and posted in our building for everyone to celebrate. Please forward all digital entries to Mr. Price at pricejf@staffordschools.net. We will take care of everything from there. Thanks for your contributions in advance.
Kids Heart Challenge
Our school just kicked off the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge! Students and staff are excited to care for their hearts and minds, help kids with special hearts and learn lifesaving Hands-Only CPR! To learn more about how you can become a Heart Hero and complete Finn’s Mission, I invite you to watch this SHORT VIDEO. This year’s challenge runs through February 29th. If you haven’t joined our Kids Heart Challenge team yet, get started today! We need your help to reach our goal of 100% of families completing Finn’s Mission! Let’s do this Bears!!!
Here’s how you can help:
· Register: http://www2.heart.org/goto/MoncureElementary or download the free “AHA Schools” app.
· Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch the 2-minute Hands-Only CPR video featuring cardiac arrest survivor, Damar Hamlin, and watch a music video on the warning signs of a stroke (F.A.S.T.).
· Share with Family & Friends: Send messages via social media, text messages and/or email.
Help our class win the classroom challenge by registering and completing Finn’s Mission. We can create a community of lifesavers!
23-24 KHC Moncure Kids Heart Challenge Video
QUESTIONS: For questions about the webpage or app, please feel free to contact the Kids Heart Challenge help desk directly at schools@cdsfulfillment.com or 1-877-824-8531
THANK YOU for being one of our Heart Heroes!
Thank you,
YOUR MONCURE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS
Coach Barr, Coach Oliver and Coach McAfee
School Calendar of Events
January 29 – MES Lockdown Drill
January 30 – SOL Reading Growth Assessment (Grades 3-5)
January 30 – MES Crumble (PTO Spirit Day 3-6PM)
January 31 – 24 Night
February 1 – SOL Math Growth Assessment (Grades 3-5)
February 22 – Yuukanna House Event
February 27 – STREAM Night / One Book, One School Kick-off
Third Quarter Attendance Challenge
This quarter (January 8–March 7), we are rolling out a school-wide attendance challenge. Students who demonstrate perfect weekly (full day) attendance will earn a ticket. Students will be able to use these tickets to enter into drawings for items such as family 4 packs of Fun Land tickets, Monster Golf tickets, Sky Zone tickets, Urban Air tickets, and a few other options. For example, a student with perfect attendance this quarter will earn a total of 9 tickets to enter into a drawing(s) of their choice.
Important Attendance Information
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing ten percent or more of the academic year, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. In a 180-day school year, this equates to approximately 18 days, or 2 to 3 days per month. Our school’s goal for the current academic year is to maintain a chronic absenteeism rate of no more than 15%.
The state has tasked schools and school divisions to crack down on these numbers and involve the court system if necessary. We simply ask that you get your students to school. If your student is sick, keep them home. However, if your student is simply tired, get them up.
Missed instruction, regardless of the reason, can have significant academic consequences. Therefore, our emphasis is on improving attendance for every student. It is crucial to note that, at the current rate, our school’s accreditation will be affected.
We ask for your support in helping us reach our attendance goal. Encouraging regular attendance not only benefits individual students but also contributes to the overall success and well-being of our school community.
The state has stated that attendance plans are mandatory for ALL students with 10 or more absences. If you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school office. We appreciate your partnership in fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.
We are looking for PTO Volunteers!
Moncure has awesome students and a beautiful school. However, the past few years have been very difficult for our Parent Teacher Organization. Currently, we have a small group of volunteers making our PTO possible. We would love to add a few more volunteers to our group. If you are interested in supporting our students, our school, and our community, then serving as a member of Moncure’s PTO might be right for you. We encourage anyone (regardless of home language) to participate. Should you wish to learn more about our PTO, please go to https://ames.ptboard.com or scan the QR code.
Moncure’s Resource Staff
Recent Stafford County surveys have uncovered the need for us to share more about our resource staff. Whether you would like to know more about who to ask for in our office, learn about our counselors, social worker, or instructional coaches, the link below should help. Moncure has a large team to support our large community. When in doubt, reach out!
Help Moncure Participate in a Pop Tab collection through May 17th!
To learn more, please click HERE! Each house team will be competing to see who can collect the most Pop Tabs! House points will be awarded each quarter!
Substitute Teachers Needed
Have you ever considered being a substitute teacher. Stafford County Public Schools is always looking for substitutes to support our schools. To learn about the application and hiring process, access the link below. We are always looking for energetic and positive substitutes to support our school. SCPS Substitute Hiring Information
A Note to School - Communication
Plans change and communication makes everything easier. Should you need to report an absence or adjust your BEAR’S dismissal plan, please contact our school. One way to communicate is by completing our “A Note to School” form and sending it through email to our office and your student’s teacher or by simply sending the form or a note to school. To access digital forms of this note, you can go to the parent portion of our webpage or simply use the link below. Thanks for keeping us informed. The earlier the better.
How to communicate with Moncure:
mefrontoffice@staffordschools.net -or- "A Note To School"
Please include in all emails:
Student's Name, Teacher's Name, and your name
Office Dismissal Hours (“No Student Office Dismissals” after 2:30PM)
It is not uncommon for our office and elementary schools across our county to receive multiple emails each day with dismissal changes from parents. The notifications require our office to contact teachers to prevent students from being dismissed incorrectly. Student office dismissals after 2:30PM only add to this confusion. Please understand that our “No Student Office Dismissal” restriction after 2:30PM is based on student safety. Thanks for your understanding!
“Caught Ya” Citations
“Caught Ya” Citations are a great way for students, parents, and staff to recognize adults in our building! These citations also provide students with an opportunity to earn House Points. Everyone wants to be a member of the “House of the Year!” If you would like to recognize one or more of our staff members, simply use this link. “Caught Ya” – Staff Citation Link Thanks for making someone’s day!