SES Dolphin News
May 6, 2021
Dear Stafford Elementary Community,
We hope you are enjoying this warm weather we have been having lately. We are all hoping that Spring is truly here.
Our fourth quarter is in full swing and we have several activities and changes that are coming up. We want to thank everyone for helping have a wonderful transition to 4 days a week of school. We are now on a great roll, but we wanted to remind families again that your child must participate in whatever instructional preference you chose - face-to-face or virtual. Students who are face-to-face must be here each day to be counted as present. They will not be admitted into a virtual session - unless the students have been quarantined. For virtual students to be present, they must sign in, be engaged in the lessons, and they should have their cameras on. It is very difficult to tell if our virtual children are even in front of the computer when the cameras are off. Many times teachers will call on virtual children and after several attempts they never respond. We need your assistance in ensuring that our virtual children receive all they can out of their education by helping make sure they are logged in and engaged in their lessons.
As you know, many of our classes have been going outside to eat and have recess. In order for children to not be wearing masks outside, they must be 6 feet or more apart from their teachers and peers. Please speak with your children about the need to stay 6 feet apart outside when masks are off. We are working very hard to keep our staff and students safe while in school and thus far wearing our masks, social distancing, and washing our hands has kept our school safe. We need to keep up with these practices to continue to keep our school community safe. Social distancing outside to at least 6 feet without a mask is imperative. Thank you for your help with this.
If your students are in grades 3-5, you know that we are quickly approaching SOL time! SOLs begin next week. The schedule of tests are written below in our Mark Your Calendar section of this newsletter. Please review the SOL Testing Information section of this newsletter to read some very important information about SOL testing. We still have not heard from many virtual families regarding SOL testing. We are making phone calls to verify that your children will be testing on the Monday that your grade level test is scheduled for. Unfortunately time has passed for us to provide transportation for your students. We asked for this information in advance to set up transportation for any student who would be testing on Mondays. Please reach out to your student's teacher for more information about SOL testing.
As you should have read from Dr. Kizner's letter dated April 30, and his letter from today. We have two schedule changes coming up in June. The first change is in regard to Election Day, Tuesday, June 8. Due to primary elections on Tuesday, June 8, school buildings will be closed and the children will participate in asynchronous instruction. Monday, June 7, the students will participate in face-to-face instruction. Therefore, Monday June 7 will be an in-school day, and Tuesday June 8 will be a work at home day. However, we also need to change the date of our fifth grade Virtual Math SOL. Instead of testing our virtual child who chose not to test with their teacher and peers on Monday, June 7, they will need to come and test on Tuesday, June 8.
From Dr. Kizner's letter today, you should have read that the end of school year for our students has been moved to Thursday, June 10. Stafford County Public Schools has reviewed the r instructional schedule to ensure that schools provided the required time for core instruction at each grade level Therefore, once again, the last day of school for PreK - Grade 11 will be Thursday, June 10.
Due to the changes in the schedule, we have had to change our plans for our fifth grade graduation ceremonies and caravan. With the governor's rules on group gatherings, we are unable to have parents present for our ceremonies. However, we will be sharing a Google Meet link so that you are able to watch the ceremonies live. It won't be the same, but you will be able to watch and cheer on your child from home. The Google Meet link will be coming home closer to the graduation dates. Please see the flyers below for more information on the graduations and caravan.
We look forward to having a wonderful May. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Take care,
S. Sanders, Principal
K. Hardman, Assistant Principal
SOL Testing Information
- Please do not schedule appointments for the days that your children are scheduled for tests.
- Remind your children to do their best but that no matter how they do on the test, you love them and are proud of them.
- Ensure that your children get a good night sleep the night before their tests.
- Remind your children to do their best but that no matter how they do on the test, you love them and are proud of them.
- Ensure that your children eat a healthy breakfast the morning of each test.
- Remind your children to do their best but that no matter how they do on the test, you love them and are proud of them.
- Please be sure that your children arrive at school on time.
- Remind your children to do their best but that no matter how they do on the test, you love them and are proud of them.
- Encourage your children to do their best, and make educated guesses for any question they are not certain of.
- Remind your children to do their best but that no matter how they do on the test, you love them and are proud of them.
Please know that electronic devices of any kind are not permitted in the classrooms during testing. The includes but not limited to cell phones, e-books, tablets, games, smart watches etc. We strongly advise keeping all electronics at home on testing days. Otherwise, electronic devices are going to have to be kept turned off and in backpacks in the hallways. SCPS is not responsible for missing electronics. Please ensure the children keep any electronics at home on all SOL testing days.
Car Rider Dismissal Changes
If your child is a car rider, you have no doubt seen that we have made changes to our car rider lines in the afternoon. With the assistance of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, we have been working to get as many cars off of Courthouse Road as possible in the afternoons. Therefore, we are running four lines of cars. Two lines are in the bus loop with our school buses and two lines continue to run through our parking lot. You will see staff members directing traffic. Please be sure to stay off your cell phones while on school property as the cars are moving. I can't tell you how many cars have passed me with drivers talking on the cell phones. It puts the staff and students in jeopardy of being hit and that is something I know NO ONE wants. When the lines start moving, put your phones down and be alert to those of us directing traffic.
Please remember that students need to be in their seats at 8 a.m. not just entering the school grounds. Our car rider staff has been late to their 8 a.m. groups because they are still outside unloading cars after 8 a.m. Therefore, if you are coming onto the property at 8 a.m. or later, you need to park your car and walk your children up to the building to sign them in. Morning car riders will close at 8 a.m. and the staff will come back into the building to begin their duties inside. If you do not see the car rider personnel directing traffic, you must park and walk your children up to the office to sign them in.
Arrival Reminders:
- Students need to be in their seats at 8 a.m., otherwise they are tardy and you will need to bring them in through the front doors.
- Please make sure that your children are prepared with their masks on and belongings ready when you pull up to the car rider line.
- All children need to be let out on the sidewalk side of the car. It is safer for everyone - children and staff.
Dismissal Reminders:
- Stay off your phones and follow instructions of the staff directing traffic.
- Make sure you hang the car rider tag from your rearview mirror. Please leave it up until all of your children are in your car.
- Load your children from sidewalk side of the car. It is much safer for everyone - children and staff.
Breakfast and Curbside Meal Service
Breakfast Servings
- Each Tuesday, students will take home Wednesday's breakfast. Wednesday for Thursday, Thursday for Friday and Friday for Saturday. On Monday, parents will pick up (2) breakfasts at one of the participating curbside or bus distribution sites. These two breakfasts are for Monday and Tuesday.
Hybrid Families
- Will receive one breakfast and one lunch on each of their regularly scheduled in-school days (Tuesday through Friday). Stafford Elementary will send home a to-go breakfast one day in advance. The breakfasts will be frozen and need to be heated the morning when you serve them. Click here for the directions for heating the meals.
- Will pick up two additional breakfasts and lunches on Monday at curbside and bus distribution sites from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or Wednesday evening from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Will receive six breakfasts and six lunches on Monday at curbside and bus distribution sites from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or Wednesday evening from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Morning curbside service will take place on Mondays only from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Stafford HS, Mountain View HS, Colonial Forge HS, Shirley C. Heim MS, T. Benton Gayle MS, and Dixon Smith MS only. (Curbside and bus service is no longer available on Wednesday or Friday mornings.)
- Bus distribution will take place Mondays only from 10:30 a.m. -1 p.m. New bus distribution sites and times will go into effect on Monday, April 26, 2021.
Mark Your Calendar
- May 3 - June 16 - SOL Window
- May 10 - Gr. 4 Virtual Reading SOL
- May 12 - Gr. 4 Reading SOL
- May 13 - Gr. 5 Reading SOL
- May 14 - Interims Go Home
- May 17 - Gr. 3 Virtual Reading, Gr. 4 Virtual VA Studies, Gr. 5 Virtual Reading
- May 18 - Gr. 4 VA Studies SOL
- May 19 - Gr. 3 Reading SOL
- May 20 - Gr. 5 Science SOL
- May 24 - Gr. 3 Virtual Math, Gr. 4 Virtual Math, Gr. 5 Virtual Science
- May 25 - Gr. 4 Math SOL
- May 26 - Gr. 3 Math SOL
- May 27 - Gr. 5 Math SOL
- June 2 - Gr. 5 Graduation - Ms. Ayers and Ms. Amfo-Koranteng @ 8:15-9:15 a.m.
- June 3 - Gr. 5 Graduation - Mrs. Dent and Mrs. Rigmaiden @ 8:15-9:15 a.m.
- June 4 - Gr. 5 Graduation - Mrs. Kral and Ms. Willard @ 8:15-9:15 a.m.
- June 8 - Gr. 5 Virtual Math; Gr. 5 Celebration Caravan @ 6-7 p.m.
- June 10 - Last Day of School
Kindergarten Registration is OPEN
In order to register your child for Kindergarten, please visit the SCPS website for Online Registration. Here you will find instructions on how to register online. You can find all enrollment requirements to include proof of residency listed here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Office Manage, Celeste Dozier at 540.658.6340 or email her at dozierlc@staffordschools.net
We look forward to meeting all of our new Dolphins soon!
Welcome Our New Board
President - Kathleen Meade
Vice President - Membership - Heather Hardage
Vice President - Ways and Means - Joshua Meade
Treasurer - Melissa Midkiff
Recording Secretary - Virginia Garrison
Corresponding Secretary - Lilli Carter
We still have openings for our PTA/Teacher Liaison and Parliamentarian. If either of these positions interest you, please reach out to staffordelementarypta@gmail.com.
We look forward to having a wonderful year!
Teacher Appreciation Thank You
Your contributions went a long way in helping make this week a great one. Thank you again!
Spirit Night at Sam's Subs and Pizza
Teacher Wish List
Have you ever wanted to purchase your child's teacher a gift, but were just not sure what they wanted? Well we have the answer for you!
Contact Us - 540.658.6340 or email us
Registrar: Celeste Dozier - dozierlc@staffordschools.net
Attendance: Renee Kuczka - kuczkard@staffordschools.net
Special Education: Kim Hardman (Assistant Principal) - hardmankj@staffordschools.net
English as a Second Language: Bonnie Williams - williamsbj@staffordschools.net
FOCUS: Tiffany Sharon - sharontr@staffordschools.net
Health Services: Nurse Marisol Maltes - maltesm@staffordschools.net
K-2 School Counselor: Melissa Akin - akinm@staffordschools.net
Gr. 3-5 School Counselor: Catherine Williams - williamsce@staffordschools.net
School Principal: Stefanie Sanders - sanderssd@staffordschools.net
SCPS Technology Help Desk: helpdesk@staffordschools.net
SCPS Instructional Helpdesk: SCPSIT@staffordschools.net
SCPS Now Hiring Substitute Teachers
School Mask Fundraiser
Stafford Elementary School
Email: sesfrontoffice@staffordschools.net
Website: https://www.staffordschools.net/Domain/21
Location: 1349 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA, USA
Phone: 540.658.6340
Twitter: @SEDolphins