The Green Valley Gazette
December 5, 2019
Letter From the Principal
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break and are enjoying everything that this time of year has to offer with your family. This time of year always reminds us of how lucky we are to be working with you in partnership toward educational excellence. Excellence is our goal for all students. With that being said, we have 12 days of school remaining before the Winter Break and our plans are to continue our regular routine of high quality engaging instruction each day. It is the expectation of our staff to use each instructional day to capitalize and maximize learning. During this season, teachers may choose to provide instruction that informs students of differing cultural traditions by merging curriculum and instructional standards to our students' cultural backgrounds. It is our goal to recognize all cultures of the students we serve and use an equity lens in our instructional planning. Our school continues to grow in this area as we excitedly become a more diverse community. We are proud of all we have accomplished as a staff, as our survey results indicate positive progress. We encourage you to provide us feedback at any time as we continue to engage students in work that value all differences and backgrounds.
Office Notifications:
Please remember to use the email GreenValley.ES@fcps.org instead of Mrs. Wagner or Mrs. Schaub's individual email when notifying the office about transportation, absence or early dismissal needs.
Weather Reminder:
We will always make every effort to have our students attend recess outdoors. There are times when inclement weather or temperatures require us to keep students indoors. Please know we regularly consult with FCPS regulations in determining outdoor activity, which includes using the National Weather Service recommendations for outdoor exposure. These decisions are made on a daily basis. To help support our efforts, please be sure that students have appropriate attire for outdoor play.
FCPS Calendar Update:
The BOE Calendar Committee has added a third option for public review and comment, based on feedback from the community. In Option 3, students start school Monday, August 31, 2020. Although there were questions about the possibility of starting school after Labor Day, the holiday falls very late in 2020, on Monday, September 6. Numerous concerns were raised about the prospect of starting school Tuesday, September 7, ranging from how long this would extend the school year in June to how this would compromise other breaks in the academic year and negatively affect adequate time for test preparation. In Option 3, the last day for students is Tuesday, June 14 if there are no snow days; with 5 snow days, the last day is Tuesday, June 22. In September, schools are closed on Labor Day, Yom Kippur and Fair Day. Fall break is Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27, and spring break is Monday, March 29-Monday, April 5. FCPS has posted all 3 options online at www.fcps.org/calendar. Instructions are there for submitting comments. The deadline is extended through Friday, December 6.
LOU Redistricting:
Letters were sent home on November 22 to families at GVES who will be attending a different school next school year. Please know that we are enthusiastically working with the administration of Twin Ridge Elementary School and New Market Middle School to support a seamless transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, FCPS continues to maintain the dedicated web page at www.fcps.org/louredistrict with information about the revised attendance boundaries, pdf maps showing those areas that moved from one attendance area to another and the school year they will go into effect, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, and an interactive map with the current and new attendance boundaries.
Yours in teaching and learning,
Dr. Giuseppe Di Monte & Mrs. Hannah Feldman
RACE For Education
If you turned in address labels for this year's Race and would like a list of donors to send thank you cards to, we can help. Please email us at GreenValleyRACE@gmail.com.
Our 2019 Race for Education raised about $30,000 thanks to the generosity of Green Valley family and friends! But we didn't come close to our goal. In fact, we raised a full $10,000 less than last year, despite having more students. Please consider making a tax deductible end of year donation. Simply send a check into school addressed to Green Valley Elementary PTA. It's not too late for you to help follow through on supporting the Book Room, as well as PTA programs throughout this year. Thank you for your support!
Gifts for Staff
Movie Night is this Friday!
Movie Night: Lion King
Presented by the PTA
Friday, December 6, 2019
6:30 PM
GVES Cafeteria
Bring your blanket & pillow!
Popcorn, candy & drinks will be sold!
(free popcorn for PTA members)
Please come and join us for a fun Movie Night!
*Please note: This is not a drop off event.*
Our expectation for movie night is that everyone will follow Green Valley Rules!
Being Respectful - Zero Voice / Use your Manners with Food and Drink
Being Responsible - Stay Seated / Clean up area
Being Ready - Listen, watch and enjoy
Please enter and exit quietly
Silver Knights Enrichment Activities!
The Silver Knight Enrichment activities for the winter semester are here! Use these links to register...
Join the GVES Student Directory
If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Baquero at gvesmembership@gmail.com
Stay Up To Date
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from GVES:
- Find Out First E-mails - We use the email addresses that you provide us when your student enrolls to send out information. If that email address changes, please notify us so that we can update your information.
- PTA Website - This provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities, current and previous editions of this newsletter, and more. Bookmark it today! http://www.greenvalley.my-pta.org/
- PTA Facebook Page - Stay informed about PTA events, activities, and school information by liking the Green Valley Elementary School PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GreenValleyESPTA
Join Us!
Upcoming Events...
12/6 - Movie Night at 6:30pm
12/20 - 2 hour early dismissal
12/23-1/1 - WINTER BREAK