Soaring Falcons
February Edition 2020
Falmouth Elementary
LEARN with passion
LEAD with confidence
LIVE with character
Email: fewebmaster@staffordschools.net
Website: https://www.staffordschools.net/fes
Location: 1000 Forbes St, Falmouth, VA 22405
Phone: (540) 373-7458
Twitter: @FESNVA
HELP WANTED!
Need a part time job? Falmouth needs you!
We are having difficulty securing substitutes when some of our staff members are absent. Please consider applying and attending the substitute training on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 or Thursday, May 14, 2020 from 10am til Noon at the Stafford County School Board Office chambers, 31 Stafford Avenue, Stafford, VA 22554. For more information, please click this link. https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/897990/schools/147907
For Salary rates and other information, please click this link
***PRINCIPAL'S GREETING***
Dear Falmouth Falcon Families,
Winter has officially arrived! As temperatures continue to fluctuate, I’d like to take the time to remind you to pay close attention to the forecast and have your child layer his/her clothing. This enables him/her to be comfortable in all parts of our school and throughout the school day! Unfortunately, there have been numerous students arriving to school without winter wear (coats, hats, gloves, etc.). Please contact the school if you are unable to provide appropriate winter wear. We also have a collection of winter wear at our Lost and Found!
Additionally, I want to remind you that occasionally the weather will impact school hours. Stafford County Public Schools has several methods of public notification in the event of school closings or changes to our school day due to weather. It is extremely important that the school have a valid phone contact for you so that you will receive the blackboard notifications. Please contact the school if you need to update your phone number and/or address.
FES has also recently experienced an increase in student illnesses. We have had several confirmed cases of flu, strep throat, and other illnesses. We ask that you take the time to wash all of your child’s winter wear and clean your child’s backpack and lunchbox thoroughly as a proactive measure. Additionally, we are stressing that students wash their hands upon arrival, following restroom use, prior to lunch, following lunch and at the end of the school day.
Thank you again for sharing your child(ren) with us each and every day!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sallie Johnakin-Putnam
Principal
Bus information
Be Responsible
On-time
Please be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before your scheduled pickup time
We can only pick up students who are physically at the bus stop
If you are not at the bus stop, we will not wait for you
Be sure to have all of your items with you
Save Snacks for Later
Please refrain from chewing gum and eating food on the bus
With the exception of water, please refrain from consuming drinks on the bus
Keep the Bus Clean
Keeping our buses clean is a high priority
Please pick up trash and place it in the trash can in the front of the bus
Use Respect
To the driver, attendant, and other students
Follow directions given by the driver and bus attendant
Ask questions if you do not understand directions
Be considerate of the other students when sharing space
Keep your belongings in your space
Use kind words
Use appropriate language
Use your words to solve problems
Use please and thank you
Give compliments when possible
Use a positive attitude when talking with others
Use headphones with electronic devices
Keep your personal device to yourself
Please refrain from sharing photo and video memories on the bus
Stay Safe
Stay in your seat
Sit in your assigned seat assigned by the driver
Switching seats is not allowed
No standing up while the bus is moving
Sit seat-to-seat and back-to-back
Use inside voice
Refrain from screaming and yelling
Talk to the people next to you
Respect other riders’ personal space
Throwing objects on a bus is not allowed
Keep hands and feet to yourself
Touching other students or their property is not allowed
Support safe driving
Keep the aisle clear
Distracting the driver is not safe
Exciting Things are Coming!
PTO Meeting
Early Release/Holidays
February 14 - Early Release
February 17 - No School/Presidents' Day
February 27 - Early Release
Green Bean Donations
***FALMOUTH FOLLIES ARE COMING***
***FALCON CLINIC NEWS***
Happy 2020! I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break! As we head into the new year, please be aware that cold and flu season are in full swing and we often see a significant increase in illness with our students. We are always encouraging students to wash their hands regularly throughout the day to reduce the spread of germs. To help keep our students healthy, please remember to keep your students home for the following reasons:
- Fever over 100 degrees within the last 24 hours without fever reducing medication
- Active vomiting within 24 hours
- Active diarrhea within 24 hours
- Severe cough
- Undiagnosed rash
- Communicable disease such as strep throat (may return after 24 hours of antibiotics) or the flu (doctor will provide return date)
When your child returns to school, please send a note in with them or report the absence online through the Falmouth Elementary School website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nurse Anna at krushinskiam@staffordschools.net or 540-373-7458
***LIBRARY NEWS***
This year’s ALA Award Winners:
John Newberry Medal-
“New Kid” by Jerry Craft
Randolph Caldecott Medal-
“The Undefeated” illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Coretta Scott King Book Awards-
“New Kid” by Jerry Craft
“The Undefeated” illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-
“Stop! Bot!” by James Yang
Pura Belpre Award-
“Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln” illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Mr. Ward, Librarian
*NEWS FROM OUR MATH SPECIALIST*
Math Manipulatives in the Elementary Classroom
In elementary school, teachers use many different math manipulatives. It is very important for children to see and understand mathematics concepts. Students need to visualize what the numbers mean and how they are being used. In Kindergarten, students are using counters to understand the meaning of 3 and 4. In first and second grade they don’t need them for single digit but do need to work on place value with base ten blocks and digi-blocks. In upper grades, students are using manipulatives for multiplication and division and, of course, for fractions. Teachers use a variety of manipulatives both hands on, virtual and drawing representations on white boards and papers. Students need this strong foundation of manipulatives to progress through elementary school and on to algebraic concepts in middle and high school. Math isn’t just numbers anymore but visualizing, building and representing mathematical topics.
Ms. Smetts, Math Specialist
***NEWS FROM THE READING ROOM***
FES LITERACY NIGHT
MARCH 4, 2020
6:00pm-7:30pm
BOOK A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
Mark your calendar for our upcoming FES Literacy Night! On Wednesday, March 4, FES will enjoy our annual night of reading fun! This year’s theme is ‘BOOK a Trip Around the World’! Families will journey around the world, reading stories and participating in activities related to a variety of countries. The Scholastic Book Fair will also be open that evening, so be sure to stop by our library and purchase new books! We hope you will join us as we grab our passports and fly off on a wonderful literacy adventure together!
Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Hall, Reading Specialists
***PE NEWS***
Happy New Year to all of our Falmouth Falcons and their families! Our 3rd through 5th graders “jumped” right into the new year with a couple quick weeks of rope jumping skills. Students were taught 13 different individual jumps, and 5 partner jumps. In addition to short ropes, students also got a chance to work with long ropes and a couple different ways to use them, which is a great activity to get students working cooperatively. We did a quick couple days of 4 Square before starting a 3 to 4 week unit on volleyball which will be starting soon.
Our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades recently completed a week of reviewing throwing and catching skills by using scoops and balls. Then they played another throwing game called Oscar’s Trash Can. As we “bounce” our way into February, students will begin dribbling as part of a three week basketball unit.
“Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart” is just around the corner! Stay tuned for more information coming home if you have a child in 2nd - 5th grade.
Mr. Emerson and Mr. Brown, PE Teachers
***FOCUS NEWS***
Summer Discovery:
FOCUS on Fun!
We are so excited for Summer Discovery! This is an enrichment program for elementary gifted and talented students. It will take place at Hartwood Elementary on June 29- July 2 and at Winding Creek Elementary on July 6-9. Classes are from 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Monday through Thursday. Mark your calendars!
Please be on the lookout for more information to come in the following weeks!
Ms. Pickett, FOCUS Teacher
***COUNSELORS' CORNER***
Please click on the link below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-yB4BM1wgHwWry4TZjD9K5TByKL4xaggDHikJa70QD0/edit?usp=sharing
Ami Brown, M.Ed. and Jennifer Crane, M.Ed.
FES School Counselors
***TECHNOLOGY NEWS***
Hello again FES families, let's talk parental controls! Parental controls can help reduce the risk of your child encountering inappropriate content when they are online. Parental controls are available on most internet-enabled devices like computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming systems, as well as most apps and websites. When enabling parental controls, always use age-appropriate settings to filter, monitor, and block your child’s activities. The resources below will help you to set up the right controls and privacy settings on the networks, devices, apps, and websites your child may use to give them a safer online experience.
Resources:
Common Sense Media Guide to Parental Controls
InternetMatters.org Guide to Parental Controls
Stay Safe Online Guide to Parental Controls
Mr. DuPont - ITRT
***NEWS FROM ROCKET'S NEST***
In honor of National Heart Month in February, all 2nd graders who buy lunch and turn in a colored picture of heart healthy foods they like to eat on Friday, Feb. 7th will be entered to win a prize!
All pictures turned in must include the student’s full name and classroom in order to be selected. We will select 12 random winners from the pictures turned in and they will be displayed the following week and those 12 students will receive a prize.
This will be the second random winners competition from the cafeteria.
Stay tuned for competitions for other grade levels in the months to come.
Thank you.
Lori Wiley
FES Cafe Mgr.
***LOST AND FOUND***
*** IMPORTANT REMINDERS FROM THE FRONT OFFICE ***
Student Dismissal
Reporting a Student's Absence
To assist the office staff, please be sure to call the office number to report your child's absence at (540) 373-7458 prior to 9:30am. If you would like to complete the Report An Absence form online, YOU MAY CLICK HERE
Lost and Found
Please take a moment to label all items including lunchboxes and jackets for your children. It will assist us in returning lost items to the proper students instead of filling our Lost and Found.