Colt Crusader
A newsletter for the families of CFES students
January Edition
2828 Pleasant Acres Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
757-648-2240
http://www.christopherfarmses.vbschools.com
Follow us on Twitter @cfescolts
Principal: Robyn Backer , @Robyn Backer
Asst. Principal: Patti Porter, @sunsetzzz15
Message From Ms. Backer, Our Principal
Happy New Year, Colts!
I hope the winter break afforded an opportunity for rest and to connect with family and friends. We are excited to begin a new decade at CFES as we continue as "One Farm, One School, One Family"
All year, we have been focusing on one character trait each month that we feel as though when put all together makes up a successful Colt. These character traits come from the VBCPS graduate profile, our PBIS Colts Code and traits from CASEL. This month, we are working on the character trait of Kindness. We will break down kindness into kindness to ourselves, kindness to others, showing empathy and compassion and then finishing with a week long Great Kindness Challenge!
There are many ways in which our families can join us in our journey to incorporate kindness in our everyday lives. One way is to stop and deliberately pause, breathe, give ourselves a break and practice kindness to all. Remember, no act of kindness is too small, and every act of kindness sends endless ripples out into the world.
Here are some discussion points to help you talk about kindness with your child. Good questions include:
Tell me about a time when someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel?
What do you think kindness means and why is it important?
Who is someone in your class you can be kind to? How?
What are ways you can be kind to people at home, at school and in the community?
Lastly, the second grading period and first semester conclude on January 24th. I encourage you to monitor your child's academic progress through our Tuesday Folders and to communicate with our teachers and counselors on ways to best support student success. In addition, applications for ODS and MYP are due by 4:00 on Friday, January 10th. Please check out Mrs. Yoshida's corner and Mrs. Vickery's corner for some important information.
The start of 2020 brings a new year and an opportunity to start fresh. It is a great time to set new goals and focus on the positive opportunities to come. Talk to your child about their goals for the new year, both academically and personally. We look forward to 2020 being another great year to be a Colt!
-Ms. Backer
Message from Ms. Porter, Our Assistant Principal
Teachers will be acknowledging students this month for "Kindness Counts" as part of our PBIS structures showing every Colt has Pride here at CFES. So, if your child comes home with a sticker showing they have been kind during this month ask them what they did as part of the Colt's trait for the month and our PBIS structures to stand out from their peers. Wishing everyone a healthy and happy month of January in 2020!-Ms. Porter
Morning Drop-off
When doing parent drop-off in the morning, we ask that parents please stay in the car, and have your child exit on the sidewalk side. We have adults outside that will assist them in getting out of the car. It is for safety reasons, and prevents the line from slowing down. Thank you for your understanding.
Did you know that you now can watch our student-run morning announcements everyday from home or work?
You can find them by:
*Going to our homepage - https://christopherfarmses.vbschools.com/
*Click on the CFES social media graphic
*Click on the link for our YOU tube channel.
You can, also, find them on our CFES Twitter channel as well - https://twitter.com/cfescolts
January Upcoming Events
- January 3rd-Watch Dog Dad in the building
- January 6th- SCA Meeting 2:45-4:0)
- January 7th- 4th Grade Powhatan Program
- January 8th- Colt's store 7:50-8:20 Foyer
- January 10th- Watch Dog Dad in the Building
5th grade MYP and ODS applications are due by 4:00!
- January 13th-17th- Quarter 2 Language Arts Assessment, Grades 2nd-5th
- January 16th- 4th Grade Fire Safety
Cashola Night @ "JUMP" @ Lynnhaven Mall 4:30-6:30
- January 17th- Watch Dog Dad in the Building
5th Grade Civil War Program
4th Grade Fire Safety
Spirit Day - Wear your CFES gear!
- January 20th- Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School
- January 21st- Quarter 2 Math Assessment (2nd-5th) Given This Week
- January 22nd- Colt's Store 7:50-8:20 Foyer
5th Grade Celebration Meeting 3:00 Library
- January 24th- Quarter 2 Ends
Father/Daughter Dance 6:00-8:00 "Boots and Bling" Theme
- January 27th -Staff Day. No school for students
- January 28th- Great Kindness Challenge Week
4th Grade Fire Safety
1st Grade Animal Habitat Program- 3 classes
- January 29th- Spirit Day - Partner up for Kindness - Twin Day
1st Grade Animal Habitat Program- 2 classes
- January 30th - Spirit Day - Round-Up the Kindess - Western attire
- January 31st - Spirit Day - Team Kindness - Each grade level wears a specific color
1st - Green
2nd - Blue
3rd - Yellow
4th - Orange
5th - Purple
New Faces at Christopher Farms
Perrin "PJ"Davis (Pre-School Teacher)
My name is Perrin “PJ” Davis and I am beyond excited to join the Christopher Farms community as a Pre-K teacher! I am joining you from Birdneck Elementary School where I was the site-assigned substitute last school year. I also completed my student teaching at Birdneck this Fall. Prior to working for VBCPS, I was the lead Pre-K counselor at Atlantic Shores. I hold a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Virginia Wesleyan University and am currently pursuing my Masters in Elementary Education at Old Dominion University. I am excited to use my four years of classroom experience to enrich the young minds of my future students. This will be an amazing school year!
Amanda Espinda-Ruiz (Special Education Assistant K-1)
Kayla Dotson (5th Grade Special Education Assistant)
I am originally from Virginia beach, started studying early childhood education at Pierce College in Washington state. My favorite thing is about teaching is that as a teacher you also learn something new everyday.
Glenna Reasland (Long Term 2nd Grade Teacher)
I taught 3rd and 5th grade for Dodea (Department of Defense Education Activity) in Naples, Italy before moving to Virginia Beach. My teaching philosophy is that every student can learn, more specifically if a student isn't learning with the way I teach, then I teach to the way they learn.
My favorite thing about teaching is the students and watching them grow.
Berkley Highton (Long Term Kindergarten Assistant)
I was a Claims Adjuster at GEICO for 6 years until I took a break to stay home with my daughter.
I then became the Playground Supervisor and later an Assistant Teacher at Parish Day School working with children from ages 2 to 6 years old. My favorite thing about teaching is watching how a child's face lights up when what they are learning finally clicks and they "get it".
January Counseling Corner
Welcome 2020!
As you discuss the opportunity to start fresh or make resolutions for the new year with your family, remember Kindness Counts! This month in our monthly counselor lesson we will cover kindness, apologies and forgiveness while our morning meetings focus on caring, compassion and empathy to prepare for the Great Kindness Challenge. This challenge gives our students, staff and families encouragement to partake in as many acts of kindness as they can during the last week of January. Upper and lower grades will each receive a student challenge sheet and families are invited to explore the family challenge as well. We hope that you will all participate in acts of kindness during this challenge and always.
5th grade families, please note there are two more Middle School program information sessions that will be held this month. We hope you will take advantage of these information nights to help your students get a glimpse into what their zone middle school has to offer and/or be ready to apply to any specific programs they may be interested in.
Applications for Plaza MYP & ODS Brickell Academy are due on January 10th. ODS Gifted Dance and VB Middle Gifted Art applications are due February 3rd, however, they require scheduled auditions and portfolio assignments, so please begin the process as soon as possible to ensure you have all components complete by the application due date.
Please also look out for Middle School Course Registration Forms that will be sent home in Tuesday folders. Review your child’s elective choices, sign and return to school immediately. Course request confirmation sheets will be sent home once the middle schools have had the opportunity to enter the registration information from these forms. If you would like more information on course descriptions, please check here. If your child will attend Landstown or Corporate Landing Middle Schools and would like to apply for the AVID elective, please note the application deadlines for that elective are also in January. Please contact Mrs. Yoshida or the guidance office at either of those schools for more information. Princess Anne, ODS & Plaza do not currently offer this elective.
Middle School Open House/Information Nights:
Landstown Middle School: Tuesday, Jan. 7th at 6:00pm
ODS Gifted Dance : Thursday, January 9th @ 5:00 @ ODS
Pre-K and Kindergarten Citizens of the Month
Niko Jones
Ryker Zayonc
Jason Matson
Clarissa Schoneboom
1st Grade Citizens of the Month
Amiyah Garrett
Haylee Waters
Oliver Parthum
Evan Palmatory
Brynn Carpenter
Micah Jesse (Pre-K)
2nd Grade Citizens of the Month
Kennedy Rigali
Tanner Berry
Eric "Braydon" Harroun
Kinley Campbell
Isaac Palm
3rd Grade Citizens of the Month
Elisabeth Bulthouse
Gabriela Torres
Nikolas Julsrud
Ripsy Nealey
Peyton Moore
4th Grade Citizens of the Month
Kensley Phillips
Adalynn Ordille
John Bergeron
Shawna Hage
Stephanie Paniagua-Calles
5th Grade Citizens of the Month
Sebastian Cook
Emma Lomerson
Jillian Buckner
Vivian Chambers- Nagel
Remy Dekker
Library Notes
What is Makerspace, you might ask?
Makerspaces is an area in the library that provides hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they engage in science, engineering math, art, and tinkering.
Additionally, the purpose of a school makerspace is where young people have an opportunity to explore their own interests and learn to use tools and materials, both physical and virtual. Students are given free choice as to the activities they would like to do. New activities are added monthly.
The schedule for students coming down to Makerspace is:
Mondays: 1st grade;
Tuesdays: 2nd grade;
Wednesdays: 3rd grade;
Thursdays: 4th grade;
Fridays: 5th grade.
Students can come any time during their specific day-of-the-week in groups of 4 to 5 students. They come for 15 to 20 minute slots when it fits in conveniently with their teacher’s schedule.
Simple coding activities using Robot Mice and BeeBots have also been used to not only teach beginning coding, but to review and/or reinforce skills being taught in the classroom. If you’d like to come in and help out with Makerspace, please give Ms. Doyle or Ms. Young a call or email us about your interest. We LOVE our parent volunteers. Some new activities added this month are: Strawbees, Lite Brite, Osmo, Magnetic Building Tiles, and Zany Traxx.
Bowman's Bytes
As we all get back into the swing of things, now would be a great time to revisit the conversation of Digital Citizenship with your child. It is becoming more important every day that we understand the short term and long term impacts our behaviors online can have. Important topics to address include: cyber bullying, password safety, responsible research and source validation, and just overall online safety. Here is a good list of resources you can refer to if you need a jumping off point. Also, check your public library for children's books that address this topic in appropriate vernacular for younger students. Some examples of good books inclued "If You Give a Mouse an iPad" or "Once Upon a Time...Online".
Literacy News
Happy New Year! We have survived all the holiday distractions and now we are burrowing into reading nonfiction during the second half of the second quarter. Students will be gathering key ideas and details and using those to support the main idea of passages. They will focus on writing detailed, yet concise summaries of their reading.
Be sure to ask your child what new information they are reading about! Remember, it’s great weather to curl up and read together.
Math Minutes
Happy 2020! Kindergarten is kicking off the new year with a math unit in data. They are building and interpreting object and picture graphs in class. Try creating a picture graph at home by charting favorite colors of family and friends! Computation is an important skill that our students are diving into this month. Students in 1st grade are creating and solving story problems up to sums of 10. In 2nd grade, students are developing mental strategies for basic addition/subtraction facts. In 3rd grade, students are representing multiplication and division through models. Fourth graders are creating and solving single-step division problems. Finally, fifth graders are adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals and mixed numbers. Encourage your child to talk about some of the math strategies they are exploring in class!
Gifted Information
Happy New Year! The gifted application deadlines are rapidly approaching. The link below is used for all gifted application services to include identification, cluster classroom, Old Donation School, dance, and visual arts. Please note that the gifted visual arts application requires a portfolio to be submitted to complete the application. The required 3 drawings must also be submitted prior to the deadline.
Application Deadlines:
Grades 2-7 January 10, 2020 4:00 p.m.
Grade 1 February 10, 2020 4:00 p.m.
Visual Art and Dance February 3rd (Online application and Drawings for Visual Arts)
Please submit applications well in advance prior to the due date to allow for any issues. No late applications will be accepted. If applying for gifted art, the drawings are due prior to the deadline along with the online parent portion. Students may pick up a packet for the visual arts application from Mrs. Vickery in room 36.
ODS Information Nights:
Academic Program- Grades 2-5, Tuesday, January, 7th @ 5:00 at ODS. Interested Parents and students currently in grades 1-4 are welcome to attend also.
Visual Arts or Dance Grades 3-5, Thursday, January 9th @5:00 at ODS. All parents and students currently in grades 2-4 for art and grades 2-5 for dance are encouraged to attend. .
The application forms can be accessed using the following link:
https://giftedapplication.vbcps.com
User Name: (Your child’s student ID #)
Password: (Password assigned to your child by homeroom teacher to log onto Chromebook)
January Nurse's Notes
The FLU SEASON is in full effect. Please make sure you keep your child home if they are sick. They must be fever free for 24 hours without medications before returning to school. Good and proper hand washing can help prevent the spread of germs and keep you healthier!!!
FYI: We will be doing the Pint Size Hero blood drive in April. More information will be coming your way!! Consider donating blood to save many lives!!!
January PTA Events
Welcome Back! Your CFES PTA hopes you had a restful holiday break with tons of family, fellowship and goodies galore.There are so many fun things planned for January and many opportunities to support your students.
The 5th Grade Celebration is quickly approaching and the events are coming fast! We will be hosting a 5th grade parent meeting on 1/22 @ 3:00pm in the library. Please join us to learn more about what we have planned, and how you can help.
We will be hosting our first annual Parents Night Out on February 14th, from 6 to 9 PM. $20 for your first child, $10 for the second and $5 for each additional child after that. There will be dinner served, as well as crafts and games. Please check your child’s Blue Tuesday folders on 1/14 & 1/28 for more information on the Parents Night Out fundraiser! 5th Grade will also be sending out a sign up genius for donations for Parents Night Out on 1/25. This is a fantastic opportunity to support your fifth grade student and help raise money for their fifth grade graduation and celebration in June.
Mark your calendars and shine your boots! The “Boots & Bling” Father/ Daughter Dance will be on Friday, January 24th, from 6-8pm. More information to come, so keep your eyes open for how you can help and attend.
Link your VIC card to Christopher Farms
The “link” program that Harris Teeter has is called Together In Education. The below link has all of the information on it. The school gets money for programs every time you shop at Harris Teeter.
https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-educationWAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH CFES HAPPENINGS:
- Check our website weekly: https://christopherfarmses.vbschools.com
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfescolts
- Download the VBSCHOOLS app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
- Make sure the school has your updated phone number and email address in order to receive Alert Now communications
- Follow your child's progress on Parent Portal: https://www.vbschools.com/parents/parent_portal
Proud Principal
Email: robyn.backer@vbschools.com
Website: https://christopherfarmses.vbschools.com/
Location: Christopher Farms Elementary School 2828 Pleasant Acres Drive Virginia Beach, Virginia 234
Phone: (757) 648-2240
Twitter: @RobynBacker