Lion's Ledger
March 2020
Message From Mrs. Wheeler
Hello Lafayette Families,
Spring is in the air and the month of March brings a lot of exciting activities to our school. Our kids are gearing up for testing, and our teachers are working hard to ensure they are ready for the spring SOL assessments. We are excited about the progress our students are making in the classroom and we are certain that our students will do their very best on testing day. We will begin to send out testing dates after Spring break.
We will be celebrating Read Across America this coming week. Monday, March 2nd will kick off our dress up days by allowing the students to dress up as his/her favorite Dr. Seuss Character. And yes, I imagine there will be “Things” all throughout the building! Look for pictures on our Lafayette Facebook page, like and follow us if you have not done so already!
Picture day is Wednesday, March 4th. Parents and community members, thank you in advance for volunteering to help with this event. These days wouldn’t be successful without you!
In our efforts to keep you informed of the activities at LUES, we will continue updating our Facebook page and sending alerts in addition to monthly newsletters. Please take note of all the upcoming events in March that are listed below. I know how busy this time of year can be, but we are grateful for your continued dedication and support to our school and school community.
Mrs. Wheeler
Grade 5 Update
Scholars are now starting a unit on Mean, Median , Mode and Range. They have been working hard learning the new material as well as reviewing the other units from earlier on in the year. Please remind your scholars to consistently do their daily math homework as it will help with this review.
Scholars have also started their social studies unit while also reviewing their old science material. Scholars have been having fun making maps of the United States as well as picking up items from nature in order to create their own Native American Village. They have shown creativity and excitement for these new units and 5th grade is looking forward to continue their learning with Explorers next week!
We are finishing up our Adventure Unit. The students really enjoyed reading Storm Runners. The students did a great job with story elements. They all made "hanging book reports". Our next unit in Reading is from the Colonial America Era. They will be learning the argumentative writing style. We will also be starting to review for SOLs! The year is "Flying!" Thank you to all the parents for their continued support with our 5th grade team!
Grade 4 Update
Happy March!
4th grade literacy teachers are wrapping up their Historical Fiction Unit and will start reviewing for SOLs after Spring Break! Spring break will be the week of March 16th. Math will be starting probability, data/ graphing, as well as patterns and equations. Science teachers will be discussing magnets and electricity. Students have been working on fun activities during their science classes and we are getting close to SOL review!
Grade 3 Update
Third grade has been working on measurement and will be finishing up the final math skills. Look for scholars to be working on 2 dimensional shapes and the pieces that come together to make them. We will also be starting to review for the standards of learning (SOL) test, which will happen in April.
In reading and writing, students will be finishing up their traditional tales retells and we will also be starting review for the SOL test in April.
In social studies, we will continue to learn about ancient civilizations, which will include Greece and Rome.
IB Update
On March 25th, LUES will be having its first-ever Fifth-Grade PYP Exhibition. The Exhibition is the culminating experience for a 5th-grade student in an IB PYP (Primary Years Program) school. It is their opportunity to use the skills, knowledge, concepts, and attitudes that they have developed over their time at LUES and to celebrate all that they have learned during their time in the program.
For the Exhibition, students work in collaborative groups to research an issue that is important to them, and develop a plan to take action on the issue. On the day of the Exhibition, students will share what they have learned about their issue, and show how they will take action. This year, the Exhibition theme is How We Express Ourselves, and the central idea is, “People express themselves in many ways to address issues and take action.”
The Exhibition has several purposes:
· for students to engage in an in-depth, collaborative inquiry
· to give students an opportunity to demonstrate independence and responsibility for their own learning
· to provide students with an opportunity to explore multiple perspectives
· for students to synthesize and apply their learning of previous years and to reflect upon their journey through the PYP
· to demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning
· to celebrate the transition of learners from primary to middle education
(From Primary Years Programme Exhibition Guidelines, International Baccalaureate Organization, 2008)
Our fifth-grade students have been working on their Exhibition projects since October, and are very excited to present their ideas to the community. The Exhibition will take place on March 25th, and you may view their presentations from 9:30-11:30, and 1:15-2:30. Please join us for this celebration of our 5th-grade students!
COUNSELING CORNER
School Counselors are licensed professionals trained in human development; career information and development; tests and measurements and social cultural issues. The school counselors at LUES provide programs that include preventative services; individual and small group counseling; classroom guidance lessons; informative and referral services.
Ms. Janet Nelson-Counselor for all 5th grade homerooms and the following 4th grade homerooms- Swider, Scovell, Scruggs, Bolling, Murray and Okert
Mrs. Annette Richards – Counselor for all of 3rd grade and the following 4th grade homerooms-Brady, Hoosier, Graebner, Cosner, Herrera and Stadler
Possible Long-Term Effects of Frequent Absences
From an article by Whitelaw Reid, University of Virginia
According to research by Curry School of Education at UVA, missing school consistently can have longer-term effects. The findings showed primarily that missing 10 or more days of school in a given year and across years can add up in ways that have negative impacts on students' achievement and social adjustment by eighth and ninth grade. In a small number of cases of students who consistently miss more than 10 days of school year after year, this totals up to missing almost a year of school by the time they are in high school. It was also shown that habits and patterns of school absences form early-most children who miss a lot of school start doing so early, and it’s those patterns of a greater number of absences that seem most concerning in terms of their negative consequences.
Parents should be firm in sending their child to school; at least to err on the side of encouraging and expecting attendance. When there is a problem, it's important for parents to connect with teachers, to find someone in the school who knows their son or daughter and who can speak in an informed way about what's going on at school, and to use that information to better understand their child and problem-solve some options—giving their child some control in that process.
IMPORTANT DATES:
General Intellectual Gifted Referrals Due………………..April 9, 2020
End of Grading Period……………………….March 12, 2020
Report Cards Go Home…………………………..March 27, 2020
February Highlights
Fourth Grade Reading Club
Reading + Camping + S'mores = Fun in the Reading Club!
Having Fun with Leap Year
Making Leap Year Treats
Leap Year treats from Ms. Frankle's class
Building Bridges
Working together to gather materials
Caution: Learning Zone Ahead
Hard at work!
Ms. Okert and her class reviewing measurement and making calculations
Grade 5 Native American Villages
March 4th is Spring Picture Day! Class and Individual Pictures will be taken
Read Across America Spirit Week
Upcoming Events for March
March 2 - Dr. Seuss/Read Across America Day
March 2-6 - Read Across America Spirit Week (see flyer below for details)
March 2 - School Board Meeting at WGC 7:30 PM
March 3 - NO SCHOOL
March 4 - Spring Picture Day!
March 10 - Shamrock Shuffle Fun Run (Gr. 5 @ 9:30 AM, Gr. 4 @ 10:20 AM, and Gr. 3 @ 1:25 PM)
March 11 - Rain Date for Shamrock Shuffle
March 12 - WG vs. LUES Basketball Tournament @ JMHS. See flyer below
March 13 - Early Dismissal/Staff Development 12:45 PM
March 16-20 - NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK!
March 27 - Twin Day/Spirit Day
March Breakfast and Lunch Menus
A Look ahead
Proud to be a Title 1 school
Title 1
Title I is the largest federal aid program for elementary, middle and high schools. Through Title I, the federal government designates money to school districts around the country based on the number of students in need in each district. Each district uses its Title I money for extra educational services for children, such as:
· Class size reduction
· Additional teachers and paraprofessionals
· Parent resources
· Instructional materials and supplies
· Tier 2 and Tier 3 support services
The focus of the Title I program is to ensure all students meet challenging content and achievement standards. Title I also authorizes federal grant programs that provide funds for reading instruction, services to migrant children, services to neglected and delinquent children, comprehensive school reform and dropout prevention.
All FCPS students in grades K-8 are eligible to receive programs funded through the Title I grant.
Hugh Mercer Elementary School
Dr. Kimberly Doucette
Kisha Frye-Title I
William Wishard
540-372-1115
Lafayette Upper Elementary School
Courtney Wheeler -Title 1
Pam Diggs-Reading
PJ Pcsolinski- Math
540-310-0029
Walker-Grant Middle School
Justin Woodside
Stephen Ventura-Reading, Title I
Keesha Keels- Math
540-372-1145
504 ACCOMODATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
If your child has any type of learning or physical problem, he/she may qualify for accommodations under 504 or special education services. Please call the Counseling Office if you have any questions or would like to refer your child for screening and possible assessment.
No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his/her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: The Rights of Individuals with Handicaps Under Federal Law.
IN THE MATTER OF NON-RESIDENT STUDENT ENROLLMENT The Fredericksburg City Public School Division does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its educational programs or activities.
Any questions should be referred to Sue Keffer, 210 Ferdinand Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 or by calling (540) 372-1130.
SEX OFFENDER STATEMENT The Fredericksburg City Public School Division recognizes the danger sex offenders pose to student safety. Therefore, to protect students while they travel to and from school, attend school and school-related activities, the FCPS Division shall request automatic electronic notification of registered sex offenders in the same or contiguous zip codes as any school within the division. Such request and notification shall be made according to the procedures established by the Virginia Department of State Police (State Police). The Superintendent shall serve as the contact person with the State Police for receipt of the registered sex offender information.
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