Lion's Ledger
March 2021
Message from Mrs. Wheeler
Hello Lafayette Families,
What a beautiful Spring-like week! I hope everyone was able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures. This week brings us to the end of the Quarter 3 marking period. Report cards will be mailed home Friday, March 26. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Thank you to all the families that participated in our Virtual Family Festival last week. It was nice to see so many smiling faces. We appreciate your continued support and participation.
Friday, March 12th is a half day for students. Hybrid students will dismiss at their regular time (noon). There will be no afternoon learning for virtual or hybrid students. The following week is Spring Break so all students will be off from school March 15 – 19. We will begin Quarter 4 on Monday, March 22.
The month of April brings us the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) test. Students will begin testing the week of April 12. More information regarding testing will be sent to you in the coming weeks.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Grade 3 Update
3rd graders are rocking and rolling this quarter. We have worked hard on reading, Math, Writing and Core.
In Math, we have been working on patterns, and polygons. As the year progresses, we are going into review mode. We are going to start reviewing previously taught skills so that 3rd graders are ready for 4th grade. This will include all skills that were taught at the beginning of the school year, until recently.
In reading, we have been working on Fairy Tales. Our Fairy Tale unit is wrapping up this week by students writing their own fairy tale. We are also currently working on autobiographies and biographies, what are the differences.
In Social Studies, we have and are working on Ancient Egypt, Continents and Oceans, and Contributions of Egypt.
Grade 4 Update
February was filled with lots of changes! We are so proud of our 4th grade friends for navigating the challenges they were faced with. March is going to be very exciting for our students, with Spring Break March 15-19 and SOL reviews starting this month.
In Math, students will continue their work on comparing fractions and move into Adding/Subtracting Fractions. After working on adding and subtracting fractions, the student will then take the fraction problems a step further and learn how to simplify the fractions being solved. Finally, the students will end the month of March with elapsed time. Once elapsed time is done, SOL review will begin.
In Reading, we will continue learning about the dictionary, and how we can use it. Students will also be working on putting words in alphabetical order and using guide words. After working on dictionary skills, we’ll switch focus and will begin reviewing for our reading SOL! Some topics that will be reviewed include theme, summarizing, main idea, and figurative language.
In Writing, students will begin learning about opinion writing. We will touch on characteristics of opinion writing and how to write an opinion piece. After learning about opinion writing students will be choosing a topic and writing an opinion piece of their own!
In Science, students are starting their Magnets unit. Your students will probably be hunting around the house for things that are magnetic!
Grade 5 Update
Families and Students,
As we finish up Quarter 3 and spring right into Quarter 4, we'd like to congratulate our scholars who have been working very hard this nine weeks. We know that schedules were changed, but we were very appreciative of how our scholars continued to be flexible. We are always so happy to see their smiling faces whether in person or virtual.
In Math, students will finish off their statistics unit, and will start their last unit of Patterns and Algebra. Science will turn its attention to the ocean. The ocean unit will finish out the remainder of March once we return from Spring Break. The Language Arts and Reading focus has shifted to SOL review. Students are participating in SOL test prep activities daily.
SOL testing schedules will be coming soon – be on the lookout for alerts from the school.
We are delighted to see what Quarter 4 has in store!
Happy Spring from the 5th Grade Team!
IB Update
The March FCPS Word-of-the-Month is caring. At LUES, we strive to be caring by showing empathy, compassion, and respect. We can demonstrate caring through a commitment to service, and we show we care when we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the world around us.
LUES teachers have shared that their students have shown they are caring in many ways. Ms. Stadler’s students hold their classmates accountable for using kind words in Zoom chats. Mrs. Lloyd’s class discussed the importance of caring in their discussion of the novel "Storm Runners," in which the main character went back to save his friend in the midst of a hurricane. During the class discussion, many of the students said they care for their friends in the same way and would not leave anyone behind in a similar situation. In Mrs. Lewis’ class, students have been making Ugly Dolls for our diverse student population to encourage reading and for social and emotional comfort. They have also been sending greetings and valentines to a Baltimore-based nursing home. Our students have made the choice to be caring and supporting of others.
We can be caring at home as well. When we play with younger brothers or sisters, or help with chores around the house, we show that we care about our family. We show caring for our friends when we take turns and follow the rules during games, or when we share with them. We can even demonstrate caring for our community by volunteering, picking up litter, and recycling. There are so many ways for us to be caring!
Read Across America Week
Classroom Highlights
Grade 3 - Ms. Taylor's Class
Grade 5 - Mrs. Nettles' Class
"Chase Masters and his father are STORM RUNNERS racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Anywhere bad weather strikes, they are not far behind. Chase is learning more on the road than he ever would just sitting in a classroom. But when the hurricane of the century hits, he will be tested in ways he never could have imagined."
Each of the classes are working on a Book Report Collage. We hope to hang them up in the 5th grade hall for all to see!
They are reading the sequel(The Surge) on their own or they can listen to it on EPIC.
Grade 3 - Mrs. Skobjak and Mr. Tash's Class
Students in Mrs. Skobjak's and Mr. Tash's class became authors this week. They each wrote their own traditional tale story and designed a digital book.
In the Spotlight
Spelling Bee Winners
Congratulations to our grade level spelling bee winners: Caroline Obert, Ryo Balanon, Amari Johnson, Lyla Hart, Shanil Panchal, Simren Chhetri, and Emmanuel Cook
Simren Chhetri continued on as our Division Level Spelling Bee Champion!
We are so proud of all of our amazing spellers here at LUES!
The Virginia Black History Month Association Children's Writing Contest
We would like to congratulate Emmanuel Cook and Anne Marie Vasquez for winning 2nd and 3rd place in this year's Black History Month Children's Writing Contest for The Virginia Black History Month Association. This year's Black History Month theme was "the Black Family". Students had to write about what family means to them and describe a real or fictional family or family member that they admire.
The winning students were selected by a neutral judging panel and their writings were rated in three areas: writing skill, story content and originality.
We are so proud of Emmanuel and Anne Marie!
Announcements and Flyers
Special Education Advisory Committee
Comic Strip - The Bloopers by Zachary M.
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
Mrs. Jessica Newsome
Stephen Ventura-Reading, Title I
Keesha Keels- Math
540-372-1145504 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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