Grafton Gazette
January 2024
Message from the Principal
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that the 2023- 2024 school year is now halfway complete! Students and teachers are back in full swing and we are looking forward to seeing the continued growth as we enter 2024. As always, we are appreciative of your support and encouragement.
As the weather turns colder, we begin to look at the appropriateness of outdoor activities. We will look beyond a specific temperature and consider factors such as wind chill, whether the ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside. When the weather turns extremely cold, we have to balance students' needs for physical activity with the dangers that come from too much exposure to the cold. To keep our Grizzlies safe during these cold weather months, we have decided that our classes will not go outside for recess or PE when the wind chill is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
We are excited to announce our Teacher of the Year recipient, Mrs. Jenny Taylor. Jenny is a 1st Grade teacher at Grafton. She started her career in 2004 after graduating from Shenandoah University and worked at three other elementary schools before coming to GVES in 2019. Jenny is known by her colleagues for her dedication, collaboration, organization, and flexibility. In addition to being the GVES Teacher of the Year, Jenny has also been recognized as the Stafford County Elementary Teacher of the Year and is a finalist for the overall division Teacher of the Year award. Please join me in congratulating Jenny!
Wishing you and your families a safe, happy, and healthy new year!
Mike Sidebotham
Principal
Inclement Weather
During this time of the year, inclement weather often becomes an important topic for families. With snow creeping into the forecast, I would like to remind parents that there are several ways to get up-to-date information on early dismissals, delays, and closings. Please review your plan with your child if school would unexpectedly dismiss early.
News media in the Fredericksburg, Richmond, and DC areas are notified of our closings, including:
- Free Lance-Star
- Washington Post
- WFLS 93.3, The Vibe 99.3, The Rock 96.9, WNTX 96.5
- WBQB 101.5, WFVA 1230 AM
- Thunder 104.5, WGRQ 95.9
- WTOP 103.5
- ABC 7 WJLA
- CBS 6 WTVR
- FiOS 1
- NBC 4 WRC
- NBC 12 WWBT
- FOX 5 WTTG
- CBS 9 WUSA
- ABC 8 WRIC
Closing updates are also available on the division’s social media pages. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/staffordschools, Twitter at www.twitter.com/scpschools, or Instagram at www.instagram.com/stafford_ps/.
A phone call, text, email and mobile app notification are sent via ParentLink to all phone numbers and emails subscribed to emergency alerts. Phone calls can occur as early as 5:30 a.m. Contact your child’s school to update, add, or remove your contact information from the emergency alert system.
Stafford County offers a subscription-based emergency alert system. Options for notification include text, email, phone call, and TTY/TTD device. In addition to school updates, Stafford Alerts allows you to subscribe to updates on traffic, government closures, parks and recreation, public utilities, and more. https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736722299#/signup
A voice message is placed on the Central Office line at (540) 658-6000 in the event of an emergency closing.
January Calendar of Events
1/1 New Year's Day
1/2 No School
1/3 No School for students
1/4 Students return to school
1/8 PALS K-3 Begins
1/10 Report Cards go home
Chorus 7:30/ Grades 3-5 Clubs 3:15- 4:00
1/11 Sea Perch 3-4
1/12 Lock Down Drill 1:45
1/15 No School- MLK Jr Day
1/17 Chorus 7:30/ Grades 3-5 Clubs 3:15- 4:00
UPDATED 1/18 3rd Grade Awards 8:45- 9:30/ 4th Grade Awards 9:35- 10:20/ 5th Grade Awards 2- 2:45
Sea Perch 3- 4
UPDATED 1/19 1st Grade Awards 8:45- 9:30/ 2nd Grade Awards 9:35- 10:20
UPDATED 1/23 100th Day of School Kindergarten
Spirit Night Marco's Pizza
UPDATED 1/24 100th Day of School 1- 5
Chorus 7:30/ Grades 3- 5 Clubs 3:15- 4:00
Middle School Orientation
1/25 Fire Drill
Sea Perch 3-4
1/30 SOL Reading Growth 3rd- 5th grade
1/31 Chorus 7:30
UPDATED SCHEDULE DUE TO SNOW DAYS
1/24
3rd Grade Awards 8:45- 9:30
4th Grade Awards 9:35- 10:20
5th Grade Awards 2:00- 2:45
1/25
1st Grade Awards 8:45- 9:30
2nd Grade Awards 9:35- 10:20
1/26
100th Day Kindergarten
1/29
100th Day Grades 1- 5
5th Grade Middle School Orientation
Students will be visiting Dixon Smith the morning of 1/24. Parents will be invited to attend an orientation that evening at their child's designated middle school. More information will follow. The contact person for this is: Nicole Spangler at spanglernf@staffordschools.net.
Sock Drive
Bring donations to Mrs. Greven's Music room by Friday, January 19th.
This is a public event, so please share this information with neighbors, family and friends. Let's open our hearts and see how many socks our GVES community can collect!
Clinic Update
With cold and flu season approaching (or already here), please remember that any medication, over the counter (cough drops, etc), antibiotics, eye drops, nasal spray require a form to be filled out by your child's pediatrician, nurse practitioner, or PA and signed by you before it can be given while at school.
As a reminder for when to keep your child home: fever of over 100.4 and they can return when they are 24 hours fever free without the aid of medication. Vomiting and/or diarrhea, again 24 hours without symptoms and the aid of medication. Strep throat, they must be on antibiotics for 24 hrs before returning. Please don't hesitate to call or email me (pisciottaae@staffordschools.net) if you have any questions regarding illness. Covid and the flu are present and for recommended guidelines, please reach out to the nurse. Hopefully we will have minimal illnesses this winter.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
January 23rd is spirit night at Marcos. Please keep an eye out for the flyer!
February 3rd from 5:30- 7:30 we are hosting Family Skate Night at Cavalier. Please mark your calendars and we will be sending home more information on this event!
Spirit wear is available for sale on our website. We have limited inventory on hand. https://graftonpta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
Rent the Rocks
Did you know you can rent "The Rocks" located in front of the school for special occasions? It is a great way to spread positive messages and increase excitement in our community. All requests must be made via email to graftonpta@gmail.com. Rock the Rental as the subject. The PTA will confirm approval of the rental date and rock message before the rock rental can be purchased.
No cell phones in Elementary School
CELL PHONE POSSESSION AND PHONE WATCHES: The Stafford County Code of Conduct states: “Elementary school students shall not be permitted to use or display such devices while on school grounds unless expressly authorized by staff”. Students are asked to keep their phones off and away during school hours.
Connect With Us
GVES Front Office Information
Mike Sidebotham, Principal
Belinda Rippon, Assistant Principal
Kim Overton, Bookkeeper
Stacee Rogers, Registrar
Kelly Davis, Administrative Assistant
Kristina Bourne, Administrative Assistant
Amy Pisciotta, Nurse
Lynn Frohnapfel, Special Education Department Chair
Office Hours 8:00- 4:00
If you need to pick your child up from school, please notify the office by email or phone prior to arriving and bring your ID.
If you have a Facebook Acct, please join our Facebook Group. You must answer the security questions to be approved.
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL
Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children voted on October 26, 2023, to approve Grafton Village Elementary as a recipient of the SY 2023-2024 Purple Star Award.
GRAFTON VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SACC Daycare at GVES
SACC – Stafford and Spotsylvania
540-371-9622
Elizabeth Taylor – COO, ext 3017
Alicia Kindred – Executive Director, ext 2033
Virginia Murphy – SACC Operations Director, ext 2001
Nutrition at GVES
Julie Washington, Cafeteria Manager washingtonja@staffordschools.net
Transportation
Karim H. Johnson, CDPT, CSNT
Executive Director of Transportation
📞 (540) 373-6095
📧 transportation@staffordschools.net