Comet Courier
Horizon Elementary Monthly Newsletter May 2021 Edition
A Message from the Principal
Greetings, Comet families!
It is hard to believe that we are now in the fourth quarter of the school year. As we prepare for end of year events, we remain thankful for all that you have done to support our staff and students. At current, we are planning for a 5-day return to in-person instruction this fall. Parents will be updated regarding other possible options for fall as that time approaches. As always, please reach out to the school if you or your student needs additional support to close out the year.
Thank you and stay well,
Jasmine Carpenter, Principal
Horizon Elementary
Office Reminders
Now that we are back to distance learning, the office is open every day from 7:30 - 3:30. If you need to pick up materials for your child, please come to the front door and buzz the office. We will bring them outside to you.
Have you joined the PTA?
Is your student going to miss logging in to school?
STUDENT OF THE MONTH!
Kindergarten
Mrs. Dettmer's Class:
Mrs. Toynbee's Class:
Mrs. Wright's class:
Mrs. Yang's Class:
First Grade
Mrs. Abney's Class:
Ms. Kutkuhn's Class:
Miss Nichols' Class:
Mrs.Wallace's Class:
Second Grade
Mrs. Gruehn's Class:
Mrs. Perka's Class:
Mrs. Rooker's Class:
Mrs. Seufert's Class:
Third Grade:
Miss Fornatora's Class:
Miss Strohl's Class:
Ms. Wasser's Class:
Ms. Zahid's Class:
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Drury's Class:
Ms. Griffith's Class:
Ms. Huff's Class:
Mrs. Jeffers' Class:
Fifth Grade
Ms. Harrison's Class:
Ms. Mueller's Class:
Miss Rickey's Class:
Ms. Rohrbach's Class:
UPCOMING EVENTS...Mark your calendars
May 3 - May 7 - Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 3 - Spring Picture Day for DL Students who signed up
Wednesday, May 5 - Spring Picture Day for Hybrid Students
Monday, May 10 - 5th Grade DL Student Reading SOL, 8:15 AM
PTA Spirit Night at Urbano Italian Kitchen, 4 PM
Wednesday, May 12 - Nat'l School Nurse Day
Monday, May 17 - 3rd and 4th Grade DL Student Reading SOL, 8:15 AM
5th Grade DL Student Math SOL, 8:15 AM
Wednesday, May 19 - Virtual DARE Graduation, 1:15 PM
Thursday, May 20 - 3rd and 4th Grade Hybrid Students Reading SOL 8:30
5th Grade Hybrid Students Math SOL 8:30
Monday, May 24 - 3rd & 4th Grade DL Student Math SOL, 8:15 AM
5th Grade DL Student Science SOL, 8:15
Tuesday, May 25 - PTA Meeting, Officer Election, 5:00 PM
Thursday, May 27 - Grade 3&4 Hybrid Student Math SOL, 8:30 AM
Grade 5 Hybrid Student Science SOL, 8:30 AM
Monday, May 31 - MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, NO SCHOOL
Student of the Month
Kindergarten
Mrs. Dettmer's Class: Yudhvir Singh
Mrs. Toynbee's Class: Mira Spring
Mrs. Wright's class: Madden Yingling
Mrs. Yang's Class: Emerson Harley
First Grade
Mrs. Abney's Class: Elly Young
Ms. Kutkuhn's Class: Valentina Reyes
Miss Nichols' Class: Amelie Marenco Jacome
Miss Rickey's Class: Tommy Stamp
Mrs.Wallace's Class: Josie Holloman
Second Grade
Ms. Fornatora's Class: Addison Dudenbostel
Mrs. Gruehn's Class: Grace Fedigan
Mrs. Perka's Class: Gwen Jornlin
Mrs. Rooker's Class: Mohammed Alobaidi
Mrs. Seufert's Class: Trisha Musni
Third Grade:
Miss Strohl's Class: Sarina Met, Nathan Orr
Ms. Wasser's Class: Cole Forgas
Mrs. Williams's Class: Micah Burns
Ms. Zahid's Class: Tariq Barbour, Tyreke Jackson
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Drury's Class: Scarlett Perez, Yusuf Balti
Ms. Griffith's Class: Ashwika Shamanur, Xavier Tardio Lewis
Ms. Huff's Class: Ezaan Khan
Mrs. Jeffers' Class: Harvie Parrish
Fifth Grade
Miss Bohl's Class: Max Monahan, Reed Thompson
Ms. Harrison's Class: Maya Oigara, Zara Imran
Ms. Mueller's Class: Kaitlyn Hassan
Ms. Rohrbach's Class: Kendall Stephens
MUSIC NOTES
Music is UNIVERSAL! Every culture on earth and throughout history has music as a part of their story. During music class in the months of May and June, we will dive into world music. We will sing, play, move, listen, watch videos, and learn about music from many cultures all over the world. Hybrid students will have a chance to do some African drumming outdoors, play our classroom instruments from Central America and Native American origins, learn dances from Hawaii, sing songs from Australia, and much more!
-Mr. Grivetti and Mr. Russell
FROM THE LIBRARY
In May, all K-2 students will vote for their favorite Virginia Readers' Choice book. There will be an asynchronous lesson reviewing all ten books in case they missed one.
All 3-5 students who have read at least one other selection in addition to the three I read in class will also have the opportunity to vote. Remember that all selections are in Mackin Via.
Stay tuned to school news for a Reading Olympics challenge based on Summer Olympic events. The form and directions will also be found in the Library Schoology folder for an asynchronous choice for May and June.
-Mrs. Christiansen
A NOTE FROM PE...
April showers bring May flowers AND a gymnastics unit in Physical Education. Our big idea in PE is always that active living is beneficial to all aspects of well-being. Our gymnastics unit aims to ensure that students have fun, gain fitness, and acquire good fundamental movement skills to support their personal physical activity goals. Gymnastics is a great way to help students develop their locomotor and balance skills as well as body and spatial awareness. This unit is designed to develop the mind and body connection in students, enhance their body awareness, and teach them to move in a controlled and safe manner. Gymnastics promotes coordination, flexibility, agility, and of course: muscular strength, and muscular endurance. Please encourage your student to dress appropriately for movement with dress and shoes. Lastly, more details on virtual field day is coming soon. It will be a “SWEET” deal. Thank you! Mrs. Vazquez & Mr. Kalka
FROM THE ART ROOM
A Note from the Ms. Yoon's Art Room!
In May, Kindergarten students will learn about the artist Van Gogh to create a flower vase drawing. First-grade students will explore the works of Henry Matisse and create a collage of a fishbowl.
Second-grade students will continue to work on Wayne Thiebaud-inspired cake drawing where the students will be applying color theory (primary colors, secondary colors, and complementary colors).
Third-graders will learn about abstract art where they will create an abstract self-portrait inspired by the artist Sandra Silberzweig.
Fourth-grade will continue to work on the bird painting inspired by the artist Pete Cromer.
Our fifth-graders will continue to work on the one-point perspective drawing, where the students will create a cityscape drawing with a vanishing point.
Please note that most of our art projects take more than one synchronous lesson to complete. We encourage our students to keep their art projects in their art kit (a zipper pouch) the whole time. Please remind our comets to have their art projects and art kits ready for the synchronous art lessons. We are also noticing tardiness during the synchronous classes. Please remind students to be on time for the lessons.
- Horizon Art Gallery Padlet
https://padlet.com/clara_yoon/n855219i94lmfgcf
- Horizon Art Room Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hrz_artroom/
Thank you!
Clara Yoon, Horizon ES Art specialist.
A Note from the Mrs. Walker's Art Room!
(Classes - Ms. Yang, Ms. Nichols, Ms. Rooker, Ms. Perka)
During the month of May, we will focus on integrating science/nature and art. Students will combine the elements of art used throughout the school year in a final piece of artwork.
Kindergarten - students will practice observational drawing and create a large scale still life. We will focus on organic shapes and blending primary colors to create secondary colors.
First Grade - students will go on a virtual "gallery walk" to view the artwork of Georgia O'Keeffe. We will review vantage points as well as observational drawing and create artwork based on O'Keeffe's work. Students will also be introduced to symmetry learn about insects during their asynchronous art class.
Second Grade - students will learn how animals use camouflage in nature and use their knowledge of line/pattern, and expressive color to create 3D chameleon & background.
Brandy Walker
Art Specialist
FROM OUR READING SPECIALISTS
Spring PALS Testing-Remotely
This spring, all kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and some third grade students will take the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening, (PALS). PALS has been used for over twenty years with primary grade students in Virginia. In past school years, screening has taken place in an in-person setting. This year, Hybrid students will be screened in school, while distance Learning students will be screened in a virtual, or online, setting.
PALS is a screening tool of young children’s literacy development. Results are used to determine individual children’s learning goals, plan classroom instruction, and raise awareness of children who need additional support or instruction in early reading and literacy.
Focusing on early detection and early intervention of reading difficulties is a required state-wide policy (Early Intervention Reading Initiative). The PALS screening tool is a way to help schools and teachers execute that mandate.
To best support students, teachers need to understand what aspects of literacy are well-developed and what aspects of literacy need more focus. It is normal for some children to experience difficulty with some parts of the test and may not get them all correct. This information will help the teacher in planning instruction.
For this reason, parents or older siblings should not provide hints or guidance to children during the PALS assessment. However, some children may need help with the virtual testing environment. Below are some ways you can support your child during virtual, or online, PALS testing.
CONNECTING
Our school will use Google meet as the video conferencing platform to conduct PALS testing. PALS does not support iPads or iPhones, so your child will have to be able to access the platform through their school or home computer.
DURING TESTING
It is important that you do not help with or provide answers or clues during the testing. Within different tasks, there are ways you can help your kindergarten or grade 1-3 student with the virtual testing environment.
AFTER TESTING
The teacher will not be able to share the results immediately after the test. However it is important that you do receive information about the PALS testing results. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you would like to discuss the results of the PALS test.
Donna White
Eileen Snyder
Literacy Specialists at Horizon Elementary School
From the Technology Department
The Spring MAP testing window for 2nd-5th grade will close May 7. In addition to the scores, LCPS will also upload your child’s MAP student progress report into ParentVUE so you can better understand your child’s growth. Watch this video for an explanation of the report.
SOL Testing for grades 3-5 will begin this month. This slideshow has prep information as well as the test dates, which are also on our website calendar. All students who are not opted out will take the test from the school building using a program on their device called TestNav. If you would like to practice some test tools with your child, here are directions on how to access Testnav8 practice items on your device. Please be advised that the practice tests lack the adaptive functionality of the actual Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) that the reading and Math SOLs will have, which will not allow students to move on to new questions without answering or to go back to previously answered questions. For additional support materials, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
The data gathered from these tests will help inform us of grade level content your child might need to review and what new concepts they are ready to learn. Thank you for helping to ensure your child is prepared and motivated to do their best on these assessments.
Additional information from the Technology Department
Starting immediately, there is a change to the way DL students can receive tech support. The high schools that were serving as repair centers will be closing to the public, and all hardware repairs for Horizon students will now be handled on-site. DL students needing in person assistance or repairs can use this link to book a time with the Horizon DES, Cheryl Brechbill. Families should still call the Tech Support Center (TSC) at 571-252-2112 or email supportcenter@lcps.org for phone support M-F from 7:30-5:00 PM and to determine if a hardware repair appointment is needed.
ParentVue Update
A new feature has been added to ParentVUE allowing you to record how to pronounce your child’s name correctly. Directions on how to do this as well as other ParentVUE resources are available on this website.
Horizon School Counseling News
What’s important? Ms. Anderson and Ms. Demory are the School Counselors at Horizon Elementary School. Every week, the School Counseling Newsletter is updated with new and important information for students/families. We encourage all students to attend their school counseling classroom lessons, every other week! View the School Counseling Newsletter to get updated information for students in hybrid and distance learning! Please click here to view the School Counseling Newsletter!
Important Updates for hybrid students: School Counseling Lessons are now being held in-person, in the classroom! We have enjoyed being back in the classroom with our students!
What’s next? We are approaching the end of the school year and there will be 2 more school counseling lessons between now and the end of the year, for both hybrid and distance learning students. You can view the schedule for School Counseling Lessons within the School Counseling Newsletter above.
How to contact your school counselor? All contact information is provided in the School Counseling Newsletter.
The Search Department
Eligibility: Due to COVID-19, the gifted evaluation process for winter/spring, 2021 has been delayed. The Gifted Education Department is currently developing a plan to evaluate this year’s 3rd - 5th grade students. Information will be coming soon!
Please check Horizon's SEARCH webpage (https://www.lcps.org/domain/7135) and/or the LCPS Gifted and Talented webpage (https://www.lcps.org/Page/211705) for the most up-to-date information. As soon as the 2021 gifted evaluation timeline and referral window is established, it will be posted at these locations. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Horizon Elementary School
46665 Broadmore Drive * Sterling, VA * 20165 * Telephone 571.434.3260 * Fax 703.444.7418
Absentee Line 571.434.3261
Absentee Email hrzabsentee@lcps.org
website: www.lcps.org/Horizon
Principal: Mrs. Jasmine Carpenter jasmine.carpenter@lcps.org
Assistant Principal: Mr. Max Merick maxwell.merick@lcps.org
Financial Technician: Mrs. Holly Buehler Laura.Buehler@lcps.org
Registrar: Mrs. Katie Wright katherine.wright@lcps.org
Follow us on Twitter: @HorizonElem or Facebook: www.facebook.com/HRZSterling