Lion's Ledger
February 2021
Message from Mrs. Wheeler
Hello Lafayette Families,
We are so excited to have our hybrid students back with us two days a week and would once again like to THANK YOU for all your support. They would not have made the progress they did without you! I would also like to express how grateful I am for your help in keeping our school safe and healthy. I know that keeping a child home from school can cause stress on the family. You have really stepped up to make sure if someone is sick at home or if you suspect COVID-19, your child stays home as a precaution. I strongly believe it is your carefulness that has helped keep Lafayette a safe and healthy place for our students and staff.
Interims will be mailed home on Friday, February 12, 2021 for all distance learning students. Hybrid students will receive their interim on either Friday, February 12 or Tuesday, February 16. Please speak with your child about his/her academic performance. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher.
Save the date! On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, Lafayette will hold a virtual parent night during the evening hours. More information will be forthcoming next week.
If you have any questions, concerns, or celebrations, please reach out to us! We are here for you and happy to help.
Courtney Wheeler
Principal
Grade 3 Update
February is full of love…for learning! Third graders will have a guest speaker on February 3rd at 1:00 PM to start the month off right! Dr. Catie Finlayson from UMW will give show us some geography skills to introduce our Social Studies unit! We will further our learning by using maps and globes to locate geographic features. Then, we will learn about economics by understanding resources and opportunity costs. This month in math, we will measure elapsed time, length and volume, and end the month with perimeter and area. In English, third graders will continue learning about Traditional Tales by exploring fairy tales, folk tales, and fables. We will discuss themes, characters, settings, and plot. Then, we will create our own tale in writing. We expect to learn a great deal this month but also have a lot of fun! Please reach out with any questions or ideas to make the most of this short but sweet month!
Grade 3 teachers created this beautiful Periodic Table of Black History to display on the wall of the 3rd grade hallway.
Grade 4 Update
We made it to February! The fourth-grade teachers and staff hope you are staying safe and healthy.
In English, we will be completing a research project on a famous African American. We will be wrapping up our historical fiction projects. Ask your student to share their story with you! We are also going to start learning about dictionary skills.
In Math, all students will be participating in Fraction February! Students are going to be learning all about fraction and decimal equivalencies, comparing and ordering fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions. In addition, they will be learning about how to use least common multiples and greatest common factors to solve problems involving fractions. We always encourage students to continue working on their multiplication facts!
In Core, students will be doing both Social Studies and Science. In Social Studies, students will learn all about the Reconstruction Era and 20th and 21st Century. These are the last two units in Social Studies. Students will have a fully completed OneNote with all their units. In Science, students will be learning about Scientific Investigations. Hopefully at home you can try out a fun experiment while using the scientific method.
Grade 5 Highlight
The Fifth Grade students in Ms. Lloyd's class have written commercial advertisements for an original invention as part of their Writing Projects. Lily Bretzinger took it a step further by actually designing her invention called "Lily's Little Lift" or "The Get Up." This pulley and ladder system helps those who struggle to carry their saddles and even lifts them onto to the horse after it is saddled. Great job, Lily!
Here is little update from a few of the special education classes at LUES
We are working hard to ensure that all our students are receiving resources for learning at school and at home. One resource we continue to use is Learning A-Z, Raz-Plus. The e-books, corresponding lessons, for virtual and in-person instruction are a great framework for our classes to expose the students to a variety of book topics . This reading resources that was generously funded by the Rappahannock Rotary Educational Foundation Teacher Mini- Grant Program is used daily in our classes to support developing literacy. Our classes each use the digital books for virtual learning and the individual paper books for individualized in person instruction, so far this school year with the help of the grant we have used over 20 books in our classes. Each book is leveled to different readers, nonfiction and fiction availability, comprehensive lessons and in several different languages. As an example, when looking up literacy resources for Black History Month in Learning A-Z, Raz- Plus, at our fingertips are the book titles, Martin Luther King, Jr., Riding with Rosa Parks, The Buffalo Soldiers, Good for Thurgood, and Fredericks Douglass: Forever Free. We will continue to keep reading and keep learning with this great resource!
-Christine Garman
3-5 Special Education Teacher
Artists' Corner
Lafayette Lions have been very hard at work on their art projects!
3rd graders compared and contrasted the pottery from Ancient Egypt and Ming Dynasty Vases. They learned about the parts of a landscape and warm and cool colors , and created Positive and Negative Space Trees.
4th graders have learned about Art and Culture and created portraits of the artist Frida Kahlo as well as King Tut. They have explored the color wheel by creating their own out of found objects and have made awesome sculptures from recycled materials!
5th grade has learned about many different artists including Gustav Klimpt, Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe. They learned about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his famous building, Falling Water. Some students made sketches of the architects plan for the building or created their own construction from natural materials found outside. Fifth grade scholars even recreated famous paintings using laundry! So cool!
My Visual Arts scholars have learned about Value through creating Value Self-Portraits. They have also started sketches for their Dream Treehouses and will soon bring them to life even more by making 3D models of their sketches
I have also received many original artworks just because, just because they love making art so much!
Keep making the world beautiful my little artists!
Tree by Jaida Holmes
Recreating Art Using Laundry
King Tut by Sophia Shea
Portrait by Conner Gronhoff
Ming Vase by Harper
Replica of Falling Waters by Emalee Sebastian
Emmanuel Cook's Cue Ball Sketch
Grace Crider Created a Klimpt Inspired Art Piece
Daniel Cook's Landscape Art
CAR RIDER NEWS
When arriving at school to drop off your child (children) please have your car rider tag hanging from your rear-view mirror. This will save time for our staff to screen your student/s and get them to class. In the afternoon, if you also have your tag displayed this will help the pick-up line move quicker. If you do not have a tag, please email: kamols@cityschools.com
News from the Nurse's Office
General Reminders:
1. Keep children home if they are sick. Please call the school for further instruction before they return.
2. Please call the school as soon as possible if your child or a household member has been diagnosed with COVID. We will give you instructions about quarantines/ isolation and anticipated dates to return to in person learning.
3. Contact our school if your child or a household member has been exposed to COVID for further instructions about quarantines and return to school.
4. If you travel outside of the country, your child will need to quarantine at home before they can return to school in person. Please inform the school if you travel outside of the country for further instruction.
5. Our teachers that have been distance teaching because of health concerns are all returning in March. We are depending on our families to help us stay healthy and COVID free as we welcome new people back in our schools. Please keep us up to date on all illnesses in the home, and if there is any doubt about sending your child to school because of an illness or COVID, call us.
A Letter From the Nurse for Grade 5 Parents
Ms. Silvestri, our librarian, also made a beautiful Periodic Table of Black History to display on our main hallway near the library
Please see the below flyer and link for information on a survey regarding summer instructional programs
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
540-372-1145
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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