Discovery Weekly Newsletter
Week of October 8, 2018
Dean's Den
As you walk through our front doors, hanging on the wall to the left, you will see last year’s Fifth Grade Class Gift. It reminds us all of the most important thing we can teach you. It reads,
Be the kid who can get along
Be the kid who is generous
Be the kid who is happy for others
Be the kid who does the right thing
BE THE NICE KID
October is “National Bullying Prevention Month” and the best way to prevent bullying is to “be the nice kid.” It's not always easy, but it can be done--I know this, because I see your incredible children being nice throughout our building every day. Here are just a few snapshots I saw this past week:
- A third grader encouraging a peer to, “Just give it a try! I know you can do it.”
- Two second graders bumping into each other around a corner and immediately both saying, “Sorry! Oh, it’s okay.”
- A fifth grader watching another student be made fun of and instead of joining in, putting their arm around them and saying, “Come work with us over here.”
- A fourth grader saying, “You’re really making me mad so I need a minute alone so I can get my nice self back again.”
- A first grader, after being pushed by another peer who was clearly upset, saying, “Hey! That makes me sad. Can you just use your words please?”
- A kindergartener giving another student a hug after a disagreement and saying, “Let’s just be nice, okay?”
Your Dean,
Debbie Ragan
Counselor's Corner
Bullying behavior is aggressive and includes the following: an intent to harm, intimidate, or humiliate, a power imbalance, and repetition.
There are four types of bullying: Verbal, Social/Relational, Physical, and Cyber.
Bullying is NOT peer conflict, rude or mean behavior.
Every LCPS student in grades K-5 are taught what bullying is and how to respond to bullying behavior using a three-step program called, “Stop, Walk, Talk”.
More information on bullying prevention can be found on Discovery’s School Counselor Web Page. Other resources are www.pacer.org/bullying, www.stopbullying.gov, www.kidsagainstbullying.com, www.ncpc.org.
Your School Counselors,
Teresa Smidt (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) and Karen Vickers (K, 4th, and 5th)
Mark Your Calendars
Columbus Day Holiday
Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
Parents Night Out
Spirit Day
Box Tops for PJ Day Contest
We are so excited for the fabulous fall fun we have planned for our students & their families and teachers!
We are kicking off October with our spirit night at Chick-fil-a on Wednesday, 10/10 from 3-8pm. Be on the lookout for the cow who will be visiting Discovery that day!
And it’s baaaaa-aaaack! Yes, it’s Spooky Bingo! This fan favorite will be held in Discovery’s gym on Friday, October 19. The doors open at 6:00pm and the first game will begin at 6:30pm. There will be Bingo, prizes, raffles, food, and fun! Pre-ordering pizza is strongly encouraged so we have enough for everyone! See the order form for more details. If you are able to donate food or volunteer your time, please sign up here. (Teen volunteers welcome!)
A special thank you to Discovery parent Rachel Colquitt and the team of volunteers that organized and contributed toward this year’s first Teacher Appreciation Lunch last week. It was a huge success and a wonderful way to say thank you to the teachers and staff that as they celebrated a successful first full month of school. Stay tuned for details about the next one in November!
Your PTO Board
Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
Parents Night Out - Friday Night
Box Tops Pajama Day Contest
ONE WEEK LEFT! We are on the home stretch to reach our goal of 5,000 box tops! Please continue to bring those in between now and October 15 to help us achieve that goal and earn the school-wide pajama day!
Simply clip the BOX TOP$ logos from participating products and send them to school with your child in a plastic sandwich bag. Discovery Elementary will receive 10 cents for each BOX TOP collected.
Box Tops will be collected in the main office on an ongoing basis OR you may turn them into your child's teacher. No need to wait for collection dates!
Spooky Bingo is Back
Pre-ordering pizza is strongly encouraged so we have enough for everyone! See the order form below for more details. If you are able to donate food or volunteer your time, please sign up here. (Teen volunteers welcome!)
This family favorite will be our first event of the year and we hope you can make it. Pre-register now!
together we can make a difference!
Why join the PTO? It provides funds that will directly impact your child’s education and gives you a vote at PTO meetings. Membership is $15 per family and $5 per staff member. Our goal for the 2018-2019 school year is to have 500 families join!
PTO Membership fees will be applied to our Classroom Assistance Budget.
You may join through our school store or send in the attached form below.
help us unlock savings
Did you see the key that came home in your childs folder recently? Help us unlock those free $$$ from Giant and Harris Teeter. AND...we now only need 1 more Harris Teeter cards linked to get the $100 bonus for our school!
Harris Teeter and Giant support local schools by donating a portion of your grocery bill to the school! But it requires you to link your store cards to our school (and re-link each year). Please take a moment and link those accounts!
Click on the store’s logo below and link your store card to our school.
SCHOOL CODE: 2009
If you prefer, fill out this form and Discovery’s Coordinator will submit your Harris Teeter card number on your behalf.
SCHOOL ID: 18194
We cannot link Giant cards to the school on your behalf. Please take a moment to connect your card.
Sign into: https://giantfood.com/
Link to School 18194 – Discovery Elementary
Calling all Father Figures!
We need you to volunteer for our WATCH DOGS program!
WATCH DOGS are Fathers, Grandfathers, Step-fathers, Uncles and other father figures that volunteer at Discovery for a day. During the day, WATCH DOGS may read and work on math with students, play at recess, attend specials, eat lunch with students, patrol the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.
Questions? Contact allisonmulieri@hotmail.com
Lost & Found
Has your child lost a lunch box? Their jacket or water bottle? The Lost and Found area is located right outside of the cafeteria. All items will be donated at the end of each month to a local charity.
Please label your child’s belongings; it’s the best way to be sure it gets found or returned quickly.
Calendar of events
October
10 - Chick Fil A Spirit Night
12 - Parents Night Out (6:00 - 9:00pm)
15 - Box Top School Wide Pajama Day Contest Ends
16- PTO Meeting (3:00pm)
19- Spooky Bingo (6:00-7:30pm)
19 - Picture Day
22- Student Holiday
November
5, 6 - Student Holidays
21, 22, 23 - Thanksgiving Break
Contact Us
Website: https://www.lcps.org/des
Location: Discovery Elementary School, Grace Bridge Drive, Ashburn, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-2370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovery.pto.trailblazers/
Twitter: @Discovery_elem