The Green Valley Gazette
January 24, 2019
Dates to Remember
GVE News
Letter from the Principal
Dear Green Valley Community,
Congratulations on the work you have done supporting your child through half of the school year. As we end the 2nd quarter, this is a great time to reflect on all of the accomplishments and growth that your child made thus far and consider goals for the 2nd half of the school year. Along those lines, in February our staff will come together to discuss student learning and achievement data. This will allow us to make adjustments for the third quarter that truly customizes learning for your child. We take pride in these days that we spend together as professionals. It allows us to learn about each and every child, regardless of which classroom they are in. With that being said, if there is anything you ever need, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are more effective when we work together as an outstanding home/school partnership.
Staffing News: Please join me in welcoming Kathy Osborne as our new lead custodian. She will be joining us beginning January 28th.
Valentine’s Day Parties: Soon teachers will be sending home individual classroom communication regarding their classroom parties. It is important to note that students are welcome to share Valentine's cards with each other during the school Valentine’s parties. Many of the for-purchase "Valentines" may contain candy or other treats. Due to health concerns and student allergies, we ask that you please refrain from purchasing valentine cards with candy. Candy valentines will not be allowed. Pencils, erasers, stickers, non-food school appropriate items can be included with card if you would like.
Survey: FCPS is launching a survey on Thursday, January 24 to gather your perceptions about your child's school. The survey will close Friday, February 22. We will send a letter home with each student on January 24, explaining the survey. The letter includes a link for parents and guardians to access and complete an online survey. This link, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FAM0913 is specific to Green Valley Elementary School. A limited number of paper copies of the survey will also be available in the front office. Parent/guardian feedback is important to FCPS and the staff at GVES as we continue our work building on strengths and striving to make improvements as a partner in your child’s education. Please contact our front office if you have any questions about the survey. Thank you!
The FCPS Civility Week Kindness Challenge is next week, Tuesday, January 29-Friday, February 1! Its purpose is to promote a kind and civil environment in schools, at home, and in our community. Civility is polite, reasonable and respectful behavior. The week will actively engage the FCPS community to create a culture of kindness, unity and respect.
Here's how you can participate:
1. Register for the family edition using the yellow button labeled Free Kindness Checklist at https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com/familyedition/
2. Encourage children to participate at home and at school, using free resources on the Great Kindness Challenge website.
3. Share your pictures and videos on Facebook and Twitter using #TogetherFCPS
The Counselor’s Corner
Helping your Child with the Loss of a Pet
Has your child experienced the loss of a pet?
The death of a pet is often a child's first experience with mortality and can be very traumatic. Depending on your child’s age and development they can experience many emotions that are new and difficult to understand.
Helpful tips to support your child through grief
Let your child know it’s okay to feel grief
Encourage your child to talk freely about their pet
Let your child’s teacher or school counselor know about the pet’s death to offer support
Reassure your child and support them with extra hugs and a listening ear
Discuss death, dying, and grief honestly
Helpful books for dealing with grief:
I Remember by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Geoff Stevenson
Grief is Like a Snowflake by Julia Cook
I Miss you by Pat Thomas
https://rainbowsbridge.com/grief_support_center/grief_support/chrildren_and_petloss.htm
https://www.lapoflove.com/community/Pet-Loss-Support/Children-and-Pets-Grief-Resources
Yours in teaching and learning,
Giuseppe
Dr. Giuseppe Di Monte
Principal
Thank You From the Bottom of Our Hearts
Hey There, First Grade Parents
Sniff Sniff..We Could Use Some Tissues
The Great Kindness Challenge - January 29th-February 1st
Celebrate kindness at GVE! The Great Kindness Challenge is a week devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible. Encourage your child to visit the Kindness Station at lunch and accept the kindness challenge!
Spirit Days will be January 29th – February 1st
- Tuesday 1/29 - GVE Team Kindness - Wear your GVE spirit wear
- Wednesday 1/30 - Hats off to Kindness - Wear your favorite hat
- Thursday 1/31 - Crazy about Kindness - Wear crazy hair or socks
- Friday 2/1 - Dream of Kindness - PJ Day
Please keep in mind that all hats, socks, and PJ’s need to be appropriate to wear to school.
How FCPS Decides On Weather Closings and Delays
Occasionally, inclement weather and other safety or health conditions require FCPS to close, delay opening or dismiss early. Closing and delay decisions involve careful evaluation of a variety of factors in a short time period. Whenever possible, decisions are made by 5 a.m. for morning closings and delays and by 10 a.m. for early closings, and announced soon after.
Because weather can change quickly and forecasts aren't always certain, it's rarely possible to determine delays or closings the night before. But we always make the decision as soon as we can be sure of the weather and travel conditions, and we begin communicating the decision right away.
For the fastest, most reliable information, check the following:
- www.fcps.org
- Social Media: FCPS on Twitter and FCPS on Facebook
- Email/Text Messages: Sign up for FindOutFirst email and emergency-only text messages
- FCPS TV: Comcast Channel 18 (Frederick area)
PTA News
PTA Meeting Tonight - January 24th!
We would like to hear your ideas! Please come and join the other moms and dads at our next PTA meeting - tonight, January 24th at 6:30 PM in the Media Room.
Just think about the things you can plan for your kids and more!
We hope to see you there.
Family Craft Night - This Friday, January 25th!
COME ON! Let's get crafty and have some fun with the kids! Join us on January 25th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for a night of creativity.
- Use scissors to make a swirly snowman
- Sew a heart onto a paper plate
- Make cotton balls into a snowman
- Choose 1 of 2 designs and create a wintery night scene on a 6x6 painters canvas!
There is a $5 per person fee to cover the cost of the painters canvas and art materials being used.
Please fill out the information on the bottom half of this flier and send it back to school so we can be prepared with art supplies for everyone.
We are also looking for volunteers to help out. Please click here to sign up. Thank you!
Dance and Floss-Off Party - February 8th!
This is going to be a party your kids won't want to miss! Join us and show off your best dance moves!
- Friday, February 8th at 6:30 p.m.
- Cost is FREE for PTA members or $3 per child (including siblings) for non-PTA members.
Pizza, snacks, & beverages will be available for purchase.
A responsible adult is required to stay with their child throughout the dance.
Save the Date - Spirit Night at Skate Frederick - March 24th!
Keep Those Box Tops Coming!
Which Grade will be the WINNER? Watch the bulletin board in the front lobby and see each grade’s bookcase fill up with books for the Green Valley Giant to read! The grade level with the most box tops will win a Special Classroom Treat!
Bring box tops in to your teacher either on the collection sheets or in zip-top bags. Enter as many box tops as you can until the deadline on Thursday, February 14th, 2019! Extra collection sheets can be found on the GVES Website in the Quick Links section. https://education.fcps.org/gves/ If you have any questions or if you would like to volunteer to help us count Box Tops, please contact Jodi Best jodibest01@comcast.net
Box Tops for Education are important because they help schools earn money for much-needed items like books, computers, playground equipment and more— which benefits students! In total, America’s schools have earned over $719 million through the program.
Click here to get a list of participating Box Tops products.
FCPS and Community News
Celebrate Black History Month at FCPL
Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget Information
Family and community engagement are essential in making public education the best it can be. FCPS posts budget information online to make their processes as transparent to the public as possible and to encourage full public engagement in the budget process.
2019-2020 Magnet Nominations Begin January 25th
Starting tomorrow, January 25th, the Office of Advanced Academics will be accepting nominations of present second through fourth grade students for possible placement in the magnet program for the 2019 - 2020 school year.
A Magnet Program Overview for parents interested in nominating their child will be held tonight, January 24th, 2019, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Central Office (191 South East Street). Parking is available in the East All Saints Street parking deck or in the parking lot located next to the Central Office off of East All Saints Street. Accessible parking is located in the Commerce Street lot located behind the Central Office. Enter the Board Room at the front of the building.
The overview will include components of the magnet program and the processes leading to placement. Please note that this meeting is designed for parents, not students. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Advanced Academics at 301-696-6891.
Students may be nominated for the magnet program by school staff, parents or jointly. Parents and teachers are encouraged to review information, including some characteristics of gifted students, that is posted at http://www.fcps.org/advacademics. Teacher nominations, parent nominations and a completed Parent/Guardian Rating Form are due in the school office by February 28, 2019, so that information required to complete the nomination packet may be gathered by school staff.
Upcoming Meetings About the Linganore-Oakdale-Urbana Area Redistricting Study
FCPS invites the public in the Linganore, Oakdale and Urbana High School feeder areas to attend one of two meetings this month about the school system's new Linganore-Oakdale-Urbana redistricting study.
Elementary attendance areas included in the study are:
Centerville
Deer Crossing
Green Valley
Kemptown
Liberty
New Market
Oakdale
Spring Ridge
Twin Ridge
Urbana
Middle school attendance areas include:
Governor Thomas Johnson
New Market
Oakdale
Urbana
Windsor Knolls
High schools in the study area:
Linganore
Oakdale
Urbana
Although the meetings will take place at two locations to provide a broader opportunity for community involvement, the same presentation is planned for each meeting.
Meetings are:
- Tuesday, January 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Oakdale High School auditorium, 5850 Eaglehead Drive, Ijamsville, MD 21754.
- Thursday, January 31 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Natelli Community Room at the Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung Street, Frederick, MD 21704.
The redistricting study is necessary to establish new attendance boundaries and feeder patterns to accommodate new schools and increased capacity. The new schools are Sugarloaf Elementary on Stone Barn Drive in Urbana, which is temporarily serving Urbana Elementary students until the Urbana Elementary replacement is complete for the 2020-2021 school year, and a not-yet-named elementary school in the Lake Linganore Hamptons West neighborhood opening for the 2021-2022 school year.
For additional information, please contact the FCPS facilities planning department at LOURedistrict@fcps.org
Stay Up-to-Date
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from GVE:
- Find Out First E-mails - There has been a change with the way you sign up for "Find Out First" messages. We use the email addresses that you provide us when your student enrolls. If that email address changes, please notify us so that we can update your information.
- PTA Website - The GVE PTA has created a new website for parents and caregivers! The website, which is updated frequently, provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities, current and previous editions of this newsletter, and more. Bookmark it today! http://www.greenvalley.my-pta.org/
- PTA Facebook Page - Stay informed about PTA events, activities, and school information by liking the Green Valley Elementary School PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GreenValleyESPTA