Eagle Flyer
November 2023
GRATITUDE
Dear Rosa Parks Elementary Families,
November is a time intended for giving thanks – and we have so much to be grateful for here at Rosa Parks Elementary. I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for taking time to read with your children every night, checking homework, communicating with your child’s teacher, and countless other things you do as a parent or guardian to support the education of your child. Having a strong partnership between school and home is critical to student success – Thank YOU for all you do!
Please consider taking a moment to express your gratitude to our amazing staff. Your words of appreciation have a great impact on our school culture and climate. I will compile all responses and share them with the staff on November 21st before they leave before the Thanksgiving break. Thank you for considering!
RPES Staff Gratitude Link: https://forms.office.com/r/cnvhPiqTjF
As the first quarter comes to a close, it is a wonderful time to reflect. As an IB school, RPES participates in student-led conferences, which may look a bit different than traditional parent-teacher conferences. In a student-led conference, working in collaboration with their teacher, students prepare, reflect, and discuss evidence of their learning and growth by looking at their work. Student-led conferences encourage students to take responsibility and ownership for their learning as they reflect on what went well, what they struggled with, and their next steps.
I want to also acknowledge that there are a lot of recent events happening in the world right now that are affecting families and their loved ones. I hope and trust everyone gives each other some grace. Be good to each other.
Your Partners in Education,
Kathryn Ngo, Principal
Maria Menjivar, Assistant Principal
Principal's Advisory Council Survey
One of PWCS’s Strategic Plan key commitments is to engage families as authentic partners in education to support academic success. As part of this commitment, each school is to have an Advisory Council that provides families with the opportunity to engage in collaborative decision-making as authentic partners with the school.
RPES' Advisory Council is comprised of families, staff, and administration and meets once a month virtually before the PTO meetings. Our goal for RPES’ Advisory Council is to include diverse voices and perspectives in order to support student success and develop solutions for concerns in our community. The community drives the work of the Advisory Council. We would love to hear from you by answering a quick one question survey. The answers of the survey will be used to guide the work of the Advisory Council.
Advisory Council Survey - https://forms.office.com/r/a7bpfXVN7L
CODE ORANGE DAYS
In anticipation of inclement weather in the coming months, Rosa Parks will follow a Code Orange schedule when PWCS dictates our school day will be a Code Orange day. More information is to come regarding the Code Orange schedule that we will follow. However, it is important that you remember proper care and usage of the school loaned device that comes home with your child for schoolwork. Students should not have food or drinks near the school device. The device should be kept away from pets and other children in the household. School devices MUST be returned to school with the student (in the protective sleeve with the charging cord) fully charged and ready for use in school when we return to the building.
Please let your child's teacher know, IN WRITING by email or a note to the school, if your student DOES NOT need to bring home a school device for Code Orange days.
You may purchase school device insurance through Securranty https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/information_technology/device_handbook/device_insurance/index
IB FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER
Learner Profile Attribute: OPEN-MINDED
Students who are OPEN-MINDED understand and value the differences in others. They listen to the points of view of people and think about many possibilities before making a decision. They are willing to consider the ideas of others to solve a problem.
Literature Connection:
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
The child in this story dislikes art class because she is convinced, she can't draw. Her teacher gently encourages her to begin with a single dot and her creativity takes off. The story celebrates the creative spirit in everyone.
Historical Connection in Virginia:
James Farmer (1920 – 1999) James Farmer Dedicated to fighting for racial equality. He helped form what became the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and served as its director in 1961. He helped orchestrate the Freedom Rides to fight segregation in interstate bus travel.
Family Connections
Try food from another culture
Read a book about traditional dress from around the world
Ask your child how they have been open-minded
CAFE CORNER - NOVEMBER 2023
Local Harvest of the Month Recipe: Curtido (served with Pupusas on the school lunch menu!)
The Harvest of the Month feature in November is Cabbage! In celebration of Cabbage, the Food and Nutrition Department is serving scratch made Curtido, a Salvadorian cabbage slaw, with Pupusas in November! Curtido is a traditional side served with Pupusas which are thick flatbreads filled with cheese and a variety of other ingredients. The Pupusas we will be serving are filled with beans and cheese! The Curtido recipe the PWCS Nutrition staff will be preparing for students was provided and developed by PWCS Food and Nutrition Employees who have family roots in El Salvador and Honduras. The recipe for the Curtido that will be served in schools is below! Pupusas and Curtido will be served on the following dates in November:
Elementary Schools: Tuesday, November 21st
Middle Schools: Tuesday, November 28th
High Schools: Wednesday, November 29th
Thanksgiving Luncheon
The Food and Nutrition Department will be serving a festive Thanksgiving-themed meal in November! The menu includes, but is not limited to, Roast Turkey Breast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Scratch-Made Dinner Rolls, Parmesan Broccolini, and Scratch-Made Pumpkin Souffle! Visit www.PWCSNutrition.com for the full menu.
The special Thanksgiving menu will be served on the following dates:
Elementary Schools: Thursday, November 9th
Middle and High Schools: Friday, November 17th
REPORTING ABSENCES
As we approach the months of November and December, traditionally we may see an increase in illnesses and in travel for the holidays. At Rosa Parks, we ask that you keep an emphasis on school attendance a priority. Please make sure your child attends school on all healthy school days. If your child must be absent, please send notification to the front office within five days of absence. Families can report absences in ParentVue or by sending an email to our attendance email at
rpes-attendance@pwcs.edu
SAFE AT HOME: SAFE ALONE
Rosa Parks’ fourth grade students will participate in the 4-H program called Safe at Home. This program is to prepare students for self-care. This is a one-day program taught by parent volunteers on November 9, 2023. Students will bring home a workbook with discussion topics for families. Families decide when a child is ready for self-care.
Child Supervision Guidelines for Prince William County
0-8 yo - May NOT be left unsupervised
9-11 yo - Let unsupervised No more than 1.5 hours alone – days only
12-15 yo - May be left home all day
16-18 yo - May be left alone all night or over the weekend
Babysitting Guidelines
12-13 yo - May babysit children up to 4 hours
14-16 yo - May babysit over 4 hours - not overnight or weekends
16-17 yo - May babysit children overnight or over the weekend
We are a NO PLACE FOR HATE School
Rosa Parks begins our third year as a No Place for Hate School. We will kick-off our third year with the pledge signing…our commitment to be kind and inclusive to everyone.
Pledge
I promise to do my best to treat everyone fairly.
I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone-even if they are not like me.
If I see someone being hurt or bullied, I will tell a teacher.
Everyone should be able to feel safe and happy in school.
I want our school to be No Place For Hate.
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
This free class is for parents and caregivers of children with mental health needs and is provided by National Alliance on Mental Illness-PW. Those who attend will be provided with free lunch and free childcare. Pre-registration is required. Challenging behaviors are a huge hurdle for families. Below is the link with detailed information about the program, date, time and location, as well as the link for registration.
https://nami-pw.org/event/childrens-challenging-behaviors-3/
NEWS FROM OUR PTO
We're looking for 3 or 4 volunteers to join the Hospitality Committee. This committee will jointly decide our monthly staff appreciation events. Events such as the previous Apple Bar, Trail Mix Bar, Cheesecake Bar, Potato Bar etc., along with Teacher Appreciation Week. The committee will work together to decide on an idea and theme each month, along with collection of donations, set up, and clean up for each event. This is a once a month commitment, so the responsibility does not fall upon one person. If this is a position you would be interested in, please email rosaparkspto@gmail.com
Thank you for your continued support.
CALENDAR DATES
November 2nd - Strings Concert @ 7pm
November 3rd - End of Quarter 1 Grading Period
November 4th - PTO Holiday Market Vendor Fair @ 10am-2pm
November 6th - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
November 7th - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday (Election Day)
November 9th - Family Food Market @ 5:30pm
November 10th - NO SCHOOL - Veterans' Day Holiday
November 14th - Principal's Advisory Council Zoom Meeting @ 6:15pm, PTO Zoom Meeting @ 7pm
November 16th - IB Parent Info Night for Prospective Families SY 24-25
November 22nd, 23rd, 24th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
November 29th - Picture Day RETAKES