Soaring Falcons
November Edition 2019
Falmouth Elementary
LEARN with passion
LEAD with confidence
LIVE with character
Email: fewebmaster@staffordschools.net
Website: https://www.staffordschools.net/fes
Location: 1000 Forbes St, Falmouth, VA 22405
Phone: (540) 373-7458
Twitter: @FESNVA
Principal's Greeting
Dear Falmouth Falcon Families,
The season of Fall is upon us and the holiday season is quickly approaching. As Thanksgiving draws near it is important to take time to slow down from the back to school frenzy and express gratitude for the many gifts we have been given. FES can certainly be thankful for our wonderful school, our dedicated staff who believe each and every day in the achievement of students, and our supportive community. Our staff is thankful for our PTO, community members, and the students who bring laughter and a willingness to learn each and every day. I, personally, am thankful for the continued support you, as parents, provide on my journey as an administrator and the ongoing belief in both me and FES. FES is making amazing strides in increasing student achievement and establishing ourselves as an integral part of the community.
We are also excited to begin Boosterthon! These next two weeks you will hear your child share information regarding HONESTY, GRATITUDE, GENEROSITY, KINDNESS and HUMILITY. I encourage you to participate in Boosterthon as a family by reviewing the character lessons at night after your child has participated in the daily team huddles. Boosterthon will culminate in our annual FUN RUN to take place on Friday, November 15th. Funds contributed to Boosterthon will go towards a new audio visual system in our cafe and funds to be set aside for a digital message board.
As we move into the 2nd 9-weeks, it is important to remember the vital role you play in your child(ren)’s education. Taking part in class/school activities, reviewing classwork/homework, and facilitating on-going conversations which promote learning, are all an important part of ensuring the success of students. We look forward to seeing everyone at one of our many upcoming events!
Ms. JP (Principal)
***Transportation Safety Information***
As Principal of Falmouth Elementary, I am responsible for the safety of everyone on the property at all times. With that, I am asking everyone to refrain from all distracting activities (cell phones, reading, eating) while driving on school property. Also, it is important to keep everyone in the vehicle properly restrained until our car rider staff members approach to assist your child out of the vehicle. Remember, the law requires all occupants of your vehicle under the age of 18 to be properly restrained anywhere in the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.
Lastly, please make sure you are following the directions of our trained crossing guards as they keep our Falmouth Elementary grounds safe. They are doing a fantastic job of keeping cars, buses, and pedestrians safe during drop off and dismissal, but need your help and attention throughout the school year.
General Car Rider Reminders
Morning Car Rider Reminders
1. We ask that you continue to be courteous of other drivers as you form the single line of traffic and enter the school bus lanes, then turn right next to the building.
2. Please have your son/daughter ready for release, pull up as close as possible to the car ahead of you and begin releasing students along the sidewalk in the area designated.
3. Please refrain from using cell phones and other distractions that may take your attention away from being observant. This will allow us to get more cars into the driveway, more students released, and ensure a steady flow of traffic.
4. As you leave the school driveway, please be careful and cautious of pedestrians and traffic on the connecting streets.
5. If you need to walk-in your son/daughter for various reasons (bring in items, meeting, etc.), please use the left lane to enter the parking lot and use the appropriate crosswalks. Please do not drop-off your son/daughter in the parking lot because you wish to not follow the traffic pattern. You place your child’s safety in danger when you drop them off along the street or in the parking lot and allow them to walk across without adult supervision.
Afternoon Car Rider Reminders
1. Please form two lines of traffic.
2. Please place your car rider number plate in the windshield of the car for the callers.
3. Please refrain from using cell phones and other distractions that may take your attention away from being observant. This will allow us to get more cars into the driveway, more students loaded, and ensure a steady flow of traffic.
4. A staff member will monitor students as they load the cars.
5. A child should never cross in front of or behind another vehicle without the supervision/assistance of an adult. Be watchful of other cars exiting and/or faculty members crossing the driveway.
6. Please be patient and courteous as both parents and students learn the procedures. The process does move quicker as everyone learns and follows the procedures.
Ms. JP (Principal)
Exciting Things are Coming!
PTO Meeting
Early Release/Holidays
Nov 5 - Professional Dev Day-No school for students
Nov 11 - Veterans' Day - No schoolNov 27 to 29 - Thanksgiving Break - No school
Community On The Court
Boosterthon
Boosterthon Fun Run
Lifetouch Fall Photo Retakes
***Falcon Clinic News***
The SMILE Dental Program will be visiting Falmouth on December 16th. A small dental office is set up in one of our classrooms and students receive a full dental exam and treatment. Registration forms will be coming home with students at the beginning of the month. You can also call the front office if you are interested in utilizing this program.
_____________________________________________________________
Listed below are the Stafford County Health Services guidelines which parents should use in determining if a sick child should stay at home and when a previously sick child is ready to return to school.
Medical Exclusions and Reasons to Stay Home From School
• Fever 100 degrees or higher within the past 24 hours
• Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• Severe earache pain
• Swollen or extremely painful joints from an injury
• Suspected contagious diseases. Examples include:
o Chickenpox
o Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
o Pediculosis (head lice)
o Scabies, ringworm or impetigo
o Undiagnosed rashes
• Antibiotic treatment which has just begun. Students given antibiotics for communicable infections should stay home for the first 24 hours.
Flu season is here and the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. Please see the CDC website form more information regarding the influenza vaccine for the 2019-20 season.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
As always, please contact me at any time if you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s health!
Nurse Anna
phone: (540) 373-7458 email: krushinskiam@staffordschools.net
***LIBRARY NEWS***
Mrs. Beasley, Library Assistant
***Math Family Game Night***
Now that the weather is getting cooler and the nights are getting longer, this is a great time to begin a family tradition. Math games are some of the best ways to improve math fact fluency. Turn off the TV and have family game night for 30 minutes or more a week. The kids will love it and their math will improve.
7 Games for Practicing Math Facts Grades 1-2
Fun Family math games ages 1 - 8
Other games to build math and life skills are the old board games like Monopoly, Life, Racko and Uno. These are just a few. Play games, have family fun and practice math.
Ms. Smetts, Math Specialist
***NEWS FROM THE READING ROOM***
Literacy Links is a school-wide literacy initiative to celebrate reading! Each time a student reads a book, he/she will add a link to their grade level’s Literacy Links Chain (each grade is a different color). We’ll hang these colorful chains throughout the school and celebrate our reading! To add to the fun, Mrs. JP and Mr. Kennedy will take on different challenges (stay tuned for details) to celebrate our Literacy Link Chain’s milestones: reaching the cafeteria from the front office, reaching the first grade hall, etc. Staff members will be participating and will have a special color as well! Will our staff chain be the longest one, or will our students read more? Time will tell! As always, encourage your child to read at home, and make sure they fill out a link!! This program runs from Monday, October 21 - Friday, December 13.
Indeed, reading makes life colorful!!
Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Hall, Reading Specialists
***PE NEWS***
We have to start by thanking all of our 61 volunteers that assisted in making our Fall Field Day a big success! We appreciate the enthusiasm that you displayed which certainly helped make it a special day for all of our students. This was the first time we held Field Day in the fall, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive so as of right now, we plan on making that a new tradition at FES!
All of our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes will spend the next few weeks working with scooters. Besides learning several ways to safely ride a scooter, we will incorporate those skills in a couple games called Scooter Racetrack and Scooter Sharks and Minnows.
Third through fifth grade just completed a soccer unit. They will play Team Bocce for a week followed by an activity called Jump bands. Then they will use scooters to play a couple different games, specifically a type of soccer with beach balls. Finally, we will be finishing up round one of our fall fitness testing.
Mr. Emerson and Mr. Brown, PE Teachers
***FOCUS NEWS***
So far this Fall, Focus students have been hard at work. In the beginning of November, third grade students will finish their Archaeology unit with a field trip to Ferry Farm, George Washington’s boyhood home. They will also have the opportunity to Skype with an Archaeologist and ask questions. We are very excited to participate in this discussion! Fourth grade students will finish their Flight unit by learning about Amelia Earhart and The Wright Brothers. Fifth grade students are beginning a new novel where they learn the details about the last days of Abraham Lincoln. This is a very thrilling novel and I can’t wait to read it with them! Many students are also participating in Word Masters and the challenge will be right before Thanksgiving. They have been studying hard! Good luck to all those participants in their first challenge. The winners will be announced before Thanksgiving break.
Ms. Pickett, FOCUS Teacher
***COUNSELORS' CORNER***
October was Bully prevention month. In classroom guidance, Falmouth students learned the difference between Bullying situations and the normal everyday conflicts that children have. Bullying is repeated hurtful behavior that can be: verbal, physical, emotional and cyberbullying. Students learned that even though Bullying can be a hurtful experience, there are ways they can respond to help end the situation, if ever faced with Bully behavior.
Students also learned the importance of focusing on their own attitude and behavior, really the only part of a bullying interaction that they control. Complaining about, placing a lot of emphasis and attention on the other person’s poor behavioral choices, cruel words or unfair situation can be counterproductive. This can often lead to feelings of helplessness and self-pity, not the preferred position of self-confidence which is most needed when dealing with a bully. Instead, by focusing on their own positive options and solutions children can begin to recognize just how powerful they are. Development of personal power leads to increased self-confidence and assertiveness. Personal power is not ever about power over someone else, but power over ourselves; our attitude, our actions, our life. An empowered attitude is instrumental in a person’s ability to solve problems throughout life, especially Bullying Situations. When we have the power to make constructive choices, we have a greater opportunity to influence situations in a positive way, bringing about more peaceful results.
Please click the link below to read more information and resources about bullying.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16QAixWpNadOGxkYwdaONGN20TuEyWucBhBcGkTbgu5I/edit?usp=sharing
Ami Brown, M.Ed. and Jennifer Crane, M.Ed.
FES School Counselor
***Technology News***
Hello again FES families, we all know that internet safety is an important topic so I have included a list of 10 tips for parents:
Ask your children about what they see/do on the Internet.
Turn on Parental Controls for all mobile devices and with the phone/internet provider.
Check privacy settings on all social networks, and periodically check for any changes.
Monitor your child’s device and monitor usage. This includes installed apps, browsing history, and text messaging recipients.
Set up your own accounts on social media, and follow/friend your children.
Review their friends and followers on social media.
Know your children’s passwords and usernames, and periodically check for any changes.
Don’t let your children know the password to their phone’s iTunes or Google Play account.
Don’t allow them to keep their computers or mobile devices in their rooms at night.
Don’t allow them to use anonymous texting apps or provocative social media sites.
Resources: https://www.fbi.gov/resources/parents
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Mr. DuPont - ITRT
***Lost and Found***
*** Important Reminders from The Front Office ***
Student Dismissal
Reporting a Student's Absence
To assist the office staff, please be sure to call the office number to report your child's absence at (540) 373-7458 prior to 9:30am. If you would like to complete the Report An Absence form online, YOU MAY CLICK HERE
Lost and Found
Please take a moment to label all items including lunchboxes and jackets for your children. It will assist us in returning lost items to the proper students instead of filling our Lost and Found.