Galloping Gazette
A Newsletter for the Faculty and Staff at CFES
October 16-20, 2017
Put Students First • Seek Growth • Be Open to Change
Do Great Work Together • Value Differences
Earthquake Drill
Safe Schools and Bus Safety Week
Handwriting without Tears
Shout Outs!
Barbara Kitchen, you were an angel in disguise on the 1st grade field trip. Thank you for understanding the needs of the students and swooping in quickly when needed. You are a gem to CFES!
Debbie Vickery, thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me. You make me a better teacher! -Michelene
Stacey Witherow and Lisa Gollihur, you two were a match made in heaven! It looks like you have been working together forever! Thank you for all you do every day for our 4 year olds!
Alainya Kemper, you have mastered the use of flexible seating while maintaining great order and structure in your classroom. You are also knocking it out of the park with small group math instruction!
Sara Nichols and Miriam Rodriguez, thank you for organizing a FUN Papa John's Teacher Delivery Night. Thank you to Al Doss for making the awesome infomercials for Colt TV too!
Colt Family News
How to spend our Papa John's money?
Testing Reminders
October 20th - DRA Independent Scores Due in Synergy for Kindergarten
October 20th - TenMarks Assessment Due for Grades 1-5
Fall Festival - October 20th
Benefits Open Enrollment
Consolidated Benefits Office is having an “Early Bird Incentive” to reward anyone who elects or declines their benefits by Oct. 15. Employees who complete their Open Enrollment will receive two Regal Cinema movie tickets and a chance to be entered into a drawing where five winners will receive either a $100 Top Golf gift card; 1,000 BEWell points; an Echo Dot; or an Echo Show.
All employees will receive the Open Enrollment guide mailed to their home address by the end of September, which will include all benefit plan premiums, plan design changes, and assistance opportunities for those who do not have computer access or would like help enrolling. The Open Enrollment guide will provide an overview of benefit plans offered. Employees can access detailed plan information and all plan documents on the Consolidated Benefits Office intranet site.
Dyslexia Module
This update is to clarify that recently things have changed in VBCPS... Teachers who teach language arts are asked to complete the module by the end of the 1st semester. The rationale is that we want all teachers of language arts to understand reading disabilities, as the focus of the division is to close the gaps that are currently present with students with special needs.
The module can be found here - http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/licensure/dyslexia-module/story.html. Be sure to print your certificate and send to the Department of Human Resources, Office of Licensure.
Calendar Options - Your Voice is Needed!
The calendar options for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years are now available for community review and feedback through the division's online e-Town Hall. As visitors to the forum will see, the primary difference in each set of calendar options is the placement of professional learning days for staff. The first option for the 2018-2019 school year also includes an extra day at Spring Break, which could be used as a makeup day, if needed.
Parents, students and school staff are encouraged to share their opinions on the school calendar options by visiting the e-Town Hall before midnight Wednesday, Oct. 25. All feedback will be considered before final recommendations are made to the Superintendent and School Board in November. A summary of feedback will also be provided to the School Board as part of the calendar adoption process.