VALLEY VIKING NEWS
October 18, 2018
VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Email: tracy.poquette@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/ves/home
Location: Valley Elementary School, Jefferson Pike, Jefferson, MD, USA
Phone: 240.236.3000
Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps
MESSAGE FROM MRS. POQUETTE
Fall is here, and that brings cooler temperatures and some of our fall traditions along with it.
- Please remember to dress your students in layers.
- If you need to make a change to the way your child is going home, please email Jody Gust jody.gust@fcps.org and Caroline Hendy (caroline.hendy@fcps.org). This dynamic duo is always here ready to help, but in the event one is out, we want to be certain we get the message to your child and their teacher. If it's a last minute change, we would prefer you call the school.
- We will have our fall party on Wednesday, October 31st. I would like to remind you that in keeping with the Health Department’s recommendation, it is not permissible to bring home-baked food to school for treats. It is okay to purchase bakery items for school parties. Also, please keep in mind school-appropriate costumes. We do not allow masks or scary costumes at school. Students should bring costumes to school and put them on for the parade and party.
- Parent/Teacher Conferences are almost here! Attending your child’s conference is critical. You will be informed of your child’s progress and how you can support their educational success. Please return your conference form so teachers can schedule your visit.
- Grandparents Day is November 14th and 15th. Please help us to plan for your visit by returning the RSVP that come home in last weeks Thursday folders. Please only choose one day and one time block (AM or PM) so we can accommodate all visitors.
Thank you again for helping us deliver excellence in education to all of our students at Valley Elementary, where we are on The Voyage of Excellence!
Tech Trot
VOTE, VOTE, VOTE WE ARE CURRENTLY IN 3rd PLACE
We have two weeks left to vote for the Farmers Thank Americas Teachers contest. Please continue to vote for Valley Elementary once a day until November 2nd. We were informed yesterday that Valley Elementary is currently in 3rd place. The top 5 schools win the $100,000!
https://www.farmers.com/thank-americas-teachers/vote-for-a-teacher/vote-100k-proposal/
SENSORY FRIENDLY HANGOUT
First Tuesdays, 4:30 PM Crafts, games, and hands-on activities designed for elementary aged children with sensory integration challenges or autism spectrum disorders, their families, and friends.
BRUNSWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY 915 N. Maple Avenue Brunswick, Maryland 21716 301-600-7250
CHARACTER COUNTS AT VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
October 22nd - 26th is Character Counts week. We will celebrate this week by highlighting each pillar of character on the morning announcements; reminding students ways they can demonstrate the pillar and continue to make Valley Elementary School a great place to be. Staff will also recognize students for showing the “pillar of the day”. Students nominated for doing a outstanding job displaying a pillar of character will receive a letter to go home. The week will wrap up with a colorful celebration on Friday; with each grade level wearing one of the pillar colors as follows:
PreK & K Blue for trustworthiness
1st Yellow for respect
2nd Green for responsibility
3rd Orange for fairness
4th Red for caring
5th Purple for citizenship
"THE WIRED CHILD"
FCPS INVITES YOU TO:
- Preview NEW state-issued school report cards
- Learn about the NEW school-accountability standards
- Find out about NEW state-issued star ratings for schools
All meetings are 7-8 PM (4 options)
- Frederick High: October 29th
- Catoctin High: November 1st
- Brunswick High: November 12th
- Middletown High: November 19th
COUNSELOR NEWS
Attention parents/guardians - we have the following available for students in need:
- Halloween/Fall festival kids costumes- various sizes and styles
- Winter coats (new and gently used), gloves & hats –many sizes, styles and colors
If you are in need of any of these items please give me a call at 240-236-2983.
NEWS FROM OUR SPEECH DEPARTMENT
Did you know?
Speech-Language therapy is provided by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), who are highly trained professionals with a master's degree and have experience in assessing and treating communication disorders. SLPs can work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, rehab centers and private practice.
Is a private SLP better than a school SLP?
All speech-language pathologists are required to take the same classes, have the same amount of supervised clinical experiences, and take the same tests to receive their degree and license to practice.
*Information adapted from "Speech-Language Disorders and Therapy Explanation Handouts for Parents and Teachers" by Natalie Snyders, MS, CCC-SLP*
NEWS FROM THE P.E. DEPARTMENT
NEWS FROM THE MATH DEPARTMENT
Have you ever wondered how to help your child attack a word problem without giving them clues to every step along the way? This is something we as teachers work on in our classrooms every day. This year our school is using a problem solving graphic organizer to help promote positive, self-initiated, problem- solving perseverance. The main components of the organizer include; Making Sense of what is happening by thinking or taking notes, Solving or Modeling how to solve, and Communicating our Answer.
We use different organizers depending on the grade level; one organizer is for our Kindergarten and First graders, and one organizer is for second through fifth graders. The difference between both is slightly different wording on the Communicate our Answer step. Below are examples of each and links for you to download and use at home.
As always, you’re involvement in your child’s education is so important. Attached are resources that explain the concepts being covered in the last units of Quarter 1 and the first units in Quarter 2, with links to practice those skills at home.
Thank you so much for your support in developing mathematical minds,
-Andrea Smith
Math Specialist
End of Quarter 1:
Kindergarten- Unit 3: Classifying and Comparing
First Grade- Unit 3: Comparing Lengths, Shapes, and Partitioning
Second Grade- Unit 3: Time and Money
Third Grade- Developing an Understanding of Fractions as Numbers
Fourth Grade- Unit 3: Understanding and Applying Measurement (Area & Perimeter and Metric) to Solve Problems
Fifth Grade- Unit 3: Developing Understanding of Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Beginning of Quarter 2:
Kindergarten-Unit 4: Describing and Comparing Measurable Attributes
First Grade- Unit 4: Numbers to 120 and Comparing with Place Value
Second Grade- Unit 4: Applying Place Value Number Patterns
Third Grade- Deepening Understanding of Fractions
Fourth Grade- Unit 4: Extending Understanding of Equivalent Fractions and Ordering Fractions
Fifth Grade- Unit 4: Deepening the Understanding of Multiplying and Powers of 10
IMPORTANT DATES
- Oct. 19- Volunteer Training 9am
- Oct. 25- K Field Trip to Summers Farm
- Oct. 26- Last day for donations to be considered for top 10 students and top teacher (limo ride)
- Oct. 26- Volunteer Training 9am
- Oct. 26- Character Counts wear grade level colors (see above)
- Oct. 26- Movie Night
- Oct. 29- Grade 4 Field Trip to Catoctin Mountain Park
Oct. 31- Fall Festival (please do not send students to school in costumes)
o 1:00-2:00 Grades 1 & 2 class parties
o 2:00-2:15 School-wide Parade around blacktop
o 2:15-3:15 Grades PK, K, 3, 4 & 5 class parties
Nov. 1- Lunch & Limo ride for top 10 winners
Nov. 2- Spirit Day (School-wide Twin Day chosen by Ms. Souders' class)
Nov. 2- Pie in Face Assembly & Distribute Tech Trot prizes
Nov. 5 & 6- School Closed
Nov. 7th & 8th Parent Teacher Conferences School opens 4 hours late (no lunch served)
Nov. 9th Parent Teacher Conferences School closes 3.5 hours early
Nov. 8- Volunteer Training 7pm
Nov. 14th & 15th Grandparents Day with Breakfast or Lunch option
Nov. 16- Coffee with the Principal 9-10am
STAY INFORMED
Communication is very important to your child’s success at school and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at Valley Elementary School. Please remember communication is a two-way process and you are encouraged to get in touch with your child’s teacher as needed. We will use electronic communication frequently (Find Out First), so if you do not have access to a computer at home, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher to let them know, so they can send you information in your child’s backpack. We do not want you to miss important information.
Below are a few ways to stay informed about Valley and Frederick County Public Schools.
- Find Out First: register online at www.fcps.org/fof/ves (Almost all of our communication goes out through FOF)
- Remind App: https://www.remind.com/join/1718ve (Text Message Reminders for all Valley events)
- Twitter: @ValleyES_fcps (Reminders and pictures of Valley events)
- PTA website: https://valleyelementaryschoolpta.weebly.com/
- PTA facebook page: Valley Elementary School PTA
- Valley Elementary Website: https://education.fcps.org/ves/