Grafton Gazette
March/ April 2019
Grafton Village Elementary School
Email: _@staffordschools.net
Website: www.staffordschools.net/gves
Location: 501 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Phone: 5403735454
Twitter: @GVESGrizzlies
A message from the Principal
Dear Families,
March has roared in with a great deal of activity at Grafton Village. In the upcoming months, we have many events taking place. A great deal of effort has gone into all of these events and we hope you will join us in supporting your students and our school!
On March 29th, we will hold our Leprechaun Dash fundraiser for the PTA. The event focuses on fitness and students have been asking for pledges to support our PTA as they participate in a 20 lap Fun Run. The proceeds go to our PTA and this year they are hoping to use the proceeds to help with purchasing technology, enhance our outdoor classroom and assist with other needs. March 28th, we will hold our Science Curriculum night. This event includes a performance by our chorus and fun, interactive stations for families. Later this month, the Stafford County Fine Arts Festival will take place at Brooke Point High School. The event is open on Saturday and Sunday, March 30th and 31st. It features student performances, including our chorus, as well as a variety of student art work on display. This free event truly showcases the talents of our students.
Kindergarten Registration begins in April with a kickoff event scheduled on Thursday, April 11th from 9:00 – 5:00. If you have a rising kindergartner, feel free to stop by and begin the process by picking up a packet. Encourage any friends or neighbors with rising kindergartners to do the same. Please know that teacher staffing is based on the number of students enrolled so the earlier enrollments occur, the sooner we can plan for the number of teachers needed at each grade level.
With spring just around the corner, sports and activities increase for our families. With this in mind, I want to take a moment to remind everyone of our office dismissal procedures. If you will need to pick your child up early, please send a note or call prior to 3:00 so that we can coordinate the dismissal. If you need your child prior to dismissal, you must arrange pick-up prior to 3:30. Also, be reminded that early pick-ups do impact perfect attendance awards. If you arrive to pick up your child in the office at dismissal, we will add them to our Office Call list and they will be dismissed from the classroom following the first round of buses. Please understand that these procedures assist our office staff in making sure that students make it safely to the correct dismissal location. Afternoon dismissal is hectic and your help and communication are greatly appreciated.
Also, our car rider staff have some small requests to assist them in making our afternoon dismissal safe and orderly. They are asking that car rider families please post the car rider tag and keep it posted until the car is loaded. This helps them ensure that the children are routed to the correct vehicle in a timely manner. In addition, please stay in the traffic line and follow staff directions. They will guide you through the line queuing you when to stop and proceed. Attempting to go around cars in the line presents a safety issue for students and staff. Finally, morning car rider staff return to the building at 9:00 to begin classroom activities. If staff is not present in the car rider area, please park and escort your child to the office. We thank you for your assistance!
Michael B. Sidebotham
Principal
Calendar
4th Grade Jamestown 9- 3:15 pm
Girl Scouts 4-5 pm
3/4 Chipotle Spirit Night
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
3/5 Spring Pictures
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
SOL Reading 4- 4:45 pm
3/6 Spring Clubs (K- 2nd) 4- 4:45 pm
Chorus Rehearsal 8- 8:45 am
Chef's Club 4- 5 pm
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
3/7 SOL Reading 4- 4:45 pm
3/8 Girl Scouts 4- 5 pm
PTA General Meeting 6:30- 7:30 pm
3/10 Daylight Savings Time
3/11 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
3/12 SOL Reading 4- 4:45 pm
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
3/13 Spring Clubs 4- 4:45 pm
Chorus Rehearsal 8- 8:45 am
DSMS Chorus performs for 5th 10:20- 11:20 am
Chef's Club 4-5 pm
3/14 SOL Reading 4- 4:45 pm
Reading Buddies 3:45- 4:45 pm
Sea Perch 4- 5 pm
3/15 Kick off to Fun Run Fundraiser
DARE Basketball Game 7-9 Stafford High School
Girl Scouts 4- 5 pm
3/17 St. Patrick's Day
3/18 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
3/19 Field Trip to Ford's Theater
Running Club 8- 8:30 am
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
SOL 4- 4:45
3/20 Early Out 1:10 pm
Chorus Rehearsal 8- 8:45 am
3/21 Book Fair Starts
Reading Buddies 3:45- 4:45 pm
Sea Perch 4- 5 pm
3/22 Book Fair 8:35- 4:00
3/25 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
Book Fair 8:35- 4:00 pm
3/26 Running Club 8- 8:30 am
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
Book Fair 8:35- 4:00 pm
SOL Math Prep 4- 4:45 pm
3/27 Chorus Rehearsal 8- 8:45 am
Chef's Club 4- 5 pm/ STEM 4- 4:45 pm
Stem Club 4- 4:45 pm
Book Fair 8:35- 5:30 pm
3/28 Chorus Concert Dress Rehearsal 2:30- 3:30
Pep Rally
Field Trip 5th grade to DSMS 9:15- 10:30
Sea Perch 4-5 pm
Science Curriculum Night with Chorus Concert 6:30- 7:30
Book Fair 8:35- 7:00 pm
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
3/29 PTA Fun Run
K- 2nd 10:15- 11:15 am
3rd- 5th 1- 2 pm
3/30 SCPS Fine Arts Festival at BPHS
3rd grade festival music 11:30- 12:30
Chorus performs 3- 4 pm
3/31 SCPS Fine Arts Festival at BPHS
4/1 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
4/2 Running Club 8- 8:30 am
4th grade FT to Richmond 9:10- 1:45 pm
FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
PTA 5th grade party meeting 6- 7 pm
4/3 Chef's Club 4- 5 pm
4/4 Reading Buddies 3:45- 4:45 pm
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
4/5 Girl Scouts 4- 5 pm
PTA Dance and Free Dinner 5:30- 7:30 pm
4/8 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
4/9 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
Running Club 80 8:30 am
4/10 Chef's Club 4- 5 pm
4/11 Kindergarten Registration
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
4/12 Early Release
4/13 DARE Race
4/15- 4/19 Spring Break No School
4/21 Easter Sunday
4/22 Professional Day- No School students
4/23 FT Focus 4th to Belmont 9:30- 2 pm
4/24 KG Field Trip Henry and Mudge 9:15- 1:00 pm
4/25 5th grade awards 9:15- 9:55 am
4th grade awards 10:00- 10:45 am
3rd grade awards 2:30- 3:10 pm
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
4/26 1st grade awards 9:15- 9:55 am
2nd grade awards 10- 10:45 am
4/29 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
4/30 FLEX 4- 4:45 pm
SOL MATH Prep 4- 4:45 pm
Counselor's Corner/ Kindness and Compassion
In Classroom Guidance lessons we have been working on communication, friendship, problem solving, and conflict management in grades K-5. Quite often as the weather turns warmer, we tend to see more frustration and disagreements between students.. Below is a picture of nine ways that students can work on solving their own problems.
Soon we will be focusing on Career Awareness! There is a great web site that you can use with your child (any age) that will help increase awareness of various careers. It includes games, projects, interest inventories, video clips, etc. https:// www.virginiaview.org
SCA News:
The SCA is very grateful to all who participated in our Kindness Week activities. Here are some pics of students wearing mustaches for We “Mustache” (must ask) You to Be Kind Day and Mismatch Day.
In March and April we will be having the SCA officers judge a coloring contest for St. Patrick’s Day and we will be cleaning up the school grounds for Earth Day.
April 22 Earth Day Wear Blue and Green like the planet Earth!
The Clinic Chronicle by Amy Pisciotta, RN
It is that time of year where we have overlapping health issues. We still have the common winter illnesses showing up such as influenza, norovirus, and lots of colds. But, true to Virginia weather, we have periodic warm days that tease our plants and I start seeing signs and symptoms of allergies with stuffy noses and lots of drainage. We are once again pushing for the best way to prevent the spread of all of these things. Our teachers are emphasizing the importance of hand washing. Kids don’t always want to listen when told to go wash their hands before eating or after using the restroom. But it is a message worth repeating because hand washing is by far the best way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep kids from getting sick (HealthUnit Haldimand-Norfolk).
Are you wondering when you should keep kids home from school? Below are the school exclusions but as always, if you are unsure, you are more than welcome to call me at Grafton
.
Medical Exclusions from School
-Nurse Assessment
-Fever 100.2 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours
-Vomiting within the last 24 hours
-Diarrhea within the past 24 hours
-Injury or illness that requires further medical attention
-Contagious diseases.
-Strep throat (needs antibiotic treatment for 24 hours)
-Chicken pox
-Scabies (skin infection due to mites)
-Impetigo (skin staph infection)
-Ringworm (skin fungal infection), needs to be treated for 24 hours with an anti fungal cream.
*The fever above 100.2 is sometimes confusing for parents of when is it o.k. to send their child back to school. Your child must be fever free without the aid of medication for 24 hours. I know that there are times that you think, “you are clearly fine” and want to send them back to school but we have the policy to protect other students just as we want to protect your child. If you ever have any questions regarding a return to school, please give me a call.
5th Graders and Scoliosis:
SCOLIOSIS FACTS FOR PARENTS
In accordance with Virginia State law, parents of students in grades five through ten will receive this yearly information sheet containing important facts about Scoliosis and Scoliosis screening. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature or turning of the spine. It affects 2-3% of the population or an estimated 600,000 people in the United States. If left untreated, scoliosis can progress to a serious problem, causing back pain and degenerative arthritis of the spine. It may lead to disk disease or sciatica. It can also threaten the psychological well-being of a young adult when there is an obvious deformity. Although scoliosis may result from an injury, a birth defect, or a crippling disease, 90% of cases are from unknown causes. It may run in families and affects girls seven times more often than boys. It most frequently develops during the growth spurt between ages 10 and 15, but can also develop or progress later in life. Early detection and intervention may prevent further structural deformity and resulting secondary problems.
Scoliosis screening is an observation of the student’s spine while standing as well as
performing a forward bend. A scoliometer, a device for measuring the amount of abnormal curvature in the spine, may also be used during screening. Treatment of scoliosis varies between no treatments needed, bracing of the spine, to spinal fusion surgery. Since the development of scoliosis is gradual and usually painless, scoliosis may
develop without the parent or child being aware. It is important for parents to monitor their child’s development during these growing years and have students checked by the family physician routinely. The signs of scoliosis may include uneven shoulders, a shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other, uneven waistline creases, one hip higher than the other, and/or a leaning to one side. If you have concerns about your child’s spinal health, contact your family health care provider or school nurse for follow up. If you do not have a primary care physician, with your written permission, the school nurse can provide an initial screening. Should further evaluation be necessary she can direct you to other health care resources.
We no longer do mass screenings on students but if you have any concerns, please contact me and I can do a screening in the clinic.
The Book Buzz from Mrs. Lieser, Librarian
The Spring Book Fair Is Coming Soon!
Dates: March 21-March 28, 2019
Times: Open weekdays from 8:35 am -4:00 pm
Special Events: Open for Curriculum Night on March 28, 2019 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm!!
Volunteers Needed: We would LOVE any assistance during the following times. Please email Mrs. Lieser at lieserea@staffordschools.net if you are interested.
Date Time Assistance Needed
3/19 1:30-3:30 Book fair set-up
3/21 12:35-3:00 Help K-2 with Wish Lists
3/22 12:35-3:00 Help K-2 with Wish Lists
3/25 12:35-3:00 Help K-2 with Wish Lists
3/26 12:35-3:00 Help K-2 with Wish Lists
3/27 12:35-3:00 Help K-2 with Wish Lists
The Virginia Reader’s Choice Program
The deadline for the Virginia Reader’s Choice Program for students in grades 3-5 is fast approaching. Students must have successfully completed 6 out of 10 books to be invited to the voting party. Invitations to the party will be distributed on March 27, 2019. I have been so impressed with the hard work and dedication of our students!
Help Needed: Library Genrefication
In an effort to help our students find books they enjoy and to branch out and discover new titles and genres, the GVES Library is genrefying! What does this mean? Currently, we have 3,500 fiction titles shelved in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. It is very difficult for students to browse the shelves and find new books they might enjoy! So, we are breaking our fiction chapter books down into the following categories:
1. Adventure
2. Mystery
3. Science Fiction
4. Historical Fiction
5. Realistic Fiction
6. Humor
7. Scary
8. Sports Fiction
9. Animal Fiction
We could really use your help to get all of the books labeled and moved into the correct sections. If you are interested, please email me at lieserea@staffordschools.net.
A special thank you to all the students that submitted drawings to the Genre Label Contest. Congratulations to our winners-Benjamin Reichart (Realistic Fiction label), Braedan Snavely (Sports Fiction label), and Gisselle Herrerra (Animal Fiction label).
Bright Ideas from Susan Kesler:
The Geography Bee!
After participating in a preliminary round of challenging questions, ten amazing 4th/5th graders advanced to the GVES School Bee – Jacob Hoffman, Allison Beamon, Raine Coy, Braeden Snavely, Kristofer Swick, Xavier Randolph, Colton Bonecutter, Natalie Roman, Nadia Scarlett, and Gisselle Herrera. Adults involved with the School Bee were thankful for an Answer Key! The exciting results: Kristofer Swick – 1st, Raine Coy – 2nd, and Nadia Scarlett – 3rd. Kristofer took a Qualifying Test for the State Bee and soon will learn if he qualified at the state level!. It’s never too early to start preparing for next year’s Bee! Check out “Explore the World” at www.kids.nationalgeographic.com. Also, did you know that librarypoint.org has FREE access to their awesome National Geographic Kids magazine in their online Databases (found under the “Research” Tab…“Digital Collection”…”RBdigital eMagazines”)?! Happy reading!
Mrs. Feeney's Art Message
The hallways are decorated with artwork!!!
Please stop by the school to see the some 1st grader’s clay butterflies in the display cases.
There are also some of the 5th grader’s inspirational quotes collages in the frames in the hall.
Art Projects
Kindergarten: The students will be creating a self-portrait and adding a shadow.
1st Grade: The students will be creating an owl line design collage using crayons, watercolor and color construction paper.
2nd Grade: The students are creating an abstract snowman based on the artist Pablo Picasso.
3rd Grade: The students will be creating a line landscape using a variety of lines to show foreground, middle ground, and background.
4th Grade: The students will be creating a cityscape collage using oil pastels and watercolor paint.
5th Grade: The students are creating an abstract painting based on the artwork of Wassily Kandinsky.
Supplies needed for art class
-Beads
-Hillshire Farms deli meat clear plastic containers
Music "Notes" from Mrs. Greven
March is Music in our Schools Month! Thank you for your continued support of the Fine and Performing Arts at Grafton Village Elementary School!
The 43rd Annual Stafford County Fine Arts Festival with be held on Saturday, March 30th (11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) and Sunday, March 31st (11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) at Brooke Point High School this year. GVES will be represented with artwork and music performances.
GVES will have eight students performing in the 3rd grade Festival Musical based on the story, “Jungle Drums” by Graeme Base. This performance will be in the BPHS Theater (Auditorium) on Saturday, March 30th at 11:30 a.m. GVES 3rd graders to perform are: Sadie Cline, Julia Heflin, Kendall Hoiska, Emma Jones, Isabella Martinez, Zoey Mule, Wyatt Shadwick, and Lorelei Weatherholtz.
The GVES Chorus will have a Spring Concert on Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m. to kick off our GVES Science Curriculum Night. Our Chorus will also represent GVES at the Fine Arts Festival on Saturday, March 30th with a performance at 3:00 p.m. in the “Auditorium/Theater” at BPHS.
PE News
Spring is just around the corner and PE classes are participating in activities to keep our bodies healthy and active as the cold winter months turn to beautiful days that beg you to get outside!
· Thank you to everyone who participated in the Kids Heart Challenge (aka Jump Rope for Heart aka Hoops for Heart) to support the American Heart Association. All students participated during PE class in heart healthy activities, and we had 108 students and their families donate money this year. We raised $6,125.80!
· Running Club will start this month! It will be on Tuesday mornings and the dates for Spring Running Club are March 19, March 26, April 2nd and April 9th. Parents and family members are encouraged to participate, so come out and run with us!
· We just completed our gymnastics unit. We will start our volleyball unit next and bump, set and, serve our way into our hockey unit before we head to spring break.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
David Bridi
Bevin Menezes