The Puma Paw

Hello Puma Families,

School is closed on Monday in recognition of the Martin Luther King Holiday. I have two quotes to share from Dr. King that I find interesting.

"We must use time creatively in the knowledge that the right time is always right to do right."

and

"If you can't fly, then run - if you can't run, then walk - if you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."

Those ideas primarily speak for themselves but consider using them as talking points at the dinner table this evening. It could bring a good conversation to the moment.

• Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No School
• Jan. 17 - 20 is an A Week
• Jan. 17 - Chic-Fil-A PNB Spirit Night! 5:00 - 8:00 PM! Mention Pinebrook!
• Jan. 20 - Moveable Monday - Will run a Monday schedule
• Jan. 20 - End of Quarter 2
• Jan. 23 - Lunar New Year - No School
• Jan. 24 - Teacher Workday - No School for Students
• Jan. 26 - PEP for El Families from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
• Jan. 31 - Report Cards available for parents
• Feb. 8 - 5th Grade Handprint Day!
• Feb. 10 - Someone Special Dance! More info to come!
• A quick few reminders - please be sure that if you visit the school, you coordinate with staff ahead of time to prepare for your visit, and anytime you come to the school, including dropping off your student at the kiss-n-ride, please bring an ID just in case you need to go in.
• Miss the Rising 6th Grader Tuesday Talk for Parents? Click below!
• Link to Rising 6th Grader Parent Tuesday Talk Recording
• Link to Rising 6th Grader Information Slidedeck

Read-a-thons actually get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

What's a Read-a-thon? Click here to check it out!

Our Read-a-thon starts Wednesday Jan. 25, 2023. About one week before our Read-a-thon starts we will send home instructions on activating your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to activate your reader's'account, view and record their progress.

We've chosen Read-a-thon because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read and helps in the development of stronger reading skills.

Our goal? EVERYONE reads.

Miss the Rising 6th Grade parent Tuesday Talk? Click here to check it out!

• Link to Rising 6th Grader Parent Tuesday Talk Recording
• Link to Rising 6th Grader Information Slidedeck

We're bringing back Friday Spirit Day! Each Friday, beginning Jan. 23, have your child wear their PNB Spiritwear or house colors!

School Colors - navy blue, maroon, white

House colors:

• Yukon - yellow
• Yosemite - red
• Patagonia - purple
• Sonoran - orange
• Everglades - green
• Andes - blue

*For many students, they might know their color ... we might not have locked up the specific house names yet.

Whether you are looking for lengthy research or just asking a teacher, one of the best ways to have professional development for teachers is to watch a colleague execute their craft. Recently, Pinebrook teachers participated in Learning Walks last month and this month to learn from each other. Learning Walks allow teachers to explore each other's classrooms during the school day to gather ideas, watch a strategy, or understand how students respond to a program. The time is for deeper learning of instruction as well as a time for inspiration.

Beginning on Jan. 30, we will have a new Financial Technician at Pinebrook! Welcome, Sally Ishak! Ms. Ishak has a comprehensive history in the private technology and financial sectors and is leaving her position as secretary at Lightridge High School to join us at Pinebrook. Ms. Ishak has two daughters, that are 11 and 13 years old. And in her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, listening to music, going to the theatre, and watching movies. We're excited to have her join the Pinebrook community!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Jan. 28 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 for One LCPS United for Wellness, the annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference. This year's conference will be held at Lightridge High School (41025 Collaboration Dr, Aldie, VA) and will spotlight 30 speakers, providing strategies promoting youth mental health and wellness.

The focus of this year's conference is on wellness and will feature approaches such as learning about music mediation, interrupting the stress cycle, and building the teen toolkit with yoga and breathing exercises. Other topics include coping with anxiety, mindful parenting, positive relationships with food, and navigating mental health insurance challenges.The conference will also include a vendor fair featuring area businesses that support mental health and wellness. There will also be a raffle giving away great prizes. Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to join us!

See the flyer below for SchoolCash Online! Field trip fees, scholastic orders, and other school payments will now use SchoolCash for transactions. Please sign up today!

• When you come to school, it's essential to be in the habit of three things:

1. Make an appointment
2. Have your ID;
3. Have your phone, especially if you are tardy, picking up, or returning a child to school, as we use an electronic form to record the child's return. You will access the form via a QR code scanned by your phone.

Website: https://www.lcps.org/pinebrook
Location: 25480 Mindful Court, Aldie, VA, USA
Phone: 703-957-4325

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