Colt Crusader
A newsletter for the families of CFES students
April Edition
2828 Pleasant Acres Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
757-648-2240
http://www.christopherfarmses.vbschools.com
Follow us on Twitter @cfescolts
Principal: Robyn Backer , @Robyn Backer
Asst. Principal: Patti Porter, @sunsetzzz15
Message from Ms. Backer, our principal
Spring is finally here and I am hopeful that the threat of winter weather is behind us. I love this time of year as we get to open our windows to hear the sounds of the chirping birds and smell the flowers that are blooming.
This month, also, includes the opportunity to have some time off from school and time together with your family during the anticipated Spring Break. I encourage our students often to enjoy time outside on these nice weather days! We will continue to work hard and have fun learning while we also prepare for the last 9 weeks push and SOL preparation.
April is, also, the Month of the Military Child. Christopher Farms has a large number of military families. During April military children are celebrated due to the unique culture that comes with being a military family. Military children are faced with frequent moves which often take them coast to coast in the US and to various countries. The military parent is often deployed or stationed away from the family which is stressful on the family system in a multitude of ways.
Christopher Farms is dedicated to supporting the needs of military families. CF has a Military Family Life Counselor who is available for the children (with parent permission) to aide in deployment, social and academic challenges as well as provide various military and community resources. A Student Liaison Officer is assigned to each VB School to assist in incoming and outgoing school transitions. CF partners with MWR to coordinate before and after school transportation for daycare through Oceana.
CF will be celebrating military children with two different displays of artwork created by military students. The students are also invited to speak on the announcements during April tp share their experiences being a military child. Christopher Farms honors all military children.
Thank you, as always, for supporting all of our teachers, staff, and students here at Christopher Farms.
MESSAGE FROM MRS. PORTER, OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Important Upcoming Dates
April
4/5 - Additional Gifted Testing
4/5 - 5th Grade Bingo Night
4/8 - Report Cards Go Home
4/9 - Munchkins with Mom 7:00am - 7:30am
4/12 - 4/19 - Spring Break
4/23 - Kindergarten Registration 9:00am
4/25 - PTA Meeting 3pm - 4pm - Papa Johns Delivery Night
4/30 - Kindergarten Graduation Pictures
4/30 - CFES Blood Drive 3:00pm - 7:00 pm
May
5/1 - 5th Grade Graduation Pictures
5/3 - Field Day
5 /14 - SOL Testing Begins
5/15 - Spring Concert
5/16 - PTA Meeting 3pm - 4pm
5/20 - Skinny Dip Cashola 3pm - 9pm
5/27 - Memorial Day (No School)
papa Johns Delivery Night
Dinner is on us!!!
An Achievable Dream Academy
In 2014, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) and An Achievable Dream Academy (AADA) began a partnership in Virginia Beach by establishing an AADA program at Seatack Elementary School.
For the past five years, the elementary program has become a staple of the Seatack community, and, in the 2018-19 school year, AADA expanded to middle school – finding a home at Lynnhaven Middle.
Since the program has been established, only students who lived in the Seatack/Birdneck/Lynnhaven communities could apply to be in the academy. This year, to bolster participation in the program, VBCPS and AADA are expanding the recruitment areas for families interested in applying.
Check out the article below for more information and a list of the schools who can apply to be considered for the program.
Great Dreams Need Great Teachers!
Congratulations to our Citizens of the Month for March!
Pre-K & Kindergarten
1st - 5th Grade
1st Grade
Laylani Barrett (Cooley)
Camdyn Benincasa (Kernodle)
CJ Hayes (Torres)
Brayden Green (Doyle)
Kinley Campbell (Frierson)
2nd Grade
Connor Ellyson (Bullard)
Jacob Whitehouse (Burok)
Brendan Wingett (Hall)
Rey Borjon (Love)
Cameron Ruby (Minehan)
Dmitry Mateljan (Zipprich)
3rd Grade
Blythe Wise (Crouch)
Caius Damon (Kesner)
Steve Duenas (Pascual)
yanibah Sandoval (Rodriguez)
Noah Sharp (Willett)
4th Grade
Kara Arnett (Cucuzza)
Keira Hull (Dorbin)
Londyn Haney (Zaleski)
Brynn D’alba (Nicolosi)
Cassidy Snyder (Mcneely)
5th Grade
Tanner Warner (Bagnall)
Leland Farley (Cochran)
Terrinique Hepburn (Kemper)
Devyn Robinson (Pagan)
Sydney Kfoury(Zajac)
Counselor's Corner
Happy Spring! Thanks so much to our parents and community members who donated their time and wisdom while sharing their careers with us here at the farm. Our students and staff thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this unique opportunity for exposure to the world of work, and the children of parents who presented were beaming with pride. Please see Mrs. Yoshida if you think you may be interested in joining us next year.
Speaking of careers, our 5th graders completed Academic Career Plans (ACP’s) in their guidance lessons last month. They created a portfolio within Schoology that will stay with them as they matriculate through middle and high school in Virginia Beach. Each student then uploaded their ACP to that portfolio. The ACP serves as a map that they will visit each year to review and update with their courses and plans for the future. Please see the letter being sent home on April 9th and review your child’s ACP with them.
Our guidance focus for the month of April is Citizenship. Lessons this month will focus on digital citizenship. Students will learn how to act with safety, integrity and empathy while demonstrating personal accountability when online. Help us keep our students engaged in appropriate online experiences by monitoring their digital citizenship at home.
April is also the “Month of the Military Child”. We hope you have the opportunity to check out the amazing display of artwork in our main hallway that Mrs. Riccio and her military connected students have created. Perhaps even take a moment to acknowledge your appreciation to children of military parents you may know, for their service to our country. There are many transitions these families must undergo due to the nature of military service and we are sincerely appreciative.
Library News
Tech Talk
Hello CFES Families!
I am very excited to be joining the Colt family as your new Instructional Technology Specialist! I have been a 2nd grade and 4th grade teacher in Virginia Beach for the last 4 years. I am an avid cyclist and hiker in addition to being a passionate educator. I love listening to and playing music and am always looking for ways to incorporate it into education. I look forward to meeting you and to helping grow your children into lifelong learners!
- Mr. Travis Bowman
Reading Corner
It’s Spring! Longer days means more time to enjoy a good book. Take some time to read to your child. Start a novel that all will enjoy listening to and get lost in the adventure. Have you thought about setting up an inviting book area in a quiet corner? Display the books so your kids will be enticed to read. Below are some fun picture books and novels you may want to consider. Happy Reading!
· The Ugly Vegetable
· Flower Garden
· A Perfect Day for Digging
· Butterfly Park
· Marty McGuire Digs Worms
· Mama Miti
· Compost Stew
· Plant a Kiss
· Miss Rumphius
· Charlotte’s Web
· Ramona the Pest
· The Secret Garden
Math Corner
In April, we welcome the start of the fourth quarter! Kindergarten students begin the month with fractions as they learn explore equal sharing between two people. In 1st grade, computation is back on the menu as students solve single-step problems. This month, our 2nd grade students will explore fractions including halves, fourths, eights, thirds, and twelfths. In 3rd and 4th grades, measurement is revisited through area and perimeter. Finally, our 5th graders explore data and statistics through stem and leaf plots and line plots. Enjoy your spring break!
Nurse's Notes
REMINDER: Rising 6th graders must get their Tdap before going to Middle School. Once your child gets the Tdap vaccination, please turn in the updated shot record to the school nurse. Monthly reminders have been going home and many of you have already turned your shot records into me. Thank you!!!!
The Tdap vaccine may be obtained from the following health care providers;
- private physician or pediatrician
- military clinics
- Virginia Beach Public Health Department at 4452 Corporation Lane
*Vaccines required for school attendance are free for all children at the Virginia Beach Public Health Department
Also, we are exited about our about our Pint Sized Hero Blood Drive here at CFES!
Date: Tuesday, April 30th
Time: 3-7pm
*Any students who recruit one donor to give blood will be awarded a Red Cross medal.
Check out this College Funding Workshop
Pre-Kindergarten Applications and Screenings
Virginia Beach City Public Schools offers a Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) program to children with the greatest need at many elementary schools. Pre-Kindergarten is a full-day program that follows the VBCPS school calendar and school hours.
The Pre-K program provides children with purposeful learning experiences to prepare them for a successful transition to kindergarten while also creating a strong educational foundation. In in addition, it develops students’ communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills and integrates technology to support learning.
If you or some one you know is interested in applying for Pre-K for the 2019-2020 school year, Please see the flyer below for more information on upcoming screenings and the application process.
P.T.A.
Attention 5th Grade Parents and Guardians
It's not too late to donate for Bingo Night!
We are in need of soda and baked goods. See the flyer below for details.
Raffle tickets are on sale now!!!
Other PTA News
4/5 - Bingo Night Session One: 5:30pm - 7pm; Session Two: 7:15 - 8:45 (Cafeteria)
4/9 - Muffins for Mom 7:00am - 7:30am (Cafeteria)
4/25 - PTA Meeting @ 3:00 (CFES Library)
Shutterfly Partners with CFES!
WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH CFES HAPPENINGS:
- Check our website weekly: https://christopherfarmses.vbschools.com/
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfescolts
- Download the VBSCHOOLS app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
- Make sure the school has your updated phone number and email address in order to receive Alert Now communications
- Follow your child's progress on Parent Portal: https://www.vbschools.com/parents/parent_portal
Proud Principal
Email: robyn.backer@vbschools.com
Website: https://christopherfarmses.vbschools.com/
Location: Christopher Farms Elementary School 2828 Pleasant Acres Drive Virginia Beach, Virginia 234
Phone: (757) 648-2240
Twitter: @RobynBacker