Greetings Trailblazer Family,

I hope you are enjoying the spring weather this weekend. I also hope you had an opportunity to participate in our Autism Awareness Week. In the event you were too busy it is not too late to take an opportunity to participate and post pictures.

We are excited that our school will participate in the OPEN National Field Day event on May 8th. Please view the newsletter and watch the video. More information will be provided on the Discovery News Show. Please tune in on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In the event you miss the scheduled show, it is available on the Discovery Elementary School website.

Lastly, I would like to take this time to remind us all to be kind. I think it’s important to remember we’re all in this together. I encourage you to be mindful that we are all guiding lights during a storm and not the force that sinks ships. I always use this quote as a reminder, “Be kinder than necessary because everyone is going through something.” I think this is an opportune time to remember the impact we each have and the importance of sharing kindness especially at a time such as this.

As we progress into this week think of the following:

1.How will I show kindness today?

2. How will I encourage kindness today?

3. What random act of kindness was provided to me today?

Discovery families, please know that your teachers and administration miss you deeply. However until next time, be kinder than necessary because everyone is going through something and have a great day on purpose.

Your Dean,

Ashley Tyson, M.Ed

The PTO voting polls have closed and we have the results!

We are pleased to announce that the majority of our board members are returning, next year, and excited for the addition of our new treasurer, Allison Mulieri! Allison has been helping Discovery Elementary for many years, including leading our Watch Dogs program, as well as serving on our Staff Appreciation Committee.

2020-2021 Board Members

Erin Sullivan Co-President

Kristin Stephens Co-President

Connie Martin Vice President of Sponsorships

Allison Mulieri Treasurer

Jocelyn Murray Secretary

In addition to welcoming in our new board, we are looking forward to an exciting week of Staff Appreciation! Please look at the attachments/video links below from our Staff Appreciation Committee & click on the links to your teacher’s favorite things!

Stay healthy & happy Trailblazers!!

Erin Sullivan & Kristin Stephens

PTO Presidents

discoverydonationsandevents@gmail.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram @discoveryPTO

FB @discovery.pto.trailblazers

Twitter @discoverypto1

While we are unable to celebrate Discovery’s amazing teachers and staff in person this year, we still want to do so … virtually!

Beginning THIS WEEK, we invite your children to participate in our Daily Acts of Appreciation outlined below to recognize Discovery’s staff and all of the hard work they do. Don’t forget your child’s specialist teachers too! All of these ideas below are meant to be simple and easy to email. Staff emails may be found here . If you would like to browse a list of our Staff Favorites & Wishlists, there a lot of additional fun ideas that you could do on your own and send to them virtually.

We thank you in advance for joining the PTO to help share the love we have for our entire Discovery staff! We hope that this coming week brings everyone involved some smiles and the feeling of gratitude. We’re all in this together!

We are happy to announce that our yearbooks are currently still on sale! Order yours by this Friday, May 8! You may purchase yearbooks through the button below. Please be advised that the school will not carry an inventory of yearbooks at the end of the year. All yearbooks must be ordered in advance through the above link.

• Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening, you will receive our “Admin Update” with our Discovery Spotlights! Enjoy connecting with our staff through their pictures and videos.
  
• Get the latest updates at Discovery by checking out Discovery’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@Discovery_elem)
  
• Bedtime Blast-Off every weekday evening at 7:30 pm
• Virtual Morning News Show
• LCPS Updates from Superintendent Williams through your email
• COVID-19 Preparedness web page
• LCPS Hotline: 571-252-6499

Dearest Discovery Families,

I am truly humbled by all the support and generosity you have shown during these past few weeks. I am so grateful for all of you and your kind hearts. I just want to remind you all that if there is ever a need please reach out to me. No one has to be alone during this time of uncertainty when you belong to a family as big and kind as the Discovery family.

If you have any questions about giving or receiving assistance please contact me at neremaan.qureshi@lcps.org. Please know that all conversations written or verbal are completely confidential. *

Please stay safe.

Neremaan Qureshi

Parent Liaison

Neremaan.Qureshi@lcps.org.

To continue supporting the Continuity of Education in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) during COVID-19 closure, LCPS and the Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF) have partnered to mail school supply kits to LCPS students who may lack access to basic school supplies. School supply kits have been customized to align to the specific needs of instructional learning guides/mailings.

The LEF is currently fundraising for this initiative and donation information can be found on this flyer. The red “Sponsor a $25 Kit” button will redirect you to the LEF donation webpage. Under gift designation, please select “School Supply Kits.” Any questions can be sent to Veronica Cuadrado Hart, EL Family and Community Engagement Coordinator @ veronica.cuadrado@lcps.org.

Mobile Hope continues to focus on collecting food and hygiene products and distributing them into neighborhoods. Our bus will pull into the neighborhoods (see updated schedule for time window), and honk its horn, signaling to students that breakfast and lunch items are available, The project name is Listen For the Honk.

The bus schedule is included below, in both English and Spanice, and stops will be added as the need evolves. This will also be posted on MobileHopeLoudoun.org.

If you would like to donate food, you may bring it to our facility at 741 Miller Drive in Leesburg, or send it through our Amazon wishlist. If you would like to donate financially, you may donate through Facebook or our website, www.mobilehopeloudoun.org.

The LCPS meals service is continuing to provide breakfasts and lunches for students throughout the week. Please visit the interactive map to identify the nearest bus stop for mobile service; the list of schools where meals are being provided is also available online.

Pick-up meal service from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm remains open at:

• Briar Woods High School
• Broad Run High School
• John Champe High School
• Dominion High School
• Frederick Douglass Elementary
• Freedom High School
• Guilford Elementary
• Harper Park Middle School
• Heritage High School
• Hutchison Farm Elementary
• Independence High School
• Leesburg Elementary
• Loudoun County High School
• Loudoun Valley High School
• Lovettsville Elementary
• Park View High School
• Potomac Falls High School
• Riverside High School
• Rock Ridge High School
• Rolling Ridge Elementary
• Round Hill Elementary
• Sterling Elementary
• Sterling Middle School
• Stone Bridge High School
• Sugarland Elementary
• Sully Elementary
• Tuscarora High School
• Woodgrove High School

Those locations servicing the Broad Run High School Cluster are as noted below..

10:07 AM Dodge Terrace & Thatcher Terrace

10:07 AM Silo Creek Terrace & Greenstable Square 2

10:09 AM Windmill Drive @ Crittenden Park/Pool

10:09 AM Farmwell Station Middle School Bus Stop

10:11 AM Dominion Trails Elementary Bus Stop

10:19 AM Summerwood Circle Shopping Center

10:22 AM Gloucester Parkway & Tillman Terrace

10:23 AM Home Depot/ Giant on Greenway Corporate Drive

10:28 AM Goose Preserve Drive @ The Tot Lot

10:31 AM Golden Meadow Circle @ The Pool

10:33 AM Navajo Drive/Apache Circle & Mohegan Drive

10:34 AM Hartley Place & Hyde Park Drive

10:36 AM Killawog TE & Potter TE

10:44 AM Russell Branch Parkway & San Joaquin Terrace

10:46 AM Blossom Hill Terrace @ Blossom Hill Terrace

10:57 AM Courtland Drive & Crew Square

10:58 AM Grottoes Drive @ Pool

11:00 AM Discovery Elementary Bus Stop

11:01 AM Lotto Shopping Center On Michener Drive

11:13 AM Cheltenham Circle @ Pool

11:30 AM Stoneyrun Place & Stone Roses Circle

11:47 AM Estate Place & Oldetowne Place

NOTE: Our County Code is: 79902

Loudoun Hunger Relief is here for anyone who may need food assistance in Loudoun County with groceries and fresh produce. Call us for an appointment at 703-777-5911.

• If you or someone you know is looking for resources, please have them call: 703-777-0420 for information and referral information or visit this link

• Job information can be found on the County Workforce Resource Website or through Crossroads Jobs

• Information on applying for social service benefits like medicare and SNAP can be found here: https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/

• Information for applying for unemployment benefits in Virginia can be found here: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/unemployed

• We encourage families in need with children OF ANY AGE to get breakfast and lunch from our Loudoun County Public Schools. Information on times and locations are here: https://lcpshealthycafe.org/

• Donate to Loudoun Hunger Relief

• Further COVID resources available in Loudoun County.

The Northern Virginia Diaper Bank's main mission is to provide diapers to families who are facing hardship. This is a difficult time for the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank. Prior to the World Health Organization's announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, their supply of size 5 and 6 diapers was running low.

Today, they are asking for monetary donations* or purchasing much needed diaper sizes through their Amazon Wishlist, linked here.

Despite these anxious times, the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank remains committed to its goal to end diaper need in our region. They are working with the public school systems in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties to distribute diapers to families they serve even while school is presently closed. Additionally, they are working closely with INMED Partnerships for Children in Sterling to provide diapers and sanitary products to families and children hit hardest during this crisis. INMED Partnerships for Children is open to accept donations on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Crucial items needed include food items, soap, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper.

The Northern Virginia Diaper Bank remains committed to serving our local babies and children and thank you for your ongoing support and generosity.

*Monetary donations may be mailed to:
P.O. Box 2115, Ashburn VA 20146-9015