Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Happy Friday, Firefly Families!

This past week, one of the classes I visited was learning about writing friendly letters, which for many of us has been replaced with email or FaceTime. I have to say, I still love getting an actual letter. In fact, I received a very special letter from the students in this class. They told me about all of the wonderful things they were doing in class like reviewing measurement, learning about digraphs and trigraphs, and designing their dream playgrounds! They also asked me if I like being the principal at FVES. My response - a super emphatic YES! :) I have the best job in the world because I get to work with the best students, staff, and families every day.

Thank you for raising such wonderful children and for being so supportive of our school and our community as a whole. The Flower Valley Elementary School community is truly amazing!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Picture Day: October 6th
• Principal's Coffee
• Firefly Family Morning/Open House: October 10th from 9:30-11:00
• FVES Family Reading Night
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• After School Activities and Dismissal
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Curriculum Corner
• Counseling Corner
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• Dogs on Property during Arrival and Dismissal
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• School Cash Online
• PTA Corner
• Seasonal Roots Fundraiser
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Helpful Resources
• Save the Date
• School Contact Information

Please join me and Ms. Castillo for our first Principal's Coffee this school year on October 7th from 9:15-10:00am in our school media center. This will be a time to share some of the great things that have been happening at FVES as well as solicit your input for school needs and answer any questions you may have. When you arrive at FVES, please sign in at the main office. You will need to bring identification to sign in. We look forward to seeing you!

We are excited to be able to invite our Firefly parents and guardians to observe instruction in action. We know many people will want to visit FVES October 10th, and we want to do our best to accommodate all families.

If you are planning to visit your child's class October 10th from 9:30-11:00, please register here. We do need all families to register for the event no later than October 5th if they are planning to attend. Depending on the number of people who are planning to attend, we may need to designate times for families to visit in order to safely accommodate everyone. While masks are not mandated, we do encourage parents/guardians to wear masks to the event given we will have so many additional individuals in the building.

We do ask for your patience as this will be the first time in several years that we have hosted an open house during the school day. Please bring your identification with you when you come, as we will be checking identification against our registration list when you arrive. All visitors, once checked in, will receive a visitor badge that must be worn while at FVES. We appreciate your collaboration to ensure the success of this wonderful annual event.

FVES will host a Family Reading Night on Thursday, October 20. We invite students and their families to join us from 6:30-8:00pm in pajamas! Families will be able to shop at the book fair, hear stories read by various FVES staff members, and learn more about Structured Literacy.

There are several types of free tutoring services available for MCPS students. Teachers are in the beginning stages of identifying students who may qualify for CARES tutoring based on their current reading and math data including their levels of proficiency. If your student is identified, we will work to secure a tutor and contact you to coordinate dates and times for the online service. Students who may not qualify for CARES tutoring may sign up for FEV Tutor or Tutor Me Education.

We have several outside vendors using space at FVES for after school activities. These vendors are not sponsored by the school. If your child is participating in one of these activities, please notify your child's teacher of their change in dismissal routine.

When your child is symptomatic, it is encouraged that a home or PCR test is administered. Only positive test results need to be reported using the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form. Individuals who have a positive COVID-19 test should report their positive result and follow CDC guidelines for isolation. Details regarding the MCPS back to school Covid safety protocols can be accessed here.

Please see the letter linked here. It provides information about the available learning tools while a student is out of school due to Covid.

Benchmark: All grade levels have started learning about government. As students explore various topics related to government, they will practice annotating text and writing to sources. Be sure to ask you student(s) what they learned about government.

Eureka Math: MCPS has a dedicated website which has support for each Eureka module in every grade level. Here is a Eureka Math support page for families. You will need to create an account to access the family resources called "tips for parents." "Homework Helpers" are tips for parents that are included with each homework assignment in the Math Succeed (HW) book. Additionally, this is a google document that contains helpful videos for parents to use. There are general Eureka videos and grade level specific videos included.

Please keep an eye out for grade level bi-weekly communication regarding details about what is happening in each of our classes.

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce an additional resource at Flower Valley ES. Colleen Smith, former STEM teacher here at FVES, will serve as a part-time counselor this year. Mrs. Smith will be available at FVES all day Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

Mrs. Atanda and Mrs. Smith will be teaching Personal Body Safety lessons in October through December. For more information you may contact: Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpmsmd.org or Colleen_B_Smith@mcpsmd.org or call 240-740-1780. You will find more information at: Personal Body Safety Lessons.

Please complete the following google form if you are in need of resources for your family such as Friday Snack Bags, Holiday Giving donations, backpacks, or other resources. You may also reach out to Mrs. Atanda, School Counselor, at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org or 240-740-1780. You may also send a note into school with your child.

Anyone visiting FVES must sign in at the main office and bring identification with them. We aren't able to have parents eating with students in the cafeteria due to space, but you can certainly sign your child out for lunch if you would like to enjoy lunch together.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please contact Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org.

Please avoid bringing your dog to school during arrival and dismissal times. While our pets bring us joy, we must be mindful that there are some members of our community who are either allergic to animals or are extremely frightened of them. Arrival and dismissal are very busy times on campus, and we want to make sure all of our students feel comfortable and remain safe.

If your child is going to be absent, please email Mrs. Sintetos at Catherine_G_Sintetos@mcpsmd.org or call the office at 240-740-1780. When your child is absent, please send in a note explaining the reason for the absence. If your child is going to be arriving late, you need to bring your child to the main office and sign them in. If you will be picking up your child early, please let Mrs. Sintetos and your child's homeroom teacher know.

Beginning school year 2022-2023, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for lunch - meaning that students who qualify for reduced-price meals will eat for free! To learn more about eligibility for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) and apply for FARMs, click here. Deposits into lunch accounts can be made by any student and can be made ahead of time via the MCPS online payment system, My School Bucks. Details about how to add money to your student’s account can be accessed here. Menus can be accessed here.

MCPS transitioned to a new online payment system called School Cash Online as its preferred method of payment for all school-related fees, except for meals. Detailed information about how to register can be accessed here.

Join us at our PTA general membership meeting Mon. Oct. 3rd from 6:30 - 8 PM in the Media Center or via Zoom.

Next Fri. Oct. 7th is the Parent-Staff Kickball game on the FVES field! Cheer the players on from 5 - 7 PM and enjoy food trucks. Spots on 'Team Parent' remain! Sign up here: https://bit.ly/fveskickball

The PTA sponsored Scholastic Book Fair will be held Mon. Oct. 17 to Fri. Oct. 21st. This is a great way to add books to your home library or help fill out classroom libraries. More details will be coming home soon and available on the PTA website.

Volunteers are needed to make this a success; please sign up here to help: https://bit.ly/FVESfallbookfairSUG

Flower Valley Elementary School is partnering with Seasonal Roots to bring healthy, delicious food to our community, to support local farmers and artisans, and to raise money to support programs for Flower Valley students!

Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers “dirt to doorstep” to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties and more.

To access the Seasonal Roots market, you sign-up as a member and pay an annual membership fee. Through our collaboration, the fee is reduced by 50% - it’s just $25. For each Flower Valley Elementary School family that joins, the school receives $20!

Once you are a member, what you order and when you order are up to you! There is no obligation. You can select exactly what produce and extras you want, skip or pause weekly deliveries, and cancel anytime. The online market opens Friday at 2:00PM and closes at midnight on Sunday. Orders are delivered on Wednesdays in Montgomery County.

To join Seasonal Roots and earn a $20 donation for Flower Valley Elementary School, use promotional code FVES at https://www.seasonalroots.com/fves.

The Office of School Support and Well-Being and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association will co-host the 2022 Mental Health Awareness Week, during the week of October 10, 2022. Events will be held virtually and in-person with speakers and workshops scheduled throughout the week, culminating in a virtual resource fair and expert panel on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Virtual events will include pre-recorded videos and live interviews with experts in topics such as health habits, supporting positive school climate through equity and diversity, and supporting problem solving through appropriate use of social-emotional vocabulary. Interviews will be conducted with experts on topics including neurodiversity, exercise and wellness, yoga and pain management, substance use prevention, and therapy dogs. Students may earn Student Service Learning hours for participation in virtual activities. The Mental Health Awareness Week website will have more specific details. Schools will access a premade toolkit that includes activities that can be done at elementary, middle, and high schools to promote mental health and wellness. Schools should choose one activity per day during Mental Health Awareness Week to support students and staff engaging in mental health awareness activities. Please submit planned activities for each day using the Google form linked below. Important Dates Mental Health Awareness Week is from October 10, 2022–October 15, 2022. The live Waymaking special on student mental health forum will be held on October 12, 2022, from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. The virtual resource fair and expert panel will be held on October 15, 2022 from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Mental Health Awareness Week is open to students, parents/guardians, and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff to learn about resources that schools and families may access or to which referrals may be made to support students’ physical, social, and psychological well-being. We hope you will support this important effort by MCPS to raise awareness and discussion about our students’ mental health and wellness. Please share this information with your staff and families.

October 3rd: PTA General Membership Meeting in the Media Center, 6:30-8:00pm

October 5th: No School

October 6th: Picture Day

October 7th: Principal's Coffee at 9:15AM

October 7th: PTA Sponsored FVES Kickball Game at 5:00

October 10th: Firefly Family Morning (Open House)

October 12th: PTA Restaurant Night at California Tortilla, 11:00am-9:30pm

October 17th-21st: PTA Sponsored Book Fair

October 19th: Kindergarten Field trip to Green Meadows Farm

October 20th: FVES Family Reading Night, 6:30-8:00PM

October 24th: Professional Day for Teachers, No School for Students

October 27th: 5th Grade Field Trip to Strathmore

October 28th: Fall Costume Parade and Harvest Party (during school, more details to come)

October 29th: PTA Sponsored Masquerade Festival

November 21st - Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day at FVES

December 5th - Picture Retakes

December 13th, Time TBD - FVES Musical Production

January 17th - Group/Class Pictures

February 1st: Winter Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm

February 10th, 6:30-8:00pm - PTA Sponsored Bingo

February 14th, 2:30-3:15pm - Valentine’s Day Parties

March 26th, 2-3pm - PTA Sponsored Fun Run

April 20th, 5:30-7:30pm - PTA Sponsored STEM Night

April 24th-28th - PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th - Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic

May 6th, 10:00-2:00pm - PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive

Field Day, TBD

May 16th, Time TBD - FVES International Night and Art Expo

May 21st, 2-5pm - PTA Sponsored Carnival

June 1st: Spring Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm

5th Grade Promotion, Date and Time TBD

*Please remember these dates are subject to change. There will also be several PTA sponsored virtual nights for families throughout the year.

MCPS Things to Know

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Community Messages

Parent Handbook

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Code of Conduct (English)

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM Below are emails and phone numbers for the following departments:

Administration (240) 740-1780

Mrs. Angie Fish, Principal – Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org

Ms. Angela Castillo, Assistant Principal - Angela_M_Castillo@mcpsmd.org

Main Office Staff (240) 740-1780

Mrs. Padma Radhakrishnan, School Administrative Secretary – Padma_Radhakrishnan@mcpsmd.org

Mrs. Cathy Sintetos, Attendance Secretary – Catherine_G_Sintetos@mcpsmd.org

Counseling Office (240) 740-6680

Mrs. Jennifer Atanda - Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org

Ms. Colleen Smith - Colleen_B_Smith@mcpsmd.org

All Staff Directory

Be bright! Be kind! Be you!

We inspire all children to become critical thinkers who are imaginative, adaptable, and collaborative. We strive to cultivate peaceful, life-long learners who contribute positively to the community around them.

Email: Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/flowervalleyes/
Location: Flower Valley Elementary School, Sunflower Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-1780
Twitter: @AngieFish_FVES