Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

Spring is supposedly coming our way this week. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some warmer weather.

This week, we are setting time aside for wellness. Our kiddos can enjoy wearing fitness clothes to school Wednesday and their comfy clothes or jammies Thursday. Friday is school spirit day, so students can wear our school colors or spirit wear. This will also be when we have our school-wide wellness activity. Our students will be participating in a fun activity at the end of the day Friday. In addition to this, every Monday we have a mindfulness moment on the announcements to help our students build a repertoire of strategies to calm their minds and help them focus. These include breathing activities, guided imagery, stretching, and so much more. Details about the wellness activities next week are below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Wellness Day: March 24th
• Student Self-care Ideas
• Author Visit
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• PTA Sponsored Fun Run
• Curriculum Corner
• Important Dates in March
• Important Kindergarten News
• Kindergarten Enrollment
• Rockville High School Events
• Save the Date
• Helpful Resources
• Zones of Regulation: Social-Emotional Learning at FVES
• GT County Updates
• Bus Transportation Updates
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• School Cash Online
• School Contact Information

We all need a little time to relax and recuperate. Next Friday, all of our students will be engaging in a wellness activity Friday afternoon. This is a time for our students to take a bit of a break and enjoy a little fun. Some of the activities include going outside for extra recess time, watching a movie, coloring, and crafts. Students will also have popsicles at the end of the day.

In addition to our wellness activity Friday, students can wear fitness or sports related clothes Wednesday, comfy clothes or jammies Thursday, and school colors or spirit wear Friday.

*A helpful resource about the mental health and well-being of children can be found here.

Shannon Stocker will be coming to Flower Valley for a LIVE author visit March 28th during the school day! There will be school assemblies for all students to meet the author. If families would like to see more about her books or place an order, you can check out the details here.

Many students talk about movies and shows they watch, video games they play, and social media platforms they frequent, that are not appropriate for elementary age children. There is a website for families to help them make decisions about what media their children engage with. Common Sense Media rates movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, social media, and video games, so that families can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their kids. They offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising children in the digital age. Visit their site and learn how they rate and review nearly everything kids want to watch, read, play, and learn.

Dine out and benefit the PTA and FVES from 4 PM - 8 PM Mon. March 20 at Panera Aspen Hill. Please use code FUND4U when you order online with Panera or in-person, where you can mention the FVES PTA! See emails on the listserv for links and more details on ordering.

There's still time to order mulch to be spread at FVES! Until next Fri. March 24, order a $10 bag of mulch from the Rockville HS PTA at https://www.fvespta.org/mulch or with forms sent home in folders. Checks should be made out to FVES PTA and marked 'PTA Mulch Drive.'

Join the PTA-sponsored Fun Run at school 2 PM Sun. March 26. At this free event, you can run in one, two or four lap races around the school.

Benchmark: Students continue to read and compare a variety of texts about technology, innovations, and innovative thinkers and analyze the role technology plays in society. As a fun way to extend students' learning, have students go on a technology hunt at home. How many different examples of technology can they identify in your home?

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.

ZEARN: With Zearn, students have the opportunity to learn the same concept twice—once with their teacher and once in the Zearn digital lessons—so they gain a deep understanding of math. All materials are top-rated, crafted to represent everyone, and backed by research to deliver results. This link goes further in depth to show how Zearn and Eureka are aligned.

March 24th: Wellness Day at FVES!

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

March 29th: Career Day

March 29th: 6:30-8:00pm- PTA General Membership Meeting

March 31st: No School

MCPS has announced that kindergarten orientation will be held during the school day this spring. The dates for Flower Valley are April 17th and 18th. This will impact our current kindergarteners, as there will not be school for them on those two days. We are working with KAH to schedule alternate activities for our kindergartners who may need childcare on those days. Please complete the form linked here if you would like to sign your student up for KAH April 17th and 18th. KAH staff will be in contact with any FVES kindergarten parent who signs up for this opportunity.

Note: If you have an incoming kindergartener or know of anyone who has an incoming kindergartener, please spread the word. Families can enroll incoming kindergartners online beginning March 27th. Details about online enrollment can be found here.

RHS Mulch Sale is Back!!

THE 2023 RHS MULCH SALE IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 15, 2023. You can order your mulch NOW at www.rhsmulch.org.

The Mulch Sale is the biggest annual fundraiser in the Rockville High School community and supports all athletic programs at Rockville, the Marching Band, the Music Department, After Prom Party, Robotics, and STEM clubs, and much more. Thank you for your support in past years and we look forward to your continued support and participation this year as well.

We are offering a 5-percent Early Bird discount through the day after St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 18. No coupon code required. The discount is automatically deducted. Please place your orders early if you can.

Deliveries will be made Saturday, April 15, 2023. There is a shipping charge, but you can also pick up from the RHS parking lot on 4/15 between 8 and 2 pm.

If you are part of the RHS community, please sign up to volunteer:

STUDENTS (get SSL Hours and a T-shirt): Sign Up Here
ADULTS (especially need drivers; students do the lifting): Sign Up Here

If you have any questions, contact us at rhsmulch@gmail.com. We will do our best to win your satisfaction. Feel free to forward this email to those you think might be interested in ordering mulch or volunteering during the sale.

April 3rd-10th: Spring Break

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

April 17th and 18th: Incoming Kindergarten Orientation (No School for Current Kindergartners)

April 21st: No School for Students

April 24th-28th: PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th: Spring Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic Pictures

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

May 16th: Time 6:30-8:00pm - FVES International Night and Art Expo

May 19th: K, 1, 2 Field Day (rain date - May 30th)

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

May 24th: 3, 4, 5, Field Day (rain date - May 31st)

May 29th: No School

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

June 6th: 6:30-7:00pm- PTA General Membership Meeting

June 14th: 5th Grade Promotion at Rockville High School

*Please remember these dates are subject to change.

MCPS Things to Know

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Community Messages

Parent Handbook

Student Rights and Responsibilities (Spanish Version Available in Main Office)

Student Code of Conduct (English) (Spanish Version Available in Main Office)

At the PTA meeting this month, Mrs. Cheeks shared information about the Zones of Regulation. This is a social-emotional strategy we are using at Flower Valley to help students understand and verbalize how they are feeling and to develop a toolbox of strategies to support how they are feeling and how their emotions impact others. A link to the full presentation can be found here.

MCPS has created a transportation dashboard where you can check on the status of any bus delays or cancellations. Click here to access the dashboard.

If your child is going to be absent, please email your child's teacher and 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 within 3 days of the return to school. If your child sees the doctor, please bring in a doctor's note.

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 or changing your child's dismissal process, please let your child's teacher and Mrs. Sintetos or Ms. Peckoo in the main office know in advance.

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.

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.

There are several types of free tutoring services available for MCPS students. FVES has teachers who will be tutoring some of our students as part of the CARES Act services. Students are selected 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 tutoring. During these sessions, FVES staff will provide additional support using Benchmark/and or Eureka curriculum, as well as Tier III evidence-based intervention programs.Students not selected for CARES tutoring may sign up for online tutoring services through FEV Tutor or Tutor Me Education.

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.

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.

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

Ms. Nevine Peckoo, School Administrative Secretary – Nevine_A_Peckoo@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