Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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It was a wonderful first week of school at Flower Valley! All of our FVES staff have loved having our school filled with our amazing Fireflies. Ms. Castillo and I had the privilege of visiting all of our classes this past week. They have been true models of our school motto: Be bright! Be kind! Be you! Ask your child about ways they can model our school motto. :)

This upcoming week is a big week. We have our Back to School Night event at school this Wednesday from 6:30-8:30pm and our PTA sponsored Back to School Picnic Friday from 5-7:00pm. Details are in the newsletter. We look forward to seeing you!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Hispanic Heritage Month
• School Hours
• Arrival and Dismissal
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• Back to School Night
• Thursday Folders
• NAACP Parent Representative Needed
• Seasonal Roots Fundraiser
• Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy Form
• Integrated Pest Management
• Curriculum Corner: Benchmark, Eureka,
• ELD Corner
• Counseling Corner
• NAACP Representative Needed
• Visitors
• School Cash Online
• Covid Protocols
• Attendance Information
• Helpful Resources
• PTA Corner
• Save the Date
• School Contact Information

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when we celebrate the culture, heritage, and contributions of Hispanic Americans every September. This year's theme is Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. We will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at FVES through read-alouds, morning announcements, book displays, class trivia, and much more!

Our school day begins promptly at 9:00am. All students should be in the building and in their classrooms ready to start the day at this first bell. Students arriving after 9:00am will be marked tardy. The school day ends at 3:25pm. It is an MCPS expectation that families be ready to receive their students at that time. Please be ready and waiting for your student at the bus stop beginning at 3:25pm.

Thank you for your patience during arrival and dismissal this past week. We are getting better every day.

The car loop can be accessed at 8:35 am. Staff will arrive on duty at 8:40 am. Students must not exit their car until a staff member is on duty. All parents received the Traffic Circle Safety Guidelines and blue car rider name tag on Monday, August 29th. Please display this in the front of your car window during dismissal. Please remember that for our students' safety our car riders are required to be picked up and dropped off in the car rider loop only, not on the side of the street.

The bus loop in front of the school is for buses only between the hours of 8:30-9:15 am and from 3:00-3:45 pm. Information about bus routes can be found on the FVES webpage here.

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.

Back to School Night will be September 7th from 6:30-8:30. Detailed information can be accessed below and here. This event is for our parents, but if you are unable to find childcare, you may certainly bring your child with you. An interpreter will be present for the event. We look forward to seeing you!

Please remember to look for the red Thursday folders every week. This week, the student emergency information form was included. Please review that carefully and make any necessary changes, including updated home and work contact information and emergency contacts. Emergency contacts are individuals who are allowed to pick up your child and be contacted by the school if we are not able to get in touch with a parent for an emergency situation. If you have moved, we need current proof of residency on file for mail. If there are custody concerns, please submit all appropriate legal documents. Please write legibly, as it is important that we have the correct information.

The AAA School Safety Patrol program is active at Flower Valley Elementary School! 5th grade students who are part of this program are assigned to posts throughout the school to ensure the safety of our students during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. You'll see these students throughout the building, on buses, and in the car rider loop wearing bright green belts! Younger students are encouraged to ask patrols for help if they are not able to find an adult during arrival and dismissal. Safety Patrols are trained to help create a safe and welcoming school environment.

By implementing this program, we are offering students the opportunity to:

• demonstrate responsibility
• display leadership skills
• take an active part in keeping our school environment safe

If you have any questions about the patrol program, please contact the FVES Patrol Sponsors, Kristina Hall (2nd Grade), Priya Gondhalekar (5th Grade)

We are in need of an NAACP representative for our FVES community. If you are interested, please email me at Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org. Information regarding what is expected of our NAACP representative are listed below.

NAACP Parents’ Council FVES Representative Expectations:

• Attend monthly meetings for the NAACP Parents' Council
• Share important information from the Parents’ Council with your school community through email lists, phone calls, etc.
• Plan/support outreach events/activities at your school
• Be a member of the NAACP
• Maintain ongoing communication with your school’s PTA leadership

At FVES, this individual would meet monthly with me to update me about the information from the council meetings. This individual would also work collaboratively with me and with our PTA to support community outreach and collaborate on school events and activities that would foster a more open and inclusive school environment.

Additional information about the NAACP Parents' Council can be accessed here.

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.

This form was sent home with students and can be accessed here. Please complete the form and have your child return it to their teacher if you would like their information withheld.

Please see the information regarding pest management at MCPS facilities. It is located here and can be found in multiple languages here. We will also have hard copied in our main office.

Benchmark: Students will develop foundational skills and routines in reading and writing over the next two weeks.

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.

Please check your child’s folder for and complete your student’s “Notification of Placement in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program" form. Thanks to those who have already returned theirs!

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. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org.

Please join the PTA for the Back-To-School Picnic on Friday, September 9, at 5pm on the FVES back playground! There will be snacks and games for the kids, a food truck or two, and lots of fun. There will be information available on PTA membership, volunteer opportunities, and afterschool activities. At 6pm, at the PTA table, we will have a brief general membership meeting to pass the PTA annual budget. Please join us for a great night of community and fun! We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to get to know our new firefly families!

Please remember that Spiritwear is available for purchase until September 16. Visit the PTA website, www.fvespta.org, for more details.

Looking ahead, our first FVES PTA restaurant night will be on Wednesday, September 21 at Villa Maya!

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.

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.

September 5th: No School

September 7th: Back to School Night (6:30-8:30)

September 9th: PTA Sponsored Back to School Picnic (5-7:00)

September 14th: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:55)

September 26th: No School for Students

September 30th: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:55)

September 7th, 6:30-8:30pm - Back to School Night

September 9th, 5-7pm - PTA Sponsored Back to School Picnic

October 6th - Picture day: Individual Pictures

October 7th, 5-7pm - PTA Sponsored Parent/Staff Kickball Game

October 10th, 9-11:00am - Parent Open House

October 17th-21st - PTA Sponsored Book Fair

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

October 28th, 2:00-3:15 - Fall Costume Parade and Harvest Party

October 29th, 5:30-7:30pm - 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 14th, 2:30-3:15pm - Valentine’s Day Parties

February 17th, 6:30-8:00pm - PTA Sponsored Bingo

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

April 20th, 5:30-7pm - PTA and FVES STEAM Night

April 24th-28th - PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th - Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic

May 6th, 9:30am-1:00pm - PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive

Field Day, TBD

May 16th, Time TBD - FVES International Night

May 21st, 1-4pm - 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.

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. A note regarding the absence and the reason for the absence should be given to your child's homeroom teacher. 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. Sinteots and your child's homeroom teacher know.

The annual Wood PTA Mum Sale is now OPEN--place your orders by September 9th!

Mums are available in two sizes and three colors--visit www.woodmsmums.org for more info!

MCPS Things to Know

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Community Messages

Parent Handbook

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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

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