Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

Wow! This weather is unbelievable! While the rain came in Thursday, we did have a couple of absolutely glorious days. This past week, we had our Valentine's Day parties. A special thank you goes out to all of our families for helping make this a special event for our students. We also had a very special visitor Wednesday. Mrs. Melnick, Flower Valley's previous principal and forever Firefly, visited the students during lunch and recess. The students really enjoyed seeing her.

Next week is a short week. There is no school Monday in honor of President's Day. We also have our next Principal and Assistant Principal Chat coming up. We did need to change the date to February 28th at 6:30PM via Zoom. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom.

I hope you all have a wonderful, long weekend!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• DATE CHANGE: Principal and Assistant Principal Chat: February 28th at 6:30PM via Zoom
• Read Across America at FVES
• Celebrating Black History Month at FVES
• Do you have an incoming kindergartner? See below.
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• Important Dates in February and March
• Curriculum Corner
• Save the Date
• Helpful Resources
• Zones of Regulation: Social-Emotional Learning at FVES
• GT County Updates
• Bus Transportation Updates
• Update about Virtual Snow Days
• Requesting a Chromebook for Use during Inclement Weather
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• School Cash Online
• School Contact Information

Due to a system led community meeting with Dr. McKnight, the NAACP, and the Black and Brown Coalition on February 22nd at 6:30, we will need to shift our chat date. The new date is February 28th at 6:30PM via Zoom. In an effort to make the time accessible to more families, we are going to hold this one virtually and in the evening. We will share all of the happenings at FVES and answer questions you may have. We'd also love any input you have about what is working well and what we can continue to improve.

The Zoom information is as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/96813213178?pwd=bHROTFlaTUR3VVVwT0JZZjlWVE90QT09

Meeting ID: 968 1321 3178

Passcode: fireflies

We hope to see you there!

FVES celebrates Read Across America week February 27- March 3. Each morning, students will be given clues about a mystery character. Will you be able to guess the character? We will also celebrate with a Spirit Week! Let's get excited about reading!

This past week for Black History Month, students continued learning about unique African American authors and poets. Classes that won Bingo celebrated by receiving Black History Month stickers. Students were also able to view a real African American memory quilt in the media center. Ms. Stewart brought in her family's memory quilt, which is made from pieces of her late mother's African American clothing. It was created by a cousin as a special tribute for Ms. Stewart and her sister to share. Next to the quilt is a picture frame showing Ms. Stewart's mother meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. right after they finished the march for voters' rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. A picture of this beautiful quilt is below.

Detailed information about kindergarten enrollment can be found here.

Career Day is coming to FVES on March 29th! We will need at least 48 volunteer speakers to have a meaningful day for our students. Flyers have been sent home with students. Anyone interested in speaking at Career Day, please complete this link: FVES Career Day Flyer . Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in presenting at Career Day. Contact Jennifer Atanda, Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org, if you have any questions.

PTA Benefit: Directories!

The FVES student directory is available to PTA members in the members-only section of the website. Sign in and go to the second available directory in the 'My Account' section: 2022-2023 Directory.

The directory includes all students not opted out by their family. All information is provided by the school. Sign in here to view it:

https://fvespta.membershiptoolkit.com/directory

If you aren't a PTA member and would like to join or find out more, please contact president@fvespta.org.

February 20th: No School

March 3rd: Early Dismissal

March 4th: 6 - 8:30 PM - Parent-Staff Basketball Game / Staff Silent Auction

March 15th: Early Dismissal

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

Benchmark: Students are starting unit 5 which focuses on technology. Grade levels will explore different examples of technology, how they are used in our lives, and the development of innovations. The writing will also be based on technology.

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.

April 3rd-10th: Spring Break

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

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 26th: Early Dismissal

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.

Grade 2 parents will receive a letter in the mail asking for Parent Input for the GT Identification process. Your input is due by March 17th and you may use https://bit.ly/GT-parent-input to access the google form.

This GT screening process includes gathering academic performance data, as well as information from parents and school staff. To learn more about this process please visit bit.ly/gt-identification-2023.

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.

MCPS recently approved the use of virtual snow days as needed in the future. Should a virtual snow day be used, an announcement would be made the day prior to allow for proper planning. The schedule we will be using can be accessed here, and Zoom links for teachers are included in the schedule. A picture of the schedule is included below as well. Should the school system decide to enact a virtual snow day, we will send a message to the FVES community with the schedule and Zoom links.

Your child will need a device to use at home for this purpose. If your child does not have a device to use at home, please complete the information below to get a Chromebook for home use.

You are receiving this message because this year, your child’s school is using a classroom cart model for Chromebooks. This means students use an assigned Chromebook while in school, but do not bring their Chromebook home each night. As we move into the winter months and plan for potential emergency closures, your child will need access to a device at home to engage in homework, interactive resources and potential virtual instruction. If your child does not have access to a personal or home computer, a parent or guardian should complete a form to request an MCPS Chromebook. The device will be checked out to your student and will be kept at home for the school year. The device will need to be returned at the end of the school year or sooner if your student is leaving MCPS for any reason.

To request a MCPS Chromebook for home use, please complete this form: Chromebook Form to Distribute to Families

Links:

At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (English)

At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (Spanish)

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. 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.

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.

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.

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