Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

It is amazing to think we have just finished a full quarter of the school year. Time certainly flies by. With that in mind, it is a good time for us to reflect on the school year. Please take a few minutes to complete the parent survey below. We truly value your input as it will help us better gauge what is working well and what we can do better. We also are taking this opportunity to hear from our students and staff because everyone's voice makes a difference in ensuring we provide the best educational experience for all of our students. As Helen Keller shared, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

The week ahead is a short week, as there is no school for students Monday and Tuesday. We also have a 3rd grade field trip to the KID Museum on the 10th, a 5th grade field trip to the National Museum of American History on the 10th, and a very special celebration Friday for all of the veterans in our Flower Valley family. There is information below regarding the festivities for our veterans and active military.

Thank you for being such a wonderful community that always comes together for our students. Together, everything is possible!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Veterans Day at Flower Valley
• Your Voice Matters! - Parent Survey
• Kindness Movement
• Therapy Dogs at FVES
• Lost and Found
• Preparing for Grandparents and Special Friends Day: November 21st
• Parent Conferences: November
• November: Remembrance and Reconciliation Month
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• County STEAM Opportunity
• RHS Fun Run
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• After School Activities
• Curriculum Corner
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• School Cash Online
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Seasonal Roots Fundraiser
• Helpful Resources
• Save the Date
• School Contact Information

We are excited to recognize and celebrate all of our veterans and active service members for their service to our country. On Friday, November 11th, it will be a red, white, and blue spirit day. We are asking all of our staff and students to wear their red, white, and blue. For all of our veterans coming to visit that day, please arrive at 9:05 and check in at the main office. There will be a flag raising ceremony for our veterans which will be led by Mrs. Kormann and our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at 9:15. During this time, we will also listen to the National Anthem, and our students will sing "Grand Ole Flag." Coffee and donuts will be served in the cafeteria at 9:30 for our service members. At 9:45, Mrs. Fish and Ms. Castillo will lead our visiting service members on a tour of our kindergarten through 2nd grade classes for a special treat.

If you or a family member are a current member of the armed services or a veteran, we would love to have you visit. If you have not yet RSVP'd to Ms. Castillo, there is still time. All you need to do is complete the form linked here.

The new school year is up and running, and we would love to hear from you and get your feedback. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. We appreciate your input, as it helps us continue to refine our practices to best meet the needs of all of our students.

FVES Fall Parent Survey

Being kind is part of our FVES motto. It can be seen in all of our Fireflies each and every day. Throughout the month of November, we will be celebrating the many acts of kindness from our students and staff! All of the many acts of kindness will be highlighted in our weekly newsletter and on the morning announcements. Check out the kindness calendar below for some ways to spread kindness. Let's all come together and spread kindness at school and in our community!

The Social Emotional Special Education Services (SESES) program at Flower Valley has partnered with volunteers from Therapy Dogs International (TDI) to bring trained therapy dogs to the school to meet with students in the SESES program. Ms. Cheeks, our school social worker, is overseeing the program and facilitating the scheduled visits. Our goal is to pilot this with our SESES program and potentially expand it in the future.

We have so many coats, sweatshirts, water bottles....you name it. The lost and found is overflowing. We are putting pictures of the lost and found items on our announcements for our students. If your student is missing something, feel free to stop by our main office. We will also be keeping the lost and found items in our lobby during conference time, so that you can check to see if any of your child's missing items are here. Any items not collected by November 28th will be donated.

November is the time for parent conferences. Please be on the lookout for information from your child's homeroom teacher.

We are excited to be able to welcome our FVES grandparents and special friends November 21st at 9:30AM. If your child will have a grandparent or special friend joining us, please complete this form no later than November 10th. Pre-registration is required, so that we can ensure a safe environment and plan accordingly. Light refreshments will be provided by our PTA. If more than one grandparent or special friend is visiting, please complete a form for each visitor.

Emancipation Day in Maryland is celebrated annually on November 1st, and the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation declared November as Remembrance and Reconciliation Month for community members to remember and reflect on the lynchings that took place in the late 1800s in Montgomery County, Maryland. The MCPS Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs has developed lessons for in school as well as resources for families. Please see the resources linked below to support conversations about race at home.

Resources for Talking About Race, Prejudice, Segregation, and Discrimination

Did You Know? Facts About Historic African American Communities in Montgomery County

FVES is working on becoming a No Place For Hate school. Fourth and fifth grade students will help lead the way to this designation. Here is more information about No Place for Hate: https://www.noplaceforhate.org/

FVES Peacemakers will begin helping students with conflicts at recess. Trained 5th grade students are available to help 3rd and 5th graders during recess beginning this week. Later in the school year, 4th grade students will be trained in peacemaking skills to support 1st and 4th graders during recess.

Are you interested in volunteering at lunch and/or recess? Please reach out to Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org.

Families with students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals also qualify for a $40 stipend for school supplies for their child(ren). This information can be found at: https://www.readyforschoolinitiative.org/ .

Families with students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals also qualify for a free or reduced PTA membership. This information can be found at: https://fvespta.membershiptoolkit.com/membership.

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.

Visit the Election Day bake sale at the front of the school this Tuesday, November 8th from 7 AM - 12 PM. Purchase a tasty treat and support the PTA. Bakers can still contribute baked goods here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AFA72CAAF58-election

Calling all fireflies -- especially 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who'd like to read a short book at Firefly Storytime! This fun, cozy event will be virtual on Thursday, November 17th at 7 PM. Parents of interested readers should email president@fvespta.org by Friday, November 11th to sign up a child.

A STEAM Festival Showcase will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Northwood High School. MCPS and educational partners will showcase opportunities for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) with engaging hands-on activities and dynamic demonstrations. The event is free and open to all MCPS families and students of all ages.

• The keynote speaker is Tina C. Williams-Koroma, Cybersecurity CEO. She will speak at 11 a.m.
• Northwood is located at 919 University Blvd., West in Silver Spring.

We are so excited to be bringing back the Ram Race 5K and Kids’ Fun Run to the Rockville Cluster, after a Covid hiatus. On Saturday, November 19th at 8 AM, the Rockville HS PTSA will kick off their new race with an exciting, yet walkable, course leading into Rock Creek Regional Park.

We are hoping you can help spread the word, especially of the Fun Run. The Kids’ Fun Run will be one lap around the RHS Track at 8:30 AM for ages 12 and under ($5 day-of-event registration only). There will be prizes for best costumes, as well as the top three runners in each age group. Staff are welcome to join in the fun as well.

All funds raised will go to support student scholarships and honor awards, school mini-grants and staff appreciation. Use the link to register. https://forms.gle/ACZpr2QqcUQnRV4bA

Event is rain or shine! Cash only for day-of registration.

Best regards,

Mary Carvajal and Anna Pfaff

RHS PTSA President and VP

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.

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.

Benchmark: All grade levels have started Benchmark Advance Unit 2, which focuses on narrative texts. Students will analyze and write about characters in depth. Identifying key events will help students summarize a text. In addition, students will build their vocabulary by identifying shades of meaning for related verbs or adjectives.

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.

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.

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.

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, please let Mrs. Sintetos and your child's homeroom teacher know.

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.

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

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.

November 7th: No School

November 8th: Election Day / No School

November 10th: 3rd Grade Field Trip to Kid Museum and 5th Grade Field Trip to the National Museum of American History

November 21st - Grandparents and Special Friends Day at FVES and Early Release Day

November 22nd - Early Release Day

November 23rd-25th - No School

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 (Spanish Version Available in Main Office)

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

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