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The Panda Periodical
News from FDES March 25th-29th
Frederick Douglass Elementary School
Melissa Maestle, Principal
Michael "Todd" Fannin, Assistant Principal
Frederick Douglass Elementary School
100 W. Cedarmeade Ave.
Winchester, Va 22655
ph. 540-662-7656
Upcoming Important Dates π
March 26th - Spring Pictures - No money collected at this time. Spring pictures are not prepaid.
March 29th - Holiday - No school for students or staff
April 1st-5th - Spring Break - No school
April 8th - Students return to school
Fourth Grade Parents:
Fourth grade graduation will be held Tuesday, May 28th at 8:30am!
SOLs
SOLs for all third and fourth grade students are coming quickly. Please see the list of dates below to ensure you are aware of testing dates. Also please review the list of ways to help your child be successful on these tests.
Dates:
April 24th and 25th - Third and Fourth grade Reading test
May 7th and 8th - Third and Fourth grade Math test
May 9th - Virginia Studies Test - Fourth grade only
What we need from you to support student success:
- Students need to be at school on time everyday.
- Make sure your child is at school on testing days - do not schedule outside appointments or pick students up early.
- Dress your child in comfortable clothes and layers so they are comfortable on the day of testing.
- Be sure they get a good night's sleep and try to create a stress free morning on the day of testing.
- Be sure your child has breakfast - all students have access to a free breakfast at school
Music In Our Schools Month
March is "Music In Our Schools" Month. Studying music in schools is crucial for a child's development as it offers a wide array of benefits beyond just musical proficiency. Music education enhances cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, while also fostering creativity and emotional expression. It promotes teamwork and discipline through ensemble playing, and has been linked to improved academic performance in other subjects. Moreover, learning music introduces children to diverse cultures and histories, broadening their perspectives and appreciation for the world around them. Overall, music education in schools is essential for a well-rounded education that nurtures the mind, body, and soul of a child.
A huge thank you and shout out to Ms. Wygal who inspires students to love and appreciate music everyday! We truly have the best music teacher at FDES that you could ask for!
π¨ Youth Art Month π¨
March is also Youth Art Month. To celebrate students are shown a daily mystery art work and asked to guess the name of the artwork and identify the artist.
The students have loved this activity and it has made them so excited about growing their knowledge of Art History.
Thank you Ms. Westman for teaching our students that everyone can be an artist and giving our students a creative outlet to express themselves! FDES wouldn't be the same without you!
The Wild Robot
We have continued to read and enjoy The Wild Robot book as a school. Next week we will finish the book and have a schoolwide celebration. Be sure to ask your child about the story and encourage them to continue to want to read other books at home and at school. The students have really enjoyed reading this book together.
π San Jordi Book Collection π
See the fliers below for additional information. We appreciate any book donations you can make.
Breakfast and Drinks
If you are sending food or drinks into school with your child, please be sure you are following these guidelines:
If sending breakfast
- All food should be in a sealed container.
- Students should not come off the bus or out of a car with open food.
- Students should not eat food or remove it from a sealed container until they are sitting at a desk in their classroom.
If sending drinks
- Students should only bring water to school
- No soda. coffee, sports drinks, or other beverages are permitted
- Label the water bottle with your child's name
A reminder that all students are offered a free breakfast each morning.
WinReady
WPS Families - check out WinReady On Demand, a point-to-point transportation service in the City of Winchester. Start requesting rides on March 25! This service is FREE until July 1 - so take advantage of it! Attend a workshop located conveniently at WPS schools.
Check out our website for more info!
Traffic Laws in School Zones
Recently, the Winchester Police Department installed photo red light cameras near DMMS, JKES and James Wood Middle School. These cameras are specifically to enforce the speed limit around school zones. Please be aware of this and always be extra cautious when driving in any school zone.
π Plastic Bag Recycling Program π
As part of our schoolβs commitment to environmental sustainability, we are launching a plastic bag recycling program at our school. We invite you to contribute by sending in your clean, dry plastic bags from home. These bags will be collected and recycled, helping to reduce waste and protect our environment. Your participation is greatly appreciated as we work together to make a positive impact. Thank you for your support!
In the first week we collected more than 10 pounds of plastic bags. Thank you to all families who sent in bags! Keep them coming!!
After School Care
Summer Camp
Please see the flyers below for information on summer camp that will be available this summer.