Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

I hope you all had a wonderful winter break. It has been exhilarating having all of our students back at Flower Valley. The halls are way too quiet and empty when our Fireflies are not here.

As we close out the second quarter, please continue to keep open lines of communication with your child's teacher. If you have questions or are looking for ways to support your child at home, don't hesitate to email your child's teacher. We are all here to do our best to support our kiddos.

Wishing you peace, joy, and happiness throughout the year ahead.

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• January Testing Update
• Bus Transportation Updates
• MLK Week of Service Clothing Drive
• Rising 6th Grade Family Night at Wood Middle School: January 24th at 6:30PM
• Change of Clothes Needed
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• Important Dates in January
• Curriculum Corner
• Quarterly Reading Newsletter
• Requesting a Chromebook for Use during Inclement Weather
• Save the Date
• Helpful Resources
• 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

Each grade level will be involved in at least one form of testing in January. Possible tests include:

• MAPP for grades K-2 (computerized math test)
• MAPM for grades 3 & 5 (computerized math test)
• DIBELS for grades K-2 (reading assessment)
• MAPR for grades 3 & 5 (computerized reading test)
• Eureka Module assessments for some grade levels
• Benchmark interim assessments for all grade levels

Please refer to the newsletters sent home by teachers for dates and times.

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.

Purple and Gold Routes: The purple bus broke down last week, and the transportation office ended up combining the purple and gold bus routes. We have reached out to the transportation office about how long this may be. They said that this could be the case for another 1-2 weeks. We will do our best to update you as we receive information.

MCPS annually recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) with a week of service projects and acts of kindness in schools from Jan. 14-22, 2023. Our amazing FVES Peacemakers will be hosting a clothing drive for new coats, hats, and mittens to support families in need. Collections will begin January 17th and will run through January 20th. Collection bins will be throughout the building. Let's work together to keep everyone warm this winter!

Please put a change of clothes in your child's backpack regardless of their age. There have been a number of kiddos requesting a change of clothes because they have fallen in mud or because they spilled food on themselves, and we do not have any extra clothes left.

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 will be sent home soon 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.

Mark your calendars for a delicious PTA Restaurant Night at Ema Rossi Weds. Jan. 18th. Mention the PTA and a portion of the proceeds will be donated.

We're seeking spring 2023 volunteers to help drive the truck for the SAVERS Donation Drive (drop-off is to our local thrift store partner) in early May and separately, for a chairperson on our Mulch Drive. Please contact president@fvespta.org if you're interested!

January 16th - Schools and Offices Closed

January 17th - Club Pictures

January 24th - Rising 6th Grade Family Night at Wood Middle School (6:30-8:00PM)

January 27th - No School for Students; Professional Day for Teachers - End of Quarter

Benchmark: Classes are wrapping up their unit on life and earth sciences. All MCPS students are required to complete the Benchmark interim assessment after unit 3. Students will complete the assessment during their reading block over the course of 2-3 days.

Benchmark Unit 4 will start mid-January. Unit 4 will focus on comparing and contrasting narrative stories to understand the purpose of storytelling.

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.

Are you wondering what sight and heart words are or what your child is learning during reading? Well, we have the answers for you! There are many new terms and strategies that are being utilized during reading instruction this year. The home and school partnership is the key to ensuring all of our students learn and achieve at high levels. Our reading specialist, Ms. Pearcy, has developed a reading newsletter to help families understand some of the terminology and strategies used, so that parents can support the continued learning at home. The newsletter will come out quarterly. The first newsletter can be found below.

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)

February 2nd: Winter Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm (Note the date change)

February 10th, 6:30-8:00pm - PTA Sponsored Bingo

February 14th, 2:30-3:15pm - Valentine’s Day Parties

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

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

March 29th - Career Day

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

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

Field Day, TBD

May 16th, Time TBD - 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)

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

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

*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)

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 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