Flower Valley Elementary School
2024-2025 School Year
Week of November 18, 2024
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Flower Valley Vision
From the Principal...
Dear Flower Valley Community,
It was wonderful seeing so many of our families and extended families at Flower Valley for our annual Open House! We hope you enjoyed your time visiting. We would love to know your thoughts about your visit to help us continue to improve and identify ways to provide opportunities for our families to connect with us at school. Additionally, we appreciate all of the bright lights parents completed for staff during their visits. If you would like to send a positive note to a staff member, there is a form linked below. It is a wonderful way to brighten the day of staff!
One more important note: Please remember to drive slowly and cautiously when on school grounds. We have a lot of children coming and going, and we want to make sure all of our students remain safe.
I hope you have a restful weekend.
With Firefly Pride,
Dr. Fish
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Table of Contents
Open House Feedback and Appreciation
Hearing and Vision Screening
MCPS Winter Weather Update
Lost and Found
CogAT Testing
PTA Corner
Save the Date: Calendar of FVES and PTA Events
Calling All Volunteers! :)
Parent Handbook
Open House Feedback and Appreciation
Thank you to everyone for coming out to our Open House this week! We hope you were able to get a glimpse of the day-to-day at Flower Valley.
If you did not get chance to complete our feedback form, please click the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScM6qDKBEvfEvgoP-POcEqAHEu0d4DW7jCkL0xHWAMravM_yw/viewform.
If you would like to leave a note for a staff member about your visit and bring some sunshine to their inboxes, please click the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf60h9nqhvfWFe9cDdg01gFUxPiLA4gEZYPuunQijsassz8EA/viewform!
Hearing and Vision Screening
*If you are able to volunteer your time to support the hearing and vision screening, please complete the SignUp Genius linked here. Volunteers are needed to assist with getting students from their classes and escorting them to the screening location.
In accordance with Maryland State Law, students in Montgomery County Public Schools are screened for possible vision and hearing problems. Trained hearing and vision screeners will be screening students new to MCPS, students in grades Kindergarten and 1st, and students referred by teachers because of possible signs of hearing or vision problems. The screeners will be at Flower Valley Elementary School on November 21st, 22nd, 25th, and 26th.
Children who do not see clearly or are unable to hear what their teacher and classmates are saying have a harder time learning at school. You will receive a referral form, via US mail, to take to your child’s doctor if your child fails the screening. If your child is already under care for a hearing or vision problem, or you do not wish your child to be screened at school because of conflicts with your religious beliefs, please notify the school nurse in writing. If your child wears glasses or contacts, they should wear them every day and bring them to the screening.
School based vision screenings may not detect every vision problem. To learn more about possible vision problems and symptoms or health conditions that may require additional evaluation go to Montgomery County Government’s website at this link: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/PHS/SchoolHealth/HearingVision.html
Contact your school’s nurse if you have questions about your child’s screening.
MCPS Winter Weather Update
Winter Weather Is Coming (Maybe): Are You Ready?
Winter is coming, and MCPS has your back with information on how to Stay Connected to get the latest information on weather delays and closures.
Keep your contact information up-to-date: Visit the ParentVUE link on the MCPS Community Tech Support website
Know the Color-Coded Statuses:
- Green: Normal Operations
- Yellow: Delayed Opening
- Blue: Early Dismissal
- Red: Schools and Offices Closed
- Orange: Schools Closed, Offices Telework
Why it Matters: Decisions are made with expert input and local assessments to keep everyone safe.
How to Know: Check the MCPS website and social media for real-time updates.
Don’t Miss the Superintendent’s Video
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds6vcpBdzX8
Lost and Found
A special thank you to everyone who checked out the Lost and Found and, hopefully, found some lost clothing items. :) Items are added daily to the Lost and Found, so please come check it out prior to the Thanksgiving break. All items will be in the main hall until Thanksgiving break. Any items not retrieved will be donated after the Thanksgiving break.
CogAT Testing for 2nd and 3rd Grades
The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) Screener for Grades 2 and 3 is a multiple-choice assessment which measures reasoning skills using different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. It is given as part of universal screening and the Maryland state-mandated Gifted and Talented identification process. It will be administered between December 1st and December 20, 2024. Please refer to the letter that was sent home on Wednesday, November 6th or to your grade level newsletter for specific dates and times. If you have questions about the CogAT test, please reach out to Mr. David Bunge (david_s_bunge@mcpsmd.org). If you have questions about the Gifted and Talented identification process, please reach out to Mrs. Kim Haden (kimberly_d_haden@mcpsmd.org).
PTA Updates
-Please join us to bring FVES students & families outside for a Fun Run/Walk this Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 3:30pm at Flower Valley Elementary School. -FVES PTA & FVES host Scholastic Book Fairs to raise $ for Media Center books, teaching tools & classroom book donations. Funds go exclusively to FVES, and PTA volunteers generously provide lots of time & 'book love' at every event. Nearby schools host one fall fair per year while we run an extra spring fair. Due to scheduling & vendor constraints, we don't have the option for our spring fair to be "Buy One Get One Free" but are ready to host a regular price fair during 'Read Across America' week in early March. We'd appreciate families' input! --> Preference for one fair vs. two fairs + ways it could be improved, as we're also exploring possible benefits of a new vendor: Take the Book Fair Family Survey -Save the Date for our next PTA meeting which will be held on Zoom, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 7:00pm. We hope to see you there!
FVES 2024-2025 Calendar of Events
PTA Sponsored Fun Run/Walk: November 17th; 3:00PM
Vision and Hearing Screening for Kindergarten and 1st Grade: November 21st, 22nd, 25th, and 26th
PTA Sponsored Game Night; January 25th; 6:30-8:30PM
Winter IM Concert: January 27th, 7:00PM
Winter Chorus Concert: February 5th at 6:30PM
Kindness Week and Party: Week of February 10th (party 2/14)
Yearbook Groups and Candid Pictures: February 19th
PTA Sponsored STEM Night: February 20th, 6:30-8:30PM
Spring Book Fair: March 3rd-7th
Read Across America Week: Week of March 3rd
Reading Night: March 6th, 6-7:30PM
PTA Sponsored Staff vs. Parents Basketball Game and Silent Auction at RHS: March 15th, 4:00-6:00PM
STEM Day: March 21st
PTA Sponsored Mulch Drive (Ends April 5th)
Career Day: April 11th
Spring Individual and Class Pictures: April 28th
International Night: April 28th, 6:00-8:30PM
Field Days: May TBD
PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive: May 3rd, 9:30-1:00PM
PTA Sponsored Carnival: May 18th, 2-5:00PM
Spring IM Concert: May 19th, 7:00PM
5th Grade Promotion: June 12th (Students arrive at 5:00; program begins at 5:30PM.)
5th Grade Fun Day: June 13th
Interested in Volunteering at FVES?
Parent and caregiver volunteers support the overall success of Flower Valley. We welcome volunteers and are truly grateful for the ways you support our school each and every day. Some volunteer opportunities include serving as a mystery reader in class, sharing information about your career or hobby via a class presentation or visit, supporting lunch and recess, chaperoning field trips, supporting in-school events, and so much more! If any of our families have a speciality in coaching or soccer, we would also welcome your support with our students during their recess soccer games.
If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please see the information below and contact Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org. Volunteer clearance lasts for 3 years. Many volunteers who completed the training upon returning to in person learning three years ago need to complete the training again.
FVES Parent Handbook
We are here to serve and help you!
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
Dr. Angie Fish, Principal – Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Kimberly Haden - Kimberly_D_Haden@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) 740-1780
Mrs. Jennifer Atanda - Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Nicole Bamberger - Nicole_M_Bamberger@mcpsmd.org
Flower Valley Elementary School
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