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Grafton Gazette
May 2024
Message from the Principal
It is hard to believe we have reached the last month of school. As the school year draws to a close, we are busy planning our end of year festivities. Our annual senior walk where Grafton Grizzlies who are graduating high school return to walk the halls of our school while being cheered on by our current students will be held on May 15th. If you have a high school senior or know of any neighbors and friends with high school seniors who attended GVES, please spread the word. We are extremely proud of our graduates and look forward to seeing them in the building!
We also have some special events taking place for our 5th graders. On May 2nd, these students will take part in our DARE Graduation at Dixon - Smith Middle School. Later this month on May 21, they will participate in a DARE Day celebration field trip to Pratt Park. Finally, a committee of 5th grade parents are planning an end of year celebration for our 5th graders scheduled for May 22nd. Please note that the last day of school for all GVES students is May 23rd.
With summer approaching, we are already receiving questions about class placement for next year. We are seeking parent input to help us consider important factors when placing each student. Please take time to complete this important form.
Form for Rising 1st - 5th Graders
I carefully read each one and assure you that it does make an impact in our class placement decisions. We work very hard to consider performance data, teaching and learning styles, and input from various sources when making class lists. As always, please remember that we are unable to honor requests for specific teachers. The form for rising 1st - 5th graders is due by June 14 and the form for new kindergarteners is due by July 12. Thank you in advance for your valuable input.
Recently, Grafton Village began Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year. If you or any of your friends or neighbors need to register a kindergartener, now is a great time to stop by our office and begin this process. Please be sure to bring your child’s state issued birth certificate, social security card, and proof of residency. Because our hiring of new teachers is based on the number of students enrolled, everyone is encouraged to register as early as possible!
With best wishes for a safe and relaxing summer,
Michael B. Sidebotham
May Calendar
5/1 Reading SOL 4th
Reading SOL 5th
PTA Board Meeting 11:10- 12:10
5/2 Reading SOL 3rd
Head Start Tour
DARE Graduation 5th Grade 6:30- 7:30
5/3 School Lunch Hero Day
5/5 GVES sings National Anthem at Fred Nats game
Cinco de Mayo
5/6 Teacher Appreciation Week- lots of activities
WatchDOG in the building
5/7 WatchDOG in the building
Gates Gallery MVHS
5/8 National School Nurse Day
Math SOL 4th/ 5th
Kindergarten Field Trip
5/9 Math SOL 3rd
IRW SOL 5th
5/12 Mother's Day
5/13 WatchDOG in the building
Assembly Brian Curry
5/14 First Grade Field Trip
5/15 WatchDOG in the building
Senior Walk (Seniors that went to Grafton come back and walk the halls in their cap and gown)
5/16 Author Visit
Tilly's Spirit Night 3:30- 8:30
5/17 Field Day
5/21 DARE Day
5/22 WatchDOG in the building
5th Grade Party
5/23 Last Day of School
Fire Drill
Kindergarten end of year activity
From the Librarian
Many thanks to all the Grafton families and staff who supported the spring book fair! Your purchases earned books for our library collection from the fair as well as made money to purchase other books and supplies used daily by our Grizzlies!
The last day for library checkout is this Friday, May 3, 2024. Please have all books returned by Friday, May 10th so that we can complete our inventory. The library will be open during summer school. More information to follow about the dates and times any students can visit the GVES library for summer checkout and reading!
VRC Voting is complete! Kids in grades K-2 and 3-5 voted for their favorite Virginia Readers Choice books. In the primary race there were 6 books that were neck and neck! We had 2 ties in the elementary race. Once the votes from students all over the state are counted, we will know the winners. See the top 3 GVES results for each category below.
Summer Reading
This Monday, May 6th, librarians from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library will visit all special area classes to talk about summer reading opportunities. Check your students backpacks for CRRL flyers.
Our Top 3 Primary VRC Books
Our Top 3 Primary VRC Books
Our Top 3 Elementary VRC Books
Our Top 3 Elementary VRC Books
From the Music Teacher
Attention all 3rd and 4th grade students who will be returning to GVES in the fall: If you would like to store your recorder in the music room over the summer so that you don't have to keep track of it then please bring it to your next music class. We'll keep them stored in this year's teacher bins and we'll move them to next year's 4th grade and 5th grade bins in August. Mrs. Greven will accept recorders through the last day of school.
From the Art Teacher
The art room could use some of these following supplies:
Erasers
Baby wipes
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)- GraftonPTA@gmail.com
Tilly's Spirit Night May 16th 3:30- 8:30, come join us for ice cream!
Field Day is Friday May 17th! We would love to have your help! Please see the link:
Our slated PTA officers for the 2024- 2025 school year:
President- Kelly Sienkowski
Treasurer- Jodi Smith
Secretary- Ali Johnstone
VP- Events- Amanda Lamberton
VP- Hospitality- Annmaire Mulholland
VP- Ways & Means- Jenna Grabowski
-Join the PTA on Sunday May 19th at 6:00 at Grafton for our final General Membership Meeting. This meeting will include elections of officers for our 2024-25 school year. The PTA will provide popsicles and have chalk available so we can Chalk the Walk in celebration of the last week of school.
-Teacher Appreciation week is May 6-10th. At Grafton we celebrate all our staff. This year we are heading to Hogwarts and hope you can help us share some magic with our staff. The PTA is looking for a few volunteers to help throughout the week. Please sign up here if you can.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA5AA23A4FC1-49164842-teacher#/
GVES Night Out at Nats Stadium May 5
Rent the Rocks
Did you know you can rent "The Rocks" located in front of the school for special occasions? It is a great way to spread positive messages and increase excitement in our community. All requests must be made via email to graftonpta@gmail.com. Rock the Rental as the subject. The PTA will confirm approval of the rental date and rock message before the rock rental can be purchased.
Would you like information about our WatchDOG Program?
No cell phones in Elementary School
CELL PHONE POSSESSION AND PHONE WATCHES: The Stafford County Code of Conduct states: “Elementary school students shall not be permitted to use or display such devices while on school grounds unless expressly authorized by staff”. Students are asked to keep their phones off and away during school hours.
Connect With Us
GVES Front Office Information
Mike Sidebotham, Principal
Belinda Rippon, Assistant Principal
Kim Overton, Bookkeeper
Stacee Rogers, Registrar
Kelly Davis, Administrative Assistant
Kristina Bourne, Administrative Assistant
Amy Pisciotta, Nurse
Lynn Frohnapfel, Special Education Department Chair
Office Hours 8:00- 4:00
If you need to pick your child up from school, please notify the office by email or phone prior to arriving and bring your ID.
If you have a Facebook Acct, please join our Facebook Group. You must answer the security questions to be approved.
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL
Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children voted on October 26, 2023, to approve Grafton Village Elementary as a recipient of the SY 2023-2024 Purple Star Award.
GRAFTON VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SACC Daycare at GVES
SACC – Stafford and Spotsylvania
540-371-9622
Elizabeth Taylor – COO, ext 3017
Alicia Kindred – Executive Director, ext 2033
Virginia Murphy – SACC Operations Director, ext 2001
Nutrition at GVES
Julie Washington, Cafeteria Manager washingtonja@staffordschools.net
Transportation
Karim H. Johnson
Executive Director of Pupil Transportation Services
📞 (540) 373-6095
📧 johnsonkh@staffordschools.net