BOBCAT BULLETIN
May June 2024
Dear Families,
Welcome to the (almost) summer edition of the Bobcat Bulletin. As we wrap up another remarkable school year, I share my heartfelt thanks for your incredible support and partnership. It's been a true joy to work with such a wonderful and caring community. I look forward to celebrating the many successes of the year with you during the Promotion and Awards Program on Thursday, June 13th at 8:45 am.
With my retirement just around the corner, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the next principal of Aldie Elementary, Mrs. Ashley Barkley. Mrs. Barkley will begin as principal on July 1, 2024. She brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, and I am confident that under her leadership, Aldie Elementary will continue to thrive. Please see Mrs. Barkley's welcome message below.
As we head into summer, I wish you and your children joy, relaxation, and plenty of fun. Summer is also a great time to keep the learning momentum going. Encourage your children to dive into new books, participate in educational activities, and explore new interests. Our local library and community programs offer a wealth of opportunities to keep young minds engaged and curious. Read the newsletter for learning opportunities that will excite and engage your child throughout the summer.
Thank you once again for a wonderful school year. I will always treasure the memories and milestones we've shared. Have a fantastic summer!
Warmest regards,
Tracy Stephens Tracy.Stephens@lcps.org
Dear Aldie Elementary School Community,
I hope this message finds you in good spirits as this school year comes to a close. My name is Ashley Barkley, and I am both honored and excited to introduce myself as the new Principal of Aldie Elementary School. As we look forward to the upcoming school year, I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet each of you and your children!
A little about my journey: I was honored to serve, for the last nine years, as the Assistant Principal of Lovettsville Elementary School. My educational career began 17 years ago in Loudoun County, where I served as a Middle School Counselor at Sterling Middle. These experiences have deeply enriched my understanding and passion for educational leadership.
Aldie Elementary holds a reputation for academic excellence and a vibrant community spirit, which are just a few of the aspects I am excited to explore further. I am committed to building on these strengths by collaborating closely with all of you. Together, we will continue to enhance our students' learning experiences, focusing on the core values and goals that align with the One LCPS 2027 Strategic Plan for Excellence.
As we prepare for a new chapter at Aldie Elementary, please know that my door is always open. I am here to listen, support, and work alongside you to foster an environment where our students can thrive. Enjoy the remaining days of the current school year. Feel free to reach out to me at any time with your thoughts, hopes, or concerns as we gear up for what promises to be a remarkable journey together.
Warm regards,
Ashley Barkley Ashley.Barkley@lcps.org
Families are invited to the Promotion and Awards Program on June 13th at 8:45 am. We look forward to this annual tradition, including recognition of the Aldie Ruritan Awardee, Daughters of the American Revolution Awardee, Aldie Heritage Association Awardee, and other recognitions. Students in every grade will be recognized and promoted with the usual Aldie fanfare. We hope you will join us and ask that only immediate family members attend. To help us ensure adquate seating, please complete the short RSVP below no later than June 7, 2024 (one form per family).
School supply lists for the 2024-2025 school year are available here and on the Aldie Elementary School website under site shortcuts. All students in grades K-5 must have a refillable water bottle, a backpack, and headphones (Chromebook compatible). Please label water bottles, backpacks, and headphones with your child's first and last name. Chromebook compatible headphones will be available for purchase beginning August 1, 2024 using the Online Purchase link on the school website.
Supply orders for students in K-2 include a paid subscription to Scholastic magazine. Subscriptions must be paid with the Online Purchase link on the school website by August 30, 2024.
Please contact Parent Liaison, Mrs. Payne if your family is in need of financial assistance.
Is your child registered for summer school? Summer School recommendations and registration is now complete for students in need of these services The Summer School Program will be held at Goshen Post Elementary School from July 8, 2024 through July 26, 2024 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Bus transportation will be provided from Aldie Elementary to Goshen Post Elementary. Parents may also drop students directly at Goshen Post. For those students who will use the bus shuttle service, here are details about the shuttle bus:
Bus Number: 1810
Pick-Up at Aldie Elementary: 7:30 AM
Drop-Off at Aldie Elementary: 12:25 PM
Parents must remain with students during drop-off, and arrive for pick-up by 12:20. As a reminder, the school will not be accessible to students, and no staff will be in the school during summer due to construction.
Please contact Mrs. Stephens or Mrs. Fumagali who will serve as the Summer School Lead Teacher with questions about the Summer School Program.
The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Service, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps develop partnerships to bridge the gap of food insecurity among school-aged children. The objectives of SNAP in Schools are to reduce food insecurity in school-aged children, to increase the number of students directly certified for free school meals through SNAP, and to increase the number of students eligible without application for the summer EBT program.
If your family might benefit from this program, click the CommonHelp link to submit online SNAP applications. The flyers below provide additional information:
This summer, LCPS Nutrition Services will provide free nutritious meals and snacks to children age 18 and younger at several open Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites. No registration is required. Sites will be announced soon and will be updated here. Meals and snacks are also available through SFSP to persons with disabilities who are over age 18 and participate in school programs for people with mental or physical disabilities. For more information, please call 540-751-2690. Check back for SFSP sites by June 14th.
Yearbooks were distributed to students on May 31st. We have a small number of surplus yearbooks available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. If you were not able to pre-order a yearbook and would like to purchase one of the surplus yearbooks, please use the LCPS Online Payment app. We also have a few surplus class pictures available for purchase. Please contact the school office to purchase class pictures.
Please note, parents will need to set-up an account if you have not already done so. The LCPS Online Payment app is used across schools for a variety of purposes including yearbook, clubs, field trips, and other fees.
As you explore and read the recommended books, add to your summer reading log with the Loudoun County Public Library Summer Reading Program detailed below.
Students will continue to have access to DreamBox Math throughout the summer. We encourage students to spend about an hour each week to maintain and continue to grow mathematical thinking and skill development during summer. Students can access DreamBox on Chromebooks through LCPS Go.
DreamBox has been shown to deliver incredible benefits for students in a fun and empowering way. Independent research has found that when students use DreamBox for just 60 minutes per week, their math achievement increase by nearly 60% more than their peers--whether they are learning concepts below, at, or above their assigned grade level.
DreamBox adapts to each student’s performance in real time so they are continuously experiencing growth, encountering productive struggle, and getting the personalized, scaffolded support they need. As students engage with lessons, DreamBox’s Intelligent Adaptive Platform analyzes much more than just their final answer; it evaluates the strategies, decisions, and interactions with the math manipulatives in the lesson. This process is how DreamBox provides insights into each student’s thinking as they interact with math concepts in powerful ways. With this unique approach of embedded continuous formative assessment, DreamBox can provide students with a truly personalized learning experience designed around their individual strengths and strategies.
This summer, students in grades 3-5 (current) will continue to have access to Lexia® Core5 Reading—a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. It is recommended that students spend about an hour each week to maintain and continue to develop essential literacy skills. Students can access Lexia Core5 Reading on Chromebooks through LCPS Go.
Core5 is a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. The activities in Core5 support and build on your child’s classroom curriculum and focus on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Here’s how Lexia Core5 Reading works:
- Your child continues Core5 at the level that fits his or her needs.
- Online activities include direct instruction and immediate feedback as your child learns new skills.
- Progress and performance in the online activities is saved and available for teacher review.
- During the school year, your child has the opportunity to participate in collaborative, hands-on activities to reinforce skills introduced online and further develop learning.
Over the summer, you can support progress in the program by reading daily with your child and talking about what you have read.
Get ready to ROCK with this year’s Summer Reading Program sponsored by the Loudoun Library Foundation in partnership with the Washington Nationals. Details about the Summer Reading Program have been shared with students and you can learn more by watching the video below. The program kicks off on Saturday, June 15. Create an online account and then track your progress as you spend the summer reading great books, completing challenges, attending programs and exploring your community. All ages are invited to join the fun--pre-readers, kids, teens and adults!
The library also offers amazing programs all summer long! See the attachments linked below for all the details. You don't want to miss this!
Please note that May 31st was the last day to check out library books from the school library this year. All Aldie library books were due by Friday, 6/7. Please return library books to avoid fees. We encourage families to visit the Middleburg Library or Gum Spring Library throughout the summer.
This information is shared to help families plan for the upcoming school year. LCPS and Aldie Elementary School are making regular school attendance a priority! To help support improving school attendance, the Loudoun County School Board recently approved revisions to the policy that governs school attendance. This policy outlines what types of absences are categorized as excused or unexcused absences. The policy also provides guidance on make-up work following an absence as well as specific actions school administrators should take if a student demonstrates a pattern of absenteeism.
Some changes to this policy include:
Absences due to family trips or vacations are considered unexcused absences unless they are due to family emergencies or observations of religious holidays. Parents/guardians are advised to schedule such trips during school holidays.
The principal or the principal’s designee is no longer required to determine whether a student’s absence is excused or unexcused. That determination is outlined by the policy.
Excused absences due to personal illness have been expanded to include mental health issues or substance abuse-related illnesses. Principals may require medical documentation to support these absences.
This policy also provides guidance on make-up work following an absence as well as specific actions school administrators should take if a student demonstrates a pattern of absenteeism.
This policy revision was adopted on Oct. 24, 2023, and applies to all LCPS students. If you have questions about this policy, please speak with your school’s principals or contact the Department of Student Services.
Thank you to our amazing PTA Board for all they have done to support children, teachers and families this year. From assemblies, after school clubs, family nights, and appreciation events, the Aldie PTA R.O.C.K.S.!!!!
Thank you for an amazing school year!
It's never too early--or too late to join the PTA! Click below for the online application.
Welcome New Board Members
President
Stefanie Clay
Vice President of Events
Adele Buytenhuys
Treasurer:
Amanda Ruckman
LEAF Representatives
Rob Clay and Lorianne Terjesen