Flower Valley Weekly Newsletter
Week of October 4, 2023
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PTA Meeting Tuesday at 6:30 at FVES
- Food and Childcare Available
- Open to Members and Non-members
- School Topics: Testing and Overview of the School Improvement Plan
- RSVP here by Oct. 2nd
Our FVES Vision
Dear Flower Valley Community,
The fall school picture day is in the books! I can't wait to see all of our students' beautiful photos. There were smiles galore Tuesday!
We have our PTA meeting this Tuesday at 6:30. Come on out and enjoy some community fun and hear about the work of our PTA as well as an overview of our School Improvement Plan and the Sanford Harmony social-emotional well-being program. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
One component of our School Improvement Plan focuses on growth mindset. In this newsletter, you will see a resource that may help extend the learning from school to home. We value the home and school partnership here at Flower Valley, and we look forward to working with you to ensure our students have a safe, positive, and enriching academic and social experience at FVES.
Have a wonderful weekend!
With Firefly Pride!
Dr. Fish
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Table of Contents
Growth Mindset
Math Night at FVES: October 19th
National Walk and Roll to School Day: October 4th
STEAM Opportunity
PTA Corner: PTA Meeting October 3rd at 6:30 - Childcare and Dinner Available - Please RSVP below.
Seasonal Roots
Save the Date: Calendar of FVES and PTA Events
FVES PTA Sponsored Restaurant Nights
Information from Previous Newsletters:
- Transportation Information
- Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Need a Chromebook for home?
ParentVue
School Spirit Fridays
- School Lunch
- Health Information
- Covid Updates
FVES Parent Handbook
Growth Mindset
Math Night at FVES: October 19th
National Walk and Roll to School Day: October 4th
MCPS STEAM Festival
PTA Information
Our PTA Meeting Oct. 3rd from 6:30-8:00 pm will have childcare AND dinner provided! ALL parents are welcome! (Non-members and members). Please RSVP here by Oct. 2nd!
Calling all volunteers! We have different positions available- would you like to be chairperson, be part of an event team, make copies, can volunteer for just an hour? Any help you can provide is always welcomed and would be greatly appreciated! Contact Lydia Fleischmann at president@fvespta.org.
FVES Events
PTA Sponsored Book Fair: October 16th-20th, during school hours. Evening hours October 19th.
Math Night: October 19th
Harvest Festival and Parade: October 27th
PTA Sponsored Masquerade Festival: October 28th, 5:30-7:30
Fall Open House: November 17th or 20th
Winter Chorus Concert: January 23rd at 7PM
Winter IM Concert: February 1st at 7PM
Wellness Week: January/February
Kindness Week and Party: Week of 2/12 (party 2/14)
Reading Night: March 6th, 6-7:30
STEM Day: March 22nd
PTA Sponsored Book Fair: April 15th-19th
PTA Sponsored STEM Night: April 18th, 5:30-7:30
International Night: May TBD
Career Day: May 3rd
PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive: May 4th, 9:30-1:00
Field Days: May TBD
PTA Sponsored Carnival: May 19th, 2-5:00
Spring IM Concert: May 30th at Rockville High School at 7PM (tentative)
5th Grade Promotion: June 12th
5th Grade Fun Day: June 13th
FVES PTA Sponsored Restaurant Nights: Come Out and Support FVES and Enjoy a Meal
- Scratch Kitchen - Wednesday, October 18th, 2023
- Creek Lodge Bar & Grill- Wednesday, November 15th, 2023
- Leisure World Ledo’s - Tuesday, December 12th, 2023
- California Tortilla- Wednesday, January 24th, 2024
- Ema Rossi- Wednesday, February 7th, 2024
- Chuck E Cheese - Friday, March 15th, 2024
- Rockville Paisano’s - Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 and Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 from 11:00am-10:00pm
- Rockville Chipotle - Monday, May 13th, 2024
- Villa Maya - Wednesday, June 5th, 2024
Information from Previous Newsletters
Transportation Information: Bus Routes
Transportation information is on the school website and available here:
- Arrival Schedule
- Departure Schedule
- Department of Transportation Communication to Families (English Version)
- Department of Transportation Communication to Families (Spanish Version)
- What to Know about Riding the Bus (English Version)
- What to Know about Riding the Bus (Spanish Version)
- Link to Check Daily Status of Buses
Keeping Our Students Safe during Arrival and Dismissal- Traffic Circle Guidelines
Arrival
Please do not enter the car loop until 8:30 am. This ensures that FVES staff can assess the parking lot and spaces in order to report to work on time. Staff will arrive on duty at 8:35 am. Students must not exit their car until a staff member is on duty.
As you enter the loop, make sure your student is prepared to exit the car on the passenger side of the vehicle. Please pull forward all the way to the last orange cone, lining up in a single file line and staying to the right. This will help ensure student safety.
Adults, please remain in your cars. Staff and patrols will be on duty to help students exit vehicles safely. If you need to exit your car, please move your car to a parking spot.
Cars need to remain in line until the vehicle in front of them has proceeded. Do not pass another vehicle.
Dismissal
Please have the car rider name tag (blue paper) with your student’s name and grade placed on the passenger side of your car’s windshield so that it is clearly visible to the staff on duty.
Adults, please remain in your cars. Staff and patrols will be on duty to help students enter vehicles safely. If you need to exit your car, please move your car to a parking spot. Students must enter on the passenger side of the vehicle
Cars need to remain in line until the vehicle in front of them has proceeded. Do not pass another vehicle, unless directed to do so by a staff member.
Please email Mrs. Sintetos, our office secretary, and your child’s teacher if you need to make dismissal changes after the start of the school day. Please try to make these changes before noon to ensure all staff members are made aware of the change.
Need a Chromebook for home?
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:
Register and Verify Your ParentVue Information
The Annual Verification process allows families to update contact information, collect important information about you and your student, including any medical, immunization, language preferences, and emergency information that school staff need to know. MCPS uses ParentVUE to collect this information electronically. Online registration is available now until October 20th.
There are online registration quick guides in several languages available to support you in this process.
English | Español | 中國人 | 한국인 | Français | Português | Tiếng Việt | አማርኛ
School Spirit Fridays
School Lunch
Breakfast and hot lunches are served daily. Lunch menus can be accessed here. Your child will learn about their lunch schedule on the first day of school. The teacher will also let you know about snack time, especially if your child has an early or late lunch.
Breakfast is $1.30, and lunch is $2.55. 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.
DFNS encourages all families with students enrolled at non-CEP schools to complete a Free and Reduced-price Meals Application. All meals are free for students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals.
COVID-19 Outbreak Measures and Vaccine News
As new cases of COVID-19 increase locally, we have seen outbreaks occurring in multiple schools across the county. Temporary outbreak precautions for individual classrooms where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly helps prevent spread to vulnerable individuals and to the rest of school. Check out the FAQ page for more information about how outbreaks are managed. The newly approved COVID-19 updated vaccine will be available in our area in the next few weeks. For information about COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccine availability, refer to Vaccines.Gov.
Health Information
If your child has Covid, it is important for them to remain home for 5 days after testing positive. Additionally, they must wear a mask for 5 days after returning to school. Families no longer need to self-report Covid; however, it is important to notify your child's teacher and the main office when your child is out sick.
If you have any questions regarding health related matters, you can contact Ms. Kalter at Marley_S_Kalter@mcpsmd.org.
Attendance Matters!
If your child is going to be absent, please notify the teacher and Mrs. Sintetos at Catherine_G_Sintetos@mcpsmd.org.
**Please remember that vacations are not considered lawful absences. Details regarding lawful and unlawful absences can be found here.
**For absences to be considered excused, a note must be submitted in writing or emailed to Mrs. Sintetos. This includes medical appointments.
We are here to serve & 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) 740-6680
Mrs. Jennifer Atanda - Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Nicole Bamberger - Nicole_M_Bamberger@mcpsmd.org
FVES Parent Handbook
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
Twitter: @AngieFish_FVES