Weekly Firefly Newsletter
Week of September 12, 2022
September 14th: Early Release Day
Dismissal at 12:55
By clicking on the icon to the right, you can translate this newsletter into multiple languages. Just click your selected language.
Weekly Message from Mrs. Fish
The slide presentation from the evening can be accessed here. Please remember to provide us with your feedback, as we always want to refine our practices to best meet the needs of our students and families. The feedback form can be accessed here. If you were not able to attend, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or to me and Ms. Castillo if you have any questions.
With Firefly Pride!
Mrs. Fish
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.
Show Your School Spirit Every Friday! Wear your FVES shirt or something blue or yellow.
Important Items in This Week's Newsletter
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- MAP Assessments and DIBELS
- OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
- Important Health Records Reminder
- Arrival and Dismissal
- School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
- Seasonal Roots Fundraiser
- Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy Form
- Integrated Pest Management
- Curriculum Corner: Benchmark and Eureka
- Counseling Corner
- Visitors
- PTA Corner
- School Cash Online
- Covid Protocols
- Attendance Information
- Helpful Resources
- Save the Date
- School Contact Information
Hispanic Heritage Month
If you are looking for ways to help your child learn more about the contributions of Hispanic-Americans, several organizations have come together to create the resource located here. We will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at FVES through read-alouds, morning announcements, book displays, class trivia, and much more!
MAP Assessments and DIBELS
There are two important assessments that are coming up this month for students. The MAP Growth assessments provide teachers, students, and parents with an accurate assessment of a student’s ability, accurately measuring what a child knows and needs to learn unaided by accommodations. DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills. This test helps teachers and schools determine how students are performing on important reading skills.
The required testing is listed below.
- MAP-P Math: Grades Kindergarten - 2nd
- DIBELS Reading: Grades Kindergarten - 2nd
- MAP-M Math: Grades 3-5
- MAP-R Reading: Grades 3-5
OUTCLASS: Out Of Class On Demand Resources for Students
Important Health Records Reminder
Arrival and Dismissal
The car loop can be accessed at 8:35 am. Staff will arrive on duty at 8:40 am. Students must not exit their car until a staff member is on duty. All parents received the Traffic Circle Safety Guidelines and blue car rider name tag on Monday, August 29th. Please display this in the front of your car window during dismissal. Please remember that for our students' safety our car riders are required to be picked up and dropped off in the car rider loop only, not on the side of the street.
The bus loop in front of the school is for buses only between the hours of 8:30-9:15 am and from 3:00-3:45 pm. Information about bus routes can be found on the FVES webpage here.
Please call the main office by 3:00 if you need to pick up your child for an early dismissal or let us know about a change in their transportation home.
School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menus
Seasonal Roots FVES Fundraiser
Flower Valley Elementary School is partnering with Seasonal Roots to bring healthy, delicious food to our community, to support local farmers and artisans, and to raise money to support programs for Flower Valley students!
Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers “dirt to doorstep” to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties and more.
To access the Seasonal Roots market, you sign-up as a member and pay an annual membership fee. Through our collaboration, the fee is reduced by 50% - it’s just $25. For each Flower Valley Elementary School family that joins, the school receives $20!
Once you are a member, what you order and when you order are up to you! There is no obligation. You can select exactly what produce and extras you want, skip or pause weekly deliveries, and cancel anytime. The online market opens Friday at 2:00PM and closes at midnight on Sunday. Orders are delivered on Wednesdays in Montgomery County.
To join Seasonal Roots and earn a $20 donation for Flower Valley Elementary School, use promotional code FVES at https://www.seasonalroots.com/fves.
Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy
Curriculum Corner
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.
Counseling Corner
Please complete the following google form if you are in need of resources for your family such as Friday Snack Bags, Holiday Giving donations, backpacks, or other resources. You may also reach out to Mrs. Atanda, School Counselor, at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org or 240-740-1780. You may also send a note into school with your child.
School Visitors
Flower Valley Elementary School PTA Corner
Did you know the PTA organizes several events every month for students, teachers and families? Memberships go a long way towards enriching our community. Join or renew today to support the PTA. You'll have a vote at PTA meetings and access to the online directory.
Buy fun new spirit wear for students and parents until Fri., Sept. 16th. Show your Firefly colors on school spirit days and at events! See the latest styles
Several exciting PTA volunteer opportunities remain including our silent auction chair. Help with one of our most popular events or learn more about the PTA by contacting president@fvespta.org. You can also volunteer for just a few hours per year or support other Flower Valley favorites like the book fair, parent-staff basketball game, or fifth grade fun day.
School Cash Online
Covid Safety Protocols
Important Dates in September
September 14th: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:55)
September 21st: PTA Restaurant Night at Villa Maya
September 26th: No School for Students
September 30th: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:55)
Save the Date
October 6th - Picture day: Individual Pictures
October 7th, 5-7pm - PTA Sponsored Parent/Staff Kickball Game
October 10th, 9-11:00am - Parent Open House
October 17th-21st - PTA Sponsored Book Fair
October 20th, 6:30-8:00pm - FVES Family Reading Night
October 28th, 2:00-3:15 - Fall Costume Parade and Harvest Party
October 29th, 5:30-7:30pm - PTA Sponsored Masquerade Festival
November 21st - Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day at FVES
December 5th - Picture Retakes
December 13th, Time TBD - FVES Musical Production
January 17th - Group/Class Pictures
February 1st: Winter Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm
February 14th, 2:30-3:15pm - Valentine’s Day Parties
February 17th, 6:30-8:00pm - PTA Sponsored Bingo
March 26th, 2-3pm - PTA Sponsored Fun Run
April 20th, 5:30-7pm - PTA and FVES STEAM Night
April 24th-28th - PTA Sponsored Book Fair
April 26th - Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic
May 6th, 9:30am-1:00pm - PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive
Field Day, TBD
May 16th, Time TBD - FVES International Night
May 21st, 1-4pm - PTA Sponsored Carnival
June 1st: Spring Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm
5th Grade Promotion, Date and Time TBD
*Please remember these dates are subject to change. There will also be several PTA sponsored virtual nights for families throughout the year.
Attendance Information
If your child is going to be absent, please email 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 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.
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
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
Mrs. Padma Radhakrishnan, School Administrative Secretary – Padma_Radhakrishnan@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
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