The Chameleon Connection: RISE

We want our children to come to school, ready to learn every day! Our students must all follow their teachers' explicit morning routine, which sets the tone for learning and creates a clear framework for success. Students follow their teacher's expectations/routine--- including eating breakfast, putting their belongings away, and completing a morning task before the first recess of the day at 7:40-7:55! Research is clear on when we get our bodies' energy right, our minds can concentrate better! Plus, there are social benefits for students, too! Thank you, Ms. Bowers in grade one for putting this routine into practice!!!

We need every parent at location A, B, C to pay close attention to this link on student safety for our Chameleon Convoy: Safety Tips: Chameleon Convoy

Virginia's Literacy Act calls for a new assessment called VALLS (see above) whereby we can see exactly where students are learning or needing supports on up to 12 different literacy and language tasks. Parents will learn more about this new assessment as part of the Virginia Literacy Act over the next several weeks. In addition, our grade 3 and grade 4 students must take the mandated Fall Growth Assessments for Reading and Math. Again, we will share information with parents as we receive this data.

GQES Vision: Thriving Literacy Community in a STEM School

GQES Mission: Chameleons RISE (Raising Intentionality by Strengthening Expectations)

GQES Belief: Chameleons Got HOPE!

Week 3: 8/26/24-8/30/24

Dear GQES Families,

Thank you for helping to get your child to school early or on time, ready to learn, every day! Here is some information: SAFETY TIPS for extended walk zone students and families!

Here is an excellent example of UPLIFTING! See: https://youuplift.com/garland-r-quarles-elementary-kindness-wall/. Please add and uplift each other and/or students!!!

Now, that we have a new morning routine in place for every classroom K-4, we wanted to let you know we have seen it is working because of your cooperation! THANK YOU! We want our children to come in, early and/or on time, eat their breakfast in the classroom, complete a small task, and then, head outside the first recess of the day at 7:40-7:55! We want to say thank you for cooperating with us! Our purpose is to maximize every minute we have with students including before school starts, to help them learn, grow, and thrive! Just a reminder:

• Official Start Time: The school day officially begins at 7:50 a.m.
• Official End Time: The school day officially ends at 2:30pm
• We need parents to line up: NOT before 2:20 pm; as we need to have access to our awning at anytime for safety.
• Arrival: Students are encouraged to arrive at school between 7:20 and 7:40 a.m.
• Dismissal: Students are to be picked up between 2:30 and 2:40 pm(signed out students whose parents come to school may line up at 2:20pm; not before; with A-L last names on one side of the awning and last names M-Z on the other side of the awning.). This is a supervised process daily.
• Check-In and Classroom Routine: Upon arrival, all students (K-4) will check in with their teacher and begin their classroom routine, which includes organizing students' belongings and completing a small task while eating breakfast (if they choose to eat breakfast at school) to help them transition into the school day.
• First Recess: From 7:40 to 7:55 a.m., K-4 students will have their first recess of the day, allowing them to engage in physical activity and socialize with their peers before classes begin.

This routine is designed to help students start their day in a calm, organized manner, setting a positive tone for learning. We appreciate your support in ensuring that your child arrives on time and is ready to participate. Our GQES staff will supervise the morning arrival and first recess to ensure safety.

It has gone well with our parents as car drivers who are TURNING RIGHT ONLY out of our parking lot, from 7:20-7:50am in the morning, at arrival. This avoids long lines, rushed drivers, or adults' road rage while we focus on KEEPING OUR STUDENTS and STAFF SAFE. Due to the crosswalk on Southwark, we are strongly encouraging car drivers to turn RIGHT out of our parking lot. Parents can travel up one block onto Kent Street and go left, right, straight, etc. without any hesitation.

Please keep helping your child learn their 5-digit lunch/breakfast codes for the cafeteria.

• By 8/26/24-8/30/24: Grade 3 will begin coming into the cafeteria on 8/27/24 (AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE by car or bus and input their 5 digit numbers) to grab their breakfast and go.
• By 9/4/24-9/6/24: Grade 2 will begin coming into the cafeteria 0n 9/5/24 (AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE by car or bus and input their 5 digit numbers) to grab their breakfast and go.
• We will ascertain how kindergarten and grade one is doing with their 5 digit codes as we move forward.

A few more details...

1. Please know your child needs to have their name labeled on their belongings including coats, jackets, hoods, backpacks, etc. This way, if it's left behind, we know who the owner is.
2. We will invite parents and/or guardians in for lunch after 9/9/24 after we have had enough time to teach our students the routines and expectations at school for lunch. Thank you for your patience.
3. We will conduct a lockdown drill within the next week for grades 1-4 as mandated by the State of Virginia.

If you have any questions or concerns, please each out to us at 540-662-3575. Thank you for partnering with us to help your child thrive!

Sincerely,

Joanie Hovatter

Principal, Garland R. Quarles Elementary School

(540) 662-3575 (Phone)

(540) 662-8449 (Fax)

The September Attendance Challenge for all elementary schools!

Please help our school win this September Attendance Challenge, sponsored by our school division!

SPED Advisory Information

GQES Chameleons have HOPE!!!

See the 2024-2025 School Calendar

Parent/Student Handbook 2024-2025

If you would like to view, here is Bryce Hamilton's Accidental Experts podcast showing the importance of our multiple recesses and the rationale for implementing them at GQES:

Here are the links:

https://youtu.be/4VhVQCjshCI?si=KMSot_7XnZ_-tm85

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accidental-experts-with-bryce-hamilton/id1733294868

If you don't want to watch it, no worries.

It's approximately 30 minutes.

Thank you!

ELA (Reading) and Math Supports for Parents to Help Students

Then, click on GQES's icon for the lunch menu. The menu is now interactive----you can discover hover your cursor over the food item and you will see nutrition information.

Sometimes, buses or routes can change. Always, verify with our front office for any transportation questions. Thank you!