The Chameleon Connection: RISE

In our courtyard, we have a beautiful storybook trail to come and read about how we are all connected! Our students can read the book throughout the trail!

We are teaching students to 'lei' off drugs by wearing our lei's and Hawaiian colors as Mr. Bowman's class did!

Our theme: "You have the power to say no to drugs!"

Without a doubt, this is a great opportunity for students to learn how to swim and stay safe in the water. Shout out to Mr. Grove for organizing this opportunity for our students!

• We know parking is not easy at our school. It is best to plan ahead. If you are a parent who is signing out a student at dismissal, park on a street or in a parking space that is legal. We do not want folks to receive tickets for parking illegally. Follow our procedures----have your license or identification in the event we do not recognize you, come to our school and wait patiently in your car, do NOT COME STAND UNDER THE AWNING BEFORE 2:20 in the event of an emergency. And, under no circumstances, do NOT be on our playground or fenced off area at our playground during the school day. Thank you for your cooperation.
  

Please be kind and respectful for those who need handicapped parking and/or have placards for this need. Too many folks are not following the law. Thank you. We also do not want folks to receive tickets for not following the law.

GQES Vision: Thriving Literacy Community in a STEM School

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

GQES Belief: Chameleons Got HOPE!

Week 12: 10/28/24-11/1/24

Dear GQES Families,

We want to share some important insights about how screen time can impact the well-being of young children. Research highlighted in The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt shows that excessive screen use—especially through devices with social media or internet access—can negatively affect children’s mental health. Overexposure to screens has been linked to increased anxiety, difficulty focusing, and disrupted sleep patterns, all of which can hinder students' academic and emotional development.

Haidt emphasizes that children benefit more from independent play and in-person interactions, which foster problem-solving and social skills. In contrast, reliance on screens can lead to social comparison and addictive behaviors, making it harder for children to regulate emotions and focus during learning tasks. By setting boundaries around screen time, both at home and in school, we can support healthier development for our children.

We encourage families to explore alternative activities, such as outdoor play or family reading time, to replace unnecessary screen use. Together, we can create a balanced environment that nurtures our students’ growth both academically and emotionally.

Thank you for participating in our Red Ribbon Week where we are promoting being drug free. This week affords us an opportunity for schools to promote drug awareness and encourage students to commit to living drug-free. This national campaign typically runs during the last week of October, with various activities and themes to engage students in meaningful ways. Please see below our Red Ribbon Week Plans.

Remember to help us make sure we have safety at all times at our school. This includes coming on campus after 2:20, for dismissal, so in the event of an emergency, the necessary first responders must arrive and you must not be a barrier to this process. In addition, please make sure you do not walk on school campus (playground, sidewalks that connect us to the sidewalks) during school hours: 7:20-2:30. If you need to come on campus, follow the protocol: Park. Arrive. Have your ID ready. Thank you for your cooperation!!

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

Jennifer DiMarco, Assistant Principal

Garland R. Quarles Elementary School

(540) 662-3575 (Phone)

(540) 662-8449 (Fax)

10/24/24: Dress in your super hero swag: "You have the power to be drug free."

10/25/24: Dress in Lei's and Hawaiian clothing: "You can lei off drugs."

10/28/24: Dress in boots or camouflage: "Give drugs the boot."

10/29/24: Dress in pajamas (not night shirts): "Dreaming of being drug free."

10/30/24: Dress in your favorite sports team's jersey or gear: "Team up against drugs."

10/31/24: Dress in favorite costume (No masks and/or no weapons): "Say Boo to drugs."

Our students loved dressing up as Super Heroes, to have the power to be drug free as part of Red Ribbon Week!

October is Bullying Prevention Month

https://www.wps.k12.va.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=2709&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=32912&PageID=1

These youngsters loved wearing their bright colors, Hawaiian shirts, and lei's last week for Red Ribbon Week!

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!