Flower Valley Weekly Newsletter
Week of January 15, 2023
No School Monday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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From the Principal...
Dear Flower Valley Community,
This upcoming week marks a very special time to remember the contributions Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made to our country. To honor Dr. King's legacy, our students will be participating in their own acts of service. Depending on their grade, our students will be making cards for healthcare works, writing notes of appreciation to our building services team, cleaning up the school grounds, making cards for our service members, and so much more. I am very proud of the kindness and thoughtfulness of our Fireflies, and their dedication to our community.
On a personal note, I would like to share a special moment from this past week. I had the honor of attending the Change of Command ceremony at the United States Naval Academy Thursday. I was in absolute awe at the years of service that filled the room. This was also a momentous time in history, as Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids, the 65th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, is the first female and first Latina to serve in this capacity. Her service to our country is undeniable, and her leadership is such an asset to the Academy. It was truly inspirational to witness this historical moment!
Wishing all of you a peaceful weekend,
Dr. Fish
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Our FVES Vision
Table of Contents
Career Day
Winter Parent Academies
PTA Corner
Information from Previous Newsletters:
- Attendance Update
- MCPS Emergency Closure Information
- Transportation Information
- School Lunch
- ParentVue
- Health Information
FVES Parent Handbook
Career Day: May 3rd
Interested in volunteering for Career Day? Complete the interest form linked here.
Winter Parent Academies
MCPS has released its winter parent academies. These are opportunities for families to participate in virtual webinars about relevant topics such as communication, online safety tips for kids and teens, mindfulness, strategies for managing behaviors, and much more. Details are available here.
FVES PTA Information
Upcoming FVES Events
Club Yearbook Pictures: January 17th
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)
FVES PTA Game Night: 2/17 6:30-8PM at FVES
PTA Sponsored Silent Auction and Basketball Game: March 2nd at RHS
Reading Night: March 6th, 6-7:30
STEM Day: March 22nd
International Night: April 15th (Tentative)
PTA Sponsored Book Fair: April 15th-19th
PTA Sponsored STEM Night: April 18th, 5:30-7:30
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
- 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
It is critical for students to be in attendance at school every day. We understand that there are times when students may be ill or may have appointments that require them to be out of school; however, school performance is directly connected to attendance. MCPS has developed an action plan to address absenteeism. Please click here to see the county message regarding attendance. Let's do our best to be at school every day!
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.
MCPS Emergency Information: School Closings and Delays
In the event of inclement weather, please see the MCPS information linked here. Additionally, there is important system information about virtual learning here. Should the system determine the need for virtual learning during inclement weather days, we will communicate the important information to all families. Details regarding our plan for inclement weather days where MCPS determines it will be a virtual learning day are included here. If your student needs a Chromebook for home use, please see the information regarding requesting a Chromebook noted below.
Need to Request a Chromebook for Home Use?
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:
At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (English)
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
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.
Make ParentVue Work for You!
ParentVue is where you are able to access your student's grades, attendance, test scores, schedules, and so much more. Please see the quick guides below to set your preferences and see where to access all of the information available to you.
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
ParentVUE Quick Guides
English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ
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, school nurse, at Marley_S_Kalter@mcpsmd.org.
We are here to serve and 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