Lovettsville Connection

September 2024

Dear Lovettsville Families,

The school year is off to a great start and we couldn’t have done it without you. Your presence at our Back to School events and your commitment to helping us start the year off right is greatly appreciated. As I discussed at Back to School Night, student safety is my number one priority. You have my promise that I will do everything in my power to keep your children safe while they are here at school. Below is an overview of some of the most important procedures we have in place to keep your child safe.

Proper Vetting

All visitors to Lovettsville Elementary School must enter through the main office by using our secure vestibule. Our front office staff thoroughly vets each person attempting to enter our school. This includes checking for proper identification and confirming a clear purpose for each individual’s visit. Each individual’s identification is run through our Raptor visitor management system for safety. I am excited to inform you that we anticipate adding a visitor management specialist from Allied Security very soon in partnership with LCPS Safety and Security. This person will be in charge of vetting and routinely checking the doors, building, and grounds for safety. I will let you know as soon as this person is in place.

Drills

I can assure you that no LCPS school will drill more than we do. The more students practice these drills, the better prepared they are should we ever face a real emergency. I always encourage our students to go home and talk to their parents on days that we drill. Evacuation, lockdown, and severe weather drills are practiced multiple times each month.

See Something, Say Something

Our staff and students are taught to speak up to an administrator or teacher if they see something that causes them concern or seems out of place. Unlocked doors and doors that are propped open are immediately locked, closed and reported to administration.

Safety Shades/Doors

All classroom and exterior doors are kept locked at all times during the school day to prevent entry to our school and to facilitate a safe lockdown should this be needed. Each classroom has been equipped with drop down safety shades which prevent a line of sight into the classroom during a lockdown.

Emergency Management Plan

Lovettsville Elementary and LCPS require that a detailed emergency management plan be in place. This plan is shared with first responders and law enforcement personnel. The emergency management plan dictates exactly how staff will respond in the event of an emergency.

School Resource Officers

While elementary schools in LCPS do not have a uniformed School Resource Officer (SRO) on site, each elementary school has access to an SRO who has been assigned to that school. The SRO works in partnership with LCPS Safety and Security and the building principal to support drills, to assist with threat assessment, in the case of suspected criminal activity, and in response to an emergency. Lovettsville Elementary’s SRO is housed at Harmony Middle School in Purcellville.

While emergency events can not ever be totally avoided, I want you to have confidence in the fact that our staff and administrative team will always implement our emergency management plan with fidelity as we strive to provide a safe learning environment for each child in our building. Thank you for the continued partnership in assisting us with keeping Lovettsville Elementary safe for everyone.

For Lovettsville!

Daniel Lani

Principal

Hello LOV Families,

It’s so nice having our LOV artists back in the art room! We are ready and excited for all things art this school year… It's going to be the best year yet!

LOV artists are currently working on their Art to Remember art projects. We had an amazing art fundraiser with Art to Remember last fall and will be working with them again. More information about our fundraiser will be sent home in the next few weeks, so please be on the lookout. Art to Remember orders will be delivered in time for holiday gifting.

Exciting announcement… Mr. Mason has joined the LOV Art Department as our itinerant art teacher on Fridays. He has years of teaching experience and we are so lucky to have him on our team. He’s excited to create with our amazing artists.

If you would like to join us for an art class or would love to volunteer, please send me an email. We love to have visitors and always need an extra hand in making the school look artfully beautiful.

My email is: michelle.rancourt@lcps.org

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rancourt

LOV Art Teacher

Meet the Counselors

Mrs. Routzahn

Mrs. Routzahn is looking forward to another wonderful year at Lovettsville Elementary! It is hard to believe this is her 19th year at LOV and 21st year working for LCPS. This year she will be teaching classroom lessons to our first, third, and fifth grade students. She looks forward to partnering with Mrs. Kersten to support the needs of all Lovettsville students.😊

Mrs. Routzahn received her B.A. in Psychology from University of Delaware. She continued her education at the University of Virginia where she received her M.Ed. In School Counseling (K-12).

The Routzahn family lives across the river in Brunswick so please be sure to say “hi” if you see them out and about! We have 3 children Jack, Avery (8th graders) and Paige (3rd grader) and are always on the go with activities.

Mrs. Routzahn will be one of two full-time counselors at Lovettsville Elementary, Monday – Friday. Please feel free to reach out at any time if there are questions or concerns. She is happy to have the opportunity to support our wonderful school community of students, parents, and staff. Together we will make the 2024-25 school year fantastic!

katherine.routzahn@lcps.org

Mrs. Kersten

Mrs. Kersten is thrilled to begin her 2nd year at LOV and her 8th year as a School Counselor! Mrs. Kersten will be teaching and supporting K, 2nd, and 4th grade this year..

She completed her Master's degree from American Public University in School Counseling and her Bachelors degree from Liberty University in Psychology. She is also a National Certified Counselor through NBCC.

Mrs. Kersten currently resides in Charles Town, WV with her husband and two adult children but grew up in Northern IL in the Chicagoland area. For fun, she enjoys antique shopping, hiking, and kayaking with her family.

She truly finds it a joy working with students of all ages who need extra support to become successful and whole individuals. She looks forward to getting to know all students and their families this year.

Stephanie.Kersten@lcps.org

The Role of LCPS Elementary School Counselors

We will be providing bi-weekly classroom lessons on a variety of academic, social emotional, and career development topics. K-1 classroom lessons will be 25 mins and 2-5 classroom lessons will be 50 minutes.
Individual check ins and short-term counseling support
Small Group is a Tier 2 intervention service for some students to address academic or social/emotional needs. Participation is optional and parental permission is required.
Provide information for outside mental health resources
We are always happy to conference with parents via phone 540-751-2470, in person, or Google Meet. 😊

Classroom Lessons

August: Intro to the School Counselors & Leadership (4th & 5th)

September: School Success & Showing Respect to Others

Welcome back to the library! We have a new library assistant this year. Mrs. Whortles (Walters) is joining the team and we are very excited to have her! Please give her a warm LOV welcome when you see her.

We have many fun and exciting things planned for you this year. We will begin the year with tips on how to care for books, discussing the types of books we enjoy reading, as well as suggestions for new books to purchase for the library. 3rd-5th grade students will also learn how to perform a search for a book in the library.

Throughout the first quarter, I will be introducing the students to the Virginia Reader’s Choice books for the 2024-2025 school year. Students will also be learning about digital citizenship topics. Media balance, being internet smart, copyright and plagiarism, and digital footprints will be covered. Click on the link to see a copy of a digital learning pledge you can fill out with your child.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7lb4ir7goE-qsgmhHVCixFQAIBxS36MvkVxMovlTDA/edit?usp=sharing

The library schedule is a bit different this year. Students will be visiting the library every week. They will come one week for a quick 15-minute check out and then the second week will be a library lesson with an additional check out. Please check with your child’s teacher to see what day(s) they have library.

And last, but not least, September is Library Card Month. If you or your child do not have a library card, please visit the library to sign up for a library card!

Finally, thank you to everyone who completed the summer reading challenge! I heard many students earned free ice cream from Tootsie’s!

Our music program at Lovettsville is getting ready for an exciting year! Mr. Ford is so excited to continue to bring music experiences back into our student lives. During the month of September, students in Kindergarten and first grade are finding their voice through vocal exploration activities and singing games. Students are also learning how to perform music rhythms through body percussion activities and playing on instruments. Second grade students are also refining their voice through vocal exploration and vocal modeling activities. Students are exploring different world instruments as they help reenact the story “Drum Song”. Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade students are starting to review complex music rhythms and creating music. Students will be participating in a fun Rhythmic Bowling activity to help reinforce their rhythm reading skills. Students are also starting melodic composition activities through sites such as Quaver music and Chrome Music Lab!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Chorus Registration for 4th and 5th grade students closes Wednesday, September 4th. Click this link for more information and to sign up.

Mr. Ford is looking forward to another exciting school year! Please email him at antonio.ford@lcps.org with any questions you may have!

Welcome back Lovettsville students and families! We are so excited to see all of the students in PE. We promise to make things fun, worthwhile, and healthy for everyone.

A few reminders to help us all have the most fun:

Students must wear sneakers to PE.
Shorts need to be worn under dresses.
Dr. notes are required to be exempt from PE classes.

Mr. Brockway

· Full time at Lovettsville Elementary

· 24th year teaching PE (All at Lovettsville Elementary)

· Loves to play golf, ride his bicycle, and cooking

· Goal: Inspire students and families to live a healthy lifestyle by being physical active and eating healthy foods.

Mr. Harris

· Full time PE teacher at Lovettsville ES

· 18th year teaching PE

· Plays golf, boating, fishing

· Goal: Inspire students to love playing, moving, and exercising!

Welcome back, Parents & Students!

First, let me introduce myself. I'm Kristie Bohn, the Gifted Resource Teacher at Lovettsville Elementary. This is my third year here at Lovettsville but it is my 8th year as a Gifted Resource teacher in Loudoun and my 25th year teaching overall. I am thrilled and honored to spend every day interacting with your incredible children.

Over the past few years, the LCPS Gifted Education department has worked overtime to transform the gifted services delivery model to its current version. Now, in all elementary schools across the county, gifted resource teachers like me deliver the full menu of gifted education at your child's home school. That means SEARCH, EDGE, DCI, and FUSION (the revised FUTURA) all take place with me right here at Lovettsville. Scroll down to read more about each program.

I am incredibly proud to be a part of Lovettsville's collaborative, hard-working, forward-thinking team. If you have any questions about the gifted programs, how and when students can be identified for gifted services, or any other related topic, email me anytime at kristina.bohn@lcps.org. Watch for updates on lessons, explorations, and activities in future newsletters!

Warmly,

Kristie Bohn

Welcome back Lovettsville!

The first few weeks are busy times for the tech team! All students receive a Chromebook Responsibility lesson during the first few days of school. 3rd graders also receive a new device AND create a strong password and learn about why strong passwords are so important.

My biggest reminders for all students are always:

1. Make sure to bring their fully charged device to school every day.

2. Only use apps their teacher directs them to use in either LCPSGO or Schoology. Please be on the lookout for Permission Click forms from your child's teacher that will include apps the class may be using throughout the year.

3. Do not share usernames or passwords with anyone. In the younger grades that use Quick Cards, I stress not using their Quick Card to log someone else into a computer. Grades 3-5 know where and how to change passwords if they believe their password has been compromised.

If you haven't signed up to receive weekly emails from Lightspeed, here is information to help guide you to do this if interested. Lightspeed's emails give you a snapshot of how your child is using their Chromebook, both at home and at school. You can also sign up for a Lightspeed Parent Account, which gives you even more details about the student's Chromebook use.

If you have any technology related questions, don't hesitate to reach out - allison.pendilhe@lcps.org

Hello Lovettsville Elementary Families! Welcome back for another year of learning and growing 🙂

My name is Roxanna Horton, and not only am I one of your fifth grade teachers, I am also our school’s Equity Lead Teacher. What this means is that I get a chance to share information and resources that help all of our students feel academically challenged, valued, and an integral part of our school community.

As we look to September, we can celebrate and recognize our Hispanic friends, families, and historical figures that have made great contributions to our country during “Hispanic Heritage Month”. One of the parts of this job I enjoy is finding rich literature to share with our teachers that reflects many of our amazing cultures. I will be sharing stories from our library weekly to honor these Americans.

One group of students I look forward to working with and expanding upon is our Unity Squad. These will be selected students in grades 3-5 that will have a voice in our school’s unity, acceptance, and equity this coming school year. In next month’s newsletter there will be an application the children can complete if they are interested. I will be making announcements in the coming weeks about Unity club as well.

Another great program we are excited to start up again is our Friday morning show editions of “Culture Corner”. Starting next Friday, we will be sharing family cultural traditions and asking students to share on this special segment. After next Friday, students will be able to sign up and share celebrations, customs, and traditions they do with their families. The form children will need to fill out to get on the morning show for this segment will be available as a google form and paper handout. Teachers will receive these in the coming weeks.

We will have our “ A Night at the Museum” event return next March, and we will start sharing out information on this at the end of our first quarter together

I know it will be a great year! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at rhorton@lcps.org.

Thank you again for your support!

LCPS Commitment to Equity

LCPS centers equity as one of its foundational core values. For our community, equity means being committed to providing a safe, supportive, inclusive, affirming, and respectful environment for each student and staff member that fosters success, growth, and academic rigor.

The cultivation of this environment requires us to reject and condemn the use of hate speech, racial slurs,antisemitism, and any action or behavior that discriminates based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, orientation, gender expression, socio-economic status, religion, ability, or other cultural identities or expression. Such noninclusive speech, behavior, and actions do not reflect who we are as a learning community.

We embrace and value the unique identities, backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and needs of each student and employee. Celebrating our diversity is important and helps define us as a school division. Demonstrating the courage to address inequities and remove barriers represents an integral part of our collective effort towards excellence in education. Equity is the vehicle that leads to greater access, opportunity, and equality so that each student is

empowered to make meaningful contributions to the world.

September 2 - No School

September 4 - PTO Meeting in LOV Library

September 9 - Breakfast with Bears (last names A-L)

September 10 - Breakfast with Bears (last names M-Z)

September 28 - Octoberfest Breakfast/Kinderfest

PTO After School Programs

ASP IS WIN-WIN-WIN!

LOV PTO is busy collecting exciting class ideas for this Spring’s After School Program (ASP). ASP is a great way for our STUDENTS to have FUN, be exposed to new topics, for our ASP INSTRUCTORS to earn EXTRA MONEY and for the PTO to earn FUNDS for our classrooms.

The Instructors: YOU!!! We would love to offer ASP classes taught by the LOV community including

teachers, staff and parents. As an ASP Instructor, you will be able to choose the class topic, the day it is offered, the maximum number of enrolled students (anywhere from 10 - 25) and the grade range. Instructors should be at the school no later than 2:10pm to ensure enough time to set-up for your course.

The Class: What is your specialty? What is your favorite topic…cooking, sports, sewing, comic books, trivia,

cheerleading, classic board games or chess ? You name it and we will consider your idea. The PTO will then publish the class line up and register all students for classes. All you need to do is bring your ideas and enthusiasm!

The Dates: The ASP session will run for 7 weeks, October 7th to November 22nd. Classes will be held once a week, 2:30 - 3:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday,or Thursday. Please note there are no classes October 31 -November 5th as LCPS is closed during that time.

The Pay: INSTRUCTORS: Get paid to give back to our community and kids!

★ PTO will pay you $45 per student registered in each of your classes

★ LOV Parents and Businesses are required to provide proof of insurance (contact asp@lovpto.org

if you need assistance obtaining insurance.)

★ Supplies will be reimbursed or provided by the PTO if approved in advance.

Questions: Have questions? Please email asp@lovpto.org for additional information.

The Deadline: Please return this form by 6pm Wednesday, September 4th asp@lovpto.org.

Thank you for supporting LOV PTO.