🦅April is Autism Awareness Month.

🦅April is Month of the Military Child

🦅April Is School Library Month

🦅April 3, Paraprofessional Day

🦅April 4, PTO Spring Fling Dance

School Librarian Day

🦅April 7, Good News Club @ 3:45 PM

Art Club Session 3 @ 3:45

🦅 April 8, Art Club Session 3 @ 3:45

🦅April 9, 3rd Grade Field Trip/Camp Kum-Ba-Yah

K Alphabet Fashion Show @ 2:30 /Cafeteria

🦅April 10, School Board Meeting @ 6:00 PM/School Board Office

PTO Meeting @ 6:00PM/Cafeteria

🦅April 14-18 Spring Break/School Closed

🦅April 11, Show Up Day

5th Grade Field Trip/Monelison Middle School

🦅April 14-18,Spring Break/School Closed

🦅April 21, Teacher Planning Day-Students do not attend

🦅April 21-25, Public School Volunteer Appreciation Day,

🦅April 22, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Earth Day

🦅April 23, Kindergarten Registration @8:00-4:00

Administrative Professionals Day

🦅April 24th, Kindergarten Registration @ 8:00-6:00

Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM

🦅 April 25-May 2, Book Fair

🦅April 28, Elon Good News Club @ 3:45 PM

🦅April 29, Art Show/Book Fair Family Night @ 4:15-6:15

🦅May 2, Interim Report Distribution

School Lunch Hero Day

🦅 May 5, Good News Club @3:45

May 5-9, National Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy April! As we move into Spring, we are excited to continue to provide enriching educational experiences for our students. I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates, events, and reminders for the month ahead.

Spring Break
Our Spring Break is just around the corner, and we hope that everyone enjoys a well-deserved break. School will be closed to students from Monday, April 14 - Monday, April 21. This is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. Students return to the building on Tuesday, April 22

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conferences will take place on Monday, May 5. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to meet with teachers and discuss student progress. Please keep an eye out for information from your child’s teacher about how to schedule your appointment. This will be the last parent teacher conference night of the school year.

Spring Assessments
As we move forward in the school year, students will be completing end of year SOL assessments to help us track their academic progress. These assessments help us ensure that each child is receiving the support they need to succeed. Please encourage your child to give their best effort as their performance on these tests is indicative of the hard work both students and teachers have displayed this school year. The testing days are as follows:

Reminders

• Attendance: Consistent attendance is essential for academic success. Please make sure your child arrives at school on time and is ready to learn. If your child will be absent, be sure to notify the school as soon as possible.
  
  

• Dress Code: As the weather begins to warm up, please remember that our school dress code remains in effect. Please review the guidelines with your child to ensure they are in compliance.
  
  

• End of Year Events: We will host our 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:00 pm. Quarter 4 awards will be on Thursday, May 29 (time TBD). Please mark your calendars!
  
  

We are looking forward to a productive and enjoyable month of learning. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Together, we can continue to make this a fantastic school year for all of our students.

SOARING ON,

Mrs. Saunders

Reminder for parents of students in grades 3, 4, & 5.

EES will be teaching Family Life Education lessons during the week of April 7, 2025. The ACPS opt in / opt out form for your child's grade level were sent home in your child's Monday folder on March 3rd. Please make sure you return the completed form to the EES office.

Ms. Joanna Nisbet, M.S. Ed

P.E. Teacher

Elon Elementary School

jnisbet@amherst.k12.va.us

🎵🎶

In 2018, the Virginia Department of Education established regulations requiring that all

students develop an Academic and Career Plan Portfolio (ACPP) in elementary school. The ACPP

allows students to explore a variety of career exploration tools, including information about

their skills, interests, and career values such as responsibility and dependability, in an electronic

format. Throughout their school experience, students will continue to revise and update their

electronic portfolio as they refine their career plans.

Third, fourth and fifth grade Elon students will use the Virginia Education Wizard this year to

develop their Academic and Career Plan Portfolio. The Wizard provides valuable career

exploration and awareness resources for both students and parents. Each student will have a

personal Wizard account in which to develop their career exploration.

Amherst County Public Schools is excited about the opportunities the Wizard provides students

and families, and the alignment this online tool has with our current Virginia school counseling

career standards. Families may go directly to the Virginia Education Wizard site through their

student’s Clever account. We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource for

career exploration!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Gail Moore, STEAM and Instructional Technology

Resource Teacher at gmoore@amherst.k12.va.us. Thank you for your commitment and

continued support.

Gail Moore
Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT)
STEAM Teacher at Elon Elementary

Mrs. Domarsky's class participated in "Book Madness" and our winning book was "Dragons Are the Worst" they were very excited to read a book

Our fourth-grade science field trip to release trout in the Pedlar River on April 4th was a huge success! The students loved getting hands-on experience with wildlife conservation, seeing firsthand how their classroom lessons connect to the real world. Watching the trout swim off into their new home was an unforgettable moment!

Not only was this trip fun, but it also helped instill a sense of responsibility for protecting our ecosystems. A big thank you to everyone who made this experience possible—our educators, volunteers, and local conservation groups.

Thank you Ms. Amanda Stanbery (MMS Counselor) for your visit to our 5th graders. You were able to answer questions and make our 5th graders excited about attending middle school.

"Thank you to our amazing PTO for hosting the Spring Fling Dance for our Eagles! The decorations were absolutely beautiful, and our students had a blast dancing the night away. We truly appreciate all the effort that went into making this such a fun and memorable event!"

Autism Awareness Month is observed every April to increase understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals with autism. It’s a time to educate communities about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), celebrate the strengths and contributions of autistic individuals, and advocate for inclusivity.

Click on the link to view the book fair website

book fair website

If you would like to volunteer for the book fair sign up by clicking the link below. Just a reminder that all volunteers are required to have a background check.

sign-up

Congratulations to 4th grade for earning the best attendance for March and an awesome GLOW PARTY.

Elon's 3rd quarter awards ceremony was March 28th. We are so proud of our Eagles and excited to see them continue to SOAR at new heights.

A huge thank you to all the families and teachers who have guided our Eagles in their success.

A HUGE congratulations to our Math 24 team who competed in the Math 24 county competition on March 11.

Our very own Bradley King was crowned the “Best of the Rest”!

On March 8th Elon Elementary Archery team competed in the state 3D and Bullseye tournament They did not disappoint. Elon won 1st place in the Bullseye, 2nd place in 3D.

Congratulations team, we are so proud of you.

In the coming months, many activities are planned so that our students can witness real-life examples of the character traits needed to be contributing members of a community. Our social media accounts will show off all of the great things happening in our schools while connecting those activities to important character traits. Each month will have a theme, such as encouraging students to be kind, thankful, or healthy.

Lunch Times:

Kindergarten- 10:55-11:25

1st Grade-11:15-11:40

2nd Grade-11:30-11:59

3rd Grade-12:35-1:04

4th Grade-11:45-12:14

5th Grade-12:15-12:44

A big shoutout to all the 3rd grade parents who donated snacks for the faculty & staff. The pick me up keeps us going thought the day.

April 4th was Librarian Appreciation Day. A huge thank you to Mrs. Merat for being the heart of our library and a true champion of learning. From curating the best books to helping us find exactly what we need, even when we have no idea what we’re looking for, you make the library a magical place.

Your dedication, creativity, and kindness don’t go unnoticed. Whether it’s organizing events, recommending a great read, or just offering a quiet space and a smile, you do it all, and you do it with so much heart .

.

April 3rd was Paraprofessional Appreciation Day. Thank you for all the support, patience and hard work! We appreciate all that you do for our Eagles. You are making a positive impact every day.

Elon would be lost without you.

April is National Month of Hope. Hope comes in many forms. It is “an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes…in our lives or the world at large”. We can provide hope to one another by being a positive role model in a child’s life or investing our time and resources into meaningful community initiatives. We can provide encouragement to a friend suffering with health issues or volunteer our time at local homeless shelters or food pantries. We can be an example of hope for others and teach our children the importance of such in the words we say and the things we do.

Here are a few ways you and your family can spread hope now and in the future:

• Volunteer by reading to children in schools.

• Experience meaningful and healthy communication with loved ones, family, friends, co-workers, and colleagues.

• Giving of time, food, and money to help families in need.

• Bring hope to those in a nursing home by writing letters and visiting.

• Post words of hope on social media.

• Sharing your story of overcoming difficulties with those who are going through hard times.

• Lending a helping hand to those in need.

• Find additional ways to volunteer in your community.

• Cleaning up areas where there is trash such as parks and beaches.

"Hope is a function of struggle—we develop hope not during the easy or comfortable times, but through adversity and discomfort. Hope is forged when our goals, pathways, and agency are tested and when change is actually possible." – Brené Brown

Kristy Mays, BSW, MAT, CTP-E

School Counselor

kmays@amherst.k12.va.us

Elizabeth Barker, a 2nd grader at Elon Elementary, has been selected as this month’s Star Student because she works so hard in the classroom and is meeting the goals she has set for herself. Elizabeth is kind and is a good role model for younger students as well. She has had a lot of change this school year and is so very resilient. Keep SOARING Elizabeth!

Tammy McCray from the child nutrition team at Elon, has been selected as this month’s Star Staff because of her contributions to the school culture and community. Ms. Tammy is always available to lend a hand, give a smile, or make the cafeteria inviting with her creativity and talent. Thank you Ms. Tammy for being a bright spot in every Eagles day!

Fourth Grade Families! The Elon PTO invites the fourth grade families to help stock the teachers' lounge for the month of April. If you are able, add a box of snacks to your grocery order and drop it at the office or send it in with your Elon student!

Click on the link to view the Amazon list of teachers' favorite snacks: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1OEK4CJK0U9MV

Spring Fling event was Friday April 4th, It was a huge success. A big thank you for everyone that helped out with this fun event.

We're excited to team up with Tidal Wave Auto Spa again this year to offer amazing car wash deals for the spring and pollen season! Get a high-quality car wash while supporting Elon at the same time. The fundraiser will run from April 21st to May 9th.

April's PTO meeting will be Thursday April 10th from 6pm to 7pm in the cafeteria. Please join

Dates through the end of the year are:

May 15th

Thank you, parents and guardians, for all you do!

Elon Elementary PTO

elonpto@amherst.k12.va.us

Happy Spring, Elon Eagles!

It’s the beginning of spring and it sure has been beautiful. This month also includes spring break, which we hope everyone has a fun and safe break!

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) recognizes April 2 as National Walking Day. I know there are quite a few families that like to take afternoon walks after school so they not only move their bodies, but to get in some fresh spring air. Pedestrians, please look both ways before crossing the street and make sure that you all are walking in the direction of oncoming traffic, that way both you and drivers can see each other easier. Drivers, remember that pedestrians DO have the right-of-way. Make sure to stop at all crosswalks and if there are no crosswalks accessible, be friendly and allow people to cross safely. I’ve seen many accidents involving pedestrians, oftentimes ending in fatalities. Be mindful of not only cars and bikes, but also to the people around you. Some of these accidents are a result of distracted driving, put the phone down. The phone call or text message can wait, especially if it helps prevent fatal accidents.

The American Traffic Safety Services Association recognizes National Work Zone Awareness Week on April 21-25. Speeding already puts your safety and others’ safety at risk. Adding in the factor of a work zone where construction workers are present could make a tragic traffic accident. Code of Virginia 46.2-878.1 highlights what is classified as a work zone. If you violated this traffic law, you can be issued a Virginia Uniform Summons and potentially have up to a $500 fine. Keep this in mind while driving through these work zones.

Deputy Brianna Aiken

baiken@amherst.k12.va.us

Lost and found items are in the cafeteria. Elon has already collected several items in the lost and found, jackets, lunchboxes, cups, etc. If your student has misplaced an item please encourage them to check the lost & found.

All students must have their NAME on items with a SHARPIE marker. This prevents us from donating these items.

All items that are not claimed will be donated at the end of each 9 weeks (quarterly)

ACPS High School Students—Looking to recover a credit or get ahead this summer? Sign up for Summer School Academy and complete ONE high school course by July 3!

Location:

Monelison Middle School (for all ACPS high school students!)

Who Can Enroll?

Rising 9th – 12th graders (current 8th–11th grade students)

Take ONE course for credit recovery or new credit

Cost Details:

Repeat Course: $75

New Course: $125

Out-of-County Students: $175 (with approval)

Economics & Personal Finance (EPF) is FREE!

Important Dates & Deadlines:

New Course Registration Closes: May 16

Credit Recovery Registration Closes: June 4

Last Day to Request Transportation for Credit Recovery: May 28 (No transportation for EPF)

Program Schedule:

June 4 – July 3, 2025 (Monday-Friday)

No school on June 19 (Holiday)

8:00 AM – 12:30 PM daily

EPF Students: Course begins virtually May 27-30, with in-person W!SE testing on June 26 & 27. Retesting (if needed) is July 2 & 3.

SOL Testing Requirements:

- If you're taking Algebra 1, Biology, World Geography, or English 11, you'll need to complete SOL prep and testing the week of July 28 – August 1 at ACHS.

- If you are taking Geometry, Earth Science, World History 2, or US/VA History, you’ll receive remediation and take the SOL in September.

Don’t wait! Register now and make your summer count!

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf3uIngQC44SW.../viewform

Middle School Summer Academy—Sign Up Now!

ACPS Families—Is your child a rising 6th, 7th, or 8th grader? This summer, give them the extra support and confidence they need for the next school year at our Middle School Summer Academy!

Location:

Monelison Middle School (for all ACPS middle school students!)

Who Can Attend?

Current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders (rising 6th–8th)

8th graders who failed both reading & math SOLs

Dates & Details:

June 4 – July 3, 2025 (Monday-Friday)

No school on June 19 (Holiday)

8:00 AM – 12:30 PM daily

Focused on English & Math success!

Deadline to register: May 16, 2025! Don't miss this opportunity for remediation, growth, and a strong start to the next school year!

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfn7srnXOI2tf.../viewform

Summer Learning Fun Awaits!

ACPS Families—Is your child currently in Pre-K through 4th grade? Get ready for an exciting summer filled with learning, growth, and fun at our Elementary Summer Academies!

Two Locations:

Central Elementary

Madison Heights Elementary

Who Can Attend?

Students in Pre-K (rising K) through 4th grade (rising 5th) who need extra support in reading and math can join us for a summer of engaging lessons and hands-on enrichment activities!

Dates & Details:

June 4 – July 3, 2025 (Monday-Friday)

No school on June 19 (Holiday)

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM daily

Best Lab Services available!

Spots are limited, so don’t wait! Register by May 16, 2025!

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfccvm.../viewform

Good News Club

The Good News Club will be every Monday that school is in session @ 3:45 PM.

IMPORTANT!!

Elon 2024-2025 Attendance Policy

Dear Elon Families:

Your student’s attendance is very important to us! We believe that school attendance is directly related to academic achievement and that the development of good attendance habits is important for ALL students. Please review Elon’s Attendance Policy outline below to ensure you are familiar with how to submit notes if your student must miss school and the processes the division follows regarding attendance accountability.

When a student is absent:

• Parent/Guardian must provide a written note/email or doctor’s note within 3 days of returning to school, stating the reason for the absence.

• Absence notes can be sent directly to the teacher, but please include Mrs.Curd, Assistant Principal at hcurd@amherst.k12.va.us in the absence communication.

• Parents/Guardians may excuse 10 days of absences with a parent/guardian note per school year.

• Once a student has reached 10 days of parent/guardian notes then a doctor’s note or other documentation will be required to excuse any further absences.

3 Unexcused Absence Contact:

• After a student has missed 3 days of school, Mrs. Mays, EES School Counselor, will make a call home to check on student/family and encourage notes to be turned in.

5 Unexcused Absences:

• After a student has 5 unexcused absences an in-person Attendance Meeting will be held with the parent/guardian and Mrs. Curd, Assistant Principal, to create an Attendance Plan.

• If an unexcused absence occurs after the Attendance Plan is created the Amherst County Public School’s Division Attendance Officer will handle any further absences.

• Ten unexcused absences will result in a truancy petition with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Curd or Mrs. Mays.

Hello Elon families,

April is here! how exciting ,BUT it brings allergies along with the beautiful flowers.

I will ask that you send your kid (kids) to school with plenty of fluids.

Temperatures outside will also be warming up, if you have a concern about your child being in the sun at recess please contact me. 434- 528-6496 #2

Just a few reminders:

1. Please remember not to send medication to school with students.
2. If a student has a fever keep them home fever free for 24 hours, Anything above 100 and higher.
3. Strep Throat -Students must stay home 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic
4. If I have sent clothing home with your student please send these items back after they have been washed.

If you have any questions please feel free to call or email me Karen McDaniel School Nursel/EMT)

434-528-6496 #2

kmcdaniel@amherst.k12.va.us

Please see the attached document regarding returned checks.

If you are interested in volunteering at Elon or plan to chaperone a student’s field trip you are required to have had a background check and fingerprinting completed. These are conducted at the School Administration Building (153 Washington St, Amherst, VA 24521) in the Office of Human Resources on Monday– Friday (except holidays) from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Background checks are done at no charge for ACPS chaperones and volunteers. For more information or questions please contact the Human Resources Office at (434) 946-9376 or email hr@amherst.k12.va.us

*Remember to allow 4 to 6 weeks for results

Just a reminder, everyone is required to provide a photo ID when picking up a student early and you must be on the student's contact list.