🦅February is School Board Appreciation Month.
🦅February is CTE Awareness month.
🦅February is Black History Month.
🦅February 3-7 is National School Counseling Week.
🦅February 4, Art Club @ 3:45 PM
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 6, Archery Practice @ 8:00 Am
🦅February 7, Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 8, Archery Tournament at Elon
🦅February 11, Art Club @ 3:45PM
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 13, PTO Meeting @ 6:00 PM
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 14, Show Up Day
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 15, Valentines Day
School Resource Officer Day
🦅February 17, Professional Development Day
🦅February 18, Teacher workday, school closed
🦅February 19, Q3 Interim Reports
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 20, Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-6:30
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 21, Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 22, Nock N Shoot Archery Tournament @ AM
🦅February 24, Good News Club @ 3:45 PM
🦅February 25th, Art Club @ 3:45 PM
Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅February 27, Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
National Digital Learning Day
🦅February 28, Archery Practice @ 8:00 AM
🦅March 3, Good News Club @ 3:45 PM
Dear Elon Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the start of February. This month is filled with exciting learning opportunities and special events for our students. As we move forward in the school year, I want to share a few important updates and reminders with you.
Black History Month
Throughout February, our students will be engaging in lessons and activities that highlight the achievements and contributions of Black leaders, innovators, and changemakers. We encourage families to continue these discussions at home by exploring books, music, and historical figures together.
Celebrating Kindness & Friendship
February is a great time to focus on kindness, inclusion, and friendship. Our students will engage in activities that promote these values, especially during National School Counseling Week (Feb. 3-7) and Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb. 10-14). We encourage you to talk with your child about ways they can show kindness at home, in school, and in the community.
Valentine’s Day Celebrations
Many classrooms will be hosting Valentine’s Day activities on Friday, February 14. If your child’s class is participating, teachers will provide details on how you can contribute. Please remember that any treats brought to school must be store-bought and follow our allergy-safe guidelines.
Attendance Matters
As we progress through the second half of the school year, we want to remind families of the importance of regular attendance. Every day in school is an opportunity for learning and growth. If your child must be absent due to illness, please notify our attendance team in writing or provide a doctor’s excuse upon return.
Looking Ahead
• No School – Monday, February 17 or Tuesday, February 18 (Teacher Professional Learning)
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday, February 20
• Spring Picture Day: Tuesday, March 11
Thank you for your continued support in making Elon Elementary a wonderful place to learn and SOAR! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
SOARING on,
Mrs. Saunders
Career Awareness In STEAM Class
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
Hello February!
Throughout the month of February, students are given extra encouragement and opportunities to spread kindness and show love to one another and those in the community. We are also intentional about helping students build self-esteem and learn to love themselves in a world that often sends the opposite message. Child development experts describe self-esteem as a child’s ability to accept who they are and choose to like themselves as they are (www.cambermentalhealth.org). Positive self-esteem helps to set a strong foundation for self-love and resilience. Students with a healthy self-esteem are more likely to grow up feeling capable and confident. This can contribute to long-term success.
Here are a few ways that you can join us in empowering our students and help them SOAR!
Model the Right Attitude: We have the power to show our children how to face difficulties through the way we respond to life’s challenges. Demonstrating healthy responses to negative situations, how to take pride in a job well done, or how to be resilient can promote a positive attitude and further develop healthy self-esteem.
Promote Helping, Giving, and Sharing: Another self-esteem strategy involves helping children see how their positive actions matter to others. Providing opportunities to help out, no matter the location (home, food bank, etc.), can allow children to further develop positive self-esteem by seeing how their role, regardless how big or small, can help to make the world a better place.
Encourage Smart Social Media Habits: Social media can have a significant impact on a child’s self-esteem. It is essential that we keep an open dialogue about the positive and negative impacts of social media. Teaching our children to be able to identify what appropriate social media use should look like, and what it does not, can go a long way in helping them develop a healthier self-esteem. Talk about the differences between positive and negative influences and how to set boundaries in their social media use. Work together as a family to find a social media balance that makes sense for you.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Kristy Mays, BSW, MAT, CTP-E
School Counselor
Happy February, Elon Eagles!
January was quite the start to the 2025 year with all of the snow days and delays. However, I’m
happy to be back to our normal schedule and seeing both the children and parents’ smiling
faces.
Safety tip of the month of February: “Move Over” Law
February is the month of love, and Amherst County LOVES their first responders and tow truck
drivers. With increased traffic enforcement in the Elon area and increased response from
Fire/EMS due to increased call volumes, let’s remember to move over for our first responders
and our tow truck drivers.
Per Virginia Law, Code Section 46.2-861.1, if you are on a four-lane highway and it is safe to do
so, you must move over to the lane that is not adjacent to the stationary vehicle. For example, if
you are on Route 29 (regardless of whether it’s the expressway or the bypass), you must move
over to the lane that does not have the stationary vehicle. Exceptions where you can’t move
over safely may include side roads or Route 130. Remember, if there is an emergency vehicle
that is driving with their lights and sirens, PLEASE MOVE OVER – DO NOT SIT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. Failure to obey this law may result in a reckless driving
charge, which is a class 1 misdemeanor (an offense that you cannot just prepay, you will
have to show up in court).
If there are any further questions or concerns, please reach out to your local friendly SRO via
email or phone! P.S., Just a quick reminder. School ends at 3:45pm, please be in the car
rider line before 4:00pm. -Deputy Brianna Aiken
-Deputy Brianna Aiken
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)
Just a few reminders:
- It is time for coats and warm clothes.
- Please remember not to send medication to school with students.
- If a student has a fever keep them home fever free for 24 hours, Anything above 100 and higher.
- Strep Throat -Students must stay home 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic
- If I have sent cloths 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
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
