Nokesville News
News for Parents & Guardians from The Nokesville School
September 8, 2023
Important Updates
International Literacy Day
We are continuing a great year at TNS and today we celebrate reading, writing, and everything literacy. Did you know that if a child reads 20 minutes a day at home, they will read an additional 1,800,000 words per year? This results in high achievement and scores in the 90th percentile on tests! Reading with your child is meaningful time together and has a lasting impact. Thanks for your support at home of literacy!
Elementary Reading Buddies
We have officially started Reading Buddies back up this year. Reading Buddies is a program where upper elementary classes are paired with lower elementary classes to read together and do activities once per week throughout the school year. Every class in the elementary level is paired up this way and individual students form great friendships with their reading buddies!
Staffing Update
Welcome to new members of Team Tiger:
- Sixth Grade Science Teacher - Welcome to Ms. Dawn Dumas to our team as the new Sixth Grade Science Teacher. Ms. Dumas taught last year as Teaching Professional on Temporary Assignment (TPOTA) in 5th grade and has a variety of other teaching experience. She is coming to us from Piney Branch Elementary School where she was Parent Liaison this year.
- Spanish Teacher - Welcome to Ms. Luisa Cutting who is joining our team as Spanish Teacher. She is coming to us from Unity Braxton Middle School where she is being overstaffed due to lower than expected student enrollment in their Spanish program. Ms. Cutting has fifteen years of teaching experience.
- Special Education Teacher Assistant - Welcome to Mr. Marvin Goggins who is joining us as Teacher Assistant in our Special Education Program. Mr. Goggins also supports our students in the SACC program.
- Tech Ed Teacher - This part-time position is still vacant. Ms. Amer will continue next week as substitute and lessons/activities are all planned out and ready to go.
Evolv Safety Screening
We have some upcoming trainings for staff and students this month:
- We are going to use the morning announcements to model the new system using video and specific directions.
- We are also going to do a dry-run with all students and staff so they feel comfortable going through the safety screenings. We will be collaborating with central office for how we do the screenings correctly.
- We are going live on October 4th for the safety screenings for all students, visitors, and staff. All students will be required to use the system unless they have a documented medical condition. If so, they will still be screened using other processes.
- We will send more information out as we get closer. If you have questions, please reach out to our School Safety and Security Specialist, Mr. Carbone.
Masked Mascot
Our Masked Mascot is back for the 2023-24 school year! This is a unique program that we run at TNS sponsored by our PTO. Students in grades 6-8 can apply to dress up in the TNS Tiger Mascot and welcome students into school on Fridays. After arrival, we have a big reveal on our morning news show so our students can see which student is behind the mask! Students leadership, especially in building a positive climate and culture, is so important at TNS!
Car Rider Line Update
BDHS Parking Lot - We have been asked by BDHS to adjust our car rider line that goes through their parking lot due to safety concerns. Cars should now only go in line in the first row to the right and then up the side.
TNS Parking Lot - We are also going to adjust the starting point for the car rider line in the morning so that it starts outside our parking lot along the road between TNS and BDHS. This will provide our staff with parking spaces that they can access before school. The reason we are doing this is to support our staff with parking in the morning. When cars are waiting in line in the parking lot before arrival, they block 38 parking spaces that staff can't get into. With our staff growing in size, they have requested more support in being able to park as they come into work.
Please see maps below for examples. Thank you for helping support our partnership with BDHS and our staff at TNS!
PTO Facebook Page
Please consider following and supporting our PTO and their Facebook Page. They have many great programs and events planned out for this year and they/we need your support to make them all happen! We are better together and our families really help make TNS a special place for kids!
Back to School Nights
Please save the dates and consider attending out upcoming Back to School Nights. All back to school nights will begin at 6:00 pm in your child's homeroom class.
- Tuesday, 9/19/23 - Back to School Night (Grades 6-8), 6:00-7:30 pm
- Tuesday, 9/26/23 - Back to School Night (Grades K-2), 6:00-7:15 pm
- Tuesday, 10/3/23 - Back to School Night (Grades 3-5), 6:00-7:15 pm
Elementary (K-5) - Teachers will presents important information about your child's class and educational experience in school. You will also have a chance to ask questions. We will provide extra time at the end in case you need to see a teacher/class from another grade level if you have multiple kids. Encore and resource teachers will be there as you come in if you have any questions or want to touch base with them.
Middle (6-8) - We will run our typical 7 period schedule. Parents will begin in their child's homeroom class and follow their schedule throughout the evening. Each period will have about ten minutes for teachers to share important information. If you have multiple children in middle school, you can mix and match their schedules or just follow along with one of their schedules.
We will also have other groups at Back to School Nights such as PTO. Staff from the PWC Public Library will be here on Middle School Back-to-School Night for a public library card drive.
Middle Level Career Fair –November 8, 2023
The Middle Level is hosting a Career Fair for students in grades 6-8 on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. We are in need of parent/guardian or family volunteers to kick off this Career Fair! Students will walk around & visit different tables to learn about a variety of careers. Speakers will need to be prepared to talk about their career, educational background or requirements, reasons for entering this field, average salary in the field, and duties or tasks required with the career.
Please complete TNS Middle Level Career Day Presenters form if you are interested in presenting at our Career Fair. Speakers will need to arrive at TNS between 8:30-8:45 am. The Career Fair will wrap up around 12:00 pm. Light breakfast will be provided for volunteer speakers.
If you are interested and complete the form, please check the career cluster that your career falls into. If unknown, please check “other.”
Virginia Growth Assessment
The Virginia Board of Education has adopted the Virginia Assessment Program to help track progress in the Standards of Learning (SOL). The SOLs indicate Virginia’s expectations for what students should know and be able to do in the subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history/social studies. Each year, students in specific grade levels and courses are expected to participate in SOL testing unless exempted by state or federal law or by Board of Education regulations. In the past, most students participated in SOL testing during the spring. However, recent legislation requires Grades 3-8 students to also participate in a growth assessment twice per school year.
TNS will be giving these assessments on the following dates:
- Thursday, 9/14/23 - Math VGA Testing (Grades 6-8)
- Monday, 9/18/23 - Reading VGA Testing (Grades 6-8)
- Thursday, 9/21/23 - Math VGA Testing (Grades 3-5)
- Thursday, 9/28/23 - Reading VGA Testing (Grades 3-5)
This school year, Grades 3-8 students will participate in both a reading and math growth assessment during the fall and winter, and then regular SOL testing in the spring. The growth assessments will be taken onsite at schools just like the regular SOL tests. At the conclusion of the test window, your student’s school will provide you with a report of their performance. Please note that there are no passing or failing scores associated with the growth assessments. Rather, they are designed to help track your student’s progress in reading and math over the course of the school year.
If you have specific questions about SOL testing, the growth assessments, or the date that testing will occur, please contact Assistant Principals Mr. Brunson (MS) or Ms. Martinez (ES). For more information about the growth assessments, please visit the Virginia Department of Education website at: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/student-assessment/parent-caregiver-resources-for-growth-assessments
Reminders
Counselor Connection
Please review the Counseling Team Newsletter with important information on how to request support, change schedules, classroom lessons, and other great resources. --> https://www.smore.com/1gdk6
Nokesville Nexus Newsletter
Check out the latest Nokesville Nexus from Ms. Moul, TNS School Social Worker, and Ms. Lombardi, TNS Parent Liaison, updating families on local basic needs resources, mental health and parenting, SPED info and school anxiety. --> https://www.smore.com/atzsx
BDHS & TNS Dance Team Fundraiser
Please consider supporting our dance team as they prepare for another great year!
--> https://www.studentquickpay.com/pwcs/MyAccount/Main.aspx
Upcoming Events
Patriot Day - Monday
Thank you to our first responders and those who serve as we remember 9/11 for our upcoming Patriot Day on Monday. Your bravery and sacrifices are greatly appreciated and are role models for our students.
Rotation Days Next Week
Monday - MS Orange Day, ES Day 4
Tuesday -MS Black Day, ES Day 5
Wednesday -MS Orange Day, ES Day 1
Thursday -MS Black Day, ES Day 2
Friday - No School
School Calendar Reminders
September:
- Tuesday, 9/12/23 - TNS Discipline Task Force
- Thursday, 9/14/23 - Math VGA Testing (Grades 6-8); PTO Bingo Night
- Friday, 9/15/23 - No School (Rosh Hashanah Holiday)
- Monday, 9/18/23 - Reading VGA Testing (Grades 6-8), PTO Meeting
- Tuesday, 9/19/23 - Fall Pictures; Back to School Night (Grades 6-8)
- Wednesday, 9/20/23 - Fall Pictures
- Thursday, 9/21/23 - Math VGA Testing (Grades 3-5)
- Monday, 9/25/23 - No School (Yom Kippur Holiday)
- Tuesday, 9/26/23 - Back to School Night (Grades K-2)
- Thursday, 9/28/23 - Reading VGA Testing (Grades 3-5)
October:
- Tuesday, 10/3/23 - Back to School Night (Grades 3-5)
TNS Admin Team
Assistant Principal, Mr. Geoff Brunson brunsogr@pwcs.edu
Assistant Principal, Mrs. Abbey Martinez martinae1@pwcs.edu
Administrative Intern, Mrs. Brittney Giovannelli giovanbl@pwcs.edu
The Nokesville School
Prince William County Public Schools
Email: jacksam@pwcs.edu
Website: https://nokesville.pwcs.edu/
Location: 12375 Aden Road, Nokesville, VA 20181, USA
Phone: (571) 781-3040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNokesvilleSchool
Twitter: @NokesvilleSch