The
Newsletter of the
Hunt
Valley Elementary School PTA
October
2007
Greetings and
Welcome! Another school year is
upon us with all of the hustle and bustle that goes with it. On behalf of the Hunt Valley PTA, I
would like to welcome you to the 2007-2008 school year! To those
of you who have been members of the Hunt Valley school community, welcome
back! To our new families joining
us for the first time, we welcome you and hope you find the Hunt Valley
Community to be a warm, supportive, and wonderful
environment.
Many new smiling
faces are in the halls this year as Hunt Valley has over 15 new teachers and
staff including a new assistant principal, Mrs. Dotty Lin. We are also excited to have Mrs.
Patricia Small returning in her new capacity as principal. So to all of these new and returning
members of our Hunt Valley family, we say WELCOME!
The mission of
our PTA is to encourage parent and community involvement in the education,
health, and welfare of our youth and to serve as an advocate on behalf of our
children. Whether you have been
active in the past or are new to us, we encourage your presence at meetings and
the various activities we conduct throughout the year. Your support and involvement is critical
to success!
One of our PTA
goals this year is to provide funding for technology in the classroom. As Mrs. Small said, We need to prepare them (our children) to compete in a world
that many of us will never know, for careers that dont yet exist. We must have the technology to do that
including updated computer hardware and software, printers, and SMART
boards. While we may not be able to
fund it all, the PTA wants to play a part in preparing our children for that
future.
I know we live in
a busy world and our lives present us with scheduling challenges daily. However, I can promise you the
commitment you make to the PTA is a commitment you make directly to your
child. Through your involvement,
you send a message to your child that their education is of utmost importance to
you. Any amount of time you could
contribute is always appreciated 5 minutes or 5 hours it is all for our
children. If everyone does just a
little bit, we can keep doing great things for our children here at Hunt
Valley.
We hope
you find this newsletter informative and helpful. On behalf of the PTA, we look forward to
working with you and anticipate a terrific year ahead!
By Bonnie Krysinski
Welcome back,
parents to another exciting year of volunteering at Hunt Valley Elementary
School. Whether you are new to the
school or a volunteer veteran, you are encouraged to consider volunteering some
time in the classroom or one of our many PTA events. Its the best way to get to know those
friendly people your kids spend six hours a day with, and it undoubtedly has a
positive impact on their education.
Although we
welcome any amount of time you can offer, there are a few areas in the school
where we particularly need regular volunteer help such as filling the Wednesday
folders, copying, and assisting in the art room.
Do you want to
make a good impression on a teacher?
Forget that shiny red apple. Turn in your volunteer form
you received from the class parent and your opportunities will
come!
If you havent
already, please send in your school volunteer registration form listing the many
ways you can help. (All
in-school volunteers are required to have tuberculosis test results on
file. See sidebar.) If you have questions, dont hesitate to
send me an email:
blkrysinski@hotmail.com.
Its going to be
a great year!
Tuberculosis
Testing
Fairfax County requires that all in-school volunteers
be tested for Tuberculosis and have the test results sent to the school. This is a one-time requirement. Testing can be done through your medical
facility or at the Fairfax County Health Department as
follows:
Springfield District Office, Cary
Building
8136 Old Keene Mill Rd., Suite
A100
Springfield, VA
22152
(Next to Washington Irving)
Phone: 703-569-1031
Tests Given:
Mon/Wed: 8:00 a.m.3:30 p.m.
Tues: 10:00 a.m.6:00 p.m.
Fri: 7:30 a.m.Noon
Test Read 2 days later
School
Directories are now available. If
you didnt purchase a copy at Back-to-School Night, order forms are being sent
home today! Each copy is
$5
Dont Forget to sign up for Keep in Touch! You will then receive emails when
important events or information needs to be sent to parents. Its especially useful when those snow
days start being called! The
Fairfax County Public Schools has a website that will give you the latest news
with FCPS and Hunt Valley (and any other schools where you may have
children!). Please be sure to
subscribe:
https://fcps.medianext.com/fcps/signup.html
Join us in sharing a love of reading with students at
Hunt Valleys Fall Book Fair from Monday, October 15th to Friday,
October 19th in the Library. There will be lots of great books from
Scholastic available for purchase by students, teachers and parents. Every day
we will open the door at 8:30 and stay open until 30 minutes after school ends.
Monday, the book fair will operate from 8:30 until 1:40 and Tuesday through
Friday, from 8:30 until 4:00. We will also be open on Friday evening, October
19th during the PTA-sponsored Family Event.
Consider purchasing a
Book Fair Gift Certificate: Why not
purchase a gift certificate for your child to use at the bookfair! The PTA will offer certificates for sale in any
amount. They will be kept on file at the bookfair,
organized by teacher name, to prevent any problem with loss. Order forms will be
sent home in Wednesday folders during the first week of October. If you have any
questions, please call Book Fair chairperson, Ann Winn, at
703-569-0821.
During the week before the
Book Fair starts, all of Hunt Valleys students will take part in a guessing
game contest in the library. The Fall Book Fair theme is Book Fair Blizzard.
Each grade level will have one winner who receives a $5 gift certificate to use
at the Book Fair.
When you come by the Book
Fair, look for the Teacher Wish Lists we will have posted. Wish Lists contain
books you can find at the Book Fair that our teachers have indicated would be
appreciated in their classroom libraries. Your children will enjoy the books in
their classroom this year and others will enjoy them for years to come. Books
are always a welcome gift in the classroom.
Thank you for encouraging
your child to read. The Book Fair is a great way to connect our kids with books
they want to read!
Sally Foster its not just
wrapping paper for Hunt Valley.
Its our biggest fundraiser!
Last year we raised over $12,000 and expect to
raise at least that much this year.
Profits from this fundraiser will go directly back into the school to
help fund field trips, speakers, and workshops just to name a few. In addition to these wonderful programs,
this year the money the PTA raises is going toward more technology for Hunt
Valley.
On Friday, October 19 make
Hunt Valley your one stop for fun.
The Book Fair will be open 6:00 8:30 p.m. in the library. In addition, bingo games will be going
on in the cafeteria where food and drinks will be available for purchase. To
make things easier for the families, the Sally Foster Fundraising products will
be available for pick-up in the gym.
Make it one-stop fun!
Please pick up your Sally Foster
Orders during Family Fun Night in the Gym.
An Adult MUST Sign for the Order.
Hunt Valleys
Safety Patrols are back at their posts in the building, outside the building, on
nearby corners and on the buses. A
total of 47 patrols will assist the staff in ensuring the safety of our
students.
Please help keep
safety a priority by observing the following:
Kiss and
Ride: Please drop off
and pick up students on the parking lot side of the building. No students should be dropped off from a
car at any other place other than the designated Kiss and Ride area. Please follow the direction of the staff
and patrols on duty to ensure a safe and efficient drop-off and pick-up of
student. To ensure a quick pick-up,
please have your students kiss and ride number prominently
displayed.
Walkers: Please stay on the sidewalks at all
times when walking to and from school.
Cross all streets at the designated crosswalks and wait for the patrols
to tell you when its safe to cross.
Bus
Riders: Please know that the Patrols are there
to keep you safe. We want to ensure
that our bus drivers can focus on what they do best driving the bus! The Patrols are there to assist students
with any concerns and to help maintain order and safety. Help your child to understand the role
of the Patrol.
Thank you for
working with the Patrol Team to ensure the safety of all!
Mrs. Brenda Ross is the
sponsor for the school patrol program.
Happily, she is the proud mother of a bouncing baby boy named A.C. born
on Sept 24. Shes taking a little
time off to spend with him! During
her absence, Mr. Thomas Barbaro will be the sponsor
and contact
for the safety patrol program
By Kara Kachejian, SCA Vice President
Hi everyone! Welcome
to the new school year. I am Kara Kachejian, and I
will be writing the Hawk Squawk this year!Hawk Squawk isStudent
Council article that tells you what has been happening this year.
I would like to tell
you whonewly elected SCA officers are,the duties they have, and aboutSCA advisors for this year. Justin Park is the SCA
President. His job is to run the SCA and the meetings. He represents Hunt Valley`s student council. Kara Kachejian is the SCA Vice President. My jobsto write the Hawk Squawk, be an official replacement of
the president, andin charge of committee chairs. Elaine Stewart isHistorian of the
SCA.
She will be making
the school scrapbook. She will be taking lots of pictures of spirit days here at
Hunt Valley. Kasson Massimino is the Secretary. Her
job is to take attendance at meetings. She also has the responsibility to call
the officers if there is an upcoming meeting. Chandler Mobley
isTreasurer of the SCA. As the Treasurer,
Chandler has to keep track of the school`s money.
And last, but not
least, we have our SCA advisors, Mrs.Hale and Mrs.Finley. This is their first year as SCA advisors and all
the student council is very excited have them!
Mrs.Kachejian is in charge of
General
Mills Box Top Collection this year. Please Bring Them
In! Our school gets
$0.10 each one. Thanks for your help Mrs.Kachejian!
I Can
Make a Difference By
Tap into
your creative side!!
Its time
to start thinking about how you can make a difference!
The Reflections program is a National PTA
sponsored program that provides an opportunity for students of all backgrounds
to express their creativity through dance, choreography, film/video production,
literature, photography, visual art, and original music. It is a
recognition program, not a competition. The National PTA recognition system is
used to honor Virginia's Reflections participants. Judges select three entries
from each age division and category which in their judgment show great quality
of work. From these three entries, Judges then select the entry which best
interprets the current year theme. This "Outstanding Interpretation" entry is
then forwarded to the National competition on behalf of the Virginia Reflections
Program. The other two entries receive an "Award of Excellence". Judges may then
select up to five entries in each division and category to receive an "Award of
Merit". All other entries receive a "Certificate of Participation". This system
allows the students to submit their work and be judged on
quality.
The
opportunity to share your talents and the recognition you will receive for
participation in this worthwhile project will be very meaningful.
Last year
almost 40,000 students in Virginia took part!
So come on
let your creativity flow!!
Deadline
for entries is Friday November 16, 2007!
For more
information on the Reflections program go to
www.fccpta.org
Reflections
Committee Chairperson
Bonnie
Krysinski ~ blkrysinski@hotmail.com
A SMART
Board is the brand name of an interactive whiteboard. Interactive whiteboard is the
standard term for a product on which you display your computer desktop and with
which you can interact to open applications, navigate websites, and write and
save whiteboard notes. According to the Fairfax County Technology plan,
"Interactive whiteboards allow teachers to illustrate curriculum information
visually, reinforce English vocabulary, and provide students with a variety of
visual media . . . The interactive whiteboard allows FCPS teachers and students
to access and display websites, run educational software, run live video from a
camera, record, capture, highlight and review notes from a classroom discussion,
deliver PowerPoint presentations and more."
With a computer, appropriate
software, and a projector the students can use pens or a mouse to actually
interact with the software and see immediate results. This technology provides a tool for
reaching the students, creating excitement in the classroom, and increasing
understanding, making the challenges a little less daunting. Additionally, the
use of technology offers the rewards of seeing a student understand a concept
for the first time and getting excited about school.
If you shop
at Safeway, you can help raise money for the Hunt Valley PTA! Safeway is partnered with a program
called eScrip, which helps support the education of
youth. In order to participate, all
you need to do is register your Safeway Club Card at www.escrip.com. Simply go to the website, click on 1
- Sign
Up, and enter the information that they request. You will need your Safeway Club Card
number, and you will need to enter Hunt Valley Elementarys ID# 6518136. If you participated last year, you
must renew again this year.
When you go to www.escrip.com, click on YES RENEW, and youre
done! Even if you only shop at
Safeway occasionally, you will be helping our school by registering your
card.
Your
participation can mean hundreds of dollars for Hunt Valley!
OCTOBER
2
7:00 p.m. PTA
Meeting
Sally Foster Fundraiser Ends
4
Picture Day
8
COLUMBUS DAY
HOLIDAY
15
Scholastic Book Fair
Opens
19
Fall Family
Night
Sally Foster Product Pick-up
Scholastic Book Fair Ends
31
Cookie Dough Sales Begin
NOVEMBER
2
First Grading Period
Ends
5-6 STUDENT
HOLIDAYS
Parent/Teacher Conferences
(Verify times with Teachers)
8
7:00 p.m. PTA
Meeting
Cookie Dough Sales End
21
Student 2-hour Early
Release
22 23 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
DECEMBER
NO PTA
PROGRAM IN DECEMBER
14 4th Grade
Colonial Days
24Jan
1
Winter Vacation
Often
referred to as simply Blackboard, this online resource allows Fairfax County
Public Schools (FCPS) to extend learning beyond the school day and school
facilities. Students, parents, and teachers are invited to use FCPS 24-7
Learning to access homework and classroom assignments, view class calendars,
explore links to enrichment activities, and much more.
You only
need one Parent View Account to access any of the above information for all of
your children at any FCPS school.
Here are
the basic steps to get your own Parent View account...
1.
Go to
http://fcps.blackboard.com
2. Login
using this information:
username: parentreg
password: newuser
3. Click Login.
4. Click on the Parent Portal
Registration and follow the instructions from there.
5. After filling out the online form
to request an account, the parent needs to present the unique key that was
created during the registration process as well as a photo ID to the schools
registration support person. (This should be completed within 30 days.) The
registration support person will validate the parent's identity to complete the
process.
6. At the school you will be given
your username; your password will be sent in a follow-up
email.
7. The
Initial Log In directions can be followed after the parent has received their
username and password.
There is
a 24-hour help desk to assist you with any problems: 1-866-434-8880
Disclaimer: FCPS
24-7 Learning is an instructional tool for use by FCPS students, parents, and
staff
members. FCPS collects student information, such
as student name, e-mail address, and instructional data for the purposes of
teaching, learning, and assessment. This information is NOT shared with
any external parties.
Why is it so
important to join the PTA? Without
your support our children would not have programs such as field trips, arts
programs, educational materials, teacher training and seminars, and technology,
school directories, and much more!
While our PTA fundraising events help support these programs, we could
not do it all without membership dues and donations of time from parents and
teachers.
If youve already
joined, THANK YOU!
If not, for a
mere $7.50 per member, you can ensure your child continues to enjoy events such
as Scholastic Book Fair and assemblies .
To join, please fill out the forms that came home and include payment in
the attached envelope.
If you have any
questions or need a new form, please feel free to contact Lisa Skibicki at glskibicki@verizon.net or leave a note in the
office.
This newsletter is a bi-monthly
publication sponsored by the Hunt Valley PTA. If you have any information or pictures
to share from school events or classroom activities, please send them to
rv_stewart@hotmail.com
We also appreciate any constructive criticism or story ideas you
have!