Dear Keene Mill Families,

We have completed one week of Standards of Learning (SOL) testing, and we have roughly two more weeks to go!  Please continue to ensure that your students are eating well and getting plenty of rest, especially during testing season.  We also want students to feel confident and relaxed about taking the assessments. Please reassure your children that if they do their best, they will "rock" the tests. 

Please note that the new SOL tests for English and Science are assessing students on new content and increased rigor of the standards.  FCPS will not receive district ‐ wide results for several weeks; however, it is likely that FCPS will see lower pass rates due to higher expectations for learning and achievement.  The Virginia Department of Education says that lower SOL pass rates indicate that we are expecting more of our students, not that students are learning less. KMES has been adjusting curriculum and instructional strategies to meet the higher expectations for learning and achievement. In addition, please note that this is the first year that students will be taking all of their SOL tests online including writing in response to a prompt using a computer. The new tests include technology ‐ enhanced items that will require students to apply what they have learned in ways not possible with traditional multiple choice questions.

PTA ICE CREAM SOCIAL=A SMASHING SUCCESS!

Many thanks to our wonderful PTA for sponsoring a fun ice cream social and raffle on Monday.  We had a great turn out, and everyone had a good time.  Special thanks go to Christine Raszinski and her team of volunteers for making this event possible and for obtaining the wonderful raffle prizes!

Elementary math, reading skills at age 7 linked to financial success at midlife, according to study Thought provoking new research suggests that a child’s math and reading skills at age 7 are key indicators of his/her socioeconomic status at age 42. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and I thought you might enjoy learning more about it.

Community Dialogue Meetings on Digital Learning Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will hold a series of community meetings in May and June to gather suggestions from students, parents, staff members, and citizens to help develop a strategic plan for digital learning. Information gathered at these meetings will be forwarded to the Fairfax County School Board for use during a work session on digital learning in the fall. One meeting will be held in each cluster, but participants can attend the meeting that is most convenient for them. All meetings are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. in the cafeteria. Meetings will be held at the following locations:

• Columbia Elementary School (Cluster 3) on Monday, May 20
• West Potomac High School (Cluster 4) on Monday, May 20
• Key Middle School (Cluster 5) on Tuesday, May 21
• Oakton High School (Cluster 8) on Wednesday, May 22
• Lake Braddock Secondary School (Cluster 6) on Tuesday, May 28
• Wolftrap Elementary School (Cluster 2) on Thursday, May 30
• Great Falls Elementary School (Cluster 1) on Monday, June 3
• Rocky Run Middle School (Cluster 7) on Tuesday, June 4

The meetings will provide an overview of digital learning, and then attendees will work in groups to share ideas and information. Participants are welcome to share their ideas for and vision of digital learning at the meetings.

PTA UPDATES

Earn a $200 Bonus for KMES by eating at Silver Diner!

From May 6th to May 31st, we can earn a $200 bonus check IF at least 10% of our school population visits Silver Diner.  We can earn this bonus by having families, faculty, and neighbors visit Silver Diner. If you haven’t already, please visit http://www.silverdiner.com/eatwelldowell to link your Eat Well, Do Well card to Keene Mill Elem. If you don’t have an Eat Well, Do Well card, please ask for one during your visit to Silver Diner. Each time a linked EWDW card is swiped, it will count as 1 visit, mom is 1 visit and dad is 1 visit, for the same meal.  One person can visit multiple times to help reach 10%. Thanks for supporting Keene Mill!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

5/21-Gr. 6 Reading SOL
5/21-KMES Sneak Peek at 2013-2014, PTA Board Election, Renovation Plan@ 7 p.m.
5/22-Gr. 3 History SOL
5/21-Dave Albo’s Visit (4th Grade)
5/23-Gr. 5 Science SOL
5/24-Gr. 4 History SOL
5/27-Memorial Day Holiday
5/28-Gr. 3 Science SOL
5/29-Gr. 6 History SOL
5/29-WSHS Reading Buddies
5/29-Mentoring Celebration
5/30-Gr. 5 Math SOL
5/31-Gr. 4 Math SOL
6/3-Gr. 3 Math-Pt. 1 SOL
6/4-Gr. 3 Math-Pt.2 SOL
6/5-Gr.6 Math SOL
6/5-5 th Gr. Brass Rubbings
6/6-Field Day (K-3)
6/7-Field Day (4-6)
6/10-PTA Board Meeting
6/11-Gr. 5 Medieval Merriment
6/13-Patrol Field Trip
6/14-End of Year Parties for Gr. 2, 3, 4, 5
6/14-Gr. 6 Promotion Party
6/17-Gr. 6 Promotion & Awards Ceremony
6/18-Gr. 2-5 Awards Ceremony
6/18-Last Day of School!  Early Release!

Warm regards,

Renee C. Miller
Principal 
RCMiller@fcps.edu