Stratford Landing’s Information Resource

• November 18, 2009
  PTA MEETING 7PM, November 18 – following the Book Fair.  What’s on the agenda?  The 2010-2011 FCPS budget priorities and how SLES plans to respond as a community.  Childcare provided.

• K-Kids:  Save the date! The next K-kids meeting will be November 19.

• Many thanks to the volunteers who helped in the Discovery Garden last Sunday. The picnic tables are stained, new mulch and compost have been added to the beds, and we have a pre K planting space as well. We are in good shape for winter! Also, the 6th grade bulb fundraiser resulted in a significant daffodil donation for us, so keep your eyes peeled for lots of bright yellow color this spring in the garden! 

• Thank you 2008-2009 K-kids!  Last year, the K-kids raised over $600 for the Discovery Garden!

November 4, 2009

Innisbrook Delivery Make sure to plan on picking up your Innisbrook orders in the gym this Friday, November 6! 

Discovery Garden
Don't forget to join us on Sunday, November 8th, from 1-4 p.m. We will weed, compost, and mulch the Discovery Garden in preparation for winter. We are also hoping to stain the picnic tables. Bring your older children! This is a great community service opportunity and three hours are available for anyone with any CS requirements. If possible, have them email me at eleanor.whitaker@gmail.com so I have a tally of who is coming. Thank you!

Book Fair
The Stratford Library sponsors a Book Fair each year held to coincide with National Children’s Book Week.  The Fair gives students and their families the opportunity to shop for the latest titles from Scholastic in the school library.  The library staff and PTA volunteers set up the books to be sold, help all of the students come through and preview the books and make “wish lists,” and help with three days of sales.  The proceeds of the Fair benefit our school library and our reading room.  The teachers also have the opportunity to make a wish list for their classroom libraries, with books available for purchase to benefit the teachers and their students.  This year, the Book Fair will be held on November 18-20.  Hours of sales will be Wednesday, 11/18 from 3:30-7:30, Thursday, 11/19 from 9:30-3:30, and Friday 11/20 from 9:00-11:00.  To volunteer at the Fair, contact Clare Letai at cletai@cox.net.

Directory Distribution
Expected distribution of the 2009-2010 Stratford Landing Directory is Friday, November 6.  Thank you to all who helped with the effort this year.  The winners of this year's cover contest are 5th grader Guadalupe Escobar Tlatelpa (front) and 5th grader Rachel Hardison (back).  Thank you to all who submitted an entry.

October 28, 2009
Discovery Garden
Save the date! Please join us on Sunday, November 8th, from 1-4 p.m. We will weed, compost, and mulch the Discovery Garden. We hope to stain the picnic the tables as well. Bring your older children! This is a great community service opportunity. Email Eleanor Whitaker at eleanor.whitaker@gmail.com so she will have a tally of who is coming. Thank you!

You Did It!  Innisbrook Sales Meet Expectations
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Fall Fundraising Committee, lead by Anne Terio, the fundraiser exceeded budgeted expectations.  27 children sold more than $400 each, meaning those children will enjoy a special “Limo Lunch” hosted by the PTA.  The class with the highest sales: Gallagher’s 5th grade class ($1,928).  Her class has 26 students (for basket purposes).  Class with highest percentage participation: Knauer’s 6th grade class (58%).  Her class has 24 students.  Congratulations!  There are individual top sellers, but you’ll have to wait for a non-electronic communication for details.  Thanks to all the students, families, community, teachers & staff who made this event a success!

Great Wolf Lodge Discounts
Check out the PTA discounts online!  (Flyer)

October 14, 2009
Budget Woes
Fairfax County is projecting a significant budget deficit for FY 2011, which begins July 1, 2010.  This would make it the third consecutive year the FCPS budget has been cut.  Click here to learn what it means and what you can do.

Box Tops for Education
Now is the perfect time to join!  From now until December 1, everyone who joins Box Tops online will earn five Box Tops for their school, just for signing up. Click here to sign up now.

Underwear!  Mr. Nick is needs to replenish his supply of boy’s underwear for the clinic.  Pick up an extra package when you’re next out shopping and send it in with your child. 

October 7, 2009
PTA Membership  Don’t forget to send in your membership forms!  Together we will make a difference!

PTA Showcase at the PTA Meeting 7PM, October 14!  Come explore the many programs that the PTA offers for our children.  This is your opportunity to find out more information about after school programs; PTA sponsored activities and enrichment programs, as well as your chance to find out the best way to get involved.  PTA business will be kept to a minimum to give you the most time to talk with committee chairs.  Childcare is provided by the PTA.  Join us!

Reflections
Reflections is a program sponsored by the National PTA every year. This program encourages students to express their artistic talents by writing, dancing, composing and creating visual art.  This program is an arts recognition and achievement program.  Students K-6th are eligible to participate, and it is a way to see “You shine, through Art.”  The deadline is October 22.  (Click here for flier.  Click here for forms.)

FCCPTA October Newsletter  
Visit www.fccpta.org to see the latest newsletter.  We invite all schools and local organizations to submit items of interest for each newsletter.  The next deadline will be October 23 for the November 2 newsletter.

FLEX IS BACK!  Spanish, Italian, German, and Chinese  Hello! Ni hao! Guten Tag! Hola! Buon Giorno!  We are excited to be able to offer instruction in FOUR foreign languages this year!  Registration deadline is one day before the start date (by phone or email) (REGISTRATION) 

Learn about the Flu
Wondering what to expect this flu season?  The Fairfax County Health Department is hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow, October 15, at 7pm at the South County Center on Route 1.  The Director of Health will be on hand to answer your questions about pandemic and seasonal influenza.  (Click here for more information.)

FCPS Returns Two Building for Use as Schools
Read on to find out how FCPS plans to save money by vacating over 150,000 square feet of its central offices space.   (Click here for more information.)

FCPS Wins Local PRSA Thoth Award
The school system was honored for its community engagement campaign on changing school start and dismissal times, which used study circles, surveys and community dialogues to measure the impact of the proposed changes to the bell scheduled on families.  (Click here to read more.)

Chess Club
October 13 will be the second meeting of Stratford Landing Chess Club.  It's not too late to register! 

September 30, 2009
Innisbrook OCTOBER 5 DEADLINE!
September 16 was the kickoff for our Innisbrook Fall Fundraiser.  The fundraiser ends on October 5th, so we want to encourage you and your children to get out there as soon as possible and ask family, friends and neighbors to help support our school! One easy way to ask for help is to go online and place an order at www.innisbrook.com.  Then once you’ve done that, you have the option to send a pre-written e-mail message to out of town friends and family asking them to consider helping our school.   After you have placed an order, please remember to PRINT the VOUCHER and place the voucher, along with your form of PAYMENT into the Innisbrook envelope.  Drop your envelope in the wrapped box in the school office.   If you need additional forms or coupons, you can find more in the school office or you may contact Anne Terio at 703.880.6065 or via e-mail at aterio@cox.net.  Thank you for all of your support!

Have Blade Will Travel Fencing 
After school program for grades 3-6, Thursdays, Oct 15th, 22nd, 29th; Nov. 5th, 12th, 19th (tentative) from 3:50 – 4:50.  (REGISTRATION FORM)

Yearbook Cover
The Stratford Landing Yearbook cover contest will run from 3 October until Friday, 30 October 2009 and is open to all 3rd - 6th graders. The cover contest winner will receive a free yearbook.  Please contact Suzanna O’Boyle at tsoboyle@cox.net with any questions.  (FLYER)

September 23, 2009
Picture Day
Volunteers are needed for school picture day, Thursday, October 1, 2009.  A $15 thank you voucher will be given to the first three parents who are able to work one 3-hour morning or afternoon shift.  These vouchers can be used towards the purchase of fall or spring pictures. If you are interested in helping, please contact Suzanna O’Boyle at tsoboyle@cox.net.

Gift Wrap Update 
Last Wednesday was the kickoff for our Innisbrook Fall Fundraiser.  The fundraiser ends on October 5th, so we want to encourage you and your children to get out there as soon as possible and ask family, friends and neighbors to help support our school!  One easy way to ask for help is to go online and place an order at www.innisbrook.com.  Then once you’ve done that, you have the option to send a pre-written e-mail message to out of town friends and family asking them to consider helping our school.   After you have placed an order, please remember to PRINT the VOUCHER and place the voucher, along with your form of PAYMENT into the Innisbrook envelope.  Drop your envelope in the wrapped box in the school office.   If you need additional forms or coupons, you can find more in the school office or you may contact Anne Terio at 703.880.6065 or via e-mail at aterio@cox.net.  Thank you for all of your support!

September 15, 2009

Budgets Anyone? Without a Chairperson for the Spring Fling, we lose a lot – field trips, technology & more.  For more information, take a look at the two proposed PTA budgets and choose to volunteer so we can continue to provide the best educational experience for our children. Don’t wait for someone else to step up for your child.  View the two budgets here:  WITH Spring Fling or WITHOUT Spring Fling.

Advanced Academics News from Ms. Meade, 2009 Parent Information Nights

Open to the public
No registration is required
To learn more about Fairfax County Public Schools Advanced Academics Programs please visit   http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/

Fall 2009 Discovery Garden Highlights

• We have an almost fully completed compass rose, care of Anne Lawrence and her daughters! She has been hard at work putting the finishing touches on this beautiful piece. It is directionally accurate and everyone is amazed by her artistry! We are so lucky!
• We have a healthy, thriving worm bin, care of Elvira Jakovac. This will supply all the first grade teachers with as many worms as they will ever need. And if others would like to see composting in progress, open the bin!
• Desiree Jansob would like to organize a composting program at Stratford. Please let us know if you would be interested in helping start this program in our cafeteria.
• The K-kids purchased a solar water fountain with money they raised for the garden last year. Please come see if it works!
• Take care of the garden! We have had some vandalism this summer, both the pumpkins (before they died) and the kindergarten caterpillar rocks. Please keep an eye out in your community!
• Miriam Miller has organized SOL mailboxes for our teachers. Please come see what activities are available to all of our classes! These are right beside the DG doors.

For more information, read the PARENTS LETTER!

Smart Boards now in Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grades at Stratford Landing

Have you been to Stratford’s Spring Fling/Silent Auction in past years?  Thanks to their success, Stratford’s PTA has been able to purchase smart boards for the three upper-level grades.  This initiative was begun three years ago:  smart boards were purchased for 6th grade in 2007, 5th grade in 2008, and 4th grade in 2009.  The PTA would like to continue this initiative by purchasing smart boards for the 3rd grade in 2010.   READ ON!

The Net Gazette is a collection of news and information impacting Stratford Landing and is not necessarily the views or opinions of the Stratford Landing Elementary PTA or Fairfax County Public Schools.  Unless published by the SLES PTA, all information references are responsible for the content of their articles.