Thoreau Matters

 

Thoreau Matters is published every two weeks by the PTA and the Thoreau administrative staff to

inform parents of important information about school life at Thoreau Middle School.

 

Main Office: 703-846-8000    Attendance: 703-846-8080    

Thoreau Web Page: www.fcps.edu/ThoreauMS

PTA Web Page: www.ThoreauPTA.org

 

 

September 15, 2009

 

  1. Fairfax County Public Schools is continuing to partner with the Fairfax County Health Department to monitor the progression of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza (swine flu). 

·         The Fairfax County Health Department follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and provides recommendations to the school system.  It is our goal to promote good health for students in our school system and to manage communicable diseases.

·         The Virginia Department of Health is expanding its call center to handle questions you may have about the H1N1 virus as public schools open. The toll-free number, 1-877-275-8343, will be answered during state business hours. Visitors to www.vdh.virginia.gov will find more information about the H1N1 virus in Virginia and an e-mail option to ask questions.

·         The Fairfax County Health Department recommends that students with influenza-like symptoms (fever with a cough or sore throat) stay at home and out of school until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever, or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.  If a child appears to have an influenza-like illness when he or she arrives at school, a parent or guardian will be notified and asked to pick up the child. 

·         Parents should ensure that their emergency information is up to date and that they pick up their children when notified.  When calling the school attendance line to report your child’s illness, parents should provide specific information about their child’s reason for absence.  If the child is ill, please be specific as to a physician’s diagnosis or the symptoms your child is having such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, diarrhea or vomiting. 

·         Students can protect themselves by following standard disease prevention recommendations.  Use tissues and dispose of them properly.  Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing, or cough into upper sleeve, not into hands.  Wash hands regularly with soap and water for 15-20 seconds.  Alcohol-based sanitizers (containing at least 60 percent alcohol) are also effective.  Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth to prevent spreading germs. Parents should model this behavior to their children.

 

  1. Thoreau’s Magazine Drive fundraiser will kick off on September 21 and continue through October 2.

·         Information about the sale and sales packets will be distributed to students on September 21.

·         We hope that we can count on the Thoreau community to support our drive by purchasing new subscriptions and/or renewing existing ones.

·         Participation in the fundraiser is optional.  Those students who participate are asked to sell magazine subscriptions to family members and to close friends of the family.  Students are discouraged from going door-to-door to sell subscriptions.

·         Parent volunteers will be needed to help process orders and hand out prizes.  Please contact the school if you are interested in helping with this year’s drive.

 

  1. For the safety of all our students, it is important for drivers to follow correct procedures when dropping children off at Thoreau in the morning.

·         The Thoreau parking lot can be a very busy place before school as staff members are arriving and parents are dropping students off at school.

·         When entering the parking lot to drop off students, please bear to the right and follow the painted arrows around to entrance #9.  Students may be dropped off at this entrance.  When exiting the parking lot, please yield to buses turning into the bus lane in front of the building.

·         Do not attempt to make a quick U-turn upon entering the parking lot.  This will back traffic up on Cedar Lane and impede buses from entering the bus lane.

·         At all times, please be watchful for students and staff members walking across the parking lot toward the building.  Thoreau’s School Resource Officer will be monitoring the parking lot and directing traffic when necessary.

 

 

 

  1. The following dates have been established for students and parents interested in applying for admission into Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology:

·         Monday, September 28 – Applications will be available from Mrs. Sousa in room 140 during Time to Soar.

·         Monday, October 5 – TJ Comes to Thoreau!  Learn more about Thomas Jefferson from the Admissions Director in an evening event open to both seventh and eighth grade students and their parents. It will be held in the Thoreau library from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

·         Saturday, October 10 – Open House at Thomas Jefferson from 8:30 to11:30 a.m.

·         Thursday, October 22 – All Thomas Jefferson applications are due to Mrs. Sousa in the Guidance Office by the beginning of 1st period (7:55 a.m.) 

·         Saturday, December 5 – Thomas Jefferson admissions test

·         More information about admission to Thomas Jefferson can be found at http://information.tjhsst.edu/admissions

 

  1.  The Guidance Department and Thoreau Student Ambassadors will host an after-school program, “Everything I Wanted to Know About Middle School But Haven’t Figured Out Yet” on Monday, September 21, in the Lecture Hall.

·         All 7th and 8th grade students are invited to attend to learn the answers to questions such as: What if I can’t get my locker open?  How do I get to class on time?  How do I ride late buses? What if I left something at home?

·         These and other questions your child might have will be discussed.  Sign up in the Guidance Office before Friday, September 18.

 

  1. Late buses are due to begin running on Monday, September 21.

·         Students are encouraged to stay after school to make up work, obtain additional help, or to participate in an after-school activity.

·         Late buses will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Late activities begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.  On Mondays, buses will depart shortly after 4:00 p.m.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays, buses will need to complete their elementary runs before returning to Thoreau for late runs.  This will result in late buses departing Thoreau sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

·         Run numbers and stops for late buses are different from regular run numbers and stops.  Students should consult the late bus schedules posed near the front entrances to identify their late bus run number and stop.  Students are to ride only their assigned late bus.

 

  1.  The PTA landscape committee is providing opportunities this fall for families to participate in beautifying the grounds around the building and inside the courtyard.

·         The established dates are Saturdays, September 26, October 24, and November 21, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

·         Bring your garden tools (especially rakes and wheelbarrows), work gloves, and enthusiasm.

·         Students in need of community service hours can use these events to fulfill that requirement.

·         Please contact Maureen Alonzo for more information at 703-255-5024.

 

  1. Seventh grade families are asked to mark their calendars for the annual 7th grade family dinner to be held Thursday, November 19, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

·         Skorpios will cater dinner the dinner and there will be a DJ and family games for all to enjoy.

·         Come and meet your children’s friends and their families. 

·         Tickets are $10 per adult and students and $7 for children under the age of 11.  To volunteer for this fun event, email linda.colbert@biztech.net or amy@currin.org.

 

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Upcoming Events

 

Monday, September 21                     School Magazine Drive Fundraiser Begins

Saturday, September 26                   PTA Landscape Day – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, September 28                     PTA Meeting – 9:00 a.m. in the Library

Monday, October 12                         Columbus Day Holiday

Tuesday, October 13                         8th Grade Student Pictures Taken

Wednesday, October 14                    7th Grade Student Pictures Taken

Thursday, October 15                       National Junior Honor Society Inductions – 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 24                            PTA Landscape Day – 930 to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, October 26                         PTA Meeting – 7:00 p.m. in the Library

Friday, October 30                            First Grading Period Ends

Friday, October 30                            SCA Dance – 2:40 to 4:15 p.m.

Monday, November 2                       Teacher Workday – Student Holiday

Tuesday, November 3                       Teacher Workday – Student Holiday