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 29, 2009

 

  1. Every Thoreau student has been provided with a student planner this year.

·         Students are asked to use their planner to record homework assignments and other important information that will help them to be better organized.

·         Planners contain useful information such as the school calendar, attendance policies, and expectations for student behavior.

·         Parents should become familiar with the information included in their child’s planner and see that they are being used to record assignments on a daily basis.

·         An initial planner is provided to each student at no charge; replacements will cost $6.00.

 

  1. Parents are reminded that students are to ride only their assigned bus when going to and coming home from school.

·         Transportation Services has informed us that all buses are very full and do not allow for extra passengers.

·         Exceptions to this policy will only be considered in emergency situations involving child care issues.

 

  1. Mark your calendars for a special PTA program for parents, “Keeping Kids and Families Safe in a Connected World”, on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.

·         Even “tech savvy” parents can be left feeling ill-equipped when dealing with their children’s connected activities.

·         Please join us for this very informative program that will include "live" demonstrations of social networking websites and address the growing phenomenon of "sexting" among teens.

 

  1. Here are some reminders from the clinic.

·         Many students and parents are frequently concerned about when children should stay home from school because of illness.  The general practice to follow is for a child to stay home 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea or after temperature returns to normal (below 100 degrees).  If a child has any rash that may be disease related or of an unknown cause, check with your family physician before sending the student to school.  When your child is ill, please call the school and report the symptoms, i.e. fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea.  Do not report that your child has the flu or strep throat unless it has been diagnosed by a physician. 

·         Medication Authorization forms must accompany any medication before it may be given in school.  Handwritten notes are not acceptable.   Forms may be found online at http://www.fcps.edu/forms.htm.

·         Over the counter (OTC) medications that are pain relievers may be given as needed throughout the school year with the parent/guardian’s signature on the Medication Authorization form, Parts I and II.  In all other cases OTCs may be given up to 10 consecutive school days with parent/guardian signature.  Parents of middle school-aged children must transport all medication to school.   

·         Cough drops and throat lozenges may be carried and used by students in K-12 grades as needed throughout the school year provided that they are in the original container or packaging. No written authorization form is required.  Students must not share cough drops or throat lozenges under any circumstances.  Students may also have contact lens solution without written authorization.

·         All seventh grade students and eighth grade students new to Fairfax County will have their vision and hearing screened on Friday, October 16th.  If your child wears glasses or contacts, please make sure they have them with them that day.

·         If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health at school, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic at 703-846-8000 (ext. 8010) or by email at denise.schwandt2@fcps.edu.

 

  1. On Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14, Lifetouch photographers will be at Thoreau taking student portraits.

·         8th grade students will be photographed on Tuesday, October 13, and 7th grade students will be photographed on Wednesday, October 14.  Students not photographed on these days will have the opportunity to be photographed on the make-up day, Tuesday, November 18.

·         Students will receive order forms through their PE class to take home prior to picture day.  Select the portrait package you wish to order and enclose payment in the attached payment envelope.  Payment must be received at the time the picture is taken for a portrait package to be printed.

·         Please enclose cash, credit card information, money order or check payable to Lifetouch in the payment envelope.

 

  1. The Thoreau School Store is open in the cafeteria during lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

·         This is where students can purchase school supplies and Thoreau spirit-wear.  Spirit-wear order forms and a list of supplies sold at the store can be found at www.thoreaupta.org.  

·         Halloween tricks and treats are now available at the school store, including a middle school version of “You've Been Booed”!

 

  1. The PTA is making a final push to collect information that will appear in the Thoreau Student Directory this year.

·         Directory information has been received from the school, but the PTA would like to include as many parent email addresses as possible. These can be submitted either on the PTA Membership envelope or sent to Directory@ThoreauPTA.org. Information submitted by Sept 30th will appear in the directory.

·         Each student will receive one directory free from the PTA; additional directories can be ordered using the PTA Membership envelope.   Please contact Andrea Gavurin at Directory@ThoreauPTA.org or 703-242-8547 for more information.

 

  1. The PTA is still looking for a volunteer to coordinate this year’s Reflections program. 

·         The Reflections program provides an opportunity for students to use their creative talents to express themselves through their own original work.

·         If you would like to learn more about the position go to www.vapta.org .  If you have questions about this or any other PTA position, please contact Gay Campbell,  PTA President, at president@ThoreauPTA.org

 

  1. Mark your calendars for two upcoming family events for parents and students.

·         The 8th grade event featuring The School of Rock and a family potluck dinner will be held on Tuesday, November 10, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

·         The annual 7th grade family dinner catered by Skorpios will be held Thursday, November 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

 

  1. Get ready for TheaterSports at Thoreau! 

·         Have you seen the popular Drew Carey show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"  Then you have basically seen TheaterSports. 

·         Mr. DeLeo will be holding auditions this week for the Fall TheaterSports Show at Thoreau, in which students will compete against each other in teams, acting out various stories and challenges with settings, props and variables suggested by the audience. 

·         Rehearsals run through October, with performances on Friday & Saturday, October 23 and 24.  Stay tuned for more information....

 

 

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Upcoming Events

 

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 16                            Vision and Hearing Screening

Friday, October 24                            PTA Landscape Day – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, October 26                         PTA Internet Safety Program – 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall

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