Bristow Run Elementary School

“A Fully Accredited School”

From The Panther’s Pen

“A Team on Track for the Future”

8990 Worthington Drive

Bristow, Va. 20136

703-753-7741

Fax - 703-753-7604

 

Andrew Buchheit, Principal

Jo Linda Toth - Assistant Principal

/brun/bristowrun.htm

April  2003

Hello Panthers!

            This has to be one of the shortest grading periods in recent memory. I feel that we just sent out our first edition of From the Panther’s Pen and here I am writing the next one already. This year has certainly brought us more snow than many of the past years and I can honestly say that I am glad that we are done with this wintry weather. As you know, we are now going to school 30 minutes longer each day and we will also attend school on June 19 and June 20.

            This school year has been filled with many challenges and deviations from our normal routines. The recent death of Caitlin Cooper, one of our 5th graders, was the worst incident we had to face this year. We have formed a memorial committee to look at how we can best remember Caitlin and we will let you know what we have decided when we are finished. While we keep the memory of Caitlin in our hearts and minds, we need to also get back to the business of learning and teaching. The upcoming 9 weeks will be very busy. Not only do we have lots of information that we still need to cover, we also will be testing our students, going on field trips, and near the end of the 9 weeks having our award ceremonies. We also have a Talent Show scheduled for the June PTA meeting and Field Days coming up in May. In addition, soon our students will be heading off for Spring Break. As you know, the school system has decided not to use any days from Spring Break as snow make up days. As we move through this last grading period, please help us remind your students to continue to: “work hard, do their best and be kind and respectful”, follow our School Rules and remember the Pillars of Character.

            I am looking forward to an awesome and productive last few months of school. I once again want to remind you that if you ever have any questions or concerns to feel free to contact me. All of us in our Bristow Run family want only the best for our students. I believe that we do everything better when we work together. All of us; parents, teachers, staff and students are a team. A “Team on Track for the Future.”

 

Sincerely,

                                                                                    Andrew Buchheit

UPCOMING CALENDAR

TESTING DATES

Upcoming testing dates for the rest of the year.  – Due to the snow this winter the SOL (Standards of testing window has been changed to May 19 – June 13. 

Third Grade                                      Fourth Grade                                   Fifth Grade

Reading – May 28                           Social Studies – June 4                Science – May 30

Writing – May 29                                                                                         Reading – June 3

Math – June 3                                                                                              Math – June 10

Social Studies – June 5

Science – June 10

Your child needs your help to prepare and get ready for these tests with encouragement, a good night’s rest and a nutritional breakfast the day of testing.  Please plan doctor’s appointments and things around these dates if possible.  Testing is done first thing in the morning so it is important that your child is not tardy. If they are tardy, they will be held in the office until the testing session is complete and will be tested under make-up conditions on another school day.  We understand this is a stressful time for your child.  If you have concerns please feel free to contact our guidance counselors. 

 

ISIS IS here

The PWCS Internet Student Information System or ISIS is now available at Bristow Run.  At the elementary school level, this communication system provides basic student records: name, address, telephone number, etc. Parents can review this information and check student attendance records.  Parents will continue to receive homework, grades, and other communications from teachers in the usual manner. Parents may register online for an ISIS account.  Please refer to the Prince William County Schools’ web site: www.pwcs.edu and click on ISIS for more information.

 

GUIDANCE NEWS

            With increasing news about the war and threats of terrorism, children, their parents and caregivers may feel uncertain and robbed of a basic sense of security. We all share concerns about what is happening in the world around us. However, as adults and parents, it is our job to help the children cope as best we can.

            Your availability to spend quiet time and calmly listen to your children’s concerns is one of the most powerful ways of helping them learn, understand and feel safe. Talking with adults they can trust can help children feel less alone. Giving them time to ask questions is also helpful. In most cases, it is not a good idea to force your children to talk with you, but keep the door open for them to come back and discuss the war or other concerns later. Maintain routine and structure in their lives and let them know its ok to continue to enjoy life with their friends and family. Our school counselors, Mary Pat McCartney and Robin Vaneman are here if you need assistance.

 

DRESS CODE

            As we enter warmer months (finally) – I want to take a moment to review our school dress code. You can also find this information in your child’s panther folder. All students are expected to dress appropriately and maintain a reasonable appearance. The Prince William County Schools’ Code of Behavior has addressed several areas that are considered improper dress in any Prince William County School. Students are required to dress modestly and meet the standards of health, safety, cleanliness and decency. Their attire shall not be disruptive to the learning environment. We are requesting that students not wear the following articles of clothing to school: articles of clothing that advertise and/or promote the use of drugs or alcohol, or that display vulgar and/or inappropriate language or images, outside jackets worn inside the building, pants worn below the waistline, hats, scarves, headbands, or any other type of head covering unless related to one’s religious beliefs or practices; sunglasses, beachwear, sleeping apparel, undergarments worn as outer garments, white undershirts worn alone, halter tops, half-shirts, t-shirts and sweatshirts with waist-length arm holes, clothing that is too short or tight, see-through garments, bare midriff, long dresses, strapless dresses, spaghetti straps, tube or tank tops,  bedroom slippers, flip-flops, high heels, shoes with cleats, shoes with wheels, socks only, jewelry or other items which could be regarded or used as a weapon. Shorts may be worn but must be longer than the end of the student’s fingertips when arms are extended downward. Students must wear shoes. If sandals or clogs are worn, they should have a strap around the heel. We encourage children to wear sneakers or rubber soled shoes since they will be going outside for P.E. and recess. Students will be asked to remove these items or we will try to find a suitable change of clothes for them. If we are unable to do so, a parent will be called to bring appropriate clothing. Additional information is contained in the Code of Behavior.

           

PANTHER PRIDE RECOGNITION

We are proud and happy to recognize our students for their Outstanding Panther Pride. To earn Panther Pride, students must meet the following criteria:

1.Conduct: S or S+ on the report card and no checks in the descriptors.

2.Work Habits: S or S+ on the report card and no checks in the descriptors.

3.Effort: No X for any area for the grading period.

4. Discipline Plan: Follows Discipline plan.

GRADE LEVEL NEWS – What to expect for the next 9 weeks.

 

1st grade – In the fourth quarter, first grade will study Earth's features, recycling, plants, animals and summer.  In math, we will focus on money, telling time, measurement, double digit addition/subtraction and addition/subtraction to eighteen.  Please be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, June 17.  We will have our first grade awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. that morning, followed by class picnics.  We hope to see you there!

 

2nd Grade-Our second graders will be busy!!

During the Fourth Report Card Period, Second Grade will be hard at work trying to finish several Third Quarter objectives (since we were off school for over 2 weeks due to snow!) as well as working on our new goals for the Fourth Quarter:

Language Arts- Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes, Syllables, Poetry, and different Versions of Stories

Math-Geometry, Fractions, Probability & Statistics, Problem Solving

Science- Finish Life Cycles and Seasonal Changes, plus Ecosystems, Habitats, and Plant Resources

Social Studies -Finish Ancient Egypt, plus Ancient China, and American Indians (Powhatan, Sioux, & Pueblo)

During the week, April 7 - 11 , will we take our standardized test, the Stanford Nine, which will take approximately 5 days to administer.  Should your child be absent during any one (or more) of those days, the only make-up days will be during the week we come back to school from Spring Break (April 22-25). 

Please note that there will be no Homework Packet during April 7-11, so that the children can get lots of rest/sleep and be refreshed and ready to meet the Stanford Nine challenge each day.  Also, we ask parents to make sure that your child has a good, nutritious breakfast each of those mornings and arrives at school on time. ( Studies have shown that children who eat a good breakfast and get plenty of sleep actually score much higher on tests than their fellow classmates who went to bed late and had no or little to eat for breakfast.) 

Fun Things We Are Looking Forward To:

During the Fourth Quarter, we will be having our Field Day  Thursday, May 8  (more information and volunteer forms to come later), an Egyptian Feast (more like a taste testing "thing"  for the students), and a musical performance on stage entitled "Temples and Tombs" which usually takes place in the evening.  Hope everyone's family calendars are not too booked already !  During the last week of school, we usually hold our awards ceremony (during the day) to which parents are invited (more information on this will come from the office ).Second Grade is looking forward to a busy but fun Fourth Quarter !

 

Third grade

Lots and lots of units: Fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, multiplication,& division, properties of matter, natural resources, energy, government, Greece, Rome, Mali. We will also administer SOL tests at the end of May and early June. We have a very busy few months left.

Reminder: We will be going on our field trip to Fairfax Lake Park on April 9

 

 

FOURTH GRADE NEWS

Math - Students will begin to explore Geometry.  Soon after, they will be working on Measurement.  We will be looking at both the standard and metric forms of measurement.  We will be finishing the year out with Fractions.  Please encourage students to continue to practice thier math facts daily.

Social Studies -We are getting closer to present day Virginia.  Students will be studying the Civil War and Reconstruction.  Then we will take a look at Virginia's government and lawmaking bodies.  We will end the year studying Virginia Today!  We will begin our big review for the upcoming SOL test.  Our SOL test is scheduled for June 4, 2003.

Science -Individual classrooms will continue to study various Science units.

Language Arts - The students have successfully completed the 4th Grade Writing Predictor test.  They will continue to focus on grammar skills, parts of speech, editing skills, and reading comprehension.

Just a reminder that we have an upcoming field trip on April 7th and 8th to Manassas Battle Field.  Please return all permission slips if you have not done so.  We are currently in the process of scheduling our Richmond Field Trip.  Please watch for upcoming information.

 

FIFTH GRADE

Bristow Run fifth graders have had a very busy year filled with many new academic experiences, meeting new friends, changing classes, and beginning the transition from elementary school to middle school students. This last marking period will be even busier than the preceding ones as we finish up their last elementary year!   We will be continuing with our academic learning in the four core content areas of language arts, math, social studies, and science. We will continue to read trade books and we will also become poets as we learn about interpreting and writing poems. Our social studies units will encompass the Revolutionary War, beginnings of democratic government, westward expansion, and the Civil War. Math skills ranging from fractions to statistics to geometry to probability will be covered before the end of the year.

            To enrich all of this curriculum learning, we will also be having a lot of fun by going on our field trip to Gettysburg in May, continuing our DARE lessons with Officer Farley, and having a great Mad Science program in April which is sponsored by the PTA.

In May we will do the SOLs for reading, science and math. For three weeks prior to the tests, we will review these content areas with a whole grade review activity called “SOL Teams.”  More information about this program will come home in April.  All this very hard work will be rewarded in June with some fifth-grade only activities. We will have our DARE graduation on June 9, our final chorus/strings concert on June 11, our fifth grade Fiesta on June 12, and the fifth grade end of the year assembly on June 20.  These dates may change, but if that needs to happen, we will let you know. More information about these activities and dates will be coming home closer to the date of the actual event.

 

READING TIPS by Mrs. Shaver, Bristow Run Reading Specialist         

Our friend Run is still busy traveling around the country!  The children have earned more than 5,000 AR points and Run has traveled through eighteen states.  While we want to continue to earn AR points, we also do not want to limit children's reading to AR books only.  We are encouraging children to find books that are of interest to them and on their level.  A quick way for a child to determine if a book is too hard is the "five finger" rule.  The child randomly selects a page from the middle of the book and reads it.  Each time he/she encounters a word that is difficult to figure out, he or she  holds up a finger.  If at the end of the page the child is holding up five fingers, chances are the book is too difficult.  As with all skills, reading improves with practice.  Please continue to encourage your child to spend time reading at home each day.  Thank you for your support.

LIBRARY NEWS –

April 2003 has been designated as School Library Media Month.     The new Scholastic Book Fair date is May 13th-16th.  Come find your summer reading for those lazy days at the pool.   We always love to see you at the fair.

     Thanks to all the parents and students who came to the last book fair.  With our Book Fair money we have added 386 new Accelerated Reader Tests.  We are now close to 2000 tests.  The students have been busy checking out the books with the new tests.  Thank you for your support of the library.

 

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS

      Bristow Run raised $1,121.00 in Daffodil orders.  The American Cancer Society was very appreciative since seven schools had to back out on ordering.  Thank to our wonderful volunteers for delivering the orders!

     4th and 5th grade students sent very touching Easter cards and candy to the USS Abraham Lincoln in March.     Congratulations to the following classrooms for raising the most money for the Pennies for Patients campaign.  Mrs. Stephen's class is first place and earned a class pizza party! Mrs. Manning's class was second and Mrs. Heider's class had third place.  Way to go!  Our school beat last year's amount and raised $1,157.39!  Thank you for all of your support!

    Next, SCA will be working on ideas for Earth Day in April.  In May, we will be recognizing our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week and having a field trip with chorus to visit with our senior friends.  Look for information coming home after Spring Break!

 

SOL RELEASED ITEMS

The SOLS or the Standards of Learning is our state curriculum. In the spring, our students take the SOL assessments, which have been developed to evaluate our students’ understanding of the curriculum. The State website routinely publishes previous versions of the SOL assessments. If you would like to review the 2002 SOL tests, you may want to look at this website: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2002

 

CMS TESTS

            If you are a parent or guardian of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grader, chances are you have heard about CMS tests. So what are they? Well, CMS stands for Curriculum Management System. And these tests were developed by the county to help evaluate and assess student understanding and mastery of the state and county curriculum and help to better prepare students for The Standard of Learning (SOLS) tests. All schools in Prince William County are required to give these tests. Teachers may assign grades to some or all of these tests. If you have any questions at all about these CMS tests, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

 

INK JET RECYCLING PROGRAM - We want your used ink jet cartridges!!!. Please bring them to us. Put it in a small bag so that your child does not get messy and have him or her drop it off in our big recycling container in the front lobby. For each cartridge we recycle our school earns money. Money from this recycling program is often designated for technology needs.

 

ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL

            It is very important that all students attend school on a regular basis and on time. Children, who are not in school each day, arrive late or leave early miss important educational opportunities and learning experiences. At Bristow Run, we recognize, and I’m sure you will agree, that regularly being at school and being on time is very important for a child’s academic success. This may become a very serious issue.

            It is important to note that Prince William County policy states that: “students in kindergarten through grade eight, who miss ten or more days of school for the year, excused or unexcused, and who have completed little or no make-up work may be considered for retention.” In addition, we are required to notify our Attendance Officer in cases of excessive absences. It takes both students and parents working together to assure a child attend school as required. Your cooperation in helping your child get to school is very important. If you would like to work with our guidance counselors, MaryPat McCartney or Robin Vaneman, to make a plan for improvement or discuss these issues, you can contact them at 703-753-7741.

            Please continue to call in to let us know if your child is going to be absent and to send in notes to the teacher when he or she returns to school. As you already know, all our procedures and regulations are in place to help ensure the safety, security and continued success of all our students and not to inconvenience you. By working together, we truly can do everything better. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns by calling 703-753-7741. We thank you in advance for your support. 

Every 9 weeks, we will recognize students for “Perfect Attendance” -  meaning they have attended school each day and have no tardies or early dismissals in a 9 week period or  “Excellent Attendance” – meaning they have attended school each day and have no more than 3 tardies/early dismissals in a 9 week period. Religious observations will not count as absences.

 

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

Classes are finally enjoying a normal schedule now that the weather has improved.  Math Club continues to meet each Tuesday.  A variety of software and Internet sites are being used to provide students practice in basic math skills.  Everyone is having a lot of fun, and some students are already proud of improved math grades. Their hard work is certainly something we are all proud of.  We are also enjoying new software provided by the PTA.  Speedway Math is now available school-wide and has been a big hit with students and teachers.  We look forward to the Data Center completing installation of the other two programs provided by the PTA.  As always, we are so very grateful for the support of our school community!

 

SCHOOL WEB SITE

            Did you know that Bristow Run has a website on the Internet? It is being updated continually. Read the latest Panther Press, see Advisory Council minutes and PTA news, look at teacher pages, check the lunch menu for Monday, read our school song, analyze the testing data in the Data Warehouse, look at student and teacher picks for the top 100 children’s books, and see what the weather is for our area at the News 4 weather Station at Bristow Run. After checking it out email us with any comments or questions

The web address is:  /brun/bristowrun.htm.

 

 

Prince William County Public Schools

P.O. Box 389

Manassas, VA 20108

                                               

 

Edward L. Kelly, PhD                                                                                                                                         

Superintendent of Schools                                                                                                                

 

An Open Letter to Parents

 

            The Prince William Commission on Violent Crime, the Northern Virginia Community College, and numerous Greater Prince William organizations are sponsoring a “Turn Off the Violence” campaign during the month of April.  The campaign is designed to raise public awareness of the need for violence prevention and the importance of dealing with anger and conflict in non-violent ways.

 

            As the Superintendent of Schools, I believe that one of the most serious problems we face in our schools is student violence.  I also believe the violence we see every day is caused in large part by the influence that movie and television has on our students.  I encourage all citizens to turn off violent television, movies, and choose non-violent entertainment.

 

            I have encouraged our schools to conduct activities to make parents and students aware of the “Turn Off the Violence” campaign.  Parental support of this campaign to reduce violence will help to reinforce the school division’s efforts to provide a safe educational environment which is free from fear and intimidation not only during the month of April, but every day.  Violence, whether it occurs in the schools or in the community, is everyone’s concern and cannot be controlled by concentrating on it one month out of the year.

 

            I encourage all members of the community to become involved in the numerous special “Turn Off the Violence” activities for children and families offered throughout April by county agencies, schools, and churches, and to rededicate themselves to promoting peaceful non-violent neighborhoods and schools.

 

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        Edward L. Kelly, Ph.D.

                                                                        Superintendent of Schools

 

 

ELK/mbw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Quality Education for the Children, the Community, and the Future!