Bristow Run Elementary School

 

 

 

 

 

 


PANTHER PRESS

“A Team on Track for the Future”

 

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL MESSAGE FROM MR. BUCHHEIT

Welcome back to school!!  It has been such a great week and I have enjoyed seeing all our students again or for the first time. It has also been wonderful seeing so many of our parents. I thought this week would never come. Our teachers and staff have been working very hard getting our school ready for our students. And I think you have seen all this hard work has paid off. Our school looks great and each one of our students is in a great classroom with an outstanding teacher. I can tell right away that this will be an awesome year.  Our school vision states that: Bristow Run Elementary School is committed to the belief that all children will learn to their fullest potential in a safe, respectful and motivating environment of high expectations and continuous improvement in partnership with our parents and community. I hope you can see from the points below how we keep focused on our vision in everything we do.

 

A few things you might not have known about our school this year:

1.  Did you know...that we have a lot of neat things planned for this year? As always the focus here at Bristow Run is on having students learn at their fullest potential. In addition, we have a number of activities that we know will enhance our school climate.  The PTA has many family fun nights and spirit nights planned for this year.

 

2. Did you know... how important it is to be here at school each day?  Please try to ensure that your student attends school each day and on time. Good and consistent attendance in school positively correlates to student success. Whenever, your child must be out of school, we will need you to call in to our 24 hour attendance line at 703-753-7741 to let us know. We attempt to contact every parent of any student who is not in school each day, if we have not heard from them. Please send in a note with your child when they return to school after being absent. It is also important for students to arrive on time. Doors open at 8:50 am, but students who are being dropped off can enter the gym to wait with an adult staff member present beginning at 8:45. Students are tardy after 9:00 am.

 

3. Did you know ...that the teal Panther Folder that we have sent home, not only contains important first day information but written on the inside of the folder is our parent handbook? Please review this handbook to learn all the important things you need to know about our policies and procedures. Many parents like to review the dress code policy with their children before hand and before shopping for clothes. Your Panther Folder will also be used by most teachers as their Friday folder in which they will send home papers each week. If you ever need additional Panther Folders, you can purchase them at the school store.

 

 4.    Did you know ... that all that stuff in the Panther Folder is also very important? It is a lot to read. However, it is soooo IMPORTANT. Please set aside some time to go through everything in the Panther Folder that was handed out the first day of school and complete those items that must be returned. We must have emergency cards and phone tree information for all students. We also need you to review our school discipline plan with your child and return the insert. Take time to read all the materials and return the items that need to be returned. Doing so, not only helps us better take care of your child but also helps them have an even better start to the school year.

 

5.  Did you know.. that we take the safety and security of our students very seriously? We love parents and family members to come and visit and volunteer at our school. However, in order to enter our building, pick up your children or eat lunch in the cafeteria you must bring a valid PHOTO ID. Please remember to do so, because according to our county policy we cannot let you enter the building or pick up your children without a photo id like a driver's license. We also will be conducting fire drills and other types of safety drills throughout the school year. If you have a few hours to volunteer at our school, I encourage you to think about volunteering a few hours at our welcome table. Our welcome table is another layer of safety for our school and it is entirely staffed by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at the welcome table, please call our office at 703-753-7741 or stop in.

 

 6.   Did you know ....that we have over 100 ways to volunteer at our school? I already mentioned volunteering at the welcome table. So our next stop would be in the classroom. Teachers love volunteers and have a variety of things that you could do for them and their students. The office and library need volunteers too. Our PTA is always looking for someone to volunteer to help continue all the wonderful activities and programs that they sponsor.

 

 

7. Did you know .... that our PTA does so much for our school? If you haven't joined the PTA, I encourage you to do so. Our PTA contributes so much to our school by organizing both Fundraisers (events or activities designed to raise much needed money to supplement our never enough school budget so we can better support our students) and "FunRaisers(activities or events to foster and enhance school spirit.) You can also come out and observe our school advisory council in action and perhaps join as a voting member in the future. The advisory council develops our school plan and helps shape the direction of our school.

 

8. Did you know ...that our school had a website? you can find the email address of all staff members, visit teacher links, read the latest and past issues of the Panther Press, see our local weather, look at SOLs, read information from the advisory council or PTA, click on Student links, and so much more. G0 to this link http://www.pwcs.edu/Schools/ES/brun/bristowrun.htmto see our website! You will want to save it in your favorite folder and return again and again.

 

9. Did you know ...that if your child takes medicine at school, you must bring it in for him or her and fill out some forms?. Students cannot carry most medicine to school with them or keep it with them while at school. We cannot administer any medicine with out the appropriate forms filled out. If you have any questions, please contact our school office.

 

10. Did you know… that each week we send home our Panther Press? If you would like to get it by email too - please email me at buchhear@pwcs.edu and ask to receive the Panther Press by email.

 

11. Did you know that Attending Back to School Night is one of the most important school events you should attend?

Back to School Nights - kg and 1st - Sept. 17 at 7 pm

Back to School 2nd and 3rd grades - September 18 at 7:00 pm

Back to School 4th and 5th - September 19 at 7:00 pm

 

12. Did you know ...that our school motto is a "Team on Track for the Future"? This means it takes all of us, teachers, staff members, students, and parents to ensure the success of all our students. When we work together, we do everything better. I am anticipating an Awesome School year working with your children. I want to thank you for entrusting your little panthers to our care and thank you in advance for your help and support this year.  This will be an Awesome year for us all, I just know it!

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Buchheit

 

Some other important news to share:

It’s Back to School Time in Adult Education!

Adult Education classes offered by Prince William County will begin the week of September 24, 2007.  Classes include: Adult Basic Education (for reading, writing, and math improvement), G.E.D. Preparation, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and the National External Diploma Program.  Registration is 5-7pm at Garfield High School on Monday, September 10 and Tuesday, September 11, 2007.  Registration and tuition fees must be paid in full at the time of registration.  For more information call 703-791-2319.

Food & Nutrition Service

Bristow Run has been recognized as a Gold level Team Nutrition School in the Healthier US School Challenge.  The School Challenge was developed in support of President Bush’s Healther US Initiative.  Bristow Run demonstrates the attributes of the challenge: being enrolled as a Team Nutrition School, offering reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu planning practices and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, providing nutrition education to students, providing the opportunity for physical education, maintaining an Average Daily Participation of 70% or higher for reimbursable lunches, and adhering to guidelines established by FNS for foods served and sold in school outside of the National School Lunch Program.  We applaud our cafeteria for taking a leadership role in helping students learn to make healthy eating and active lifestyle choices!

Free & Reduced Price Meal Applications were mailed by the school division to families with children registered in Prince William County Schools.  If you did not receive an application, please contact School Food and Nutrition Services at 703-791-7314 or your school.  You may also complete the application electronically.  Visit the school system web site at www.pwcs.edu to access the electronic application.

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass, & Kick Competition

Sunday, September 16, 2007 from 3-5pm at Bristow Run Elementary  /  www.nflyouthfootball.com

Student Directory is Back!

The PTA is providing a Free Student Directory again this year to all who wish to be included.  Look for the form in your child's first Friday folder on Sept. 7th.  All entries are due by Friday, Sept. 21st.  Questions? Contact Cindy Wisnewski at 703-753-1448 or CindyWisnewski@comcast.net.

News from Reading and the Language Arts Committee:  Our Reading Motivation Theme this year correlates to Bristow Run’s 10th anniversary.  Our mascot, Run, will be traveling back to 1998.  To get him back to the year 2008, the students need to do their at home reading nightly.  The end of the year reading celebration will take place in May.  All students need to reach their at home reading goal reading 8 out of the 9 months to enjoy the year end reading celebration.  The at-home reading time set by your child’s teacher is a vital and IMPORTANT part of your child’s homework and success.  Research shows that the more your child reads at an easy, independent level, the better your child will be as a reader, writer and test taker.  AT-HOME READING is the FUN, RELAXING part of homework.  Please make sure your child is reading nightly and you are signing the school-wide reading calendar to help our mascot, RUN, and his Back to the Future Adventure.    HAVE  FUN,    Mrs. Segovia                                        R E A D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!