P

rincipal’s

Newsletter

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2002

PUBLICATION NO. 1

From the Desk of the PTA President

Welcome to the new school year from the PTA at Vaughan Elementary. We have started out a very busy year as a PTA. It is our mission to make this a fun as well as a very successful school year. Our first meeting was held on October 8th and the attendance was high. Thanks to all of those who came out to make suggestions and vote on many issues. We want to encourage more people to come out and participate in our meetings. After all the PTA is for all of us.

New PTA Officers Elected at October Meeting

If you would like to contact the PTA Board Members with questions or suggestions, please feel free to do so. The following is a listing of the Board and their e-mail address:

President: Mary Kay Kjer vikingwife85@comcast.net

Vice-

Presidents: Journalia McCloud mccloudj@yahoo.com

Carol-Lin Cunningham carollin_c@yahoo.com

Secretary: J. “Mookie” Williams the6williams@yahoo.com

Treasurer: Kathy Zewe RKZEWE@aol.com

Volunteer

Coordinator: Patricia Fields klfields3@comcast.net

Fund-raiser

Coordinator: Rachael Schrei EVSFUNDRAISING@hotmail.com

School Spirit Wear Available

School spirit! School spirit!! What a great way to show your school spirit by purchasing School Spirit Wear. Information has been sent home to that you can order various types of active wear. From T-shirts and pullovers to sweat and flannel pants, with two design types to choose from, there is surely something there for everyone.

Box Tops for Education

Another way to support efforts of the PTA is Box Tops For Education. Now, this is pretty easy for all of us. Box Tops for Education can be found on many of the grocery purchases we make. If you are not sure which ones can be submitted, visit the website boxtopsforeducation.com.

PTA Volunteers Needed

We want to help make this a fun and memorable school year for our children. But, we need everyone to participate in our endeavors. It does not have to be every event that one participates, but as many as you can, it will be greatly appreciated. Contact Patricia Fields, our volunteer coordinator and let her know that you are willing to volunteer.

All the funds that are raised through the PTA go back to the school. In every way it is to benefit the children at Vaughan Elementary. It may be for new books, DARE, Saturday school or a special program the children get to enjoy. We are here to dedicate our time and services to our children. What a wonderful fulfillment in life. The calendar of events and activities found in this newsletter will list upcoming ventures. We will need your help so please keep those events in mind.

Our meetings are open to everyone. So, come out and make suggestions or give us your ideas. The next PTA meeting is November 12th. Hope to see you there.

December 9-14 .....................Holiday Shop

December 10.........................PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.*

December 14.........................Breakfast with Santa 9:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m.

Mary Kay Kjer, President

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Lillie Jessie Mark Marinoble

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your support of your child’s school during the sniper crisis. We treat all children at this school as if they are our “personal” family. We can do this only if we receive the type of trust and support we have received during the past three weeks. Thank you for trusting us to take care of your children. We had excellent attendance during the crisis. Our phones were not “ringing off the hook”. You allowed us the freedom we needed to secure this school. Please be assured that safety is the number one concern of all staff members at Vaughan.

The past few weeks have been very difficult for your children and for our staff. Take the time to say thank you to your child’s teacher and to the police department. They solved this case, not as quickly as most of us would have liked, but they “solved” it. America is the greatest country in the world because we value the life of every individual. Anyone who does not adhere to that law will suffer the consequences. Again, thank you for supporting your children and this school. We continue to be honored to serve you.

Vaughan Calendar Reminders

November 6......................................1/2 Day (Thurs. Schedule) Parent Conference

Day (6-8:30 p.m.)

November 7......................................1st Grade Parent Luncheon

Banner Day-Cafeteria Incentive Project to

be televised.

November 8..................................... 5th Grade Parent Luncheon

Spirit Wear Orders Due

November 11....................................No School - Veteran’s Day

November 12....................................Report Cards Go Home

PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

November 18................................... Treasure More Valuable Than Gold

Authors - Chinn Library

November 19....................................Honors Assembly - Grade 1-3 @ 9:30 a.m.

Grades 4-5 @ 2:00 p.m.

November 26.....................................5th Grade Field Trip

November 27.....................................2nd Grade Thanksgiving Play

November 28-29...............................Fall Break

Concern Items for Your Consideration

1. Picking up Students Too Early: Several parents are picking up students at 3:00 p.m. Our school day does not end until 3:35. Thirty-five minutes of instructions too much for any student to miss. We know that the one factor that improves learning is time on task. We value the instructional day. We ask that you not pick up your child because it convenient to come early. We dismiss students being picked up first. This is done so that you will avoid the wait for bus dismissal.

2. Picking up Students Too Late: Some parents are not picking up students until 4 p.m. The teachers’ day end at 3:35 p.m. We have a great deal of congestion in the lobby because some parents are not picking up their children until 4 p.m. Please make an effort to be in the lobby at 3:35. This will allow you to get your child immediately upon dismissal.

3. Dropping Students Off in Front: Some parents are dropping students off in front of the school and not coming inside to sign them in after school has started. This is a very dangerous habit. You should escort your child to an area and determine that an adult is there to receive him/her.

4. Dropping Student Off Too Early: This is a very dangerous habit. The staff is not available for supervision until 8:50 a.m. Please do not drop your child off prior to the start of school. Persons wishing to have their child/children to line up with the walkers should adhere to the timeline and remain on site until the child walks to the staging area.

5. Bus Stop Behavior: Parents must discuss (with their child or children) behavior expected at bus stops. Students should not arrive too early and should not play in the streets. Students’ conduct must be in line with the Prince William County Code of Behavior. Students not following rules at bus stops or while on the bus are subject to losing their bus riding privileges.

Keep Your 20 Wildcats-Cafeteria Incentive Program

Students are doing well in this project. We are promoting several concepts: teamwork, discipline and table manners. The winners will receive a Pizza. The winning teacher receives flowers. Each class will be given $20.00 Vaughan Wildcat Dollars. The class that has the most at the end of the semester will use it to go to Uno's Restaurant. Another class will go at the end of the year. Would you like to sponsor this monthly incentive project? If yes, contact Mr. Marinoble for more details.

Principal’s Book Club to Start In November

Mrs. Jessie and Mr. Marinoble will be starting a book club for parents during the month of November. Invitations will be sent home to selected parents because of the book’s content. Others will be allowed to participate via lottery. These two groups will receive a free copy of the book. The book we will be sharing is One Mind at aTime by Dr. Mel LevineThis is an excellent book for parents whose children learn differently. The book and its author were featured on Oprah Winfrey. Other parents may participate, but will need to purchase their own copy of the book. Look for the invitation.

GRADE LEVEL NEWS

KINDERGARTEN

Units of Study - Language Arts (Rhyming words; Story Elements)

Math (Instruments used to compare and measure objects.

Length-ruler, Weight -scale, time-digital, and analog clock,

calendar- days of the weeks, months of the year, and

temperature- thermometer)

Social Studies (Maps and globes, people and past events,

and begin practice for the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Program)

Science (Liquids and solids)

First Grade

Greetings from first grade! We have been very busy this year. So far, students have already shown us that we have some star readers! Thank you for your cooperation in taking good care of our homework books and reading nightly with your child. Remember, the only way to increase their reading skills is to read books on their level.... keep up the good work. This grading period we will be studying many exciting topics. In language arts, we will continue to read daily and begin to look at parts of speech to include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and correct sentence formation. In math, we will soon begin addition and subtraction, so look for ways to practice this at home because students need to see how what they learn in school has practical applications in the real world. Coming events include a first grade field trip so read your classroom newsletter weekly for information.

Second Grade

The second grade team would like to thank all parents for their continuous support with nightly homework and reading assignments. Our students are enhancing their skills by getting added practice at home. We would also like to extend appreciation to all of our guest readers and donations sent in which made our annual storybook celebration a huge success. Our field trip, which was scheduled in October, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 13th. Also in November, we will be preparing for our Thanksgiving Feast/Play. Look for more information to follow.

Third Grade

Third grade is getting down to business!! We are working hard to become independent thinkers and responsible learners. Believe it or not we can use our test-taking skills everyday for every subject! Some of the things we are getting really good at are adding and subtracting to the hundred thousands place, knowing all about place value and graphs, animal adaptations and we can never forget our seven continents and four oceans! We can’t wait to see how much more we can learn!

Fourth Grade

We want to thank all of the parents who attended our Test Taking Workshop and supported the students during the Stanford 9 testing. We feel the testing went well and we expect the results to be in soon. We are beginning Vaughan Mania, which will help the children review for the History SOL test, which the children will be taken in May. We need your help in reviewing the information we are teaching in school. Please work with your child every night because your support means a lot. Please continue to support the children in their quest for success throughout the year.

Fifth Grade

The fifth grade teachers would like to extend a big thank you to all or our parents who have volunteered these past two months. You have been an important part of making the first nine weeks of school successful. If you have not had the opportunity to volunteer and would like to, please contact your child’s teacher. Together, Everyone Achieves More!

GUIDANCE

Family Medical/Health FAMIS Insurance Information Night

Location: Marumsco Hills Elementary School

Date and Time: December 5^th, 7:00pm

Special Education

The Special Education department at EVS is working to remediate students with special individualized needs. Children are seen in an inclusive environment (regular classroom) as often as possible. Our team goals for this year include, improving student achievement and parental involvement. Your child will receive a progress report from us in his report card. Special education staff will sit in on student conferences when possible but will meet with you individually on conference day or at another time.

English as Second Language

There are more than 125 students receiving services in this program. Mrs. Anna McMullen was added to our staff because of the increase of students in need of services. We will be looking at ways to send home newsletters in more than one language. This school is very diverse in its population. Several members of our staff will be planning the Flag Day Ceremony. We are moving it to spring this year. The flags representing the baseline heritage of students in the building will be hung in the hallways this week. Each country will be recognized.

Vaughan Elementary Met State Standards on the

Virginia Standards of Learning

Each year this school has made substantial gains in its quest to become fully accredited. We have done this because we have an outstanding group of teachers. Our goal is to achieve full accreditation next school year. In order to achieve this goal, students must pass the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests that are given in grades 3, 4, and 5. This is how you can help.

1. Read with your children every night of the week.

2. Allow your child to read books silently.

3. Have fun with math facts.

4. Attend the test taking workshops offered by the school by grade levels and at

Saturday Institute

5. Go to the Virginia State Department of Education Website and download information to

include sample questions.

Remediation Projects

(Did Your Child Fail the Reading or Math SOLs in 3^rd Grade? He or She Can Re-Take the Test in 4^th Grade)

Students who did not pass the reading or math test in 3^rd grade will be given the opportunity to re-take it in 4^th grade. In order to qualify to take the test a second time, the student must participate in at least 8 hours of remediation. Remediation that will be offered at Vaughan include, special education, reading remediation, Early Bird Computer Program and Leap Frog Remediation (Latter Two Programs Starting Next 9 Weeks), Some students are receiving additional remediation in the computer lab. A special Saturday Institute for students needing enrichment and remediation will start in February of next year. Look for more information on Saturday Institute Leap Frog Remediation and Early Bird.

Privacy Policy webmanager Disclaimer