Pirate's Cove Updates

Dear Pirate Families,

We have several opportunities to connect with other families this week. The PTO is sponsoring a Spirit Night on Tuesday at Jimmy T's Soft Serve Ice Cream and there is a PTO Meeting on Wednesday at 4:00pm in the library.

Our first nine weeks ends on Friday! Report cards will be available via ParentVue beginning Thursday, October 16th. Spotswood will be holding conferences on Thursday, October 30th. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you would like to schedule a time to chat.

Don't forget that Monday, October 13th is a Teacher Professional Development/Workday. Enjoy your long weekend!

As a reminder, when visiting the building you will need to have your government issued, picture identification out before being able to enter the building. This is to prevent you having to go back to the car to get it. We are required to scan the identification through our Raptor System if you will be entering the school campus, so you must have a "physical" identification (not a picture of your id). Thank you for your understanding in our efforts to ensure our students' safety!

Proud Pirate,

Mrs. Sotzing

If your child is going to miss a day, please be sure to reach out to the Attendance Secretary to let her know why he/she will be out. You can also email the Attendance Secretary @ Spotswoodesattendance@spotsylvania.k12.va.us. Thank you in advance!

If your child missed school on Fall Picture day or you weren't pleased with their photo, retakes will take place on Monday. All new students will also have their picture taken for the yearbook. Bring your best smile!

Spotswood's Annual Book Fair is almost here! The Spotswood library is looking for adult volunteers to help students with creating wish lists and/or shopping. Please sign up here, if you are interested! Note: If you have not turned in the annual SCPS form since July 1, 2025, please turn it into the front office no later than 10/15 in order to volunteer. Thank you!

Spotswood's brand-new online spiritwear store is coming! New Spotswood apparel for youth and adults will be available for purchase from 10/12-10/27. Four designs will be available on a variety of apparel options including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, polos, rain jackets, hats, and more! Look out for the online store link and more information in next week's Pirates Cove.

OCTOBER

2nd Staff/Student Holiday

6th Fall Picture Retakes

7th Spirit Night @ Jimmy T's

8th PTO Meeting @ 4:00pm

10th End of 1st Nine Weeks

13th Student Holiday

16th Report Cards available on ParentVue

20th BOO Grams Sale Kicks-Off

23rd Trunk or Treat

29th BOO Grams Sale Ends

30th Parent-Teacher Conferences by Appointment

30th BOO Grams Delivered

30th 4E Expo

NOVEMBER

1st 20th Annual Great Pumpkin Race

4th Student Holiday

5th Spirit Night @ Panera

11th Veterans Day Event

20th Family Engagement Night

24th Fall Break

25th Fall Break

26th Fall Break

27th Fall Break

28th Fall Break

DECEMBER

10th Spirit Night @ Crumbl Cookie

11th 3rd Grade Musical

19th End 2nd nine weeks

22nd Winter Break Begins

JANUARY

5th Last Day of Winter Break for students

6th Welcome Back Students

The Lost & Found is almost full! Please note this space will be emptied on 10/10 of any outstanding items. Check out the album to see missing items. Thank you so much to guardians for labeling your student's water bottles and/or jackets so we can return items to your student and completely bypass the Lost and Found.

Want to help out in your child's classroom or at school events? You will need to first complete a Volunteer Form (located below). Please know that the form is due at least 5 days prior to you volunteering; however, you only need to fill out the form once for the school year (a new form is required every year). We can't wait to have you join us!

As a reminder, only service animals are allowed on school property. This means even if you are walking to pick your child up from school, you may not bring your dog. This is to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and parents. Thank you for your understanding.

As a reminder, all transportation changes require a handwritten note. Please do not email/message the teacher to make a change, as there is no guarantee that the teacher will see your email/message prior to the end of the day. Thank you for your understanding!

In July 2024, the SPCS School Board approved changes to the protocols regarding how birthdays can be recognized in the school setting. I realize that trying to read the entire Handbook online is hard so I am providing a copy of the protocol below. Please be aware that classrooms are allowed two classwide celebrations per year and teachers may invite families to send in special, store-bought treats at that time. This ensures that families with students with health conditions have time to prepare for alternate treats and/or have discussions with their individual child about allergies. All food sent in for those events will be checked by the school nurse and must still be nut-free. Thank you for your support in helping to keep our kids safe!

In SCPS elementary schools, we work hard to ensure that students’ minds and bodies are ready for learning each day. In addition to the hard work our teachers and staff do every day to prepare students for success in the classroom, we also work to encourage healthy eating and physical activity, leading them to lifelong success. We understand that celebrating students is very important and we are committed to recognizing students in healthy and safe ways.

Like many other schools, we have many students who suffer from life-threatening allergies. According to the Centers for Disease Control (2011), allergies have increased more than 20% among American children since the mid-1990s. Childhood obesity has tripled over the past 20 years. As a school community, we must do all we can to lessen the chances of an allergic incident happening and must work diligently to keep our students safe.

Each year, across our elementary sites, feedback from staff and parents is mixed with regard to outside food and treats. We are aware that this is a sensitive subject. We will continue to celebrate student birthdays as a school-wide community, however, should you choose to provide birthday treats to classmates, these goodies must be non-edible. Cupcakes, candy, and/or any other edible food items will not be allowed. Your school will reach out with specific, non-food alternative ways you can use to recognize your child’s birthday at school. Specific, school-wide celebrations will continue with other guidance and forward planning for a safe, healthy event.

As was shared previously, all car riders are required to sign-up for a number each year. This is to help us avoid any confusion if there has been a change for your family. Also, only students that are car riders every day will be issued a car rider number and will be allowed to utilize the car rider lanes. Any student that has a car rider number assigned will not have a bus assigned for the afternoon. Each family is issued 2 car rider tags. Additional tags will be $5.00. Anyone who wishes to pick up that does not have a car rider number issued will be required to park and walk-up to sign their child(ren) out. Please be sure to have your government issued identification available.

School policy states that no cell phones, smartwatches may be used from the start of the day until the end of the day (bell to bell). Students must stow away, in their backpacks, any cell phone, smartwatch, or ear buds that have bluetooth capabilities between 8:25 am-3:30pm. The electronic device should be set to “silent” while in the student’s backpack. Please reference C.12 in the Student Code of Conduct for more information.

We have great news! ALL students at Spotswood Elementary School will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2025-2026 school year!! Extras, like ice cream, chips, cookies, and juice, will still be available for an additional fee.

If you plan to come eat lunch with your child, please be aware that you will need to sign in at the office first and get a Visitor's Badge. You will need a government issued ID in order to receive a pass. Unfortunately, adults do not qualify for free lunch.

Email: jsotzing@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: https://wwww.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/o/spotswood
Location: 400 Lorraine Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Phone: 540-898-1514
Twitter: @SpotswoodElem