The Little Judges' Docket

Welcome back to school after what I hope was a wonderful Thanksgiving break. We have several things happening this week. We have STEAM Night on Thursday night at 5:30pm with a theme of Space! We will have a safety drill this week.

Beginning Wednesday, December 3, road construction will start on N. Loudoun Street from Piccadilly to Gibbens and is expected to continue for approximately two weeks. Due to this construction, we will be temporarily relocating several bus stop locations. Students will be receiving a note from their bus driver Monday, Dec. 1st. We have called as well to let families know.

Snow Day Packets should be at home! This a packet of work for up to 6 days worth of snow days. Each day that we are considered a virtual day, students should complete one worksheet in reading and one in math and read with an adult for 15 minutes. We will count the student present for the virtual day if they return the work they did. Please keep the packet in a safe place at your house so you will be ready as needed. We will also have them posted on the school webpage.

We have also sent home the form for Ms. Pat's Holiday Shoppe! The shop is a place for students to shop for family/friends for the holidays. Every item is $1.00. Students are limited to 5 items. You can also turn in the money at our STEAM night on Thursday, December 4th, we will have a table set up. The shop will be open from December 16 -18 during school hours. Students can also bring the money and form to school and give to their teacher. Please turn in the form and money by December 12th.

We will not be selling snacks in the cafeteria from 11/3 - 12/2.

Please have your student to school as close to 7:30am as possible so they have time to put their belongings away and eat breakfast since we have announcements at 7:45am and instruction begins at 7:50am. If you are a car rider, the parking lot will be blocked off at 7:45am so if you are later than that you will need to walk your child into the office to sign them in. We will have safety drills (fire drills and lockdown drills) per Virginia state code during the first month of school and sporadically throughout the year. We will make sure to let you know in the newsletter the weeks they will be happening.

Please note the changes below.

Digital Devices: Per our governor's order, cell phones, smartwatches, etc. should be off and away during school. If you need to contact your child, please call the office. If your child needs to contact you, have them let the teachers know and they can come down to the office.

Weapons Detection System: All schools have a weapons detector system this year for safety for our students. We will have all students and any visitors walk through in the morning. We do not anticipate any problems or issues, but are excited to provide another level of security for our families. You should have received some information from the division about specifics. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Meals:

Students will be going through the line and typing in their numbers for breakfast and lunch. We understand our kindergarteners may need time to learn their ID number. Our goal is to get them to learn their ID numbers quickly and we will be there to assist. All breakfast and lunch are still free.

Transportation:

Walkers come in at the front of building! There is more room for our parents and siblings in the front yard. If your child has permission to walk alone, we typically send them near the end of the grade level line to make sure we have everyone matched up and safely in the care of their adult. We have permission to continue to close down Van Fossen from Virginia Avenue to Kern Street and Pleasant Valley from Virginia Avenue to Patterson every day during arrival and dismissal to keep our students safe. In the afternoon we release by grade level. Staff will be outside at 2:15pm getting adult's names to make sure we are ready to dismiss quickly and safely. Please make sure you have all people that will be picking up your child on the list with the front office.

Bus Riders will arrive on Van Fossen and be dropped off at the sidewalk to walk in the front door this year. Buses will be parked in the bus loop and on Van Fossen Street in the afternoons to take students home. Students will arrive at the front entrance and dismiss from the bus loop doors.

Car Riders will continue to drive Virginia Avenue, turn left on Battle Avenue to turn left on Bruce Avenue to arrive at Pleasant Valley Rd and turn into our back parking lot. Please do not block the entrance to the Fire Hall. Cars will leave through Pleasant Valley to keep it from being backed up. The car rider line will stop in the mornings at 7:45am so our students have time to get breakfast and hear announcements for the day. You cannot enter the parking lot for dismissal until 2:30pm due to recesses.

Here is the Parent/Student Handbook for the 25-26 School Year.

Thank you as always for your support for our school. We need to work together as a community to make our students successful because we are creating Local leaders today - Global leaders tomorrow!

Lisa Pluska, Ed.D.

Principal, Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School

540-665-6330

This is the time of year that we are really pushing to get more kids on grade level and to get them reading regularly. We are excited to say that our students are gaining ground academically.

NEW Progress Reports and Report Cards

New this year: Families will receive quarterly progress reports and report cards via email and in the PowerSchool Parent Portal under “Student Reports.” Schools will no longer send paper copies home with students. Here is a link with directions. Please ensure your contact information is correct using the PowerSchool Parent Portal or by contacting your school’s Registrar. Students receiving special education services will continue to receive printed progress notes.

Reading is so important for students to be successful in life. The statistics show that if a child is not reading on grade level by 3rd grade, they really struggle to keep up with their peers and they struggle to graduate on time. We are focusing on every student being on grade level by the end of the year. If you see that your child is struggling with reading, reach out to the teacher or our Reading Specialist, Robin Packard. She can give you tips on working with students at home. The best thing you can do is read with your child every day. It can be in any language and with lots of pictures. Just let your child see that reading is fun and important to you as well!

It's so important to come to school every day that you can. Studies show that if students start out with strong attendance in school, it stays with them and they continue to attend school. In order to be on grade level, students have to be here to get the instruction.

Thank you for continuing to ensure your student is at school. It truly takes us all working together to make sure our students are successful. Just a reminder as to how important it is to be in school every day. If your child is sick, of course we understand. Please make sure to talk to your students about the importance of hand washing. We always tend to have sicknesses when everyone comes back.

Make sure to remind your student that we really want to have enough points to be able to choose our event. Everyone gets to do an event of some type. The way they earn points is by being at school, and following the rules of the school (see below).

We have started a special reward for students in 3rd and 4th grade at the end of the day. If they have followed the rules and completed their work during the day, they have a chance for a 15 minute choice time at the end of the day. They can choose recess, gym, art and library (games). If the student struggled to follow the rules or complete work, they go to study hall to complete their assignment for that day. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Every day on the announcements we will be talking about the three school wide rules -

1. Keep hands and feet to self and use kind words;
2. Stay in your assigned area; and
3. Follow directions quickly and quietly.

If you are interested in volunteering, please see below! Make sure you let the office staff or your child's teacher know before filling out the application so we can make sure you are on the volunteer list.

December 4 - STEAM Night 5:30 - 7:00pm

December 16 - 3rd grade to Discovery Museum

December 17 - 2nd grade to Discovery Museum

December 16 - 18 - Ms. Pat's Holiday Shoppe

December 19 - Last Day of the 1st Semester - Early Dismissal - 11:45am

December 22 - January 4 - Winter Break

• Here is the link for the Student/Parent Handbook .
• If there needs to be a change in transportation, please call the office (not the teacher) at 540-665-6330 before 1pm to let us know. Car riders must come to the back of the school by Pleasant Valley, walkers to the bus loop doors, and bus riders will be let off the bus on Van Fossen Street and coming in the front door and on the bus in the afternoon on the Van Fossen St side. Staff will be there to help guide and get your child into the school safely.
• If you arrive after 7:50 A.M., you must accompany your child to the office to sign your child in.