Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

Read across America Week was a blast! Thank you, Mrs. Pearcy, for all of your hard work planning this. It was wonderful to see all of our students excited about reading, and we really enjoyed our guest readers. Our very own Mrs. Melnick even stopped by.

We also were so very fortunate to have Smithsonian Discovery on Tour at FVES Friday for a student assembly. This was such a meaningful way to conclude Black History Month. A special thank you to our PTA for sponsoring this!

Our students also finished their AMAZING quilts. A huge shout-out to our students, Ms. Stewart, Mr. Washington, Ms. Callen, Ms. Joseph, Ms. Choi, and Ms. Munro for all of their time and effort putting together these beautiful quilts! Take a look at all of the pictures below.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the principal chat Tuesday. Your feedback is so important to us, as it helps us continue to make Flower Valley even better than it already is.

Don't forget that our annual PTA sponsored parent vs. staff basketball game is tomorrow, Saturday, March 4th at 6:30PM. The game is at Rockville High School. There will also be a silent auction, a fabulous halftime performance by FVES Students, a dance led by our very own Mr. T, a basketball shooting contest for our 5th graders, some yummy pizza, and so much more! Can't wait to see everyone!

Have a wonderful weekend!

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Black History Month Assembly and Quilt Pictures - Enjoy!
• Women's History Week
• Important Kindergarten News
• Kindergarten Enrollment
• Hearing and Vision Screening: March 13th, 14th, and 15th
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• Curriculum Corner
• Important Dates in March
• 5th Grade Pictures Needed
• Rockville High School Events
• Save the Date
• Helpful Resources
• Zones of Regulation: Social-Emotional Learning at FVES
• GT County Updates
• Bus Transportation Updates
• Update about Virtual Snow Days
• Requesting a Chromebook for Use during Inclement Weather
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• School Cash Online
• School Contact Information

Enjoy some pictures of our Smithsonian Discovery on Tour assembly which was sponsored by our PTA and our student quilts. What a wonderful way to conclude a month of learning about black history!

California educators first celebrated Women’s History Week in March of 1978. Cities across the country joined in until Congress passed a resolution declaring that March was Women’s History Month in 1987. Here at Flower Valley, students will highlight books written by and about women on the morning announcements. We will have an assembly with Shannon Stocker, author of a biography about a deaf musician. Students will have opportunities to learn about various influential women throughout the month.

MCPS has announced that kindergarten orientation will be held during the school day this spring. The dates for Flower Valley are April 17th and 18th. This will impact our current kindergarteners, as there will not be school for them on those two days. We are working with KAH to schedule alternate activities for our kindergartners who may need childcare on those days. Please complete the form linked here if you would like to sign your student up for KAH April 17th and 18th. KAH staff will be in contact with any FVES kindergarten parent who signs up for this opportunity.

Note: If you have an incoming kindergartener or know of anyone who has an incoming kindergartener, please spread the word. Families can enroll incoming kindergartners online beginning March 27th. Details about online enrollment can be found here.

In accordance with Maryland State Law students in Montgomery County Public Schools are screened for possible vision and hearing problems. Trained hearing and vision screeners will be screening students new to MCPS, students in grade (s) K, 1, and 2, and students referred by teachers because of possible signs of hearing or vision problems. The screeners will be at Flower Valley on March 13, 14, and 15.

Children who do not see clearly or are unable to hear what their teacher and classmates are saying have a harder time learning at school. You will receive a referral form, via US mail, to take to your child’s doctor if your child fails the screening. If your child is already under care for a hearing or vision problem, or you do not wish your child to be screened at school because of conflicts with your religious beliefs, please notify the school nurse in writing. If your child wears glasses or contacts they should wear them every day and bring them to the screening.

School based vision screenings may not detect every vision problem. To learn more about possible vision problems and symptoms or health conditions that may require additional evaluation go to Montgomery County Government’s website at this link: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/PHS/SchoolHealth/HearingVision.html

Contact your school’s nurse if you have questions about your child’s screening.

Career Day is coming to FVES on March 29th! We will need at least 48 volunteer speakers to have a meaningful day for our students. Flyers have been sent home with students. Anyone interested in speaking at Career Day, please complete this link: FVES Career Day Flyer . Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in presenting at Career Day. Contact Jennifer Atanda, Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org, if you have any questions.

Join us at the Parent/Staff Basketball game this Sat. March 4th at 6 PM at the Rockville High School gym. Students in spirit wear get in free! There will be refreshments and a fun silent auction with great prizes.

Benchmark: Students continue to read and compare a variety of texts about technology, innovations, and innovative thinkers and analyze the role technology plays in society. As a fun way to extend students' learning, have students go on a technology hunt at home. How many different examples of technology can they identify in your home?

Eureka Math: MCPS has a dedicated website which has support for each Eureka module in every grade level. Here is a Eureka Math support page for families. You will need to create an account to access the family resources called "tips for parents." "Homework Helpers" are tips for parents that are included with each homework assignment in the Math Succeed (HW) book. Additionally, this is a google document that contains helpful videos for parents to use. There are general Eureka videos and grade level specific videos included.

Please keep an eye out for grade level bi-weekly communication regarding details about what is happening in each of our classes.

ZEARN: With Zearn, students have the opportunity to learn the same concept twice—once with their teacher and once in the Zearn digital lessons—so they gain a deep understanding of math. All materials are top-rated, crafted to represent everyone, and backed by research to deliver results. This link goes further in depth to show how Zearn and Eureka are aligned.

March 4th: 6 - 8:30 PM - Parent-Staff Basketball Game / Staff Silent Auction

March 15th: Early Dismissal at 12:55

March 20th-24th: Save the Date for Wellness Week at FVES!

March 26th: 2-3pm - PTA Sponsored Fun Run

March 29th: Career Day

March 29th: 6:30-8:00pm- PTA General Membership Meeting

March 31st: No School

From Mrs. Young (Mom to Tim – 4th gr & Mary – 2nd gr)...

It is hard to believe, but the 5th grade promotion to be held on June 14, 2023 at 5:30pm at Rockville HS is right around the corner. We need your help to make it great!!

Please provide at least TWO (2) pictures of your child for the 5th grade promotion ceremony slideshow video.

• One (1) photo from kindergarten or 1st grade

• One (1) photo from 4th or 5th grade

These can be casual, candid photos like during the Fall parade, in the classroom, on a field trip, at the bus stop, or on the playground (not the formal school pictures).

We hope to include ALL 5th graders. Even if your child didn't go to Flower Valley when they were younger, it's OK! Please send in their pictures!!

Also, short videos of music concerts, kids playing, gym activities, etc. are welcome too!

Please send all photos/video electronically to me, Sandy Young, at sandyjelen@hotmail.com by MARCH 1, 2023. Please make sure to tell me your child's name and what grade/year the photo was taken.

Thank you!

The Rockville High School ASL club is hosting an ASL bingo night at Rockville High School on March 10th from 6pm- 8pm. All ages are welcome.

Villa Maya Restaurant Fundraiser Night

Wednesday March 8th, 2023

4:00pm-10:00pm

(Bauer Drive Shopping Center)

Mention RHS when you order and we will receive a percentage of your check back to our Class.

We receive 15% back if you pay by Credit Card

We receive 20% back if you pay with Cash

RHS Mulch Sale is Back!!

THE 2023 RHS MULCH SALE IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 15, 2023. You can order your mulch NOW at www.rhsmulch.org.

The Mulch Sale is the biggest annual fundraiser in the Rockville High School community and supports all athletic programs at Rockville, the Marching Band, the Music Department, After Prom Party, Robotics, and STEM clubs, and much more. Thank you for your support in past years and we look forward to your continued support and participation this year as well.

We are offering a 5-percent Early Bird discount through the day after St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 18. Nom coupon code required. The discount is automatically deducted. Please place your orders early if you can.

Deliveries will be made Saturday, April 15, 2023. There is a shipping charge, but you can also pick up from the RHS parking lot on 4/15 between 8 and 2 pm.

If you are part of the RHS community, please sign up to volunteer:

STUDENTS (get SSL Hours and a T-shirt): Sign Up Here
ADULTS (especially need drivers; students do the lifting): Sign Up Here

If you have any questions, contact us at rhsmulch@gmail.com. We will do our best to win your satisfaction. Feel free to forward this email to those you think might be interested in ordering mulch or volunteering during the sale.

April 3rd-10th: Spring Break

April 20th: 5:30-7:30pm - PTA Sponsored STEM Night

April 17th and 18th: Incoming Kindergarten Orientation (No School for Curren Kindergartners)

April 21st: No School for Students

April 24th-28th: PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th: Spring Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic Pictures

May 6th: 10:00-2:00pm - PTA Sponsored SAVERS Donation Drive

May 16th: Time 6:30-8:00pm - FVES International Night and Art Expo

May 19th: K, 1, 2 Field Day (rain date - May 30th)

May 21st: 2-5pm - PTA Sponsored Carnival

May 24th: 3, 4, 5, Field Day (rain date - May 31st)

May 26th: Early Dismissal at 12:55

May 29th: No School

June 1st: Spring Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm

June 6th: 6:30-7:00pm- PTA General Membership Meeting

June 14th: 5th Grade Promotion at Rockville High School

*Please remember these dates are subject to change.

MCPS Things to Know

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Community Messages

Parent Handbook

Student Rights and Responsibilities (Spanish Version Available in Main Office)

Student Code of Conduct (English) (Spanish Version Available in Main Office)

At the PTA meeting this month, Mrs. Cheeks shared information about the Zones of Regulation. This is a social-emotional strategy we are using at Flower Valley to help students understand and verbalize how they are feeling and to develop a toolbox of strategies to support how they are feeling and how their emotions impact others. A link to the full presentation can be found here.

Grade 2 parents will receive a letter in the mail asking for Parent Input for the GT Identification process. Your input is due by March 17th and you may use https://bit.ly/GT-parent-input to access the google form.

This GT screening process includes gathering academic performance data, as well as information from parents and school staff. To learn more about this process please visit bit.ly/gt-identification-2023.

MCPS has created a transportation dashboard where you can check on the status of any bus delays or cancellations. Click here to access the dashboard.

MCPS recently approved the use of virtual snow days as needed in the future. Should a virtual snow day be used, an announcement would be made the day prior to allow for proper planning. The schedule we will be using can be accessed here, and Zoom links for teachers are included in the schedule. A picture of the schedule is included below as well. Should the school system decide to enact a virtual snow day, we will send a message to the FVES community with the schedule and Zoom links.

Your child will need a device to use at home for this purpose. If your child does not have a device to use at home, please complete the information below to get a Chromebook for home use.

You are receiving this message because this year, your child’s school is using a classroom cart model for Chromebooks. This means students use an assigned Chromebook while in school, but do not bring their Chromebook home each night. As we move into the winter months and plan for potential emergency closures, your child will need access to a device at home to engage in homework, interactive resources and potential virtual instruction. If your child does not have access to a personal or home computer, a parent or guardian should complete a form to request an MCPS Chromebook. The device will be checked out to your student and will be kept at home for the school year. The device will need to be returned at the end of the school year or sooner if your student is leaving MCPS for any reason.

To request a MCPS Chromebook for home use, please complete this form: Chromebook Form to Distribute to Families

Links:

At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (English)

At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (Spanish)

If your child is going to be absent, please email your child's teacher and Mrs. Sintetos at Catherine_G_Sintetos@mcpsmd.org or call the office at 240-740-1780. When your child is absent, please send in a note explaining the reason for the absence within 3 days of the return to school. If your child sees the doctor, please bring in a doctor's note.

If your child is going to be arriving late, you need to bring your child to the main office and sign them in. If you will be picking up your child early or changing your child's dismissal process, please let your child's teacher and Mrs. Sintetos or Ms. Peckoo in the main office know in advance.

When your child is symptomatic, it is encouraged that a home or PCR test is administered. Only positive test results need to be reported using the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form. Individuals who have a positive COVID-19 test should report their positive result and follow CDC guidelines for isolation. Details regarding the MCPS back to school Covid safety protocols can be accessed here.

Please see the letter linked here. It provides information about the available learning tools while a student is out of school due to Covid.

There are several types of free tutoring services available for MCPS students. FVES has teachers who will be tutoring some of our students as part of the CARES Act services. Students are selected based on their current reading and math data including their levels of proficiency. If your student is identified, we will work to secure a tutor and contact you to coordinate dates and times for tutoring. During these sessions, FVES staff will provide additional support using Benchmark/and or Eureka curriculum, as well as Tier III evidence-based intervention programs.Students not selected for CARES tutoring may sign up for online tutoring services through FEV Tutor or Tutor Me Education.

Anyone visiting FVES must sign in at the main office and bring identification with them. We aren't able to have parents eating with students in the cafeteria due to space, but you can certainly sign your child out for lunch if you would like to enjoy lunch together.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please contact Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org.

MCPS transitioned to a new online payment system called School Cash Online as its preferred method of payment for all school-related fees, except for meals. Detailed information about how to register can be accessed here.

Beginning school year 2022-2023, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for lunch - meaning that students who qualify for reduced-price meals will eat for free! To learn more about eligibility for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) and apply for FARMs, click here. Deposits into lunch accounts can be made by any student and can be made ahead of time via the MCPS online payment system, My School Bucks. Details about how to add money to your student’s account can be accessed here. Menus can be accessed here.

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM Below are emails and phone numbers for the following departments:

Administration (240) 740-1780

Mrs. Angie Fish, Principal – Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org

Ms. Angela Castillo, Assistant Principal - Angela_M_Castillo@mcpsmd.org

Main Office Staff (240) 740-1780

Ms. Nevine Peckoo, School Administrative Secretary – Nevine_A_Peckoo@mcpsmd.org

Mrs. Cathy Sintetos, Attendance Secretary – Catherine_G_Sintetos@mcpsmd.org

Counseling Office (240) 740-6680

Mrs. Jennifer Atanda - Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org

Ms. Colleen Smith - Colleen_B_Smith@mcpsmd.org

All Staff Directory

Be bright! Be kind! Be you!

We inspire all children to become critical thinkers who are imaginative, adaptable, and collaborative. We strive to cultivate peaceful, life-long learners who contribute positively to the community around them.

Email: Angie_L_Fish@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/flowervalleyes/
Location: Flower Valley Elementary School, Sunflower Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-1780
Twitter: @AngieFish_FVES