Weekly Firefly Newsletter

Para ver el boletín en español, haga clic sobre la palabra "Translate" en el cuadro a la derecha y seleccione "Spanish" del menu de idiomas disponibles.

By clicking on the icon to the right, you can translate this newsletter into multiple languages. Just click your selected language.

It was another wonderful week at Flower Valley! Our students were learning how to round decimals, listen attentively to one another during paired conversations, identify the important elements of a story, make text to text connections, understand the economic resources during colonial America, write persuasive letters about whether or not we should have school uniforms, and so much more!

In addition to the learning, it was wonderful to see our Fireflies showing kindness to one another by asking students on the buddy bench if they wanted to play, walking a younger student to their classroom, greeting parents and students at arrival, helping clean up the cafeteria after lunch, or just giving a bright smile to others. Our Fireflies definitely exemplify our school motto: Be bright! Be kind! Be you! Every day at Flower Valley is filled with greatness!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this glorious weather.

With Firefly Pride!

Mrs. Fish

• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Important Health Records Reminder
• FVES Family Reading Night
• PTA Sponsored FVES Annual Kickball Game
• MCPS Message about Chromebooks for Home Use
• School Safety Information
• Dogs on Property during Arrival and Dismissal
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Curriculum Corner
• Counseling Corner
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• School Meals, FARMS, My School Bucks, and Lunch Menu
• School Cash Online
• Seasonal Roots Fundraiser
• Visitors
• PTA Corner
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Helpful Resources
• Principal's Coffee
• 5ht Grade Field Trip
• Save the Date
• School Contact Information

If you are looking for ways to help your child learn more about the contributions of Hispanic-Americans, several organizations have come together to create the resource located here. There is also a great family resource located here. We will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at FVES through read-alouds, morning announcements, book displays, class trivia, and much more!

If you have not already submitted the required health forms, please do so by September 19th. Ms. Marcel, our health technician, will be sending letters to families who still need to submit the forms. If you do not submit the required documentation, your child may be excluded from attending school starting September 19th. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Marcel at Imani_A_Marcel@mcpsmd.org.

FVES will host a Family Reading Night on Thursday, October 20. We invite students and their families to join us from 6:30-8:00pm in pajamas! Families will be able to shop at the book fair, hear stories read by various FVES staff members, and learn more about Structured Literacy.

The 2nd annual PTA sponsored FVES Staff vs. Parents kickball game is on Friday, October 7th at 5:00pm on the FV Field. Bring your whole family for fun, excitement and to root for your teachers. All FV students that attend the game will get a chance to kick or run the bases.

Greetings! You are receiving this message because this year, your child’s school is using a classroom cart model for chromebooks for grades K-3, which means students use an assigned chromebook while in school but do not bring their chromebook home each night for use. If your child does not have access to a personal or home device to use at home, a parent or guardian can complete a form to request a MCPS chromebook be provided. 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)

We are sharing this information with you not to alarm you but to provide you with information about the many safety measures in place to help ensure the safety of our students and staff during an emergency situation.

The State of Maryland requires six annual mandated drills: lockdown; shelter-in-place; evacuation; reverse evacuation; severe weather; and drop, cover, and hold. Definitions of these drills are listed below. There is also a drill known as a Lockdown with Options (Avoid, Deny, Defend). While staff are aware of what to do in the event of an emergency requiring a Lockdown with Options, this is not a drill we will conduct with our students because it could cause escalated anxiety for our students. These procedures are provided to our staff to ensure the safety of our students in the event of an incident such as an active shooter. Additionally, all schools must practice fire evacuation drills. For each of the drills that will be conducted this year, our focus is to keep our students safe and calm. These drills help our students understand the importance of listening carefully to their teacher's instructions and the importance of remaining quiet. So far this year, we have conducted a fire, lockdown, shelter, severe weather, and drop, cover, and hold drill. We will have approximately 4 more fire drills and a reverse evacuation drill as the year progresses. During all drills, staff remain calm and help our students remain calm, quiet, and focused on the instructions being provided.

Details about the Drills:

• Drop, Cover and Hold: This is used for an earthquake.
• Severe Weather: There are identified safe weather zones throughout our schools in the event of a weather emergency such as a tornado.
• Fire Drill: This drill consists of evacuating students from the building to at least 50ft from the building during a fire emergency.
• Lockdown: This drill prepares students for an emergency that poses immediate danger to them in the building. During this drill, students follow the directions of staff to move to a safe location. Instruction does not occur during this time.
• Shelter: This drill prepares students for an emergency situation that may be in the surrounding area. Instruction continues indoors during this time. Students in portables move to the main building during events requiring a shelter.
• Evacuation: This would be initiated for events such as a gas leak in the building or a bomb threat.
• Reverse Evacuation: This would be implemented to bring students who are outside or in portables indoors due to an emergency situation outside of the building.

Additional information about emergency drills can be accessed here in our FVES Parent Handbook.

Please avoid bringing your dog to school during arrival and dismissal times. While our pets bring us joy, we must be mindful that there are some members of our community who are either allergic to animals or are extremely frightened of them. Arrival and dismissal are very busy times on campus, and we want to make sure all of our students feel comfortable and remain safe.

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.

Benchmark: All grade levels will begin Benchmark Advance Unit 1 soon. Students will explore Government and Citizenship. The unit will last three weeks and will provide opportunities for students to read, write, listen to, and speak about texts and ideas that share a common academic vocabulary.

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.

Please complete the following google form if you are in need of resources for your family such as Friday Snack Bags, Holiday Giving donations, backpacks, or other resources. You may also reach out to Mrs. Atanda, School Counselor, at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org or 240-740-1780. You may also send a note into school with your child.

If your child is going to be absent, please email 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. 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, please let Mrs. Sintetos and your child's homeroom teacher know.

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.

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.

Flower Valley Elementary School is partnering with Seasonal Roots to bring healthy, delicious food to our community, to support local farmers and artisans, and to raise money to support programs for Flower Valley students!

Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers “dirt to doorstep” to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties and more.

To access the Seasonal Roots market, you sign-up as a member and pay an annual membership fee. Through our collaboration, the fee is reduced by 50% - it’s just $25. For each Flower Valley Elementary School family that joins, the school receives $20!

Once you are a member, what you order and when you order are up to you! There is no obligation. You can select exactly what produce and extras you want, skip or pause weekly deliveries, and cancel anytime. The online market opens Friday at 2:00PM and closes at midnight on Sunday. Orders are delivered on Wednesdays in Montgomery County.

To join Seasonal Roots and earn a $20 donation for Flower Valley Elementary School, use promotional code FVES at https://www.seasonalroots.com/fves.

Anyone visiting FVES must sign in at the main office and bring identification with them. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Mrs. Atanda at Jennifer_T_Atanda@mcpsmd.org.

It's Villa Maya night this Wednesday, Sept 21st! Mention "Flower Valley PTA" and a portion of your order will be donated back to the PTA.

Joining or renewing PTA membership is easy and obligation-free. Watch for forms going home in your child's backpack or click here for membership.

We're still taking volunteers for 2022-2023 events if you'd like to get involved! Contact president@fvespta.org for information.

The Office of School Support and Well-Being and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association will co-host the 2022 Mental Health Awareness Week, during the week of October 10, 2022. Events will be held virtually and in-person with speakers and workshops scheduled throughout the week, culminating in a virtual resource fair and expert panel on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Virtual events will include pre-recorded videos and live interviews with experts in topics such as health habits, supporting positive school climate through equity and diversity, and supporting problem solving through appropriate use of social-emotional vocabulary. Interviews will be conducted with experts on topics including neurodiversity, exercise and wellness, yoga and pain management, substance use prevention, and therapy dogs. Students may earn Student Service Learning hours for participation in virtual activities. The Mental Health Awareness Week website will have more specific details. Schools will access a premade toolkit that includes activities that can be done at elementary, middle, and high schools to promote mental health and wellness. Schools should choose one activity per day during Mental Health Awareness Week to support students and staff engaging in mental health awareness activities. Please submit planned activities for each day using the Google form linked below. Important Dates Mental Health Awareness Week is from October 10, 2022–October 15, 2022. The live Waymaking special on student mental health forum will be held on October 12, 2022, from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. The virtual resource fair and expert panel will be held on October 15, 2022 from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Mental Health Awareness Week is open to students, parents/guardians, and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff to learn about resources that schools and families may access or to which referrals may be made to support students’ physical, social, and psychological well-being. We hope you will support this important effort by MCPS to raise awareness and discussion about our students’ mental health and wellness. Please share this information with your staff and families.

September 21st: PTA Restaurant Night at Villa Maya - Mention "Flower Valley PTA"

September 26th: No School for Students

September 30th: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:55)

October 5th: No School

October 6th: Picture Day

October 7th: Principal's Coffee at 9:15AM

October 7th: PTA Sponsored FVES Kickball Game at 5:00

October 10th: Parent Open House, 9-11AM

October 17th-21st: PTA Sponsored Book Fair

October 20th: FVES Family Reading Night, 6:30-8:00PM

October 24th: Professional Day for Teachers, No School for Students

October 28th: Fall Costume Parade and Harvest Party (during school, more details to come)

October 29th: PTA Sponsored Masquerade Festival

Please join me for our first Principal's Coffee this school year on October 7th from 9:15-10:00am in our school media center. This will be a time to share some of the great things that have been happening at FVES as well as solicit your input for school needs and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you!

Our grade 5 students will be attending a Blues Band concert at The Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday, October 27, 2022. MCPS is providing this concert at no cost to our families. Students will be leaving the school at 9:40 am and returning at 12:35 pm to eat lunch at school. All students attending must ride the bus to and from the concert. Please be on the lookout for the permission slip next week.

October 3rd, 6:30-8:00pm: PTA General Membership Meeting in the Media Center

October 6th - Picture Day: Individual Pictures

October 7th, 5-7pm - PTA Sponsored Parent/Staff Kickball Game

October 10th, 9-11:00am - Parent Open House

October 12th, 11:00am-9:30pm - PTA Restaurant Night at California Tortilla

October 17th-21st - PTA Sponsored Book Fair

October 20th, 6:30-8:00pm - FVES Family Reading Night

October 28th, 2:00-3:15 - Fall Costume Parade and Harvest Party

October 29th, 5:30-7:30pm - PTA Sponsored Masquerade Festival

November 21st - Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day at FVES

December 5th - Picture Retakes

December 13th, Time TBD - FVES Musical Production

January 17th - Group/Class Pictures

February 1st: Winter Instrumental Music Concert at FVES, 7:00pm

February 14th, 2:30-3:15pm - Valentine’s Day Parties

February 17th, 6:30-8:00pm - PTA Sponsored Bingo

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

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

April 24th-28th - PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th - Individual and Grade 5 Panoramic

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

Field Day, TBD

May 16th, Time TBD - FVES International Night and Art Expo

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

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

5th Grade Promotion, Date and Time TBD

*Please remember these dates are subject to change. There will also be several PTA sponsored virtual nights for families throughout the year.

MCPS Things to Know

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Community Messages

Parent Handbook

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Code of Conduct (English)

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

Mrs. Padma Radhakrishnan, School Administrative Secretary – Padma_Radhakrishnan@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

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