Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

Wow! What an exciting week! We were so fortunate to have Shannon Stocker, author of Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion, visit our students this past week. Her message was powerful, and the kids had a blast!

We also had an AMAZING Career Day! We had 48 presenters - police officers, park rangers, sculptors, hair stylists, doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, chefs, and the list goes on. The kids had an absolutely fabulous time. It was truly a special day learning about all of the possibilities for the future. Take a look at some of the pictures from the day below.

Next week is spring break. I hope you all enjoy your time together as a family. I can't wait to see everyone back at school April 11th. :)

With Firefly Pride!

Dr. Fish

• Career Day 2023
• Online Kindergarten Registration
• Testing Update
• County Message about Inclusive Texts
• Spring Covid Test Kits
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• Important Dates in April
• Save the Date
• Helpful Resources
• Zones of Regulation: Social-Emotional Learning at FVES
• Summer School
• Bus Transportation Updates
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• Covid and OUTCLASS: Out of Class On Demand Resources for Students
• Available Tutoring Opportunities for Students
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• School Cash Online
• School Contact Information

Career Day was a huge success! Thank you to Mrs. Atanda and Ms. Smith for all that they did to support this effort, and a huge shout-out to our families who shared their professions with our kiddos. It was such a wonderful community event! Enjoy some of the photos from the day!

If you have an incoming kindergartener or know of anyone who has an incoming kindergartener, please spread the word. Families can now enroll incoming kindergartners online. Details about online enrollment can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sintetos at 240-740-1780.

Students in grades 3 to 5 will take the MCAP assessments in May. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) provides information to educators, parents, and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. Students will test on the following days and times. If you can avoid appointments during these times, it would be greatly appreciated.

Revised Message Regarding the Use of Inclusive Texts

MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community. A broad representation of personal characteristics within curricular or instructional materials promotes this desired outcome. Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students.

As is standard practice, when planning for instruction teachers/schools are encouraged to utilize a variety of resources to continue to promote an inclusive environment as outlined in the MCPS Core Values and Board Policy. Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than “Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction'' which is specifically permitted by Maryland law. As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future.

A Message from the FVES Principal:

In order to provide an inclusive environment for all students at FVES, we will align our practices according to the district guidelines. We also want to make sure our families remain connected to the learning, so we will be providing families with an opportunity to preview a variety of resources used for each grade level during Open House and Back to School Night. In addition to this, I will be attending the June PTA meeting to answer any questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions prior to the June PTA meeting.

We know many of our families will spend time over the Spring break traveling, visiting with friends and family, and engaging in fun community activities. As these activities possibly involve a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, MCPS is distributing at-home rapid test kits to students and staff prior to the break.

Testing is an important way to identify individuals actively positive for COVID-19 who should temporarily isolate in order to prevent further transmission and keep our school community as healthy as possible. Testing is not mandatory. We are depending on our staff and families to consider their exposure risk, and test and report positive results accordingly. Here is more information about COVID-19 testing, including when to get tested.

Please note that schools will receive a new type of test kit, made by InteliSwab. Video instructions for InteliSwab can be found here in English and Spanish and here for other test kit types. Please note that the InteliSwab test takes 30 minutes for results. Test kits should be used for staff and students. For other family members, free rapid test kits are also available at most public library locations and at COVID.gov.

What do I do if the rapid test is positive?

Please report positive tests for staff or students on the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form. Individuals who have a positive COVID-19 test will need to follow CDC guidelines for isolation.

What do I do if the rapid test is negative?

Negative test results do not need to be reported.

Please remember that non-COVID respiratory infections and viruses causing “stomach flu” are also circulating in our community. Core health habits like good handwashing and staying away from others when sick help to prevent the spread of illness. Thank you for your commitment to the health of our school community.

Many students talk about movies and shows they watch, video games they play, and social media platforms they frequent, that are not appropriate for elementary age children. There is a website for families to help them make decisions about what media their children engage with. Common Sense Media rates movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, social media, and video games, so that families can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their kids. They offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising children in the digital age. Visit their site and learn how they rate and review nearly everything kids want to watch, read, play, and learn.

Did you know that PTA membership dues and funds raised have already supported over $8,000 in:

• Teacher/staff grants for firefly field trips
• Grants for supplies, including the recent Winter Teacher Resupply
• Cultural arts events such as author visits!

Please support the PTA by becoming a member here or joining us at any event! Contact president@fvespta.org to learn more.

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

April 20th: 4th Grade STEM Day

April 21st: No School for Students

April 24th-28th: PTA Sponsored Book Fair

April 26th: Spring Individual, Class, and Grade 5 Panoramic Pictures

April 27th: PTA Sponsored STEM Night

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 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.

FVES Letter to Families

School Supplies

School Website

MCPS Things to Know (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)

Summer school will be by invitation only on a limited basis this year for MCPS. The focus will be to support students who are identified by the county as struggling to meet the grade level academic standards. We will be sending out invitations in the near future for families of students who have been identified to attend summer school. Our cluster's local summer school program will be at Barnsley Elementary School.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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