Weekly Firefly Newsletter

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Dear Flower Valley Community,

The warm weather this week was such a treat! Our 1st graders had a fabulous time at the zoo Monday. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day! Our 2nd graders also enjoyed a field trip to Croyden Creek. Tons of fun!

International Night and our Kindergarten - 2nd grade Field Day are both this upcoming week! It is going to be a fun-filled week! Be sure to check out the details below.

Finally, it is going to be a big day this Wednesday. Grace Atencio, a 2nd grade student at FVES, won the silent auction and is going to be the principal for the morning, and Ella Watts, a 3rd grade student at FVES, is going to be the assistant principal for the afternoon. They are going to be busy at work that day leading our Fireflies through an amazing day of learning, so you might see me and Ms. Castillo playing on the playground while they do all of the hard work of being a principal and assistant principal. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

With Firefly Pride!

Dr. Fish

• Staff News
• FVES International Night - May 16th
• Field Day Update: See below about visitors for Field Day - May 19th
• Testing Update
• 5th Grade Promotion
• Curriculum Corner
• Counseling Corner
• PTA Corner
• Pre-school Opportunity
• Important Dates in May and June
• Helpful Resources
• Bus Transportation Updates
• Attendance, Early Dismissals, and Transportation Changes
• School Visitors and Volunteers
• School Cash Online
• School Contact Information

We have important information to share with you about some of our staff members for next year. Please join me in celebrating the retirements of Ms. Rykoskey and Ms. Kormann. They have been dedicated members of the Flower Valley community for many years, and their service to our students and families is truly appreciated. We also have a few staff members who are moving on to new adventures in education and outside of education. Please join me in wishing Ms. Fleischner, Ms. Boquard, Ms. Gondhalekar, and Ms. Henderson the best of luck in their future endeavors. Ms. Smith will also be joining her other school full-time as a counselor. We are going to miss all them, but we know they will be visiting. Once a Firefly; always a Firefly!

Don't forget that International Night is May 16th at Rockville High School from 6:30-8:00PM! For the evening, there will be performances by our students and a variety of cultural artifacts and food to enjoy. Every student will perform on the stage and sing diverse musical selections. We encourage students and families to dress in traditional attire representative of their heritage. After the students sing on stage, everyone will go to the cafeteria to enjoy the Latin Salseros from Einstein High School and visit the family heritage tables to sample different foods and learn about the cultures at FVES.

Students should arrive at 6:00PM and report to the auditorium to sit with their classes to prepare for their performance. We will have signs posted for this, and staff will be on hand to help students get on and off the stage throughout the grade level performances.

For our volunteers bringing artifacts and food items...

An information sheet went home in Thursday folders a few weeks ago. We are thankful for our families who signed up to volunteer and bring in artifacts and/or food items. This past week, staff reached out to our volunteer families about the details for bringing in items and hosting or co-hosting a cultural table. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Choi or Ms. Kormann.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the 16th!

Field Day for our kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes is this Friday, May 19th! There will be games and activities in the gym, on the field, and on the blacktop. We are looking forward to a ton of fun! If you are not volunteering but would like to watch some of the fun, you are welcome to watch the outdoor events. Unfortunately, parents who are not volunteering will not be able to be inside for events given space limitations. We look forward to seeing our families cheering on our kiddos on the field!

We are so grateful for all of our volunteers! If you are volunteering, please check in at the main office and get a visitor pass.

Don't forget that Field Day for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes will be Wednesday May 24th.

MAP dates

K - MAPP - Wed, 5/10 @ 9:30, DIBELS ongoing

1 - MAPP - Tues, 5/9 @ 1:30, DIBELS ongoing

2 - MAPP - Today, 5/8 @ 1:45, DIBELS ongoing

3 - MAPR already happened, MAPM Thursday 5/18 @ 9:15

4 - MAPR Tuesday 5/16 @ 9:15, MAPR 5/23 @ 9:15

5 - MAPR Wednesday 5/10 @ 1:15, MAPM Wednesday 5/17 @ 9:15

MCAP and MAP makeups are ongoing until May 25th.

When: Wednesday, June 14th @ 5:30 pm

Where: Rockville High School Auditorium

A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the Rockville High School cafeteria.

Student Arrival Time: 5:00 pm

Please meet in the hall in front of the auditorium.

Dress code: Students should be dressed nicely. Please no jeans, shorts, or sneakers.

Literacy: Classes are wrapping up Benchmark Unit 7 and their studies of communities, culture, and civilizations. Students have or will be taking the Benchmark Interim 3 assessment during their reading blocks. Unit 8 starts May 22.

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.

Here are some resources to support families with the SEL needs of their children:

https://www.cfchildren.org/blog/2018/09/lets-talk-sel-parents-this-is-for-you/

https://casel.org/systemic-implementation/sel-with-families-caregivers/

https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/sel-at-home-parent-resources-activities

https://www.infobase.com/blog/5-ways-parents-can-support-sel/

Next Weds. May 17 is another delicious Villa Maya Restaurant Night at Rock Creek Center from 4 - 10 PM. Please mention Flower Valley Elementary School when you pay!

The Carnival and Silent Auction is next weekend, Sun. May 21 from 2 - 5 PM, at FVES with fun for all ages: bounce houses, balloon twister, DJ & dancing, prizes, class basket raffle, snacks and an ice cream truck! Sign up to run a game or volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4EA4AA2FABFD0-2023 SSL volunteers welcome!

Rockville High School’s Preschool (Rockville Rompers) is looking for 4-year olds to join their program for the 2023-24 school year! Please contact Kelsey Boyd, the Child Development Teacher, if you or anyone you know may be interested. Kelsey_m_boyd@mcpsmd.org

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 at 5:30 pm; Students arrive at 5:00pm

*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)

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.

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

Dr. 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