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Algonkian ElementaryOctober Newsletter
Algonkian Elementary20196 Carter Court ▪ Sterling, Virginia 20165
▪ Telephone 571.434.3240 Fax 703.444.1917▪ Absentee Line 571.434.3241
website: http://www.lcps.org/algonkian
Principal: Mr. Brian Blubaugh Bookkeeper: Mrs. Gayle Cowden Assistant Principal: Ms. Karen Shields Attendance Secretary: Mrs. Gail Farrar
Follow AlgonkianOn Twitter
@ALG_LCPS
Upcoming Events:
October10/18 Monster Mash10/21 Spirit Week10/28 No School for Students10/31 Book Character Parade
Principals UpdateDear Algonkian Parents, I wanted to thank our entire community for a successful walk a thon. Great job to Ms. Petty and Ms. Charpentier for all their work on the walk a thon. We appreciate the support at Algonkian.
Our Fall Book Fair has moved to the week of November 11. The Book Fair will close in the afternoon of November 15. That week is also American Education Week, so we will send out a list of events for that week.
Our morning drop off is going well but I want to give all parents a few reminders. Please slow down when entering the parking lot. You should be going no faster than 10 MPH. I would rather have your child late for school than speeding through the parking lot. I also encourage all parents to drop their child off instead of parking. We do not need to walk the students into school. We have limited space in our parking lot, and it is helpful just to pull up and drop your child off.
Many teachers will begin conferences this month. All students are invited to the conference as they will share their goals and what they learned with you during the conference. Please bring your child to the teacher conference so they can share their experiences. Mr. Brian BlubaughPrincipal
We are most thankful to everyone who supported this year’s Walk-A-Thon! We stand proud knowing that all funds raised are used to make Algonkian a better place for our students. Kudos to Kamber Petty and Jenna Charpentier for chairing this important event and for making it colorful and fun!
It’s another busy month at Algonkian. We hope to see you at the Monster Mash on October 18. This annual tradition draws a crowd. Come in costume, and enjoy the music, games, and spooky fun!
Your PTA Board, Maureen, Andrew, Nancy, and AmyEmail: [email protected]
THIS MONTH’STOP EVENTS
PRISMATIC FORUM discussing Educated by Tara Westover - October 16 at 7PM
SPIRIT NIGHT at Chick-Fil-A - October 15
MONSTER MASH - Friday, October 18 at 6:30PM
SPIRIT NIGHT at Chuck E. Cheese - October 25
From the desk of Ms. ShieldsAssistant Principal
Geography Bee
Who: 4th and 5th grade students who win their class bee
What: National Geographic School Bee
When: Class bees will be held in the month of November
School Bee will be held on December 11, 2018 @
9:00am
Where: Algonkian Gym
Why: To determine our school champion to go on to state
qualify test
***If you have any questions regarding the Geography Bee
please feel free to contact me - [email protected]
Disability Awareness Month
● Introducing Presley
● Special Events for Sensory Sensitive Students
○ Monster Mash
○ Rock Ridge Performance of Peter Pan
● Bobcat Buddies
● #LCPSWEareABLE2019
● SEAC Update
Introducing Presley
As some of you may know, Loudoun County Public Schools mission is that we prepare our students to make meaningful contributions to the world. As a lifelong learner, myself, I am trying to practice what we teach and make a meaningful contribution to our world and our community. An area that I feel I can continue to make that contribution in is Special education and supporting students with disabilities.
As a kick-off to Disability Awareness Month, which is October, I will begin bringing Presley, a service dog in training, to our school with me each day. Presley and I will continue to train and attend events twice a week, in the evenings at Heeling House Therapy Center and different areas in the community. Presley will be introduced to a variety of situations and taught how to respond in each experience.
At school, Presley will act as if he is my service dog throughout the day, however, he will also be available to meet and support students in our self-contained special education programs and any other student who may need support in social skills and behavior support.
I truly believe this will be another enhancement in educating the Algonkian Community on the many ways we meet the needs of students with disabilities. It will also provide and support inclusive practices within our school. We witnessed Indie’s impact on our students and our community over the past year and I believe Presley will continue to support our inclusive practices at Algonkian.
If you have any questions about Presley and the work he and I will be doing either at school or in our free time, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Bobcat BuddiesWe meet every Thursday at 7:30 am in Ms. Ryan’s room
#LCPSWEareABLE2019
SEAC UpdateTop areas of concern in Virginia
● Independent Education Evaluations● Transition Planning - need to start sooner● Transferring of IEP services (Military, Transitional Area)● Eligibility Process● Behavioral Intervention and Support
October is Disability Awareness Month#LCPSWEareABLE2019
LCPS currently has 14 SEAC members in the county and their are still 8 open positions. If anyone is interested in joining please contact Jeannine Pepper @ [email protected]
ALGONKIAN EQUITY COMMITTEE
The Equity Committee is here to serve our Bobcat family by ensuring that our instruction and interaction with students, staff and families is equitable. We monitor activities, programs and projects to make sure they are relevant, diverse and support and represent all of our students and staff here at Algonkian. The Committee welcomes parental/guardian participation and if you have an interest in attending the next open meeting or have questions, concerns or comments, please contact either Theresa Ryan, Counselor or Susan Smith, Parent Liaison. Open meetings will be December 5th & May 7th.
Algonkian CounselingMs. Ryan & Ms. Gerber, Counselors
A Proud RAMP School Counseling Program
School Counseling Webpage: http://www.lcps.org/page/40388 Counselor Corner bulletin board (by the front office): Check out helpful information for parents and students and updates on our Chess Club! Ms. Ryan is on twitter! https://twitter.com/TheresaRyanLCPS
School Counseling Advisory Committee - This advisory council will be composed of school and community members and is tasked with making recommendations regarding student and community needs and advising the school counseling staff as it strives to meet these needs.
The advisory council will meet on November 7th! Please email Ms. Ryan at [email protected] if you are
interested in joining this committee!
Loudoun County Public Schools implements a county-wide bullying prevention program to teach students how to identify bullying behavior and appropriate ways to
handle bullying. Our school counselors implement this program in grades K-5 through whole class counseling
lessons, group, and individual counseling PARENTS: If you feel your child is dealing with bullying behaviors, please call Algonkian at
571-434-3240 and ask to speak to an administrator.
October is Bullying Awareness Month!
This month we begin our No Bullying Counseling Curriculum once we complete our Calm Brains Learn Unit! Be looking for information coming home with your child on both subjects!
As part of our No Bullying Awareness, Algonkian will have a spirit week October 21st - 25 and participate in Orange for Unity Day on October 23rd! Wear Orange to show you are an upstander and do not support bullying!Find out more about Unity Day here: https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp
View our Bullying Prevention website at : https://www.lcps.org/Page/188810
Ms. Ryan runs a FREE monthly Chess Club!
Please remember that students will need a NEW permission slip for every chess club date! This prevents lost parents and lost kids! 😊
Chess club is always in need of volunteer parents! No chess knowledge is required, but always helpful! Without parent volunteers we would not have the amazing club we have! Please consider volunteering at least one club date if your child attends Chess Club!
Sign up to Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4CAAAA23A46-20192020
For your convenience here are links to:
Chess Club Main Page: https://www.lcps.org/page/40419
Chess Club Meeting Schedule: https://www.lcps.org/page/40420
Online Permission Slip: https://www.lcps.org/page/40421
Oct Club is October 29th
October 14-18 is Digital Citizenship Week, and Common Sense Media has Family Activities you can do with your child. These go along with the lessons we have been doing in grades K-5 this month.Kindergarten Family ActivityFirst Grade Family ActivitySecond Grade Family ActivityGrades 3-5 Family Activity
A big “thank you” to Mr. Hugh McArthur, Supervisor of Information Security for coming to the October PTA meeting to speak to our community about LCPS online safety and security.
Tips from Mrs. Jackson - Having trouble logging into LCPS Go? Look at this tip from our DES (Digital Experience Specialist.)
Yes –
launchpad.classlink.com/loudoun
No -
launchpad.classlink.com
Algonkian’s Art
Studio
Hello from Ms. Michael!!!The students in art are making fantastic masterpieces inspired by many amazing
cultures, artists, movements, and stories. Here is a synopsis of what each grade is creating in October:
-Kindergarten are creating : Cave Drawing & Spider Web Color Wheels
-First Grade are creating: Behind the Door Creatures
-Second Grade are creating: Gothic Mansions & Letters to Veterans
-Third Grade are creating: Food Landscapes
-Fourth Grade are creating: Day of the Dead Fairytales & American Stained Glass
-Fifth Grade are creating: Tom Fruin Glass House & Diversity Puzzles
Donations:
Hello parents, family, and friends!!! This year in Art we are doing a variety of Art Projects using recycled
materials. If you have any of the follow that you can donate it would be much appreciated.
-Paper Ephemera: old tickets, playing cards, maps, postage stamps, etc.
-Old CD’s -Small children’s toys- like from fast food restaurants
-Baby Wipes - Buttons -Soda Can Tabs -Bubble wrap
-Tape: masking, transparent, and double sided
-Paper plates - Paper Towel Tubes -Dish Soap
-Sandwich and Gallon Size Bags
What’s NEW in ART...
Algonkian Elementary PE Newsletter
Dear Algonkian Parents,
Congratulations on making it through the beginning of the
school year. Sometimes the changing from summer vacation to getting up
early for school every day can be difficult. The students at Algonkian
are making a smooth transition in our PE classes. Here are some
highlights from the recent weeks of school as well as what to look
forward to in the near future.
Grades K-3:
- Learned spatial awareness: How to move without running into other students, objects, or crossing boundaries.
- Learned personal and general space. -Playground Safety.- Throwing and catching objects: Throwing with opposition and
catching with two hands
Grades 4 and 5:
- Reviewed spatial awareness, general, and personal space.- Reviewed throwing and catching: throwing with accuracy.- Take Fitnessgram tests.- Playground Safety- Recess Games (four square)
In the near future:
Grades K-3:
- Kicking: control and accuracy - Hoop Skills- Manipulation and control- Learned basic short jump rope manipulation
Grades 4-5:
- Review Kicking: Control, accuracy, and striking with kicking.- Basketball Skills: Dribbling, passing, and shooting- Complete Virginia Wellness Fitness Gram Pre-Testing.
Have a great month!Nick Peters & Joe Terango
Gifted EducationEDGE, SEARCH, FUTURA
EDGE groups are working on vocabulary puzzles. In the upcoming weeks we will study mathematical problem solving strategies and science concepts of weather and flight.
SEARCH lessons have focused on comparing the attributes of blocks in the attribute block set in order to determine differences of one or two attributes. Kindergarten and First grade will create with tangrams in upcoming lessons. Third graders have been taking the NNAT2 test. The scores will be sent home in November on the day that report cards are released to ParentVue. Third graders will then complete a creativity challenge for their first student portfolio piece.
In FUTURA the students had fun with a cute fictional story about the fairy who really made the magic for Mary Poppins. They are currently reading and reflecting about the life and work of Jane Goodall. In Math we introduced some challenging addition/subtraction puzzles using only the digits 0 -9. We then worked on balance puzzles to determine the value of the unknown symbols. The Leadership module led us to learn about Walt Disney as a man of vision. Our study of Dr. Ben Carson led to discussion about whether leaders need to be willing to take risks. We have had some fun with challenges, such as Lazer Maze and the Alphabet Call Out.
Susan R. SmithParent Liaison
Happy October! With the weather cooling down (we hope) it’s time to pull out those fall and winter jackets and coats and try them on for size. If last year’s coats don’t fit, please consider donating them to our Winter Coat/Hat/Glove drive. We will be donating our collection to LINK for their November 16th coat distribution. When donating please make sure that the pockets are empty and your child’s name tags have been removed.
Algonkian will be collecting used eyeglasses again this year for the Lions Club “Recycle for Sight” campaign. The donation box is located in the foyer. We will accept frames with or without lenses, please just place in the box, no need to donate the eyeglass case. The box will be in the foyer for the remainder of the school year.
It’s that time of year again, Holiday Season! Algonkian will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots. The donation drive will run from November 4th through November 27th.
The Lost & Found process will be as follows. Lost items will be in the front office and will be held for approximately one month. At the beginning of a new month the items will be bagged and saved for about another month at which time they will be donated to the local Thrift store. In total, you will have about 2 months to retrieve your items, after that they will be donated.
Health Clinic
Q. Can I send non-prescription, over-the-counter medicine to school for my child?
A. Yes, all medication must be brought to school by the parent/guardian. The medication must be in its original package. A signed/dated note from the parent or the Authorization for Medication Administration form must be completed for each medicine. School personnel will only dispense medication according to the package instructions unless a physician's order on the Authorization for Medication Administration indicates differently.
Herbal/Alternative Medications Herbal or alternative medications need a physician’s written authorization with dosage instructions, schedule of administration, reason for the drug (unless confidential), adverse reactions and potential drug interaction, as well as signed parental consent before the products can be administered.
Q. Can my child carry over-the-counter medicine (e.g., cough drops, eye drops, Lactaid, etc.) and take or use when needed during the school day?
A. No, over-the-counter medicines contain medication and must be dispensed in the health clinic.
Q. Since I go to work early, can I send in medication with my child if I have completed the Authorization for Medication Administration form?A. No, students are not permitted to carry medication to or from school. Empty prescription bottles can be sent home with the student when a refill is needed, but must be returned to school by the parent/guardian
Students who have fevers should be kept at home until free of fever for 24 hours. Students who do not feel well should stay home. When students come to school ill, they not only are unable to participate fully in class, but they may also infect other students with their illness.
Thank you and stay healthy--- Mrs. Franzen
