Algonkian ElementaryDecember 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:

December12/12 5th grade Music Performance12/19 5th grade Spelling Bee12/23 Winter Break1/6 Classes Resume1/14 PTA meeting

Principals UpdateDear Algonkian Parents, Winter break starts on Monday, December 23 and students do not return to school until Monday, January 6. During breaks from school a student can have an academic slide, from not practicing the skills they need to acquire. Please set a routine with 15 minutes of reading each day and time for your child to work on Math skills in the dreambox or Reflex app.

I want to thank the PTA for purchasing a sunshade for our playground. This will benefit our students and staff on those hot and sunny days. If needed it will provide a break from the sun during recess.

We are in the middle of flu season and cold season. Please do not send your child to school with a fever or a bad cold. We do not want the germs to spread. If students are healthy enough to be at school, they should be able to go outside for recess weather permitting. We receive requests for students to stay inside for recess, and sometimes we are able to honor those requests. We do have times when we do not have a staff member to monitor a student while their class is outside. We cannot leave a student alone, so in those cases if a student is healthy enough to be at school, we would send them outside. The parking in our parking lot is much improved. Thanks for not parking behind cars and parking in the open parking spaces.

Mr. Brian BlubaughPrincipal

FROM THE DESK OF MS. SHIELDS

Spelling Bee

Who: 5th Grade Finalists

What: School Spelling Bee

When: December 19, 2019

Where: Algonkian Gym

Time: 9:00 am

Next Up: CogAt Testing

2nd grade students will participate in Cogat testing

during the month of February

***More info to come in January newsletter

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.

Our next open meeting is May 7th. Please come and join us!

Algonkian CounselingMs. Ryan & Ms. Gerber, Counselors

A Proud RAMP School Counseling Program

https://www.lcps.org/Page/188810

Algonkian CounselingMs. Ryan & Ms. Gerber, Counselors

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

No Club in December, next club is January 28th

It is Computer Science Education Week! (My favorite week of the year!)

I HIGHLY encourage all students to login to LCPS GO and click on the Coding icon and click on the CODE.ORG icon and just start. Have fun and explore. Over the years many Algonkian students have dipped their toes into coding with our Hour of Code week. With all the Maker Space activities going on this month we will celebrate Hour of Code in January. We will be signing students up in Scratch program once we send home the parent Permission-Click. Happy Holidays and happy coding!

Algonkian’s Art

Studio

What’s NEW in ART...

Algonkian Elementary PE NewsletterDear Algonkian Parents, Greetings again from the PE department. Skills are being fine-tuned and students are taking off with some of the new ideas and games that have been introduced to them. The ABL (Algonkian Basketball League) is rapidly approaching and we are pleased with the progress that has been shown in our basketball skills unit. The teams will soon be formed and the games will be underway after winter break. A full league schedule will be posted on the Algonkian web page along with a paper copy sent home prior to winter break. Thanks for a great month! Grades K-3: ➔ Completed throwing and catching skills (manipulation of bean

bag) sliding, passing, catching.➔ Basketball Skills and

Grades 4 and 5: ➔ Basketball skills and manipulation unit.➔ Continued preparation for Algonkian Basketball League.

Currently and in the near future: Grades K-3: ➔ Bowling Unit➔ Currently progressing through ball skills (shooting, passing,

movement coordination incorporating ball skills)➔ Cup stacking

Grades 4-5:➔ Cup stacking➔ Further preparation for the Algonkian Basketball league.➔ Bowling Skills

Happy Holidays! Joe Terango Nick Peters

Cup sales end December 20th.

LibraryTake time this break to snuggle up with a hot drink and read with your children.

This will teach them that reading is love!

SEARCH, FUTURA, EDGE

Parents of third grade students: Students who achieved two scores on the CogAT or a score on the NNAT2 of 97 - 99 percentile will receive a District referral form via US Mail in mid-January. Please return by February 7, 2020. Parents may submit referrals for evaluation for eligibility for any third grade student during the referral window: January 27 - February 7, 2020. The referral form may be found on the LCPS website, under Academics, Gifted and Talented, Please print out the form, complete it, and send the signed original document to the SEARCH teacher, Patty Peterson, by February 7, 2020.

Parent of fourth and fifth grade students: Parents may submit referrals for evaluation for eligibility for any fourth or fifth grade student during the referral window: January 27 - February 7, 2020. The referral form may be found on the LCPS website, under Academics, Gifted and Talented, Please print out the form, complete it, and send the signed original document to the SEARCH teacher, Patty Peterson, by February 7, 2020.

Spring Gifted Information SessionsMost are evening sessions held in the school Multi-purpose rooms or libraries. Doors will open at 6:30, the program will be presented from 7 - 8 pm.

January 13 – Culbert ES January 14 – Rolling Ridge ES January 27 - Discovery ES

February 3 – Pinebrook ES (Tentative) February 4 – Evergreen Mill ES (morning session)

Susan R. SmithParent Liaison

Happy Holidays to all of our Bobcat families. We had a great Marine Corps Toys For Tots donation drive. I am continually amazed at the generosity of our community, so thank you all for your donations.

Loudoun County is launching a new Information & Referral Program for Health and Human Services. To find out more about the resource go to www.loudoun.gov/humanservices. You will be able to call the phone line, 703-777-0420 Monday through Friday and talk with a person who will be able to connect you to whatever resource you are looking for, i.e. Child care assistance, employment, health and dental care, housing and homeless services, legal, mental health, food resources, etc.

January 6th will be your last chance to reclaim any Lost & Found items from November and December. I have over 40 hoodies and jackets, various water bottles, lunch bags, etc. When we return on January 6th, whatever is not claimed will be donated to the local thrift store.

That’s all for this month so enjoy your winter break, relax or do whatever makes you happy!

Health Clinic

REMINDERS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE

The cold temps bring dry skin and chapped lips, please know that your student can have Chapstick at school with no paperwork required.

Lotions must be kept in the health office and paperwork completed for use at school

Please be aware students will go outside for recess and for patrol duties. Hats and gloves are the best way to keep your student toasty all through the cold weather.

If your child is ill because of a contagious disease such as the flu, strep throat, chickenpox, etc., it would be helpful to note the reason for the absence when you call the absentee call-line. This will help the school take measures to know the extent of the disease and reduce its spread.

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.