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Robert Freeman Principal
Kara Colucci
Assistant Principal
Where Eagles Learn to Soar!
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 7 Glow Dance &
Book Fair Kick-Off 6:00-8:00
7-13 Book Fair 8:30-3:30
14 Early Dismissal 1:10 PM
17 No School/Presidents’ Day
19 PTA Spirit Night
Jersey Mike’s 4:00-9:00 PM
27 4th & 5th Grade Kids Heart
Challenge 1:45-3:45 PM
March
2 Read Across America Day
3 No School/Election Day
10 Spring Pictures
10 PTA Spirit Night 5:00-8:00 PM
Chick-Fil-A Central Park
13 No School/Professional Day
16-20 No School/Spring Break
27 Report Cards Issued
27 Bingo Night
February 2020
Message from Mr. Freeman
The renovation has begun at Ferry Farm Elementary. The school does look a bit different. We have had trees removed, fences installed, a new parking area for teachers and our families, and our main office and third
grade classrooms are in temporary trailers. I want to send a shout out to all of the teachers and staff who worked over the break to make our Barnyard an inviting place for students and their families to return to. You all were just simply amazing and we appreciate all of your efforts! More information about our renovation can be found on our webpage.
Unexpected snow/wind chill/ice days impact instructional time, deadlines, and school activities. If inclement weather continues to arrive,
we hope it will not interfere with the many events we have planned for our families this month. Important dates this month include the GLOW Dance and Book Fair kickoff on Feb. 7, PTA Spirit Night on Feb. 19 at Jersey Mike’s, and Feb 27 our 4th and 5th grade students will participate
in the Kid’s Heart Challenge. Please support our school and come out to enjoy these events!
HOW COLD IS TOO COLD TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PLAY OUTDOORS? During typical winter days, common sense requires us to look beyond a specific temperature and consider factors such as wind
chill, whether the ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside. When the weather turns extremely cold, we have to balance student’s needs for physical activity with the dangers that come from too much exposure to the cold. To keep our Eagles safe during
these cold weather months, our classes will not go outside for recess or
PE when the wind chill is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. When a grade level has decided it is too cold to go out without proper attire, one teacher may choose to stay inside with students who do not have a winter coat, gloves, and hat. In the event we must stay inside, students will have indoor recess and they can play all kinds of games, including those that reinforce what they learn in school.
I am happy to announce that Mrs. Danielle Chambers is our Teacher of the Year, and Mrs. Sabrina McAlister is our Service Employee of the Year! They are two of the reasons that Ferry Farm is such a great place to work! It is a joy and a pleasure to work with colleagues who always go above and beyond for our students and
teachers. We are so fortunate to have them share their talents with us!
We’d like to remind all of you about our efforts to increase our social
media presence. We want to share with everyone the wonderful things happening at our school. Please follow us on our FFES Twitter account
(@FerryFarmES)! We will use these for school announcements, celebrations of success, sharing classroom information, and sharing of educational articles. We are hopeful that this will increase our partnerships with our families and community.
At Ferry Farm Elementary, we value the support you provide to help
ensure all children will be successful. Thank you for all you do each day to make learning a true home and school partnership. Remember that you are your child’s first and most important teacher. We look forward to
working together to continue our successful year. Every day is a
great day at Ferry Farm Elementary! Keep soaring eagles!
Robert Freeman
Page 2 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
Math News
Music News
Kindergarten classes have been discovering they can change their voices, bodies and faces
through acting. They have explored acting through songs and instruments. These skills can transfer
to reading expression.
1st Grade classes have been practicing the steady beat to many song and song games. They
have patted it; played it on xylophones, drums, and various other instruments. They have learned
about autoharps and played them in class!
2nd Grade classes have been learning about melodic direction (up, down, same). They have
practiced singing these and have been working on xylophones and glockenspiels to play from the
staff!
3rd Grade classes have been working hard to learn an Orff xylophone piece. Those who wish to
audition for the Fine Arts Festival musical will be playing this piece. We have learned a third note on
our recorders!
4th Grade students have learned to swing dance! What fun! They have continued to learn music
notes (names, values). We have begun a unit on Beethoven. They have been invited to begin
Recorder Karate – a volunteer program to learn to be a stronger recorder player.
5th grade students have begun a unit on instruments/instrument families in preparation for their
middle school choices. They are continuing to play recorder (soon in 3 parts!). They have been
invited to begin Recorder Karate – a volunteer program to learn to be a stronger recorder player.
Super Singers and Instrumental Ensemble have resumed rehearsals for our spring semester.
Thanks! Congratulations to Fifth grade Instrumental Ensemble and Super Singers for a wonderful
concert!
It is February, and the Greg Tang Valentine’s Math Challenge will soon be
underway! Thank you to all students who participated in the New Year’s Challenge. Those who returned their game boards received a
certificate and a prize! Even though no one from Ferry Farm won a prize, it was a lot of fun!
Be on the lookout for information on the next challenge. If you can’t wait, be sure to check out the Holiday Challenge tab on
GregTangMath.com!
Page 3 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
No School
February 17 – Presidents Day
March 3 – Primary Elections
March 13 – Professional Day
March 16-20 – Spring Break
Early Dismissal
February 14 – 1:10 PM
February 27 – 1:10 PM
February is Dental Month
Dental Tips
Practice good dental health habits. Brush twice a day and floss once a day.
Take your child to the dentist for a check-up
every 6 months.
Keep your dental appointments.
Limit sweets and sodas.
Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle
of milk, formula, fruit juice, or other sweetened drinks.
SOL Testing
Grades Third, Fourth, & Fifth May 6 - 21
Thanks for all you do!
Stafford County Public Schools 2020 School Board Contact Information
February is School Board
Appreciation Month
Page 4 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
Aquia District Griffis-Widewater District
Irene M. Hollerback Elizabeth Warner 540/419-4191 540/623-4477 [email protected] [email protected]
Term: 1/1/2018 – 12/31/2021 Term: 11/15/2020 – 12/31/2023
Falmouth District Hartwood District Dr. Sarah Chase Holly H. Hazard 540/322-7789 540/947-1175
[email protected] [email protected] Term: 1/1/2018 – 12/31/2021 Term: 1/1/2018 – 12/31/2021
Garrisonville District Rockhill District
Pamela Yeung 202/253-9122 [email protected]
Term: 12/8/2018-12/31/2021
George Washington District Susan Randall 540/642-0017
[email protected] Term: 1/1/2020 – 12/31/2023
Patricia Healy 540/850-5154
Term: 1/1/2020-12/31/2023
Support FFES 4th and 5th Students
February 27
1:45-3:45 PM
Page 5 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
\
After School Karate
Lessons from Hampton’s Karate
January 28, January 30, February 4, and February 6
3:45-4:30 PM
Cost $20
All Proceeds go to the P.E. Department
All proceeds go to our school PE Dept.
Third grade is all moved in to our new learning cottages out in the Ferry Farm “Barnyard.” The students have helped to make this a remarkably smooth transition and we’re finding our new classrooms very
cozy and comfortable. We are enjoying our new water coolers and the updated
technology in each room and we’re happy that a small and temporary inconvenience will lead to such a beautiful renovation! Learning is continuing as always. Third graders are busy exploring
fractions and food chains and our students are reading, reading, reading! We’ve grown from working on literal comprehension to summarizing, finding main ideas and drawing conclusions. Thank you, parents, for all
your support during our move! We’re looking forward to a strong second half of the year!
Third Grade
Third grade in the “barnyard”
Fifth grade is busy researching our passion
projects! Each student has chosen a topic upon which
to become an expert. They will each create a report
with their research, make a showboard, and then
present their information to classmates and
parents/families. Students got to fill out a survey for
interesting enrichment classes which may be offered in
6th grade. In math, we are coming into decimal
computation and measurement. The teachers
encourage lots of reading at home! The more children
read, the better they learn in all subjects.
Fifth Grade
From Nurse Diaz
Please do NOT send your child to school if he/she has or has had:
1. A fever more than 100 degrees within the last 24 hours (must be fever free without medication)
2. Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
3. Continuous coughing not relieved with cough medicine
Stafford County Public Schools does not allow ANY school personnel, including the nurse, to
give any medication without a medication form signed by the parent and physician. This
includes ALL over the counter medications, even cough drops. These forms are available in
the front office, clinic, and Ferry Farm website.
To prevent the spread of colds and the flu, we would greatly appreciate your assistance in preventing
the spread of illnesses in our school. Please help us teach the kids good health habits to protect
themselves as well as others:
1. Get plenty of rest and make healthy dietary choices.
2. Do not eat/drink from the same utensil or container after someone else.
3. Drink plenty of water.
4. When coughing or sneezing, cover the nose and mouth by using a tissue or a bent elbow.
5. Wash those hands!!! Use plenty of soap and water and sing a song to make sure you wash long
enough—this is the best way to kill germs! Use hand sanitizer in between hand washings.
Since students need to be picked up when they’re ill at school, please ensure we have current
telephone numbers on file. Please inform the school immediately of any change in your telephone
number(s) so we may be able to contact you when needed.
Thank you so much for working with us to keep students and staff healthy and in school!
Page 6 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
We are still in cold and flu season and here are a few friendly reminders….
Fifth grade students working on Janet Skates abstract, intuitive, color theory
paintings. The students are mark making patterns, symbols,
and designs on top of their layered underpaintings. The students shown are Dezi S.,
Jada M., Alyssa P., Brandon T., and Jessica H.
Art News
PE Student of the Month
Page 7 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
March 2
In Honor of
Dr. Seuss
Read Across
America Day
FFES Cold
Weather Policy
Second
Bica H.
Aubrey B. Moriah M.
Alexander B.
Third
Ella K.
Kovin D. Zachary W. Amber B.
Jason H.
Fourth
Damian T.
Justin C. Hunter R.
Mina B. Madeline T.
Fifth
Olivia D. Cristina S. Clara B.
Laurel C. River S.
Nicholas A.
S
p
o
r
t
s
m
a
n
s
h
i
p
To keep our Eagles safe during
these cold weather months, our
classes will not be going outside
for recess or PE when the temperature with
wind chill is below 30 degrees.
We will keep our Eagles inside if they do
not have a winter coat to wear outside when
it has been determined that the weather is
too cold to go out without the proper attire. If
your child does not have a winter coat due to
family financial issues, please contact the
school for assistance.
The libraries coding centers have been a hit
so far. First and second graders have been
using our OSMO centers. Third, Fourth and
Fifth graders
were able to try
out our Dash
robots. First
grade students
have been
learning to use
the OSMO
devices that
help with coding
skills, word
building,
number
combinations,
and spatial
awareness.
Library News
Page 8 of 8 Ferry Farm Elementary
Inclement Weather Procedures
A text message at the top of the page will be displayed on all school websites when a decision to close school for snow, ice, or other emergency conditions is made to protect the safety and well- being of students and employees.
WHERE TO FIND SCHOOL
CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS
All local radio and television stations are informed of school closings and delays.
Families may wish to check with
several media sources to verify
closing information.
The Stafford Schools’ website at
www.staffordschools.net posts the
information as soon as the decision
is made. (Remember to “Refresh”
or “Reload” each time you visit the
site!) Also, the Free-Lance Star’s
website at www.fredericksburg.com
also posts the closings and delays.
How is the school calendar
adjusted for days missed due to inclement weather?
Should the school year fall below the
required instructional days or hours,
the difference will be made by
converting the following current non-
school days to school days.
January 20
February 17 ● April 13
FM Stations:
WFLS - 93.3
WBQB - 101.5
WGRQ - 95.9
WTOP - 103.5 & 107.7
95.9 & 104.5
AM Stations:
WFVA - 1230
Television Stations:
WJLA - CH 7 ABC
Newschannel 8
WRC - CH 4 NBC
WTTG - CH 5 FOX WUSA - CH 9 CBS
WTVR - CH 6 CBS WWBT - CH 12 NBC
Cable Station:
Comcast Cable - CH 18
Cox Cable – CH 18
Websites:
www.staffordschools.net
www.fredericksburg.com
www.wtop.com
www.staffordalert.com
or call 540-658-6698
ALERT SYSTEMS
Stafford County’s alert
system is another avenue for
receiving emergency
notifications from the schools
and from other Stafford
County agencies. Go to www.staffordalert.com
to register.
Blackboard Connect
(Parent Notification System)
Blackboard Connect is an alert and notification service throughout
Stafford County. This enables us to personally
communicate with parents about emergency
situations, school events, attendance, and important
issues impacting your child. It will allow us to send personalized voice
messages to your family’s home, work or cell phones and email communications when school is closed. We
will be able to reach everyone in the district within minutes. Please
make sure the school has current contact
information.
