patriots` press - Fredericksburg City Public Schools

PATRIOTS’ PRESS
December 2011
Hugh Mercer Elementary School
“A Foundation of Excellence”
Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal
[email protected]
Barbara N. Donaldson, Assistant Principal
[email protected]
Sandra P. Gillenwater, Administrative Ass’t
[email protected]
2100 Cowan Boulevard
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
www.cityschools.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Friends and Families,
SEASONS GREETINGS! The last month of the year has arrived, and we will be packing
as much seasonal interest into our instruction as we can creatively do. Our teachers are
exceptionally good at cross-curriculum instruction where they might discuss the water
cycle through reading The Polar Express, or “wants versus needs” through a discussion
of gift giving. It’s amazing what our teachers come up with when they let their creative
juices flow!
Our PTA-sponsored Holiday Shoppe will be held in the faculty and staff lounge from
December 5 through December 9. This is an opportunity for all children to make
inexpensive gift purchases for families and friends.
The Ident-a-Kid company will be here on Tuesday, December 7. That afternoon, all
students will come home with interim reports. If you have questions or concerns, please
contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible so that any issues can be resolved.
Once again, our wonderful P.E. department will be sponsoring a fun run. The Jingle Bell
Jog will be held on Monday, December 19 at 3:30 P.M. and is open to all first and
second graders. We applaud our P.E. teachers, Ms. Jolene Jonas, Mr. P.J. Pcsolinski,
and Mrs. Molly Roohi, for planning these extra-curricular runs. We are already seeing
the benefits of this early start for our students as we peruse the sports section of The
Free Lance-Star. We often see former Hugh Mercer “fun runners” making a name for
themselves in track and field at James Monroe High School.
On Tuesday, December 20 and on Wednesday, December 21, all students will have the
opportunity to view the classic movie, The Polar Express. Our Hugh Mercer Holiday
Sing-Along, led by our music teacher, Mrs. Kim Milai, will take place in the gym on
Wednesday, December 21 at 1:30 P.M. That happy holiday event will be followed by
classroom parties beginning at 2:30 P.M. After the parties, everyone will depart Hugh
Mercer for a long Winter Break from Thursday, December 22 through January 2. School
will resume on Tuesday, January 3.
Our wish for all of you is that you have a safe, happy and healthy holiday, sharing good
times with friends and family. And remember, the best gift you can give your children is
the gift of TIME. Take time to read to them, talk to them, share a game with them, and
share meals with them. Thank you all for your help and many kindnesses throughout
the year.
Sincerely,
Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
2
7
PTA Holiday
Shoppe (Lounge)
8:30 – 2:30 PM
8
PTA Holiday
Shoppe (Lounge)
8:30 – 2:30 PM
9
PTA Holiday
Shoppe (Lounge)
8:30 – 12:30 PM
Identa-Kid
Kindergartners
attend “Beauty &
the Beast”
Performance @
Riverside Children’s
Theater
GE Referrals Due
DECEMBER 2011
5
PTA Holiday
Shoppe Preview
Day
6
PTA Holiday
Shoppe (Lounge)
8:30 – 2:30 PM
School Board
Meeting (City
Council
Chambers)
(7:30 PM)
Interim Reports
Go Home
w/Students
12
13
14
15
16
19
20
“Polar Express”
Beamed
throughout school
(9 – 11 AM and
1:15 – 2:55 PM)
21
Final Showing of
“Polar Express”
(9 – 11 AM)
22
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
23
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
29
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
30
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
Jingle Bell Jog (1
nd
& 2 Grades) @
3:30 PM
26
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
st
27
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
Holiday SingAlong (1:30 AM)
Class Parties
(2:30 PM)
28
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
2
WINTER WEATHER
PROCEDURES
School Closings: When Fredericksburg City Public
Schools are closed due to inclement weather, an announcement will
be placed on the TV and Radio stations listed below. On days when FCPS are closed,
have a delayed opening, or dismiss early due to weather conditions, the TV/radio
announcement will state Fredericksburg City Schools. Frederick County, the surrounding
counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, etc., and private schools (Fredericksburg Christian,
Fredericksburg Academy, etc.) are separate school divisions whose inclement weather schedules
may vary from FCPS.
TV Stations
Radio Stations
Channel 4
Channel 6
Channel 8
Channel 9
Channel 18
WFVA (FM 101.5) (AM 1230)
WFLS (FM 93.3)
WGRQ (Q96)
WVBX - The Vibe (FM 99.3)
WGRX (Thunder104.5)
WWUZ – Classic Rock (FM 96.9)
School personnel cannot individually notify parents when schools are dismissed early due to
inclement weather. You are encouraged to listen to the local radio stations or check our web site.
When schools are closed, all school-related events or activities are cancelled.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB (The Boys and Girls Club follows FCPS’ inclement weather
schedule.)



If school is closed for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is closed.
If school dismisses early for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is closed.
If after school programs are cancelled for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is
closed.
Delayed Openings due to inclement weather will be announced on the TV and Radio stations
listed above. School hours on delayed opening days are as follows: (Buses will arrive at their
designated stops 2 hours later than usual.)
10:35 – 3:15 P.M.
10:25 – 3:15 P.M.
9:40 – 2:40 P.M.
9:45 – 2:45 P.M.
10:30 – 2:00 P.M.
11:00 – 12:30 P.M.
10:40 – 2:10 P.M.
Hugh Mercer
Lafayette
Walker-Grant
James Monroe
RISE/STARS
Preschool
Head Start
School closings and delayed opening information will be posted on the school’s web site
(www.cityschools.com) and www.fredericksburg.com. Sign-up for email/text alerts of school
closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals! Early dismissals due to inclement weather will
be announced on the radio stations listed above and posted on the school division internet site.
Schools will be dismissed in the following order:
1.
James Monroe High School
2.
Head Start and Preschool
3.
Walker-Grant Middle School
4.
Lafayette Upper Elementary School
5.
Hugh Mercer Elementary School
3
ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors: The American History Company (Patricia Conway),
Andre Pineda and Carol Kando-Pineda, Chris Wilson, Gary and Jane Sokoloski, Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Beringer, and Brooke and Stephen Kingsley.
If you would like to sponsor a classroom, please contact Mrs. Barbara Donaldson,
assistant principal, at 372-1115 (x2004).
BOX TOPS WINNERS!
The following classrooms collected the most Box Tops for Education during the months
of September and October: Ms. Stapleton’s kindergartners, Mr. Hayden’s first graders,
and Mrs. Chases’ second graders. Way to go!
BUS ROUTES & SCHEDULES
Since the first day of school, our bus schedules and route times have been adjusted at
each school. While no route is ever set in stone because of the possibility of students
entering or leaving our district, we now have the framework for each route posted on
the website and at each school. Some of the steps we have taken over the last few
weeks include:
1. All schools will have their telephones monitored until 4:30 so that parents can
call the school with inquiries.
2. The bus transportation telephone line at 372-1123 will be monitored from 7:00
to 8:30 each morning and from 2:30 to 5:00 each afternoon. Mr. Williams,
transportation supervisor, and Mr. Hilliard, transportation assistant, often have
had to take over routes when drivers call in sick and were not always available to
parents before. Now an assistant, Ms. Samuel, will be monitoring the telephone
each day.
3. We have added bus routes and moved stops to deal with overcrowding and to
shorten routes at Walker-Grant Middle School and Lafayette Upper Elementary
School.
We sincerely hope that these changes improve communication and ease your concerns.
As always, please feel free to contact us if there is anything we can do to better serve
you.
PUMPKIN RUN RACE RESULTS - Second graders participated in their first fun
run of the year on October 31. The race consisted of a 2-lap run around the front
parking area of the school. Top runners are:
1st Place:
Grace Maynard
and
Joe Hardy
2nd Place:
Brianna Denson
and
Reece Healey
rd
3 Place:
Katie Fidler,
Yasmin Deane
and
Jayden Williams
4th Place:
Charlotte Snead
and
Ryelan White
th
5 Place:
William Martinez
4
TURKEY TROT RACE RESULTS - First graders participated in their first fun run
of the year on November 22. The race consisted of a 2-lap run around the front parking
area of the school. Top runners are:
1st Place:
Sarah Rigual
and
Luke DuMont
nd
2 Place:
Ahzadara Scott
and
Jasiah Smith
rd
3 Place:
Jade Brown
and
Jack Bowles
4th Place:
Cameran Isler
and
Zachary Horn
th
5 Place:
Jennifer Lopez
and
Angel Reza Hernandez
Proud Patriots (Students of the Month) for November are:
GRADE
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
STUDENT’S NAME
George Howard
Abigail Lyles
Keira Whitehead
Aryanna Tovar
Elsa Sesay
Brendon Davis
Peter Tankelewicz
Owen Benedict
Amiri Tre Adams
Henry Salinas-Lopoez
Lilyan Rose
Jordan Doucette
Ella Byrd
Maggie Lacy
Tionne Minor
Jaelin Henry
Nasiir Callahan
Sabur Abdul Wadood
George Sanchez
Joyce Long
Mikayla Pratt
ZaNiya Young
Mason Allen
Vanesa Guevara-Zarate
Chloe Berardino
Jose Pablo Baltazar
Stephanie Marin
Scarlett Klaus
Kyle Snnider
Dylan Scott
Celissa Samora-Nixon
Justyn Mason
Daniel Curry
Lesly Ventura
Joe Hardy
Hunter Wright
Sharon Simon
Lola Martinelli-Guzman
Sydney Lute
Christian Scott
5
TEACHER’S NAME
Mrs. Bishop
Mrs. Chaney
Mrs. Dannals
Ms. Downer
Mrs. Hughes
Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Mann
Mr. McClung
Ms. Reynolds
Ms. Sillas
Ms. Stapleton
Mrs. Szafranski
Ms. Utz
Mrs. Weller
Mrs. Anderson
Mr. Anne
Ms. David
Mrs. Doerr
Mrs. Ehlen
Mr. Hayden
Mrs. Murray
Mrs. Phipps
Ms. Rinker
Ms. Salamon
Mrs. Schwarz
Ms. Thomas
Ms. Treblic
Mrs. VanBlaricome
Ms. Causin
Mrs. Chase
Ms. Clausen
Mrs. Cobey
Mrs. Lane
Mrs. Lewis
Ms. Lovitt
Mrs. McKinney
Ms. Overstreet
Mrs. Porcelli
Mrs. Russell
Ms. Wolfe