Churchill
Chatter - Issue 1, August 30, 2017
 Welcome Back!
Welcome
to the 2017-2018 school year and our first edition of our weekly newsletter, The
Churchill Chatter!
Our
community has spent the last couple of months enjoying summer schedules.
Some went to summer school, others attended camps, and many families enjoyed
vacations. As August 28th loomed closer, new clothes were purchased and
school supplies were restocked. At school, teachers joined together to
organize classrooms, develop new lessons, and plan for the new school
year. And now, the 765 children of Churchill Road are joining the nearly
200,000 FCPS students that returned to school yesterday. This year will
be especially memorable: we are celebrating Churchill Road’s 60th
anniversary! Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 14, when we host a
Fall Festival to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The
School Board has charged us with creating a world-class school system that,
"inspires, enables, and empowers students to meet high academic standards,
lead ethical lives, and demonstrate responsible citizenship." While
the Board is responsible for establishing policy, the school staff and I are
responsible for turning that policy into action. Although this is only
our third day of school, our classrooms are busy with productive activities and
our students are already immersed in exciting learning opportunities.
Important routines and procedures are being established and serious instruction
is already occurring. As I visit the classrooms, it's impressive to see
the many creative and purposeful lessons taking place.
Educating
a child today might seem daunting, but our school is uniquely poised to meet this
challenge. Our teachers, along with our PTA’s programs, provide our
students with great opportunities. Access to technology, lessons focusing
on our international community, and participation in service learning
activities are key pillars to ensure that our students have the skills they
need to be successful citizens of the future. I feel confident that they
will have the knowledge and skills to be our world’s future leaders.
A
key ingredient to a successful school year is good communication and partnership
between the school and our families. The teachers will do a good job of
keeping you posted about school events and your child’s instructional
program. Be sure to check Blackboard.com on a regular basis. The
teachers will be posting daily homework updates to keep you informed.
Also, this newsletter is the #1 communication between the school and your
home. The Churchill Chatter is posted on our school's website
every Wednesday by 4:00 p.m. Please get in the habit of reviewing each
edition. You are guaranteed to learn something new every week.
In
an effort to be available for parents, I host a monthly Principal’s Coffee,
8:00-8:45 a.m., prior to our PTA meetings on the following dates (all
Wednesdays): September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13, January
10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, and June 13. These events are
informal gatherings that provide a forum for discussions about school and
school system news and events.
Tonight
and tomorrow night (August 30 & 31), we will be hosting our Back to School
Nights (BTSN). BTSN is an important event because it provides both our
PTA and teachers an opportunity to share essential information. Your
attendance is noted and appreciated. The parent involvement here at
Churchill Road is a critical element to the success of our school. On
behalf of the staff and myself, thank you for your support.
I
look forward to seeing you around the school. It’s going to be a great
school year!
Don Hutzel, Principal
|
Scouts Build Foot Bridge by Modular
 Walker H., a rising sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School and CRS alum, was busy at Churchill Road over the August 24th weekend. As part of his Eagle Scout project for Troop 128, Walker oversaw the work of 30 volunteers as they constructed a new bridge and installed shrubbery along a drainage ditch which spans from the Modular to the playground, allowing the teachers and students easier and safer access to the playground.
Walker would like to give a shout-out to Matthew Gryskevich from Wheat's Landscape and Marcus Truelove from Home Depot for their generous support of his project. He would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Kyle H., Liam S., Riley T., Cloud B., Bart B., and his parents for putting in extra hours to complete this impressive undertaking.
*New* Visitor Management System
Our new Visitor Management System (VMS) is now live. Visitors entering Churchill Road for the first time must register at the station using a scan-able, government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport). Once the registration process is completed, the visitor is prompted to proceed to check in. Visitor check-in on subsequent visits (after registration is completed), simply involves scanning the ID, specifying the person/room you are visiting and reason for the visit, clicking "Finish and Print", wearing the photo ID that it produces, and proceeding to your destination.
A Lot's Been Happening at CRS....
 A crew from Wheat's Landscape made sure the school grounds were freshly trimmed and mulched. Thank you to Wheat's for all their help keeping our school grounds beautiful.
 Mr. Craig-Kuhn and Mr. Hutzel braved the heights to hang a banner commemorating Churchill's 60th anniversary! Mark your calendars for the Fall Festival on October 14.
 Mr. Craig-Kuhn acquired 100 free computers to keep our 1-laptop per student initiative running smoothly. Thank you to Mr. Craig-Kuhn for renting the truck, driving to Baltimore to load the computers, then driving back to Churchill Road to unload all the computers. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Craig-Kuhn we were able to donate 100 laptop bags to a school in need for students to use as backpacks.
 Thank you to the many parent and student volunteers who organized student school supply orders and delivered them to classrooms prior to Open House.
 CRS Staff were excited to watch the solar eclipse on August 21. What a great way to start the new year.
 Thank you to the CRS PTA for hosting a delicious and healthy back to school luncheon for the CRS staff. A special thank you toall the parents who contributed baked goods and drinks to the luncheon and helped set up and clean up. Thank you to Micky Chopra for helping serve the meal. A big shout out to Christy Stute and Kristi West for organizing this much appreciated event.
 Mr. Woler and Mrs. Haines put the finishing touches on Mr. Woler's classroom prior to Open House.
 Churchill Road students and staff are celebrating the school's 60th anniversary with t-shirts designed by parent John Midgely. Thank you to Jenny Gillespie and the CRS PTA for providing shirts for all of us.
 Open House was a fun and busy day for students and staff, meeting their teachers and seeing old friends.
Science Olympiad B – Mandatory Parent Meeting
If your 5th or 6th grader is interested in participating in Science Olympiad B this school year, you and your student must attend a mandatory meeting. Only students and parents who attend a meeting and submit a commitment form at the meeting will be eligible to participate!
The meetings will be held:
Friday, September 1st at 7:30 a.m. in the CRS Library, or
Tuesday, September 5th at 5:30 p.m. in the CRS Exploratory Arts room
The CRS Science Olympiad team is comprised of 30 students who meet after school every Tuesday. New team members will be selected by lottery. Please come to a meeting to learn more about this fun and educational opportunity!
Questions to: juliejohncox@gmail.com.
1st Lockdown Drill Scheduled
In order to meet the new requirements of the Amended Code of Virginia 22.1-137.2, lockdown drills must be conducted at least four times each school year. On Thursday, September 7 at 9:00 a.m., our students and staff will take part in the first of the four annual “Lockdown Drills” for this school year. A real “lockdown” procedure is initiated in the rare event a high risk incident (involving weapons, stranger intrusion, etc.) occurs in the school, on school property or in the vicinity of the school that could endanger the safety of the students and staff.
A lockdown requires that all students and staff remain in classrooms or other designated secure locations that are away from danger and that minimize access and visibility. During the drill, signs will be posted on the entrance doors indicating the school is in lockdown. No one will be allowed into the school at this time. Similar procedures would be followed in a real situation. Please take this into consideration if your child has an appointment scheduled for Thursday morning, September 7.
The safety of our students and staff at Churchill Road Elementary School is a top priority and the drill will help ensure that we are able to successfully manage crisis situations at the school. Please note that this drill is for practice purposes only. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Niccolls, CRS Assistant Principal, at jniccolls@fcps.edu should you have any questions or concerns relative to this issue.
Thank you for understanding and cooperation.
Jennifer Niccolls, Assistant Principal
 Calling All Bobcats!
Donate to The Bobcat Fund, Churchill Road PTA's direct-donation drive! The Bobcat Fund is the primary means by which we fund all the programs that make CRS a vibrant and thriving school, so please join the vast majority of CRS parents who will fund their family’s allocation of the PTA budget by making a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation of $100 per student. Visit our website at www.churchillroadpta.org to find out more information about the Bobcat Fund and to contribute. (Just like last year, we have made it easy to join the PTA, contribute to the Bobcat Fund and class dues, and order yearbooks, all in one place.) Questions? Contact Elizabeth Marino, the PTA VP of Fundraising, at Fundraising@churchillroadpta.org.
|
 Paying for School Meals
Families may pay for school meals in one of three ways: by setting up an online payment account, via check or by paying cash. Detailed information on payment methods is outlined below.
THREE WAYS TO PURCHASE MEALS
1. Online Using www.MySchoolBucks.com.
This user-friendly service is free, convenient, private and secure. Once the account is open, parents can check the fund account at any time.
2. Check
Write a check made out to Churchill Road Food and Nutrition Services and bring the check to the food service manager’s office. CRS’s Food Service Manger is Mr. Yan Cheung. A parent who wants his or her check payments to be for meals only (no à la carte items) should write instructions on the check or tell Mr. Cheung. Please note: a local address and phone number are required to be either printed or handwritten on the check. The student name and PIN number are required on the check memo line.
3. Cash
Cash may be brought to the food service manager’s office for deposit on student’s account, or students may pay cash on a daily basis.
NOTE: Monthly school lunch menus are available on the FCPS website by going to: http://fcps.nutrislice.com/menu/churchill-road-elementary/lunch/.
|
Distribution of Community Fliers for the 2017-2018 School Year
The weeks of October 2, December 4, March 5 and May 14 have been designated for the distribution of fliers and newsletters to CRS students by non-profit organizations.
Please note that all fliers must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance for the principal to review and contain the following disclaimer: "These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this School."
For complete information on regulations governing their distribution, please go to: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8K8J7H4BC99C/$file/R1367.pdf.
 Save the Date!
Join us for our Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we will celebrate 60 years of Churchill Road. Fun and games for all.
|
 Our students are excited about celebrating 60 years of Churchill Road!
Attendance Reminder
School will be closed on Monday, September 4, in honor of the Labor Day holiday. If your student will be absent any additional days surrounding the holiday, please call the CRS 24-hour attendance line, 703-288-8484 or email churchillattendance@fcps.edu to report the absence.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Wednesday, August 30
BTSN for Grades 2, 4 and 6, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 31
BTSN for Kindergarten and Grades 1, 3 and 5, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Monday, September 4
Labor Day--No School
Thursday, September 7
State-Mandated Lockdown Drill #1 (of 4), 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, September 13
Principal’s Coffee, 8:00-8:45 a.m., Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting 8:45-9:45 a.m., Exploratory Arts Room
Thursday, September 14
Fall Picture Day
Monday, September 18
State-Mandated Lockdown Drill #2 (of 4), 2:00 p.m.
Friday, September 22
Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
Link to the PTA Week-at-a-Glance:
https://cresp.memberclicks.net/crs-pta-week-a-glance
As outlined
by FCPS Regulation 1367.2, school principals shall offer options to nonprofit
organizations that want to make their materials available to students and parents.
At Churchill Road, non-profit organizations will be permitted to send home
flyers in the take home folder 4 times during the year. The dates for the 2017-2018 school year
are the weeks of October 2, December 4, March 5 and May 14.
These fliers must be related to the school’s educational mission and be
age-appropriate. Community organizations must submit their materials in advance
to the school’s principal and must include the disclaimer “These materials
are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the
Superintendent, or this School.” Once approved, the organization will be
required to make the copies necessary for distribution. Any questions can be
directed to Kim Moran, Churchill Road's Public
Relations Liaison.
|
