September 27, 2017
Highlights:
- New Testing Program – iReady/Universal Screener
- Fall Picture Day – Thursday, October 5
- AAP news and events
- Columbus Day Holiday – Monday, October 9
Good evening, Laurel Hill Parents and Guardians!
Happy first week of fall! The weather doesn’t seem to realize that summer has passed, but the calendar tells us it certainly has!
As this new seasons begins, we have moved into new levels of learning here at Laurel Hill, exploring new concepts and curricula. We’ve also started a new type of testing called “iReady,” also known as the “Universal Screener.” This objective, online assessment analyzes students’ abilities in both reading and math and provides valuable information about both strengths and weaknesses in foundational skills, the building blocks of academic success. Gaps in fundamental skills are often the root of learning difficulties; early detection and intervention in these gaps can help students reach their full potential. The reading screening evaluates each student’s skills in five areas: phonological awareness, phonics, high-frequency words, vocabulary, and comprehension. The math screening assesses skills in four areas: number and operations, algebra and algebraic thinking, measurement and data, and geometry. These assessments are adaptive, meaning that the difficulty of the items adjusts depending upon each student’s performance.
All students from kindergarten through sixth grade will be assessed three times this year – in the fall, the winter, and the spring. In addition, students may participate in shorter assessments monthly to monitor their growth. Results from the screener will be shared with parents at the end of each testing window. They will be sent home in the child's Wednesday Folder. You can find more information about iReady and the universal screener, including more on how we will use the results, on the FCPS website at https://www.fcps.edu/node/33718.
If you ever have questions about any testing program, please don’t hesitate to contact his or her teacher or reach out to our main office.
Have a great week!
~ Mrs. Dalton, Dr. Duling, and Mrs. Smith
Quick Calendar
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Thursday, October 5 – Fall Picture Day!
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Thursday, October 5 – Referrals for AAP Level IV Services for students new to FCPS since January 2017 and in grades 3 through 6 due to Mrs. Clatterbuck
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Wednesday, October 11 – AAP Parent Information Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
School News & Notes
Fall Picture Day Is Coming Soon – Thursday, October 5!
Have your child start practicing his or her best smile because Fall Picture Day is coming to Laurel Hill on Thursday, October 5! Order forms are included in today’s Wednesday Folder.
AAP Parent Information Night - Wednesday, October 11, 6:30 p.m.; Referrals for Students in Grades 3 through 6 New to FCPS in 2017 Due Thursday, October 5
Join Mrs. Clatterbuck (Laurel Hill's Advanced Academics Resource Teacher) to learn more about Advanced Academic Programs offered by Fairfax County on Wednesday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Laurel Hill cafeteria. Discussion will include curriculum, testing, timeline, screening, and more!
If you are new to Fairfax County Public Schools and your child is in grades 3 or higher, you may have him or her screened for Advanced Academic services. More information will be coming home soon, or you can contact Mrs. Clatterbuck at MHClatterbuc@fcps.edu. Referrals for screening are due Thursday, October 5.
Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming School Schedule Changes!
As we look to the fall months ahead, we’d like to bring your attention to these changes to the regular school schedule:
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Monday, October 9, is the Columbus Day Holiday. Both the school and the office will be CLOSED. SACC will be closed as well.
- The end of the first grading period is Friday, November 3. That day, students will be released two hours early at 2:05 p.m. so that teachers can get a jump on completing grades and other end-of-quarter paperwork. The following Monday and Tuesday – November 6 and 7 – are full Teacher Work Days, and students DO NOT REPORT. The office and SACC will be open.
LHRemind Brings Laurel Hill News Straight to Your Cell Phone!
We recently launched a new school texting program called LHRemind, which we will use to text
short reminders, updates, and announcements to Laurel Hill parents and
guardians who sign up. Messages will come from our parent liaison Melanie
Crosby Hardy (sender name M. Crosby Hardy).
It’s easy to join: Just
text @lhremind to 810-10 from your cell phone. That simple text puts you on
the list to keep you in the loop!
Strengthening the Home-School Connection
PTA Reminders
- The PTA would like to thank all the parents, guardians, and extended
family members who attended last week’s PTA meeting. It was the first one of
the year, and the energy was great! We hope you help keep the momentum going by
attending future meetings as well. The group meets on the third Wednesday of
each month. The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 18, at 7 p.m.
- This Friday – September 29 –
is the night of the PTA’s first major social event of the school year – “Screen on the Green” Movie Night! The
students voted to pick the movie, and the winner is … The Lego Batman Movie! Bring your family to this FREE event to
watch the movie on a big screen on the school lawn. The event begins at 6 p.m.
and the movie begins at 7. Food will be available for purchase. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a drop-off event.
Students must be accompanied by an adult at all times!
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Teacher
Luncheon – The first-quarter staff appreciation lunch will be held on Friday,
October 13, and the PTA is looking for volunteers to contribute. The theme for
this quarter is football. Please visit the Sign-Up Genius sign-up sheet to see
how you can help:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0f4cabaf2aa20-team.
- The PTA’s 2017-2018 Annual Appeal begins this week. This call for support is the primary fall fundraiser for Laurel Hill ES General PTA funds, which support a wide variety of school programs and needs. It will be held for just two and a half weeks (September 27 through October 13), and the group hopes to raise the majority of its operating budget through this direct-appeal event. Every student will receive a yellow response card through his or her Wednesday folder. We ask that all parents/guardians return the response cards by October 13. Please return the card even you don’t make a donation. The goal is to have 100% of the cards returned.
Any donation you’d like to make would be greatly appreciated! Donations can be paid online (recommended) or by check, made payable to the Laurel Hill Elementary School PTA. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible and may be corporate-matched (check with your employer).
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Sixth Grade Committee News: The PTA’s Sixth Grade Activities Committee would like to thank everyone who attended the meeting on September 19. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 24. More details forthcoming.
The sixth grade students were polled, and they chose Dave & Busters for their end of year celebration! More information will be coming home soon regarding the planning calendar and volunteers.
The first opportunity for sixth graders to raise funds and volunteer will be this Friday, September 29, at Movie Night. To sign up to volunteer, please visit this Sign-Up Genius sign-up sheet: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f0e4caba72aa75-screen/1685169. NOTE: This volunteer opportunity is NOT a drop-off event. Student volunteers MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Community Events & Announcements
Fall for Fun and Learning at Lorton Library!
Warm up chilly fall days with special events at the nearby Lorton Library. There are reading-centered activities for all ages on the schedule. Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
A complete calendar of school events is available on our website.
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