Churchill Chatter - Issue 14, November 29, 2017
In This Week’s Issue…
- Book Fair Thank You
- Health Benefits of Music
- Health Information: Importance of Handwashing and Notice about Head Lice
- CRS Calendar of Events
- PTA General Registration Opens Tonight
- Holiday Toy Drive for Dogwood
- Box Top Winners
Book Fair a Huge Success!
 Another November, another book fair! This was my fifth CRS book fair and every year I am amazed at the excitement, energy and participation we see in the library during book fair week. The students can’t wait to get here and many of them come back multiple times during the week. Mrs. Biliter and I enjoy the time we spend with the CRS families sharing our passion for reading and books.
A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing book fair chairs who work so hard to make it look easy and effortless to pull off this huge undertaking! Julie Millar, Christie Stute, and Madelyn Orfitelli spent countless hours planning, organizing and running this event. They think about every detail and they put their personal lives on hold to be here. We so appreciate all that they do for the book fair and, as a result, for the school – and they always do it with a smile.
In addition, we would like to thank the volunteers that came in and helped with setup, browse days, sales and take down. Finally, thank you to all of the parents and teachers that came to visit the book fair. Thank you, too, to the parents who donated books and gift certificates for the teachers’ classroom libraries. I know that each teacher appreciated every book donation or gift certificate that they received.
There was a high level of energy and a true sense of community in the library during the book fair and it is very gratifying to experience. I feel lucky to be a part of it.
Our earnings at the Book Fair will go towards reading programs, library books and additional technology initiatives in the library.
Thank you to each of the book fair volunteers:
Gabi Aden, Martina Barnes, Ann Bauer, Maggie Chen, Micky Chopra, Amanda Clarke, Elizabeth Cutler, Elly Calis, Heather Capps, Lan Phuong Dang, Amy Davis, Sarah DiMonte, Jennifer Dix, Chris Gaitatzes, Jenny Gillespie, Bill Grant, Kate Greenberg, Jae Han, Natalie Homme, Paul Huang, Kamran Husain, Luz Janada, Elaine Kelly, Jenny Kelty, Anna Kim, Bernard Kim, Desiree Koetzle, Julia Lee, Kristyn Levine, Catherine Li, Nina Madsen, Lauren Maimone, Elizabeth Marino, Sara Mechanic, Taeko Moriyama, Reina Murray, Bonnie Myshrall, Madelyn Orfitelli, Sue Park, Catherine Paschkewitz, Chelsea Pratt, Hilary Proctor, Maria Rabagliati, Michelle Ramchand, Natalia Schratweiser, Laura Spaner, Tricia Su, Lucy Sun, Nia Thornton, Leah Uhlmann, Laura Waits, Kristi West, Catherine Williamson, Vinh Wright, Jenna Yellen, and Shirley Zhang.
Sari Warren, Librarian
Wellness: Benefits of Music
 |
Would you like an easy way to potentially boost your mood, reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, and enhance your immune system? Enjoy some music. Neuroscientists have found that listening to music increases positive emotions through the reward centers of our brain. Music is capable of stimulating dopamine making us happier and fueling feelings of wonder and delight! In addition to enhancing our mood, studies suggest listening to music—without lyrics and a slow tempo and low pitch—produces a significant calming effect, even during stressful events. Plus, listening to favorite music, regardless of genre, releases endorphins that improve vascular health: lowering blood pressure and slowing heart rates. Scientists are also exploring if music can help prevent disease; research has indicated that students exposed to soothing music increased an important antibody in their immune system. Our students enjoyed the many benefits of music during the Winter Strings Concert today and you and your family can enjoy the Winter Chorus Concert on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m., or the Winter Band Concert on Monday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m. You can also enhance your health by cranking up the holiday tunes or listening to the year-end countdown of favorite songs!
The Importance of Handwashing
Mrs. Clark's kindergarteners are experts at washing their hands.
Cold and flu season is upon us, and here is an easy way to help avoid illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.”
Germs can get onto our hands after using the toilet, handling raw meat, taking out the trash, coughing or sneezing into our hands or touching pets or farm animals. If the germs are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person. These germs enter our bodies through an open cut or wound, by eating contaminated food, or when touching our eyes, nose or mouth. Washing hands frequently throughout the day removes germs and can therefore help prevent illness.
There are five steps to proper handwashing:
- Wet your hands with clean water and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds making sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Rinse your hands well.
- Dry your hands using a clean paper towel. Be sure to use the towel to turn off the faucet.
Notice About Head Lice
Head lice are common, but unwelcome, visitors with the potential to turn your whole household upside down. Unfortunately, head lice are a common occurrence in schools these days. Fortunately, we have not had many reports of head lice this fall.
In the event that you do detect head lice or nits in your child’s hair, please alert Lesley Breddy, our clinic aid (labreddy@fcps.edu), or your child’s homeroom teacher. We can alert your child’s classroom families to be alert for lice (while maintaining your child’s anonymity).
Head lice illicit a strong negative reaction from all of us, but other than possibly causing some discomfort for the child, they do not cause harm. There is a great deal of information about head lice on the internet, and the Fairfax County Health Department provides information to ensure that we are all properly informed about this nuisance at the link below: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/pcs/pcspdf/lice-brochure-english.pdf.
Cheer
Winners of the Week
Congratulations to our Churchill Cheer winners for the week
of November 13. Cheers are given to students who follow the four
R’s. Churchill Cheer winners are: Nicolas Paredes (K); Rory Marino (1st); Grove Teates (2nd); Aiden Yuan (3rd);
and Johnny Center (4th).
Our good citizenship winners are Avery
Orfitelli (5th) and Ingrid Coleman (6th). First grade earned the most cheers with
293! Wow! Our teacher winner is Ms. Vichness. Remember, at CRS we follow the four R’s. We
respect ourselves, we respect others, we respect property, we respect the
Earth, and we are responsible.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Wednesday, December 6
Chorus Concert, Gym, 7:00 PM
Monday, December 11
Band Concert, Gym, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 13
Principal’s Coffee, Exploratory Arts Room, 8:00-8:45 AM
PTA Meeting, Exploratory Arts Room, 8:45-9:45 AM
Friday, December 15
Family Fitness Day, 8:00-8:20 AM, Playground (gym in case of inclement weather)
SCA Holiday Wear Spirit Day
Monday, December 18, 2017 – Monday, January 1, 2018
Winter Break – No school for students
Front Office Closed
Tuesday, January 2
Classes resume after Winter Break
Check the Google calendar on the CRS website for event dates later in the school year: http://www2.fcps.edu/ChurchillRoadES/.
 CRS PTA
News
|
ASA General Registration Open
General registration opens tonight at 7 p.m. for students in all grades (including Kindergarten) for the winter session of our After School Activities program. Classes will begin the week of January 8th. If this is your first time registering for ASA this year, please review the information on the PTA website at http://www.churchillroadpta.org/after-school-activities-asa-. Find the winter catalog and register for ASA at https://em-churchillroad.jumbula.com/#/winter-2018. Registration closes Sunday, December 10, at midnight.
 Holiday Toy Drive for Dogwood
Monday, December 4, kicks
off our holiday gift drive for Dogwood Elementary, our Title 1 buddy school in
Reston, VA. Four in five (81%)
of the more than 700 students at Dogwood qualify for the National Student Lunch Program,
which is for families with income 130% or more below the poverty line (family
income $20,000 or less). For the past 15 years, the CRS community has held a
toy drive for Dogwood students in poverty. Each year nearly 400 students
receive a gift from the “holiday shop” hosted by the Dogwood parent liaisons –
all made possible by the generous contributions of the CRS community.
Collection
bins will be placed in the front hall, the modular, and near the PTA room. Check our
website (http://www.churchillroadpta.org/holiday-toy-drive-for-dogwood)
for more information on the gift drive, as well as shopping guidelines and
suggestions. Questions? Please contact communications@churchillroadpta.org.
|
Stunt Comedian Max Winfrey Entertains Churchill
Churchill students were treated to an exciting performance by stunt comedian Max Winfrey at their Integrated Arts Assembly prior to Thanksgiving. Max Winfrey holds the Guinness World Record for Axe Juggling and thankfully he left his axes at home! Churchill students did get to experience his incredible juggling feats as well as his unicycle skills – it’s not every day that someone rides a unicycle in the gym! Max also spoke with the students about the importance of setting goals, working hard, and staying healthy. Thank you to Integrated Arts Chair Jenna Yellen for organizing the event and to the PTA for sponsoring it.
 Quarterly Box Tops Winners!
The results of the most recent quarterly box tops challenge are in, and congratulations are due to Ms. Robosky’s 6th grade and Mrs. Williams’ 1st grade classes. They both achieved 100% participation during the quarter. For their efforts, they will be treated to their choice of extra recess or a read-aloud with Mr. Hutzel. A big Bobcat cheer for them!
Our student winners through October are Luca Sanchez (338) and Emerson Hueber (280)! They have turned in the most Box Tops so far this year.
Congratulations to all of our participants for helping our school earn money!
You can help too – just collect Box Tops from household products and grocery items and bring them to school.
Remember, in order to receive credit for your Box Tops, make sure they are labeled with your full name and teacher’s name. Then give them to your teacher or drop them in the collection bin in the front office.
For details about the Box Tops program at CRS, please go to the CRS PTA website (http://www.churchillroadpta.org/box-tops-grocery-programs).
Thanks for your support!
Carla Gilbertson, PTA Shop & Support Coordinator
|
Links
to PTA News
Link to the CRS PTA homepage:
http://www.churchillroadpta.org/
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.
|
