Churchill Chatter - Issue 2, September 5, 2018
In
This Week's Issue
- Traffic Safety reminders from the Fairfax County Police Department
- Recent happenings at Churchill Road
- Lockdown drill tomorrow -- Thursday, September 6 at 9 AM
- Principal's coffee and PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 12
- Picture Day is Thursday, September 13
- CRS Calendar
of Upcoming Events
- CRS PTA News - How to join the PTA; ASA registration information; How to make CRS directory updates and Family Movie Night on September 14
Traffic Safety Reminders from the Fairfax County Police Department - McLean Station
Dear Churchill Road Community,
With the advent of the new school year, I wanted to reach out to
you in an effort to address many of the traffic concerns that occurred last
year. Part of my responsibilities as a Shift Supervisor at the Fairfax County
Police Station in McLean is to assign and supervise the school Crossing Guards
for Churchill Road. In speaking with many of my Crossing Guards, Police
Officers and School Officials, these are the most troubling issues:
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SPEEDING/RECKLESS
DRIVING. We have had numerous
complaints of speeding through the school zones. The FCPD has written
countless tickets for this violation in and around crossings and schools
in general. Many of those tickets have been written for more than 20 miles
per hour over the speed limit.
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FAILURE
TO WEAR SEATBELTS. We have found numerous
parents not wearing seatbelts when they drop their children off.
Furthermore, we have noted that the parents are not securing children. As
a reminder, child restraint devices are REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN THROUGH THE
AGE OF SEVEN (UNTIL THE 8TH BIRTHDAY). REAR FACING CHILD RESTRAINT
DEVICES MUST BE PLACED IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE. THE ONLY
EXCEPTIONS TO THE REAR FACING RULE ARE: IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A
REAR SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED, OR THERE IS NO
AIRBAG.
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DISCHARGING
PASSENGERS ON THE HIGHWAY/STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY.
We have many parents who wish to discharge passengers from their vehicles
while waiting in traffic. We also have noted on many occasions that
parents will stop in the middle of the street while waiting for their
children. Both actions are dangerous and expose both the parents and the
children to unnecessary danger. In some instances, these actions result in
the street being entirely blocked. Ask yourself, if this were my street,
and I needed assistance, could emergency vehicles get through this
congestion to assist me?
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NOT
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CROSSING GUARD.
There have been numerous incidents of parents not paying attention to the
Crossing Guard. This is attributed to driver inattention (texting while
driving) or impatience. We need everyone to pay attention to their driving
and their surroundings. We have had far too many incidents of Crossing
Guards, vehicles and pedestrians almost struck. Remember, the roads are
already congested and taking this extra bit of care will go a long way in
the safety of all concerned.
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PASSING
A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS. This final topic is
quite possibly the most egregious issue that we deal with regarding
complaints within school zones. Drivers are not allowed to pass a
stopped school bus, per Virginia Sate Code 46.2-859. Passing a
stopped school bus is considered to be reckless driving and is therefore a
Class 1 misdemeanor.
Thank you for your attention and compliance with these safety
protocols. Our goal is to ensure the safety of students and community
members who travel along Churchill Road and surrounding streets. Please
note that the FCPD will be out enforcing these and other Virginia Traffic Laws
in an effort to ensure that our school zones are safe.
Respectfully,
SGT Gordon P Sloan
Fairfax County Police Department
1437 Balls Hills Road
McLean Virginia 22101
(703) 556-7750
Congratulations Summer Reading Winners!
Thank you to all the students who participated in Summer Reading Bingo this year. Congratulations to the following students (pictured above), who received a $10 gift certificate to this year's book fair: Melanie A. (K), Finley S. (1st), Jordan J. (2nd), Leila O. (3rd), Annisa K. (4th), Johnny C. (5th) and Anya R. (6th).
Getting into Reading Habits
Churchill Road students are starting off the school year with a focus on reading. Kindergarteners enjoy a read-aloud with Mrs. Warren during their first week in the library, while fourth graders get comfortable while reading during language arts time.
Wellness: Importance of Eating Fruits and Vegetables
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The second week of school is underway and students are finding their rhythm. Students need energy to fuel their days and fruits and vegetables are a great option for lunches and snacks. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals and are known to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. A good tip is to buy fresh vegetables in season; they are at the peak for the nutrients they provide, taste better, and usually cost less. Fruits and vegetables do not require elaborate preparation; it can be as easy as peeling a banana, rinsing berries, or adding carrots to a lunch box. A salad is a simple and fun way to mix favorite fruits and vegetables. Dark green vegetables offer many great benefits. Leafy greens are rich in fiber, which can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood-sugar swings. They also keep you hydrated and are rich in calcium, which helps maintain healthy teeth, bones, blood-pressure, and muscle function. Spinach and kale may already be favorites; you can also try collards, mustard, and turnip greens.
Churchill Road promotes Give Me 5! Colors that Jive! to emphasize the importance of eating five fruits and vegetables each day. The program highlights familiar foods like grapes and watermelon, as well as introduces less familiar ones, like jicama and butternut squash.
Have fun experimenting with adding new fruits and vegetables, as well as enjoying longtime favorites.
Principal's
Coffee and PTA Meeting on September 12
Join Mr. Hutzel for his September Principal’s Coffee from
8:00-8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 12 in the CRS exploratory arts
room. Take this opportunity to speak with Mr. Hutzel about topics of
interest. Stay for the September PTA meeting, which begins at 8:45 a.m.
Mark your calendar for the remaining Principal’s Coffees and PTA
Meetings (all Wednesdays): October 10, November 14, December 12, January
16, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, and June 12. These events are
informal gatherings that provide a forum for discussions about school and
school system news and events.
FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference
Registration
is now open for the fifth annual FCPS Mental
Health and Wellness Conference that, for the first time, will also
include an Our Minds Matter Teen Summit for middle and high school students,
sponsored by the Josh Anderson Foundation. The conference will be held
from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fairfax High School on Saturday, September 29,
2018. Dr. Scott Brabrand, FCPS Superintendent, will open the conference,
and Dr. Amy Przeworski, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological
Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, will present the keynote message:
Using Stress to Your Advantage in Achieving Academic Success and
Emotional Well Being. Participants in this conference, which is free to
staff, parents, and community members, will be able to choose from 35 breakout
options (many offered more than once). Additionally, there will be more
than 50 resource tables available, representing public and private agencies
providing wellness-related services within our schools and in our community.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 6
State-Mandated Lockdown Drill #1 (of 4), 9:00 AM
Wednesday, September 12
Principal’s Coffee, 8:00-8:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting 8:45-9:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
Thursday, September 13
Fall Picture Day
Friday, September 14
Family Movie Night, School Grounds (Gym in case of rain), 6:30-9 PM
Wednesday, September 19
3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 PM
Join the PTA!
Thanks to the many families who have already signed up
to be a part of our CRS PTA community. We invite all families to join us.
Membership is only $20 per family and comes with many benefits (like discounted
prices for Movie Night!)! Learn more online at https://bit.ly/2PVb28P.
Fall After School Activities
Priority registration (for PTA members) for classes & clubs run through Enrichment Matters begins at 9 AM on 9/6. General registration opens at 7 PM on Monday, 9/10.
Science Olympiad
Division A registration is currently full - parents can sign up interested
students on the wait list (open until 9/9) at https://bit.ly/2oBEzrL.
Students interested in Science Olympiad Division B or Kids Literature Quiz must attend one of the mandatory orientation sessions. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2BGAo7x.
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SO Div B: 9/6 @ 7 PM or 9/7 at 7:15 AM (lottery will be held afternoon of 9/7)
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KLQ: 9/5 at 7 PM or 9/6 at 7:30 AM.
CRS Directory
All CRS families should have received an email on 8/19 from
CRSDirectory@gmail.com with a link to the directory verification
wizard. Families are requested to complete the verification process by 9/7 in
order to be included in & receive the printed directory. The Directory is
private, and can only be accessed by CRS parents & staff. For more
information, go to https://bit.ly/2NxpIcK.
Join us for Movie Night - September 14!
Get ready for family fun and enjoy watching "Peter
Rabbit" under the stars in our own CRS backyard! Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m. (as soon as it’s dark). Tickets are on
sale now at https://bit.ly/2PAPL3z-
tickets come with a bag of popcorn, plus all children’s tickets include
glow-in-the-dark bunny ears for kids! If you are an adult PTA member, you get a
raffle ticket! Prices until 9/13 5 PM: Kids under 5 FREE, Kids 5-12 $6, PTA
Adults (13 & up) $6, non-members (13 & up) $9. All walk-ins are $10.
P.S. We’ll have pizza and water on sale!
Artist Workshop Orientation
Interested in volunteering in the classroom? Then
sign-up for Artist Workshop, a program unique to CRS that presents curriculum
topics through art! Parents teach a short, pre-written lesson and then lead a
fun hands-on project. Sign-up at https://bit.ly/2wHd8R7. Orientation is next Wednesday, September 12, at 7 PM.
Picture Day - September 13
Cheese! Fall picture day at CRS is next week on
Thursday, September 13. Your child’s Fall picture will be used as his or her
class picture in the CRS Yearbook. Look for picture order forms in today's
VIPs. (Note: class pictures will only be taken in the Spring.)
Links
to PTA News
Link to the CRS PTA homepage:
http://www.churchillroadpta.org/
Link to the PTA Week-at-a-Glance:
https://www.churchillroadpta.org/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 2018-2019 school year are the
weeks of September 24, December 3, March 4 and May 13. 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.
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