Churchill Chatter - Issue 13, November 28, 2018
In This Week's Issue
- Book Fair Thank You
- Getting to Know Churchill: Bryn Varhol, PE teacher
- FCPS inclement weather plans
- Family Fitness and CRS Spirit Day this Friday, November 30
- CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
- CRS PTA News - New spirit wear on sale, PTA Winter ASA registration begins 11/29 for PTA members, Parent Education event on building study and organization skills on 11/30, Dogwood Toy Drive 12/3-12/7 and shop for holiday cards and more to raise $ for CRS.
Book Fair Thank You!
Another November, another book fair! This was my sixth CRS book fair and I think it gets better every year! I am constantly amazed at the excitement, energy and participation we see in the library during book fair week. Mrs. Biliter and I enjoy the time we spend with the CRS students, teachers and families sharing our passion for reading and books.
A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers who work so hard to make it look easy and effortless to pull off this huge undertaking! An extended thanks goes to Julie Millar, Christie Stute, Madelyn Orfetelli, Amanda Clark, and Heather Capps who spent countless hours working on the book fair. They put their personal lives on hold to be here for over a week. 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 to the teachers’ 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. I feel lucky to be a part of it.
Our earnings at the Book Fair will go towards reading programs, library books and other improvements to the library and the library program.
Thank you to each of the book fair volunteers:
Martha Andrews, Martina Barnes, Anne Bauer, Lorna Bradbury, Thomas Brooke, Jennifer Bruno, Christie Buschmann, Shelli Bushman, Elly Callis, Maggie Chen, Andrea Dinker, Andrea Favro, Chrys Gaitatzes, Jenny Gillespie, and Lauren Maimone , Karen Graham, Bill Grant, Karen Hall, Jae Han, Paul Huang, Sam’n Iqbal, Stacy Karavich, Angela Keiser, Elaine Kelly, Sara Keshavarz, Sara Koenig, Erle Koomets, Chelsea Lake, Catherine Li, Tyhler Raye Lynch, Lauren Maimone ,Taeko Moriyama, Reina Murray, Bonnie Myshrall, , Christine Obadal, Catherine Paschkewitz, Luz Panduro, Christine Sonu Park, Sue Park, Chelsea Pratt, Hillary Proctor, Michelle Ramchand, Yvette Reed, Sarah Richmond, Megan Roberge, Faizah Siddiqui, Natalia Schratwieser, , Elizabeth Smith, Katherine Smith, Brenda Spevak, Sima Taheri, Nia Thornton, Grace Verma, Laura Waits, Kristi West, Jenna Yellen, Abbott Zhang. I apologize if I missed any names – if you were here, we thank you!
Sari Warren, Librarian
Getting to Know Churchill:
Bryn Varhol, PE Teacher
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 Who has the power to get elementary kids eager to arrive at school nearly an hour early?! That’s right, Bryn Varhol, or better known as Mr. V. Mr. V is part of our PE powerhouse duo (with Ms. Gift) that launched the wildly successful Bobcat AM Fitness program where students are excited to arrive at school at 7:45am(!) to play favorite games, like Mission Impossible and Crazy Kickball, and even use the climbing wall in the gym. Our PE team’s passion for health and getting kids energized about physical activity is evident in the incredible themed field day activities they put together each June and the FCPS grant they secured to provide thirty bikes for our students for a bike safety unit.
Mr. V was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. His commitment to inspiring kids’ fitness comes from a personal zeal for being active. He enjoys hiking, biking, weight lifting, and, especially, soccer. Mr. V played soccer in college and continues to play in local leagues. Prior to joining CRS five years ago, Mr. V was the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. Mr. V also loves cycling. In high school and college, he worked at a bike shop in Cape May, New Jersey, during the summers, and in Old Town Alexandria during the school year, where he learned how to repair bikes; he tries to bike to work from Alexandria as often as he can.
Mr. V graduated with a degree in Business Management from Frostburg University and received his Master’s in Physical Education Curriculum & Instruction and Sport Science/Coaching from the University of Akron. In addition to the work he puts into building CRS’s PE program, he also serves (along with Ms. Gift) as a CRS Safety Patrol Sponsor and Wellness Liaison. He also just got married this past October.
Mr. V noted he has always been impressed by how active the children at CRS are. He knew when he interviewed for the job CRS was the perfect place for him when he discovered the mascot was a bobcat, the same as his undergrad, Frostburg State University. He often says he is a Bobcat for a life!
We are very glad that Mr. V. decided that Churchill was the perfect place!
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Congratulations to CRS Kid's Lit Team!
 Katherine C., Dhilan D., Amiti G., Emily J., Kasim K., Miqdad K., Chloe K., Abigail L., Edward L., Neel P., Sara S., Alan T., Dylan T., Greta U., Lang X., Anthony X., and Allen Z. at the Centennial Quiz Bowl Invitational.
Congratulations to Churchill Road's KLQ students for placing fifteenth in the Centennial Quiz Bowl Invitational in Ellicott City, Maryland! CRS was the only public elementary school from Virginia to participate in the tournament of 42 teams. In the individual category, Abigail L. received third place in most points per game.
This was a very hard competition dominated by middle schoolers. Congratulations to all of the students for their hard work and stellar sportsmanship!
Congratulations to the CRS Chess Team!
Congratulations to Churchill Chess team members Colin W., Alex D., Grace Y., Gabriel H., Krish B., Caden S., Shyer S., Kevin K., Hamati C., Carlo J., Ryan D., Luke H., and Jake K., who tied for first place in the U.S, Chess Center 2018 Elementary Team Charity Tournament the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Planning for Inclement Weather
FCPS tries to make decisions about school closings and delays in the evening, taking into account that parents need time to make proper arrangements. However, when there is a lot of uncertainty in the forecast, the superintendent may not be able to make the decision of whether to delay or close schools until approximately 4:30 a.m.
FCPS provides information about closings and delays in many ways including:
- Posted to the FCPS Twitter and Facebook pages.
- Posted to www.fcps.edu.
- Email and text messages sent to parents (using the parent contact information listed in weCare@school).
- Email sent to employees (using the employee's FCPS email address).
- Email sent to News You Choose subscribers of Delayed Openings and School Closings.
- Posted on FCPS cable Channel 21 (Cox Communications, Reston Comcast, and Verizon cable customers only).
- Area radio and television stations.
FCPS has a series of closing conditions to help explain how the weather has affected schools and activities.
Wellness: Relaxing during the Holidays
First graders take a reading break to reenergize during this busy time of year.
Holidays may bring fun gatherings and wonderful time with family and friends, but, at times, you may also find the break from your normal routine exhausting. Take time now to think about what helps you to reenergize and feel your best. Maybe an invigorating workout helps to boost your energy or, perhaps, you feel better equipped for the day if you have some quiet time, an opportunity to read, or a hearty laugh enjoying a favorite comedy. Carve out time to refill your energy well—you will be better for you and for those around you. In fact, encourage your family members to reflect on what helps to revitalize their energy. Strive to make energy boosters a priority so you can fully enjoy upcoming festivities.
Cheer Winners of the Week
Congratulations to our Churchill Cheer winners for the weeks of November 12 and 19. Cheers are given to students who follow the four R’s. This week’s winners (and the staff member who gave each a Cheer) are: Alexa Abend (Ms. Tran); Elisa Adhi (Mrs. Clark); Matthew Gillespie (Ms. Finger); Matthias Lee (Miss Isom); and Edwin Pan (Miss Gordon). 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.
Family Fitness and CRS Spirit Day on Friday, November 30
Friday, November 30 is CRS’s Churchill Spirit Day and the first Family Fitness Spirit Day of the school year! Wear your favorite Churchill garb or blue and white. Come to school at 8:00 a.m. to enjoy 20 minutes playing on the playground, walking on the track, shooting hoops, or joining a game and having fun with friends while wearing CRS’s blue and white colors!
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 28
Beginning Strings Concert, 6:00 PM, Gym
Advanced Strings Concert, 7:00 PM, Gym
Friday, November 30
Family Fitness Day, 8:00-8:20 AM, Playground (Gym in case of inclement weather)
Churchill Spirit Day - All Day
Tuesday, December 11
Chorus Concert for Parents and the Community, 7:00 PM, Gym
Wednesday, December 12
Principal’s Pizza, 6:00-7:00 PM, Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting, 7:00-8:00 PM, Exploratory Arts Room
Friday, December 14
3-Hour Early Dismissal at 12:20 PM
Monday, December 17
Advanced Band Concert for Parents and the Community, 7:00 PM, Gym
Friday, December 21
Family Fitness Day, 8:00-8:20 AM, Playground (Gym in case of inclement weather)
Holiday Spirit Day - All Day
Monday, December 24 - Friday, January 4
Winter Break - School and Front Office Closed
Get Churchill Spirit for the Holidays!
Need some CRS spirit wear? Order online (on the CRS PTA website) by Tuesday, 12/4, and your order will be delivered to your child's classroom between December 19-21. New for the holidays - our navy beanie! Find all our spirit wear options and ordering information online at http://bit.ly/CRSspirit.
Winter After School Activities
It’s almost registration time for our winter session (classes start right after winter break) – with new classes and returning favorites like A.M. Bobcat Fitness and Chess! Plus Kindergartners can participate in our winter ASA! https://em-churchillroad.jumbula.com/#/winter-2019
- Priority Registration: Open for all PTA members from 11/29 @ 9:00 a.m. to 11/30 @ midnight.
- General Registration: Open from 12/3 at 7:00 p.m. to 12/10 at midnight
Note: Our cancellation policies have been updated. Please review at http://bit.ly/CRSASA.
Homework Battles Got You Down? Come Learn Techniques for Helping Your Child Build Study and Organizational Skills
Friday, November 30 at 8:45 a.m. in the CRS Exploratory Arts Room
The PTA Parent Education Committee has invited the parenting and education experts at local organization, The StudyPro, to share their proven and straightforward techniques for building a growth mindset and executive function (EF) skills. These skills help your child overcome their struggles with homework, and prepare them for middle school, high school and beyond. Information will include specific strategies you can use to bolster EF skills, help your child push through their frustration, and encourage independence.
Holiday Toy Drive for Dogwood, 12/3-12/7
For the last 16 years, CRS has helped our sister school Dogwood Elementary in Reston, VA – where the poverty rate is approximately 80%. Each year, nearly 400 students receive a gift from the "holiday shop" hosted by the parent liaisons - all made possible by the generous contributions of the CRS community.
Our annual toy drive kicks off on Monday, December 3rd and runs through Friday, December 7th. Collection bins will be placed in the front hall, MOD, and near the PTA room. Check our website (http://bit.ly/2PJAOji) for more information on the gift drive, as well as shopping guidelines and suggestions, and to sign up to help collect and deliver gifts.
SCC Event: Fighting Youth Anxiety
Thursday, December 6, 7 PM in the McLean High School Auditorium
The Safe Community Coalition (SCC) is a local not-for-profit organization that provides programs and resources to foster mental wellness and empower our youth to make responsible choices to remain healthy and safe. This year the SCC's theme is anxiety. All of us experience some amount of anxiety – it’s a normal reaction to stress. But when temporary worries or fears become pervasive and interfere with relationships, schoolwork, and health, anxiety disorders are at play. Anxiety disorders are highly common and highly treatable, yet most who suffer don’t seek assistance.
WHO: All parents/adults, as well as students in 6th grade and above
WHAT: Free screening of the documentary Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A led by mental health professionals.
Learn more at http://mcleanscc.org/.
Shop at Shutterfly, Tiny Prints or Minted & Raise Money for CRS!
Need holiday cards, photos, photo books, and more? Our store with Shutterfly and Tiny Prints is open all year – just shop from our link and 13% of your purchase will be donated to the CRS PTA to help us support our Bobcats! This works in combination with any Shutterfly/Tiny Prints coupon and is open to friends and family too! http://churchillroadpta.shutterflystorefront.com/.
Final days for our special offer with Minted.com – you save 15% and Minted donates 15% to the CRS PTA! This special offer is also open to family and friends. Just use our special code FUNDRAISECHURCHILL during checkout – offer ends 11/30. https://www.minted.com.
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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