Churchill Chatter - Issue 17, January 9, 2019
In This Week's Issue
- Happy New Year from the CRS staff
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Getting to Know Churchill: Sarah Finger, 2nd Grade Teacher
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AAP Referrals due by this Thursday, January 10
- Lockdown drill on Wednesday, January 16
- Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger on February 9
- Immersion and magnet school registration information
- CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
- CRS PTA News - Science Night on January 29, December Box Tops results, Volunteers needed for the Appropriations Committee and Spelling Bee registration open now.
Happy New Year from All of Us at CRS
2018 ended festively with our annual holiday spirit day. Happy New Year from all of us at Churchill Road. We look forward to a great 2019!
Getting to Know Churchill: Sarah Finger, 2nd Grade Teacher
Sarah Finger is one of Churchill’s second grade teachers. She grew up in Lewiston, a small town of 1,200 in the southeastern corner of Minnesota, and is the youngest of three girls. Both of Ms. Finger’s parents were teachers (her Dad taught agriculture and her Mom taught history and parent education) and her oldest sister is a middle school principal. Ms. Finger received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Concordia University Wisconsin and received her Master’s of Education degree in IET (Initiatives in Educational Transformation) from George Mason University.
Before starting at Churchill Road in 2005, Ms. Finger taught for four years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While at that small private school, she was also the volleyball coach, cheerleading coach, and athletic director. Ms. Finger was hired by Mr. Hutzel over the phone and they didn’t meet me until Ms. Finger showed up with her family and truckload of teaching supplies! Ms. Finger has taught every grade from 1st through 8th, including classes of combined grades, e.g., 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 6/8. Ms. Finger feels connected to her current and former CRS students, noting that "The students I had in first grade my first year, I ended up having for three years because I taught them for grades 1/2, then 2/3 (twice) so I looped with them. I’m still friends with many of them today and attended their high school graduations."
As a Teacher Leader at Churchill Road, Ms. Finger has provided leadership in many ways. In her 14 years at CRS she’s been a Lead Mentor for the new teachers mentor program, mentored new teachers, helped start the PBIS program, served as teacher sponsor for the Spelling Bee, and participated on the 60th anniversary planning committee, to name just a few!
One of Ms. Finger’s passions will take her to Haiti this spring on her 11th trip doing service work for Village of Hope, an organization with a school and medical center. One of Ms. Finger’s sisters has joined her twice and this will be her dad’s 7th trip to Haiti with her. Ms. Finger says, “I’m so thankful to work at a school where the administration, staff, and community support me during these trips.”
 Ms. Finger’s avocation is cake decorating. She is self-taught and enjoys trying new designs and learning new techniques…her cakes are beautiful and rival “professionally prepared” cakes in creativity and taste! (A recently baked 1st birthday cake for her nephew is pictured at left.) Other hobbies she enjoys are baking, traveling (most recently to Switzerland, but she’s also been to China, England, and Norway), cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, lobbying for the use of the Oxford comma, and spending time with her adorable nephews and niece. She is actively involved in her church, having taught Sunday School and serving on the church council.
If you ever need any help decorating a cake, you know where to find an expert!
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Advanced Academic Program Referrals Due TOMORROW, January 10
The deadline for Level IV referrals is January 10, 2019. For more information, please go to: FCPS AAP Identification and Placement Information (download referral Level IV form and please follow guidelines for work samples). Please turn in the referral form and work samples to the main office, Attention: Mrs. Lee, AART. For more questions, contact Mrs. Lee at eclee1@fcps.edu.
 Rise Against Hunger!
Rise Against Hunger Event @ Colvin Run ES
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Fundraising Goal: $29,000
In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid elementary, middle and high schools are again coming together on Saturday, February 9th at Colvin Run Elementary with a goal to prepare 100,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world. Click here to learn more about Rise Against Hunger. Last year, the Langley pyramid raised enough funding to provide 100,008 meals for families in developing countries around the world, and additional funding to support disaster relief in the United States. Last year’s meals went to families in Mozambique.
Look for a collection box in your child’s VIP folder today (January 9), in they can start to save money to be donated in January as part of our “Learn to Earn” fundraising efforts. “Learn to Earn” is the initiative we promote to encourage students to earn money they would like to donate by: taking on additional chores, setting aside part of their allowance, helping shovel snow, or any innovative way they can think of. Our students are limited only by their own imagination.
Churchill Road families are encouraged to sign up to volunteer for the event here: volunteer sign up. The event will have volunteers from all of the Langley pyramid schools and each school is given a specific number of slots per session. The timeslots are: 8:30-10:30, 11:00-1:00, and 1:30-3:30.
Thank you for your support!
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Wellness: Acknowledging Successes
The new year is an ideal time to reflect on past successes. In our fast-paced world it is easy to always be looking ahead to the next challenge, but it is important to review and celebrate our small and big achievements. Acknowledging successes or improvements allows us to linger on the positive and relish a sense of gratitude. Numerous studies have found that this approach to life brings significant benefits, including improved physical health and better coping strategies. Those who make time to reflect on successes are generally more optimistic, take better care of themselves and tend to be less stressed. Even tiny celebrations can increase people’s sense of wellbeing.
CRS integrates this reflection and celebration throughout the year. Students’ positive behaviors are often rewarded through cheers. As first graders, students have an amazing Reading Rodeo to commemorate their impressive reading and writing strides. Soon kindergartners will collect one hundred items to celebrate the momentous “100 Days of School.” Fourth graders celebrate their studies of colonial history with an immersive event and, similarly, third graders intensive studies are rewarded with an Ancient Civilizations Day. Celebrations of successes can also take the form of a thoughtful note, extra time on the playground, or a fun game in the classroom. This idea can also be incorporated at home by acknowledging when chores are completed, a long-term project is successfully finished, or any objective is achieved. Savor successes with a special dinner, nice hike, or a well-deserved high five!
Cheer Winners of the Week
Congratulations to our Churchill Cheer winners for the week of December 18. 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: Declan Gilhooly (Ms. Finger); Ayaan Khatri (Mrs. Williams); Jun Lim (Ms. Tran); Alex Pratt (Mrs. Warren); and Caden Sheers (Mrs. Zemke). 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.
Learning about Holiday Traditions
Just before winter break, Ms. Lewis' kindergarten students learned about holiday traditions in Pakistan from Mrs. Khan's daughters and son-in-law. Thank you, Mrs. Khan, for arranging this informative and much enjoyed visit.
Third Lockdown Drill Scheduled
On Wednesday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m., our students and staff will take part in the third of the four annual “Lockdown Drills” for this school year. Please note that if school is closed due to inclement weather, the lockdown drill will be held on the next full school day at the same time (2:00 p.m.). 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. Please take this into consideration if your child is arriving late or has an appointment scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, January 16.
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.
Immersion Registration Information
FCPS offers elementary immersion programs in five languages. Online registration will be available on the Immersion Registration site beginning January 28, 2019. Parents will be directed to register via grade level links. All parents will need their FCPS SIS account to register. If parents do not have a SIS account, they must contact the school for an activation code. Parents of students not yet attending an FCPS school are required to register their child at their base school to obtain a SIS account.
Magnet School Registration Information
The Magnet Program registration window will be open from March 5, 2019 through April 4, 2019.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, please go to https://www.fcps.edu/registration/elementary-magnet-school-lottery. You may also attend one of the following Parent Information Nights:
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Hunters Woods Elementary, Cafeteria, February 7, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Snow date: February 11 at 6:00 p.m.
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Bailey’s Primary, Cafeteria, February 5, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
Snow date: February 12 at 6:30 p.m.
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Bailey’s Upper, Cafeteria, February 6, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Snow date: February 13 at 6:00 p.m.
As stated in Notice 5922, a one-time pupil placement application fee applies for students accessing special programs outside of their base school for World Language Immersion or Magnet School Programs. This $100 fee must be paid upon acceptance to the program. For more information, please visit the Magnet Lottery Fees - Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Families wanting to apply for the Magnet Lottery are required to have a SIS account. If a student is not currently enrolled in FCPS, registration at the base school for the upcoming school year is required.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 15
Team and Clubs Picture Day
Wednesday, January 16
Principal’s Coffee, 8:00-8:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting, 8:45-9:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
Friday, January 18
Family Fitness Day, 8:00-8:20 AM, Gym
Pajama Day Spirit Day - All Day
3-Hour early Dismissal at 12:20 PM
Monday, January 21
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Holiday
Friday, January 25
Teacher Workday - No School for Students
Tuesday, January 29
Science Night, 6:30-8:30 PM, Gym
Save the Date -- Science Night
Get ready for a fun-filled evening of STEM activities in partnership with the Children’s Science Center at Family Science Night on Tuesday, January 29! This event is free for all CRS families. Learn more at http://bit.ly/CRSScience.
December Box Tops Results
Congratulations to Ruhi Rana in Ms. Gardner's 3rd grade class for bringing in the most box tops in December! Please continue to send in your Box Tops to the box in the front office. Thank you! Learn more about Box Tops at https://bit.ly/2wIcnao.
Volunteers Needed – Appropriations Committee
It's time for our annual Appropriations - where your PTA accepts 'wish list' funding proposals from parents and staff to further enhance our Churchill Road community. Want to be part of the decision-making? Join our Appropriations Committee! All it takes of your time is participating in one meeting (date/time TBD). If interested or have questions, contact president@churchillroadpta.org by 2/1.
Register for the CRS Spelling Bee
Know someone in grades 3-6 who likes to spell? Register your student for the CRS Spelling Bee! The Bee will be held in two rounds - a written test (February TBA), and an oral spelling bee (February TBA) for the students with the top 20 scores on the written test. The winner of the oral spelling bee will represent CRS at the Fairfax County Spelling Bee on March 17, 2019.
This year registration and payment are both online! Once you register your student for the Bee on the CRS PTA website, a link to the study materials will be emailed to you with your registration confirmation. The registration fee is $6 per student. Go to http://bit.ly/CRSBee.
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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