Churchill Chatter - Issue 19, January 23, 2019
In This Week's Issue
- Dressing appropriately for the weather and school activities
- Getting to Know Churchill: Jody Sterling, Administrative Assistant
- Teacher Workday on Friday, January 25
- Support Langley Pyramid's Rise Against Hunger initiative by volunteering or donating now
- Immersion registration information
- CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
- CRS PTA News - Science Night on January 29, Spelling Bee registration open and Spirit Wear on sale through January 31
Dressing Appropriately for the Occasion
Sixth grade teachers Ms. Vichness and Ms. Brown and some of their students are bundled up and layered for the winter weather.
Winter weather is in full swing. We’d like to remind parents and guardians to make sure that children dress appropriately for outdoor recess. Warm coats, hats and gloves and layers are suggested. (See photo above.) All children are expected to go outside for recess, as long as the temperature is 20 degrees or higher -- this includes wind-chill. We check the online weather forecast to find out what the temperature feels like outside before making a decision.
Many students wear boots to school during the winter, as part of their preparation for outdoor recess. While this is great for outdoor activities, the Physical Education teachers would like to remind parents that students all need the appropriate footwear for participation in P.E. class. (See photo below.) Specifically, sneakers or athletic shoes are recommended for safety during their PE activities. Boots can be a safety concern with the limited mobility and heavy weight on the foot. We appreciate your support on keeping the students safe and active during the school day!
Kindergarten students are able to do their best in PE class by wearing their sneakers.
Getting to Know Churchill: Jody Sterling, Administrative Assistant and Finance Officer
Do you know which CRS staff member has a degree in Landscape Design and expertly designed the 60th anniversary brick walkway? That would be our own Renaissance woman and school administrative assistant/finance officer, Jody Sterling. She began her career with the Labor Department, then spent 25 years as the Office Manager in a small DC law firm before settling in at her new “work home” at Churchill Road 10 years ago. Shortly after joining CRS, Ms. Sterling pursued her passion for garden design, earning an Associate of Science Degree with a Landscape Design Specialization from Northern Virginia Community College. She is proud to note that she and Churchill Road both turned 60 in the same year, making the brick walkway design the perfect project.
Ms. Sterling loves the autonomy of her position in the CRS office and working with her wonderful co-workers. She enjoys working with Mr. Hutzel, staff and parents to coordinate various school events and activities, and particularly likes the finance side of her job. She’s always got a smile on her face and goes out of her way to help. She considers seeing all the students and dressing up for Halloween (and other special occasions) as special perks of working at Churchill. She is the creative genius behind the many faces of the CRS office Halloween costumes and is even a past ugly sweater contest winner!
Ms. Sterling grew up in Clinton, Maryland, the daughter of civil servants. Her dad was an Air Force veteran and civilian employee, owned his own fast food business, and went to work for the DC Police Department in his “retirement.” Her mom was a stay-at-home mom for many years, eventually going to work for NOAA in the Commerce Department. Here’s a fun fact: Ms. Sterling is the oldest of 3 daughters, she has 3 daughters (Kristy, Sarah and Katie) and Kristy has 3 daughters (Carly, Alison and Hailey). Ms. Sterling calls this their Triple Trifecta.
Growing up in the area, Ms. Sterling has kept in touch with many childhood friends and just went on her 21st annual “Girlfriends Weekend” trip with 4 of her closest childhood friends. Ms. Sterling also loves to visit her daughters and to spend time with her 3 grand-girls. She spends as much time as possible at her condo in Ocean City, relaxing with family and friends.
In addition to landscape design, Ms. Sterling is expert at quilt making, which she says there is never enough time or money for. 😊 She also enjoys traveling and visited Czechoslovakia in the ‘80s (before it split) where she met relatives of her paternal grandmother and established an ongoing relationship with this branch of the family. Last fall Ms. Sterling’s youngest daughter, Katie, was lucky enough to connect with this branch of the family when she went to the Czech Republic. Ms. Sterling has also visited Munich, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; London, UK and Bilbao, Spain (where her daughter Katie was studying abroad at the time). Ms. Sterling’s travel bucket list continues to grow, with the Grand Canyon foremost on the list.
If you ever have any questions about how things are done at Churchill, Ms. Sterling is sure to have the answer!
Wellness: Benefits of Plants
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Even without reviewing the research, instinctively, we appreciate interior spaces with plants. In addition to creating an aesthetically pleasing and tranquil environment, plants can provide tremendous benefits, such as enhancing air quality, reducing noise, improving health, and increasing focus. Plants remove toxins from the air, increase oxygen levels, and can increase humidity in a room, which can be helpful in reducing respiratory distresses. Plants have been proven to decrease the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats, and dry coughs. Plants can also help moderate noise levels; their leaves absorb, diffract, or reflect background noise making interior noise levels more pleasant. Researchers at Kansas State University discovered adding plants to hospital rooms sped recovery rates of surgical patients and reduced pain medication requests compared to patients in rooms without plants, lowered heart rates and blood pressure, and decreased fatigue and anxiety. Similarly, a workplace study commissioned by the Dutch Product Board for Horticulture found that adding plants to office settings reduces fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats, and flu-like symptoms. Additionally, based on research at the Royal College of Agriculture in Circencester, England, students demonstrate seventy percent greater attentiveness when taught in rooms containing plants.
Thanks to the many great gardeners at CRS we have beautiful external green spaces and lush, living interior spaces. Students, staff, and parents can all enjoy the fabulous health benefits of the plants found in our lobby, library, offices, and many classrooms.
Cheer Winners of the Week
Congratulations to our Churchill Cheer winners for the week of January 14. 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: Ishaan Karim (Ms. Rook); Kellan Phillips-Robertson (Ms. Bamdad); Charlie Stuckless (Mr. Ericson); Siyona Umesh (Mrs. Lynch); and Isabella Zaccaria (Mrs. Ojeda). 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.
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 Mozambique, and additional funding to support disaster relief in the United States.
Churchll Road SCA officers are collecting money tomorrow morning during student arrival at the Main Office, Kiss n Ride, Bus Loop and Mod. CRS students are also encouraged to return the collection boxes they received as part of our “Learn to Earn” fundraising efforts. ( “Learn to Earn” encourages 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.)
Families may also make tax-deductible contributions online here. If your company makes matching contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at: Rise Against Hunger and help us Rise Against Hunger.
Churchill Road families are encouraged to sign up to volunteer for the event here: volunteer sign up. Limited opportunities are still available for the 1:30-3:30 p.m. timeslot. You may also sign up for the wait list for other time slots.
Thank you for your support!
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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.
Langley High School Class of 2019
All-Night Grad Party Fundraiser!
The LHS Class of 2019 is hosting The Capitol Steps (a hilarious political satire troupe based in DC—with songs, skits and satire to entertain those on both sides of the aisle) to raise funds for the All Night Grad Party (ANGP). Each of the past 30 years, Langley HS hosts the ANGP for graduating seniors. The goal is to reduce the risk of teen drinking and drug use on graduation night, saving the lives of our teens and other drivers. Help our graduates safely celebrate, and enjoy an evening of good fun!
Your students will want to attend ANGP when they are Langley seniors, so pay it forward by supporting this year’s seniors!
The performance is Sun, Feb 10, 7 pm in the Langley HS Auditorium. Tickets are $35. A flyer with details and ordering info is on the PTSA website under All Night Grad Party, or order online through Brown Paper tickets.
Resolve to have more fun in 2019! Invite friends to join you for a hilarious night out! Questions? Email former CRS parent, Liz Holzapfel at woodapple1@verizon.net.
Reminder: Teacher Workday on January 25
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Friday, January 25 is a Teacher Workday. There is no school for students.
If your student will be absent any additional days surrounding the upcoming workday, please call the CRS 24-hour attendance line at 703-288-8484 or email ChurchillRoadElem.Attendance@fcps.edu.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Friday, January 25
Teacher Workday - No School for Students
Tuesday, January 29
Science Night, 6:00-8:00 PM, Gym
Friday, February 1
PTA Family Fitness Day, 8:00-8:20 AM, Gym
SCA Sports Team/Jersey Day Spirit Day - All Day
Monday, February 4
Teacher Workday - No School for Students
Saturday, February 9
Rise Against Hunger Event at Colvin Run ES
Wednesday, February 13
Principal’s Pizza, 6:00-7:00 PM, Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting, 7:00-8:00 PM, Exploratory Arts Room
Monday, February 18
President's Day Holiday - School Closed
Family Science Night Next Week!
Next Tuesday, January 29th, Family Science Night returns to CRS! Join us for an evening of fun STEM activities in partnership with the Children’s Science Center at Family Science Night from 6-8 p.m.! Try making music with a slime magnet, playing with magnets, and defying gravity! Find all the details at http://bit.ly/CRSScience. This event is free for all CRS families.
Spelling Bee Registration
Registration is open until 1/31 for students in grades 3-6. Study materials will be emailed to you upon registration. Learn more at http://bit.ly/CRSBee.
Spirit Wear on Sale!
Need a little Churchill Spirit? Our pop-up online store is open for orders until January 31st. Orders will be delivered b February 13th. Learn more at http://bit.ly/CRSspirit.
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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