Churchill Chatter - Issue 22, February 13, 2019
In This Week's Issue
- CRS Science Olympiad Team Wins Fairfax Regional Championship
- Getting to Know Churchill: Nick Kilpatrick, 6th Grade Teacher
- Rise Against Hunger a huge success
- Smiles for Miles Toothbrush drive through this Friday, February 15
- Register your kindergartener now; orientation scheduled for April 5
- Online registration open for Churchill Road summer camps
- Celebrating Dr. Seuss -- Bookmark contest and Read Across America Day
- School closed Monday, February 18 for the President's Day Holiday
- CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
- CRS PTA News - Principal's Pizza, PTA meeting and speaker Ann Dolin TONIGHT, Bingo Night February 20, Parade of Cuisines and Family Heritage Night March 1, Churchill Challenge Poster Contest and request for Box Tops.
Churchill Road Team Wins Science Olympiad Regional Tournament!
Churchill Road Science Olympiad B team members at the Fairfax Regional Championship
Congratulations to the Churchill Road Science Olympiad Division B team for winning this year’s Fairfax Regional Tournament and securing qualification for the State Tournament in Charlottesville, VA. The Regional tournament was attended by 30 teams from 19 elementary and middle schools. Across the 21 events tested, the Churchill students won 22 medals and obtained the best overall team score, winning the tournament.
Congratulations to all participating students: Tara B., Krish B., Andrew C., Gabriela C., Dhilan D., Alex G., Harry H., Emily J., Junbeom K., Abigail L., Henry L., Marina L., Edward L., Aadi M., Olivia P., Edward P., Kasimir R., Lucas R., Rishika S., Amrit S., JP S., Alan T., Mia T., Nora V., Lang X., Anthony X., Zachary Y., Daniel Y., Alice Z., and Andy Z. Their outstanding achievement stands proof to their science knowledge, resiliency, drive to succeed and teamwork. A special thank you to the 6th grade teachers who sponsor the Science Olympiad Division B club, Ms. Sara DeLuca and Mr. Nick Kilpatrick, as well as to all parents who mentored and coached the kids enabling them to compete at their best. And, kudos to parent sponsors Flavia Doboga and Julia Fu.
Getting to Know Churchill: Nick Kilpatrick,
6th Grade Teacher
Mr. Kilpatrick proudly flanked by the Science Olympiad trophy.
You do not have to have a sixth grader at CRS to be aware of Mr. Nick Kilpatrick’s tremendous dedication to our school. In addition to leading his sixth grade classroom, Mr. Kilpatrick serves as PTA Treasurer, is one of the teacher sponsors for Science Olympiad Division A and B teams, and the Math Counts Club. Along with Ms. Bamdad, he is one of the school’s Math Lead Teachers. He championed Colonial Day when he taught fourth grade and has mentored new teachers at CRS. With his many obligations, he still found time in 2018 to earn a Master’s Degree from George Mason University in Curriculum Design and Instruction with a focus in Designing Digital Learning in Schools.
We have Mr. Kilpatrick’s mom to thank for inspiring him to pursue teaching as a career. Mr. Kilpatrick’s mom served as a teacher for 40 years and, when he had days off from school growing up, Mr. Kilpatrick would join her in her classroom to work with her students. In fact, his first teaching experience in college was at his mom’s school.
Mr. Kilpatrick grew up in Media, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia. After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education (Minor in Elementary and Middle School Math) from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2011, Mr. Kilpatrick decided to pursue teaching positions in Virginia. As fate would have it, his first interview was with our principal, Mr. Hutzel, and it turned out to be a fabulous match. Mr. Kilpatrick loves the students, families, and his co-workers at CRS. Building strong relationships is what keeps him coming back every day and he feels his colleagues have become family during his time at CRS.
Even with his full schedule, Mr. Kilpatrick still manages to carve out free time to spend with his friends, go to the movies, or host a game night. He is fond of listening to podcasts and looks forward to visiting family in Pennsylvania, especially his adorable nearly two-year-old niece.
When pressed for tips on how to successfully manage so many varied obligations, Mr. Kilpatrick shared that maintaining detailed to-do lists delineating how much time to dedicate to certain tasks has been beneficial to ensure that everything gets accomplished. He also finds it incredibly helpful that he enjoys and is passionate about the projects he is working on, making it easy to stay motivated and complete the necessary tasks.
Mr. Kilpatrick is incredibly grateful for the opportunities available at CRS, expressing his appreciation of Mr. Hutzel, PTA President Kristi West, the staff and students for making his role at CRS one he looks forward to each and every day. Mr. Kilpatrick loves planning activities and assignments for his students and giving back to CRS.
Mr. Kilpatrick, we love that you contribute in so many ways to making CRS a wonderful school to learn, work, and play. We are also big fans of your mom for helping set you on the path to teaching! Thanks for your inspiring commitment to CRS.
Rise Against Hunger
On Saturday, February 9, families from the Langley Pyramid schools volunteered to make 93,096 meals that will feed children in schools and orphanages in needy countries. This annual event was once again a huge success, thanks to the generosity of our community. A special thank you to all of our students who took on additional chores or set aside part of their allowance as part of the “Learn to Earn” initiative to earn money to donate to Churchill’s Rise Against Hunger coin drive. Our students contributed an amazing $1,821! A big thank you also goes out to the Churchill Road community for their online contributions to this worthwhile effort.
Special thanks are extended to Jordan Craig Kuhn and Mikaela Antonio, the teacher sponsors for our Student Council program. Under the guidance of Mr. Craig Kuhn and Ms. Antonio, the SCA coordinated the collections at school and participated in the meal-making on Saturday. Thank you to all of the Churchill Road families that participated by donating and/or volunteering. Your support is impressive!
Register Your Kindergartener Now:
Orientation Scheduled for April 5
Do you know a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, 2019? If so, it’s time to register for Kindergarten!
We are now taking kindergarten registrations for the 2019-20 school year. Eligible families may pick up a registration packet at the CRS Front Office from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., or download the registration forms here:
http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/index.shtml (please note that if you download the documents, you must print them single sided as the forms do not align). Once the registration forms have been completed, please call CRS Registrar, Chris Redding, at 703-288-8400 to schedule an appointment.
Churchill Road parents and children eligible for kindergarten are invited to an overview of the school’s kindergarten program on Friday, April 5th from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in our school cafeteria.
Rising kindergarten students will meet with our kindergarten teachers in the classroom for a special welcome and activities. Parents will meet in the cafeteria to receive an overview of Churchill Road and the kindergarten program. This is an excellent opportunity for parents unsure of whether or not their child is ready for kindergarten to come, listen, and make an informed decision.
Online Registration for Summer Camps at Churchill Road is Now Available!
New for Summer 2019! Nine unique camps – all run by Churchill Road teachers – will be hosted at school this summer. There’s something for everybody! Sign up for multiple camps and sessions in one convenient spot! More information is coming home in today’s (February 13) VIP folders.
Camp Offerings
- Art Camp (Rising 2nd-8th graders) – Mrs. Wallace
- Bobcat Games: Unplugged (Rising 6th-8th graders) – Ms. Brown, Ms. DeLuca, Mr. Kilpatrick
- Bobcat Sports (Rising 1st-6th graders) – Mr. Varhol
- Cooking (Rising 3rd-6th graders) – Mrs. Alvarez
- Girls’ Math Camp (Rising 3rd-7th Grade GIRLS) – Ms. Hamlin and Mrs. Lackey
- Nature Camp (Rising 5th-7th graders) – Mr. Woler
- Nature Camp Junior (Rising 2nd-4th graders) – Mr. Woler
- Rise Up Theatre Camp (Rising 4th-7th graders) – Mr. Ericson and Mr. G. (Please note, registration for Theatre Camp will be through paper forms.)
- STEM Camp (Rising 5th and 6th graders) – Ms. Dyer
Informational flyers for Churchill Road summer camps are posted on the CRS website: https://churchillroades.fcps.edu/summer_camp_fliers.
Register your student for camp by going to:
http://churchillroadpta.org/summer-camps-2019
Everything Starts with a Smile
Cleia, a Churchill Road alum, is currently an 8th grader at Cooper Middle School. Working with the philanthropic group My Smiles for Miles, Cleia is collecting toothbrushes that will be provided to needy children. My Smiles for Miles distributes the toothbrushes to Central America.
Donation bins are located around the school. If you would like to support this endeavor, be sure to drop off your new toothbrush from Monday, February 11 through Friday, February 15. Remember, everything starts with a smile!
For more information about us: www.mysmilesformiles.com. For questions about the toothbrush collection, contact cleia@mysmilesformiles.com.
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Wellness: Staying Healthy During Flu Season
Hand washing is critical to keeping germs away.
Despite our vigilance to stay healthy amidst the flu season, you probably know someone who has suffered from the flu or a cold this winter. Here are several quick reminders to help you and your family stay healthy and recover quickly:
- Get plenty of sleep. Taking time to recuperate is one of the best things you can do to keep your body healthy and strong.
- Drink plenty of fluid. Drinking water helps fight against the flu, wards off headaches, and flushes toxins from our bodies. When we are sick, especially when we have a fever, we are at risk for dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids to keep the body hydrated. Warm beverages like tea can be particularly soothing when we are not feeling our best.
- Gargling with salt water can help to reduce swelling in the throat and loosen mucus. A study in Japan found gargling with green tea reduced the likelihood of getting the flu due to green tea’s catechins, a type of antioxidant which may help prevent infection.
- Enjoy a steamy shower to help moisturize your nasal passages and clear out mucus in your nose and throat.
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water. We frequently touch our eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. All are places where germs can enter the body and make us sick.
Of course, you want to seek medical attention if your condition does not improve and limit your contact with others to prevent the spread of illness.
Summer Camp Fair on Saturday, February 16
The Fairfax County Association for the Gifted (FCAG) is again hosting our Annual Summer Camp Fair on Saturday, February 16 from 3:00-5:30 PM at McLean High School (with a snow date of February 23). Visit with day and residential camps focusing on: Math & Science; Music, Art, Performing Arts, STEM, Sports and Outdoors, Foreign Language and Writing & Journalism. FCAG is a non-governmental, non-profit organization of parent and student volunteers in Fairfax County that supports educational programs for advanced academic students.
President's Day Holiday on February 18
School will be closed on Monday, February 18 in honor of the President's Day holiday. If your student will be absent any additional days surrounding the upcoming holiday, please call the CRS 24-hour attendance line at 703-288-8484 or email ChurchillRoadElem.Attendance@fcps.edu.
We’re celebrating Dr. Seuss’s
Birthday on Friday, March 1
and
We’re Having Our Annual
Bookmark Contest!
We are celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday by holding a Bookmark Contest! There will be three winners in each grade level. The winning drawings will be made into bookmarks, and available for giveaways during student library time. Look for a flyer in today’s VIP folder or check the CRS Library page here for the guidelines and dates. Bookmark entries are due Wednesday, February 20.
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Save the Date: Annual FCPS Special Education Conference on April 6
Mark your calendars! The 14th annual FCPS Special Education Conference will be held on Saturday, April 6, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The event will focus on supporting inclusive and postsecondary practices for students with disabilities. Visit the Special Education Conference website or email prc@fcps.edu with questions.
CRS Calendar of Upcoming Events
Monday, February 18
President's Day Holiday - School Closed
Wednesday, February 20
Bingo Night, 6:00-7:30 PM, Gym
Friday, March 1
International Parade of Cuisines, 6:00-8:00 PM, Gym
Monday, March 11
3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 PM
Wednesday, March 13
Principal’s Coffee, 8:00-8:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
PTA Meeting, 8:45-9:45 AM, Exploratory Arts Room
Principal’s Pizza Tonight!
Don’t forget to join Mr. Hutzel tonight at 6:00 p.m. to learn more about CRS and ask questions. ALL CRS families, new & old are welcome! (Kids are welcome too!)
Parent Workshop Tonight!
Join us from 7-8 p.m. for a presentation & workshop from Ann Dolin, M.ED. Learn how to get your kids organized, focused, and motivated…without being the bad guy. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2xYOa15.
Family Bingo Night
Join your fellow wizards and wizards-in-training at our annual (and hugely popular) Family Bingo Night. Get ready for a magical evening of games, prizes, food, and fun on Wednesday, February 20, from 6-7:30 p.m. Price per family is $10 (paid at the event) - you will receive 5 Bingo cards and 2 raffle tickets. Extra bingo sheets and raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Food will be on sale - pizza at $2 per slice and water at $1 per bottle. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2I1ijEr.
Parade of Cuisines and Family Heritage Night!
Our 25th Parade of Cuisines is Friday, March 1! This annual celebration of the cultural roots of all our Bobcat families is even bigger and better this year. We’re celebrating with our Family Heritage Night program!
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Heritage in Me Art Craft & Raffle: Students can decorate the template (available at https://bit.ly/2DvpEcT) with any materials to represent their family’s heritage. Artwork should be turned in to homeroom teachers by 2/22. All art will be displayed and a raffle held on Family Heritage Night.
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Fashion and Flag Show: Showcase on the stage the traditional clothes of a culture or the flag of a country (flags will be provided) at Family Heritage Night. Sign up by 2/22 at http://bit.ly/2BqckD6
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Cultural Performances: Share a performance representing the culture of your choosing – singing, dancing, kung fu, and more! Sign up by 2/22 at http://bit.ly/2BqckD6
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Cultural Booths: Host a booth and share your culture! Sign up at http://bit.ly/2BqckD6
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International Parade of Cuisines: We’ll provide the plates, cutlery, and water – you bring a cultural (or any) dish to share. Details on our website at https://bit.ly/2DvpEcT
Rehearsal for the Fashion & Flag Show and Cultural Performances will be on Thursday, February 28, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the CRS gym.
Find all the details for the 25th International Parade of Cuisines and Family Heritage Night at https://bit.ly/2DvpEcT
Churchill Challenge Poster Contest & Registration
Early bird registration is open until February 28 for the Churchill Challenge 5K race and 1 mile fun run. Join us for this fun and beloved event on Saturday, March 30!
Plus we’re calling all CRS artists to create fun posters to help boost runners’ energy. Posters will be displayed at CRS before the event and along the route during the race. All artists who submit a poster will receive a fun new piece of Bobcat spirit wear! All posters are due by 2/22.
Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/2MQQa1H
Turn in those Box Tops!
Thanks to everyone who has clipped and turned in Box Tops this year to help CRS! Our next collection of clippings will be sent in at the end of the month, so please be sure to turn in your Box Tops by February 28! Check today’s VIPs for a fun collection sheet. Learn more about Box Tops at https://bit.ly/2wIcnao
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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