 This week brought about meaningful learning opportunities in every classroom and community events that brought parents, students, and new LRES families together! Thank you for celebrating Earth Week with us and a BIG thank you to those who helped clear our steps between our school and the neighborhood!
Tuesday evening, we welcomed Lemon Road, Shrevewood, and Westgate families to our Level IV Orientation. Approximately 75 families joined us for a presentation by our teachers and students about the core values and special events that make Lemon Road special. Wednesday night was our monthly PTA Meeting where one of our school board representatives, Dalia Palchik joined our families in a great conversation about big picture planning for the school system and school board.
As you may have noticed, our lost and found is overflowing! Please stop by at Portrait of a Graduate Night and claim any of your family’s belongings. After next week, we will donate remaining items.
All week long, we showed our appreciation to our amazing office staff. Thank you to everyone who brought in treats, covered during their lunch, wrote cards, and decorated the office and hallways.
A few reminders - don’t forget to purchase spirit wear through Monday to get geared up for fall and be sure to join us for the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Monday morning at 8:15. Have a great weekend ~ Mrs. Castillo
I hope that you all are enjoying talking about appreciation of beauty & excellence and are excited to explore purpose next week! This strength means that you have beliefs about the meaning of life and your life’s purpose. You seek to be part of something greater than yourself. People who possess a sense of purpose believe that they are somehow connected with humanity or the universe -- and that they were put on earth for a reason. It could be to create a unique invention, to bring joy through art or music, or to raise their children to become good people.
So, why does purpose matter? Having a clear sense of purpose in life, and a belief that you’re connected to a larger meaning, gives individuals strength. It allows them to persevere and find courage in trying circumstances or lead with kindness and love even when it’s not reciprocated. On a group level, purpose can be a powerful aligning element. It gives people a reason to continue on in hope and optimism, despite difficult circumstances. The sense of connection between people further strengthens their individual resolve and focus, which fortifies the group.
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The Buddy Bench is up and ready to help those who need to find a “buddy” at recess! The third and fourth graders with Ms. Myers, Ms. Hagerty, Ms. Guzman, and Ms. Godenschwager had such great and creative ideas through this process. Please take a moment to remind your children about the buddy bench this weekend. The buddy bench promotes an inclusive and caring school culture for all our students. Anyone not feeling included in play can go sit on the buddy bench and they will be approached to join a student or group.
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A reminder – our Portrait of a Graduate Night will take place this year on Thursday, May 2 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. The event will be similar to years past, with different POG attributes highlighted throughout the building. We are still looking for contributions to our Hall of Nations and Parade of Nations. Please use this link to sign up for you or your family to participate.
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Bike to School Day is Wednesday May 8th. Last year we had more than 50 students bike – let’s try and beat that this year! Please remember to help your children check their bike, brakes, and chain before leaving home in the morning. We encourage students to always wear a helmet and think safety first when crossing any roads. When arriving at school, students will follow posted bike signs in hallways to drop off bikes in a courtyard or behind the school. Information on walking and biking to school, including information on applying for grants and safety tips, on the Safe Routes to School web page.
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 Thank you to our parents and neighbors that cleaned up the steps along the walking path! Take a look at the before and after photos. The stairs are clean, clear, and more welcoming to our students and families who use the walking path to and from school – wow!
This week, we welcomed several community members into to Lemon Road. Thank you to all our parents and community members who help make these meaningful learning opportunities available to our students! Evelina Daciute, author of The Fox on the Swing and parent in Mrs. Brown’s classroom, returned to visit another kindergarten classroom and conducted a workshop with the kindergarteners.
Author, Kate Allen, visited with 5th and 6th graders on Tuesday afternoon. She shared with students how she came up with her ideas and the extensive research that went into her first novel, The Line Tender, that was released last week. After her presentation, students had the opportunity to ask questions about her writing process. Thank you to Barston Child’s Play in McLean and Bregette Poore for arranging this special visit.
First Grade was delighted by a visit from a professional actor who helped students jump start their Readers Theatre PBL. Marni Penning Coleman is a parent of a current first grader. She created a workshop to help students hone their acting skills. She led students in vocal warm-ups and taught them how to control the volume of their voices through breathing techniques. Ms. Coleman also helped students practice gestures to communicate emotions. First Grade is excited to try these new skills!
 
Do you know a staff member at Lemon Road Elementary School who deserves a “thank you” for all they do? Submit a thank‐you note by visiting www.thankateacherva.com to send a thank‐you note to a deserving teacher via email. All teachers who receive one of our thank‐you notes can enter a drawing for a chance to win one of two amazing Virginia vacation packages through a partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
You should have received additional ways to contribute to Staff Appreciation Week in last week’s Wednesday folders. Our amazing PTA and committee have a well-developed theme “Lights, Camera, Appreciation” with daily suggestions below. Be sure to sign up to bring in something for Friday’s PTA breakfast!
Monday: Students bring in fruit to help their teachers stay energized this week
Tuesday: Students nominate the awesome staff at Lemon Road by sharing the staff’s star talent on a star note to be displayed in the hallway (to be sent home next Wednesday)
Wednesday: Fill the staff’s swag bags with their favorite things
Thursday: Students wear their favorite hat, in honor of their star teachers
Friday: Encourage students to write notes to staff describing how lucky they were to have them this year
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This spring, the SOL non-writing window will have a significant overlap with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset. If this impacts your child, please contact Morgan Birge at mbirge@fcps.edu, so he can work with you to create a plan to best address your child's needs. Thank you. |
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Solo and Ensemble Festivals are held every year in the Northern Virginia area during the Spring. These music festivals are run by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association and provide band and orchestra students the opportunity to perform a solo and/or as part of an ensemble and have their performances critiqued by a professional adjudicator. Congratulations to our students participating in this year’s festival:
Mikhael Cristo-Ezewoko, Vedansh Garg, Maya Lang, Semira Gebremariam, Joel Mathew, Piyush Goswami, Miotisoa Randrianantenaina, Chrysostomos Tsiglifis, Violet Webring, Rhys Chapman, Anannya Chinnala, Amulya Chinnala, Manya Grover, Sunay Gupta, Michelle Zuo, Anna Kim, Joanna Ni, Hanna Ni, Anders Peterson, and Ishaan Saran
Monday, April 29: A Week; Volunteer Breakfast (8:15 AM)
Tuesday, April 30: Ledo’s Restaurant Night
Wednesday, May 1: Ledo’s Restaurant Night
Thursday, May 2: Portrait of a Graduate Night (6:30)
Monday, May 6: Staff Appreciation Week; Full SCA Meeting
Tuesday, May 7: Grade 1 Field Trip; Staff Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 8: Bike to School Day; Staff Appreciation Week; FCPS BBQ
Thursday, May 9: Staff Appreciation Week
Friday, May 10: Staff Appreciation Week; May Principal’s Coffee (Dr. Menuey, Dana Chen, Longfellow, and Kilmer representatives coming)
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