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Every year large companies decide to roll out something new in order to keep business booming. For example, restaurants have to introduce a new menu item to keep customers coming back for more. Schools have to take the same approach, in an effort to keep parents engaged and informed we have decided to roll out a bi weekly newsletter from our PTA, something new just for you.
Welcome to the very first installation of the the Cobra Times. This news blast is designed to keep our families and members of the community informed about some of the exciting work we do at Quander Road School. Once a month we will feature a member of the staff, this will give our parents a chance to know our educators a little deeper.
Quander Road Educators spent the first six days of school focused on getting to know our students and collecting math and writing data. Classes were 35 minutes long and at 1:30 p.m. students were divided into groups. Teachers and support staff were encouraged to focus on team building via board games, basketball or soccer as a way to know our students by name and by need. If you have questions about the informal assessments used to collect data please reach out to your student’s case manager.
We hope you will enjoy this new installation and if there is something you would like to see more of please let our staff know!
Enjoy the day by choice!
Adrian Williams
Assistant Principal & PTA President
Today’s Cobras are tomorrow’s workforce. Each student received an FCPS-issued laptop to access dynamic resources and participate in learning tailored to the student’s individual needs. FCPSOn provides each Cobra with real-world technology skills that will be essential as adults. Students will have access to the device at school and take their device home. At QRS Cobras are encouraged to bring a fully powered device, a positive attitude and plan to participate!
The weather is changing and so might your mood. It could be more than the “Winter Blues”…… With the change of weather to the Fall and Winter months, comes Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for millions of Americans every year. Some people also experience episodes of depression that start in the Spring and Summer but that occurrence is less common. Psychology Today describes SAD as a type of recurrent major depressive disorder in which episodes of depression occur during the same season each year. SAD may be related to changes in the amount of daylight a person receives and may include symptoms of:
- Low energy
- Sleeping difficulties
- Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Social withdrawal
The exact cause is unknown and appears to be more prevalent in women and young adults. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), researchers have found that people with SAD may have a chemical imbalance(serotonin) in the brain that impacts mood. Additionally, some people release an excessive amount of the hormone melatonin which helps to control sleep and/or experience a vitamin D deficiency.
It is important to remember that SAD is not a separate disorder but rather a type of depression that is highly treatable. If you think that you or someone you know suffers with Seasonal Affective Disorder, there is hope and treatment is available. If you do not know where to begin, reach out to your school social worker or school psychologist for help.
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Field Trip Update Each grade/team may plan field trips that supports the curriculum. We recognize the value of learning in various forums. Cobras are motivated by the experiences that they have in parks, theaters and museums. We welcome parent support as chaperones. Field trips that expand our immediate community warrant charter buses that impact the cost of field trips. Our goal is to give parents proper notification of scheduled field trips, so that all students can participate.
Mrs. Anne Lewis, an educator and art therapist for more than 15 years is planning to take a small group of students on a field trip to the Franklin Park Art Center in Purcelville, VA. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to see some of the great works of Bob Ross.
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 As the school counselor at Quander Road School, I look forward to working with you and your child this school year. I work with students in many ways. I will deliver monthly guidance lessons by grade level; work with some students in small groups for brief periods of time; and assist students individually as needed. My primary purpose is to positively impact the academic, social, and personal development of each student at Quander with the goal of helping each student earn a diploma and prepare for success as a global citizen in our communities.
During the month of September, freshman learned about goal-setting; sophomores completed a career interest inventory; while juniors and seniors learned about the importance of exploring post-secondary options. During October, we will continue to focus on these areas.
School attendance is paramount to student success. If your child must miss school, be sure to call 703-718-2424 to report the absence. Without parent notification, absences are deemed as unexcused and could result in a referral to our attendance specialist.
Feel free to contact me via email or telephone if you have academic or attendance concerns about your child. I can be reached via gknicholtho@fcps.edu or by phoning 703-719-2412.
Working together, we can make this the most successful school year ever!
Greta N. Thomas,
NBCT School Counseling 2011
School Counselor, Quander Road School
703-718-2412
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