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Thank you to everyone who attended last Friday’s PTA Costume Bingo and made it a successful event! We want to send a very special thank you to our chairs for this event, Stephanie McDermott, Catherine Rathman and Chonda Long. They did an amazing job, and their hard work is appreciated! Also, a great big thank you to all the teachers, staff, and volunteers who supported the event.
 Congratulations to Ian R., the winner of 50/50 raffle at Costume Bingo!
Nominations are now open for Outstanding Employee Awards! As you may know, every year Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) recognizes outstanding employees at all levels. Once again this year, all schools in FCPS are encouraged to nominate outstanding employees, whose names will then go on to the pyramid level, where one outstanding employee will be selected for each category. Each of the five regions will then select one region outstanding employee for each category. Region winners will serve as the finalists for the coveted FCPS outstanding employee awards. Last year, the winner of each FCPS award received $4,000! To submit a nomination for a Keene Mill employee in one of the categories below, please email Ellen Colter, assistant principal, at egcolter@fcps.edu. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. The deadline to submit a nomination is Thursday, November 14.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years’ experience as a building principal
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position
Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position.
Common positions in this category: Office Staff, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, Instructional Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants, Parent Liaisons
Staff and students showed their character on Book Character Day during Red Ribbon Week!
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This week our students learned about the trait creativity. This is a strength that often comes naturally to children, because creative people can look at the world in new and original ways. It’s important to remember that creativity is a process that takes courage. Anytime you share your original ideas with the world, you risk being criticized or even ostracized. Positive psychology breaks creativity into two components: First, one must produce original ideas or behaviors. Second, the original idea or behavior must make a positive contribution to that person’s life or the lives of others. There are both big and small acts of creativity. Big acts are exemplified by great artists and scientists. Small acts include everyday acts of creativity, such as how people create solutions to deal with problems at work or at home.
Conversation Starter: Ask your child how he/she demonstrates creativity at home and at school.
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Advanced Academic Program Referral Meeting: A parent information meeting on the process for completing an Advanced Academic Program referral will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 from 9:30-10:30 AM and from 6-7 PM in the KMES library. All parents of students in grades K-6 are welcome to attend. Screening for Level IV full time Advanced Academic services occurs in the fall for students who are new to FCPS and in the spring for all other students. The AAP level IV referral deadline is January 9, 2020 for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional information is available on the AAP website. Please contact Patricia Fawcett, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at pafawcett@fcps.edu if you have further questions.
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Lost and Found: Our lost and found is overflowing! Please look at the glasses above and review this brief video clip to see if we have an item at school that belongs to your child. Remember to put your child's first and last name on all jackets, hoodies, water bottles, lunchboxes, etc. so that we can return lost items to your family. This will save you lots of money over time.
Every child experiences anxious moments or phases. Learn when children need help to manage their anxiety by coming to the Parent Night on Anxiety Awareness on November 13, 2019 at the West Springfield High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30pm with a free screening of the documentary ANGST at 7pm. An expert panel discussion follows the screening and information on school and community resources will also be available. The event is sponsored by local school counselors, school administrators, the FCPS Region 4 office and area PTAs/PTSAs.
Register for FCPS Parent Resource Center Programs:
Irritability in Children and Youth: How to Help Children Cope
Sibshops An exciting workshop for brothers and sisters of children with special needs!
Raising a Screen Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Beginning Your Journey
Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School
Parenting Through Challenging Times: Supporting Your Child Through Life’s Ups and Downs
Additional parent resources to include YouTube videos of previous presentations can be found here.
Yearbook Share Site: Keene Mill PTA has created a Lifetouch Yearbook Share Site to gather photos from families, staff, students and community groups for our yearbook. Start gathering photos that you would like for the yearbook and upload them to https://keenemillelementary.shutterfly.com/. A Shutterfly account is needed to access the share site. If you don’t have Shutterfly account, you can email the photos directly to keenemillelementary@sfly.com,and the images will automatically transfer to the share site. Or you can download the free Share Sites iPhone App and start sharing photos directly from your phone on the go.
Please upload pictures from the previous events, i.e., Back to School Day, Pyramid Challenge, and Costume Bingo. If you have any questions, please contact Marie Carpizo at kmesptapresident@gmail.com.
The 2019-2020 Yearbook Cover Contest Is Here! Students may draw, paint or sketch a piece of art for the yearbook cover contest. This year’s theme is: “Kanga Kindness is our Superpower.” For more information, see the flyer at this link: KMES YB 2019-20 Art Contest Flyer.docx
6th Grade Bake Sale Sign Up: Keene Mill’s 6th grade class is having a bake sale on Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2019. All proceeds from the sale will go to support the 6th grade’s year-end party and their class T-shirts. Baked good donations are needed to be dropped off at KMES either on Monday, Nov. 4 at the Keene Mill Elementary School office or at the bake sale site near door #12 on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The class that brings in the most baked goods and signs up the most volunteers will win an in-class lunch. Volunteers to work the sale are needed. Sign up here.
If you have any questions, please contact Azadeh Clayton at kmespta1stvp@gmail.com.
Last opportunity to advertise in our 2019-20 family directory! Our directory is not only an important resource but also a vital fundraiser for our PTA! With that in mind, we are thrilled to be working with A to Z Connect again to help us produce the best possible directory for our community, both in our traditional hard copy and our mobile directory app. Think about it... promoting your business, firm, practice, and community partnership in our directory is an ideal way to connect directly with other school families all the while supporting our school. It's a win - win! There are a few premium spots left, and we'd love for these to go to our families! 1/2 price specials on premium pages:
Back Cover: $450
Inside Covers: $375
Dividers: $250
Please contact Stephanie at 240-654-0097 or Stephanie@atozconnect.com to put a hold on your spot. It will be going to the printer very soon, so don't delay.
Mark Your Calendar:
11/4-11/5-Student Holidays-No School!
11/6-6th Grade Hemlock Field Trip
11/11-Veterans Day Assembly, 9:30 a.m.
11/12-Picture Retake Day
11/15-SCA Spirit Day - Western Day
11/13-WS Pyramid Parent Night on Anxiety & "Angst" movie, WSHS, 6:30 p.m.
11/19-KMES AAP Screening Information Meeting, Library, 6:00 p.m.
11/21-KMES FLE Parent Information Night, Library, 6:00 p.m.
11/22-1st Grade Field Trip to Hidden Pond
11/27-11/29-Thanksgiving Break/No School
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