Hornet Happenings

Boosterthon was a success!!!

Thank you to all that donated to our biggest fundraiser of the year!  We met and exceeded our goal of $13,000!!! 

More support for our students and school.

Calendar Reminder:

November 4 and 5 Are Holidays for Students; SIS Gradebook Module Closed November 1-9

As a reminder, schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher work day. Friday, November 1, is the last day of the first quarter. Classes will resume on Wednesday, November 6. See the complete 2019-20 school calendar. 

Also, the Student Information System (SIS) Gradebook and Report Card modules will be closed starting at 4 p.m. today (November 1), through 6 a.m. on November 9 while teachers complete report cards.

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., for the end of Daylight Saving Time.

Highlighting Halley’s Student Services Team!

Taylor Butts is our new Full-Time School Counselor here at Halley by way of Chesapeake, VA. She works closely with grades K, 1, 3, and 4, but supports the entire student population. She has an MEd in School Counseling from Loyola University Maryland and has special interest in trauma informed care as well as mindfulness techniques. Taylor is excited to work with the unique population in Fairfax County and to get to know the students, families, and community at Halley Elementary School. Taylor can be reached via email at tsbutts@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-551-5711.

Margie Ascierto:   She’s been fortunate to be a school counselor for 24 years at the high, middle and elementary school levels.  Her background includes social work and counseling therapy, in addition to school counseling. She has worked in California and Virginia public schools, as well as for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) on military bases overseas.  She embraces a team approach, working with teachers, staff, students and families to support children in their academic and social emotional development. She believes all students can achieve when they feel safe, are connected to their educational environment and are given opportunities for learning that reflects their unique needs and circumstances.  She can be reached at (703) 551-5709 or maascierto@fcps.edu   She works closely with 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th grades and is at Halley on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

 Liz Devoll - Liz is so happy be back at Halley for her 9th year as the school social worker.  Liz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an undergraduate degree in psychology from UVA and an MSW from Catholic University.  One of her main roles as the school worker is to support students and families by helping to address social, emotional, and behavioral factors that are impacting student learning.  Liz is part of the school mental health team and provides consultation regarding mental health issues, helps plan student behavioral supports and provides direct student services in some cases such as individual and group counseling.  She helps connect families with resources in the community such as basic needs (glasses, clothing, food, etc.) and health/mental health care.  She serves as the homebound coordinator for students who may need to be out of school for prolonged periods of time for medical reasons.   Liz is at Halley on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays and can be contacted by phone at 703-551-5789 or by email:  ejdevoll@fcps.edu.

Kathryn Casterline:  Ms. Casterline is our new school psychologist!  She is starting her 10^th year as a school psychologist, and her 4^th year in FCPS. Previously, she was a school psych in Loudoun County Schools where she worked at two elementary schools and a middle school each year for 6 years. In Fairfax, she has worked at Liberty Middle School, Cardinal Forest, and Cherry Run. School psychologists in schools are a part of the mental health team, supporting student’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional growth for all students, at all levels. Professionally, Ms. Casterline is interested in assessment processes, identifying a student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as championing for equitable educational practices. This school year, Ms. Casterline is at Halley three days a week, in addition to supporting the school psychology department. Ms. Casterline can be reached at kbcasterline@fcps.edu or at 703-551-5759.

Our Book Fair theme for fall 2019 is Arctic Adventure, Snow Much to Read. A blizzard of books is headed your way this fall, venture deep into the ice-cold polar regions to the coolest reading expedition ever!

Want to know what we will have at the Book Fair? 

Would you like to volunteer? 

Click here to view the interactive book flyer and to sign up to help! 

Our evening book fair event will be

Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

Halley’s Veterans' Day Celebration

We are busy preparing for our Veterans' Day Celebration on Monday, November 11^th from 9:45am - 10:30am to honor our many military families - currently active as well as veterans.To honor them and thank them for their sacrifice and service, we have planned a very special celebration!  Please join us!

Our annual Thanksgiving Day Lunch will be on Monday, November 11th.  Please see the flyer HERE

Advanced Academics

2019-2020 Important Information

Grade K – 6 Critical and Creative Thinking Skills

How can parents/guardians help?

Questioning- Active learners are always questioning. Students who take responsibility for asking their own questions become more productive and engaged in their learning processes. Metacognition, or thinking about thinking, involves questioning our individual learning processes.

Such questioning helps us solve problems by developing, implementing, and evaluating plans of action. Guiding the development of thinking skills in all students empowers them, increases their independence, and helps them develop to their maximum potential. Children always have a wealth of questions – encourage questioning in your child and work with them to find answers.                                 

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Halley Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. All this is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. To nominate more than one person, please complete the form again.

*outstanding teacher

*outstanding new teacher

*outstanding principal

*outstanding leader

*outstanding professional employee

*outstanding operational employee

NOTE: The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 4^th.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Lou Villacrusis at 551-5700

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations - Complete Form Here

PTO Membership Drive

Have you joined the Halley PTO yet?  If not, it’s not too late! Please create an account on our Halley PTO site and pay online!  Membership is only $15 per year! Visit  www.halleypto.com Thank you so much for your support!!!

SAVE THE DATE EVENTS:  

Halley PTO Calendar

(Click to view)

BOOSTERTHON    Thank you to all that donated to our biggest fundraiser of the year!  All of you made it a very successful event!!  We met and exceeded our goal of $13,000!!!  Also, a huge thank you to all of our awesome volunteers!!  We couldn’t have done it without you!!! Lastly, thank you to Steven Wesley for taking amazing pictures of the event as always!   https://www.stevewesleyphotos.com/   Veteran’s Day Celebration   On Monday, November 11, 2019, the PTO will host the Veteran’s Day reception for ALL MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS from 9:10-9:40 in the library (prior to the school's celebration program). The menu is a light continental breakfast with coffee and juice. Please contribute to this event by signing up to donate breakfast items. Please sign up via the Signup Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EACAC2CA0FC1-veterans3 Questions? Contact Elizabeth Cobb at 2ndVP@halleypto.com.   Next PTO meeting will be held on 12/18/19!! We will have a visiting county representative joining us- looking forward to seeing you all there!!!   FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES:  Did you know that you can help William Halley Elementary in your everyday shopping?  Join Amazon Smile and see William Halley Elementary School get rewarded!  Consider your elementary school when shopping at Amazon Smile! Amazon Smile Visit  https://smile.amazon.com/ Log into your Amazon account or create an account You will be prompted to select a charitable organization Search for “William Halley PTO”   Every item available for purchase on Amazon.com is also available on Amazon Smile, and the Amazon Foundation will donate .5% of the purchase of eligible products to the PTO.  Be sure to use ID:  William Halley PTO.  Happy Shopping!      AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES CHESS CLUB- STAY TUNED FOR WINTER SESSION REGISTRATION!   RUNFIT KIDZ- STAY TUNED FOR SPRING SESSION REGISTRATION!!!   Life Champ Martial Arts- STAY TUNED FOR POSSIBLE WINTER OR SPRING SESSION!!   Have a question, suggestion or other information to share with the PTO Board?  We’d LOVE to hear from you!  President:  Maida Piggee, president@halleyPTO.com 1st Vice President:  Steve Reggio, 1stVP@halleyPTO.com 2nd Vice President:  Elizabeth Cobb, 2ndVP@halleyPTO.com Secretary:  Masha Lempel, secretary@halleypto.com Treasurer: Aileen Truong, treasurer@halleypto.com

8850 Cross Chase Circle, Fairfax Station 22039  |  Phone: 703-551-5700

Attendance: 703-551-5757 or email HalleyES.Attendance

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