Thoreau Matters - February 20th Issue

Message from Dr. Cipperly

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Dear Thoreau Community:

We have had much to celebrate at Thoreau Middle School!  Sixty-six students were honored by receiving recognition at the Thoreau student of the 1uarter award ceremony. These students have demonstrated the “Excellence in Action” traits emphasized throughout the school. Congratulations for a job well done!

We also celebrated our counselors last week during National School Counseling Week. We are grateful to our counselors who continue to support our students in a myriad of ways.  Throughout the year they teach students in small and large group settings on a variety of topics such as executive functioning, wellness and mindfulness and anti-bullying. Our counselors work one-on-one with students with academic advising for the upcoming year’s course selection. During National School Counseling Week we acknowledged the critical role our counselors play in supporting the well-being of our Thoreau students. We are thankful for their efforts!

Sincerely,

Catherine M. Cipperly, Ed.D.

Interim Principal


Upcoming Important Dates

  • Tuesday, March 3rd:  Student holiday/teacher workday
  • Monday, April 6th - Monday, April 13th:  Spring Break

Math Information Night

Do you need more information before choosing your child’s math course for the 2020-21 school year? Please join us for an informal session on Thursday, February 27th from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM in Eagle Hall.  A teacher representative from each of the following courses will be there to answer questions: Math 7, Math 7 HN, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 1 HN.  Fliers will also be available describing the Geometry HN course.  There is no need to register for this event. If you have any questions prior to the event, please contact math teachers Wendy Kamen at wbkamen@fcps.edu or Lauryn Toomey at ltoomey@fcps.edu.


Capital One Coders Featured Throughout FCPS

Capital One and NOVA SySTEMic of Northern Virginia Community College supported a project based learning (PBL) lesson.  The students coded three robots through an obstacle course triggering a Rube Goldberg event.  See this exciting link to view the video.


Spanish Language Interpreters Needed for Thoreau

The FCPS Office of Language Services hires hourly employees to provide oral interpretation services for school meetings, conferences and formal test situations.  Thoreau has a need for Spanish speaking interpreters on a regular basis.  The Office of Language Services does the hiring for interpreters and we encourage interested candidates to reach out to language services specialist Katie Han at kjhan@fcps.edu.

Education/Skills/Experience Required:

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school, plus five years of progressively more responsible multi-language experience with proficiency in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu, or other language represented in significant numbers in the FCPS school population. Experiential knowledge of the culture, customs, and governmental and school services of countries speaking that language; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing in English, as well as in one of the languages listed above.


College Access Fairfax's Financial Awareness Program for Middle School Parents

Thoreau parents are welcome to attend any of the five free presentations by College Access Fairfax on College Financial Awareness for Middle School Parents. Topics include financial aid basics, understanding the cost of attending, saving for college, and what resources are available.  See this flyer for details including locations, dates and times of the presentations.


MyIntent

As a culminating event for the first semester, creative writing teacher Jen Wharton led a lesson on intention with the MyIntent Project.  Students journaled about their purpose and found their motivating word.  Students then helped Ms. Wharton hand-stamp a bracelet with their intent word to wear as a tactile reminder to live their purpose.  The MyIntent project kit and bracelets were purchased with grant money from our generous PTA.  If you would like to read more about the MyIntent Project or make a piece of intention jewelry, visit myintent.org.


Standards of Learning (SOL) Writing Test

Our 8th grade students will take the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) writing test from Thursday, March 5th through Wednesday, March 12th according to the schedule below.  The parent letter for the writing SOL can be found here.  Please note that some students will sit for these tests in alternate testing locations and will receive individual passes for these sessions.  If you have any questions about SOL testing, please contact Thoreau testing coordinator Sunnie Chung at shchung@fcps.edu.

  • Thursday, March 5th, 7:30 AM:  Hawks and Wombats, Short Paper
  • Friday, March 6th, 7:30 AM:  Falcons and Turtles, Short Paper
  • Tuesday, March 10th, 7:30 AM:  Hawks and Wombats, Multiple Choice
  • Wednesday, March 11th, 7:30 AM:  Falcons and Turtles, Multiple Choice

Parent Survey Re: AAP Level IV Full-Time Services

FCPS has engaged with external researchers to examine our Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) in grades 3-8, with a focus on Level IV services.  As one of several data collections, researchers are seeking input from all parents of students in grades 3-8 through an online survey.  Individual survey responses will be anonymous, will go directly to the researchers, and will not be viewed by FCPS staff.  

Responses will be used by the researchers to craft recommendations for program improvements that will be shared with the FCPS School Board in late March.  Parents are asked to complete the survey only one time, even if they have multiple children in grades 3-8.  The survey should go directly to parent emails by mid-February and will close on February 28, 2020 in order to give researchers time to analyze results for their final report in March of 2020.  There will be a School Board work session on March 24, 2020 with the final report.  Thanks for your participation.


Spelling Bee

The PTA sponsored Thoreau Spelling Bee took place on Tuesday, February 11th.  After two hours of spelling, we had a champion.  Seventh grade student Jia (l) was the winner with seventh grade students Alex (c) as first runner-up and Sami (r) as second runner-up.  Spellers made it through words such as palladium, discrepancy, and absurdist. Congratulations to all participants on a great job!


After-School Programs and Late Buses

After-school programs and buses are underway.  After-school information will always be communicated via our website, the TMS after-school Google site, the PTA newsletter, Eagle News (our morning news show), and will be published in future issues of Thoreau Matters.

For planning purposes, the last day of after-school activities is Thursday, May 28th.  The after-school program will not meet on student holidays, or during inclement weather cancellations.  In addition, there will be no after-school activities or buses on the following dates: 

  • Friday, April 3rd
  • Friday, May 22nd

Crosstown Hoops

Our annual Crosstown Hoops basketball event versus Kilmer MS will take place on Friday, April 17th, from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM at Madison HS. 

Tryouts will happen as follows:

  • Monday, February 24th:  7th grade only
  • Wednesday, February 26th:  8th grade only

Tryouts will run the first two after-school sessions from 2:25 PM - 4:05 PM.  Boys will tryout in Gym 2 and girls will tryout in Gym 1.

Team Rosters:  The teams will be announced on Thursday, February 27th with rosters posted outside of Gym 2 at Eagle Time.

Practices:  Practices begin the week of Monday, March 2nd and will run for the first two after-school sessions from 2:25 PM - 4: 05 PM.  The girls team will practice in Gym 1 only on Mondays and the boys team will practice in Gym 2 only on Thursdays.  Students should talk with their coaches about any missed practices.

Questions should be directed to after-school specialist Colleen Taylor at cmtaylor1@fcps.edu.


French Department News

Thoreau's French department is planning the annual trip to France in late June of 2020.  This year's adventure will include a three day stay in Paris, and travel to Normandy and Brittany to include some of the most historic and beautiful sights in France.  The trip will be a total of nine days.  Email Madame Locke at nelocke@fcps.edu with any questions.


Thoreau Yearbook News

2019-2020 Thoreau Yearbook

This year's yearbook is a collection of Thoreau student memories that will be cherished for years to come.  It will include hundreds of pictures of activities and school events.  Over 400 yearbooks have been sold which brings our remaining inventory to 50%.  Thank you to all who have purchased a yearbook.  We hope the magnet distributed to yearbook purchasers will serve as a helpful reminder.  

If you would like to donate the purchase of a yearbook, please send cash or a check payable to Thoreau MS along with a note indicating "yearbook donation" to Ms. BenZion/yearbook.  Donations are appreciated.  Thank you in advance for supporting our students.

  • A generic version of the yearbook can be purchased for $40.00 at MySchoolBucks.com.  Please note that the price will increase to $45.00 on March 1st.
  • An upgraded version can be purchased for an additional cost at yearbookforever.com.  This site will show the customized prices and options.

Madison HS - News from the Football Program

All current eighth graders planning to attend Madison HS in the fall are invited to join Madison's after-school training/lifting program beginning on Monday, March 16th.  This voluntary program is free and focuses on general athletic development and would be beneficial to any prospective athlete regardless of their sport.  Please see this letter from Madison varsity football coach Justin Counts and director of student activities John Kenney with all of the details.


Service Hours Opportunity

The Vienna ES PTA is preparing for their annual BINGO night on Friday, February 21st from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Vienna ES.  Thoreau students who need service hours can contact Vienna ES parent Tom McKee to work the event.  Mr. McKee can be contacted at tmckee@gmail.com.  See this flyer for details.


My School Bucks (MSB) Update

MSB is up and running for class fees and school store purchases.  Please visit My School Bucks.


PTA News and Announcements

B-E-E Spells Fun!

In celebration and love of vocabulary, the PTA hosted the annual Thoreau Spelling Bee on Tuesday, February 11th.  Seventh grader Jia was named the Bee champion when she correctly spelled "avocado".  This winning word was spelled after some participants previously spelled "dropsonde," "diaphoresis," and "absurdist" correctly.  Jia will now represent the school at the regional Fairfax County Spelling Bee this March.  Thank you to parent Jen Hallworth for chairing this event and to the parents who volunteered to assist as announcers and judges.

Commemorative Courtyard Bricks

Current families are invited to join in paving the future of Thoreau with your purchase of a commemorative brick! Previously purchased bricks and new orders will be installed this spring in the school’s newer courtyard, as announced at January’s PTA meeting. Each brick costs $50 and allows for up to three lines of text for families to honor a Thoreau student, teacher, or staff member. Proceeds support the PTA’s Campus Campaign that helps Thoreau Middle School obtain important classroom, technology, and other needs. Please see the order form for details.

Proposed PTA Bylaws Revision

PTAs are required to review their bylaws every five years and update them to reflect current operating structures and procedures.  The Bylaws Revision Committee has prepared a proposed bylaws draft that includes a few updates.  PTA members will vote on approval of the updated bylaws at the Tuesday, March 10th PTA meeting.  Prior to the vote, please read the proposed updates and the rationale for them.

Help the PTA

Please join the PTA and consider making a donation to our no-fuss fundraiser.

Other easy ways you can earn money for Thoreau are:

  • register your Harris Teeter VIC card with school code 3258
  • designate Thoreau for your Amazon Smile charity 
  • keep collecting and sending in Box Top

Andrea Kramer, Thoreau PTA President

president@thoreaupta.org 

 

2019-20 PTA Board Members

Andrea Kramer, President

Irina Smirnoff, Vice President

Amy Vernon, Treasurer

Wendy Pearson, Secretary

 

Thoreau Food Program

Thoreau is piloting the first middle school program with Food for Others this year.  Food for Others is an organization that provides schools with weekly "Power Packs."  These packs include nonperishable food items for school-aged children in need.  Families who would like to contribute can do so directly with Food for Others.