Message from Dr. Cipperly
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Dear Parents & Guardians,
This is the time of year when our eighth grade students take the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) writing test 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 regarding SOL testing, please contact the test 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
Please remind your son or daughter that no electronic devices will be allowed in testing locations. As always, these items should be secured in lockers during testing.
Sincerely,
Catherine M. Cipperly, Ed.D.
Interim Principal
Upcoming Important Dates
- Friday, March 27th: Rising 9th grade activities fair
- Monday, April 6th - Friday, April 10th: Spring Break
- Monday, April 13th: Teacher workday/student holiday
 Evan and Hobbes, 7th grade students in James Cain's history class, present their projects in the 1920's Speakeasy held last week at Thoreau.
Steps to Success (StS) Corner
Steps to Success (StS) is Thoreau's executive functioning program that occurs through bi-weekly lessons that introduce strategies and support students with skills such as organization, planning, and time management. These skills help students to be successful in and outside of school.
On Monday, February 24th Thoreau 7th grade students participated in a StS executive functioning lesson on prioritization. Students created a list of upcoming tasks and due dates to learn how to prioritize as well as the value of staying productive and ahead of your work to avoid procrastination. The 8th grade lesson was on test taking strategies in preparation for their upcoming writing SOL in early March. They recorded dates, learned multiple choice test taking strategies, different essay graphic organizers and tips, and how stress can impact memory.
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.
Digital Learning and Citizenship Community Events
FCPS families are invited to attend any of the following digital learning and citizenship community education events:
Supporting Students in a Digital World: Bridging Technology Use at Home & School
When: March 5th (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
Where: Herndon High School, Lecture Hall
Supporting Students in a Digital World: Bridging Technology Use at Home & School
When: March 18th (6:15 PM - 8:15 PM)
Where: Kilmer Middle School
Supporting Families in a Digital World: Developing a Healthy Relationship with Technology
When: March 18th (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
Where: South Lakes High School
Spotlight on Student Learning with a Focus on Media Balance and Well-being
When: March 31st (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
Where: Franklin Middle School
Middle School All-Virginia Honors Choir Festival
The choral department, under the direction of James McNamara, is proud to announce that six talented students from Thoreau have been selected to participate in the All-Virginia Honors Choir Festival in Richmond in April. Our students will join the other 300 6th - 8th graders from around the state. Well done Gianna, Fortune, Jose, Meher, Lina, and Cole!
Coronavirus Update from Dr. Brabrand
Superintendent Brabrand sent a message to parents/guardians about FCPS' response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The message is also posted on the FCPS website along with FAQs and other resources.
Additional Information About Flu Virus Prevention
The Fairfax County Health Department recommends the following flu prevention tips:
- Wash hands often with soap and water. If unavailable, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
School Health Services Survey
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). To determine the quality of these services, a survey has been developed by the FCHD to be shared with all parents/guardians who interact with the school health rooms.
Electronic versions of the survey forms may be accessed at:
The survey will take less than five minutes to complete and will provide the FCHD with valuable information. Your participation in this important endeavor is appreciated.
 History teacher James Cain's 7th grade student Matthew displays his Speakeasy project on "Economy in the 1920s".
Rising 9th Grade Activities Fair
Madison and Marshall High Schools will hold their respective activity fair on Friday, March 27th. Rising 9th graders will go on a field trip that day to participate in their future high school’s activity fair. Students can expect to receive important information about extracurricular activities and learn more about their upcoming transition to high school. Students who are attending Oakton HS will remain at Thoreau and Oakton will be sending representatives to review transition information with those students. If your student is attending a school other than Madison, Marshall, or Oakton, please have him/her see Colleen Taylor, Fran Furr, or his/her counselor.
Permission slips were given to 8th grade students during the week of February 24th and are due back to their science teachers no later than Friday, March 20th.
Details for the activities fair are as follows:
- Madison-bound students will depart Thoreau around 9:30 AM and will return at approximately 12:00 PM. These students should bring lunch or money to purchase lunch from Thoreau's cafeteria.
- Marshall-bound students will depart Thoreau around 9:20 AM and will return at approximately 12:45 PM. These students will eat lunch at Marshall so they will need to either bring lunch or $3.25 to purchase lunch. Lunch PINs for students will not work at Marshall.
"Go Paperless" Report Card Option Now Available
Starting with 3rd quarter, high school and middle school parents will now have the option to “Go Paperless” in ParentVUE and receive only online report cards. To take advantage of the paperless options, parents/guardians will need to log into ParentVUE, then go to “My Account” and select "Go Paperless." This process is the only way to keep a paper report card from being generated for students at the secondary level. All parents who share the same address as the student must have a SIS ParentVue account and must select the paperless option.
Caboose to Caboose, Vienna to Herndon Bike Ride
Join the Town of Herndon, Town of Vienna and NOVA Parks for a fun bike ride or walk along the W&OD Trail from the Vienna caboose to the Herndon caboose. Help the Town of Vienna win the Mayors Cup by participating! The town with the most people registered will win. See this flyer for details and how to register.
After-School Programs and Late Buses
After-school programs and buses are in full force. 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.
Congratulations to those students selected to represent Thoreau. Practices began 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 on Mondays and the boys team will practice in Gym 2 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.
 Students in Julie Mehigan's family and consumer science class learn how to hand sew. Once they finish hand stitching a design, they will use this as a pillow front.
Thoreau Yearbook News
2019-2020 Thoreau Yearbook
Thoreau yearbooks are on sale now at a cost of $45.00 each. The publisher has closed it's offerings of personalization and additional options. With every yearbook purchase made before May 15th, a refrigerator magnet reminder will be mailed home. Purchases made after May 15th need to be in the form of cash or checks made out to Thoreau and to the attention of yearbook coordinator Galeet BenZion.
Oakton HS
Oakton HS PTSA cordially invites families to a free screening of Screenagers Next Chapter on Wednesday, March 18th. The screening will take place in the Oakton HS auditorium (door 6), with the doors opening at 6:30 PM. See this flyer for details.
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 Kenny with all of the details.
Marshall HS Football Welcomes Rising 9th Graders
All current eight graders planning to attend Marshall HS in the fall are invited to join Marshall's after-school voluntary training/lifting program beginning on Monday, March 10th. Please see this letter from Marshall varsity football coach Jason Strickland with all of the 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
PTA Meeting and Presentation
Please join in our next PTA meeting and parent education presentation on Tuesday, March 10th at 9:30 AM at Thoreau. PTA business this month includes votes on the updated bylaws, nominating committee members, and budget amendments. Interim Principal Dr. Cipperly will also introduce herself to parents and provide school updates. These discussions will be followed by a parent education session on “Fostering Internal Motivation in Students,” which is offered in partnership with Club Phoenix. Licensed psychotherapist and parenting coach Rachel Bailey will present tools to help your teen value and pursue their goals.
Hospitality is Spring Cleaning!
In preparation for spring, our Hospitality Committee will be cleaning and organizing the teacher lounge, and providing healthy snacks to the staff. Please sign-up to bring snacks, which must be dropped off at school by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, March 10th. Thank you for your support of Thoreau staff!
Dining for Dollars at Lost Dog Cafe
Show your Thoreau spirit and help raise funds to support our school by eating out and inviting family, friends, and neighbors to do the same! Our next Dining for Dollars spirit event is all day on Sunday, March 15th at Lost Dog Cafe (2729 Merrilee Drive, Dunn Loring). Enjoy a meal any time between 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM and catch-up with others in our community.
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.
 Science teacher Jody Jacobs' 7th grade students created a four layer leaf containing chloroplasts to study photosynthesis and mitochondria to study cellular respiration. Her 8th grade students made optic files to study lenses and mirrors.
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