With our Spelling Bee this afternoon, we officially commenced our Read Across America week celebrations.  We will continue to celebrate from March 2 - March 6 throughout Lemon Road. Ms. Burke has set up her photobooth in the library, as well as an interactive bulletin board outside the library, and will conduct stations with classes in the next two weeks.  Interested in joining the literary fun? Connect with your child’s classroom teacher to hear how you can get involved during the day or from home. We will focus on the themes in the graphic to the left as we celebrate reading all week long!

On Friday, March 6 beginning at 8:15, we have an exciting agenda prepared for our monthly Principals’ Coffee. After a brief musical welcome from members of our All County Chorus, we welcome Karl Frisch, Providence District School Board Member then will have a group of Lemon Road staff share how to help your child prepare for the SOL testing that will take place this May. Our hope is that our session will provide you with action-oriented tips while alleviating stress that can be associated with standardized testing. Please join us! Bring your photo ID and arrive a few minutes early to ensure time for parking.  

I hope you enjoyed a week full of enthusiasm! Beginning Monday, we'll begin learning about cheering others' successes. The third of five pillars of the Other People Matter Mindset (OPM2), this means that when other people succeed, you are happy for them, cheer them on, and celebrate with them. Being happy for other people when they succeed isn’t always everyone’s initial reaction. Often, it’s easy to become jealous or envious of others’ victories – or even to experience schadenfreude, which is deriving pleasure from witnessing (or learning about) another person’s misfortune. People who have these reactions to the success or misfortune of others are colloquially known as “haters.” It’s important to note that these are natural emotions and in small doses can be helpful in allowing us to see what we care about – and motivate us to pursue those goals.

But making a commitment towards cheering on other people’s successes can be a great way to improve our own health, happiness, and relationships. People can take active steps to be more genuinely happy for the achievements of others. Ways to do this include: telling others about the success of your modest friend; noticing when your reaction to a sibling’s success is envy or jealousy – and asking yourself why that is; reminding yourself that appreciating the excellence in another is a character strength; asking your successful teammates and classmates what they do to prepare for games or tests.

Emily Hunter, former Lemon Road student and current senior at McLean High School is beginning a girls engineering outreach program with McLean’s Science National Honor Society. During each session, Lemon Road girls in grades 3 - 6 we will conduct experiments and activities that represent each subdivision of engineering.  The goal of these sessions is to get upper elementary school girls excited about the male-dominated field of engineering, or STEM in general. This is a crucial time period for girls to develop confidence with their math and science skills, and to discover that as a female they offer a unique perspective in problem-solving.

The meetings will be held on Wednesday afternoons from 3:00-4:15. The upcoming meetings will occur on 3/18, 4/8, 4/29, and 5/20. There is the possibility another session may be added based on interest. Please use this link to register your daughter prior to the first meeting. Please email Emily if you have any questions. Thank you!

The Garden Clean-up scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed until March 14^th due to extremely cold weather. Please come out with your children to get our gardens ready for spring planting and growth on Saturday, March 14^th anytime from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Any 6^th grader, middle schooler, or high schooler needing community service is welcome to participate with you!

What is Dreambox?

Dreambox Learning is a K-8 digital math program.  It combines a standards-based learning approach with a fun and engaging learning environment.  As students complete lessons and questions, the program adapts and provides support to each student.  

Tips for home usage

1. Allow for 15 to 20 minute sessions throughout the week.
2. Encourage completion of every lesson that is started. Mistakes are OK. Your child should not shy away from incorrect answers, as they help find the right lesson to build learning progress.
3. We know it’s difficult, but please resist the urge to help with answers so that your child doesn’t move ahead before he or she is truly ready.
4. Encourage your student to use the in-lesson support.  

Accessing Dreambox at Home

Visit the Lemon Road Student Links

Your child can access DreamBox Learning Math 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a desktop, laptop, or iPad by logging in through the school's district portal (Clever link - found on the Lemon Road Student Links page)

Apple iPad

To download DreamBox to an iPad, go to www.dreambox.com/ipad, or search for “DreamBox Math” in the App Store. Once you have downloaded the app you can log into your child's profile through the District portal, using Safari > Lemon Road Student Links.  You can also use the Clever app (available in the App Store) to login to Dreambox.  Students login with Clever and the app will open the Dreambox once students submit their passwords.  

1. Go to https://lemonroades.fcps.edu/student-links 
2. Scroll down to the link image for Dreambox (The QR code below takes you directly to the login screen.)
3. Students login with their FCPS username and password.

Do you know a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, 2020?  If so, it’s time to register for Kindergarten! We are now taking kindergarten registrations for the 2020 – 2021 school year and planning has begun to welcome the new class of 2033!  Pass along the word across our community that our Kindergarten Orientation will be held on March 3rd 9:00-10:30 AM. We invite students and parents in to experience kindergarten. Doors will open at 8:30 AM with photos and light refreshments. Parents are encouraged to call or email Mrs. Vaughn at Lemon Road to schedule an appointment for kindergarten registration. Forms needed for registration can be found here. Registration is also open for Kindergarten Kick Start – a summer camp for rising Lemon Road Kindergarteners to get to know the school, routines and staff. Please help us spread the word to neighbors and friends with children ready to start Kindergarten at Lemon Road!

Recognize a Lemon Road staff member for going above and beyond. FCPS Cares Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so FCPS can acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees. Thanks so much!