Wolftrap Connection - March 2, 2020

Upcoming Events

Wolftrap Calendar

March 03 - Student Holiday

March 04 - AIM Monthly Jam

March 04 - Read Across America Dress Up Day

March 05 - PTA Meeting: 6:00 PM

March 06 - Spiritwear Day

March 06 - Deadline, Kentrell Martin Book Preorder

March 10 - Deadline, Beulah Rd Surveys

March 13 - K-3 Dance Programs


Message from the Principal

 

Dear Wolftrap Families,

It is hard to believe that March has arrived. Much to the disappointment of our students (and staff :)) it does not look like mother nature will be bringing us any snow this year. Although warmer temperatures are on the rise, the mornings are still quite cold so please ensure that you are sending your child to school with a warm coat for the early recess times.

There are many things to celebrate at Wolftrap including the celebrity chicks, Cluck Norris and Waffles, whom Mr. Campet has been hosting for the past several weeks. The students have loved playing with them in the mornings and watching their development along with the 7 eggs in the hatching incubator. In more exciting news, second grade teacher Kat Mehari has been named the Region 1 Outstanding Elementary School Teacher of the Year! This means that she is one of five finalists for the FCPS award and she will be recognized on stage in June at the FCPS Awards Gala held at George Mason University. Congratulations to Ms. Mehari on this huge accomplishment!

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 or guardians and school staff members who interact with the school health rooms. This may include principals, school counselors, and main office staff members. The survey has been approved for distribution by the FCPS’ Internal Survey Advisory Committee. 

Electronic versions of the survey forms may be accessed at:

School Health Services Survey – Parents 2020: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9VWCJ6    

School Health Services Survey – STAFF 2020: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KDDYRW3

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.  

Sincerely,

Teresa Khuluki
Principal

 

Please see the important message below from Dr. Grove:

We have had some documented instances of student misuse of technology in the past weeks. We are working to provide for the safety of your children in a digital environment. If students are found to be cyber bullying, searching prohibited content, or posting text or images that will disturb the learning environment at school, we will act to ensure that the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities Code for Student Conduct is enforced. If I can answer any questions about this policy, please let me know. Please also help us by monitoring student use of technology at home. FCPS has organized some community education events to assist with this effort. You are welcome to attend any of the events in any pyramid. Please see links below. Thank you!

All FCPS staff and families are invited to attend any of the following digital learning and citizenship community education events.

Herndon Pyramid:   Supporting Students in a Digital World:  Bridging Technology Use at Home & School When:  March 5, 2020 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.) Where:  Herndon High School, Lecture Hall

Marshall Pyramid:  Supporting Students in a Digital World:  Bridging Technology Use at Home & School When:  March 18, 2020 (6:15 - 8:15 p.m.) Where:  Kilmer Middle School

South Lakes Pyramid:  Supporting Families in a Digital World:  Developing a Healthy Relationship with Technology When:  March 18, 2020 (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.) Where:  South Lakes High School

Chantilly Pyramid: Spotlight on Student Learning with a Focus on Media Balance and Well-being When:  March 31, 2020 (6:00 - 7:30 p.m.) Where:  Franklin Middle School

 


Wolftrap PTA

 

PTA Edison Expo and Skate Night

 

March brings a full month, including the lead-in to our 5k and Fun Run event. You will hear more about this hugely attended event, but for now please register and consider an item for the basket raffle. More to come!

This week, we have a community call to action regarding the restriping of Beulah, details below. This project is only proposed, but can be approved with enough community support. Please send comments online by March 10.

Update on Beulah Crosswalk: Plans are in design and predicted to be underway by 2021. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the Beulah Road Safety Committee: Alison Gramann, Sandy Cole, Peter Wintermute, Jeff Anderson, Jess McDonald and James Engelhardt. If not for their patient work, we wouldn't be getting these improvements.

More thanks are owed to Amy Herr, Chris Harney and the Edison Expo team. And for Liz Margiotta and the Skate Night crew- both amazing nights with great turnouts! From smashed eggs and science to loops around the rink and pizza, we had a blast.

So... can you believe all these volunteers doing great work? Don't feel left out! There's a part for you, big or small. Check out our 2020-21 needs, including Reflections, Odyssey of the Mind and fundraising like AmazonSmile and Directory.

Hope you'll join for our PTA meeting, March 5, 6pm, for pizza and a new evening time. See you then!

 

Jessica Jue, President  (president@wolftrappta.org)

Christine Harney, President-Elect (president-elect@wolftrappta.org)

Sarah Helou, Secretary (secretary@wolftrappta.org)

Katie Hunter, Treasurer (treasurer@wolftrappta.org)


Make Beulah Safer, Respond by March 10!

Beulah Rd Safety Survey

VDOT and FCDOT are proposing to add bike and left turn lanes (in wide sections of Beulah), as well as shared lane markings (in narrow sections), beginning from Sideling Ct NE to Clarks Crossing.

Your online comment this week is key. Submit your opinion to FCDOT here to support striping, which reduces car speeds, passing on the right and improves student pedestrian & biking safety. The existing legal street parking will be maintained, more on VDOT’s plans here. The striping proposed will enhance the future crosswalk improvements.

 

Thank you for the past and continued support to safety for our community! 


EcoSchools Transportation Urges Action

Eco Schools

Wolftrap's EcoSchools teams- Transportation, Consumption & Waste and Energy- have been hard at work collecting data and building their action plans. 

The Transportation team wanted to share that they counted 85 cars on one morning's Kiss and Ride. That represents nearly 22% of families! They also found that the average car emits six tons of carbon dioxide a year. It would make a big impact to have more Wolftrap families walking, biking, taking the bus and carpooling.

Please join them this Walking Wednesday to sign a poster to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and help make a safer walk to school. This poster, along with letters from the team, will be delivered for the March 10 deadline. Hope to see you there!


Read Across America- Dress Up Day

Read Across America

Ms. Stubbs invites you to celebrate Read Across America, this Wednesday March 4. Kids are welcome to dress up as their favorite storybook character!


Author Visit and Book Pre-Order: Kentrell Martin

Kentrell Martin Author Visit

Ms. Stubbs has arranged for award-winning author Kentrell Martin to visit Wolftrap students! His April 28 visit will be geared towards K-2, but there are Shelly's Adventures titles that appeal to all levels.

 Find out more and preorder books under "My Account" on the PTA website. Books can be signed in advance to your child, last day to order is Friday March 6


Wolftrap Year book (2019-2020)

yearbook

The 2019/2020 Wolftrap Yearbook is now for sale.  Click here to order your yearbook.  The price is $20 per copy and the deadline for ordering is March 20. 


Upcoming Cultural Arts Assembly: Friday, March 20

The PTA’s Cultural Arts Committee is excited to welcome The Franklin Science Institute next month, on Friday, March 20.  All grades will attend a dynamic show on the science of weather.  Science concepts addressed include: the water cycle, thermodynamics, air masses, and fronts.  The Institute has even promised a stormy ending to the show!  

 The Franklin Science Institute is one of the oldest centers of science education and development and its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. Learn more about the Institute’s science shows by clicking here: https://www.fi.edu/traveling-science-shows


8th Annual Faculty Volleyball Game, Saturday, March 21, 2020

Volleyball

Our Wolftrap Faculty face off Louise Archer Faculty in a epic volleyball game at Madison High School, Saturday, March 21, 2020. Doors open at 6:00PM, festivities start at 6:30PM. Come enjoy pizza, candy, music, dance party and of course volleyball! Admission to the event is free but donations to CHO are encouraged in lieu of entrance fee. 

Love to volunteer with other awesome parents?
Sign up today for WES spot. 


Gearing up to the Wolftrap 5k & Fun Run, 4/19/20

Come enjoy Wolftrap Elementary biggest event. Register Today

DonationsWe are seeking donations supporting Wolftrap's 5k and Fun Run basket raffle and community volunteer appreciation. Each grade level has a chosen theme and, for convenience, an Amazon wish list with recommended items. In the wish list, there is an option to deliver it direct to our 5k Events Committee Lead. 

Donate (https://wolftrappta.membershiptoolkit.com/5kraffledonationsup to Friday, April 3, 2020. Thank you for your support!


Walking Wednesday February Pic

Walking Wednesday

Congratulations to the 2nd grade for winning the Golden Sneaker for February.  1st and 4th were very close behind. Pictured are Kinsley Wintermute and Shelby Smith presenting the award to 2nd grader, Sofia Monticelli.


Bring Your Own Bag to Whole Foods to Benefit FCPS

From now until June 30, every time you bring your own bag to the Vienna, Tysons, Mclean, Fair Lakes or Springfield stores, Whole Foods will donate a nickel to the Foundation for FCPS. Thanks Melanie Meren for sharing!


Wolftrap's Artist in the Making (AIM)

AIM JAM Session: Join us for the Artists in the Making (AIM) JAM session on Wednesday, March 4th at 8:45 am in the cafeteria. We'll review our next artist, Salvador Dali, as well as explain and present the really cool mixed media project we have planned for our students in March.

Further Exploration: One of the artists AIM introduced in November was Edgar Degas where we looked at the study of people in motion. If you are interested in further exploring the work of Edgar Degas with your child, the National Gallery of Art is presenting an exhibit called Degas at the Opéra from March 1 - July 5. Click here to learn more.


Volunteer Needs

Looking for some new ways to get involved at Wolftrap! We've got lots of ways for parents to get connected:

Library volunteering:

Our librarian, Ms. Stubbs still needs support in the library for winter and spring.  Please email Ashley Binkowski, ashleybinkowski@gmail.com, or Ms. Stubbs, srstubbs@fcps.edu, for your relevant class signup or stop by anytime to help return books to the shelves! 

Food Recycling/Donation

Every week, Wolftrap students collect unused, leftover food from school lunches. This food make a difference for local families in need, but not if they don't get delivered! Pickup/delivery times are on Friday between 2-5pm to Food for Others in Merrifield, and can be a one-time commitment: please sign up if you're able!

Hallway Art Display

Ms. Mallino is looking for 2-3 volunteers to come in once a month to rotate out hallway art. Done the third Friday of the month, anytime before 1 pm.  Signup here

Walking Wednesdays Assistance

Help keep us warm at Walking Wednesday and grab the coffee container from Caffe Amouri! Sign up for pickup here.


Caboose to Caboose Bike Ride

On Saturday, May 2, 2020, 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 Herndon Caboose, vice versa or maybe just halfway  at The Bike Lane, Reston—all at your own pace! Who will win the Mayor's Cup? The town with the most people registered wins the Mayor's Cup. Check out the full flyer here


Community News

Did you know that our Wolftrap PTA homepage has many Community Events listed? We get info from local scouting programs, after school care companies, opportunities for parents of students with special needs and more! Check it out at www.wolftrappta.org

 

Speakers in our Pyramids
March 4, 7-9 pm. Helping Teens Handle Stress, Madison HS.
March 18, 6:15-8:15pm. Bridging Technology from Home to School. Kilmer MS.
March 30, 7-8:30pm. Understanding Mental Health Concerns in Teens, Madison HS Auditorium.