Timber Lane Elementary School Updates 3/8/20
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 03/08/2020 08:50 PM EDT
Health Updates
Timber Lane is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students. In the following days/weeks we will be revisiting some of our school-wide and class-wide rules for preventative and healthy habits. Teachers will discuss how we can demonstrate the healthiest habits to present this information in the most appropriate and developmental way possible.
TLES's School-Wide Breakdown -
Preventative Measures & Encouraging Healthy Habits:
Administrators - will be continuing our mid-year Student Rights & Responsibilities talks with students throughout every classroom. During these talks we will discuss proper handwashing techniques, encourage handwashing before snack and lunch time. We will also discuss appropriate cafeteria behavior and remind students that it is prohibited to share food. We have also increased our daily walk-throughs during lunch.
Teachers - having conversations about proper handwashing w/students. Teachers will have students wash hands prior to snack and lunch times. As much as they're able to, staff will monitor sneezes, coughs – for any students needing to wash their hands.
The Cafeteria Hostesses - will continue to supervise student behaviors and support using hand sanitizer (although students will be arriving to lunch once hands are washed with soap and water). They will help the daytime custodian support the cleaning of tables between lunch shifts with soap and water.
The Custodial Team - met with admin to discuss the importance of those heavily soiled areas needing to be sanitized – doorknobs, pencil sharpeners, student desks/table surfaces and water fountains.
Signage –we have signs in every bathroom with the proper protocols for handwashing, supported by visuals.
Morning announcements - we will continue to share the 90min handwashing video for the next several days. We will also encourage healthy habits through our News You Choose Announcements.
March 3rd - Timber Lane Staff took part in two wonderful professional development sessions!
Beautiful smiles and beautiful plates (adding lots of color and nutrients from our salad bar)!
Going strong since 7am, Mrs. O'Donovan rides the after school enrichment bus, making sure everyone gets home safely!
Read-alouds with Ms. McKinney...always a good time!
What's new with the Advanced Academic Programs at Timber Lane?
- Preparations for Level IV screening have come to an end. All pool and referral files have been delivered to the AAP office for review during the central selection committee meetings that will take place March 2-10. Please note that individual schools do not determine level IV eligibility. A panel consisting of FCPS employees county wide review all files for eligibility. Teachers are not permitted to screen student files from their own schools. Notices regarding eligibility will be sent home by mail in early April. There will be a level IV orientation meeting in May (TBD). All Level IV updates will be published in next month’s newsletter.
- (K-2) Students continue learning critical and creative thinking strategies during weekly classroom lessons. They understand that choosing from alternatives affects events which follow ( decisions and outcomes) and are also learning to state ideas in a concise form ( encapsulation). There is always overlap with the nine CCT strategies, so students are constantly reinforcing learned skills and implementing them on a regular basis. Many of our activities are not paper/pencil, as we encourage our students to verbally share ideas in the form of discussions and group follow-ups.
- Level III students are problem solving in math and using clues to solve Perplexors, Logic Links and Coin Challenges. They are creating their own paint swatch colors by naming and explaining the origin of their name choices. They are also planning a dinner party for eight by inviting a common group to share in a dialogue. For example, some students are writing a conversation among 8 famous Americans, or 8 historical figures, even 8 Superheroes! The dialogue among these “guests” is quite extraordinary. Our kids have such great imaginations and insight into how others think and feel. Lastly, teachers continue to access targeted curriculum from the AAP framework to further extend and enrich learning opportunities for all students and to develop an ever-expanding growth mindset!
What's happening at the Timber Lane Library?
Our focus in Pre School, Head Start and Special Education classes, will be books and activities focusing on community helpers, and how we can help one another and our community. Through seasonal and book-themed stories, songs and activities, students are establishing routines browsing, choosing and enjoying ‘just right’ books, exploring aspects of their school and home communities.
Kindergarten -Topics: Seasons, VRC Primary Titles Connections Kindergarten students will be anticipating the arrival of spring through read- alouds and activities, while choosing Everybody stories and nonfiction books interesting to them. They’ve been enjoying connecting with Virginia Readers’ Choice Primary title selections.
1st Grade -Topics: VRC Primary Titles, Investigation of Non Fiction Areas of Interest Grade 1 students are continuing to focus on authors and illustrators of books they enjoy reading and seeing themselves as authors and illustrators. Students are working to connect fiction stories to nonfiction topics of interest, beginning to research areas of personal interest.
2nd Grade Students-Topics: VRC Primary Titles/Connections to Nonfiction and Research Grade 2 students in the third quarter are exploring topics in nonfiction related to books they’re reading. Using both print and electronic resources, readers will research and share their new learning about a chosen topic.
3rd Grade Students -Topics: Biography Study and Research using print and electronic resources. Grade 3 students are continuing to grow as discerning readers; gathering new ideas through classmate recommendations and by using the online library catalog and creating their own reviews. During the 3rd quarter, students will practice using nonfiction books, encyclopedias and databases to connect and deepen and expand their understanding of their reading.
4th Grade Students: Topics: Functional Text, NF PBL Following an exploration of functional texts such as cookbooks and advertisements, fourth grade students will research a specific nonfiction area of the curriculum to become experts and authors in that chosen area.
5th Grade Students Topics: Research skills-moving into GATP (project) Grade 5 students are learning and practicing gathering information about ancient cultures, in print and electronic resources through note taking, source citing, and creating new meaning. Special emphasis moving into the third quarter, is connecting aspects of the ancient culture through time and geography as well as to their daily lives.
6th Grade Students -Topics: Historical Fiction and Nonfiction Books as a resource for writing narratives linked to a historical time period. Grade 6 Students are demonstrating their literary preferences, and sharing their voice through their writing. Students additionally are continuing to share in-class book recommendations and online books reviews.
Special Library Events include
- Wednesday Open Library & STEM Nights 5:30-7:00
- (ongoing)-New FCPS online library catalog-students/patrons are able to log in, place holds, renew items, and create reviews about books they’ve read.
- VRC-We will explore primary, elementary and middle school titles throughout the year, voting for our favorites in April.
- Book Fair-(Scholastic)- Monday, March 30-Friday, April 3.
P2 Weekly Character Strength
This week is Social Intelligence. Social Intelligence means you are aware of other people's thoughts and feelings. You understand why they do things.
#OtherPeopleMatter is our motto, hashtag, and the spirit of the movement we are building. Stay tuned for more information about the Positivity Project!
Check out this video on the meaning behind #OtherPeopleMatter!
Upcoming Events:
March
8- Spring enrichment class registration ends
10- Pulcinella restaurant fundraiser 5-8PM
http://pulcinellarestaurant.com/
11- PTA meeting @7PM (Library)
13- Math Night
27- TL Heritage Showcase
30- Spring Book Fair Start
April
1-3 Spring Book fair
6-10 Spring Break (no school)
14- Pizzeria Orzo Fundraiser (Time is not set up yet)
