CWES Weekly Happenings

From the Principal's Desk

Dearest Families,

Summer is upon us, and this is the last formal issue of News You Choose for the school year. As I reflect upon this extraordinary and challenging year, I am so grateful for your partnership and so proud of our incredible staff. I understand we all have more questions than answers about what school next fall will look like. Be sure to complete the Return to School survey at https://www.fcps.edu/survey by TOMORROW to share your perspective.

Whatever the “back to school” season brings next year, we remain committed to ensuring our students continue to receive an excellent education from caring teachers, while protecting their physical and emotional health. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if questions or concerns arise as the summer unfolds.

This summer…

May peace take the place of anxiety,

May sunshine be more frequent than rain,

May connection counter isolation, and

May your families find joy and gratitude each day.

 

Warm regards,

Diane Leipzig, Dr.  L

grateful

Summer Learning Schedule

Visit our Summer Learning Resource Page or our Quick Links page this summer for ideas to promote your child’s continuity of learning throughout the coming weeks.

Students currently in grades K-6 will receive both a Mathematics and a Language Arts Essentials Summer Practice Workbook in the mail by the end of June. Digital versions of the books will also be posted on the Continuity of Learning Blackboard page. These workbooks will provide practice activities to review essential content from the 2019-2020 school year. 

Motivation lagging? Have questions about the workbooks?

Encourage your child to visit summer office hours with CWES teachers on Blackboard Collaborate the weeks beginning June 29th through July 31st. These hours are NOT for direct teaching; they are for touching base with teachers around summer learning activities.

All currently enrolled students received a “CWES Summer” invitation from Blackboard with a secure link to use this summer in their fcpsschools.net Gmail account. Office hours will be held between 9:00 AM-12:00 PM on Mondays through Thursdays. Click on the individual student link in your child's Gmail to visit at these days or times, according to your child’s grade level:

2019-2020 Grade Level - Teacher – Day, Time
Kindergarten – Ms. Germano – Tuesday, 10:00 AM
First Grade – Mr. Bristol – Tuesday, 9:00 AM
Second Grade – Mrs. Stephens – Thursday, 10:00 AM
Third Grade -- Ms. Desposito – Monday, 9:00 AM   
Fourth Grade – Ms. Mouneimne – Monday, 10:00 AM  
Fifth Grade –Mrs. Freeman – Wednesday, 9:00 AM
Sixth Grade – Mrs. DellaVedova – Wednesday, 10:00 AM
Special Education, K-6 -- Ms. Castillo – Wednesday, 11:00 AM

In addition to these times which are open to ANY STUDENT at the grade level, we are providing an extra hour of academic summer support for students who might struggle with reading or math. Please encourage your child to attend one or both of these hours according to his/her grade level:

2019-2020 Grade Levels - Teacher – Day, Time
K-2 – Mrs. Crump -- Thursday, 9:00 AM
Grades 3-4 – Mrs. Stafford-Nielson -- Thursday, 11:00 AM
Grades 5-6 – Ms. Miller -- Tuesday, 11:00 AM


A Fond Farewell to Mrs. Ladd

We have recently learned that Mrs. Ladd, CWES Assistant Principal for the past three years, will be taking a step back from administration to return to the classroom and to focus on her family. Her leadership and her warmth will be greatly missed by staff, students and families. I encourage you to take the time to write her some words of appreciation (dbladd@fcps.edu). 

ladd

Here are a few parting words from Mrs. Ladd.

Dear Cougar family,

Today I write to you with very mixed emotions.

As I look ahead to the summer, I too am hopeful for a return to “regular” school as soon as possible and a return to normalcy for all.

I know I am not alone in saying that these unprecedented times have been tough. This experience has caused my family to re-evaluate and look towards the future with a new lens. Now more than ever, family comes first and creating those cherished family memories is key. Through this difficult time that has been my silver lining.  

With all of this, I have decided to return to my original passion in education, working with students in the classroom.  I will be joining the Westlawn ES community as a 6th grade teacher. In a way it’s like returning home, as I went there as a student myself.  

I am so sad to leave our amazing school, students, and incredibly dedicated staff. Their passion and dedication to your children is immeasurable. I will forever be thankful and honored to have had the opportunity to be part of the CWES community.

I hope this is not a goodbye but rather until we meet again.

With lots of love and gratitude,

Deirdre


Welcome, Mrs. Trimbach

Mrs. Susan Woodfield retired at the end of March. I apologize to those of you who are waiting for refunds – checks will be mailed directly to your home from Bank of America over the next couple of weeks.

cheryl

I am thrilled to introduce you to Cheryl Trimbach, our new Office Manager, Principal’s Administrative Assistant and Finance Tech. She began work this week and can be reached at ctrimbach@fcps.edu.

Here are a few words of introduction from Ms. Trimbach:

Hello!!  I’m the new Admin Assistant at CWES.  My husband and I recently relocated to Virginia from Houston, TX.  I have over 15 years experience working in a school district in Tomball, TX.  I started out as a receptionist, moving up to AP secretary at a junior high school, and then an Admin Assistant at an intermediate school.  I am so excited to be a new member of the CWES team and am looking forward to serving and assisting our staff, students and community!

Cheryl just started this week. Per FCPS’s guidance to telework when possible, our main office will not have set hours this summer. Please email me or Ms. Trimbach if you need anything.


Yearbook/School Pictures Update

Congratulations to our yearbook contest winner, Linh T., whose artwork will grace the cover of our 2019-2020 CWES Yearbook! And congratulations to our four runners up, Mark S., Satchel B., Madeline C. and Pendry C., whose artwork will be featured on the back cover.

The yearbook has been sent to production. If you ordered it to be mailed to the school, we will notify you this July when it arrives.

School pictures will be delivered next week. If you ordered school pictures to be mailed to the school, we will reach out to arrange a time for you to pick them up.


No Place for Hate

no place

Congratulations to ALL of CWES on earning No Place for Hate® designation for the very first time during the 2019-2020 school year! We earned this designation by signing the No Place for Hate® pledge as a school and by hosting our first No Place for Hate® event, “Celebrating our Differences.” Next year our goal will be to host THREE student-driven, school-wide events with a goal to combat bias and bullying and to promote inclusivity.

While we wish we could celebrate our accomplishment together in-person, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has created a virtual No Place for Hate Ceremony. Please click here to view our virtual ceremony for the 2019-2020 school year. 

Special thanks to:

No Place for Hate® Planning Committee Members - Caroline T, Ezana L, Nadia F, Amanda O, Casey M, Faith L, Grace B, Noah D, Jasmin R-S, Lynaea M, Maddie S, Molly H, Lauren O, Saniyah P and Silas B

No Place for Hate® Special Ops Committee Members - Rekibna G, Paige P, Virginia V, Nhi Nguyen, Nduta K, Zoe L, Christian V, Kaylin L, Alex M, Zahra J, Liam N-S, Dyne L, Alexandra, Gabriel C, Belane W, Amanda L, Eve R, Wyatt D, Henry B, Jessica S, Mikaela S, Enesi L, Iman K, Zoe P-S, Bella A, Ryan G, Ralitsa K, Matilda W, Alice H, Addie B, Joanna K, Avery H, Kebron Y, Emilia B, Caleb G, Joey A and Dallen F


Counselors' Corner

Mental Health Tip of the Week

becca

As we dive into summer vacation, it’s important to be intentional about staying connected. Here are some tips for kids to stay connected over the summer:

  1. Talk with your parents to choose the best way for you to keep in touch with your friends. It's important to have frequent contact with people you love, whether it's through video chat, on the phone, or through another social-distancing-safe means.
  2. Schedule virtual play dates. Put them on your calendar to give you something to look forward to!

Some fun games and activities that are easy to play on video chat:

No materials needed: Simon Says, Two Truths and a Lie, 21, tell each other riddles

Both friends need the same physical game: Uno, Guess Who?, Chutes and Ladders, Twister, Battleship (Older kids can play Battleship with graph paper! Find instructions here.)

Free links: Madlibs, Finish the Story, Would you Rather?, Pictionary or Charades, BINGO  

(Have more socially distanced game/activity ideas? Email rawilson@fcps.edu to have your game added to Counselors’ Corner!)

Make a "future fun" jar! It's natural to feel sad if you want to do something fun with your friends and you can't. Any time you can't do something because of social distancing, write it down and put the idea in a jar so that and your friends can look forward to doing it in the future!


CWES Noticias en Espanol

Ahora, puedes leer esta mensaje en español!

We have a created a “Canterbury ES Noticias en español” webpage. Translated messages from News You Choose (beginning with the one dated April 21) will be posted and archived on this page for Spanish-speaking families.

Use this link to access:

https://canterburywoodses.fcps.edu/node/3890