CWES Weekly Happenings

From the Principal's Desk

CWES building

Dear Families,

“I don’t know where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.” (Agent Cooper, Twin Peaks)

We had approximately sixty students in our building last week, and our school was a place both wonderful and strange.

It was wonderful that our teachers’ relationships were so strong that there were no tears in kindergarten.

It was strange that our affections were expressed differently. I watched a student run towards his teacher, stopping short of the hug he longed to give, and she longed to return.

It was wonderful to watch our teachers patiently instruct students in the routines and procedures of the school building again.

It was strange to experience the first-week-of-school exhaustion in the middle of February, without the same kinetic energy of August.

It was wonderful to watch our incredible teachers connect students at home with students at school using concurrent technology.

It was strange to watch them rethink their movements around the classroom, worried about access for students at home.

It was wonderful to see how elated our students were to see one another in person.

It was strange to gently correct them for getting too close to each other, or for trying to share their things.

We are learning so much as we forge a new path forward for your children to access in-person instruction. It is both more strange and wonderful than we could have ever expected.

Most wonderful of all was the daily reminder of who we are doing this work for. I am humbled by the extraordinary efforts of our teachers to make this a positive experience for all our students. I appreciate your patience and support as we reinvent what it means to be in school. 

 

Warm regards,

Diane Leipzig, Dr. L


Redlight

Grounds Closed During School Hours

We are pleased that our grounds and play areas have served the wider Canterbury Woods community throughout the pandemic. Now that school is back in session, we want you to be aware that our school grounds are closed to visitors between 9:30 and 4:30 daily. Our gates remain open during arrival and dismissal and are locked between 10:00 and 3:30 daily.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your help in safeguarding the security of our staff and students.


Seventh Grade Course Selection Deadline, March 1

If your 6th grader is attending Frost MS next year, this Monday, March 1 is a firm deadline for rising 7th grade course selection forms. If you have not yet completed the form, please access this Google Form using your student’s FCPS Gmail account to make their selections.

If you do not intend for your child to attend Frost MS next year, please reach out to Ms. Wilson if you have not already done so (rawilson@fcps.edu).


Sixth Grade Parent Information Session, March 2 6:30

Sixth grade schedule confirmation letters will be sent today. Thanks for your patience! Please join us for your final parent session about how the sixth grade instructional day will work when we transition to in-person instruction. 

Parent Information Session About Sixth Grade: Tuesday, March 2 6:30-8:00 

LINK TO JOIN: 

https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/d9ce07628eea49fd89764105dd3edb75

Missed our previous sessions?

The recordings are posted on our website for your convenience.

Parent Information Session About In-Person Days Recording

https://canterburywoodses.fcps.edu/announcements/parent-information-session-recording-about-person-days-monday-february-22

Parent Information Session About Virtual Days Recording 

https://canterburywoodses.fcps.edu/announcements/parent-information-session-recording-about-virtual-days-wednesday-february-24


PTA Meeting, March 3 6:30

Join us this week to learn about the nominees for next year's PTA Executive Board. CWES staff will also share tips and resources for parents about providing children with emotional support through the upcoming transition to the school building.

LINK TO JOIN:

https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/d9ce07628eea49fd89764105dd3edb75


Family Life Education Preview Night, March 4 6:00

You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 4th at 6:00 pm.

LINK TO JOIN:

[https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/f10e3b65aee04c85977a677298d55316].

All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.

Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher.

  • Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit.
  • Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit.

For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View - https://fcps.blackboard.com/.

Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle


Stop The Spread

Health Screening Commitment Form Required for In-Person Students

You received a reminder email today if your child is scheduled to return to the building and we have not yet received the Health Commitment form.

This document confirms that a parent/caregiver/guardian will complete a daily health screening and will keep students home when they are ill.

It is REQUIRED to return to the building.

The Health Commitment form can be submitted electronically through in ParentVUE (PVUE), or via hard copy.

For your convenience, we have also created this Google Form to collect your responses.


School Tours

Please remember that, for health and safety reasons, parents cannot accompany their children to the classroom when school is in session.

If your child is new to CWES or your child is anxious about returning to the school building, you may wish to tour the school building together before school hours.

Tours, conducted by office staff, will be available daily until Monday 3/8, 9:00 - 9:20, with 8 slots per day.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AAFAC2FA3F8C16-canterbury1


Yearbooks for Sale

YEARBOOKS are now available for purchase for only $12.75!  Be sure to purchase your copy as this is a year of exciting firsts, and a year you will never want to forget!  Yearbook store is open through 4/23.

Online ordering only at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob  - CWES Yearbook Code #14314321.  We will not be selling yearbooks at the school so be sure to order online.

Please email Cheryl Trimbach ctrimbach@fcps.edu  if you have any questions.

Lifetouch

School Pictures Have Arrived!

Lifetouch photos from the February picture days have arrived!  These are available for pickup daily from 8:45 – 4:45. Please be sure to pick up soon so if a retake is necessary, there is time to schedule an appointment on retake day, Monday, March 15. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aafac2fa3f8c16-cwes3


Summer Enrichment Opportunity

Learn about William and Mary’s Virtual Summer Enrichment Program. Application window now open.

https://canterburywoodses.fcps.edu/take-home-tuesday


Mark Your Calendars

March 2: Parent Information Session About Sixth Grade, 6:30 PM

March 3: Final day for Engagement Intervention Program, Grades 3-4; PTA meeting 6:30

March 4: FLE Preview Night, 6:00

March 4-5: Asynchronous learning days for Grades 1-2

March 5: 2-hour early release for K, 3-6; Final day for Engagement Intervention Program, Grades 5-6

March 8: Staff Development Day, No School for Students

March 9: Grades 1-2 in-person instruction begins

March 11-12: Teacher prep days for Grades 3-6; asynchronous learning days for 3-6

Monday, March 15: Teacher prep day for Grades 3-6; No Morning Meeting for Grades 3-6

March 15: School Picture Retake Day (First appointments welcome). Photos will be included in the yearbook. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aafac2fa3f8c16-cwes3

March 16: Grades 3-6 in-person instruction begins