|
In this Friday Message you will find:
- Principals' Message
- PTA Staff Appreciation Week
- Tip of the Week
- Soaring Eagles
- Positivity Project
- Staff Spotlight
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
Next week is the beginning of May. It is Staff Appreciation Week and SOL testing begins. It is also so fitting that our Positivity Project focus for next week is "Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others." We hope everyone is able to share their appreciation and gratitude with our amazing staff. Our Floris PTA has created some special activities for our staff. They shared in their PTA Newsletter on Wednesday, and their daily schedule is also listed below.
We continue to remain focused on soaring higher together as a school community. Teachers and students are demonstrating teamwork, perseverance, love of learning and creativity in our virtual and hybrid classes. We are so proud of all of our Floris Eagles.
We recognize that COVID continues to impact us and our families here at home and around the world. If you are sensing that your child is struggling, please know that our counselors are available to help. They can be reached by email: Sarah DeKramer (shdekramer@fcps.edu) or Diane Ramia (dnramia@fcps.edu) or by calling the Floris Main Office at 703-561-2900.
FCPS has announced that Tuesday, June 8th will be a virtual synchronous day for all students. Many schools, including Floris, are voting locations, which is the reason for the shift. There will be no in-person learning on June 8th and all students are expected to log in for virtual synchronous learning at 9:45am.
As the weather is getting nicer, we are having more and more community members on school grounds while school is in session. If you live in the neighborhoods surrounding Floris, please remind your neighbors that students are back in school buildings. Therefore, our fields, walking path and playground area are closed to the public during the school day (Tuesday – Friday, 8AM - 5PM). In addition, dogs and other pets are not allowed on school property at any time. There are Health Notice signs posted at all the entrances to school grounds. This is all for the safety and security of our staff, students and community members. Thank you for your help.
Have a wonderful weekend!
#Eagles:SoaringHigherTogether
Holly Walker and Amanda Dorr
hjwalker@fcps.edu
acdorr@fcps.edu
This week's tip is from our Reading Specialist, Shannon Daly.
How to Raise a Reader
-
Set up a quiet, cozy space for reading- Find a place away from the TV and people talking, so it’s easier to concentrate.
-
Keep it consistent- Choose a location and a time and make it routine. This will help increase stamina and make reading a habit. Maybe your child is an early riser, so spend 10 minutes reading on the couch snuggled up together in the morning. Perhaps your child prefers a bedtime story cozied in bed. Have him/her read to you while you prepare dinner and discuss the book over a meal. Make it work for you.
-
Read to and with your child/children- All children want to spend time with their parents. Be a reading role model. By letting them see you read, you show value in the activity.
-
Keep it FUN!- Let your children choose their own books. Use various voices when you read different characters. Talk about the great illustrations or “the pictures you are making in your mind.”
Soaring Eagles
Please continue to share your love, gratitude and kindness with our staff on Soaring Eagles, the new online tradition at Floris. Please take a moment to say thank you and/or show appreciation for our staff and the hours of hard work happening day and night!
Please click HERE to share your Floris Soaring Eagles!
#EaglesSoaringHigherTogether
#PositivityinAction
Positivity Project
Positivity Concept Week: Other People Mindset - Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others
As we continue to grow the concept of “Positivity in Action” and our “Other People Mindset,", students will be introduced to the concepts surrounding “identifying and appreciating the good in others.” Over the following five weeks, they will be introduced to the character traits of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Fairness, Purpose, and Leadership. During the week, students will have daily discussions and activities (grade level specific) helping them understand how we can appreciate each other and identify the good in everyone.
Quote of the Week: “If we want our kids to be successful, we have to teach them to build positive relationships. It’s hard to communicate with people. It’s hard to communicate your emotions and feelings. If we can help kids do that now, they’re gonna rise to the top and there’s nothing they can’t do.”
-Dr. Virginia Hill
You may also visit P2 for Families and use the password P2 to access activities and tools for you to use at home with your children.
This week's spotlight...
We started the school-year sharing about our new to Floris Staff and are now sharing some fun details about more Floris Staff members.
NATALIE MCMONIGLE
“I have wanted to be a teacher since the 2nd grade,” recalls Natalie McMonigle. “I loved my teacher and wanted to be just like her because she was so kind and caring. We caught up on FaceBook about 10 years ago and she always loves my posts. Retired now, she lives in San Diego after 30 years in the classroom.” Mrs. McMonigle has taught 2nd,3rd, and 5th grades, as well as AAP classes, over the course of the past decade. Three of those years have been here at Floris.
Mrs. McMonigle recently became a mom and says most of her life now revolves around her baby. “I met my husband on a summer trip to Italy. Three months later, I moved to Florence to be with him and taught English to Italian students while I was there.” She and her husband love traveling and hiking, and Mrs. McMonigle confesses that she watches too much reality TV in her spare time.
“I have a habit of getting up and moving on a whim! I never thought I would end up back in FCPS after graduating from high school here.” Mrs. McMonigle shares that she has lived all around the country and the world, but that there is no better place to be a teacher than right here, even if she does miss the beauty of Colorado. “Ultimately, what keeps me here is the school system. I want to work in this school district and I want my daughter to go to school in FCPS too.”
|
 |
  |
May 3-7 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 4- 3rd grade Reading SOL testing
May 5- 4th grade Reading SOL testing
May 6- 5th grade Reading SOL testing
May 7- 6th grade Reading SOL testing
May 18- 3rd grade Math SOL testing
May 19: PTA Meeting, 6:30pm, Zoom Link
May 20- 4th grade Math SOL testing
May 21- 5th grade Science SOL testing
May 25- Math 6 SOL testing (Math Teacher- McMonigle or Barnes)
May 27- Math 7 SOL testing (Math Teacher Molitor)
May 28- Math 5 SOL testing (Math Teacher Noll)
May 31- No School- Memorial Day Holiday
June 8- No in-person learning- Virtual Synchronous Day for all FCPS students
June 11- Last Day of School and Early Release Day for Students
Find the 2020-2021 School Year Calendar Here
|
