Lemon Road Community News 12.5.21

Message from Mrs. Castillo

Spirit Wear

Thank you to all our parents who volunteered last week! We were able to have the children outdoors for lunch the full week. At the recent Principals’ Coffee we discussed our plans following Winter Break for lunch, when we anticipate all students having the opportunity to eat inside when the weather is cold. We appreciate everyone who joined us Friday for the virtual coffee. If you didn’t make it, you can find the slides and recording here.

Speaking of cold weather here, please let us know if your child or a member of your family is in need of a warm winter coat. Please reach out directly to our school counselors, Erica McKinney (ecmckinney@fcps.edu) and Taylor Coleman (tscoleman@fcps.edu) with your needs, as we hope to assist you.

Awesome showing of LRES spirit wear on Friday! This Friday is LRES Polo Day and next Friday (the day before Winter Break) is Freaky Friday: Pajama Day.

FCPS is partnering with LongView International Technology Solutions to provide COVID testing services for students.  Optional screening testing for Lemon Road students will take place on Mondays from 11:15 – 11:45. One-time parent/legal guardian consent is required to begin COVID screening testing for a student to be tested at school. You may withdraw your consent for testing at any time. If you want your child to begin participating in COVID-19 screening testing, you must pre-register your child(ren) and provide consent using the LTS secure online portal.

Hope everyone has a fantastic week ~ Mrs. Castillo


Staff Winter Luncheon Support

Luncheon

Each winter, we hold a Winter Luncheon for our amazing staff. This year, it will be held on Thursday, December 16 from approximately 10:30 – 1:30. Each staff member will be assigned a seating for a lengthier catered lunch, interact in some games, and relax with their colleagues before winter break. To make this happen, we need parent volunteers and prizes! Please use this link to sign up to help us treat your child’s teachers! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4AAFA92EA3F85-lres

** Note that the photo was taken December 2019.  Staff continue to wear masks when not eating at school. 

We still need lunch volunteers!  Please consider signing up to support students using this link as well:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4aafa92ea3f85-lemon.

 


Hour of Code & Family Event

Family Code Night

December 6 - 10 is Computer Science Education Week! To celebrate, students will be participating in the Hour of Code. This will take place during the school day, but we know we have some aspiring coders out there that will want to continue the fun at home. Students will be choosing from a small selection of what hourofcode.org offers. They can find more at home by accessing the Hour of Code website. Some programs require a download or sign-in, which will require adult assistance. 

Students also have Code.org accounts. Code.org has objective-centered courses that students move through independently. Each student will be given a card with their login information during Computer Science Education week. Log in instructions are also in the Brainspace course on Schoology. Students should access the Brainspace, find their grade level, click on Technology, and select “At-Home Learning” to receive their login information and instructions. 

Save the date for December 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. We will be hosting a virtual family coding night. There will be coding activities and a live stream event.

Date: December 6, 2021
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Livestream Link: rb.gy/apm9mq

RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/37Gii5R93tQhUec4A

Let your student’s teacher know if they need a school computer to participate. Please email jhargodale@fcps.edu with any questions.


Smart Watches & Phone Policy

Smart Watch

At Lemon Road, we treat smart watches like phones for students.  Smart watches must be in the student’s backpack upon arrival and remain through dismissal and either silenced or turned off.  We consider a smart watch to be any watch that has any of the features below:

  • Send/receive messages
  • Take photos
  • Has games
  • Accesses the internet

Watches that do not have any of the above capabilities may be worn during the school day. 


Questioning & Debono's Hats Focus

Thinking Strategies

This month, Ms. Straw, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher is focusing on Questioning.  Questioning is the probing and inquisitive nature that leads to deeper understanding and analysis. Thinking without questioning is like drinking without swallowing. It both propels students into investigations and acts as a regulator of information. Active learners are always questioning. Students who take responsibility for asking their own questions become more productive and engaged in their learning processes.

In our first meeting, students participated in a variety of activities around questioning, from creating their own math questions and explanations (2, 5, 6), writing question-based poems (4), expressing questions about a curious picture (K), asking what an object would look like if it had a different shape (1) and asking questions about their migratory birds (3).

In our next meeting, some upper grade levels will be introduced to de Bono’s Thinking Hats. This will allow students to use different perspectives to ask questions about a scenario, and this strategy can be used from small family decisions (should we get a pet?) to large business decisions. The six hats, with different colors, represent different considerations.

  • White hat - facts
  • Red hat – feelings and emotions
  • Yellow hat – positives
  • Purple hat – weaknesses
  • Green hat – creativity
  • Blue hat – thinking manager

Our primary students will be working on a STEAM project in conjunction with Mrs. Busch’s outdoor education classes, asking the question: How can they design and build a boat that will float, use wind power and carry a load?


Knowing My Words and Actions Affect Others

Words and Actions

Next week we will begin learning about the Other People Mindset element of Knowing My Words and Actions Affect Others. To access your grade level's presentation, please visit our resources page

  • What does it look like: Everything you say and do can affect others – and your relationships with them. This means that everything we do, say, text, tweet, snap, or post can positively or negatively impact other people.
  • Why it matters: Our words and actions impact our relationships with other people. They have the power to lift others up or tear them down. But, our words and actions also impact ourselves.  If I am speaking or acting with a mean attitude, I’m going to find it hard to demonstrate the character strengths of gratitude, humility, and kindness.

Upcoming Important Dates

Monday, December 6: B Week; Full SCA Meeting (8:20); COVID Screening Testing for Select Students; Computer Science Event (6 PM)

Wednesday, December 8: Bodhi Day (Religious/Cultural Observance)

Friday, December 10: Polo Day

Monday, December 13: A Week; COVID Screening Testing for Select Students

Wednesday, December 15:  Level IV AAP Referrals Due; Q2 Interims Sent Home

Thursday, December 16: Staff Winter Luncheon

Friday, December 17: December Freaky Friday – Pajama Day; Variety Show; Winter Parties

2021 FCPS Student Calendar Quick Glance

Marshall Pyramid