February 14, 2022 

Dear Wolftrap Families,

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope this note finds you planning to participate in some kind acts today! We are looking forward to a week filled with kindness at Wolftrap.  Each day, we will have an activity planned. Please check with your child’s teacher or on the Wolftrap website for more details!

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION SAVE THE DATE: NOW IN PERSON!

We are currently planning to host 2 session on Thursday, March 3:

2-2:35pm for last names A-L

2:40-3:15 for last names M-Z

Please stay tuned for more details. Ms Caroline Kamel, our registrar, can answer any questions. For our other families, STUDENT INTENTION FORMS ARE DUE ON FEBRUARY 25^TH! Please return those forms, as they are vital in our planning for staffing and creation of classrooms.

VISION AND MISSION FEEDBACK: As we embark on the important task of crafting an updated mission and vision statement to guide Wolftrap Elementary into the future, we have started talking to students about the kind of school they would like to attend. Community voices will also be an important part of this process. At the March PTA meeting, we will present the work done so far and hear additional feedback from all of you. 

COVID UPDATE: Families are welcome to submit a child’s vaccination status. The office will not ask for that status. However, you are still required to fill out a vaccination survey, if your students is identified as a close contact. This is because you must attest, each time, that in addition to being fully vaccinated, your child is symptom free. This is an additional safeguard in this process. Thank you for your support.

Additionally, when communicating with Ms. Wolf in the clinic, please make sure you have her correct email. It is SWolf@fcps.edu

ESSER UPDATE: Understanding ESSER III Funding’s Impact on Student Success

Last fall, FCPS received $188.6 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding. These funds have helped us safely reopen our schools and to keep them open. We have also been able to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. If you are not familiar with ESSER III, here are a few things you should know about how it impacts student success.  ESSER III focus areas include:

• Prevention and mitigation strategies to help keep schools open and safe for students and staff.
• Academic intervention services, such as tutoring, after-school programs, and summer learning programs. 
• Professional development to ensure our schools are welcoming and culturally responsive to all students and families.
• Multilingual engagement to ensure information is accessible to all families.
• Additional support for students’ social emotional needs. At Wolftrap, our clinical team has provided professional development to support creation of calming corners in each classroom space. Students are encouraged to visit that area and use the materials provided to have a calming moment.

There will be two opportunities for you to tell us how well FCPS is meeting ESSER III requirements around a safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of learning. Please stay tuned for details! Visit the ESSER III webpage for more information.

ONE LAST ACT OF KINDNESS Please help us by parking in a parking spot when you come to pick up students. If you pull up in the lane, it may make it difficult for others to pull out of parking spots. Thank you!               

Warmly,

Dr. Maggie Grove
Principal

Talent comes in all shapes and sizes and with a virtual show, our Wolftrap kids can show off skills that wouldn’t be possible on a live stage. As always, we welcome our singers, dancers, musicians, actors, and magicians, but this year we also invite our kids to think “outside the box” and show off their mad skills in whatever they enjoy and want to share.

This year's performance is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 25th & 26th at 7:00 PM and, you guessed it, the performance will be 100% online. This is always a tremendous opportunity to both see our Wolftrap students shine and to give our sixth graders a real showcase of their own.

Acts are DUE by Monday, March 7th - Check out the Talent Show page for full details including information about the 6th grade showcase.

 --- Have a great act? Upload Your Video for the Show
 --- Interested in the 6th grade showcase? Learn More 
 --- Want to join the Audience? Register for the Performance
 --- Learn more about the Show.  Visit the Talent Show Page
 --- Have specific questions? Reach out to our team!

Thanks to the families who financially support our PTA through membership and participation in programs.

Because of your financial support, this month we were able to purchase over $2,000 in supplies to restock our teachers' classrooms with items such as: tissues; Lysol wipes; pencils; Expo markers; crayons; highlighters; sticky notes; pencil sharpeners; and so much more.

On behalf of the teachers and the PTA, thank you for this support! 

It’s science, but it’s also fun! Have you seen the video explaining the Popsicle Chain Reaction Challenge? We can’t wait to see your dazzling display!

For the Edison Expo this year, we challenge all students in grades K-6 to create the longest popsicle structure possible, then take a video when you release the chain reaction. Students will report the length in inches and the number of popsicle sticks used. Participants in the classroom with the highest cumulative total win free ICE CREAM! (Hint: Participation helps your score, so encourage your friends to take part.)

Starting Today (Feb 14), stop by the front office to pick up a free starter kits of 50 popsicle sticks. If you plan to purchase additional sticks, the larger “jumbo” ones (6") work best.

Upload submissions between February 18-25. For additional information and submission details, visit the Edison Expo Webpage! 

Questions? Contact us at edisonexpo@wolftrappta.org.

Calling All 6th Grade Parents - "PAWS for Applause" Yearbook graduation message for your 6th grader are due by February 25th. Help us include personalized messages for each 6th grade student by filling out this Google Form to make your submission.

Calling All Parents - If you have photos of your child at school or from school events, we want them for the Yearbook! Email any photos to yearbook@wolftrappta.org. Such events might include: Wolftrap Under the Stars; first day of school; Bingo Night; photos of your class from teachers; Band and Chorus performances; class parties. 

The Wolftrap ES directories will be distributed over the next two weeks to PTA members. They will be sent home with your students, so keep an eye out for them. 

If you would like a directory, both online and physical directory, you can still gain access by joining the PTA here. A PTA membership is only $25 and goes completely to support the PTA efforts running programs and support to our school. 

Join the PTA today! 

If you have any questions, reach out to Christine Harney at webmaster@wolftrappta.org.