Thoreau Matters

March 4, 2022

This spring all Thoreau parents/guardians will be contacted through email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include instructional leadership, school climate, human resources management, organizational management, communication and community relations and professionalism. Understanding that this has been another unusual year, the impacts of COVID-19 will be taken into consideration when reviewing the feedback.

The questionnaire will be collected online between March 7 and March 18. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your opinions matter!

Thoreau After-School Program

THOREAU WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS SCHEDULE:

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?

Email Ms. Colleen Taylor at cmtaylor1@fcps.edu or call 703.846.8089.

Schedule of Yearbook Club Pictures on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022

Location: Eagle Hall
Time: 3rd Period (9:10am-10:35am)
Time        Club Name

9:10 AM Junior Optimist Club
9:15 AM Dungeons & Dragons Club
9:20 AM Green Eagles
9:25 AM Fitness Club
9:30 AM Fiber & Fashion Club
9:35 AM Chess Club
9:40 AM Harry Potter Club
9:45 AM Star Wars Club
9:50 AM Feminist Club
9:55 AM Art Club
10:00 AM Newspaper Club
10:05 AM French Club
10:10 AM Anime Club
10:15 AM SAGA Club
10:20 AM K-Pop Club
10:25 AM Theatre

Rising 9th Grade Activities Fair

Your child is scheduled to attend the Madison, Marshall or Oakton High School Rising 9^th Grade Activities Fair on Friday, March 25^th. Permission slips and fair information were handed out to students this week through their science teachers. I have attached the permission slip to this email for your convenience should you not have received one yet. The permission slips need to be handed back into your child’s science teacher no later than March 18^th. We will not be allowed to take any students that do not have a signed permission slip. Please check your email for an eNotify message from us that includes the permission slip form. 

Madison Warhawks 2022 FROSH Football An introductory meeting for family & players interested in Warhawk Frosh Football will be held Monday, March 7th at 6:30 pm in the Madison Weight Room (back of the building across from the tennis courts & baseball outfield)  Whether able to attend this meeting or not, all interested parties should provide the information requested at this site: http://tinyurl.com/jmhsfbinfo; this ensures receipt of all future communications. Eight graders planning to attend Madison are invited to join our after-school lifting program starting March 14th. These sessions will last approximately 90 minutes.  Students must submit completed Emergency Care Forms & weight room waivers to Coach Michael Ginley; blank forms will be provided at the March 7 meeting or can be found in the Activities Office (Room 131).  No student may participate until these steps have been completed Requirements for participation in the Fall 2022: Students must submit a VHSL Physical, completed after May 1. The school will offer a ‘Sports Physical’ event on May 3rd as an option for families.  Students must also register online through the school’s Activity Registration portal.  This portal will be made available to rising Frosh in June 2022. Team Goals:1. Teach class and character; 2. Play & practice safely; 3. Teach the Madison approach to football; 4. Have fun; 5. Keep Academics first Summer lifting sessions will be offered 4 mornings & 2 evenings a week (voluntary) Practices (required) start the first Monday in August, 6:30 am to noon, with a Saturday morning intra-squad scrimmage.   PLEASE SCHEDULE PLAYER VACATIONS BEFORE AUGUST, as these two a-day practices are essential for individual & team development, especially for players new to football. When school starts most practices are after school and most games are played Thursdays at 5:30 pm.  Weekend activities are rare, to allow weekend travel & participation in other sports or activities.   Coaches are flexible working with athletes who play other sports.  All who follow team rules & attend practices make the team.  No previous football experience is needed.  Every effort is made to play each player in each game.  Helmets & shoulder pads are provided by Madison.  Players provide their own footwear; black shoes with screw-in cleats are recommended. Please feel free to share this information with any interested parties.  Contact me at any time with questions.  Thanks for your interest, Coach Michael Ginley                                                 Madison Frosh Football michaelginley@gmail.com, 703-204-1967 (home), 703-789-6221 (cell) Activities Office Contact Information John Kenny, DSA 703-319-2499 (jakenny@fcps.edu); Andrew Baird, ADSA 703-319-2362 (arbaird@fcps.edu); Polly Colwell, Admin Assistant 703-319-2360

Oakton High School Freshman Football Are you interested in finding out more information about your rising 9th grader  playing Freshman Football at Oakton High School in the fall? If so, you may contact Coach Mel Morgan at mcmorgan@fcps.edu for more information.  Freshman Football tryouts will begin between August 1 - 8. More information to come and you can visit www.oaktonathletics.org.   Oakton High School Freshman Field Hockey If you are interested in joining freshman field hockey at Oakton, reach out to Coach Erin Keenan at ekeenan@fcps.edu with any questions, or to express your interest. No experience is necessary, and we will host a week of camp in order to get prepared for the season. We offer a freshman, jv and varsity team! Contact coach to sign up for camp which will run June 21-24 from 4:30-7:30PM.

George C Marshall 2022-23 Incoming Freshman Football All future Statesmen athletes are invited to join our voluntary training program starting March 15th from 5-6:30pm. The workouts are Tuesday-Thursday during this time unless canceled due to inclement weather or other school activities. The workouts consist of weight room work form 5-5:50pm and conditioning from 6-6:30pm. Prior to participating in the program parents/students must read, complete, and submit the following forms to Coach Strickland: Weight Room Form Emergency Care Card Form In addition, anyone interested in our Freshmen Football Program is encouraged to complete the Marshall Football Player and Family Information Sheet, so that we can add you to our email list, found at: https://forms.gle/sPUu2nHKj3q3HXKj8 Questions on the March 2th session and/or freshmen football should be directed to Coach Strickland at 202-321-9995 (cell) or jstrickland@fcps.edu. Please share this information with all interested families.

Spring SOL Testing Calendar

The spring SOL testing calendar can be found below. Details about testing days and possible changes to the bell schedule will be communicated regularly to students ahead of the testing window. It is important that students are in school on-time on these testing days. Please avoid scheduling appointments during this time.

A few items to note related to testing:

• If a student is absent on their testing day, makeup tests can occur throughout the testing window.  
• Once all tests are complete, there is a retake window for any student whose first attempt score is in the 375-399 range. Parents must provide permission for the student to retake the test.
• Local alternative assessments have been approved by the state of Virginia in Grade 7 History, Grade 8 Writing & Grade 8 Civics & Economics. Teachers will be using an alternative assessment in those classes in lieu of an SOL test. Those assessments occur within the classroom setting throughout the second semester.

If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact Thoreau’s school test coordinator, Erin Lynch (703.846.8058 or emlynch@fcps.edu).

College Partnership Program

Please use the QR code to complete the online application. The application is due by March 11, 2022.

If you have any questions, please email Kerrie Turner at kjturner@fcps.edu

For more information on the CPP, please review the website.

OAKTON HS AVID Applications for Rising 9^th Graders

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2022-2023 AVID elective course.

The Oakton AVID program is a unique program for 9th–12th  grade students.  It is a program that truly will help students “Advance Via Individual Determination.” AVID at Oakton is designed to help students get the most out of their abilities and develop skills that translate directly into success in high school, college/university, and 21^st Century jobs.  The skills include: organization, public speaking, critical reading/writing, and creative problem solving.

AVID at Oakton intends to foster leaders in the classroom and in the community.  Our goals are that each AVID student graduate high school with an Advanced Academic Diploma and receives acceptance into a four-year college or university. Oakton AVID students are known as students that push themselves in the classroom, work diligently towards their goals, and motivate others by being an example of scholarship.

Students interested in this course next year should complete this application.

https://forms.gle/tkPGHSaDzzeHVgU28

Questions can be directed to Katy Byrd kkbyrd@fcps.edu

Healthy Friendships & Relationships

Clinical Insights with Ms. Brient, School Psychologist, & Mrs. Pierre, School Social Worker

As the year has progressed, it’s natural that many people have built new friendships and started new relationships. Friends offer a great support system and help encourage you when going through difficult times. For some, maybe it’s hard to tell who your real friends are or who may not be. Here are some qualities to look out for when pursuing healthy friendships and relationships. Someone who really cares about you will help you when you need it, listen carefully while you’re talking, stands up for you, accepts you for who you are, respects your boundaries, is honest but speaks to you with kindness, etc.  Behaviors of someone who is not truly your friend is someone who talks behind your back, makes fun of you, disrespects your boundaries, is rude and harsh when speaking, and makes you feel bad about yourself.  We should take time to reflect on the people we keep in our circle, but also reflect on who we are as a friend or in a relationship. How is it that we are treating those we say we care about? It’s important to remember, as well, that some relationships are seasonal —you may be close for a period of time and then realize you aren’t compatible or it’s not healthy for you at this time. It’s ok to talk about that and decide to move on respectfully. Just because you aren’t friends anymore doesn’t mean you have to be enemies. You can appreciate the friendship you once had and still be friendly toward one another.

Don't forget to order your Yearbook!

Olvido ordenar el Anuario (yearbook)?  No es muy tarde! Ordénelo hoy en myschoolbucks.com. $45.

Bus Delay Notification System Stay up-to-date on school bus arrivals with FCPS' bus delay notification system. This system provides parents with timely notification of late bus route information. Parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the FCPS Mobile App to receive the delayed bus report. Morning route information will be available until noon. Afternoon bus route information will be available from 1 to 7 p.m.   Need assistance or have questions? Contact the Transportation office listed for your school. For any concerns after hours (after 5:30 p.m.), contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

PTA Update Crosstown Hoops Tickets Come support our four student teams take on Kilmer Middle School on March 30th!  Tickets to the game will only be available pre-sale through MemberHub (https://thoreau.memberhub.com/store) will be available until we hit capacity.  No tickets or t-shirts will be sold at the door.  Volunteers are needed for the event. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0445adab2da02-crosstown1. Don't miss the return of this event!  Go Eagles!

Staff Recognition

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story below, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.

2505 Cedar Lane Vienna, VA 22180  | Main Office: 703-846-8000
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