Message from Ms. Shannon
Good Evening Mantua Families,
This week FCPS recognizes our military families. Please remind your child to wear purple on Wednesday in support of Purple Up! Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, and Navy blue. Recognizing the military-connected children in our community allows us to raise awareness and understanding of the unique challenges they face. It is also a wonderful opportunity to thank them for their sacrifices and appreciate their resilience.
One of the many special activities at Mantua is our morning Racoon Runners club led by Coach Jenn McRobbie. I have had the chance to join a few runs, and I have to say, it is the best start to any day! On Friday, she kicked off our celebration of military-connected children with a special edition Purple Up! Racoon Run. As a prior service member, she led our students through obstacle courses and taught our children some basic marching and drills. Decked out in all purple, they could be heard singing cadence all the way on the other side of the track!
It was another special day to be a part of the Mantua community!
Take good care,
Linda Shannon, Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
April 1- 30 Ramadan
April 15-23 Passover
April 19 Woodson Pyramid Art Show - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
April 20 Purple Up! Wear purple in celebration of the Month of the Military Child
April 27 Level IV AAP Orientation, 6:30 PM, Cafeteria
April 29 5th Grade Reading SOL
May 2 Religious - Eid al Fitr
May 4 6th Grade Reading SOL
May 6 3rd Grade Reading SOL
May 10 5th Grade Science SOL
May 11 4th Grade Reading SOL
May 13 6th Grade Math SOL
May 17 3rd Grade Math SOL
May 18 4th Grade Math SOL
May 20 5th Grade Math SOL
*Mantua recognizes that many families in our community are celebrating Ramadan. The library will be available for any student who will be fasting and we have rooms allocated for praying. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers if your student will need to use either of these spaces.
Recognize a Staff Member
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, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Mantua Elementary. Thank you to the families who completed FCPS CARES for our staff each week. Receiving your recognition means the world to our staff. We will continue to include this in our newsletter in the upcoming weeks.
Mantua Read-a-thon: April 18-29
The FIRST EVER Read-a-Thon is underway! You should have received an email with the link to your child's donation page and reading minute tracking page this past Friday. You can now start counting minutes and getting pledges! Students are encouraged to track their minutes every day. The Read-a-Thon will continue until Friday, April 29th and there will be some great prizes at the end, so please encourage your child to read as much as they can by next Friday. Reading minutes count if you read to them or if they read in school.
Stay tuned for additional announcements on our Facebook page and if you have any questions regarding use of the 99pledges.com platform, please email fundraising@mantuapta.org.
And yes I mentioned prizes! Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for the prizes for both our raffle and classroom competition prizes:
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The Annual Raccoon Run
The Raccoon Run is fast approaching! Race day is May 7! This race starts and ends at the elementary school and all proceeds support Life with Cancer! This annual run is done in honor of Roberta Romano, a beloved wife, teacher, mother, and friend. Please see the website for registration.
www.raccoonrun.org
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Mantua Drama Club Presents Seussical, Jr!
Please join us for the Mantua Drama Club presents Seussical, JR. "Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos.
Showtimes are May 13 at 7 PM & May 14 at 2 PM, Gym Door 5
Tickets will be on sale at the door for $7 for adults and children. Doors will open 45 minutes before showtime, and concessions will be available for outdoor consumption. Contact Lauren Brennan at drama@mantuapta.org with questions.
COVID Screening and Testing Updates
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been providing a COVID-19 screening and diagnostic testing program to students and staff as part of its layered prevention strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the community level for Fairfax County is currently classified as low; this classification has continued for the past month. In addition, Fairfax Health District COVID-19 Vaccination Status information indicates that more than 70% of all Fairfax Health Districts residents have been fully vaccinated (defined by receiving two of a two-dose vaccine or one of a single-dose vaccine). More than 80% of residents have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Vaccination rates by age group indicates that more than 50% of students ages 5-11 and more than 90% of students ages 12-17 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 Vaccinations are free and available at various locations in our community.
Based on these metrics and CDC guidance, FCPS will discontinue the following prevention strategies on April 22, 2022:
- Optional weekly screening testing for all schools
- Diagnostic testing for symptomatic students and staff at FCPS drive-through sites
Our last day for screening testing here at Mantua will be 4/19/2022.
If students or employees have symptoms and need to get tested, the following options are available:
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COVID-19 Testing - Fairfax County Health Department offers COVID-19 testing at various sites throughout the county.
- At-Home Test Kits - Students leaving the school CARE Room with symptoms of illness are provided an at-home test kit.
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Test-To-Stay Program - In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), FCPS is providing access to the Test-To-Stay program for students who have been identified as a close contact when an outbreak has been declared. This program is available to any student who meets eligibility criteria and whose parent/legal guardian has provided consent for their participation.
While we are encouraged by the continued decline in COVID-19 cases in our community, we are also committed to keeping our schools safe for all to learn and work in person. Please continue to do your part to maintain a healthy learning environment by using prevention strategies including hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, monitoring for illness, and staying home when sick. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate through the end stages of the pandemic.
Reminders
Advanced Academics Program (AAP) information
Please visit the AAP webpage on fcps.edu for information on timelines and Level I-IV using this link.
FCPS Tutoring
We are excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to our students to support learning. All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost. Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing students’ strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology. All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check. No personal information is shared between a student and tutor. All sessions are recorded and transcripts are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians.
Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. Watch for an email soon that will include the online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website. As always, please contact us if you have any questions.
Family Resource Center
Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar Series for PreK-2 Families
- 4/22/22: Supporting Healthy Habits & Routines in Early Learners
- 5/20/22: Growing through Tough Moments in Early Learners
There are so many ways children learn and develop throughout early childhood. Relationships, habits, and even challenges can become rich opportunities to teach and foster lifelong learning and skills for our children. Learn more about how self-regulation, executive functioning, and routines can help your children learn and develop. Register for Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar for PreK-2 Families
Yearbook Sales
The 2022 yearbook is sold through the company's online portal. The information and link can be found on the FCPS Mantua school web page and in the All Parent Schoology Course.
2022-2023 Kindergarten Survey
We need your help in projecting the Kindergarten enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year. Virginia Law, section 22.1-254, requires that children who will reach their fifth birthday on or before September 30, 2022, must be enrolled in Kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year unless the parent or guardian notifies the school in writing that they do not wish the child to attend school until the following year.
If you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 30, 2022, please complete this form as soon as possible. If any of your neighbors have children who will be eligible for Kindergarten, please share this information with them, as we are especially interested in reaching those Mantua families who do not have children currently attending school.
The information on this survey will help the school plan for adequate facilities and personnel for the 2022-2023 school year. Please email the completed form to Mergie Kakouris at mbkakouris@fcps.edu.
Seventh Grade Immunization Requirements
Effective July 1, 2021, all students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older, and Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older. Seventh grade students cannot begin school in August without proper Tdap and Meningococcal documentation.
Acceptable documentation to submit to Mantua ES can be one of the following:
- An immunization record showing the month, day, and year the immunization(s) was given.
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the month, day, and year the immunization(s) was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption for a student who cannot receive the immunization due to medical reasons.
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form, which is available online at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf
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