May 10, 2022 | Issue 35
Important Upcoming Dates
May 13 -14 - Seussical the Musical @ Mantua Gym.
Saturday, May 14 - COVID Vaccine Clinic & Carnival, 1-4pm @ Little Run.
Tuesday, May 17 - 4th Grade strings concert at 7:00 pm at Mantua ES.
Tuesday, May 24 - 5th and 6th Grade strings concert at 7:00 pm at Mantua ES.
SOL Test Dates
- Wednesday, May 11 – 4th Grade Reading
- Friday, May 13 – 6th Grade Math
- Tuesday, May 17 – 3rd Grade Math
- Wednesday, May 18 – 4th Grade Math
- Friday, May 20 – 5th Grade Math
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The final PTA meeting will be held Thursday, June 2nd in the evening. On June 2nd, we'll start with our volunteer appreciation reception at 6:30 pm followed by the meeting at 7 pm. Please join us to hear how we plan to finish off the year strong, meet your new executive board, and see what is in the works for 2022-23! |
Parent Education Session
“TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO HANDLE STRESS AND ANXIETY”
-presented by Rachel Bailey, M.A., CPDPE
When: Wednesday, May 25th at 6:00pm
Where: Virtual - link provided later
Many of you know Rachel Bailey through her Podcasts and training sessions developed to empower parents while raising responsible, resilient, and confident kids. This session will focus on how to help our kids deal with the stress and anxiety they face, particularly now, as they are readjusting to “normal” life, rebuilding social skills, balancing academics/sports/social activities, etc., and just being a kid.
Questions? Contact PTA Parent Education coordinator, Hope Sanders, hopesand1@yahoo.com. For more information about speaker Rachel Bailey, please visit https://rachel-bailey.com/
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4th Grade Strings Concert
The 4th grade strings concert will be held on Tuesday, May 17th at 7:00 pm at Mantua ES. Students will also perform during the school day on the 17th for the 3rd graders. 4th grade string students should arrive at 6:30 pm wearing their strings t-shirt and black pants/skirt.
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5th and 6th Grade Strings Concert
The 5th and 6th grade strings concert will be held on Tuesday, May 24th at 7:00 pm at Mantua ES. Students will also perform during the school day on the 24th for the 4th graders. String students should arrive at 6:30 pm wearing their strings t-shirt and black pants/skirt.
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Volunteers Needed in Art!!
We have just about a month and a half left of school and we will be starting our textile unit soon. We need help with yarn cutting, threading needles, tying knots, cutting burlap, organizing the storage closet, filling glue bottles and more! Please consider signing up for a spot or two at the following link….thank you so much we appreciate your time! The Mantua Art Team
Sign up here.
Woodson Computer Science Honor Society Coding Workshop
Woodson Computer Science students have developed a coding workshop to present to 4th-6th graders. The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 19th after school until 5:15pm in the Mantua cafeteria. Woodson students with their CS teacher will provide coding instruction and will then guide students through completing a tic tac toe program. To participate, students will need their FCPS provided laptop during the workshop and the permission form (link below) completed by Friday, May 13th. The workshop will be limited to 25 students. In the event that more than 25 completed permission slips are received, a random number generator will be used to determine participants. If you have any questions, email Kristina Clarke at president@mantuapta.org.
https://forms.gle/ib15sWWALn8CCgcW7
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Interventions at Mantua
In recent PTA meetings we have shared the interventions that are taking place at Mantua this year. The Mantua’s ESSER/SIIP 2021-22 at Glance describes our work to support student academic achievement and wellness. Our ESSER leads are listed below.
Academic Leads: Jane Dunfee and Lisa Dreyfus
Wellness Leads: Lindsay Mueller and Emily Tilman
FCPS Tutoring
FCPS is excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to 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.
Family Resource Center
Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar Series for PreK-2 Families
- 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
Mantua Drama Club Presents Seussical, Jr!
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. Horton will hear a Who and a cheerful chaos will ensue when Mantua Drama Club presents Seussical JR. on May 13 at 7pm and May 14 at 2pm at Mantua Elementary School, 9107 Horner Court, enter to back left, Gym Door 5.
Tickets for sale at the door for $7 for adults and children. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime, concessions available for outdoor consumption. Contact Lauren Brennan at drama@mantuapta.org with questions.
Woodson Drama Presents: The SpongeBob Musical
We are so excited to be opening our Production of The SpongeBob Musical in a little over a week! The stakes have never been higher in this dynamic stage musical, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total destruction of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world! All of your Favorite SpongeBob characters take the stage in this epic adventure.
W.T. Woodson Highschool is the first FCPS school to produce the musical after its 12-Tony nominated Broadway run. This production is the PERFECT show to bring the whole family too! With nearly 150 Woodson students involved, we’d love to have you come out and support this incredible team. All proceeds go back to the drama department.
The show runs:
- Friday, May 6 - 7 p.m.
- Sunday, May 8 - 6 p.m. (Sensory Friendly Performance – use code “BikiniBottom” for $5 FCPS Elementary student tickets!)
- Friday, May 13 - 7 p.m. (ASL Performance)
- Saturday, May 14 - 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (for the 2pm show - use code “BikiniBottom” for $5 FCPS Elementary student tickets!)
- Sunday, May 15 - 6 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased here
Girl Scout Troop 55013 Earns Bronze Award
CONGRATULATIONS to Mantua-based Girl Scout Troop 55013 for earning their Bronze Award! The Girl Scouts, a group of 5th grader Juniors, spent two years working on this award, starting with a virtual-based confidence and leadership project last year, and culminating in a series of hands-on activities this year. Specifically, the girls utilized troop funds they raised through cookie sales to repair and maintain Girl Scout Camp Crowell, owned and operated by the Nation's Capital Council and located just a few miles from Mantua ES. Learning to use power tools, they installed over 150 hooks throughout the camp to assist campers with organizing gear and supplies, and they repaired broken playground equipment. The Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. We are so proud of their achievements!
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COVID Vaccine Clinic & Carnival - May 14
Thanks to a generous grant from the National PTA, the Little Run PTA will be hosting a FREE community COVID-19 vaccine clinic and carnival this Saturday, May 14 from 1:00-4:00pm at Little Run.
- FREE Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines available (click here for vaccine info)
- Appointments available, but NOT required (click here for appointment)
- No ID required
- Age 5+: 1st or 2nd dose
- Age 12+ (including adults): 1st, 2nd, or booster dose
- Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
- Bring confirmation of any previous COVID-19 vaccine doses (picture OK)
- FREE carnival games and prizes
- FREE pizza and popcorn (while supplies last)
You do NOT need to be a student/family currently attending Little Run to take advantage of this opportunity, so please share this information with neighbors and friends.
If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help, please contact Megan Smith at msmith9967@gmail.com.
COVID Vaccination Status
You may wish to voluntarily share your child’s COVID-19 vaccination information with Mantua ES. However, we do not require your child’s vaccination information and no school employee will ask for your child’s vaccination status. If you would like to provide us with your child’s vaccination status, please bring your child’s COVID-19 vaccination card or a photocopy of the card to Ms. Kakouris in the front office. COVID-19 vaccination documentation contains Protected Health Information and should not be emailed.
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:
1. An immunization record showing the month, day, and year the immunization(s) was given.
2. A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the month, day, and year the immunization(s) was given.
3. 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.
4. 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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NEW! 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
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Any changes in dismissal transportation need to be requested by emailing the Mantua Attendance (Mantuaelem.attendance@fcps.edu) by 11:00am, so the office has time to relay that change to the classroom teacher. No early dismissals will be permitted after 3:30pm. |
Visitors Welcome
The most updated guidance from FCPS indicates that we can welcome visitors and volunteers. Our Visitor Management System is back up and running in the main office. Visitors who will be engaging with students will need to check-in using this system. Please know that the Visitor Management System requires that visitors have their licenses when checking in. Our teachers may begin to solicit parent volunteers through their parent communication.
How to Submit an Announcement to the PTA News
Please complete this form to have a Mantua ES- or Mantua PTA-related announcement placed in the weekly Mantua PTA News, on our Facebook page and/or on MantuaPTA.org.
The form guides you through all the pieces of information we need to put out complete announcements.
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