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Dear Families,
I am filled with gratitude as I pen this final issue of News You Choose and reflect upon our journey together over the past four years. I want to take this opportunity to thank you each for all you have done to strengthen and improve this school community.
When I was named principal four years ago, I gave each staff member a compact mirror with our now oft-used monogram, letting them know the WE in CWES depended on the person in the reflection looking back at them. I have carried my own in my purse every day since as a reminder of my personal commitment to helping every single member of our school feel like they matter in a unique and important way. As you can see below, it is (fittingly) a little worse for wear, given all we have been through together. However, its message is as important today as it was in 2018.
Our community is special because each and every member shows up authentically and unapologetically themselves, challenging us to draw them into the core of what CWES is all about. We are a rich tapestry with a multitude of changing threads. We weave our unique selves through the fiber of this community because each and every one of us belongs. Every new member contributes something new to the design, an everlasting legacy that remains after they depart through our doors.
In those early days, I learned we didn't have a school song and I set about writing one to perform for the staff August 2018 to kick off our first school year together.
I share the lyrics with you now to remind us who we were as a school, and who we continue to be -- communicators, collaborators, creators -- in a word, family. I am confident the essence of CWES will carry this community forward in hope and in joy in the years to come.
WE CAN, CANTERBURY WOODS!
Who can communicate with words, cues and signs?
We can! Canterbury Woods
Who can collaborate, learning side by side?
We can! Canterbury Woods
The arts inspire us to dream
And broaden our worldview
We value every person’s gifts
Our “we” depends on you
Who can grow together as a family?
I can (clap, clap)
You can (clap, clap)
We can (clap, clap, clap)
Canterbury Woods!
Being your principal is, quite simply, the honor of my life. Thank you for entrusting your precious children to my care. Thank you for partnering with me to make our school such an amazing place. Our WE depends on YOU.
Warm regards,
Diane Leipzig, Dr. L
This time of year is a time of bittersweet celebrations, as some staff members leave us to pursue new dreams and adventures, be they about career or family. Please join me in wishing them well:
- Kindergarten teacher Chelsea Andrews is staying home to start a family.
- ESOL teacher Maureen Bush has taken on a position as ESOL Assessment Teacher at the Dunn Loring Student Registration Welcome Center.
- DHH Instructional Assistant Denise Drake is retiring after 31 years of service.
- Sixth grade teacher Eileen Freeman is transferring to Rose Hill Elementary as an Advanced Academics Resource Teacher.
- Special educator Wilson Hill is transferring to Greenbriar East Elementary to get closer to home.
- Second grade teacher Diana Pisera is moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family.
- School counselor Tiffany Sutton is also transferring to Greenbriar East Elementary.
- Administrative Assistant Cheryl Trimbach is taking time off to attend to her departed mother's estate in Texas.
- Public Health Nurse Julianne Weaver is moving to New Jersey.
- We also say thank you to staff members in one-year contracts and hope our paths cross again: Custodian John Koomson, PHTA Ashley Charlton, IA Karin Sasseville, and IA Megan Powers.
If you are moved to express your gratitude for any of these staff members, I am sure an email of well wishes would be most welcome!
If your child still has an FCPS laptop, power cord and/or Mifi at home, please have them bring it to school TOMORROW. If your child needs a laptop for a summer program in which they will be participating, we need some important information from you before we can release it to you. Please email SBTS Fran Midgal at fjmigdal@fcps.edu or TSSPEC Keith Duplessis at kaduplessis@fcps.edu to request a laptop for summer use.
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than dismissal time (2:05 PM) on the last day of school, June 10th. Medication left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student.
Medication authorization forms for the next school year may be obtained online at: Student safety and wellness
Our Lost and Found across from the cafeteria will be emptied out on WEDNESDAY. Fair weather items will be donated to Salvation Army and cold weather items will be donated to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, thanks to the efforts of sixth grade parent, Ms. Moreland.
PLEASE encourage your child to stop by (or come by the school yourself) to find any missing clothing items before school ends Wednesday.
The CWES office will be open to serve you from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM through June 30, with the exception of Tuesday June 21 - Friday June 24, on which days it will be closed.
The new principal, expected to start work July 1, will set the office hours for July and August and communicate them in News You Choose.
Woodson HS is hosting an instrument petting zoo on Wednesday, June 8 from 7-8 PM for all elementary feeder schools. If your child is currently in third through fifth grade, this is a great opportunity to try out various band and strings instruments they might want to study next year.
Keep in mind that strings instruction begins in fourth grade; band instruction begins in fifth grade. We hope you take advantage of this great opportunity!
We will celebrate our sixth graders with a special promotion ceremony at Woodson High School on Thursday, June 9 at 2:30 PM.
Students should come to school that morning dressed nicely for the ceremony. They will all ride the bus over to Woodson High School with their teachers. If you want younger siblings to attend, come to CWES and sign them out for early dismissal at approximately 2:00 PM.
Families should proceed directly to Woodson High School at 9525 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031. Park in the LOT in front of the school (not in the bus loop) and enter Door 18 for the auditorium. Another option is the side lot if the front lot is full. Auditorium doors will open at 2:15 PM.
Masks are encouraged but optional. The event will be livestreamed for family members unable to attend.
LINK TO PROMOTION LIVESTREAM: https://youtu.be/cy0SIaFTfns
Students have the option for being dismissed to families after the ceremony or brought back to CWES in time for dismissal at 4:05.
If your child is a sixth grader, please fill out this Google Form to let us know your sixth grader's plan for participation and dismissal:
https://forms.gle/z5TRiGphxBN93ewP6
Tuesday, June 7: SCA Spirit Day: Superhero/Villain Day (no toy weapons or masks).
Wednesday, June 8: SCA Spirit Day: CWES Spirit Wear
Thursday, June 9, 2:30 PM: Sixth Grade Promotion at Woodson High School, SCA Spirit Day: Fancy Day
LINK TO PROMOTION LIVESTREAM: https://youtu.be/cy0SIaFTfns
Friday, June 10: Last day of school, 2-hour early release; SCA Spirit Day: Tropical Day
In the month of June we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice.
Third graders were excited about the return of Cities, a culminating activity for economics where they make and "sell" items to students in other grade levels.
Students in K-2 were happy shoppers in third grade Cities!
 Our strings, band and chorus concerts were amazing last week!
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