Thoreau Matters
March 3, 2023
Dear Thoreau Families,
I am sure your child is enjoying their day off today while our staff engaged in reflections around our learning together this year. We spent time reflecting on ways we support Portrait of a Graduate skills and English Language students. We then provided feedback to the school system on the Strategic Plan and enjoyed lunch together. If you have not engaged in the strategic planning process, I encourage you to get involved and you can find more information here.
I wanted to provide one more reminder about the Hidden in Plain Sight program which will take place at Madison High School on March 9 from 6:30-8:30 PM. This is an in-person interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges" and more. If you are interested in attending, please register here.
Last week I was having an excellent conversation with a parent regarding her desire to help other parents understand the best ways to stay involved in their children’s social media and online experience. I was able to compile a few helpful resources that I wanted to share:
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
Upcoming Dates:
March 8th – 8th Grade Integrated Reading & Writing Field Test
March 22nd – Spring SEL Screener
Spring Picture Re-Take Day!
On Tuesday March 7th and Wednesday March 8th we will be having our spring picture retake day in the Auxiliary Gym. During students’ HPE class on either 3/7 (blue day) or 3/8 (gold day) students are given the option on if they want to get their picture retaken from their fall portrait or if a student never took their fall portrait, they are encouraged to get their school picture taken on either 3/7 or 3/8 depending on when their HPE class is. If families would like to order their child’s picture day portrait, please log into https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/ and enter the Picture Day ID EVTWC88BH in the assigned area on the website. For families who are not able to order online, please have your child pick up a picture day form from the front office and bring it with them on the day they wish to get their picture retaken during their HPE class.
Thoreau Teacher Heading Abroad on Fulbright Award!
Shannon Evans (right), French teacher here at Thoreau Middle School received a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program award! The awards were recently announced by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Shannon leaves for Morocco on March 5. While there, she hopes to learn more about the culture. “I'll also be presenting, co-teaching, and meeting important people in education,” she says. “I am sure it will be a life-changing opportunity, and I can't wait!”
Shannon hopes to learn more about and better understand the school systems in Morocco and their relationship with the French language. “As a French teacher, it is important that I receive first-hand knowledge of how the language is taught and received in a post-colonial country,” she says.
Spring SEL Screener
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas. FCPS staff will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for students in grades K-12. The screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs.
All students in grades K-12 will participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. Students in grades 3-12 will reflect and report on their own skills and experiences. Screener data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with legitimate educational interests. Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals. Screener results will be used with other data to inform practices for SEL skill development and mental wellness. Screener data will also help staff plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window in SIS ParentVUE. School staff will be available to discuss results with families on planned support. As shared previously, there is also a family guide for parents/guardians to use with their children.
Thoreau MS students will take the spring SEL Screener on Wednesday, March 22nd during third period. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please complete the opt-out via your SIS ParentVUE account by Friday, March 17th. If you opted your student out in the fall, you do not need to submit this request again.
More information, including a short video about the SEL screener in FCPS and the screener questions, can be found on the SEL Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43892). Please contact your student's school counselor or Thoreau’s Test Coordinator, Erin Lynch (emlynch@fcps.edu or 703-846-8058) with questions.
Language Translation on FCPS Websites
In a continued effort to prioritize access for our diverse communities, FCPS is launching a language translation feature that will be available on every division and school webpage. The feature has been added to the header at the top of the page and will scroll with the user as they navigate the page. Learn more about our new translation feature.
College Partnership Program
Please click on this flyer or use the QR code to complete the online application. The application is due by March 10, 2022.
 If you have any questions, please email Kerrie Turner at kjturner@fcps.edu
For more information on the CPP, please review the website.
Laptop & Power Adapter Check
One thing that parents/guardians can do to help students prepare for school each day is to check that your student has a fully charged laptop and a power adapter/charger in their backpack each day. If a new charger is needed, please purchase it through MySchoolBucks the cost is $23.
- Log in to your account, and select “School Store Payments”
- “Browse All Items”
- Check the box by “[GROUP] Lost or Damaged…” and then select “View Details”
- Select and purchase the power adapter
- Bring a printed copy of the receipt to Room A004 at Thoreau Middle School between the hours of 7:00am-2:00pm to pick up your charger.
Thoreau After-School Program
After-School has been amazing for our staff & students! Students & staff are coming up with some really creative clubs so far this year. After-School clubs & late buses occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between the hours of 2:25pm - 4:45pm.
After-School Schoology Folder: Students should check this folder weekly as this is where the weekly After-School clubs schedule will be posted as well as important announcements:
Schoology > Courses > All School Courses > After-School Program Folder
THOREAU WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS SCHEDULE:
Week of March 6th - March 10th
 QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?
Email Ms. Colleen Taylor at cmtaylor1@fcps.edu or call 703.846.8089.
Green Expo and the Student Creativity Contest
To celebrate Earth Day, the Town of Vienna Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC) is excited to announce its third annual Environmental Student Creativity Contest! This competition is an opportunity for students to express thoughts on the environment and share imagination and art/writing skills. All students within the Madison Pyramid are invited to participate. The selected winners will receive a prize and have their essay/artwork featured at this year’s Green Expo.
Please click here for the attached flyer, requirements, and artwork/essay release form for additional details on this contest. This information is also posted for download at the Town's CSC web page. All questions and entries can be sent to CSC@viennava.gov. Entries are due by 5 PM on Friday, March 31, 2023. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Parents and students are also invited to the Town’s Green Expo, which will be held at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St SE, on Thursday, April 20 from 7-9 PM. Come visit with local exhibitors offering information on sustainable practices, such as clean water, native plants, local wildlife, green landscaping, recycling, composting, zero waste and green living, and energy efficiency, citizen science, and other volunteer opportunities, sustainable businesses in Vienna, and much more. There will be an opportunity to enter a raffle to win a free rain barrel or composter. Kids can grab a passport and visit exhibitors, learn about the environment, and earn a prize.
Kilometers for Kindness 5K
Grab some friends and mark your calendars for Sunday, April 23 8am! Vienna Elementary School is hosting a 1 mile Fun Run/Walk and 5k "Kilometers for Kindness" event right down the road from Thoreau. All information can be found here: https://www.vespta5krun.org/. Register before March 31 to guarantee a student-designed t-shirt! If you are not free Sunday, April 23 in the morning - no worries! We have virtual options listed. This event is being held in support of the ONE kind act campaign in the Vienna Community.
Madison Warhawks 2023 FROSH Football
An introductory meeting for family & players interested in Warhawk Frosh Football will be held April 11 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 prospective players should provide the information requested at: http://tinyurl.com/jmhsfbinfo; this ensures receipt of all future communications.
Eight graders planning to play football are invited to our after-school lifting program starting April 12. These voluntary sessions will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays through the end of the school year and 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 meeting or can be found in the Activities Office (Room 131). No student may participate until these steps have been completed
See https://www.warhawksports.org/page/hot_news/view/77 on registration for Fall athletics. Madison hosts an Activities Fair for 8th graders on 3/24 (during the day in conjunction with the Middle Schools); all are invited to stop at the Football table.
Team Goals:1. Teach class and character; 2. Practice & play safely; 3. Teach the Warhawk approach to football; 4. Have fun; 5. Keep Academics first
Summer lifting sessions will be offered 4 mornings & 2 evenings a week (voluntary)
Summer Camp for rising Frosh Football players is scheduled at Waters Field from June 19 through June 22nd, likely 10:30am to 1pm. This is a voluntary, non contact camp open to all rising frosh.
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. Once school starts most practices are after school and most games are played Thursdays at 5:30 pm. Coaches are flexible working with athletes who play other sports. All who follow team rules & attend practices make the team. Every effort is made to play each player in each game. Helmets & shoulder pads are provided by Madison. Players provide their own footwear and football girdles.
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
PTA News
Join the Thoreau PTA and support Thoreau and your student! Please consider making an additional donation to help fund PTA sponsored activities.
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CROSSTOWN HOOPS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Parents - please sign up to help volunteer at CrossTown Hoops on March 15th at Marshall High School. We need your help managing check-in for Thoreau students. Please sign up at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0445ADAB2DA02-crosstown2 Please contact Alison McKee at alisonmckee0519@gmail.com with any questions.
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