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Dear Mantua families,
Our Mantua students are reading their way through the Read-a-Thon challenge! Our fabulous librarians created a “donut” progress chart to track student reading by grade level–we can’t wait to watch those sprinkles accumulate! As a reminder, reading takes a myriad of forms, and every student can participate, no matter what their reading level. Let’s cover those donuts in sprinkles!
Our 3rd-grade students explored the Museum of Natural History this week, delving into the mystery of human origins, the intricacies of the insect zoo, and the beauty of the Butterfly Pavilion. Many students were able to showcase their artistic talents at the Woodson Pyramid Art Show on Tuesday evening! Mantua beamed with pride and excitement as families admired the inspiring pieces. Lastly, we share some photos from our amazing Literacy and Math Night!
We welcomed some incoming students to Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday! Our new friends immersed themselves in creative crafts and engaging classroom activities while parents and caregivers took the opportunity to connect with administrators and staff. Do you need to register a kindergarten student or have questions about the process? Mergie Kakouris, our Mantua registrar (MBKakouris@fcps.edu ), will happily answer questions and assist you with registration. We are thrilled to welcome new faces to our Mantua community!
On Wednesday, April 24th, we celebrate Administrative Professionals Day. We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated main office staff for their invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment to our students, parents, and community."
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the upcoming dates and events listed below. Our 4th-6th graders are practicing diligently for their respective spring concerts, and we are excitedly anticipating the Mantua PTA drama performance of Aristocats!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Take good care,
Linda Shannon, Principal
Rich Deixler, Assistant Principal
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal
 
Important Dates
April 15-26: Read-a-Thon
April 22-23: Religious and Cultural Observance, First evening of Passover, Second evening of Passover
April 22: Earth Day, Earth Week Theme; See details below
April 24: Administrative Professionals Day, Religious and Cultural Observance, Theravada New Year
April 25: 5th & 6th grade Spring Band Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Gym
May 1: Parent / Caregiver Input Form Due
May 3: Teacher Workday - No school for students
May 3-4: Mantua PTA Drama Aristocats Kids! Friday 5/3 7 PM; Sat 5/3 2 PM & 6 PM
May 9: 4th grade Spring Strings Concert, 6:30-8 PM, Cafeteria
May 11: Raccoon Run, 8 AM
May 14: 5th & 6th grade Spring Chorus Concert, 7 PM, Gym
May 18: Mantua PTA Talent Show, 5-9 PM, Gym
May 27: Memorial Day holiday, schools and offices closed
June 3: Grad Walk, 2:30 PM; Graduating seniors return to walk the halls of Mantua
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS Academic Year Calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
Parent / Caregiver Input Form
It is hard to believe that we are already planning for the 2024-25 school year! We are excited to work with our teacher teams to plan to best support all students in the upcoming year. Your input is an important part of this process. Taken together with teacher input and student services, your feedback will be included in the class placement process. We respectfully ask that you refrain from citing a specific teacher by name. The information you provide will be shared with your child's current year's teacher teams as they work on the placement process and will be provided to next year's teacher to best support the transition. Please complete the linked Input form to provide your input.
If you're providing input for multiple children, please fill out one form for each child.
Submissions are due May 1, 2024. They must be on time to be considered, as our staff will use this input as they form student groups the following week.
Mantua Read-a-thon
Our PTA sponsored Read-a-Thon has taken off! According to our latest numbers, our 4th-grade students are leading the way in the reading competition, but there is still time to claim those prizes! Remember that ANY reading counts! Reading aloud to your child counts as well. This is a great way to encourage and celebrate reading and raise funds for Mantua. Students can log their hours on 99Pledges, our secure fundraising page. The Read-a-thon ends on April 26.
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Earth Week
Mantua is going green! Stay tuned for updates on our earth-friendly projects and Earth Day activities.Get2Green is hosting FCPS Earth Week April 22-26, 2024. The themes for Earth Week are:
- Monday, April 22 - wear green for Earth Day
- Tuesday, April 23 - wear blue for Watershed Day
- Wednesday, April 24 - wear white for Zero Waste Day
- Thursday, April 25 - wear red for Climate Change Day
- Friday, April 26 - wear a nature print for Wildlife Day
Check the Get2Green Earth Week webpage for everything you need to get started.
Continue the learning and have fun with our Fairfax County Partners.
Aristocats Kids
The Mantua PTA Drama Club is proud to present Aristocats Kids, the musical! With the help of a smooth-talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country. Don't miss this heart-warming tale brought to life by our talented cast of Mantua students.
Performances will be Friday, May 3, at 7 PM and Saturday, May 4, at 2 PM and 6 PM in the Mantua gym. Tickets will be $8 at the door. You can also purchase tickets ahead of time: Wednesday, May 1, and Thursday, May 2, 5:30-5:45 PM and 8:15-8:30 PM in the Mantua gym.
Concessions will be sold at the shows: NO pizza this time, but plenty of fun snacks and sweets. We accept cash and credit cards. We hope to see you there!
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Raccoon Run
Join Mantua PTA Kids Care Club and W.T. Woodson Young Hearts Club for the 23rd Annual Mantua Raccoon Run on Saturday, May 11, 2024. All the fun will take place at Mantua ES (9107 Horner Ct, Fairfax, VA 22031). At 8:00 AM, the 1-mile fun run will begin, and the 5k will start at 8:30 AM.
Details for the race and registration are linked here.
The Raccoon Run is an annual run sponsored by Mantua's Kids Care Club that raises money for Life With Cancer, an amazing INOVA Hospital program that helps to provide support to those living with cancer and their families. This is done through education, information, counseling, and other services, all free of charge. Kids Care Club is a PTA volunteer-run service club that allows children in grades K-6 to give back to their community. Through this race, the kids see their work put into action as the race comes together and raises money for such an amazing cause. This way we are not only helping the amazing organization that Life with Cancer is, but we are also empowering our young people to develop a love of giving back to their community.
In addition, this run honors the memory of a beloved Mantua Elementary School teacher, Mrs. Roberta Romano, who lost her battle with cancer in December of 2001. For over 20 years, this run has been held to honor her memory!
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Positivity Project (P2)
This upcoming week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. Appreciation of beauty and excellence means you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. You don’t take things for granted.
Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is the ability to identify and enjoy what is admirable in the world. There are three types of goodness on which positive psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, a song, or a building); exceptional skill or talent, and moral goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of beauty can generate awe; appreciation of skill can generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness can generate moral elevation. These feelings (awe, admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves and find increased joy and meaning in the world.
Appreciating excellence and beauty helps individuals experience positive emotions and connect to the world around them. It’s an outward-facing strength, meaning the individual is focused on the world outside their head. And not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing them to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is associated with other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and purpose.
To practice and encourage the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) (English, Spanish) where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions
Movement Mondays
Exciting news! Movement Mondays are making a comeback, kicking off at 8:30 and runnning until 9:05 am. It's been a hit with students, parents, and staff, providing a refreshing opportunity to embrace the outdoors, forge new connections, get moving, and unite as a community. The enthusiasm is palpable, with many students sharing their love for this activity. Let's keep the momentum going!
Student Testing at Mantua
State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:
- Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. For certain grade levels, the reading SOL tests includes an integrated reading/writing (IRW) component. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/35021);
Please see the following table for the specific SOL assessments your child will take and the dates on which these will occur. Please do your best to avoid scheduling appointments on the days your child has an assessment.
Grade SOL Date
3 Reading Tuesday, May 7
3 Math Thursday, May 16
4 Reading Thursday, May 2
4 Math Tuesday, May 14
5 Reading Tuesday, April 30
5 Science Thursday, May 9
5 Math Tuesday, May 21
6 Reading Monday, April 29
6 Math Monday, May 13
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Here’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment. Please contact Mergie Kakouris, our Student Information Assistant, by email at mbkakouris@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-645-6300 to set up an appointment
Prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.
Registering your child early helps us plan to have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
6th Grade Families - Mark Your Calendars!
The Mantua 6th Grade Promotion has a finalized date—it's June 11th! This year, Mantua will again use the Woodson Auditorium as our Promotion venue. Many details remain to be worked out, but please confidently mark your calendars for June 11th, likely with a starting time of 10:30 AM.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon
FCPS students in grades 3-12 took the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener during March, providing updated information on skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported.
In late April, individual student SEL Screener results will be available for families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
Get more information about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For support in understanding your individual student’s results or ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or contact your student’s teacher.
Tdap, Meningococcal (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Packet for Rising Seventh Grade Students
Friday, April 26, 2024
As required by the Code of Virginia, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive specific immunizations (Tdap, MenACWY, HPV) prior to the beginning of the school year.
Effective July 1, 2021, a complete series of two doses of the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) is required for all students entering seventh grade. The first dose shall be administered before the student enters the seventh grade. Parents/guardians, at their sole discretion, may elect for their student not to receive the HPV immunization.
Virginia state law requires the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to provide the parents and/or guardians of all rising seventh grade students with information on human papillomavirus (HPV) and the human papillomavirus vaccine. The human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) prevents six types of cancer, including cervical cancer and certain head and neck cancers. Boys and girls should receive the vaccine when they are 11-12 years old.
Annually, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Commissioner of Health provide immunization requirement information, to include the HPV vaccine, to rising 7th graders. For SY 23-24, the VDH provided the following packets which can be found on the School Health Services Hub page:
Passover and Half-O Days
Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Passover, a recognition of the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Many Jewish families in the United States eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves telling the story of the exodus from Egypt as well as eating various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs, recalling the harsh life of slavery. Learn more about Passover in NatGeo Kids.
Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, are designated half-O days in recognition of the first two days of Passover. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.
Theravada New Year (O Day)
In countries where Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion, New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon in April. Theravada means “the teachings of the elders.” Celebrations begin with people attending the local temple in the morning for chanting and meditation. In the afternoon they have a water festival in which they meet the Buddha image and pay respect to the elderly by watering their hands together. Building sandcastles is also one of the most popular activities during this day of celebration. Wednesday, April 24, is designated as an O day for Theravada New Year. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.
Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule:
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Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
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Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
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Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
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Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey.
This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1. The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.
Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
Summer Arts Camp
Don’t miss out on this summer’s most exciting arts enrichment program! At Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA), students take art, music, theater, and dance classes daily. E-IFTA is for current second through fifth-grade students. Learn more on the E-IFTA webpage. Email EIFTA@fcps.edu with any questions.
Give Your Feedback on the Budget
We are now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback:
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Tuesday, April 16, through Thursday, April 18: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors conducts public hearings on the county budget. Sign up to speak.
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Tuesday, May 7: The County Board of Supervisors adopts its budget, tax rates, and transfer amount to FCPS.
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Tuesday, May 14: The School Board holds a public hearing on the FCPS budget.
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Thursday, May 23: The School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget and see the full Budget Development Calendar.
School Health Services Satisfaction Survey
The Fairfax County Health Department and FCPS School Health Services invite parents/caregivers to participate in a survey on the level of satisfaction with support provided to your school community by School Health Services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is open until Friday, April 26. Your feedback can help to improve school health services.
Immigrant Family Reunification Class
A class will be held online in Spanish for immigrant families looking to reunite during challenging transitions. Saturday classes will be available April 27, from 9-11:30 a.m. Register online. For more information, please contact Luis Uribe-Gamboa at lauribegambo@fcps.edu or Sussy Tomer at setomer@fcps.edu.
Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
- Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
- Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
- Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
- Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
- Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Quick Contacts & Links
Linda Shannon, Principal lcshannon@fcps.edu
Rich Deixler, Assistant Principal radeixler@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
Ann Marie Del Valle, Administrative Assistant, adelvalle@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, mbkakouris@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, ffinaish@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Finance Office Assistant slpalomino@fcps.edu
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