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Message from Ms. Shannon
Dear Mantua families,
Mantua is going green! We celebrated Earth Week last week with various themed days, dressing in vibrant colors to raise awareness on climate change, water conservation and wildlife survival. Small differences in daily habits can amass big changes! FCPS is supporting efforts to “go green” with more eco-friendly paper products in cafeterias, increased efforts in reusing and recycling, and with the implementation of composting. Our 6th grade classes have taken the lead in this initiative with our brand-new composting bins!
Our calendar is filled with student performances! Last Thursday, our 5th and 6th-grade band students delivered an outstanding spring performance. Additionally, on Saturday, several of Mantua's 6th graders showcased their talents beautifully at the All County Chorus Concert, captivating the audience of dignitaries and families alike. Check out for details on upcoming student concerts and performances below.
Our Mantua Reading Fundraiser Challenge wrapped up on Friday. It has been rewarding to watch students immerse themselves in reading! We want to make a humble correction from last week’s newsletter: while our librarians ARE fabulous, they were not the creators of the donut sprinkle progress visuals, as previously reported. PTA parents Elizabeth Frischmann and Emily Chesnes made the donut charts and have been updating them daily throughout the challenge. Our Mantua PTA volunteers give so much time and energy toward making Mantua great, and we don’t want their efforts to go unrecognized! Many thanks to all of our Mantua PTA families for their exceptional work and unwavering support of Mantua!
Friday, May 3 is Lunch Hero Day! While this recognition day falls on a Teacher Work Day this year, we want to spotlight our Mantua cafeteria workers! Between preparing healthy meals for Mantua’s students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Karen Ray and her fabulous staff earn the hero badge every day.
We want to remind families that Friday, May 3, is Orthodox Good Friday and also a teacher workday. Millions of Orthodox Christians commemorate Good Friday, also known as “Great Friday.” There will be no school for students on Friday. School will resume on Monday, May 6.
We’ve shared some exciting pictures with you below. You can keep up with all things Mantua by following us on Instagram!
Take good care,
Linda Shannon, Principal
Rich Deixler, Assistant Principal
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal
Important Dates
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: 6th grade panoramic photo day
May 9: 4th grade Spring Strings Concert, 6:30, Gym
May 11: Raccoon Run
May 14: 5th & 6th grade Spring Chorus Concert, 7 PM, Gym
May 16: 5th and 6th grade Spring Strings Concert, 6:30 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 through Mantua, 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.
Reminder: Parent / Caregiver Input
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.
Concert Information
4th Grade Spring Strings Performance
On May 9th at 6:30 PM, we will host the 4th Grade Strings Concert in the Mantua Gymnasium. Performers are to wear their Mantua Music T-shirt, purchased earlier in the year, and black pants/skirt. Arrival time for performers is 6:00. Questions can go to kjeaston@fcps.edu.
5th and 6th Grade Strings Performance
On May 16th at 6:30 PM, we will host the 5th and 6th Grade Strings Concert in the Mantua Gymnasium. Performers are to wear their Mantua Music T-shirt, purchased earlier in the year, and black pants/skirt. Arrival time for performers is 6:00. Questions can go to kjeaston@fcps.edu.
5th and 6th Grade Chorus Students
On May 14th at 7 PM, we will host the 5th and 6th Grade Chorus Concert in the Mantua Gymnasium. Performers are to wear their Mantua Music T-shirt, purchased earlier in the year, and pants (jeans or khakis) Arrival time for performers is 6:45. Questions can go to eblydenburgh@fcps.edu or acaberle@fcps.edu
Aristocats Kids Drama Performance
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 Elementary School 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 Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means you approach life with excitement and energy. You energize people around you.
Enthusiasm is the ability to bring life and excitement to different situations. It often leads to a higher level of involvement and engagement both for individuals and for groups. Those who demonstrate enthusiasm bring an energy and level of intensity to individual and group work. These people are often identified as early leaders and innovators as a result of their outward excitement about a task or project. Look for these people to recruit new group members and generate ideas.
For groups, enthusiasm can be directly tied to high levels of success, happiness, and achievement. Enthusiasm is contagious. One person’s enthusiasm can spark others to think, speak, and act with more energy and conviction. Groups that are enthusiastic about tasks are much more likely to spend longer periods of time in service to the group’s overall goals.
To practice and encourage the character strength of enthusiasm 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 going 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 include 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 information 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.
If you have questions about state assessments, contact your student’s teacher or one of our school test coordinators, Richard Deixler (Grades 4 & 6) or Colleen Vaughan (Grades 3 & 5).
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!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us plan so that we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. Mergie Kakouris is our Mantua contact for all school registrations, and she can be reached at MBKakouris@fcps.edu. She is happy to answer any questions you may have. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.
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.
FCPS News
Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Cultural Recognitions and Observances
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Jewish American Heritage Month
May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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.
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, 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.
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.
Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts.
If you are interested in sending your student to an elementary magnet school program, consider attending a school-based information night at Hunters Woods Elementary School, Bailey’s Primary Elementary School, or Bailey’s Upper Elementary School.
Information nights will provide an opportunity to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and transportation.
Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12. Get more information about the schools, their programs, and locations.
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 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.
Support FCPS Relay for Life
Relay for Life – FCPS is an event that brings our community together to fight against cancer.
Relay for Life is a powerful initiative that unites schools, students, and communities in the shared goal of raising funds for cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. It's an opportunity for our schools to make a lasting impact and show solidarity in the face of this challenging disease.
Your generosity would not only contribute to the success of Relay for Life but also showcase the unity and compassion that define Fairfax County Public Schools.
Thank you for considering this request, and we look forward to the possibility of joining forces to make Relay for Life - FCPS a memorable and impactful event.
To sign up to participate, volunteer, etc., please go to our website at: https://relayforlife.org/fcps
It will be held on May 18, 2024 at Woodson HS beginning at 2 PM.
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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