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Message from Mantua Admin
Dear Mantua families,
We are thrilled to mark the end of a very successful first quarter today. Students are focused on reaching individual milestones in the classrooms, classroom attendance is trending positively, and students are earning many Rocky Rewards! First quarter grades will be available the second week of November. We so appreciate family involvement and support in helping our students flourish! November is recognized as Family Engagement Month. Explore this calendar for creative ideas to connect with your child!
Our arrival was filled with festive costumes, and the spirit parade was a blast! We had a great time celebrating the end of the quarter with our students, staff, and families!
Reminders for the upcoming week:
- Join us for our Garden Clean-up Day tomorrow, Saturday, November 1!
- Military-connected families are invited to RSVP for our annual Veterans Day breakfast! Please see details and the RSVP link below.
- Monday, Nov 3rd, and Tuesday, Nov 4th, are student holidays and teacher and staff workdays. School will resume on Wednesday, Nov 5th. Enjoy your long weekend and remember to vote on November 4th!
Take good care,
Ms. Shannon, Mrs. Vaughan, Ms. Maurer
November 1: Annual Garden Clean-up Day, 1-4 PM
November 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends, set clocks back one hour
November 3: School Planning Day, Student Holiday, Teacher Workday
November 4: Election Day, Student Holiday, Teacher Workday
November 10: Veterans Day Breakfast, 8:45-9:45 AM in the Cafeteria
November 11: Veterans Day, Staff and Student Holiday
November 18: Fall Picture Day Re-takes
November 24: Mantua Thanksgiving Luncheon, More Details to Come!
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
National School Psychology Week
During the week of November 3–7, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and schools across the United States will mark National School Psychology Week (NSPW). This week celebrates the contributions of school psychologists and the important role they play in schools and communities, helping children thrive.
This year's theme, “Finding Your Path,” recognizes the ways that school psychologists take an active role in helping everyone in their communities determine paths to learning, growth, and overall well-being that meet their unique needs. We are grateful for our school psychologist, Dr. Samantha Sommer, who invests a great deal of time and thoughtfulness in helping each and every student flourish at Mantua. Thank you, Dr. Sommer!
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Weekly Staff Spotlight
Staff Spotlight is our way to recognize Mantua's incredible staff! Each week, we recognize a group of staff members. In honor of National School Psychology Week (November 2-6), Dr. Samantha Sommer will be one of our featured staff members of the week! November 8 is National STEM/STEAM Day, so we will also spotlight our School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS), Jane Dunfee, and our Technology Support Specialist, Chris Webster.
Please use the Spotlight Submission Form to share a positive message with them. We will share the messages with them at the end of next week.
Thank you for helping us make Staff Spotlight a fun and engaging way to celebrate our school community. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support!
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Picture Order
Did you forget to order your child’s picture on Picture Day? Or maybe you changed your mind? There is still time to order! Please note the details on the flyer for ordering. Note that you will need to pay shipping for these orders to be delivered to your home.
Veterans Day Celebrations
With November approaching, our Mantua school community would like to celebrate our veterans and thank them for their sacrifices for our country. We would like to honor your family’s veteran(s) in our veteran slideshow, which will be played in our front lobby throughout November. We welcome you to submit a photo of your veteran by using the link in the RSVP form or by emailing the photo to Jane Dunfee at pjdunfee@fcps.edu.
In addition, we are holding a breakfast for our veterans and their families on Monday, November 10th, from 8:45 to 9:45 in the cafeteria. (5th-grade chorus members may have one family member attend at 9:20 to watch them sing). We would love to have any military veteran or military-connected families join us! Please indicate if your veteran and their family members can attend by completing the RSVP here.
Family Needs Assessment Survey
The School Social Worker and Family Liaison at Mantua Elementary School work together to support students and families during the school year. This information will help us connect you with helpful school and community resources. Please read this form carefully and check the boxes to receive more information on services that may be available to you.
All answers will be kept private and confidential. Thank you!
Garden Clean-up Day: Get the Gardens Ready for Winter!
Fall weather is finally here, and that means it's time for our Annual Garden Clean-up Day!
Join us Saturday, November 1 (rain date Nov 2) from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in the Discovery Garden beds (above the playground).
We will be preparing the gardens for winter by weeding, trimming, mulching, and planting new perennials and spring bulbs. All skill levels are welcome - no experience necessary! It is a great opportunity to learn about gardening.
Students are encouraged to attend but must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
We hope to see your family there! If you can sign up using Sign Up Genius ahead of time (optional), it would help us plan.
Questions? Contact Karin Hudson at garden@mantuapta.org or visit our Facebook page.
Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from Mantua and FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians
The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:
- ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School
- Moving on to Life in the Community
Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources.
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.Community Resources for Families in NeedThrough partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in NeedView the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require special services and support to access instruction that is typically presented auditorily (by means of hearing) and visually. FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school site or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The Virginia Department of Education also provides information about Additional Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
Quick Contacts & Links
Linda Shannon, Principal LCShannon@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
Michele Maurer, Assistant Principal, Mkmaurer@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Administrative/Finance Assistant SLPalomino@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, MBKakouris@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, FFinaish@fcps.edu
Judy Toy, Office Assistant, JPToy@fcps.edu
Avril Donat, Office & Library Assistant Andonat@fcps.edu
Kathy Van Dyke, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher kkvandyke@fcps.edu
Maria Regina Incer, Family Liaison, mrincernunez@fcps.edu
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