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Happy 4th quarter! We have eight more weeks of learning, fun, and end-of-year assessments. It will be a busy time so be sure to stay up-to-date by reading this newsletter each week.
This week, Dorothy Van Gorder, our school social worker, was recognized with the 2017-2018
FCPS Social Work Services Impact Award. We are so grateful for the wonderful work she does with the students and staff at Union Mill and Centreville Elementary. Congratulations Dorothy!
Be sure to come out tonight to Centreville High School to cheer on our staff at the annual volleyball game against Centreville Elementary. This is always a great night and any money that Union Mill makes off of this event will go towards additional educational resources, which could include technology or classroom support. Tickets are available at the door if you have not preordered them. Be sure to purchase tickets from the Union Mill table so we receive the revenue.
Tomorrow is the Special Education Conference at Hayfield Secondary School. Details are included in this newsletter.
The STUDENT'S INTENTION FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR form went home in last week's Friday folder. It is very important that we have an accurate count of how many students will attend Union Mill Elementary for next year so that we will know how many teachers will be needed at each grade level. Please fill out the form and return it as soon as possible. If you need an additional form, please contact the office by calling 703-322-8500. Parents will be given an opportunity to provide input into class placement in May. Please be sure to read this newsletter the beginning of May for the input form.
We are looking for an additional cafeteria hostess until the end of the year. If you have time between 10:50 - 1:15, please contact the office.
Thank you to the many volunteers that joined us for lunch on Wednesday at the Volunteer Luncheon. Click on the picture below to see more pictures from the luncheon and other activities this week such as Uncle Slam kicking off our summer reading program, artwork from the Pyramid Art Show, and playing golf in P.E. Look for information about the Potomac Nationals reading program in your child's Friday folder. Completed bookmarks should be returned to the Potomac Nationals box office for tickets to specific games and not the library.
Our SOL dates are approaching and this year they fall during Ramadan. Any child who
participates in this religious observation may take their SOL assessments the
week of May 7th. If you feel your child would benefit from earlier
testing, you need to contact your child's teacher or Assistant Principal Jennie
Skerker with this request before Friday, April 27. All SOL tests are
given first thing in the morning and these tests are untimed.
Our chorus students are ready to present their musical, Madagascar,
Jr. next week. Performances will be on Wednesday, April 25, (2:00 PM and 7:00
PM) and Thursday, April 26, (9:00 AM). Our students are very fortunate that our
music teachers, Emily Cunningham, Andrew Kerper, and Millie Smith have been
very dedicated in giving up their time to work with your children to
prepare them for this exciting performance.
Next week is also our Spring Book Fair. Be sure to mark Thursday, April 26, on your calendar
for the annual PTA Ice Cream Social and evening Book Fair hours.
The Positivity Project character strength this week was Love of Learning. Those who exemplify Love of Learning are intrinsically
motivated and engaged in a topic regardless of achieving an external standard.
They enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning. They don’t need a prize or
a high grade as a reward. Their reward is the process of doing the work and
improving. Next week we will focus on Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. If you want to learn a little more about The Positivity Project, click here to watch a visit by Superintendent Dr. Brabrand to Daniels Run and hear Principal Adam Erbrecht talk about P2.
Hope to see many of you at the volleyball game tonight!
Have a great weekend,
Kathy
13th Annual Special Education Conference - Sat., April 21
The 13th annual FCPS Special Education Conference will be held tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield SS. Please visit the Special
Education Conference website for more information and to register
for workshop sessions.
FCPSOn Community Meeting Rescheduled for Monday, April 23 at
7:00 PM at Robinson
Want to
learn more about FCPS’ plans to extend student learning and increase equitable
access to technology? Attend the Region 4 community meeting planned for Monday,
April 23, at Robinson Secondary School to hear more about FCPSOn and how it
leads to personalized, meaningful learning experiences for students. FCPSOn
provides a device for each student and allows students opportunities for deeper
understanding of content and skills outlined in the Portrait of a Graduate in
order to be successful in the workforce of the future. Learn more by
clicking here.
ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP) SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED (LEVEL
II-III) SERVICES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic
services for all students in grades K-8. Learning experiences are
designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and
extensions of the Program of Studies (POS). Teachers, administrators, and
advanced academic resource teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the
following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:
Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I) All students in
kindergarten through grade six receive level I services which consist of model
lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills.
The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and the thinking strategies
are then used throughout the year by classroom teachers and other teachers who
work with students. Student responses to these model lessons are used as
part of the identification process for AAP services. Parents may also
practice the thinking strategies during family conversations and
activities. A description of the nine critical and creative thinking
strategies can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics/critical-and-creative-thinking.
Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6
(Level II) The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide
additional challenge through lessons and resources that extend and enrich the
POS. Level II services are part of a talent development pool.
Students are rescreened annually to make decisions about the need for this
level of service.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III) Students identified by a
local school screening committee for part-time advanced academic services are
challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS
in the four core subject areas. Students receive direct instruction from
the AART at the local school using curriculum from the AAP Curriculum and Resources
to Support the Differentiated Framework. Students identified for Level
III services continue to receive level III services through grade 6. Screening for
school-based services can happen at any time during the school year but is done
schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year.
Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (level II and
III) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III)
Referral Form (available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/elementary-school/current-fcps
at the bottom of the page in Forms) to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher,
Michelle LaBarbera, prior to April 30. Multiple criteria are used to screen
students for all levels of AAP services. Parents or guardians who submit
a referral will be notified of their child’s eligibility status by June 8.
If you wish to appeal an ineligible decision, you may submit an
appeal with new data for consideration to the local school screening
committee. This new information should be submitted to Michelle
LaBarbera, our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher. If you have any
questions, please contact Michelle LaBarbera (mclabarbera@fcps.edu).
Upcoming Events
Friday, April 20
UMES Staff Volleyball Game vs. Centreville
ES, 7:00 PM at CVHS
Saturday, April 21
Special Education Conference - Hayfield
Secondary School
Monday, April 23
FCPSOn Community Meeting at Robinson at 7:00 PM
Book Fair Starts
Wednesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 26
5th and 6th Grade Chorus presentation of
Madagascar Jr.
Thursday, April 26
Ice Cream Social and Evening Book Fair
Hours 6:00 PM
Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27
Autism Awareness Activities during P.E.
classes
Friday, April 27
Book Fair ends
at 12:00pm
Monday, April 30
Rescheduled 3rd Grade Field Trip
Family Fitness 4 a Cause - 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, May 1
PTA Meeting - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, May 2
4th Grade Field Trip to Jamestown
Thursday, May 3
6th Grade Field Trip to Pamplin Park
Friday, May 4
PTA Color Run
SOL Test Dates
3rd Grade
Thurs., May 17 - 3rd Reading Part 1
Fri., May 18 - 3rd Reading Part 2
Thurs., May 24 - 3rd Math
4th Grade
Wed., May 16 - 4th Reading
Wed., May 23 - 4th Math
Thurs., May 31 - 4th History
5th Grade
Tues., May 15 - 5th Reading
Tues., May 22 - 5th Math
Wed., May 30 - 5th Science
6th Grade
Mon., May 14 - 6th Reading
Mon., May 21 - 6th Math
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