From the Principal’s Desk

Mrs. Laura Seck, Principal

Mrs. Jeanie Showalter, Assistant Principal

Meadowland Elementary School

729 Sugarland Run Drive, Sterling, VA 20164

571-434-4440 (Absentee: 571-434-4441)

www.loudoun.k12.va.us/school/meadowland

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Bell Schedule

MORNING

7:40 a.m.—first bell

7:50 a.m.—tardy bell

DISMISSAL

2:35 p.m.—bus riders

2:40 p.m.—walkers

April 1

Student Holiday

April 15

PTO Meeting

April 16

Kindergarten Registra-

tion Begins

May 8

SOL Testing Begins

May 27

Memorial Day Holiday

May 31

Talent Show

As a Meadowland School Student, I will strive to show RESPECT by demonstrating Re-sponsibility, Determina-tion, Helpfulness, Loy-alty, and Honesty. This will help me to become a successful student who will work and play well with others.

NOTE: PICTURE ID REQUIRED TO ENTER SCHOOL BUILDING

Dear Families, Happy Spring! April has been a busy month! Cyndy (STEP Preschool Teacher) and Jay Raines (Technology Resource Teacher) had a healthy baby boy on April 11th. Congratula-tions to both of them. Our third, fourth and fifth grade students are learning how to justify their thinking by going back into the texts they are reading and supporting their answers with evidence from the text. This justification strategy will help students become critical readers. The fourth grade classes visited Gunston Hall and attended their fourth video conference with Social Science researchers on the Civil War. Fifth grade classes graduated from DARE today. Many thanks to the PTO for purchasing the DARE t-shirts for our children. Our kindergarten students continue to work on early literacy strategies. They are also read-ing math word problems and solving those using pictographs. First and second grade students are benefitting from the staff development their teachers have received on the writing workshop model. We have seen great growth in the writing journals of these youngsters! Mrs. Stubbs’ first grade students have begun to pilot a Sci-ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) project. The children work in small groups of three and use technology to compare and contrast products before creating a new product. Our goal for next year, is to have all first grade students participate in a monthly STEM activity. Our April Gathering focused on respecting the learning rights of others in the classroom. We continue to model anti-bullying behaviors through the use of our “power line”. Meadow-land children do not let bullies have the “power”. Our school is piloting a new software tool, Indistar, which will be used to create a school improvement plan. The Leadership Team is in the process of conducting 200 classroom “walk-throughs” to collect data as part of an instructional audit. A “walk-through” is a short, focused, informal classroom observation. It is a time to gather information about curricular and instructional teaching practices. We will use the data collected from “walk-throughs” to specifically target staff development needs. Fondly,

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During the period from April 2

nd through April 12

th, second grade students in Loudoun

County Public Schools will take the Cognitive Abilities Test, Form 7, Level 8, which is also referred to as the CogAT. The CogAT measures general and specific cognitive skills that allow a student to learn new tasks or solve problems, especially in the absence of direct instruction. Students’ reasoning abilities are measured by three different batteries, or groups of test items: the Verbal Battery, the Quantitative Battery, and the Non-Verbal Bat-tery. Each battery is comprised of three subtests. Students will complete all nine subtests, three per day, on three consecutive school days. Test questions are read to the students by the teacher, with a brief break in between subtests. The daily test administration period is untimed. All students will have the opportunity to complete the brief practice test prior to administra-tion of the CogAT, and will be permitted to take their finished practice test home.

Library News Shawna Bardos, Librarian

Mango Languages http://library.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=41#mango http://www.mangolanguages.com/libraries/products-overview/mango-mobile/ Have you ever wanted to learn a new language or improve your conversation? Mango Languages is for you. Work through lessons on your computer or smartphone. There are 14 languages represented for English language learners; including Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese. 40 languages are included for English speakers to learn. This is a FREE program available through Loudoun County Public Library. Contact Mrs. Bardos with any questions

Shawna.Bardos@lcps.org

Just a reminder, if you are writing a check for your child’s lunch account, to make the check

payable to “Loudoun County or County of Loudoun not to Meadowland. Checks do not get

deposited to the school but to a an account at Food Services in the Central Office. Thank

you!

From the Cafeteria…….

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Beth Barone, Reading Specialist

Outdoor Explorations By: Reading Rockets Stepping outside is a simple way to set foot into nature's laboratory. Backyards and neighborhood walks can lead to interesting conversations that contain new vocabulary words. You'll also be helping your child developing important scientific skills such as observing, predicting, and investigat-

ing. Try these fun outdoor exploration activities to nurture the budding scientist or mathematician in your home!

Stepping outside is a simple way to set foot into nature's laboratory. Backyards and neighborhood walks can lead to interesting conversations that contain new vocabulary words. You'll also be helping your child developing important scientific skills such as observing, predicting, and investigat-

ing.

Try these fun outdoor exploration activities to nurture the budding scientist or mathematician in your home!

Notice and describe trees and other outdoor plants and their parts. Vocabulary might include trunks, branches, stems, leaves, and flowers. See

how many different types of leaves you can gather. Describe and sort leaves by shape, size, and color.

Observe any birds, squirrels, insects, and worms. Keep track of the different animals and insects you find. If possible, take pictures or draw a sketch of any unusual or unfamiliar ones. Ponds and slow-moving rivers are great spots for bug hunting. Other spots include a wood pile, a garden,

or near the bright lights of a parking lot.

Choose two or three different times of the day, for example early morning, noon, and dusk. Take a short walk and listen closely to the different sounds. Try to keep track of the different sounds you hear. Depending on the time of year, you may hear cicadas, crickets, Canada Geese, or

songbirds. Discuss why we might hear different animals and insects depending on the time of day or season.

On a rainy day, set up a rain gauge using a clear plastic tumbler or wide-mouth bottle. Have your child predict, or make a good guess, about how much rain will be collected. Mark that level and collect rain. Check the gauge after the rain ends. Is there more or less rainwater in it than your child

predicted? How much more or less?

Booklist

The Listening Walk By Paul Showers Put on your socks and shoes — and don't forget your ears! Through this book you will go not a listening walk with a father and child. Get ready to fill your ears with a world of wonderful and surprising sounds.

Peterson First Guide to Insects of North America By Christopher Leahy The first books for the beginning nature lover; these are simpler versions of the famous Peterson's Field Guides.

The Icky Bug Alphabet Book Written as an alphabet book, each page provides information about a different bug.

Leaf Man By Lois Ehlert Ehlert's creations from leaves and nuts will inspire your own nature-created crafts.

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MSAAC

The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC) works in partnership with Loudoun County Public schools staff, parents and community to further the academic, social, and cultural development of every student and t ensure that the needs of all minority students are met. More information can be found on the school system website at www.lcps.org under the “Parents” tab and then select Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SIP)

The Meadowland staff is dedicated to improving our strategies for increasing student achievement and in closing the achieve-ment gap. A formal School Improvement Plan is developed by staff, with parent input.

Dear Family & Friends, Meadowland is participating in the

Giant A+ BonusBucks Program.

Meadowland can earn CASH

through this exciting program.

You can help! Fill in the Registration

Card below and return it to the Customer Service counter at your local Giant

or log on to www.giantfood.com/aplus and choose “Register your Card” from

the menu on the left to designate online. Then, each time you shop at Giant

using your GIANT CARD, you will earn CASH for our book club! Our school

ID# is #02103