RED & WHITE TIMES Amanda S. Parks, Principal - parksas@pwcs.edu Danny R. Miller, Assistant Principal - millerdr@pwcs.edu Follow us on Twitter @montclair_elem January/February Issue

Montclair Elementary

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL In these winter months, we remind parents, students, and staff the importance of safety at arrival and dismis-

sal. We urge everyone to use the sidewalks and to cross streets appropriately and to follow the direction of

the crossing guards. This is also a crucial time of year for student learning. We all know the positive impact

that parent and teacher communication can have on student learning. For parents, we encourage you to read

with your children each night and to use resources provided by our staff.

SPELLING BEE CLASSROOM FINALISTS Congratulations to our Spelling Bee classroom finalists:

3rd grade: Valentina Garcia, Dominic Marshall, Graham Miller, Sage Miller, TJ Singh, Gavin White, Lauren Wright, Alexis Zarow

4th grade: Abheek Bhandari, Amir Camillo, Doran Gunnells, Zi’Quele, Harp, Matthew Inocencio,

Meerub Khan, Victor Otero-Sanchez, Kristabelle Shaw

5th grade: Helen Archer, Brandon Gannon, Kailyn Kim, Ethan Lemen, Kelly McCoppin, Edria Quansah,

Nadiyah Williams, Angelica Yusef

Our runner up: Nadiyah Williams Our winner representing Montclair Elementary School: Sage Miller

Dear Montclair Families,

We have had a successful semester of learning this year along with many exciting events hosted by staff and

our PTCO. We appreciate your support and involvement as we prepare for the second half of the year. Read-

ing your child's report card on Feb. 6th will allow you to see all of the wonderful learning that has happened.

It is also a time to talk about areas of strength and areas in need of more practice. Please review the report

and the teacher comments together. We appreciate all of the collaboration to ensure all of our students

meet their goals this year.

This third grading period is a critical learning time. With the weather events changing our schedules recently,

it is important that students are in school on time every day that we are in session. Our teachers are using

every minute of the instructional day to create engaging and challenging learning experiences for students.

Many grade levels begin math or language arts right after the bell, so even fifteen minutes late means a stu-

dent may miss the start of the lesson that day. Thank you for helping us with a smooth and productive start

of each day. We are looking forward to seeing students continue to use their Quality Lifeskills and show their SMARTS

during a fantastic 2018 at Montclair!

Amanda Parks Principal

ADVISORY COUNCIL Do you live in Dale City? Advisory council member needed.

RED & WHITE TIMES

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER LIFESKILL WINNERS

Feb. 6th - Report Cards Go Home

Feb. 15th - Third Grade Program 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 22nd - Advisory Council 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 26th - Mar. 2nd - Read Across America Week

Mar. 1st - PTCO meeting 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 2nd - 1/2 day Sleepover 7 p.m.

Mar. 9th - Family Fun Night 6:30 p.m.

Mar. 15th - 4th Grade Program 7 p.m.

Mar. 22nd - Advisory Council 6:30 p.m.

Mar. 26th - 30th - Spring Break

*Encore Night Coming Soon... Date TBA

DIVISION-WIDE SURVEY

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Have you answered the PWCS survey sent via email? We welcome your feedback and would love to hear from 100% of our parents. The deadline for the parent survey, both paper and online, has been extended to Friday, February 9, 2018. Note that your responses are anonymous and will not be associated with you or your child. If you have questions or would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact the Office of Ac-countability, Program Evaluation at 703.791.7277.

Registration for Kindergarten for the 2018-2019 school year will take place on the following dates:

April 5, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

April 19, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Your child must turn 5 by Sept. 30, 2018. If possible, please bring your child with you so our teacher can as-sess them and acquaint them with our school. Please visit the Prince William County website at www.pwcs.edu for further information on requirements for registration. Click on Departments,/Student Ser-vices/Enrollment, New Students and Transfers / Kindergarten/ Kindergarten Enrollment & Requirements. Items not available at time of registration, must be submitted to the school no later than Aug. 20th. Parents of children who speak or understand a language other than English should be asked to call one of our Central Registration Services sites.

Each month we recognize students who exhibit one of Montclair’s 9 Quality Lifeskills. December’s focus was Caring.

Congratulations to the students chosen in December:

Kindergarten: Karina Chavez, Corrian Lindsey, Ellie Moschitti, Christian Ortiz and Thomas Poff

First Grade: Morgan Cook, Amma Doan and Amy Ortega Alvarez

Second Grade: Betsy Contreras Hernandez, Kira Kelley and Paitynn Peterson

Third Grade: Jared Ansah, Valentina Garcia, Japleen Gill and Madelyn LeVasseur

Fourth Grade: Jasmine Banks, Briana McDonald, Delicia Ntim and Whitney Parady

Fifth Grade: Liliana Grant, Kelly McCoppin, Olunna Nwanevu and Charity Seay

CONGRATULATIONS TO MONTCLAIR SCHOLARS! This year, we have recognized the academic achievements of our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

For the second quarter, there were 10 third graders, 5 fourth graders and 10 fifth graders who made the Principal’s Honor Roll. These students earned straight A’s in all their core subjects and S or S+ in other areas.

There were 44 third graders, 39 fourth graders and 37 fifth graders who made the Monty’s Honor Roll. These students earned A’s and B’s in all their core subjects and S or S+ in other areas.

We know that EVERY student gives their Personal Best every day. We appreciate our parents’ support with homework and communicating with our staff to support your child(ren)’s learning.

INCLEMENT WEATHER Keep updated through the TV and the PWCS website (www.pwcs.edu).

School will open at 10:50 a.m. on a 2 hour delay schedule. If there is a 2 hour delay, students should be at the bus stop 2 hours later than their usual time. SACC opens 2 hours late on a delay. If you have a question, or need to update emergency information, please call the office: 703-730-1072.

RED & WHITE TIMES NURSE’S NOOK

FLU SEASON IS HERE

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It

can cause mild to severe illness and can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine

each year.

Signs and Symptoms of Flu

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

Fever or feeling feverish, chills

Cough

Sore Throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue

Vomiting and diarrhea (more common children than adults)

How Flu Spreads

Most experts believe flu viruses spread mainly by droplets when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These

droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. A person might also get flu by touching a surface or

object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.

Period of Contagiousness

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven

days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems,

might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

Preventing Flu

The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. CDC (Centers for Dis-

ease Control and Prevention) also recommends everyday preventive actions, like staying away from people

who are sick, covering coughs, and sneezes and frequent handwashing to help slow the spread of germs that

cause respiratory (nose, throat and lung) illnesses, like flu.

Source: CDC

All students arriving by car should be dropped off or picked up in the school parking lot. Parking on Tallow-wood Drive or Wintercress Court creates a danger for our students. If you are dropping students off in the morning, it is imperative that parents refrain from using the bus loop/circle from 8:30 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. as buses use it during these times.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL