Family Math Night for grades 1-5 is tonight, in the newer building, from 7-8:30 p.m. In each classroom, a variety of math games, sets of manipulatives with instructions, math puzzles, or logic problems will be set up. The fifth graders even made their own math games for this evening! With your children, you can visit as many stations as desired during the course of the evening. Additionally, Mrs. Cantor has set up the projector in the science/art lab and the first – fifth graders' recent PowerPoint slideshow presentations will be showing on a loop all evening. This was an integrated project between Mrs. Cantor and the classroom teachers.
May 2008 tuition is due tomorrow. If tuition is not received by the 5th of month, a late fee will be assessed per the school handbook.
The all-school group photo will be taken this Friday, May 2, at 11 a.m. Order forms were sent home last week. If you wish to order a photo, the form and check must be sent in before the picture is taken. Extra order forms are available from Mrs. O'Grady or Mrs. Shaw in the front office.
K-5 Movie Night is this Friday, May 2. We're showing Bee Movie this time. Movie Nights are great fun, and I hope to see many children there! It's not too late to register if you have not yet done so.
In last week's Wednesday Envelope, you got a special pink letter – remember, next week is full of surprises (starting Monday!) for Faculty Appreciation Week. And, if you can help out at the staff lunch on Wednesday, May 7, Susan Cohen (parent of Libby, 5th grade) – sfcohen@gmail.com – and the other volunteers would love to have your participation!
Our Spring Book Fair is also coming up next week! Get stocked up on summer reading and fun activities to keep your student's skills sharp. Please look for the detailed flyer in next week's Wednesday Envelope and, please, sign up to help set up (Thursday, May 8), work at checkout (May 9-14), or pack up the book fair (Thursday, May 15). Contact Mrs. O'Grady or Mrs. Shaw at the office if you can help out!
Grade 1-5 Authors' Teas will take place in the classrooms on Friday, May 9. The times are as follows: Grade 1: 10 a.m.; Grade 2/3: 1 p.m.; Grade 4: 2 p.m.; and Grade 5: 11 a.m. Authors' Teas are a lovely celebration of the writing our talented children have done all year long! You will have the opportunity to hear the children read some of their pieces and review through their writing portfolio binders as well.
I'm proud to report that our Pennies for Patients giving total was $385.09, and the fifth graders were our top givers (with $141.50)! Thanks to everyone who gave so generously! Kudos to Third Graders Julian Castro, Bobby Greene, Pieman Samar and Jonny Treharne for accompanying me to the bank to count the coins!
Spring after-school activities have begun – Abrakadoodle Art on Mondays and Clay Sculpture on Wednesdays!
During auction set-up, someone left a black Volvo car key at the school. It's been in the office since the beginning of April – does it belong to you? Please check in with Mrs. O'Grady or Mrs. Shaw if you think it might be yours.
Mrs. Samaha attended a workshop yesterday in Fairfax – Accelerated Second Language & Literacy Development with Jim Cummins.
Thank you to the many families who ordered the auction photo slideshow on DVD! It's in progress of being duplicated, and they be distributed to families soon.
The annual 2nd-5th grade Read-in will be rescheduled due to a field trip conflict. The new date will be announced soon.
Mrs. O'Hara and the fourth graders went to the National Cathedral on Monday for an art program.
The JDRF Sneaker Sale in honor of and in support of Ellie Hohenstein (2nd grade) will continue through mid May. All of the money raised will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to support research for a cure for diabetes and for better treatments for the complications of diabetes. The sneakers are posted in the front entryway/office of the school as a visual reminder of our community's support for Ellie.
On April 18, the fifth graders presented their assembly – "Temples & Tombs" – at two local nursing homes. They were met with rave reviews! Thanks to Teresa Rowe (parent of Misha, 5th grade) for providing piano accompaniment and driving!
The fifth graders and Mrs. Hodgkins went to the Air & Space Museum on April 14. Thank you to Karen Dabney ( of Maggie, 5th grade) and Monique Nguyen (parent of Angelyn & Kaitlyn, K & 5th grade) for attending the trip!
Office Hours With the Head began last month. Although I am always available to talk with parents, I thought having specific office hours (Wednesdays 1-3:30 p.m. and Thursdays 9-10:30 a.m.) might be helpful for parents and provide a more defined opportunity for me to answer questions, hear your feedback, et cetera. I am available to talk either by phone or in person during these hours (or at another mutually-convenient time – just let me know!). Just one small exception to my regular hours: Today, I will be unavailable only from 2:30-3 p.m.
Last year, on April 26, 2007, there were 114 campers signed up for Pinecrest Summer Pavilion. As of today, there are 225!!! We are thrilled with the positive response and encourage all rising K-6 Pinecrest families to participate. Join us for a flexible, fun, creative and enriching summer camp experience! There is still space available in many classes. Please contact Mrs. Hartzler – summercamp@pinecrestschool.org – or check the website (click on Summer Camp).
|
Date |
Event |
| Wed., April 30
|
Grades 1-5 Family Math Night – 7-8:30 p.m. – newer building
|
| Fri., May 2 | Kindergarten Assembly – 9:15 a.m. – multipurpose room (rescheduled) |
|
Fri., May 2 |
All-school Group Photo – 11 a.m. |
|
Sat., May 3 |
Open House for Prospective Families – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. |
| Sun., May 4 | JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (In Honor of Ellie Hohenstein, 2nd grade) |
| Mon.-Fri., May 5-9 | Faculty Appreciation Week |
| Wed.-Fri., May 7-9 | Kindergarten Metropolitan Readiness Test – mornings – no make-ups |
| Fri., May 9 | Grade 1-5 Authors' Teas – in classrooms – times listed above |
| Fri., May 9 | K Mother's Day Tea – 2:30 p.m. – K classroom |
| Fri., May 9 – Wed., May 14 | Scholastic Book Fair |
| Tues., May 13 | Grade 1 Field Trip – Junie B. Jones Play |
| Thurs., May 15 | K Field Trip – Hidden Oaks Nature Center |
| Fri., May 16 | Preschool 4 Assembly – 9:15 a.m. – multipurpose room, newer building |
| Fri., May 23 | K-5 Half Day – 12 noon Dismissal – no after-care |
| Mon., May 26 | Memorial Day Holiday – NO SCHOOL |
| Wed., May 28 | Grade 1 Field Trip – Aesop's Fables Play |
| Fri., May 30 | Preschool 3 Assembly – 9:15 a.m. – multipurpose room, newer building |
| Sun., June 1 | Annual Meeting 2-2:30 p.m. / Ice Cream Social – 2:30-4 p.m. |
| Thurs., June 5 | Preschool Last Day of School |
| Thurs., June 6 | K Father's Day Breakfast – 9 a.m. – K classroom |
| Fri., June 6 | Preschool NO SCHOOL / Preschool Awards/Families' Picnic – 10 a.m. – playground |
| Tues., June 10 | Quarter 4 Ends (45 days) / Quarter 4 Report Cards Distributed |
| Wed., June 11 | K-5 Last Day of School / K-5 Half Day – 12 noon Dismissal – no after-care / K-5 Field Day 9:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. / K-5 Spring Music Concert – 6 p.m. |
Thank you to the parents who attended our recent two-part parent information sessions we co-sponsored with MSNV!
Last Wednesday, we expressed our appreciation to Mrs. O'Grady and Mrs. Shaw for Administrative Professionals Day. They are both wonderful additions to our school and our staff, and we are grateful for their hard work!
A standing ovation for the volunteers at the recent Spruce Up Day – Susan Akers & Ellie Hohenstein; Brooke & Chase Carmody; Scott Chesbrough; Pavel, Alice & Misha Dasek; Siriwan & Alex Kulvivat; Kris & Grant McNiff; Monique, Kaitlyn & Angelyn Nguyen; Mark & Garrett Patterson; and Val, Jonny & Owen Treharne. They trimmed and weeded the butterfly garden, planted new flowers, mulched the bushes, aerated the lawn, planted grass seeds in the aerated holes, powerwashed some of the back concrete slab and more. The campus looks beautiful, and I especially appreciate all of the new pink flowers! J Thank you to the Lorenzo family for making a donation towards spruce up materials. Finally, a big tip of the hat to Nate Carmody (Brooke, 1st grade) for all of his work to organize and coordinate this event!
"Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use."
(Ruth Gordon)