Email: matthew.vinson@lcps.org
Mill Run Elementary
42940 Ridgeway Drive Ashburn, VA 20148
571-252-2160
August 29, 2013
Dear Fifth Grade Families,
Welcome to fifth grade! I am very excited to be starting a new year here at Mill Run, and I am looking forward to working with both you and your child this year.
Last year, I had a fantastic year teaching fifth grade for the first time and I am looking forward to having an even better year this year. This will be my eighth year here at Mill Run, having also taught 3 rd grade for six years here. Before that I taught sixth grade Language Arts for two years in
Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2004, I graduated from the College of
Charleston in South Carolina with a B.S. in Elementary Education. This year promises to be exciting as I start your family’s journey into fifth grade.
This year will present many new opportunities for your child to learn.
The fifth grade curriculum is extensive, but exciting. Some special activities your child has to look forward to include being safety patrols, morning news positions, a field trip to Hemlock Overlook and participating in the D.A.R.E. program.
This year I will be immersing your child in the following subjects - reading, writing, science, social studies, and word study. In Math, we offer flexible groupings which allow the students to work at varying paces. This will enable students to be challenged throughout the curriculum. It is our hope that this procedure will help to accommodate the multitude of learning styles represented by the fifth grade.

Each student will use a binder, dividers, and agenda to organize his/her materials daily. The agenda will help your child stay organized and is an important communication tool between you, your child and myself.
Daily homework, dates of tests and quizzes, and other important information will be recorded by your child in this book. If an assignment is incomplete, this will be highlighted in the agenda. We are requesting that you review your child’s agenda with him/her each night and then initial or sign at the bottom.
By doing so, we know you will have seen the assignments and comments.
In addition, there is a section for “school talk” where a teacher or parent can write a brief note. It is very important for us to work together for your child’s academic growth. This year’s success will depend on our cooperation and communication with one another. Please don’t hesitate to contact me through email, note, agenda, or phone.
Each Thursday you can expect to receive a “Thursday Folder.” This folder contains important communication such as school wide notices, completed class work, and classroom news. Please be sure to check the folder carefully and return the folder back to school the next day.
Thank you for visiting our classroom this afternoon at Open House and this evening at Back to School Night. Please sign up to help throughout the year or even for one event. In addition, you will need to sign up for a fall conference.
Welcome to your child’s classroom! Please feel free to explore and ask me any questions!
Sincerely,
Matthew Vinson