THE SHUTTLE EXPRESS
April / Issue 6/SY 2013-14
Dear Challenger Families,
I am sending this letter to share important information!
First, as a reminder, the school schedule has been modified
in order to make up missed instructional time from the
numerous snow days this year. April 21 is now a school
day instead of a holiday and our dismissal time will be 3:40
instead of 3:30 until the end of the school year. Also, our
last day of school will now be June 19 with a one hour early
release time on that day. Thank you to everyone for your
flexibility as we work to recover missed time in support of
instruction.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Jump
Rope for Heart fundraiser that raised $5,927 for the
American Heart Association and our Pasta for Pennies
fundraiser to support the Leukemia Society which is
ongoing. Please continue to send in your spare change until
April 11. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity
of our McAuliffe school community in these important
endeavors.
As we proceed through spring we are getting closer to our
end of year SOL assessments for students in grades 3, 4,
and 5 as well as other formative and summative assessments
in all grade levels. We are busy focusing in curriculum
objectives and mastery of concepts. Please continue to
assist your child by monitoring their study time,
encouraging them to read, and ensure they are getting
exercise, good sleep, and a healthy diet.
Thank you so much to our staff and PTA members for
planning and hosting such events as our Amazing Bingo
Night, Fitness Night, Art displays, PEP, concerts, book fair,
and our after school programs. I truly appreciate everyone’s
efforts in support of our school and our students.
Sincerely,
Cindy West
A Prince William County School of Excellence
13540 Princedale Dr. Woodbridge, VA 22193 * 703-680-7270* http://mcauliffees.schools.pwcs.edu
KINDERGARTEN:
FIRST GRADE:
March started off with the kindergarten classes
celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday for Read across
America. At the end of the day, we donned our red and
white striped hats and read in the hallway. In language
arts we finished up our unit on fairy tales. The students
enjoyed the big book, Mrs. Wishy-Washy, and they even
had a special visit from Mrs. Wishy-Washy herself. Oh
lovely mud! We have been working on short vowel
sounds and writing words with these sounds. Writing
sight words independently will continue to be an
important focus as our students must be able to read and
write 30-40 by the end of the year.
First graders are getting adjusted to being back in school
after so many days off. We are eagerly waiting for the
arrival of warm weather.
In Science, we took a winter walk and observed changes
in weather, people, animals, and plants. We also studied
motion, push, pull, circular, straight and back and forth.
We are beginning our study of plants. We will learn
what plants need to survive, the parts of a plant and their
jobs. We will plant a seed and watch in grow.
In our math unit on geometry, we have learned
about two and three dimensional shapes as we enjoyed
pattern block puzzles, shape murals, geoboards and
geoblocks. Keep practicing counting by ones, fives and
tens to 100. Make sure you know your coins and their
values.
In social studies we learned about Pocahontas
and Powhatan as we continue our study of famous
Americans. Our science units have focused on human
growth stages and development, spring seasonal
changes and the life cycle of plants. The students are
hard at work on nonfiction writing.
Don’t forget to sign the reading log every night!
The more you read the better reader you become.
Practice makes perfect! Happy Spring!
In Reading, we will continue to work on decoding,
fluency and comprehension strategies. Don’t forget to
practice retelling at home. Students should be reading
for 20 minutes every night and signing the reading log.
In Writing, we continue to practice writing complete
sentences and using capitalization and punctuation
marks. We will begin our Fairy Tales Unit soon. The
students really like writing their own fairy tale.
In Math, we are doing our timed addition tests and
keeping a graph of our addition facts. We are also
developing strategies for solving addition and
subtraction story problems. You can help by practicing
addition and subtraction facts at home. We will start our
unit on money soon. Please practice recognizing and
counting coins at home.
Our field trip to the National Zoo is May 15.
**Volunteer Tea will be held on
Tuesday, April 22, at 4:00
All Volunteers are invited.
You will receive an invitation.
SECOND GRADE:
THIRD GRADE:
We are very excited to begin spring. Hopefully the
weather will cooperate and give us some spring-like
weather soon. We have enjoyed learning about Ancient
Egypt and China; they were exciting places that gave
us many valuable contributions. Our next unit on life
cycles will review the life cycle of the butterfly and
introduce the life cycle of the white tailed deer. We
will also learn about the life cycle of flowering plants.
In math, we are finishing up our addition and
subtraction unit and will begin our fractions unit. We
will learn that fractions are parts of a whole. After our
fractions unit, we will return to practicing addition and
subtraction. There are many ways to complete an
equation when adding and subtracting two-digit
numbers. One way is to use tens and ones, another way
is to break apart a number to add or subtract.
Third Graders have been working hard in math to
learn fractions and begin their new math unit in
Geometry. This unit is exciting because students get
to build three dimensional shapes and use angle
measurers to find angles that are less than 90 degrees,
90 degrees, or greater than 90 degrees. They should
be practicing addition and multiplication facts. Fourth
grade teachers will be happy that they’ve mastered
them.
For language arts, we are continuing to practice good
reading and writing skills. Students continue to work in
reading groups to practice their reading skills. We
practice using word study strategies to both spell and
decode words. In reading groups, each group practices
skills specific to that group’s ability level. All groups
are working on increasing reading comprehension and
using decoding strategies for unknown words. In
writing, we will continue working on using
punctuation and capitalization. Students will also begin
studying and writing poems. They will practice using
various types of poems, including rhyming and nonrhyming poems.
In Science, students have been exploring Soil and its
components. They took a walk around the school to
observe the different types of soil and erosion.
Please continue to have your child read nightly for at
least 20 minutes and discuss what they’ve read with
you. As we get closer to SOL testing, homework will
change to a review of what has been taught this year.
Encourage your student to do their best on this review.
Also, remember there are SOL practice websites on
the internet.
Please continue to read with your child. Daily reading
is so important, we can’t emphasize this enough.
Continue to ask questions about the stories they are
reading (particularly the “w” questions of who, what,
when, why). Remember to check for fluency (how
quickly and accurately your child can read a story). If
there are too many difficult words, your child will
likely forget the context of the story. When reading
individually, your child should be able to read almost
every word independently. Save the challenging books
for reading together (these are sometimes the most
interesting!). Also continue to practice math facts, time
and money.
In Social Studies, we have completed our unit on
Explorers. One explorer we studied was Christopher
Newport, who is credited with settling present day
Jamestown. Students were able to participate in an
Outreach Program from Jamestown that helped them
understand what life was like in Jamestown during the
beginning of the settlement.
FOURTH GRADE:
In fourth grade our reading skills are continuously
worked on in all of our subject areas. We are
reviewing a lot of previously taught skills in the
month of April. This in turn, slowly prepares our
minds for the SOL test. Please work with your child
at home by questioning them on their nightly reading.
Examples include: What is the author’s purpose?
What is the main idea? Can you make an inference?
Can you predict what will happen next?
We will also be asking your child to write an
informational research paper on a famous Virginian.
More information coming soon!
We are taking a break from word study. In place of
word study we will be doing Daily Oral Language.
Daily Oral Language works with numerous skills that
are essential for 4th graders. Will we be working on
using capital letters, punctuation, grammar, and
spelling. This will be an in class graded assignment.
In 4th grade your child is required to write in cursive
at all times, please continue to practice at home. 20
minutes of reading is required each night. Please have
your child log their reading each night (the 3rd
marking period is a green sheet) and get a parent
signature. One month of reading will earn them a
BOOK It! Certificate for a free personal pizza from
Pizza Hut! YUMMY!
In social studies we recently tested on the Civil War.
Next, we will be learning about what happens after the
war during the Reconstruction. Also, ask your child
about their Virginia Weekly Newspaper, it’s a great
resource for social studies.
In math we are adding and subtracting fractions with
like and unlike denominators. We will also work on
adding and subtracting decimals. Later in April we
will switch to measurement. Have your child practice
their fraction skills with fun, free, downloadable apps.
Please continue to have your child practice their
multiplication facts! They will be very beneficial
during our fraction unit. There are plenty of apps and
websites to use. 
We are working on our electricity unit. Ask your child
about the exciting lab experiments we are doing
weekly—like making a circuit! Our next unit will be
on plants. Encourage your child to start looking at
plants around the house, have them identify specific
parts.
Please check in your child’s agenda for upcoming
tests. We send home study guides in advance for your
child to study. Please ask your child’s teacher for
additional assistance on helpful online resources.
FIFTH GRADE:
Spring has sprung in 5th grade! Our students worked
very hard on both Writing SOLs and we are looking
forward to seeing their results. The Science Fair is
well under way and projects are due no later than
Friday, April 11th. No late projects will be
accepted. Please keep the Science Fair Check List
handy for various due dates along the way.
We also wanted to remind parents and students that
everything needs to be written in cursive. Make sure
you are practicing at home if needed.
MRS. ARMSTONG’S CLASS
We are “springing” forward towards the end of the
third quarter in Mrs. Armstrong’s class! In addition
to their individual math goals, the students continue to
work with fractions with an emphasis on equivalent
fractions. In science, the students have started
investigating magnets and their properties. In social
studies, we continue to explore maps and globes, and
learning how to read them. We can’t believe the
fourth quarter of school is on the horizon, and the
students continue to work diligently towards their
goals
MRS. HARGEST’S CLASS:
MRS. WOUGHTER’S CLASS:
When will spring be here? We have had
more snow in March then we had in February.
However, despite all of the missed days the students
have done an excellent job staying focused. The
fifth graders have completed their first SOL
assessment for writing. Congratulations Fifth
Grade!! All students have been working on their
individual reading goals. They have also been
working on building their vocabulary by
understanding and recognizing homophones,
synonyms, and antonyms in their reading and
writing.
Spring is finally worming its way into our weather
patterns and worms are “worming” their way into our
classroom! We’ve begun our much awaited Worm
Farm to learn about habitats and what animals need to
grow and survive. We’ve mixed soil, shredded
newsprint and crushed eggshells for the beginning of
their home. Did you know worms need calcium
because it helps them have more worms? That’s why
we used eggshells. We’ll feed them food scraps, and
do experiments with fruits and vegetables to see how
long it takes worms to eat them and what happens to
them when they’re buried or left on top of the soil, or
both! Stay tuned to learn more about our creepy
crawlers. To start our unit we’ve been reading the
books “Dirt: The Scoop on Soil”, “The Diary of a
Worm”, and “Creepy Creatures: Worms”.
In math the focus continues to be division,
fractions, decimals and individual goals. Students
practice their social interaction skills by initiating
and appropriately engaging in interactions with
classmates during social skills lessons. Everyone is
looking forward to April and hoping for some nicer
weather. Students are especially eager for more out
door recess time.
Everyone has also been working on their individual
reading, writing and math curriculum. Until next time,
from Wiggly Worm Central – Room 26!
MRS. CALDWELL’S CLASS:
MRS. BAMPTON’S CLASS:
March has been a snowy and busy start to spring in
room 5! In Social Studies, the students completed
our unit about National Symbols. In Science, we
have been thinking like Scientists! Students have
been reading and looking for signs of spring.
Students also collected and analyzed information
about our favorite furry friend, Bao Bao the baby
Panda! Students collected information about Bao
Bao from the National Zoo on a daily basis about
Bao Bao’s habits and activities.
The classroom of room 28 welcomes spring, and
says goodbye to old man winter. In science we will be
investigating the changes that occur in the weather
during the four seasons. The students will observe and
relate the changes that occur during spring. In the area
of social studies the students will investigate different
occupations that our in the community. In the month of
April we will continue as always to focus on our
individual instructional goals.
We will begin working on our class graph once we
have collected all our information. The students
have really enjoyed observing and learning about
the habits of Pandas! Lastly, all the students worked
very hard on their individual math and reading
goals. Please continue reading with your children
nightly and remember to sign the reading log.
Everyone continues to do an excellent job returning
their reading logs!
ART SMART COLUMN:
MUSIC NEWS:
Kindergartners say “No more winter! No more
snow! Let’s do art about things that grow!” They
are creating bouquets of flowers!
Congratulations to all third grade students, who
hosted an Evening of the Arts in March. The third
graders shared their musical knowledge with
various folk songs from around the world. They
performed music from Japan, Australia, America,
and Mexico. Well done, students!
First Graders are creating symmetrical butterflies!
Second Graders just finished their “Rumble in the
Jungle” paintings and are ready to make their
animals come to life with clay!
Third Graders had an excellent Evening of the
Arts! We are working on our Warhol inspired Pop
Art prints of everyday items.
Fourth Graders are getting their artwork ready for
their Evening of the Arts on April 10th!!! We’re
hoping to get our clay project done in time!
The Fourth Grade Evening of the Arts is scheduled
for Thursday, April 10th. The evening begins at
6:30 with an art show. At 7:00, the event will move
into the cafeteria for the fourth grade concert. This
will be an exciting evening, as students perform on
their recorder, sing folk songs, and perform a
traditional Virginian folk dance. Please mark your
calendars.
Additional Evening of the Arts dates are:
Fifth Graders are finishing their tessellations
inspired by M.C. Escher.
May 1 – 2nd grade
(this event also includes Mrs. Paulson’s 1st graders)
May 22 – kindergarten
TECHNOLOGY NEWS:
Fifth grade students have finished their Writing SOL and students in third through fifth grades
will be brushing up on technology enhanced questions for the spring SOLs. There are several
links on the Computer page on the McAuliffe School Fusion website to help third through fifth
graders prepare for the upcoming SOLs.
This month’s internet safety tip is to use good netiquette when online. Using good netiquette
means to always use good manners when on the internet. It means to use appropriate words and
to not use all caps when texting, emailing or instant messaging. As always, students should talk
to a trusted adult if anything makes them upset, uncomfortable, or afraid online. For more
internet safety information, check out the Computer page on the McAuliffe School Fusion
website. There, you will find a link to the Netsmartzkids web page which has lots of interesting
and fun activities for students to do while they learn about being safe on the web.!
PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
In physical education class we are concluding our Jump Rope for Heart unit with some fancy partner tricks,
long jump roping and jumping stations. Congratulations goes out to all who took part in the fundraising this
year. We don’t have the totals yet as money is still trickling in but I am pretty sure we have surpassed last
year’s total. Please do not send any more money in at this point as we are in the process of sending everything
off to the American Heart Association.
Our spring fitness night will be coming up soon. April 3 will be a combination of book fair and fitness night
with the fitness portion starting at 6:30. If the weather is nice we will have some outside activities such as
jump rope, hula hoops and even some relay races. We hope to see everyone there!
“What About Me?
Meeting the Needs of Typically Developing Siblings of Children with Disabilities”
Meeting the challenges for children with special needs is a big job. The concern about shortchanging the needs of your other children can be a constant worry. Like parents, siblings of a
child with disabilities share in the struggles and play a unique and crucial role in the family. The
presenter, Dr. Avidan Milevsky, will propose some ways to address and manage the powerful
reactions of the typically developing siblings, and suggest how to enhance the bond between the
siblings.
There will be a workshop held for parents that will examine the crucial role played by siblings in
general, and the impact of children with disabilities on their typically developing siblings in
particular. This informative session will be from 7–9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8 at The Arc of
Greater Prince William Muriel Humphrey Center, 13505 Hillendale Drive, Woodbridge, VA
22193.
Those who would like to attend this free workshop are asked to preregister by contacting Jan
Russell at jrussell@arcgpw.org by March 31.
Sign or foreign language interpreter services are available upon request. To request these
services, contact Jan Russell at 703.730.3124 or email jrussell@arcgpw.org by Tuesday, March
30.
Whether it's PTA or Parent Volunteer,
Your PTA 2013-14
Board members:
President:
Michelle Dawson
Vice President:
Mariela Reyes
Secretary:
Erika Flaherty
Treasurer:
Lisa StustmanRuszczyk
Please get involved today…Parent volunteers always needed!!
For more information on volunteering in the office, cafeteria,
classroom etc. and attending one of the mandatory one-time
volunteer training sessions, please contact the office during normal
school hours at 703-680-7270.
** Please remember that even field trip volunteers
Need to attend the training sessions.
PTA is a non-profit organization with an executive committee that arranges special
events and activities to supplement the academic program and enhance the school's
sense of community. We are a liaison to encourage and facilitate communication
between families and the school's administration, staff and School
Board. The PTA conducts several fundraisers throughout the year to help
with expenses not covered by the school; as well as funding special events for
the faculty and students to enjoy.
Membership is $ 5.00 per person!
PLEASE JOIN US IN MAKING EACH YEAR A SUCCESS!!
CMES PTA
Fusion Page
CLICK ON THE ICON
Or copy/paste this
address in your search
engine:
http://pta.pwcs.mcauliffe.
schoolfusion.us
Please feel free to contact us at the following:
Email: VAMcAuliffePTA@gmail.com
Facebook search: VA McAuliffe PTA
Fusion page on the school website: click here
UPCOMING EVENTS
Apr 1- Executive Board Meeting – 6pm
Apr 2- Spirit Night @ CiCi’s from 4pm – 6pm
Apr 3- Fitness Night from 6:30pm – 8pm
Apr 3- Book Fair Family Night- 6:30pm -8pm
Apr 8- General PTA Meeting/Potluck. Bring a dish to share.
REMINDER(s):


PTA MEETINGS

Board Meeting
April 1
General Meeting
April 8
o Please check the Tuesday
folder and our fusion page
for updates!
3 Volunteers are needed for the Nominating committee. Please email the PTA if
you are available. Elections will be held in May
Remember to “Like” us on Facebook and like our posts as well. “Liking” our posts
on Facebook will keep us in your Newsfeed.
 Ways to Earn Money for McAuliffe:
o Register your Grocery cards
Keep clipping those box tops and turn them into your child’s teacher
April 2014
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
2
Book Fair
Book Fair
PTA Board 6:00PM Cicis Pizza Spirit
Night 4-8PM
Thursday
3
Book Fair
Challengers Academy
Book Fair Family Night
6:00-8:00PM
Friday
4
Book Fair
Fitness Night 6:308:00PM
7
8
Report Cards Go
Home
Phonics
9
14
Spring Break
15
Spring Break
16
Spring Break
21
School
Reopens
22
23
Honor Roll
Assembly Grade 3- Science Fair 6:307:30PM
5 @ 9:30AM
10
4th Grade Art Display
6:30PM
4th Grade Concert
7:00PM
KG Registration 10AM12Pm and 1-3PM
11
Picture Day
17
Spring Break
18
Spring Break
24
Kingergarten Registration
10AM-12PM
and 5-7PM
Volunteer Tea
4:00PM
28
29
Walk Around the
School
30
5th Grade TDAP
Clinic 1:00PM
The Shuttle Express is a joint PTAChrista McAuliffe Elementary School Publication
25