FUTURA News
Sycolin Creek Elementary School
November 2015
Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Quiles
Environmental Systems:
We began October with our exploration of environmental systems utilizing
simulation software, “Decisions!, Decisions!: The Environment”, and by introducing
students to manmade actions that affect the natural balance of our earth’s
systems with National Geographic’s Human Footprint. We collaborated with our
field expert from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. John Alter, to
help us identify ways to reuse, recycle, or properly dispose of items that could
otherwise negatively affect our air, water, or food supply here in Loudoun County.
Students investigated the concept of their “carbon footprint” and deepened their
understanding of the carbon cycle and climate change using online interactive tools
including: NASA’s climate kids, EPA’s climate change for kids, and Meet the
Greens. Students brought their learning home by creating and sharing their own
“Family Footprint Surveys”. We hope you enjoyed talking with your child about
these relevant, real-world topics. Students continued to apply their knowledge by
creating and filming an original Public Service Announcement (PSA). In the coming
weeks, as we explore inventions and the invention process, they will apply their
understanding to an original invention or innovation related to our study of the
environment.
Delayed Opening Procedure:
As winter approaches, it is important that you and your child are aware of the
delayed opening and cancellation policy and how it will impact their FUTURA
schedule. In the event of a one-hour or two-hour delayed opening, your child will
have FUTURA on his/her regularly scheduled day, but we will meet for an
abbreviated time. In the event of a cancellation, there will not be any changes
made to your child’s FUTURA day. There are no make-up days, as we teach
different groups of students every day of the week. Please contact your FUTURA
teacher if you have any questions or concerns about the schedule.
Parent Reminders:
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Please take a moment to review the Parent Handbook that is linked on our
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FUTURA webpage.
Our FUTURA curriculum is designed to develop thinker, reflector,
connector, and worker skills. Student work is assessed in the following
areas: Problem Solving/Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Creating Thinking,
Researching, Goal Setting, Self-Assessing, Explaining Connections,
Communication, Collaborating, Pursuing Challenges, Managing Time, and
Producing Quality Work. FUTURA report cards are sent home at the end of
each semester.
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We greatly appreciate you taking the time to e-mail your child’s FUTURA
teacher when he/she is absent (Lisa.Schmidt@lcps.org or
Kimberly.Quiles@lcps.org). Thank you for notifying us ahead of time
whenever possible, especially if he/she will be absent for more than one
FUTURA class.