January FUTURA Newsletter
Sycolin Creek Elementary School
Mrs. Lisa Schmidt and Mrs. Kim Quiles
We began December with an invention challenge project that we utilized for our
“FUTURA Financier” simulation activity, in which students perfected their
persuasive sales pitch and/or invested in classmates’ creations with FUTURA
money. We greatly appreciate the generous support from our FUTURA students’
families who enabled us to assemble candy sleighs during our Henry Ford lesson,
which provided students with hands-on experience working on a specific part of an
assembly line. In the weeks ahead, we will explore forensic science and
communication systems, including ciphers and codes.
Delayed Opening Procedure:
This winter, 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.
Learning and Contest Opportunities:

UVA Summer Enrichment Program: http://curry.virginia.edu/communityprograms/student-enrichment/sep/summer --In conjunction with the Curry
School of Education, the University of Virginia announces the 38th year of its
residential summer program for gifted and/or high ability students. Students enrolled
in grades 4-10 during the 2015/2016 school year may apply to attend a twelve day
session. SEP offers three summer sessions. Applications for the Summer program are
available on the website and are due on February 15th.

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is now open for
entries. Students in grades 5-8 are asked to propose a new invention or solution to an
everyday problem, and explain their solution in a one-to-two minute video. Please visit
YOUNGSCIENTISTCHALLENGE.com for prize information and other important
details. Videos will be accepted through April 20, 2016.
Parent Reminders:

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, Creative Thinking,
Researching, Goal Setting, Self-Assessing, Explaining Connections,
Communication, Collaborating, Pursuing Challenges, Managing Time, and
Producing Quality Work. The first semester FUTURA report cards will be
sent out to you after the January 29th workday.
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.
