Volume 6, Issue 5
February 2014
ANNE E. MONCURE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
75 Moncure Lane Stafford, Virginia 22556
Bear facts
“Making A Difference Today for Tomorrow”
Mr. Greg Machi – Principal
Mr. Machi’s Message…
Word of the
Month:
RESPECT
Calendar of
Events
Chuck-E-Cheese
Spirit Night (3-9)
4th & 5th Grade
Variety Show
Try-outs @5:30
FULL
INSTRUCTIONAL
DAY
AWARDS
4th@9:30 am
K @1:30 pm
1st@2:30 pm
2/7
2/11
2/17
2/17
AWARDS
5th@9:30am
3rd@1:30pm
2ndt@2:30pm
4th & 5th Grade
Variety Show
Rehearsal @6:30
Market Day
Orders Due
th
4 & 5th Grade
Variety Show
@7pm
Mrs. Bonnie Norton – Assistant Principal
2/18
2/18
2/19
2/20
Market Day
Pick-up
2/25
1:10 Early
Release
2/26
Student of the
Month Breakfast
2/28
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
I want to start this month by thanking everyone for your
support of Anne E. Moncure Elementary School. It’s hard to
believe we are already into the second semester of school.
Although we’ve accomplished a great amount of learning, it is
staggering how much still lies ahead. January was a crazy
month for weather and busy month for assessing. Once we get
back into a routine of regularly attending school, we will put
our assessment data to work and make adjustments to help
our students thrive. With that being said, I am hopeful for a
warm February and an early spring!
Throughout the month of February, there is a lot planned
around Moncure. Our second report card will go home; we will
have our first semester awards ceremonies (February 17th &
18th), and our 4th and 5th grade students will display their
talents during our annual Variety Show. Additionally, this
month we will have our Smart Night and Chuck E. Cheese Spirit
Night. Because of our numerous weather days during the
month of January, please refer to the calendar at the back of
this newsletter for rescheduled events. We’re looking forward
to a busy, fun-filled month.
Moncure’s first round of SOLs is rapidly approaching.
During the week of March 17th, our 5th graders will be taking
their online SOL writing tests. With that being said, all of
Moncure’s students have been working very hard practicing
writing organized essays. As we continue to prepare our 5th
graders for these tests, it is critical for all students to regularly
practice the various parts of the writing process. As our testing
dates approach, we will provide all 5th grade families with
additional information. Thanks for your help and support.
At this time, I would like to take a moment to highlight a
few of Anne E. Moncure’s distinguished staff members. First I
would like to recognize Mrs. Dorian Leaman for being selected
as Moncure’s 2014 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Leaman is in her
6th year of making a difference in the lives of fifth grade
children at Moncure. Whether she is providing exceptional
instruction in her classroom, providing tutoring after hours,
leading Moncure’s Drama Club, or the list goes on, she is very
deserving of this distinction. Congratulations Mrs. Leaman!
Continued on page 2
PAGE 2
BEAR FACTS
Mr. Machi’s Message Continued…
Next, I would like to recognize Mrs. Barbara Yonts for being selected as
Moncure’s Service Employee of the Year. Mrs. Yonts serves as one of Moncure’s
outstanding paraprofessionals. Whether she is working with children, helping to keep
our school’s copy machines operating, or lending a hand around the building, we are
very proud of Mrs. Yonts. Should you have the opportunity, please take a moment to
congratulate these deserving individuals. We are extremely proud of our amazing
representatives.
Thanks again for sharing your children with Anne E. Moncure’s staff and
community. It is always a pleasure working with our Moncure BEARS. Have a great
February!
Greg Machi
Principal
Norton’s Notes
In February thoughts turn to hearts and flowers and those we
love. We will be celebrating Valentines, National Heart Month, first
semester awards, and our 4th and 5th Grade Variety Show. As you can
see February is a busy month. Please be sure to mark your calendars,
but be alert to weather changes if necessary. Should schools close
early in the day or be closed on that day all events are canceled or postponed.
Information will be provided should weather prevent a scheduled activity. ***Speaking
of changes to the calendar, February 17th, originally scheduled as a holiday is no longer
a holiday but a regular instructional day***
We, and I do mean we, as in parents, students, and staff have reached the
halfway mark, semester’s end. I have some new bits of information and some
information that warrants repeating as we move into a brand new semester.
Academically speaking, the students and teachers have been working very hard to
complete the learning at each grade level and in addition, identifying students needing
additional support through tutoring, etc. Some of you should have received tutoring
notices for additional help for your child. Tutoring will begin in February. It can make
a positive difference for those students needing additional time on a particular topic.
That being said, SOL’s will soon be upon us. In March, the fifth graders will be
taking the writing portion of the SOL. Practice is already in progress. Our fifth graders
will be taking the writing test online. Ask your students about their latest writings. All
other grade levels are encouraging the writing practice as well. Much review, in
addition to new learning, will be taking place. Some review tools are available on the
computer to students at home. You might have worked with your children in First in
Math, or practiced reading strategies at home also. We highly recommend practice at
home as well as school. Remember we are all partners in the education of our children.
Congratulations go to a team from Moncure in the Fredericksburg Canstruction
Competition led by Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Leaman. Moncure won the award for best use
of labels in a design of a waving American Flag honoring the many military families in
Moncure’s community. Canstruction is an annual event that takes place to benefit the
Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. This was a first time entry and we are very proud of
the efforts of all who took part in this worthwhile endeavor.
Warmly, Bonnie Norton
BEAR FACTS
PAGE 3
Kindergarten News
Where has the time gone? January 27th marked the end of the
2nd grading period for kindergarten. Your kindergartener will be
assessed for mastery in the areas of the report card that have been
taught. Please do not be alarmed if some areas do not have
numbers. This simply means that we have not addressed those
areas well enough to assess them. Look for report cards to come
home on February 11th. Please read the report card, make any
comments you would like, and return your comment card and
envelope as soon as possible.
During the month of February kindergarten will be working very
hard. We will continue to learn new letters and letter sounds,
practice counting to 100 and backwards from 10 to 0, and measure
and graph objects. We will also work with syllables, phrases, sight
words and word families to help our beginning reading and writing
skills grow. Different holidays, such as Groundhogs Day, Valentine’s
Day, Presidents Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, and Washington’s Birthday
will also be explored. We will also learn about how a shadow is
made and that the President’s job is to be the leader of our country.
Kindergarteners will be expected to begin writing their last names
with a capital letter in the beginning and lowercase letters for the
rest of the name.
BRRRR…it’s cold outside! Please make sure that your
kindergartener wears a jacket to school every day. We will continue
to go outside for recess, weather permitting, and want to keep
everyone warm.
Reading is at the heart of everything that we do in
Kindergarten. Please take time out every evening to read with your
kindergartener. Happy reading!!
The Kindergarten Team
PAGE 4
BEAR FACTS
First Grade News
January was a short but productive month. 1st Grade finished units on
fractions, economics, and summarizing and analyzing story elements. We
began learning about famous Americans such as Martin Luther King, Jr.,
holidays, and gathering data and interpreting graphs.
February will be a busy month as we finish units in gathering data and
reading graphs and famous Americans. Also, we will begin units in adding and
subtracting to and from 20 and in length, mass, and volume in Math. In
Science we will begin studying migration, hibernation, and adaptation and we
will experiment with objects that mix and dissolve. We will continue to learn
about famous Americans in Social Studies. In Language Arts we begin a unit in
inferring and we continue to learn about Personal Narratives in writing. We
hope everyone enjoyed their snow days because we are going to be busy in
February!
First Grade Team
Second Grade News
Happy New Year! We are indeed excited to begin this year with a great start.
In reading, students are learning the comprehension strategy of making
inferences using clues in the text. We will be looking for demonstration of
mastery of phonetic skills not only in reading, but in writing as well. In math,
we are learning about organizing data to construct graphs. The students will
read information in graphs and be able to solve one and two step addition and
subtraction problems using data from simple tables, picture graphs, and bar
graphs. In social studies, students are learning about famous Americans and
their contributions. The famous Americans students will study are George
Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Jackie Robinson,
and Martin Luther King, Jr. As always, please review all skills, strategies, and
information that students have learned often. Our goal is to build a SOLID
educational foundation. Reviewing these things will help to keep it strong. When
reading with your child, try to make some personal connections with the story
and discuss it. This will spark their attention and cause them to be actively
involved. Students should work toward mastering their math facts. Don’t
forget about First in Math, a great online resource for additional practice!
Thank you,
Second Grade Team
BEAR FACTS
PAGE 5
Third Grade News
Wow! It is hard to believe, but we are now beginning the second half of the
school year! The children have worked hard to learn our expectations and the third
grade curriculum. Therefore, they should not need as many verbal reminders for
everyday expectations such as being prepared for class, walking quietly in the hall,
following directions, and completing work on time.
Children should be reading for at least 20 minutes each night. Please continue to
remind them to record their reading information in their AR logs.
We do go outside for recess each day, weather permitting. Please make sure that
your child wears a coat or jacket now that the weather is colder.
Thank you for your help and support at home.
Fourth Grade News
Fourth Graders are working hard on their science fair projects. Remember that due
dates were set to keep your student on track for completing the project and not having
to rush at the end. We look forward to seeing all of the final projects when they come
in on February 14th.
Math- We have been learning about lines and polygons, which includes a lot of new
vocabulary. The extra exposure at home and identifying objects around them will help
reinforce the usage of the terms correctly and their meaning. As always, those math
facts pop up in many math skills, so keep practicing. Fractions is our next big unit,
which is rather complex, so students will need to be able to add/subtract fractions with
and without like denominators and present the answer in simplest form.
Language Arts- We will be Drawing Conclusions as we read, using text clues to
determine what or why something is happening. It is very important that they are
reading nightly. Mrs. Torino suggests a minimum of 35 minutes each night and has
talked to most of them about why. Please encourage them to read at least 2 or 3
Accelerated Reader Books each month so that they can take a computerized test and
earn points towards their goal. It is important the books chosen are within their reading
range for optimal benefit. Higher is ok if they are being successful.
Social Studies- Students have been learning about the Westward Expansion after the
Revolutionary War and will begin to learn about the Civil War. We are very fortunate to
live in such a history embedded state. Please take the time as a family to visit the
museums, battlefields, etc. that our area has to offer. Later on in the year we will be
visiting Fredericksburg Battlefield and Chatham House, but there are many more to
see.
Science- Students have been studying about force, motion, and energy. Our next unit
has us learning about Electricity. We will be building circuits and much more.
The Fourth Grade Team
PAGE 6
BEAR FACTS
Fifth Grade News
The DARE program has started for our fifth grade
students. They are very excited. DARE stands for Drug
and Alcohol Resistance Education. It is a 12 week
program. Upon completion of the program, students will
write an essay, participate in a graduation ceremony,
and attend DARE Day in the spring.
Our Science Fair will be here this month! The fifth grade
team is very excited to see the wonderful projects and
experiments conducted by our students.
We are continuing with our math switching during enrichment and review at the
end of our school day. Students are practicing skills currently being learned as
well as being enriched on skills already mastered. We also practice taking
exemplars and communicating mathematically.
We are just about to enter our first SOL window. Students will be getting ready
to take the writing prompt and multiple-choice SOL in the beginning of March.
All classrooms will be preparing students for success on this first SOL. Please
make sure your child gets plenty of rest the night before and eats a healthy
breakfast the morning of the SOL.
Keep reading, reviewing, and learning!
Thank you for all you do!
Kind Regards,
The Fifth Grade Team
Cafeteria Information
Student Cafeteria Accounts:
Students are encouraged to pre-pay for their meals with SNAP
(School Nutrition Accountability Program). This Program is the
easiest way to ensure that your child has lunch money each day.
Money may be added to student accounts at any time. However,
Monday Mornings are preferred. Money can be deposited into
accounts on Open House night.
Common Cafeteria Confusion:
Lunch comes with a carton of milk. If juice is selected in place of
milk, a .50 charge is applied to your child’s account. Dessert is
also an extra .50 charge. If you do NOT want your child to buy
these items, please make it clear with them.
Free and Reduced Lunches:
All Stafford County Public Schools offer Free and Reduced
lunches to qualifying students. Reduced lunches are also available
for short-term hardships.
Cafeteria Charges:
Breakfast
$1.20
Lunch
$2.15
Milk
.50
Dessert
.50
Extras
(See Monthly Menu)
NOTE:
To avoid having your children eat
cheese sandwiches, please check
occasionally to make sure SNAP
accounts have sufficient money.
BEAR FACTS
PAGE 7
Notes from ART
The Sketchbook
This February fifth grade students are beginning to work on plaster sculpture. Fourth grade
students are learning about relief collage and different painting methods like dry brush and antiquing.
Third grade students are studying Africa and the ancient civilization of Mali, creating kente designs
and creating Anansi the spiders. Second grade is working on a quick “tree of hearts” project after
working for a long time on our Andy Worhol “PoP Art”. First graders are discovering the work of
artist Jasper Johns. In Kindergarten, we are making Valentine inspired art, using hearts to make all
kinds of creatures.
Stained Glass Cookies Recipe
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
30-40 hard candies (such as Life Savers or jolly ranchers), preferably in several flavors/colors
METHOD
1 Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.
2 In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add molasses
and vanilla extract, mixing until incorporated. Add egg and mix until light and smooth, about 1 minute on medium
speed.
3 Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Use electric mixer to blend just
until flour is incorporated. Divide dough in half and flatten into two disks. Wrap disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate at
least an hour and up to 2 days.
4 Remove any wrappers on candies and separate them by color into plastic bags. Use a mallet to crush candies.
5 Place one disk between two large sheets of waxed paper and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut
dough into desired shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Using a smaller cookie cutter
or a knife, cut shapes into centers of cookies, reserving these center bits to add into extra dough.
6 Use a spoon to sprinkle the crushed candy into the hollowed-out centers of the cookies, filling to the edges. Try to
keep the candy within the centers. Any candy specks that fall on the cookie will color the cookie.
7 If cookies will be hung as ornaments or decorations, poke a small hole in the top of each cookie before baking.
8 Bake 9 to 10 minutes. The candy should be melted and bubbling and the cookies just barely beginning to brown.
Remove baking sheets from oven and place on wire racks to cool. Allow cookies to cool on pans at least 10 minutes;
otherwise, the candy centers may separate from the dough. When cookies are completely cooled, remove and store in
an airtight container. String with ribbon if you want to hang as an ornament.
Makes 2 to 4 dozen cookies, depending on how large you make them.
Mrs. Brooks
brookshd@staffordschools.net
PAGE 8
BEAR FACTS
Clinic News
February is Dental Health Month
To Keep The Teeth Healthy:
Gently clean the teeth and gums daily to remove decay producing germs.

Eat a balanced diet daily, limiting the frequency of sugary snacks. Brush
the teeth as soon as possible after eating a sweet snack. Rinse the
mouth with water when brushing is not possible.

Visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, receiving fluoride treatments from
the dentist and drinking fluoridated water will make teeth stronger.
Remember that Moncure Elementary is a collection site for your used glasses.
Please feel free to bring in any glasses you no longer need or use. The Lions
Club will recycle them for the community.
School Nurse Substitutes needed. RN preferred. Contact Human Resources at
658-6000 for more information
Winter Weather
/ School Closings
For school closing and delay announcements,
Call 540-658-6698, check the website at
www.staffordschools.net or check local radio and
TV stations. If you do not check directly with SCPS,
please check at least 2 media sources
(Sometimes a station can be wrong!).
BEAR FACTS
Math Moments
PAGE 9
Susan Kutt, Math Specialist
skutt@staffordschools.net
TOILET PAPER! SNOW, and MEASUREMENT! I am sure you have better things to
do then wonder how they determine the supply of toilet paper and how it fits on the shelf.
In this video from BedtimeMath.org, our friend Kevin finds a job working at Costco
shelving of all things, toilet paper. I hope you and our students learn a little about
multiplication as you enjoy a good laugh. Click on the video link here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfcpOWCNVVQ. I often wonder what people do with
their stock pile of toilet paper after a major storm. I guess it is better in this case to
have more than you need.
SNOW DAYS! SNOW DAYS!. All kids love snow days, right? Parents, sometimes
not as much. There’s the heating bills, the shoveling, and, of course, keeping the kids
occupied all day. The good news is that the very thing that got you into this mess in the
first place can also save your sanity: the snowflake! If you’ve ever tried to pack snow into
snowballs or make a snowman, you know that some snow doesn’t work: if it’s too cold out,
the snow won’t be wet enough to stick together. But if it’s nice, wet, heavy, packable snow,
you can shape just about anything out of it – like this giant shark that three kids in
Minnesota made last week. The Bartz brothers spent 95 hours shoveling up a huge pile of
snow, then patting it and shaping it to look like a shark. At 10 feet tall and about 30 feet
long, the shark is almost the size of their house, and is even more exciting than the giant
pufferfish the brothers made out of snow last year.
Wee ones: A day has 24 hours in it. Did the project take more or less than one day?
Little kids: If the oldest brother is 6 feet tall, the house is 12 feet tall, and the shark is
10 feet tall, what’s their order of height from shortest to tallest? Bonus: The brothers
said the tail and fins alone took 10 hours! If the whole shark took 95 hours, how long did
the rest of the shark take? Big kids: If the shark used 3,000 shovels of snow and a
shovelful weighs 6 pounds, how much does the snow shark weigh? Bonus: If the brothers
had worked for 95 hours nonstop, how many days and hours would that have taken?
(Reminder: A day has 24 hours.) The sky’s the limit: The brothers’ names are Austin,
Connor and Trevor. If Austin’s and Connor’s ages add up to 25, Connor’s and Trevor’s add
to 30, and Austin’s and Trevor’s add to 27, what are the 3 boys’ ages? Have the student
solve the appropriate above problem, explain their thinking and give it to me for a small
math prize.
Continued on page 10
PAGE 10
BEAR FACTS
As I sit and look through my window at the beautiful winter wonderland that is
my backyard, measurement comes to mind. We use measurement every day and
especially in this winter wonderland. Everything seems to be a measurement- How many
inches of snow? Is it more accurate to do it in feet? How many school days have we
used? How many do we have left? What is the temperature outside? How much money
is all this snow removal going to cost? And we can go on and on. Here are some
practical ways you can help reinforce measurement concepts with your child(children).
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Buy your child an analog watch
As your child what time is it
Tell him/her that you need to leave the house in ___ minutes, and ask
what time you need to leave. Or ask him/her to remind you at that time
that you need to leave.
In the grocery store, have your children weigh the fruits/vegetables
In the car, talk about how far you are driving in miles/kilometers
Have them estimate from one mile marker on 95 to another. Have them
estimate how far a mile is
If you’re getting floors, rugs, etc have your child figure out your area
When we get snow, have your child use a ruler to measure the amount of
snow.
If you’re getting a fence, chair rails, baseboards, crown molding, making a
garden etch have your child figure out the perimeter
If you’re doing any work (getting windows, window treatments, a door,
etc.) that requires measurement, have your child do it as well.
SCA News
The SCA will be selling candy grams for $0.25 starting February 3rd
until February 11th. All proceeds will benefit the SCA and our
school. All students interested in buying a candy gram may do so in
the morning before school in front of the WMES studio.
BEAR FACTS
PAGE 11
Physical Education News
Congratulations on a great first half of our school year!
February is American Heart Month. To celebrate, we are participating in Jump
Rope for Heart the week of the 14th. While this is a fun activity for our students look
forward to, it isn’t just a fun activity. We are also trying to raise money for the
American Heart Association. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and
women in the United States. Your child should be bringing home the fundraising
information and envelope explaining in more detail how it all works. We are a little
behind with getting the materials in because of the snow, but will extend the time to
return donations.
Again like last year, the option to raise money online will be available. It is a
great way to ask for donations from family and friends who may not live in Virginia.
This year we are trying really hard to get more kids signed up online. There are
instructions on our website about how each child can make their own web page.
We would love to do all fundraising online, it is a secured website, but it is an
option to collect checks. All checks should be made out to American Heart
Association. Thank you in advance for your help fighting heart disease and stroke.
We will be doing Jump Rope for Heart in P.E. classes this year. There are some
fun incentives! Any student who creates a webpage will be entered into a drawing
for prizes, and will receive a duck! Any student who raises $5 or more online will
receive another duck! Anyone who turns in their form with donations or receives
donations online will be entered into a drawing for some REALLY cool prizes
too. Any collected checks are due NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 21st !!! NO
CASH PLEASE!
Please check the website and email Mrs. Barr if you have any questions or
concerns. Information regarding the second session of Running Club will be posted
on our website later this month. Please check the website and have your child listen
for an announcement to pick up a form. We are looking forward to a terrific second
half of the school year!!!
PAGE 12
BEAR FACTS
From the Music Room…
As we move beyond our winter break and then our winter weather, there are exciting
things going on with our students and our classes within the music program. On Thursday,
January 30th the 2nd & 3rd Grade Variety show was held in the MES cafeteria. Our student
performers presented outstanding performances through singing, dancing, gymnastics,
visual art and more!
We INVITE you to attend our upcoming 4th & 5th Grade Variety show on Thursday
night, February 20th, at 7:00 pm! Applications for this show were made available to every
4th & 5th Grade class via their classroom teacher.
MES had 4 students chosen for the 5th Grade, All District, Honors chorus and they will
be performing, with student singers from many neighboring counties, at King George High
School on Saturday, February 22nd at 4:00 p.m.
We are currently hosting a student-teacher, who is apprenticing as a music teacher,
with Mr. Vita's tutelage. We welcome Ms. Jeffers, our student music teacher, to MES through
March.
About 4th & 5th Grade: information is currently going home regarding the need for
students to purchase a soprano recorder (which is a wind instrument) through the school.
Most 5th graders have one they purchased last year. 5th graders who did not purchase one
last year will have the option to do so this year. Most 4th graders will need to purchase a
recorder. These will primarily be used in March, April and May. The purchased price is $5
and this buys a high quality recorder.
As we approach spring time, we are approaching a special event - the Stafford
County 350th Anniversary Founder's Day Parade. We will be sending home information for a
"Samba Club" which will be an afternoon club during which students will learn how to be a
member of a Samba Bateria (drums & handheld rhythm instruments). The goal is for this
club to learn Samba rhythms and routines and perform in the parade. Additional
information will be made available soon. Have a great and musical month!"
Free or Low Cost Health Insurance
There is a place right here in your community to help you.
Your child may be able to get comprehensive health and dental insurance
that is free and costs only a few dollars for a doctor visit or for medicine.
If your children do not already have Medicaid or Famis they may qualify.
Contact:
Children’s Health Insurance Coordinator, Stafford County Head Start.
BEAR FACTS
PAGE 13
Notes from our Library
Winter is a great time to read with friends!
Library Lessons
Author, Katy Kelly, will be visiting
Moncure on March 3rd! She is the author
of two book series: Lucy Rose and
Melonhead. Information about the
author and purchasing her books will be
sent home the beginning of February.
Set in Washington DC, her two
humorous series deal with school,
growing up, friendship, and life on
Capitol Hill.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Hugar and Mrs. Lewis
Thank you PTO for sponsoring this
event!
PAGE 10
The second grade FOCUS students have started to learn about Earth’sBEAR
layersFACTS
and the
geological wonders contained within each one. They are most excited to learn about the
different kinds of rocks and minerals found on our planet! In their first lesson, the children
learned that a snowflake can be classified as a mineral. That lesson has proven to be prophetic
given the string of snow days we have experienced of late.
Third-graders have finished up their analogy study and will be beginning a unit about the Lost
Colony of Roanoke. It will be presented as a mystery and will incorporate creative writing,
public speaking, as well as using higher order of thinking to discern between substantiated and
unsubstantiated facts.
Bridge building is coming up for FOCUS students in the fourth grade. This engineering
unit will draw heavily on physical science. There will be several opportunities for the children
to build the different types of bridges and will culminate in a competition between teams to
build the strongest bridge.
Fifth grade FOCUS students have some exciting topics in the offing. First, they will learn
about geometry while studying the physics behind creating miniature golf holes. Then, in teams,
they will design their own. Fore! Let the fun begin!
After their golf unit, fifth graders will read, Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, an action-packed
historical fiction novel based on events surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The
culminating activity for this unit will be a field experience, on April 2nd, to Ford’s Theater and
the Peterson House, where Lincoln was taken after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth.
-Grace Hynden
PAGE 14
BEAR FACTS
From the Counselor’s Corner
Dear Parents/Guardians:
The student of the month breakfast for January was a huge success! We
had 24 children recognized for the word of the month which was courage. It
was great to see the overwhelming support from the parents. I know how happy
it makes the students to see their parents, grandparents and even their aunts
and uncles come out to support them! I would like to thank all of the parents
who were willing to donate a food item to help celebrate the breakfast. We truly
appreciate it! The word of the month for February is Respect.
For Guidance this month we will be working on a variety of topics:
Kindergarten: The Little Engine that could and talking about believing in
yourself and never giving up
1st Grade: Woolbur is about a sheep that does not want to follow the flock.
It’s a great story about being unique and one of a kind
2nd Grade: Hooway for Wodney Wat is about a rat who overcomes his
fear of bullies
3rd Grade: Learning about a Native American called the “Rainbow Crow”
4th Grade: Conflict Resolution: Walking the Bridge of Conflict Resolution
5th Grade: Internet Safety: Spoof or Truth
Your school counselors, social worker and psychologist all have a page on
the Moncure website. Some of our information may overlap, but I think we can
guarantee that you will find something you can use. Resources in the
community, activities and parent workshops, as well as many
behavioral/academic pages are included. Be sure to check us out!
ESOL News
We have completed all of our WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Learners (ELLs)
here at Moncure. Each year through this test, ELLs are able to show how much their
English Language Proficiency has improved. I am so proud of how much progress our ELLs
have made this year!
Students are now working on new vocabulary that supports the science curriculum at
their grade levels. We are doing this through books and activities that match their reading
levels. Our students are such hard workers and so very eager to learn and show what they
know.
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or would like to set up a time to
meet with me, please feel free to call the office and leave a message. I will get back with
you as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Lori King
ESOL Specialist
BEAR FACTS
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BEAR FACTS
BEAR FACTS
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BEAR FACTS
Anne E. Moncure Elementary School’s
Acceptable Cold Weather
Outdoor Conditions
HOW COLD IS TOO COLD TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PLAY OUTDOORS?
During typical winter days, common sense requires us to look beyond a
specific temperature and consider factors such as wind chill, whether the
ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to
play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are
participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside. When the weather
turns extremely cold, we have to balance students' needs for physical activity
with the dangers that come from too much exposure to the cold. To keep our
students safe during these cold weather months, our classes will not go
outside for recess or PE when the wind chill is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
When a grade level has decided it is too cold to go out without proper attire,
one teacher may choose to stay inside with students who do not have a winter
coat, gloves, and/or hat. In the event we must stay inside, students will have
indoor recess and they may play all kinds of games, including those that
reinforce what they learn in school.
How to check the temperature
Click on this link to access the following address on the
internet: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/22556
Under the large temperature number is the wind chill temperature.
If the “Feels Like” (Wind Chill) reading is between 30 -35°F - all physical
outdoor activities may be conducted with caution and students without
appropriate attire will stay inside.
If the “Feels Like” (Wind Chill) reading is below 30°F - all physical outdoor
activities will be halted
BEAR FACTS
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PTO Corner
Thank you for you for coming out to our Chinese New Year Dance. Everyone
had a lot of fun and we raised a lot of money for the third set of I-Pads for the
specialists.
Awards are held twice during the school year. If your child brings home a note
then they will be receiving an award from their teacher or specialist. Award
dates and times are below.
Monday, February 17th
4th at 9:30
K at 1:30
1st at 2:30
Tuesday, February 18th
5th at 9:30
3rd at 1:30
2nd at 2:30
-
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
11:
17:
18:
19:
20:
25:
26:
26:
Variety Show tryouts (4th and 5th Grade)
President’s Day (No School)
Variety Show Dress Rehearsal (4th and 5th Grade)
Market Day Orders Due
Variety Show at 7:00 (4th and 5th Grade)
Market Day Pick-Up
1:10 Early Dismissal
SMART Night
Clothing sale volunteers can call Maureen beginning Feb. 12th between 9:00 am
and 9:00 pm to volunteer at (540) 720-3596. (Please allow 2 - 3 days to be
called back). Please do not sign up for friends.
Also, please visit the Moncure Website at
http://stafford.moncure.schoolfusion.us to see the PTO page. You will find
upcoming dates and reminders for things happening at school. The website is
updated and has names and contacts for the PTO Board. The PTO page also
includes all the information about Adopt a Classroom, Box Tops and Campbell’s
soup labels, Spirit Nights, and so much more!
Thanks,
Moncure PTO
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BEAR FACTS
February
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Chuck E.
Cheese
Spirit Night
3-9pm
Day5
9
10
Day 1
11
Day 2
12
Day 3
13
4th & 5th Grade
Variety Show
Try-outs
Day 5
16
17
AWARDS
4th@9:30
K @1:30
1st @2:30
Report Cards
Day 1
18
AWARDS
5th@9:30
3rd @1:30
2nd @2:30
Day 4
14
Box Top
Contest Ends
Day 2
19
Day 3
20
Market Day
Orders due
4th & 5th
Grade
Variety Show
@ 7:00
Day 2
Day3
Day 4
21
23
24
Day 1
25
Market Day
Pick-up
26
27
1:10 Early
Release
Day 4
28
Student of
the Month
Breakfast
SMART Night
Day 5
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
22
All District
Chorus
4th & 5th Grade
Variety Show
Dress
Rehearsal
Day 5
15
Day 4