Bristow Run Elementary School
“We are a Team on Track for the Future”
From The Panther’s Pen
Our School Mission Statement
Bristow Run Pledge
Bristow Run Elementary School is
committed to the belief that all children will
learn to their fullest potential in a safe,
respectful and motivating environment of
high expectations and continuous
improvement in partnership with our
parents and community.
"A Team on Track for the Future”
“I will remember to be respectful,
kind, trustworthy and a good citizen. I
will work hard, do my best and be a
Quality Student. I will be responsible
for my actions and my own learning
and response-able to the success of
my class and our school.
I will seek to make a positive
difference at school today.”
Andrew Buchheit, Principal
Kim Werle - Assistant Principal
February, 2010
Hello Panthers!
I want to say thank you to all our students for all their hard work
during the first half of the school year. Every day they show me that
they know how a Quality Bristow Run Student behaves and what
Panther Pride is all about. As you already know, we have outstanding teachers and no
matter which classroom your child is in, I know that they will have a successful school year.
Please work closely with your child’s teacher. I believe teaching is a partnership and our
teachers appreciate your support and assistance.
If you have not had a chance to meet with your child’s classroom teacher,
please contact them by phone or email as soon as possible. It is so important that all our
teachers and parents get a chance to talk about their children early in the school year. As
you know, our School Vision is: “A Team on Track for the Future”. At Bristow Run we
recognize that it takes all of us (Teachers, Staff, Students & Parents) working together to
ensure the success of each student. We truly believe that by working together all children
will learn to their fullest potential.
Please encourage your children to read every night, practice the online programs we
have purchased for students to use at home – Study Island, SOL Pass, Raz Kids. I am
inviting all parents to attend our SOL Parent Night on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm.
In addition, our annual Heritage Night is taking place on Friday, February 19. This is
always a very well attended evening. I hope to see EVERYONE out for both events.
Thank you for all you have done to help us have such a wonderful Second 9 weeks of
school and for entrusting your children to us. I anticipate a GREAT Third 9 weeks too.
Sincerely,
Andrew Buchheit
Principal
UPCOMING CALENDAR
Our school hours are from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm.
o Monday, February 15 – President’s Day – No School
o Tuesday, February 19 – Family Heritage Night – 7:00 pm
o Thursday, February 25 – SOL PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT – 7:00 pm
o Tuesday, March 2nd – Read Across America Day/Book Character Dress up day
o Monday, March 1st – 5th grade writing SOL
o Wednesday, March 3 – 5th grade direct writing SOL
o Thursday, March 4 – Advisory Council; 6:30 pm
o Friday, March 5 – Odyssey of the Mind dress rehearsal
o Saturday, March 6 – Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament
o Wednesday, March 10 – 4th grade writing predictor
o Thursday, March 18 – Science Expo
o Saturday, March 20 – Robotics Tournament – Battlefield High School
o Friday, March 26 – Career Dress up Day
o Saturday, March 27 – All State Chorus
o Monday, March 29 – April 5 – Spring Break
o Friday, April 16 – end of 3rd 9 weeks
o Monday, April 19 – Teacher Work day – No school for students
o Monday, April 26 – Report cards go home
TESTING INFORMATION- Heather Goode, Intervention Specialist
SOL PARENT NIGHT – THURSDAY, FEBRURARY 25, 2010 at 7:00 pm open to all parents 2nd-5th greade
We are currently administering our ACCESS tests to all of our ESOL students. The schedule varies per grade level
so
please make sure that you continue to send your students in with a healthy breakfast and ready for
a great day. In the beginning of March fifth graders will take their first SOL of the year. The writing
multiple choice will take place on Monday, May 1 and they will write, given a writing prompt on
Wednesday, May 3. Please make sure all students eat a healthy breakfast and get a good night's sleep. The
teachers are working very hard preparing them for what to expect. We know they will do a great job. Happy
Writing! Mr. Bryce has begun teaching the students how to use the online tools associated with online SOL testing
in the spring. Students will have the opportunity to practice on our laptops so they will be more than ready for
online testing. Keep your eyes out for an updated testing schedule to come during this next quarter.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Each school in Prince William County has a School Advisory Council
comprised of parent representatives, teachers and staff representatives. The
Advisory Council helps decide on the focus and direction that the school should
take each year. It sets these goals out in our Annual School Plan. Anyone can
attend an Advisory Council meeting. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm.
SCHOOL WEB SITE - http://bristowrunes.schools.pwcs.edu/
Did you know that Bristow Run has a website on the Internet? It is being updated
continually. Read the latest Panther Press, see PTO news, look at teacher pages, check
the lunch menu, read and see what the weather is for our area at the News 4 weather
Station at Bristow Run. After checking it out email us with any comments or questions
DETENTION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders We have an After School Detention Program for students in Grades 3rd, 4th and 5th. This is an effort to
help hold our students accountable for their behavior and to offer another mechanism of providing
consequences for serious and/or repeated work habit concerns or behavioral violations to classroom,
school and county rules.
We hope this program will effectively motivate our students to complete class work and homework in
a timely manner, to be polite and courteous to all adults and students, and to follow school and classroom
rules in a consistent and appropriate manner. Criteria for serving detention have been established and has
been sent home. Classroom teachers have reviewed this criteria with their students.
Detention will be held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm and will always
to be supervised by a Bristow Run staff member. Parents will be notified in advance that their child has
been assigned detention on the Panther Pride Review Form. You will be requested to sign the form and
return it to the school. It is very important that we receive your support in ensuring that your child attends
detention if one is ever assigned. Parents will be responsible for arranging their child’s transportation
home after the detention is served. Prompt pick up is important.
Students attending detention will be expected to be productive during the time they are there. The
teacher in charge will monitor behavior and student work. Students who exhibit inappropriate behavior or
do not make good use of their time will be reassigned detention. All of the rules will be reviewed with all
children so they are aware of the expectations.
By instating this program, we hope to continue to instill and motivate our students to develop
consistent and strong work habits. We also hope that this will help them to see the importance of
following school and classroom rules. The Detention Program also offers us another option for
disciplining students without having to suspend them from school. We are hopeful that you, as parents,
will be supportive of this program and will discuss with your child the criteria for their grade level. If you
have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call your child’s teacher or us. Thank you for your support.
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
3rd -5th grade Students at Bristow Run Elementary School earn a place on the Principal’s Honor
Roll if they earn all As in all subjects in a marking period. 3rd – 5th grade students can earn a place on the
Honor Roll if they earn a combination of As and Bs in all subjects in a marking period. Congratulations to
all students who have earned one of these two academic recognitions\
PANTHER PRIDE RECOGNITION
We are proud and happy to recognize our students for their Outstanding Panther Pride. Students
must meet the following criteria:
1.
Conduct: S or S+ on the report card and no checks in the descriptors.
2.
Work Habits: S or S+ on the report card and no checks in the descriptors.
3.
Effort: No X for any area for the grading period.
4.
Discipline Plan: Follows Discipline plan. No suspension from school or bus. No
detention.
Car Riders
If you pick up your child each day, remember to get a number from our guidance counselors.
In the morning, please have your child unload on the right side of your car. They
have to walk in front of or behind cars if they exit on the left side of your vehicle.
Just a reminder, please remember to walk on the sidewalk at all times. If you
park in the spaces in front of the school please walk around to the sidewalk instead of
walking in the street. Safety is our #1 priority!!
Walkers and Bus Riders
It is important for everyone’s safety to remember the following when walking
or riding the bus home. Walkers need to plan their trip so they don’t arrive
at school before 8:45 am. While walking, students should stay away from the
road and not throw any items. Bus riders also need to be careful at the bus
stop to use good character by not throwing things or playing sports at the bus stop
we don’t want anyone to get hurt. Remember, if you change your child’s method of
going home, please send in a note.
INK JET RECYCLING PROGRAM
Did you know that we collect used Ink Jet cartridges to recycle? For
each cartridge we recycle our school earns money. Money from this recycling
program is often designated for our technology needs. Put it in a small bag so
that your child does not get messy and have him or her drop it off in our big
recycling container in the front lobby.
GRADE LEVEL NEWS – What to expect for the next 9 weeks
Kindergarten - As you walk down the kindergarten hallway, we’re sure that you will
hear numbers spilling from every room. We will be working on counting backwards
from 20 and continuing to count by 5’s and 10’s as we prepare to celebrate 100 days
of school! Shapes will be revisited as we extend our studies to include 2-D and #-D
versions (and introduce the accompanying vocabulary). It’s a good thing we are
learning our numbers, because that background knowledge will be needed as we learn
to tell time, graph, learn how to make tally marks, probability, fractions and writing teen
numbers. Whew! For science we will be experimenting with the three states of matter,
dental health, properties of water, and matter. Presidents Lincoln and Washington will be
the beginning focus in social studies. We’ll then move on to position words, maps & globes,
community helpers, & an author study of Dr. Seuss. Reading and writing are emphasized
strongly in this quarter as we master letter sounds and add to the basic sight words that
are known. The most effective way to hone these skills is to complete the required reading
for 15 minutes or more with your child each night. You can help increase comprehension by
discussing the setting, characters, and what happens in the stories you read together.
1st grade – Second quarter has flown by! We are excited to see all the learning and
growth that has taken place this past nine weeks. During the 3rd quarter our units
will be: Economics (goods and services, needs and wants), Famous Americans
(Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, George Washington, Abraham
Lincoln and others), Patriotic Symbols, Maps, Dental Health and Spring. We will
continue to focus on reading strategies and fluency in our reading groups. In writing, we
will be introducing an exciting unit on fairy tales! In math, we will be working on telling
time, measurement, fractions and patterns. We are looking forward to our next field trip to
the Reston Animal Park on April 29th and April 30th. More information and the specific
date will come from your teacher as we get closer to the dates. A special thank you to all of
our parent volunteers that help in our rooms and within the school!
2nd Grade – It’s hard to believe that second grade is already at the midyear point! For
the third quarter in Math, we will be continuing the Investigations Program. We
will be working in the units; 1) Pockets, Teeth, and Favorite Things, 2) How Many
Floors? How Many Rooms?, and then 3) How Many Tens? How Many Ones?. We
may even finish up the quarter with starting a unit on Fractions. Please continue
to have your children practice their math facts at home with flash cards. In Social
Studies, we will complete units on Geography, Ancient China, and the topic second
graders have been waiting for…Ancient Egypt! Our second grade musical, Temples
and Tombs, will be soon. Look for more details shortly. We will be learning about
Native Americans towards the end of the quarter in preparation for our second field
trip that is right towards the beginning of the fourth quarter. In Science, we will be
studying basic science skills. The Science Expo is coming up in March and we will be
working on class science experiments. We will continue to work on reading
comprehension, fluency, parts of speech, and written language during our Language
Arts time. Other hot topics include syllables and compound words, to top off the
list. Thank you for continuing to encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes
each night and to build up those Accelerated Reader points. Please also encourage
your child to do the “raz-kids” Computer Program at home, too. This can count as
part of their reading time. Don’t forget to sign and turn in completed reading logs!!!
We are looking forward to an exciting 2nd half of the school year!
Third Grade I can’t believe we’re half way through the school year! We have been
keeping busy by reading fiction stories with mysteries, fantasy, and realistic fiction.
We’ve been adding to our writing by using adjectives, adverbs, synonyms, and
antonyms. In math we have rounded, compared, and learned many different
strategies to add and subtract three digit numbers. We have also studied different
types of measurement and geometric shapes. Some of our third grade classes have
even started skip counting and multiplying! Some of us have visited the seven continents
and extended their stay in Europe to learn more about Ancient Greece and Rome. In
science some of us have learned the importance of Simple Machines and Energy in our
every day lives. n the third quarter we will be just as busy and full of excitement. We
will start to read nonfiction stories with biographies and autobiographies. Our writing will
show proper use of quotation marks, abbreviations, prefixes, and suffixes. We will learn
about making equal groups in Math with multiplication and division. In Social Studies
some of us will visit Africa to study Ancient Mali. Then we’ll take a trip from Europe to the
United States as we learn about Explorers. In Science we will study the Three States of
Matter and Earth, Sun, and Moon. We will also begin reviewing ALL objectives as we start
to prepare for the SOL Tests! 
Thank you to all of the parents who come in for field trips, to work with small groups,
help with projects, and make copies. We wouldn’t be able to get through this large
curriculum without all of your help.
Fourth Grade It is hard to believe that we are ready to begin the second half of the
year. Here are a few activities that we are looking forward to during the third nine
weeks. In Language Arts we will continue working in Guided Reading Groups. We
will also focus on the Elements of Fiction, Non-Fiction and the Writing Process as
we continue to prepare our 4th graders for the up coming writing predictor on
March 10, 2010. The Scientific Method, Plants and the Ecosystem will be our units of
focus in Science. We are looking forward to learning about the American Revolution and
the Civil War in Social Studies. If you have time over Spring Break, please visit any of our
local Civil War Battlefields. Fredericksburg and New Market are two of our favorites. We
will also be sending home information or our upcoming fieldtrip to Jamestown,
Williamsburg and Yorktown. Fractions, Measurement, and Geometry will be our units of
study in Math. Remember to continue to have your child read for at least 20 minutes and
practice basic math facts for 10 minutes every night. Be sure to check your child agenda
every evening for important assignments and upcoming events. The 4th Grade Team is
looking forward to a wonderful 3rd nine weeks!
Fifth Grade - Our fifth grade students have had an awesome first semester. We
are proud of their efforts to learn the curriculum, establish strong work habits,
and continue to be good citizens. Our focus for the next quarter is to prepare
for the Writing SOL tests scheduled for early March. The multiple choice test
will be on Monday, March 1 and the writing prompt will be administered on
Wednesday, March 3rd. Our implementation of Math Investigations continues as
we move from geometry to decimals, multiplication, and division. In social studies, we have
traveled throughout the United States learning about the different regions. Once we have
studied the West, we will venture to Canada and Mexico. The scientific method will be
taught in science through hands-on activities as students observe physical and chemical
changes. We ask that our students continue to read nightly for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Please continue to review objectives using Study Island and solpass.org as well. The fifth
grade team would like to thank our parents for their support and enthusiasm as we prepare
for the third quarter.
News from Reading Mrs. Segovia’s Reading Corner: Reading levels are indeed useful
when trying to find materials for children who are struggling with reading. They are also
useful for children in the midst of emergent literacy to gain confidence in reading. Too
much attention to levels can create an unnecessary dependency on others to determine
appropriateness of material. Always use the 5 Finger Rule for choosing books. Levels are
one thing, but the behaviors expected that coincide with each level are much more
important than the number. Make the numbers you care about be the number of books by
your child’s bedside, the number of visits to the library, the number of hours you spend
reading aloud and your child spends reading, and the number of times your child asks
questions about what you read or what he/she has read. Here are the titles of the books to
motivate all readers. These books have strong story elements, well-illustrated and kids enjoy:
Time for Kids Almanac; National Geographic series Magazine; Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo
Wilems; Boy Were We Wrong about Dinosaurs ; Do Not Open this Book by Michaela Muntean; Lunch
Money by Andrew Clements; Amelia Bedelia books; The Boy who Loved Words by Roni Schotter; Ricky
Ricotta’s Mighty Robot novels by Dav Pilkey; Are you Ready to Play Outside by Mo Wilems; Diary of a
Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kenny; Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Wilems; Captain Raptor and the Moon
Mystery; Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo; Library Card by Jerry Spinelli; Loser by Jerry Spinelli;
Matt Christopher books; Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long; Ker-Splash by George
O’Connor; Art by Patrick McDonnell; Bad Dog Marley by John Grogan; Book Fair Day by Lynn Plourde;
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds; Ish, by Peter H. Reynolds; Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Wilems;
Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan. AND SO MANY MORE OUT THERE!! Enjoy. Mrs. Segovia
News from Math by Denise Cowne – Math Intervention Specialist We have had wonderful learning
experiences in Math this past 9 weeks and are looking forward to even more in March and April.
In March we will be having a school wide competition for grade 3-5 for The Game of 24. I will be
practicing with each class during Encore. In April, we will be celebrating Math Month with
many different activities through out the month. Here are more Math Game web sites that I
would recommend that your child may like to try: www.coolmath4kids.com
www.aplusmath.com resources.kaboose.com/games/math2.html
www.playkidsgames.com/mathGames.htm If you have any questions about mathematics,
please contact me at BRES or cownedh@pwcs.edu Denise Cowne, Elem. Math Specialist
Note from the Library by Carolyn Kyker, Librarian. We are pleased to announce the total sales for our
Bookworm Central Book Fair. Wow! I can not believe this. Our grand total was $14,152.00. Last
spring our total was $10,129.00, we are very happy with our increased sales. From the grand total the
library will receive $3200.00.
The fair would not have been a success without the help of our many
wonderful volunteers. Thank you for all the help setting up the fair, helping the students find their books,
and keeping it organized. You are the best!
When is the last time you checked out a good book? Her are some title from our 410 new books.
Moonlight On The Magic Flute, Mary Pope Osborne; The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan; The Ghost,
The White House and Me, Judith St. George; Star Gazing, Ron Rees; How Spiders Catch Their Food,
Marilyn Woolley; Frog Alert, Keith Pigdon; Mighty Jackie, The Strike Out Queen, Marrisa Moss;
Twelve Days of Christmas in Virginia, Sue Corbett; Library Mouse, Daniel Kirk.
During the next nine week we will be studying the World Book Encyclopedia, the Atlas, writing
bibliographies, writing a Book Report, listening to stories and testing our comprehension.
3rd grade students are studying reference books. This week we are learning about the World Book.
The website for World Book is www.worldbookonline.com at home the student must use an ID and
Password. The ID is: pwcsresearch---The Password is: pwcs -Please use all lower case letters. On this
website you will find an Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Encyclopedia in Spanish, and an Atlas.
Cafeteria News – By Chris Kelly, Cafeteria Manager - On Friday the 12th will be APPLE DAY. We will be
raffling off another book from the USDA to celebrate called " A Cinderella Apple Story". Please have your slips of
paper ready and join in on the fun.
Click on this link – for nutritional information and menus - http://www.pwcs.edu/menus/
Childhood obesity is a growing concern. Foods used to celebrate or reward students in school typically include high
fat, high sugar items like cake & cookies. School celebrations & rewards can be a good opportunity to introduce
students to healthy food items. The organizers of these special occasions should ensure the foods served do not
undermine the children’s diets & health & reinforce unhealthful eating habits.
Healthy Food Items for Celebrations & Rewards
� Fruit & yogurt parfaits � Smoothies � Ants on a log � English muffin pizzas � Fruit bagel faces � Trail mix
� Fruit kabobs � Frozen grapes � Meat & cheese roll ups � Frozen banana pops � Low fat cheese shapes �
Cereal mixes � Berries � Low sugar fruit popsicles � Apple slices with yogurt dip � Orange & pineapple slices �
Raw vegetables & low fat dip � Fruit & cream cheese dip � Low sodium pretzels � Whole grain crackers &
peanut butter � Low fat string cheese � Fruit leather � Low fat, low sodium popcorn � Yogurt � Salsa with low
sodium chips. Please check this website out to see the virtual cafeteria - http://www.nutri-cafe.com/
Physical Education – by Tim Stott and Laura Stewart - The 3rd 9-Week grading period will begin
with rhythm and dancing using our newly acquired Dance Dance Revolution game and
dance pads. We will also conduct our quarterly PACER (Progressive Aerobic
Cardiovascular Endurance Run) test. We are currently in the final stages of tallying the
Jump Rope for Heart donations, please send any remaining envelopes as soon as possible as
we are trying to conclude this year’s fundraiser.
FROM THE SCIENCE LAB by Jill Hanlon, Science Lab Teacher -It’s that time of year again—
preparing for the SCIENCE EXPO! All classes are doing class projects or experiments, and
some classes have the students doing their own, individual projects. In addition to these projects
we are looking for interesting displays and activities to include that evening in our expo. If you
have something to share, please let me know; hanlonjj@pwcs.edu. Spring break will be here
before we know it. I will again be looking for families willing to take care of one of the lab pets for
the break. If you are able to do so, please send in a note with your child indicating which pet(s)
and contact information. Likewise if you are interesting in taking care of one of the animals over
a weekend, just send in a note.
ART NEWS by Karen White, Art Teacher - If you would like to volunteer to help with Art activities
in our school, please let me know by calling the school or sending me an e-mail at whitekj@pwcs.edu.
Please put ART VOLUNTEER in Subject window of the e-mail so I know it is from a parent. Thank You,
Mrs. White, Art Teacher.
QUALITY STUDENTS IN ART - In Art Class we focus on Being Quality Students by using the
Quality Student Reflections Model with students. The Quality Student Characteristics are:
Follow Directions, Be A Good Listener, Raise My Hand, Complete my Work, Clean Up After Myself,
Use Appropriate Volume and Language , Respect Adults, Peers, and Property, and Show Kindness.
Classes earning 4 Quality Student Marks (Smiley Face) enjoy a Fun Day in Art. Individual Students also
earn stickers throughout the year for showing Quality Student Behavior. Students needing continual
reminders to work at being a Quality Student receive checks on their Reflections Paper. After several
checks the students will be asked to take the Reflections Paper home so parents are aware of what we are
working on in class and can discuss and assist with this at home. If you ever have any questions,
suggestions, or concerns about your child’s Art Classes please feel free to drop me an e-mail or call the
school and leave a message. Thank You, Mrs. White, Art Teacher.
GRADE LEVEL ART ACTIVITIES UPCOMING ART EVENTS
Kindergarten - A goal Kindergarten Art Class is to continue to develop eye/hand coordination by drawing,
constructing, and using materials. It is also important to learn to use shapes and lines to create images and
utilize space. Mastering these skills allows students to have greater self-confidence in creating works of
art in Art Class or for other subject areas. Students worked on Seasonal Themes during December
creating a Poinsettia and Penguin. A variety of materials were used for these projects. Coming up,
students will be creating 3-D projects, Tempera Paintings, and learning about Artists who create
children’s books, which will enhance their interest in reading books in the library.
First Grades -First Grade students have been very busy creating works of art representing Seasonal
Themes. We have created Oil Pastel Winter Flowers, Snowy Cardinals, and have started creating Snow
Figures using a Printing Method. Snow Figures are placed in a Landscape Scene in which students learn
how to create a 3-D look on a flat 2-D surface. Coming up, we will be making 3-D projects, learning
about Color, the Color Wheel, and how to create Paper Weavings. We will also continue to learn about
Famous Artists, their work, and the importance of Art in the world around us.
Second Grade - These classes are working on Art of The First Americans.
We have created Totems of the Pacific Northwest Coast Native American People and some of these will
be on display for Heritage Night on February 19. The emphasis is about how a cultures art is a
reflection of the geographical regions, geographical resources, beliefs, way of life, and important events
of the people of that time and location. Next, second grade will be studying the art of Ancient Egypt.
These art lessons correlate with your child’s Social Studies Curriculum to enhance, reinforce, and
elaborate on what they are already learning. Egyptian Art Projects will be on display for the musical
presentation this year of,”Temples and Tombs” during March to celebrate Youth Art Month.
Third Grade - These classes are finishing up beautiful landscapes of Mali featuring figures in Patterned
Clothing the students designed. These art lessons correlate with your child’s Social Studies Curriculum to
enhance, reinforce, and elaborate on what they are already learning. The Mali Art will be on display for
Heritage Night on February 19. Our next unit starts with a study on Spatial Relationships through the
creation a Snow Landscape done in Tempera. Following that we will be starting a unit on Clay.
Fourth Grade -Fourth grade has finished up a wonderful project of Quilts that will be on display at the
All-County Art Festival in April 2010. We will continue with the Colonial Theme by creating additional
projects inspired from that time period, such as stenciling, paper cutting, and quilling. Early American
Architecture, including its influence from the past and upon the future, will also be covered. Currently, we
are working on a unit in Abstract Art. We have studied about famous artists Pablo Picasso and Henri
Matisse (Father of Modern Art). Students are painting their Abstract Creation in Tempera while learning
how to Tint and Shade color. We will also be starting Clay in upcoming lessons.
Fifth Grade -The year started learning about the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan Art. Students have now
finished creating beautiful Sun Calendars. These were on display in the school foyer for several weeks.
Next, we studied about the art of Europe and created a Stained Glass look design using Tissue Paper.
Now, classes are working on a lesson in Portrait Drawing which will prepare students for a correlated
lesson in 5th Grades Social Studies of drawing a famous American. Coming up, we will be doing an indepth lesson on the techniques of Watercolor and creating a Winter Landscape. We will also be doing
Basket-Weaving and Clay.
All-County Arts Festival 2010
The All-County Arts Festival will be held this year at Battlefield High School on April 24, 2010 from
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Student Artwork from all schools in Prince William County will be on display
along with Musical and Drama performances. I have already started to collect a nice collection of work
for display representing our school. Please plan to attend. It is always a lot of fun and is an artistically
inspirational day for you and your family.
Summer School Art Enrichment
Information on Summer School Art Enrichment Classes will be available in March. Check the Panther
Press and/or School Website for specific information regarding this opportunity. This is a two-week
session for interested students to take Art Classes over the summer. Transportation is provided at satellite
locations by the county. Students present a fabulous Art Show as the culminating event .I would
encourage any parents who have students interested in Art to look into the program. I have always heard
marvelous feedback about the program. The program is taught by Prince William County Art Teachers
and requires a registration fee which includes materials.
Music Notes for the NewYear by Mike and Lynn Maletick, Bristow Run Strings and Music
teachers. Many exciting activities will be taking place in 2010.
Fifth grade String students just
finished participating in a very good program. Students shared how much they have learned on their
instruments since the end of September. Looking ahead, the students will participate in a Pyramid Concert
at Gainesville Middle School on March 17. They will join students from other elementary schools and
sixth grade students at the middle school.
The Panther Chorus also participated in the wonderful program on January 28 and were able to show the
songs they learned to help them go from singing in unison to two parts. Students will participate in
singing the National Anthem at the Volleyball Game Fundraiser between our school staff and the staff
from Signal Hill El. School on the evening of February 11 at Stonewall Jackson High School.
Interested fifth grade students auditioned for opportunities to sing with Prince William All County
Elementary Chorus and All Virginia Elementary Chorus. Tyler Bryce, Kimberlea McCloud, Amy
Dickens, Morgan Sagun and Hannah Weate will represent us the end of the month at All County El.
Chorus. Aria Austin, Riley Hanna and Nikki Javid will represent our school and our county when the
participate in All Virginia El. Chorus the end of March at Shenandoah University. Congratulations to
these 8 students. They meet once a week to prepare the music for their event and all day on event day with
a guest conductor. They end the afternoon by participating in a free concert open to the public.
Fourth grade general music students are starting their unit on playing the soprano recorder. Students need
to be prepared each music time in order to participate and accomplish the designated SOL’S/
Third grade students will continue working on their recorders and add in more assigned songs to learn
toward their recorder karate belts.
Second grade students have started to prepare for their presentation of Tales of Temples and Tombs by
Donna Amorosia. This will be year 11 for this traditional second grade program. It ties in with second
grade SOL’S and helps students learn about Egypt as they take an imaginary trip to visit and learn about
that country.
Second grade will present this program on two different nights in March .
Please check the schedule for the night your child will participate.
NIGHT ONE Tuesday/March 23 at 7:15 will be: Williams, Edwards, Wolfe and Dickens classes.
NIGHT TW0/Wednesday/March 24 at 7:15 will be: Bateman, Lewis and Weaver’s
classes.
First grade students are going to learn about barred percussion instruments and start to play along with
songs as we sing.
Kindergarten student will be making a shaker instrument and learn more about the instruments we hear.
ALL general music classes are having a short listening selection to start music each class. Older students
will record information on a music log and younger students will have a brief discussion.Vocabulary like
Pitch, Dynamics, Tempo, Voices, Instruments, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Keyboard and Percussion will
be focused on as important to the language of music. Ask your student about what they are hearing at
music time. We are off to a very Noteworthy 2010
Counselors’ Corner by Amy Cunningham and Robin Vaneman
Guidance Lessons Focus on School Rules: Work Hard, Do Your Best, Be Kind
K-5 students have been focused on the “Kind” Unit for classroom guidance. Our counselors
taught lessons focused on communication skills, friendship, problem-solving/decision making, peer
pressure, and bullying. Lessons also emphasized appreciation of our similarities and differences.
Students in all classes have been learning how to use the “People Problem Solving Star” to handle
difficult situations with others. The star offers five possible solutions for problem solving. They include:
Talk it out and ask questions; Walk away or take a break; Ignore and let it drop; Use “I” and tell them to
stop. Students are encouraged to use these solutions to try and solve problems on their own. Parents were
able to practice helping their children solve problems using the People Problem Solving Star at the Family
Fitness Night on January 29th.
Kindergarten students had three lessons on being a school Champion, or as we call it here at
Bristow Run, a quality student. Their new Puppet friend Champ the dog taught them to Try Hard, Listen,
Work First then Play, and to Use Their Time Wisely. Kindergarteners second set of lessons focused on
the importance of coming to school and being on time. Students have also learned the “turtle technique”
for handling angry feelings. They have been learning the importance of calming down in order to make
good choices when they are angry. They will soon be learning from Felicia the Flower with Feelings.
She will teach them, how to watch out for feelings and how we may double dip (have two feelings at the
same time). Please ask your child to tell you some feelings words they have learned.First grade students
learned from Clover the dog puppet, how to be a Champion and a Quality Student. He taught them to Try
Hard, Listen, Proofread, Stay Organized and the Use their Time Wisely. Upcoming guidance lessons
will feature different puppet friends who introduce the following “CAREing” ideas: Compliment others,
Act Kind, Report and Not Tattle, and to Use Empathy.
Second grade students learned new and interesting facts about each other as they created their own unique
rainbows. They also learned the basics of communication and how to listen effectively. The learned how
to make their own “friendship pie” and discussed what the “ingredients” are to make friends. They also
practiced the People Problem Solving Star and learned to solve problems on their own. Third grade
students are just beginning their “KIND” Unit. They will be learning how to positively communicate
their thoughts, feelings, and needs to others in a variety of situations. They will also learn about positive
self-talk and how to use it to neutralize putdowns. They will learn and practice the “STAR” method for
problem solving: S-Stop, T-Think, A-Act, R-Review.
Fourth grade reviewed the “STAR” method and practiced solving a variety of problems. They learned
about a new “STAR” – The Coping Star. The worked together to create puppet shows that showed how
to solve a variety of problems. They put on plays that focused on types of peer pressure and how to
handle difficult situations. They reviewed bullying and learned ways to handle it. Fifth grade learned
about empathy and how to show it. We discussed many ways to handle conflict and “de-escalate” instead
of “escalate “problems. Students watched a video about handling gossip and rumors. They worked
together to create puppet shows that demonstrate how to handle bullies from both the victim and
bystander roles.
Counseling Services Offered - Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Vaneman offer group counseling on topics
such as Work Habits, Social Skills, Anger Management, and Divorce/Separation. Groups meet once a
week, usually during lunch, for 6 to 8 weeks. Referrals for individual and group counseling come from
parents, staff, the Child Study Committee, the administration, or the students themselves. Parent
permission is required for any kind of ongoing counseling. If you feel that your child would benefit from
counselor assistance, please call and ask to speak with either Mrs. Vaneman or Mrs. Cunningham. The
counselors are available for consultation and can provide additional resources when needed.Bristow Run
is very lucky to have Cathy Page, a school counseling intern from George Washington University, joining
us until May. She has started visiting classes and getting to know our wonderful BRES students.
Parenting Workshops - The counseling department presented a parent workshop November 30th at 9:30
am and again at 6:30 pm. The workshop focused on the Parenting with Love and Logic parenting
program. The program teaches parents how to deal with their child’s behaviors while building strong
relationships and developing their sense of responsibility. The workshop was a great success and received
positive feedback and requests for future presentations on the same or similar topics. Our next workshop
will be held February 25th. Please watch for more information to be sent home soon. The next
consortium workshop topic is Cyber Bullying and will be held Tuesday, February 23 rd from 6:30 –
7:30 pm at Glenkirk Elementary School.
National No Name-Calling Week - BRES recently celebrated National No Name-Calling Week. The
whole school focused on creating a kind environment free of putdowns and bullying. There were funny
skits on the morning announcements, students recited a no name-calling pledge, and positive
communication skills were emphasized. The classes read books about kindness and handling put-downs.
National School Counseling Week - National School Counseling Week is February 1-5th. Mrs.
Cunningham and Mrs. Vaneman love their jobs and consider it a privilege to work with so many
wonderful students, families, and staff members at Bristow Run. They are committed to providing a
developmental school counseling program that enables all students to achieve success in school. As a
follow-up to National No-Name Calling Week, February 1-5th will be class complement week. Students
have been asked to focus on giving complements to each other all week as a thank you to Mrs. Vaneman
and Mr. Cunningham for all they do to help our school.
Heritage Night Coming Soon - Our Family Heritage Night is planned for Friday, February 19th.
Please let us know if you would like to contribute items to display in the cultural museum, if you
would like to contribute food, or dress up for the cultural fashion show. Also, please contact us if
you or someone you know can perform, offer an activity, or offer any other cultural presentation.
You can call or send an e-mail to Mrs. Vaneman (vanemarl@pwcs.edu) or Mrs. Cunningham
(cunninax@pwcs.edu ) . We are looking forward to an exciting evening as we share our various
cultures and backgrounds.
ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL
It is very important that all students attend school on a regular basis and on time.
Children, who are not in school each day, arrive late or leave early miss
important educational opportunities and learning experiences. At Bristow
Run, we recognize, and I’m sure you will agree, that regularly being at school
and being on time is very important for a child’s academic success.
It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to see that their child
attends school regularly and on time every day. Every school day is important to
the education of your child. Research tells us that the best learning takes place during the
interaction of the teacher and child during class discussions. Simply making up the missed
work does not begin to take the place of actual class attendance. Students who enter class
tardy are disruptive to classroom instruction and can have a challenging time getting into
the classroom routine. The same holds true for students who leave early.
We discourage vacations during the school year. However, we know for a variety of
reasons they may occur. Please send a note or letter in advance to the teacher and the
principal informing the school of your plans. The principal has the responsibility of
approving prearranged absences. We realize in the case of a family emergency that this
may not be possible. Teachers are not required to provide assignments in advance. We
would encourage students to read, keep a written journal and practice math facts while out
of school. Students can complete make up assignments when they return.
Absence Policy – Whenever a student is out of school for whatever reason, parents need to
call the school at 703-753-7741 or leave a message on our answering machine. We also request that
parents send a letter to the teacher the next day explaining the absence. Unexplained absences will
be considered unexcused. Students with excused absences are allowed two days for every day
of absence to make up work. Students are responsible for making up work when they are
absent.
Tardy Policy- Students should arrive on time by 9am. Early Dismissal Policy – students
should complete a full day of school every day.
It is important to note that Prince William County policy states that: “students in
kindergarten through grade eight, who miss ten or more days of school for the year, excused
or unexcused, and who have completed little or no make-up work may be considered for
retention.” In addition, we are required to notify our Attendance Officer in cases of
excessive absences. It takes both students and parents working together to assure a child
attend school as required. Your cooperation in helping your child get to school is very
important. If you would like to work with our guidance counselors, MaryPat McCartney or
Robin Vaneman, to make a plan for improvement or discuss these issues, you can contact
them at 703-753-7741.
As you already know, all our procedures and regulations are in place to help ensure
the safety, security and continued success of all our students and not to inconvenience you.
By working together, we truly can do everything better. Please let us know if you have
questions or concerns by calling 703-753-7741. We thank you in advance for your support.
Every 9 weeks, we will recognize students for “Perfect Attendance” - meaning they
have attended school each day and have no more than 2 tardies in a 9 week period or
“Excellent Attendance” – meaning they have missed no more than 1 day or school and have
no more than 2 tardies in a 9 week period..
Dear Parents;
As we slowly prepare for the cold months ahead, I thought it would be a good idea and time to review our
inclement weather procedures.
WINTER WEATHER REMINDERS - Please discuss these procedures with your child.
All Day Closing: (Color Codes mentioned in the announcements refer to school employees.)
1. All activities are cancelled at the school.
2. All evening activities are cancelled.
Two Hour Late Opening:
1. Bus pick up will be two hours later than usual.
2. School will begin at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served. Breakfast will not be served.
3. School will be dismissed at 3:30 pm as usual.
Two Hour Early Closing after 10:00 am: (Always Make Certain Your Child Knows Where To Go)
1. School will be dismissed at approximately 2 hours earlier than normal for that day.
2. We will activate our "Phone Tree."
3. All evening activities are cancelled.
NOTES:
1. Please sign up to have school closings and activity cancellations emailed to you. You can do
this at www.pwcs.edu. This website also post’s closings and delays.
2. Please report any changes concerning your snow contact person to the school. We need a LOCAL contact
person.
3. Please listen to the radio or television during inclement weather.
4. We will not activate the 'Phone Tree' for late openings or all day closings
5. Parents should not bring students to school early when a delayed opening is in effect because school staff members may also
be delayed in getting to school.
6. Information may also be obtained concerning school closing, delayed opening or early closing by calling 703-791-2776 and
selecting #3.
Please Keep This Handy, In The Event We Have To Implement These Procedures.
Please see our school website for more information on inclement weather procedures.
http://pwcs.bristowrun.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=137633&sessionid=6ba
d08baf1d3d5954ee53b8007116c2b