Volume 4, Issue 5
February 2011
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
Report Cards
Go Home
(Grades 1-5)
PTO Movie Night
and Bruster’s Ice
Cream Cart
6:30pm
AWARDS
K@10:00 am
1@2:00 pm
3@2:45 pm
CiCi’s/Wacky
Bear Spirit Night
(4-8pm)
AWARDS
2@10:00am
5@1:30
4@2:30
Variety Show
Try-Outs
6:30-8:30pm
Variety Show
Dress Rehearsal
6:30pm
Great American
Fundraiser
Kick-off
Mrs. Bonnie Norton – Assistant Principal
2/4
2/4
2/8
2/8
2/9
2/10
2/15
2/15
VARIETY SHOW
6:30 PM
2/17
Snow Make Up
Day
2/21
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.
We’ve accomplished a great amount of learning this year;
however, it is staggering how much still lies ahead. January
was a busy month for learning and assessing. This month, we
will be busy reviewing student assessments and making
adjustments to help all of our students thrive. With this in
mind, I am hopeful for an early arrival of spring weather in
Stafford!
On an instructional note, it always makes my day
listening to Kindergarten students read independently,
watching our various mathematicians solve complex problems,
and seeing our amazing students dazzle us with their artistry
and music abilities. As I walk the halls of Moncure, I am
continuously reminded of the talented teachers and students
that make our school. Parents, if you have not taken part in
the elementary school experience lately, I encourage you to
volunteer. School success is a TEAM effort. WE NEED YOU!
Throughout the month of February, there is a lot going
on around Moncure. We will have our first awards ceremonies,
our Variety Show, PTO Movie Night, the kick-off of our Great
American PTO Fundraiser, and another Student of the Month
Breakfast. We look forward to celebrating with our Moncure
family.
Moncure’s first round of SOLs is rapidly approaching.
During the week of March 7th, our 5th graders will be taking
their SOL writing tests. Our students have been working very
hard this year practicing writing organized essays with voice.
As we continue to prepare our students for these tests, it is
critical for all students to regularly practice the various parts of
the writing process. We will provide our 5th grade families with
additional information, as the testing dates near. Thanks for
your help and support.
At this time, I would like to take a moment to recognize
two of Anne E. Moncure’s distinguished staff members. Mr.
David Vita has been selected as Moncure’s Teacher of the Year.
Continued on page 2
PAGE 2
BEAR FACTS
Mr. Machi’s Message Continued…
We are really fortunate to have Mr. Vita as our music teacher, and the growth of our
chorus and world drum group are testaments of his efforts. Mrs. Laura Dickey has
been selected as Moncure’s Service Employee of the Year. Mrs. Dickey serves as one of
Moncure’s paraprofessionals. She is always willing to help children and adults and does
so with love and kindness. Should you have the opportunity, please take a moment to
congratulate these two individuals.
Finally, I would love to add some color and character to our new building
entrance. Ideally, each of our students would assist with the painting of a mural. I am
open to suggestions, and eager to move forward with this endeavor. If you are
interested in assisting, please let me know. Any assistance is welcomed!
Thanks again for sharing your children with Anne E. Moncure’s staff and
community. It is truly 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 Valentine’s Day; National Heart month with
Jump Rope for Heart; PTO Movie Night/Bruster’s Ice Cream Night;
First semester awards; and our Variety Show. As you can see,
February is a busy month. Please be sure to mark your calendars
and be alert to weather changes if necessary.
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 began at the end of
January. 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. 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. Study
Island is also a review tool that third, fourth and fifth grade parents should have
already heard about and seen students at home using the materials. First in Math is
another great tool for math practice in the various operations for grade levels first
through fifth. This is new to our building this year. We highly recommend trying these
practice tools at home as well as school.
Warmly,
Bonnie Norton
Assistant Principal
BEAR FACTS
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Kindergarten News
February is filled with special days and new things to learn. In history, we
will study George Washington and Abe Lincoln and the important job our
President has, as the leader of our country. In science, our focus will be on
shadows, weather, looking at objects from different directions and the patterns
we can find in the growth cycles of animals & plants and in our daily routines. In
math, our learning will focus on calculators, skip counting by 5’s & 10’s,
measuring, telling time to the hour and gathering data using tallying and
graphs. We will also celebrate a special day as we reach our 100th day in
school!
Reading is at the heart of everything we do, so we will continue to focus
on letter sounds and how we can use them to help us read & become
independent, successful writers. We will also work with syllables, phrases, sight
words and word families to help our beginning reading and writing skills grow.
Writing our last names with correct use of capital letters will be an important
focus at this time of year.
In the midst of the winter cold season, please remember that when your
child has a fever, they need to stay home and be free of their fever for 24 hours
before they return to school. Many times our children appear to be ‘on the
mend,’ only to lose their energy and strength by coming back to school too
early.
As always, thank you for entrusting us with your precious child!
The Kindergarten Team
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BEAR FACTS
First Grade News
January seems like it FLEW right by us! We still managed to get a lot of
learning in though! In language arts, we discovered that nouns can be people, places,
things, or animals. Also, we worked on r-controlled vowels (/ar/ and /or/) and digraphs
(/sh/, /ch/, and /th/) in our phonics lessons. Plus, our writing has really started to
blossom with our appropriate punctuation, capitalization, and the addition of
descriptive words (these make our sentences sound really interesting!). In math, we
have been doing A LOT of measuring! We have used non-standard units (cubes,
paper-clips, etc.), standard units (inches), and even thermometers to measure. In social
studies, we learned about the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In science, we
have been discussing the changes that come with winter. Whether it’s the bareness of
the trees, or it’s the adaptations of animals, winter changes are all around us!
In February, we have a plethora of exciting events! Groundhog’s Day,
Valentine’s Day, the 100th Day, and our field trip to Ferry Farm are all around the
corner. Stay tuned for upcoming notes asking for volunteers and/or chaperones. In the
learning department, language arts will be covering plural nouns, proper nouns, /ur/,
/le/, /qu/, and /wh/. In addition, we will continue to write and work on our word study
sorts (spelling). Math will be focused on place value, relation symbols (<, >, =) and
number stories. Lastly, in science will be covering force and motion (push, pull,
energy, friction, etc.). Thank you for everything you do!
Second Grade News
Happy New Year from the teachers and students of Moncure
Elementary’s Second Grade Classes!! We are indeed excited to
begin this year with a great start. Students were given the
Winter Developmental Spelling Assessment for Word Study.
The children are being regrouped and Word Study will begin
again shortly. We will be looking for demonstration of mastery
of phonetic skills not only in reading, but in writing as well. In math, we are
beginning Unit 5 on Geometry. The students will learn more about 2Dimensional and 3-Dimensional shapes and symmetry. Our current unit of
study in science is the weather and the water cycle. The students are learning
about the different types of weather, weather patterns, and how to measure and
record weather data. 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 RAZ-Kids and First in Math, two great online resources for
additional practice!
Thank you,
Second Grade Team
BEAR FACTS
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Third Grade News
Wow! It is hard to believe, but we are now beginning the second half of
the year! The children have worked hard to learn our expectations and the third
grade curriculum. We need their great effort to continue as we begin the
second semester. Please continue to read for at least 20 minutes each night
with your child and practice the multiplication facts by using fact triangles or
flash cards. Thank you for your help and support at
home.
Fourth Grade News
Brrrrr! It sure has been cold recently! Please make sure that your child is
dressed for the weather, so that he or she is comfortable at recess.
Fourth graders continue to work hard! We’ve been learning about
Jamestown in Social Studies. After we learn more about colonial life, we will
begin studying Virginia’s role in the Revolutionary War. Encourage your child to
access our textbook online at home to review what we’ve been learning in class.
The children also have access to other websites. For math practice, fourth
graders can access firstinmath.com. We’ll also be using Study Island again.
Contact your child’s teacher if your child does not know his or her usernames
and passwords.
The students were very excited to learn about the planets! We enjoyed
their projects and have displayed many of them in the school. During January,
we learned the weather in Science including clouds, weather instruments,
forecasts, and maps. Encourage your child to watch the weather report on the
news. We’ll also be looking at the forecast in the newspaper.
Our next field trip is planned for February 10th or 11th. We’ll be visiting
several sites in Fredericksburg. More information will be sent home soon.
As we learn how to multiply larger numbers, it is very important that your child
know the multiplication (and division) facts. Continue to review them at home.
The fourth grade team appreciates your continued support as we begin the
second semester!
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BEAR FACTS
Fifth Grade News
Dear Moncure Families,
The fifth grade SOL tests are right around the corner! Help your child
prepare for success by encouraging him/her to study all notes and materials
each night. Students may also wish to practice on SOLPass, Study Island, or
First in Math. In order to prepare for the writing SOL, ask your child to keep a
journal or diary. Go over sentence structure and sequencing for each entry.
Fifth grade has started DARE. Students will learn how to say no to drugs,
alcohol, and other harmful substances. Your child will need to complete an essay
at the conclusion of the program in order to participate in the DARE graduation
in May.
Sincerely,
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.
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
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Notes from ART
The Sketchbook
This February, Fifth grade students will be creating portraits and discussing the art of Mary
Cassat. Fourth grade students will be learning about coral reefs and creating colorful fish. Third grade
students will be studying Africa and the ancient civilization of Mali, creating kente designs and
designing mud cloths. In Second grade, we will finish up our Native American unit in which students
wrote stories using Native American symbols and created good luck carved talismans. First graders
are finishing “creating art” based on the book “Giraffes’ Can’t Dance”. In Kindergarten, we will be
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
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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.
Scoliosis Screening
I will soon be screening all 5th graders for scoliosis (curvature of the spine). According to
available information, 7 to 10 of every 100 children may develop scoliosis, and 1 to 3 of
those children will require treatment. If the condition is detected early and appropriately
treated, progressive spinal deformity may be prevented.
The procedure for screening is a simple one in which the screener (school nurse) looks at
the child’s back while he/she is bending forward. If the nurse notes any possible
abnormality, parents will be notified and an evaluation with the family physician is
recommended. Any parents who do not wish for their child to be checked by the school
nurse, may request this in writing. If you have any further questions on this procedure,
please give me a call at the school between the hours of 8:30 and 4:00 at 658-6300.
Michelle West RN
School Nurse Substitutes needed. RN preferred. Contact Human Resources at
658-6000 for more information
BEAR FACTS
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Math Moments
Susan Kutt, Math Specialist
skutt@staffordschools.net
What is a Standards-based Mathematics Classroom?
Are we preparing our students for our past or their future? To prepare students, a standards-based
mathematics program is essential. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Principles and Standards for School Mathematics and the Virginia Mathematics Standards of
Learning have these as essential components of an effective mathematics program. They both
include content standards and process standards as an integral part of the program. These are
essential for students to be competitive in the workforce. Life in the 21st Mathematics Classroom
looks very different then when I was in school. It is our mandate as educators to prepare the students
that are sitting in our classroom not only for the next grade but for jobs and careers that aren’t even
known or exist. A standards-based mathematics classroom based on the NCTM Process Standards
AND the Virginia Standards of Learning is how we are preparing our students for the 21st Century.
Here is a list of the NCTM Process Standards.
COMMUNICATION
 Students communicate their mathematical ideas to one another and/or to the teacher.
 Students are using mathematical vocabulary.
 Students show respect for one another’s ideas.
REASONING AND PROOF
 Students explain and justify answers.
 Students work in teams or with partners to challenge and defend their position/ solutions.
REPRESENTATION (pictures, diagrams, charts, symbols….)
 Students use varied representations to communicate their math understanding.
 Students select and apply math representations in order to solve problems.
CONNECTIONS
 Students are making connections among mathematical ideas
 Students are able to recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics
PROBLEM SOLVING
 Students solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts.
 Students apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems.
 Students build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving.
www.firstinmath.com- The kids are loving it!
Textbook Preview coming soon!
Feb. 10 Math and Reading Parent Workshop for Grades 2-3. More information coming soon!
Feb. 24 Math and Reading Parent Workshop for Grades 4 -5. More information coming soon!
For more information: Contact Susan Kutt, Mathematics Specialist, skutt@staffordschools.net
PAGE 10
BEAR FACTS
Physical Education News
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 February 14th- 18th. While this is a fun activity for our
students look forward to, it’s much more. 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 have brought home the fundraising
envelope, along with an attached slip explaining, in more detail, how it all works.
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. Some
students may have brought home a permission form to make a web page here at
school, and others may have gotten the form for you to fill out at home.
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 the P.E. classes this year. There are
some fun incentives! Any student who turns in their form with donations or
receives donations online will be entered into a drawing for some REALLY cool
prizes. Any student who creates a webpage will be entered into a separate
drawing for more prizes. The top fundraiser in the school will be entered into a
drawing through the American Heart Association for a trip. Last year the trip
was to Disney World!!!
All forms and money are due NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 18TH!!! Checks
should be made out to American Heart Association. NO CASH PLEASE!
*If you have any questions, please check the website or send an email to Mr. Baker or Mrs. Barr.*
BEAR FACTS
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JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
This year we are jumping in honor of our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Norton. Here is
her story:
I volunteered to be one of many people who speak for the American Heart
Association, but more specifically at Anne Moncure Elementary School in Stafford
County, Virginia. As our students prepare to participate in Jump Rope for Heart, I
want to speak for the many things that advancement in cardiology, detection,
intervention, and education provide for people like me and many others who are
already diagnosed or will be diagnosed.
It turns out that I was born with a defective aortic valve which was not
diagnosed until about 10 years ago. I was monitored closely by a local cardiologist
until such time that the readings could be considered dangerous to daily living. I had
open heart surgery last December to replace the defective valve with a mechanical
valve. Mechanical was the choice, due to my age, as tissue valves do not last as long.
To date, it is working fine. I continue to work and spend time with two little
grandsons thanks to the advancements in cardiology study. I have no other conditions
that affect the heart and arteries as they are clear as they have always been. I feel
much better than I have in years. I attempt to exercise at least 5 days a week and lead
a little less stressful life. I am on a blood thinner and will be for the remainder of my
life, but it is a small inconvenience with all else considered. I currently am
participating in a 5 year study on the particular valve that I have. My belief has
always been about helping others. If my information or case can benefit someone else
then there is good that comes for someone else. I hope that you will choose to help
with the cause supported by the American Heart Association.
--Mrs. Norton
RUNNING CLUB
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!!!
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BEAR FACTS
From the Music Room…
It’s that time of year again because the MES Variety Show is coming back on
February 17th at 6:30 p.m.! Is your student a 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grader? Are they
a singer, dancer, play an instrument such as piano, guitar, violin or other
instrument? Does your child do comedy, dramatic reading, act, magic tricks or
are they a master martial artist? Then the MES Variety Show could be for them!
Applications are available on Mr. Vita’s Music Room door and or downloadable
from “music.stafford.moncure.schoolfusion.us/” Try-outs will be held Thursday
night, February the 10th. Students trying-out will be assessed by a panel for
preparedness, performance quality and appropriateness.
Chorus & Drum Group
The next performance by the “Blue Breeze” chorus and the “Blue Beat” Drum
Group will be Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in the Brooke Point High
School Auditorium. This performance will be a part of the Stafford County Public
Schools Fine Arts Festival. You’re invited to come out to this free performance
and have a great time!
Reading News
It is hard to believe that we are nearly halfway through this school year.
Time certainly flies when you are having fun! I am having lots of fun visiting
classrooms in grades 3-5. I have been visiting each classroom once a week and
working on different reading and writing strategies. Last week, we listened to
some of my favorite songs and learned how to identify important details that
help us discover the main idea. Titles always give us our first clue about the
main idea. The key question for finding the main idea in a narrative text is,
“What did I, or the main character learn?” If you are looking for the main idea
in nonfiction texts, you usually find it in the form of a topic sentence in the first
paragraph. Students also learned how to take notes by identifying ‘red flag’
words and using them in a one sentence summary of the main idea. This is
definitely a skill that will benefit everyone throughout their academic lives. This
week we will be applying our skills while reading some interesting and fun
texts.
Mark your calendars for two upcoming parent workshops that will help
you know how to support your child in reading and math. February 10, will be
for grades 2 and 3, and February 24, for grades 4 and 5. Look for information
to come home so you can RSVP.
BEAR FACTS
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Notes from our Library
Happy Winter!
February is the perfect month to curl up with a great book!
During the month of February we will be doing the following
activities in the library:
Kindergarten: Learning about Groundhog Day and shadows and reading
some Virginia Readers Choice Books - we'll get to vote on our favorite.
First Grade: Reading Anansi stories which are very funny trickster tales from
Africa; featured authors are Eric Kimmel and Janet Stevens.
Second Grade: Reading and discussing folktales from Africa, using mapping
skills to navigate the library, and learning about "what are biographies?"
Third Grade: Using standard reference books for research and beginning a
Mali folktale unit; featured author/illustrator is Baba Wague Diakite.
Fourth Grade: Discussing various literary genres; Chris Van Allsburg is the
featured author/illustrator.
Fifth Grade: Beginning reference activity "Famous SOL People" and
discussing "what is historical fiction?"
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Hugar and Mrs. Lewis
FAMIS
- is Virginia’s health insurance program for uninsured children.
For more information call 1-866-873-2647
or www.famis.org.
PAGE 14
BEAR FACTS
From the Counselor’s Corner
The student of the month breakfast for January was a huge success! We combined the
December and January breakfast into one, due to the snow day that we had in December. We had 50
children recognized for either the word Kindness or Fairness. 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! The word of the month for February is
Respect. The breakfast will be held Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.!
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: Brave Irene about having courage and making wise choices
2nd Grade: The Boy That Cried Wolf- we’ll be talking about the importance of telling the truth
3rd Grade: Learning about a Native American called the “Rainbow Crow”
4th Grade: Conflict Resolution Skills
5th Grade: Watching the Video “Bullies are a Pain in the Brain”
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!
ESL News
We have completed some of our WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Learners
(ELLs). Each year through this test, ELLs are able to show how much their English
Language Proficiency has improved. Given that we had inclement weather, we will be
scheduling make up days to complete the rest of the testing. I am so proud of how much
progress our ELLs have made this year!
As a reminder, you can schedule a parent/teacher conference at any time during the
school year. If you need a translator for your conference, please make sure to tell your
child’s teacher. You can also send notes to your teacher or the school in the language you
are most comfortable with and we will make sure to get it translated.
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.
Thanks,
Sarah Serrano
ESL Specialist
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PTO Corner
Load up the whole family, grab a blanket, and come enjoy a kid-friendly Movie Night on Friday,
February 4th at the school! The PTO General Membership Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and prepaid pizza orders may be picked up at this time. The movie starts at 7 p.m. and the PTO will provide
free popcorn. The Bruster’s Ice Cream cart will also be there, so please bring cash if you wish to
make a purchase. Proceeds from the Bruster’s sales will support the PTO.
Take the night off from cooking on Tuesday, February 8th, and join us at Cici’s Pizza for a Spirit
Night from 4-8 p.m. Wacky Bear will also be participating and you may stop in all day. Maybe do a
little Valentine’s Day shopping?
February is Market Day Cookie Dough Month, with 9 delicious flavors to choose from. Every
cookie dough purchase this month helps Moncure earn extra profit. Market Day is also offering 5
new items this month including Mini Cinnamon Scones, Tuscan Chicken Pizza, and Fish Nuggets.
Also featured are the Whole Pork Tenderloin and Yin Yang Blend from the Taste for Health
selections. Check your flier or online for more information. Be a Spring Frequent Buyer by making
two $40 purchases February-April and a third $40 purchase in May to receive a FREE 3-drawer
Storage Cube in May! Order at www.marketday.com (Account #19084) until 11 p.m. Wednesday,
February 16th, with pick-up in the cafeteria Tuesday, February 22nd from 5-6 p.m.
Look for information to be sent home mid-month about our new Great American Spring
Fundraiser. The catalogs offer a wonderful selection of jewelry, items for your kitchen and home,
gourmet dessert foods, magazine subscriptions and more! It is a convenient way to shop for
birthdays or Mother’s Day and to support Moncure. Students who sell at least 5 items will earn
entrance to a BMX Bike Show at the school in April! Order forms and payment will be due on
March 4th.
Calling all bargain shoppers and closet cleaners….Yes, it’s almost time again for our Spring
Children’s Clothing Sale! Mark Saturday, March 26th from 8 a.m-2 p.m. on your calendars and visit
the PTO page of the school website to download printable tags to start tagging your items now.
Please remember spring clothing items only, no fall/winter wear. Volunteers have the opportunity to
shop the pre-sale on Friday evening and receive an extra percentage of their sales with only a 2-hour
shift. To sign-up to volunteer, please call Maureen Crowe at 540-720-3596 beginning Thursday,
February 24th between 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Jobs will fill quickly, so make a note to call on the 24th!
No calls or requests will be accepted before this date. We hope you can participate as a volunteer,
seller, or shopper (or all three!) this spring.
2010/2011 PTO Board
President: Gina Long
Vice President/Fundraising: Heidi Cox
Vice President/Programs: Victoria Dailey
Secretary: Lisa Munoz
Treasurer: Chrissy Lukacs
Co-Treasurer: Heather Pierce
Appreciation: Kerri Rogers
Communications: Stacy Blair
Volunteer Coordinator: Reyna Del Toro
the3moncurebears@hotmail.com
heidijrc@verizon.net
preciousmommys@cs.com
gljdm@msn.com
lukacscl@aol.com
sandhpierce@verizon.net
tkcarogers@hotmail.com
stacy@blairing.com
torofam@aol.com
PAGE 20
BEAR FACTS
February
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
1
THURSDAY
2
FRIDAY
3
4
SATURDAY
5
Report Cards
Go Home
(Grades 1-5)
DAY 1
6
7
DAY 2
8
AWARDS
K@10:00
1@2:00
3@2:45
DAY 3
9
10
AWARDS
2@10:00
5@1:30
4@2:30
Variety Show
Try-Outs
6:30-8:30
DAY 2
DAY 3
PTO Movie
Night &
Bruster’s Ice
Cream
DAY 4
11
12
CiCi’s/Wacky
Bear Night
(4-8 pm)
DAY 5
13
14
DAY 1
15
Great
American
Fundraiser
Kick-Off
DAY 5
20
21
SNOW
MAKE-UP
DAY
DAY 5
27
28
DAY 5
Variety Show
Dress
Rehearsal
6:30pm
DAY 1
22
16
17
DAY 4
18
Market Day
Orders Due
Variety Show
Performance
@6:30 pm
DAY 2
23
DAY 3
24
DAY 4
25
Market Day
Order Pick-Up
DAY 1
19
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
26