March 14, 2008
A Message From Mrs. Starr
Happy Spring Break! This will be the last newsletter before spring break. It does look like spring may be on its way! We also know because when the students arrive back to school, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will immediately begin MSA testing. It is imperative that on your child’s assessment days, that they arrive on time having had a good start to their day! (Yes, I do recall what mornings can be like trying to get everyone to school on time!) This helps greatly for the students to be able to give their best to show what they know and have learned on these assessments. During the days, before the assessments, I am hoping that you will review with your child, the tips listed below.
Tips for Doing A Fantastic Job on the MSA
Before the Test(s):
Please make sure that your child:
· gets plenty of sleep the night before in order to have plenty of energy at test time.
· eats a healthy breakfast on test day(s).
· wears clothing that is comfortable.
· arrives to school on time.
· is told by you that you believe in him and have him/her say, “I believe in me!” This will help your child feel more confident, as he/she leaves home for the day, about the assessments.
· is reminded to take some slow deep breaths if he/she feels tense.
· is reminded that all we ask is for your child to do his/her best. That’s all anyone can ever expect of anyone else!
During the test(s):
Your child should:
· read all directions carefully and critically.
· budget time wisely.
· read all items carefully. Think about what the answer should be. Real all answers. Choose the one that makes sense or write a response that fully answers the question.
· erase stray or misleading marks.
· double check for careless mistakes, skipped questions, and/or misinterpretation of directions.
· uses relaxation techniques such as taking five deep breaths or counting down from 10 if becoming tense.
· take a best guess. Credit is never given for a skipped question.
After the test(s):
· Celebrate. Finishing a standardized test is an accomplishment.
· Give your child plenty of time to relax and wind down. Taking the test requires a lot of mental energy!
· Consider treating him/her to a special meal, a video rental, or a walk in the park.
· Tell your child how proud you are of his/her hard work.
SPRING TESTING SCHEDULE
Assessment Testing Window Testing Group
MSA Reading April 1-2 Grade 3 and 4
April 3-4 Grades 5
MSA Mathematics April 8-9 Grade 3 and 4
April 10-11 Grades 5
MSA Makeup April 14-16 Grades 3-5
Terra Nova 2 April 28-May 2 Grade 2
MSA Science May 5-May 6 Grade 5
Science Expo is Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Place: Woodfield Elementary School Gymnasium
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Participants should bring their completed projects to school between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. on March 18.
Staff and volunteers will be in the Gym to help the children set up. During the day all classes will have the opportunity to view all entries. We invite participants to attend the evening session of the Fair with their parents. Students will only need to stay with their projects to answer questions from 7:30 – 7:45 p.m. At 8:00 – 8:15 p.m., all projects should be taken home. Ribbons of Participation will be awarded by special visiting scientists. A special thank you to Ms. Tress Potter, lead science teacher for Woodfield, and the support from the PTA.
Spring Break and Next Professional Day
Friday, March 21 – Friday, March 28 Spring Break – No School
Monday, April 7 – Professional day for teachers – No school for students
Donuts for Dads – Compliments of the PTA
Thank you to Julie Torrence and to the mothers who helped her for organizing Donuts for Dads. It was wonderful to see so many supportive dads at Woodfield. Thank you also to Mr. Carter for all his help.
Spring Portrait Proofs Have Arrived!!
Your child should have brought home their spring portrait proofs. If you are ordering pictures, please return the order form by April 2nd. You can also order online at www.blantonstudio.com/orderonline.
Extreme Dream Sweepstakes Sponsored by Box Top for Education
What are you dreaming of for our school? Imagine the possibilities…
Enter every day from March 9 to April 9th for a chance to win
100,000 Bonus Box Tops for our school! – that’s over 30 chances to win!
Give our school a chance to dream! Go to: boxtops4education.com/extremedream
From now through April 9th. It’s that easy!
Montgomery County Recreation Department – Summer Camps
The Montgomery County Recreation Department has a booklet listing Woodfield Elementary as a Summer Fun Center. This is an error. The booklet went to print before it was determined that Woodfield Elementary would be having improvements this summer so our building will not be available for any summer programs. Please call 240-777-6840 for summer camps offered near Damascus.
MCPS Drop-In Parent Coffee
On Thursday, March 20, the Division of Family and Community Partnerships will be hosting a Drop-In Parent Coffee. Parents are welcome to stop by on the way to work or anytime between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12 noon to learn valuable information about the school system and tips for supporting their children’s education. The location is 451 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, in Suite 508. For more information about this event, call 301-279-3100.
Will Your Child Be Attending Woodfield During the 2008 – 2009 School Year?
Since the level of staffing allocated at Woodfield is based on projected enrollment, it is important for us to have information regarding your plans for the 2008 – 2009 school year. Please call the office @ 301-253-7085 as soon as possible if there is a possibility that your child will not be returning to our school for the coming school year! Thank you!
International Night
International Night is Friday, April 25th. To date, we have 20 families participating in this fun event. We are hoping to get more families/students to come out and celebrate your heritage. You can also work in groups and present a country of choice. If you have any questions, please contact Siobhan Kopp @ (301)414-0457 or gandskopp1@verizon.net.
Keys for Reading Update
We are pleased to announce that many of our Woodfield students participated in the Keys for Reading program again this year! All bookmarks and orders have been turned in and tickets will arrive at Woodfield soon. Tickets will be distributed the week of April 1-4. Saturday, April 5 at 2:00 pm is the Montgomery County Schools Keys for Reading Day at the ballpark. It is a very exciting and rewarding day to celebrate literacy and we hope to see you there!
Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Forms
The jump rope and hoops for heart forms may be turned in the Week of March 17, 2008.
Kindergarten Orientation Dates Are Scheduled
Kindergarten Orientation for children who will be five years old on or before September l, 2008, will be held at Woodfield Elementary on April 17 and April 18. On these dates, there will be no school for our current kindergarten students. Please call the office to provide the school with your child’s name. If you know of families who do not have students currently at Woodfield but have children who will be in kindergarten next year, please share this date with them. More information will follow.
Author Hilary Hyland
Author Hilary Hyland and her canine friend Miss Mouse were a big hit in the Media Center on Wednesday.
Damascus Cluster NAACP Parent Council
The next NAACP Cluster Meeting will be Thursday, April 3rd at 7:00 p.m. @ DHS. We will meet in Room 120 and Child Care will be held in the Cafeteria.
The Damascus Cluster NAACP Parent Council is offering free help for students who will be taking state tests. Volunteers will be on hand 3-5 p.m. every Sunday through March 16 at the Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, to help students sharpen their skills in preparation for the Maryland State Assessments tests and High School Assessment tests.
SGA Spirits Days
The SGA will be sponsoring the following spirit days:
Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Wear something green
Friday, April 18 Twin Day
Friday, May 23 Red, White, and Blue Day
Friday, June 6 Crazy Hair Day
Saturday Discoveries
Saturday Discoveries at Montgomery College is offering a one-day enrichment program for Gifted and Talented students in Grades 4 & 5 on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus from 8:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. This enrichment opportunity, co-sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools, allows students to explore a wide variety of topics to complement their school curriculum. Some of the small group sessions available are: Creative Writing and Speaking, Creative Nutrition and Lights, Camera, Action! Cost for this one-day program is $80. Partial scholarships, pending funding, are available for children who qualify for free or reduced meals. Parents of eligible students need only to pay the fee of $25.
Parents are invited, but not required, to spend the day with their youngster at no additional cost. “Teaching Children Three Valuable Lessons” presented by Dr. Ed Harris is an optional program for parents. The cost for this program is $30. Program brochures and registration forms are available in the school office. If you have any questions, please call Sharon Wolfgang at 240-567-7264.
Maryland Summer Centers
The Maryland State Department of Education recently announced the schedule of upcoming Maryland Summer Centers for students entering Grades 5 through 12. The Maryland Summer Centers program offers unique instructional experiences for gifted and talented students and gives them the opportunity to work in settings and with resources not available during the regular school year.
Centers are located throughout the state and offer one- to three- week residential and non-residential programs with a focus on the arts, creative writing, sciences, mathematics, technology, Chinese language and culture, engineering, law and government, physics, and history. Activities are designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while challenging students academically. Tuition ranges from $100 to $700.
The 2008 Maryland Summer Centers brochures are available in the school office, as well as, a copy of the catalog of programs for viewing. Brochures, application forms and a video featuring the Summer Centers may also be found on the website of the Maryland State Department of Education at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters.
Applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 15th, except for Fine Arts Centers, which have earlier deadlines. Materials are available in Spanish translation upon request. For more information, call Stephanie Zenker at 410-767-0821.
2008 Important Dates
Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
Tuesday, March 18 Science Expo 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 21 – Monday, March 24 Holidays – Easter (Note: Passover begins at sundown 4/19) Tuesday, March 25 – Friday, March 28 Spring break – No school for students and teachers
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Autism Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Arab American Heritage Month
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30 Month of the Young Child Celebration
Tuesday, April 1 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 2 MSA Reading Grades 3 and 4
Thursday, April 3 NAACP Cluster Meeting @ DHS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 3 – Friday, April 4 MSA Reading Grade 5
Friday, April 4 Third marking period ends
Saturday, April 5 Frederick Keys for Reading Baseball Game – 2:00 p.m.
Monday, April 7 Professional day for teachers – No school for students
Tuesday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 9 MSA Mathematics Grades 3 and 4
Wednesday, April 9 Flyer Distribution Day
Thursday, April 10 5th Grade Family Life Parent Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 10 – Friday, April 11 MSA Mathematics Grade 5
Monday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 16 MSA Make-up Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)
Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18 Staff Appreciation Week
Tuesday, April 15 Report cards distributed
Tuesday, April 15 Global Screening – Grade 2
Thursday, April 17 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Friday, April 18 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Monday, April 21 Global Screening – Grade 2
Monday, April 21 Grades 3-5 Global Rescreening
Monday, April 21 – Friday, May 16 LAS Links (ESOL Testing) Grades K- 5
Tuesday, April 22 – Friday, May 16 MAP R Spring Window for grades 3, 4, 5
Thursday, April 24 Take Your Child to Work Day
Friday, April 25 PTA International Night
Friday, April 25 A.M. Cultural Arts – Nada Brahma – World Music
Friday, April 25 Grades 3-5 Global Rescreening
Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2 Terra Nova testing – Grade 2
Tuesday, April 29 4th Grade In School Field Trip – In Space
Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, May 31 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Thursday, May 1 5th Grade Picture – 1:45 p.m.
Monday, May 5 lst Grade Field Trip to Rose Hill Manor
Monday, May 5 – Tuesday, May 6 MSA Science Grade 5
Tuesday, May 6 3rd Grade Field Trip - Baltimore Museum
Tuesday, May 6 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7 5th Grade to Strathmore Concert
Thursday, May 8 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Field Day Grades K, 1, 2
Wednesday, May 14 Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5 (changed from May 2)
Friday, May 16 Rain date for Field Day K, 1, 2
Friday, May 16 Read Aloud Day with Seniors
Friday, May 16 5th Grade Patrol Picnic
Friday, May 16 PTA Year End Dinner
Saturday, May 17 School Beautification Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday, May 19 – Friday, May 23 Spring Book Fair
Tuesday, May 20 5th Grade Field Trip to Washington, D.C.
Thursday, May 22 Woodfield Art Show
Thursday, May 22 2nd Grade Field Trip – Imagination Stage
Monday, May 26 Holiday – Memorial Day – No School
Tuesday, May 27 A.M. Cultural Arts – Liberty Hot Air Balloon Experience
Thursday, May 29 4th & 5th Gr. Band, Strings, & Chorus Concert
Friday, May 30 Damascus High School Graduation 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 5 Volunteer Luncheon – Media Center
Friday, June 6 Rain date for Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5 (changed from 5/23)
Tuesday, June 10 4th Grade Field Trip – Living Classrooms
Wednesday, June 11 5th Grade Promotion followed by a Pool Party
Thursday, June 12 Last day of school for students – Dismissal 12:35 p.m.
Friday, June 13 Professional day for teachers
Saturday, June 14 Flag Day
Thursday, June 19 Report cards mailed
Tuesday, August 26 First Day of School
Note: Dates that have been added this week are in bold.