October 18, 2007
A Message From Mrs. Starr
Please note that students in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade have an important letter for you today that explains based upon the county’s reading assessments, the level at which your child is being instructed in reading. The form also includes the skills for on grade level expectations. Please remember that this is only one measure of your child’s reading performance, teachers also take into consideration classroom performance and observation, as well as, formal and informal assessment based upon the appropriate learning outcomes for that grade level. I sincerely hope that you will find this information helpful. As you review this information, it is important to remember that reading is a developmental process and as students grow and change so will their instructional needs. Please contact your child’s teacher, our reading specialist, or me if you have any additional concerns regarding this information.
This letter is not being sent to parents of students in grades 3, 4, and 5. Teachers in these grade levels (3, 4, and 5) use the students’ information from last year’s performances in class, as well as, individual performance on standardized assessments such as the Maryland State Assessment (MSA) or the Terra Nova 2, and the computerize reading assessment, the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP-R) to assist them in correctly identifying reading progress being made. MAP- R progress is monitored three times a year. Due to the fact that students in grades K thru 2 are learning to read, it is easier to measure their level of performance in reading than students in grades 3 thru 5, who have now learned to read and are now applying those skills and are reading to learn. Therefore, only the primary students are receiving this information home today. Your child’s level of reading performance in grades 3, 4 and 5 will be discussed with you at the parent conference and performance above, on or below grade level will also be provided on the report card. Upper grade parents, as always, if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, our school’s reading specialist, or me.
October 19th - No School - Staff Professional Day
Woodfield Community Responds to Family Needs!
Thanks to the generosity of so many parents and staff members, our Woodfield family now has all that they need to furnish their home. This has made a big difference in the lives of this family! I thank all of you who called to contribute to this family! Together, we really did make a really big difference!!
School Walk for Diabetes
We had a great day on Tuesday walking and learning about ways to keep our bodies healthy. This year we had Sandra Serrant of the American Diabetes Association join us to help the students learn about how our bodies use insulin and how Diabetes changes the normal order of the body. We also were fortunate to have Erin Henderson of the University of Maryland Terrapins’ Football team walk with us. The students had a lot of great questions for Sandra and Erin. All the students who participated in the walk took home Erin’s autograph and those who raised five dollars or more will be getting prizes in the near future. Once again we could not have had a successful walk without the help of volunteers. Thank you to Jeanne and Wayne Ruddock, Bruce Hoefler, Anne Reinhold, Misty Ruffner, Dee Santorelli, Martha Jackson, Siobhan Kopp and Heather Gottfredson.
Native Hardwood Seed Collection
Please help us collect native tree seeds such as acorns and walnuts (go to www.potomac.org/growingnative/pdfs/desired_species.pdf for a list of desired tree species and photos). Growing Native, a local Potomac Watershed conservation group, will donate our seeds to state-run nurseries which grow them into saplings and plant them along the rivers and streams that make up the Potomac Watershed. This is important because trees act as filters and help keep runoff pollutants such as oil and fertilizer from polluting our water. The collection will continue until November 2nd. Please use paper bags to collect your seeds and drop them off under the rainbow near the front office.
Thank you for your support. The Woodfield PTA Philanthropic Committee
Fall Screening of Students New to MCPS
During the fall, all students who are new to MCPS in grades 3, 4 and 5 will participate in a Gifted and Talented screening process. The goal of this process is to recognize those students whose performance, motivation or potential ability indicate the need for accelerated and enriched instruction. The process involves information from a variety of sources. Every parent/guardian of students new to MCPS in grades 3, 4 and 5 will receive a parent questionnaire. Please contact Patricia Calvin or Holly Walker, the GT Liaisons at 301-253-7085 if you have any questions.
Morning Arrival
If your child walks to school or is driven to school, please make sure that he/she does not arrive to school until 8:30 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., students are allowed to enter the gym for line-up. Prior to 8:30 a.m., there are no staff members available who can be asked to supervise in the gym. We cannot have students unsupervised in the gym prior to that established time. Please contact me if you have any concerns regarding this matter.
Halloween Celebration
Woodfield’s Halloween parade will begin at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31st. Classroom celebrations will follow the parade. Please remember that students are asked not to wear any costumes that the younger students in the building may find scary or bring any sort of weapon. No students are allowed to wear costumes before 1:30 p.m. Students are not allowed to wear face make-up in the mornings. Students will dress in regular school clothes in the morning as we follow a regular morning schedule. Please also note that costumes should not block student’s vision and should be easy to get into. We look forward to seeing you at our Halloween parade!
Halloween Young Run
The annual Halloween Young Run, sponsored by the Montgomery County Roadrunners Club, will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at West Gude Drive and Route 355, Rockville, Maryland . Proceeds from the run will benefit Sports Plus which is a local children’s charity. The deadline for early registration is October 15, 2007.
Sports Plus is a year-round, co-ed sports program for verbal children between the ages of 5 and 14 with mild to moderate autistic spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD and other developmental disabilities. Sports Plus was designed to create opportunities for children and their families to meaningfully participate in team sports. The goal is to create a comfortable, positive experience for children and parents to learn sports, fitness, and social skills that extend far beyond the playing field.
There a limited number of paper forms in the bookcase outside the office.
For additional information & to register online see the web address below.
You may register online @ www.mcrrc.org/dyr.
Online registration is $ 3.00.
Mail in registration is $5.00.
Children may also purchase a fun t-shirt for additional $ 8.00
Please direct any questions to Ms. Spillman, physical education teacher.
Thought for this week:
“The journey, not the arrival, matters; the voyage, not the landing.’ Paul Theroux
Keep Clipping BOXTOPS
Friday, October 26th marks the end of this contest. The top clippers in each grade wins a pizza party so please keep clipping those valuable BoxTops for Education. Remember that the expiration date must be visible.
Attention Fifth Grade Parents
Please mark November 14th at 7:00 p.m. on your calendar if you would like to find out more about the Roberto Clemente Middle School Center for the Highly Gifted. On this night, you and your 5th grader will learn more about the center at their Information Night Meeting!
Sally Foster Fundraiser items will arrive on Tuesday!
Date: Tuesday, October 23rd
Time: 2:45 – 6:30
Where: on the stage in the All-Purpose Room
If you can’t pickup your order, please ask a neighbor to help! Due to space constrictions, we must hand out all merchandise on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Gallahan at (301) 253-1868.
Friday is always School Spirit Day. Wear your Woodfield clothes or blue and white.
2007-2008 Important Dates
Friday, October 19 MSTA Convention – No school
Friday, October 19 School Beautification Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 23 Sally Foster Distribution
Thursday, October 25 NAACP Parent Cluster Meeting – Baker 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 26 Fall Family Fun Night
Sunday, October 28 American Education Week
Monday, October 29 Damascus Cluster PTA Meeting 7 p.m. @ Woodfield ES
Wednesday, October 31 First marking period ends
Wednesday, October 31 Halloween – Parade followed by Parties – 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday, October 31 – Friday, Nov. 9 Square 1 Art
Wednesday, November 1 American Indian Heritage Month
Thursday, November 1 Professional day for teachers – No school for students
Tuesday, November 6 PTA Meeting 7 :00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 7 Flyer Distribution Day
Friday, November 9 Early Release Day 12:35 p.m.
Parent Conferences – Report cards distributed
Monday, November 12 Early Release Day 12:35 p.m.
Parent Conferences
Monday, November 12 Veteran’s Day
Tuesday, November 13 2nd Grade - Strathmore Hall Field Trip
Tuesday, November 13 Fall portrait make-ups
Wednesday, November 14 Roberto Clemente MS Center for the Highly Gifted
Information Night for 5th Gr. Parents 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 20 Grandparent’s Day
Thursday, Nov. 22 – Friday, Nov. 23 Holidays – Thanksgiving – No School
Friday, November 30 Damascus High School Chorus visits
Sunday, December 2 National Inclusion Week
Tuesday, December 4 PTA Meeting 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 5 Talent Show Auditions
Thursday, December 6 Talent Show Auditions
Tuesday, December 11 Woodfield Concert
Friday, December 21 Damascus High School band visits
Monday, December 24- Tuesday, Dec. 25 Holidays – Christmas – No School
Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 29 Winter Break – No School
Tuesday, January 1 Holiday – New Year’s Day – No School
Thursday, January 3 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 7 – Tuesday, Jan. 8 Hearing and Vision Screening (K, 4, and new students)
Wednesday, January 9 Talent Show Rehearsal at Woodfield
Thursday, January 10 Talent Show Rehearsal at Woodfield
Thursday, January 10 Class and Group Picture Day
Thursday, January 17 Talent Show Dress Rehearsal @ Damascus High School
Friday, January 18 Talent Show @ Damascus High School
Friday, January 18 2nd Marking period ends
Monday, January 21 Holiday – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 22 Professional Day for teachers – No school for students
Wednesday, January 23 Flyer Distribution Day
Wed., January 23 – Friday, Feb. 15 MAP R Winter Window for grades 3, 4, 5
Tuesday, January 29 – Friday, Feb. 1 PTA Book Exchange
Wednesday, January 30 Report cards distributed
Friday, February 1 African American Heritage Month
Tuesday, February 5 PTA Meeting
Monday, February 11 Hearing and Vision Rescreening (K, 4, and new students)
Tuesday, February 12 Holiday – Presidential primary election
Wednesday, February 13 Hilary Hyland – Author Visit
Thursday, February 14 Valentine’s Day
Monday, February 18 Holiday – Presidents Day
Tuesday, February 19 DHS and ES choral concert @ DHS
Thursday, February 21 Science Expo
Wednesday, February 27 Early Release Day – 12:35 p.m.
Tuesday, March 4 Spring Portraits
Tuesday, March 4 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 13 Donuts for Dads
Friday, March 14 Donuts for Dads
Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
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
Tuesday, April 1 – Thursday, April 11 MSA Testing Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)
Friday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 16 MSA Make-up Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)
Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18 Staff Appreciation Week
Thursday, April 17 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Friday, April 18 Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten
Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2 Terra Nova testing – Grade 2
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
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.
Friday, May 2 Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5
Tuesday, May 6 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7 – Tuesday, May 13 MSA Testing grades 3, 4, 5 (Science)
Thursday, May 8 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Muffins for Moms
Friday, May 9 Field Day Grades K, 1, 2
Friday, May 16 Rain date for Field Day K, 1, 2
Saturday, May 17 School Beautification Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Monday, May 19 – Friday, May 23 Spring Book Fair
Thursday, May 22 Woodfield Art Show
Friday, May 23 Rain date for Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5
Monday, May 26 Holiday – Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 27 4th & 5th Gr. Band, Strings, & Chorus Concert
Wednesday, June 11 5th Grade Promotion
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
Note: Dates that have been added this week are in bold.