PRESIDENT'S REMARKS

Well, we are in full swing with fundraising season with our two biggest fundraisers: the Online Auction and Fun Fair. Thank you to everyone who has already bid on items in the auction, referred non-Chesterbrook friends to our site, and solicited or donated items. It's been exciting to watch the gross dollars raised go up and up (of course, we pay some fees for the auction site based on value of bids, as well as some small expenses) each day!  We have nearly 1,500 bids, but we still have 25 percent of our items without bids--the time is now to grab these great deals!

Visit www.biddingforgood.com/chesterbrook to start bidding. Some of the as-yet-to-be-claimed items include several golf outings, Aaron Rodgers autographed helmet, several photographer/portrait packages, travel getaway packages, tae kwon do classes, Paula Deen VIP tickets, and much more. Please tell your friends outside of the Chesterbrook community. Thank you to everyone on the Auction Committee, especially Julia Nelson who is still working like a crazy person on this!

Fun Fair is right around the corner on March 12. This event truly requires hundreds of parents to help. A number of parents are on the Fun Fair committee and are already assigned to manage activities that day, so we rely on families not already volunteering to sign up for the open shifts that room parents are recruiting for.  It's a great event to work because you see so many of your kids' friends and their parents, meet other parents working the same shift, and have an opportunity to help on a weekend when you don't have work obligations as many do during the week. Please do your part to help make this a great event! Thanks to Trisha Downey, Kim Johnson, and their entire committee, as well as the room parents who are working hard to fill the volunteer shifts.

Wristbands and ticket presales end on February 28, so please go online to our new website to order yours right away. You won't want to wait in line during the Fun Fair to get tickets--and all-day wristbands will ONLY be sold during the presale. And while you're online, you can donate $5 or more for a cake for the cake walk and $5 increments for the balloon raffle. These are great ways for everyone to participate!

OK, enough about fundraising. As we move into the spring, we are starting to learn which PTA positions are opening up for next year, either because parents are graduating with their kids or are just ready to move on. Now is a great time to consider how you can help next year. We've listed positions we know are open at this point on the Volunteer page of our new website, with more being added as they become open. Several of the open positions are managing after school activities, and are currently held by full-time working parents. You do not need to be present during the activity! If your children participate in one of these programs, please consider helping manage it. Thank you to those who have already volunteered and served on the PTA.

Finally, our Summer Quest program is up and running. Several camps are already at capacity and a few more are close. Thank you to Kurt Kohls and Naomi Sweet for putting together such a fabulous set of classes, along with many of our own Chesterbrook teachers! Check out our catalog and our quick reference table . Register soon to be sure your children can get in the camps you want, and please pass along our camp information to other families you know. We would love to have kids from other school register too!  

See you at Fun Fair! 

Laurie Plishker, PTA President

BOX TOPS NEEDED BY FEBRUARY 28TH

It's time again to gather up all those Box Tops you and your family and friends have been saving and send them off to our collection station across from the Media Center.   Be sure to drop them in the green plastic can marked Box Tops by Monday, February 28th.

 Although February 28th is our last submission for this school year, we will happily continue to collect coupons in the green plastic can so we can submit them in the Fall 2011.  Remember, each coupon is worth 10 cents for our school...and bonus coupons are worth even more!  Box Tops can be found on hundreds of products from brands like these:

• General Mills
• Ziploc®
• Pillsbury®
• Kleenex®
• Betty Crocker®
• Hefty®

Thanks for your support!

MEET CHESTERBROOK STAFF

Spotlight on Strings at Chesterbrook

By: Elizabeth Ende 

Chesterbrook's Strings Teacher, Rachel Blitch

FCPS provides general music education for all students Kindergarten through sixth grade, orchestra instruction beginning in fourth grade, and band and chorus instruction beginning in fifth grade in every elementary school.  To follow on to the article from last month on Band, this issue includes information from my interview with Chesterbrook's Strings Teacher, Rachel Blitch.

 

How do students select or get selected for strings?  "Any Chesterbrook student in Grades 4-6 may join strings. This year I have my largest group yet.... 73 string students strong!!!"

How do students pick their stringed instrument? "Students may pick any stringed instrument they wish to play. I have a string instrument demonstration at the beginning of the year to help make their choice easier."

What is the progression for the stringed instruments? "There are three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced strings. Most students will start out as beginners and progress to the next levels unless they have taken private lessons or participated in a summer camp.  Beginning string students will find their progress and improvement very rewarding if they stay in the strings program."

Do students need to be able to read music or do they learn to read music in your class? "Thanks to our general music teachers, my students come to me with a solid foundation in music.  However, being able to read music is NOT required."

How often do students meet with you?  "Once a week for 40-45 minutes."

When/how often do they perform? "The Chesterbrook Strings Program has 2 performances per year. We perform holiday music in the winter and more advanced music in the spring."

Any advice you'd like to share with students/parent on playing an instrument?  "Stick with it!!  Playing an instrument is challenging at first, but with a little time, practice, patience and dedication, you will be rewarded with a wonderful experience and a lifetime appreciation for music."  

Check out some of my beginning students
(photos taken on Wacky Hair Day!)

            

How did you get interested in being an orchestra/band teacher? "That's a funny story. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be an archaeologist, like Indiana Jones. So, when it came time for college, I went out west to Colorado to study archaeology. After taking a few classes, I soon found out that archaeology was not for me. I have always loved playing music, so helping others learn how to play music seemed like a natural fit. I started studying music education at George Mason University and here I am doing what I love... Teaching Strings!!!!!!!!!"  

What kind of background is needed to be an orchestra/band teacher?  "Music teachers must have extensive knowledge of music theory, music history, composition, technology, conducting, education, and most of all a passion for music."

What instruments do you play? "Viola is my primary instrument, but I play violin, bass, cello, and piano on a daily basis, too!  I have also played: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, euphonium, and guitar."

What is your favorite type of music?  "That's a tough question.  I like everything from classical to new wave."

Who is your favorite composer? "It's too hard to choose just one, but here are my top 5 (who all played the viola!) Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky."

What is your favorite food? "My mother in-law's flank steak." 

Any personal news you'd like to share with our readers? "I am a huge Washington Capitals fan and love to watch hockey.... Let's GO CAPS!!!  Last summer I started Chesterbrook's first Summer Strings Spectacular during Summer Quest. It was so successful that I am doing it again this summer! I will be offering classes during Summer Quest week 2. Please look at the Chesterbrook PTA website for more details."

When is the next concert? "Please join us on Wednesday June 8 at 2 pm and 7 pm for the Chesterbrook Strings Spring Concert."

 

McLean Community Center Art Show

March is Youth Art Month which is a nationwide event that celebrates the Arts and Art Education.  Chesterbrook will be participating in this event by having our annual Art Show at the McLean Community Center which will be open March 9-20.  There will be a reception on Sunday, March 13th from 3-5 pm.  Please join us at this special event as we celebrate our young artists and Youth Art Month.

Strategies for Raising an Academically Successful Student

On Tuesday, March 15^th at 7 pm, the Lemon Road ES PTA will present speaker, Ann Dolin, former Fairfax County educator and founder of Educational Connections - a home-tutoring company serving over 4,500 area students.  Ann Dolin's discussion, "5 Proven Strategies for Raising an Academically Successful Student" will cover the following topics:

·    Creating an afterschool structure with built in routines

·    Teaching your child essential study skills

·    Choosing and implementing effective rewards and consequences

·    Realizing when you are helping too much or not enough

·    Praising effectively to increase motivation

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lemonroadpta@gmail.com.  The Lemon Road PTA Hospitality Committee welcomes guests to join them ahead of time for refreshments from 6:30 - 7 pm in the Lemon Road ES Library.

• Ads will be placed on a space available, first come first served basis. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any classified ad. 
• Ads are offered free of charge to Chesterbrook students, staff, parents, or alumni. 
• For businesses not associated with Chesterbrook students, staff, parents, or alumni, we only consider ads that have an educational value or would be of benefit to our member community.  A $10 donation to the PTA is requested with each ad.