By: Elizabeth Ende

On November 11th, Chesterbrook's cafeteria was transformed into a gigantic Thanksgiving dining room. In her seventh year as Chesterbrook PTA's Hospitality Chair, Kim Johnson outdid herself! She and her team of volunteers worked with Chesterbrook administrative and cafeteria staff to put on an amazing luncheon. Volunteers (including staff, parents and children) helped set up the tables and decorate the cafeteria, orchestra room and pod on Thursday afternoon (even Mrs. Paper and Mr. Fuqua joined in).

Chesterbrook first grade students wove colorful mats that were displayed by class on the stage wall (see photo below). Colorful die cut images with handwritten 'what I'm thankful for' notes from Chesterbrook students were displayed on the Thanksgiving tree, in banners along the windows and all around the walls of the cafeteria. Every table had beautiful fall flower arrangements. With full-day kindergartners and the increased enrollment at Chesterbrook this year, the school had to be prepared for a bumper crowd. Altogether, cafeteria staff and volunteers served more than 800 meals beginning at 10:30 am and running all the way to 2:05 pm. Volunteers who spent time dishing up lunch gained new respect for our lovely cafeteria staff. 

Miss Pereira visits kids enjoying their Thanksgiving lunch

A special thank you to Kim Johnson for orchestrating this lunch; to the more than 40 parent volunteers who helped set up, serve and clean up; and to front office staff (Linda Barnard and Debbie Pereira), cafeteria staff (Isabel Mancilla, Tashi Youdon, Linda Lopez), FCPS Regional Cafeteria Manager, Chuck Keefer, and custodial staff (Al Nascimi, Lan Ong, Aydalina Aquilar and Chau Nguyen) who went above and beyond their jobs to make this event work! 

By: Tiffany Albrecht, Science Appreciation Chair
  

By: Emily Ludwikowski, School Outreach Chair

Thank you to everyone who donated clothes and school supplies during the PTA School Outreach's fall drive. We collected nine bags of clothes and one box of school supplies for students in our area.  

By: Aisha H. Kashif   

May, 2011: Fairfax County School Board voted to extend the hours of Kindergarten instruction in the 36 schools that still did not have it. It was a pleasant surprise to the many parents who had actively participated in bringing about this discussion and the ensuing decision. With budgetary constraints and signs that the economic conditions might put this crucial decision on hold, this was big news. As one of the 36 schools, Chesterbrook's administration and staff rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

A Teacher's Perspective

We caught up with Kindergarten teacher Sheila Wynne and had a lively chat about how things have been going so far. With 29 years of teaching experience (13 at Chesterbrook) she has quite a few stories to share! Currently, she has 26 kids in her class and a lot of enthusiasm and passion in teaching this age group.  

Her reaction upon finding out about the full day KG decision? "We all knew it was coming eventually; but when it came was surprising as nobody expected the vote to go through with the current economic conditions," she said. "But we here at Chesterbrook have taken a slow and steady approach towards it. Mr. Fuqua gave us time to adjust to this change and was supportive and still is, every step of the way."  

The longer day, starting at 8:40 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. as opposed to the 11:30 a.m. for the morning group, has resulted in many changes. The children now get to spend more time with the specialist teachers, enjoying PE and Music twice a week and Art and Library once a week. It has also enabled the teachers to extend the time slots of Language Arts and Math instruction. The students are now being taught an hour and a half of Language Arts and one hour of Math each day. They also have better access to the REACH block because of the doubling of time slots available for instruction.

Lunch at School - A new event for most kindergartners

"Lunch is at 10:30, and we have the choice of taking them outside twice for recess," says Mrs. Wynne. "Naturally, the children do get tired. But we also have a half hour of rest time, where the kids just lie down quietly, and sometimes, they do fall asleep! But the special bonding which takes place between the kids is simply adorable. And I think it's really important for them at this age to switch off for a while," she says.

A Parent's Perspective

Julie Abel, a mom of three, currently has a 5th grader at Haycock and has a 2nd grader and a Kindergartner at Chesterbrook. She was an active advocate of the full day Kindergarten who also feels that this change has, overall, been a positive one for her child and for her family.

"The day I heard about the decision of full day Kindergarten was an emotionally bittersweet one," says Julie. "My child was definitely ready for this, but I thought, am I? I won't be able to spend as much time with him!" she says retrospectively. "But at the same time I was happy that my child will finally be able to get the equal opportunity of enjoying an enriched school life. The kids who went for only a half day of school just didn't get that."

Julie acknowledges that the day is long and there are good days and not so good days, but to her this is quite normal. "I have tried to keep the after school activities schedule toned down purposely this fall/winter. I wanted my child to be able to come home and play by himself or with neighborhood buddies too on some days."

Like all early childhood developmental theories, there are pros and cons to having young children spend four more hours in a classroom setting. What is important is that they are given an environment which nurtures them and helps them blossom, wherever they go.

Homework Made Simple Was Simply Fantastic! 

Become a Family Friend of Chesterbrook

Duck Season? Rabbit Season? No, it's AUCTION Season!

Needy Families Benefit from SCA Canned Food Drive 

Don't forget the Student Council Association's (SCA) drive to benefit Toys for Tots and the SHARE Food Network. You can help by buying a new, unwrapped toy or personal hygiene item and bringing it to Chesterbrook's Library by Friday, December 9th.  

The Chesterbrook PTA Family Directory has been printed and delivered.  Many thanks to Beth Mahood, Maryam  Redjaee, and their team of volunteers for this large undertaking.  The PTA extends its special thanks to Andy Gralla who not only printed the directory for us at no charge, but also coordinated the assembly.  Thanks Andy! 

Great job to the 25 girls and their buddy runners who participated in the Girls on the Run fall 5K on Sunday, November 20. Way to go, girls!