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| FAQs | |
Q: Is it true that the school year may end on June 15th instead of June 19th?
A: Yes! Since we've only used one of three weather-related makeup days, the School Board will vote at its April 12th meeting on whether to end the school year on Friday, June 15th. FCPS will keep parents informed.
Have a question you'd like to have answered? Send your questions to Ask Chester and we'll answer them here and/or on our website. Check out our new FAQs section on the website for more as the year goes on.
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| Chesterbrook Business Friends | |
Jake
Sullivan
Realtor
Keri
O'Sullivan
Real Estate
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Chesterbrook PTA Digest PLUS
March 28, 2012
Dear Chesterbrook Families,
The warm weather we have had lately along with the earlier time change to daylight savings time has us all outside and engaged in wonderful ways. Check out those new QR codes on the school track!
But, before we run head long into spring events, I want to highlight our thanks here for the leaders of the Auction (Julia Nelson) and our Fun Fair (Trisha Downey and Kim Johnson). With their leadership and your support, the PTA and the school can continue in its tradition of a remarkable partnership of support. The auction will net almost $40,000 and the Fun Fair will net almost $21,000. Thank you for all of your helping hands to make this happen. With these results the events have exceeded their budgeted goals for the year.
Now that the heavy lifting of PTA business has subsided for a bit, please consider joining us for an evening to build community among the parents. The PTA is hosting its first ever parents only social event. This is a rare and special opportunity with live music and food & drink, to get together without the kids and relax. Make it a date night for you and your spouse. Bring your friends, new & old and join in the fun. More details are below.
Have a safe and happy Spring Break!
Beth Mahood,
President Chesterbrook PTA
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Spring Book Fair : April 23 - 26th
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By: Marsha Camp
Gear up for summer vacation and travel with new books from your favorite series and old standards. Games and activity books are fun teaching and learning resources during the summer months. Also, remember books and games make great gifts, so stock up your birthday party stash!
- We will not be placing reorders as books sell out, so shop early for the best selection on popular titles!
- We'll have
- Brand new titles
- Activity books and fun stuff
- Travel-sized games and activities
- Titles for adults that make great poolside reading
- Remember, we're helping maintain library materials that support the curriculum and provide funds for next year's operating expenses!
The Spring Book Fair will run Monday through Thursday from 8:15 am to 4 pm. Questions? Contact Marsha Camp or Beth Stewart at bookfair@chesterbrookpta.org.
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| Chesterbrook's Fitness Trail Unveiled | |
Excited students, parents and staff turned out on Monday afternoon to find out more about the new QR Fitness Trail, a unique blend of technology and fitness. The Chesterbrook QR Fitness Trail is the brainchild of School Based Technology Specialist, Kurt Kohls, and PE Teacher, Jay Levesque. Together, they infused QR Code technology, use of iPhones, Androids, iPod Touches, and Blackberries, and directed these devices to video content of fitness instruction. The fitness instruction videos include workout exercises by Chesterbrook's PE teachers - Bethany Brooks and Jay Levesque. The QR Code fitness trail system is set up in such a way that they are able to change out the videos as they need, and can track usage from school and community members.
Click here to read the Sun Gazette's article about the ribbon cutting ceremony. Stay tuned for more stories in the press about this cool project. And finally, get out your Smart Phone, download a QR reader, put on your tennis shoes and come check it out for yourself!
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Oh What Fun We'll Have This Summer!
|  Registration is now open for Chesterbrook's summer camp, Summer Quest, which offers a fun, convenient, affordable and rewarding experience for rising Kindergartners through rising Seventh graders.
This year there will be 4 one-week sessions:
- July 9 - 13
- July 16 - 20
- July 23 - 27
- July 30 - August 3
As always, Summer Quest will offer a wide variety of activities that include the academic as well as athletic, artistic, musical and just plain FUN! If you haven't already checked them out, you can do so now by clicking HERE.
Classes are taught by Chesterbrook teachers as well as other teachers from local schools. And classes are not limited to just Chesterbrook students -- friends, cousins and neighbors are welcome to register as well. Again we have morning and afternoon sessions (children registered for both may bring a lunch) and After Camp Fun to make a full-day. Cost is $130 per session, plus listed supply fee. The attached chart lists camps by week, with morning (9 am-12pm) or afternoon (1-4 pm), grade levels, general topic area (arts/crafts, sports, academic, etc.), camp name and description, and supply fee. Registration is now open on the PTA website. Sign up today so your child doesn't miss out on the fun!
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Auction Follow-up and Thank Yous
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Many thanks to Auction Chair, Julia Nelson, and everyone who helped with the auction, including everyone who donated items and all those who bid on those items! Net proceeds to the PTA from this year's auction are almost $40,000.
Special thanks go to several key team members who helped Julia enormously, from soliciting donations, entering items into the system, proofreading items, creating the display case, writing articles, getting our fliers up around town, keeping track of featured items and much more: Delia Swigart, Pam Freedman, Margaret Waagner, Amanda Abraham, Cheryl Ginyard-Jones, Betty Ende, Gina Manning, Lori Boerner, Roxanne Lumme, Carole Kopp, Joonhee Lee, and Katy Beach.
Julia would like to personally recognize one particular person who deserves special recognition for all of his fundraising efforts over many years for Chesterbrook. Thank you Roger Moskowitz! Roger Moskowitz and his wife, Pat Wilson, have two children who have attended Chesterbrook. Both Pat and Roger are active, engaged parents who have participated in many aspects of the Chesterbrook experience. Sadly, this is their last year at Chesterbrook.
Roger has been very involved with the Online and Silent Auctions for many years. Over the past six years, Julia estimates that Roger has been responsible for procuring over 800 hundred items valued at close to $200,000, raising well over $100,000 for the school. Roger's efforts are extraordinary and have enabled the PTA to support our students and staff in many, many ways. Thank you very much for your dedication, Roger! We will miss you and your family.
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Renaissance Fun Fair - A Great Success!
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Please join us in thanking Fun Fair Chair, Trisha Downey, and Assistant Chair, Kim Johnson, for putting on an amazing community event! Together they have worked for many months on all the details needed to plan and run this year's Renaissance Fun Fair, including but not limited to vendor selection, ticket pricing, contract negotiation, arrangement of custodial and police assistance for the day of the event, game selection, room logistics, management of many sub-committees, decorations, oversight of volunteer recruitment, and logistical oversight on the day of the event. Trisha and Kim's organizational and operational skills were put to good use as they ran a very smooth operation and put on a very fun and successful Fun Fair! We would appreciate your help in completing this very simple two minute survey to give us feedback for planning next year's Fun Fair.
As much as Trisha and Kim do, they couldn't do it alone. A number of key folks step in to make this day possible. A special shout-out goes to: READ MORE
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"Library" at Chesterbrook: More Than You Know
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By: Gina Manning
Sure, we all know our kids have "library" as part of their week, but if you think Chesterbrook kids use that time to just learn the Dewey Decimal System and check out books, you may be surprised at the breadth and depth of what goes on during Library time.
Marsha Moseley is Chesterbrook's Media Specialist. Assisted by Kay Park and a group of 20 parent volunteers, they preside over a collection of more than 15,000 books, audiobooks, DVDs, videotapes and reference materials as well as 12 desktop computers and 22 netbooks.
Library lessons vary by grade. READ MORE
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Meet Chesterbrook's Counselors
| | By: Adrienne West
 
Sue King Casey Loftus
Chesterbrook Elementary has a counseling program run specifically to meet the needs of the school. There are two full time counselors, Sue King and Casey Loftus, who serve all students enrolled at Chesterbrook. The counseling department differs from the school psychology department, as the school counselors focus on the personal, social, academic and career development of all students at Chesterbrook, while the school psychologist focuses on educational testing and crisis intervention. Counseling services are available to offer support and guidance to students, faculty and parents alike. READ MORE
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Advanced Academics at Chesterbrook Benefit All Students
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By: Kate Garcia and Gina Manning
About 40 parents attended the March 6 Principal's Coffee to learn more details about expanding Level IV (Advanced Academic, formerly known as GT) services at Chesterbrook. Mr. Fuqua explained that schools in our Pyramid - Franklin Sherman, Haycock, Kent Gardens, Timber Lane, Longfellow Middle School and McLean High School - will be adopting the Level IV curriculum for all students in Grades 3-6 beginning this fall.
Principal Fuqua, joined by Amy Vallath, a fourth grade teacher and the school's Advanced Academic Lead Teacher, and Naomi Sweet, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, explained that Level IV curriculum and strategies will be infused into the General Education grade levels when appropriate. It does not mean that every student will be held to the same rigor or expectations as Level IV identified students. The secondary schools will also be adding advanced academic strategies and materials to their classes along with training for their staff. READ MORE
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Chesterbrook PTA Presents April in Paris
| Chesterbrook's First Annual Spring Social
Enjoy an evening of music, food, adult beverages and fun
featuring Chesterbrook's very own Veronneau
"an acoustic, song-based group playing Latin Jazz, Gypsy Swing and much more"Saturday, April 28, 2012
8 - 11 pm
The Penthouse at Vinson Hall
(located next to Chesterbrook Elementary)
6251 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
$40 per person in advance; $50 at the doorThis is an Adults Only Event
Attire is: Casual Cocktail or Fun French Attire
For inquiries, please contact |
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Chess Club is on the Move!!
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By: Andrea Dietrich
The Chesterbrook Chess Club is a PTA sponsored
all volunteer run activity that meets weekly on Fridays from September through April. There are 50 children in grades 3-6 with all levels of playing abilities participating in the club. Chessmaster Richard Terry has been a consultant to the club since its inception seven years ago. He meets weekly with a rotating group of similarly matched players and provides them with strategic lessons and game analysis. Additionally the club participates in an annual scholastic tournament between 8 local elementary schools at the Kent Gardens Tournament. Through the enthusiastic encouragement of Andrea Dietrich, chairman, and Lisa Hilliard, assistant chairman, many of the children have begun to participate in numerous local blitzes, quads and tournaments boosting their USCF ratings. The motto of the club is "we're on the move!"
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The Friendly Reminder Lunch Money Sticker
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Have you ever seen this sticker? When your child comes home with one, it means his or her lunch account is running low. You can avoid the sticker (and make the lunch ladies happy) by setting up an automatic reload point via mylunchmoney.com. Through the website, you can also review what your child has purchased in the past week. |
Jump Rope for Heart -Coming to a PE Class Near You After Spring Break
|  Chesterbrook Elementary is participating in Jump Rope For Heart again this year. Since 1978, Jump Rope For Heart has been raising funds to help the American Heart Association support lifesaving research and educational programs. Students will participate in a special jumping and athletic events during one of their regular PE classes the week after Spring Break. They will also learn about how their heart works and what they can do to prevent heart disease and stroke. Additionally, students will have the option to raise money for the American Heart Association by collecting donations from family and friends. Chesterbrook students raised over $6,000 last year, which also provided our PE program with $300 in free PE equipment. Donations are to be turned into the school by Friday, April 20th. You should have received materials about Jump Rope for Heart in your child's Thursday folder a few weeks ago. If you are interested in participating in fundraising, but don't have materials please send a note to PE teacher, Jay Levesque |
| Rising 7th Grade Parent Program at Longfellow | |
Parents of rising 7th graders please join us for "Parent Insider: Help Your Student Thrive at Longfellow" on Tuesday, April 17th from 7 - 8:30 pm in the Longfellow Middle School Lecture Hall. Hear from counseling staff about the ins and outs of life at Longfellow, from lockers and clubs to late buses and lunch. Uncover the meanings of mysterious terms such as "Yagottawannas" and "Lancer Time." Listen in as a developmental psychologist shares what REALLY goes on in the adolescent brain. There will be ample time to ask questions of current students and experienced Longfellow parents.
Attend this free event to get the inside scoop on life at Longfellow! Contact person: Katie Hanusik or 703-442-9114.
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| Save the Date- Homemade Pizza Night | |
 It's the easiest, yummiest fundraiser around -- buy lunch or dinner at HomeMade Pizza Company's Arlington Location on Wednesday, April 25th between 1 and 9 p.m. and HomeMade Pizza Company will donate a portion of your bill to Chesterbrook PTA.
- Store hours are 1pm - 9pm
- Includes Gluten Free Pizza ($5 off a medium gluten free pizza)
- $1 off every order of BREADSTICKS, their new product offering
- 20% of each gift card purchase will be donated to the school
- You can place orders online up to 3 weeks in advance
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| Recycle Old Electronics at Chesterbrook |
Help us turn electronic "trash" into CASH for Chesterbrook! Donate your old, outdated and unloved electronics and as a member of the eScript Recycling Program, the PTA gets money in exchange.
ITEMS WE ACCEPT:
o used cell phones
o ALL laser/inkjet printer cartridges
o iPods
o laptops
o digital cameras
o GPS devices
Items NOT accepted at this time: landline phones, cords, plugs, car jacks or old disks for computers.
A green and white collection bin is awaiting your treasures in the pod outside the library. You can drop off your items whenever it's convenient for you (or through backpack mail). Periodically, our school will ship the items to eScrip, and funds are electronically deposited into our PTA account. It's a win-win! Thanks so much for your support. Questions? Contact Maryam Redjaee vpmembership@chesterbrookpta.org |
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| Upcoming Events | |
March 30 -- Twin Day for SCA Spirit Day
March 30 -- Third Quarter ends
April 2 -- Deadline for Video Fairfax Submissions
April 2-9 -- Spring Break!!
Tuesday, April 10 -- Fourth Quarter begins
April 10 -13 -- Jump Rope for Heart Event during P.E. Classes
April 11 -- First grade field trip
April 12 -- School wide pictures
April 17 -- PTA Meeting 8:30 a.m. (NEW DATE)
April 17 -- Principal's Coffee 2 p.m.
April 18 -- Sixth grade field trip
April 19 -- Third and Fifth grade field trips
April 20 -- Second grade field trip
April 23-26 -- Spring Book Fair
April 23-27 -- Administrative Professionals Week
April 24 -- Spring Picture Day/Sixth Grade Panorama Picture
April 25 -- Buy Dinner at the Arlington location of Homemade Pizza and a portion of your meal will go to Chesterbrook PTA (details later)
April 28 --Parent Spring Social
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| The Digest PLUS is co-edited by Elizabeth Ende and Gina Manning. If you have a story idea or any comments, please share them with us at editor@chesterbrookpta.org. Thank you! |
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Chesterbrook PTA Newsletters Disclaimer
The Chesterbrook PTA Newsletter (Weekly Digest and Digest PLUS) may contain external links to non-Chesterbrook ES PTA websites and access to certain third-party services, which may include, without limitation, social bookmarking services. These external links and services are provided as a convenience, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA is not responsible for the content of any linked website or use of any third-service service. Any external link to a non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or service accessed from the Chesterbrook PTA Newsletter is independent from the Chesterbrook ES PTA, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policy, terms of use and practices of such website or service. Any such website or service has terms of use and a privacy policy different from the Chesterbrook ES PTA's privacy policy. In addition, an external link to any non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or access to a third-party service does not imply that the Chesterbrook ES PTA endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of such website or service. By using any such website or service, you expressly release the Chesterbrook ES PTA from any liability arising from your use of such third-party website and service and any related content. |
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