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Calendar
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FEBRUARY
7 PTA meeting
10 Science Fair registration deadline
16 Dining for Dollars: Genghis Grill
20 President's Day holiday
22 Science Fair judging
23 Science Fair showcase
24 Staff meal-3rd grade
24 Kids Helping Kids-2nd grade
27 Rebounderz Spirit Night
Full PTA Calendar.
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PTA Information
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Next PTA meeting:
Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the school library. Join us to learn more about the new math curriculum with a guest speaker from FCPS.
PTA Meeting Minutes |
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Fox Prints February 6
Message from the Principals
Dear Parents,
Our Band and Strings Winter Concert was held on Wednesday,Jan. 25. Our fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students under the direction of their band teacher, Mr. Isle, and their orchestra teacher, Mrs. Savage, presented a wonderful program. We appreciate their many hours of practice.
Many thanks to Mrs. Catherine Zimmerman who organized this year's Sixth Grade Talent Show. The students, as well as those attending, enjoyed the performance on Friday, Feb. 3.
If you are interested in learning about the new FCPS elementary math instructional sequence (EMIS), please attend the PTA meeting tomorrow night. Gail Woolwine from the math department of Instructional Services will be presenting an overview of the elementary math curriculum and answering parent questions.
During cold winter days we want to thank the parent volunteers for providing hot chocolate for our patrols. When the temperature drops below 25 degrees, patrols stationed at street intersections will not be at their posts. Patrols are never permitted to direct traffic. If you have a concern with a patrol's performance, we ask that you direct your comments to school administrators and not directly to the patrols.
In this season of uncertain weather conditions, it is important that you obtain up-to-date information pertaining to school schedule changes. Changes due to inclement weather will be listed on the FCPS Internet home page, http://www.fcps.edu. Weather-related announcements will also be available from local radio and television stations, the Channel 21 bulletin board, the FCPS hot line (1-800-839-3277) and through the Keep In Touch e-mail notification system. Please do not call the school office for information about school schedule changes.
Sincerely,
Pat Sheehy Brian Moose
Principal Assistant Principal
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Principal Selection Process
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Your Input Is Needed
Fox Mill is now in the process of selecting a new principal for next year. Fabio Zuluaga and Beth Boivin presented the process to parents on Feb. 1. If you were unable to attend the meeting, click here for an overview of the process.
The community is encouraged to be involved in several ways. First, all parents are asked to submit their input as to the characteristics of our new principal by Feb. 9. Please do so by using this form, click here to open it.
Second, as described in the selection process there will be a panel interview which will include three Fox Mill parents. If you are interested in being part of this panel please click here to open the form and complete it and return to Lorraine Mietlicki at lmietlicki@verizon.net by Feb. 7. The panel interview will be held on March 7 at Gatehouse. Members of the panel will need to be available from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. that day.
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FLEX Spanish Classes, Register by Feb. 7
|  The PTA will be offering FLEX Spanish classes on Friday afternoons, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., to grades K-6. Classes will begin on Friday, Feb. 10 and continue for 15 weeks. There will be no class April 6, May 4, or June 1; classes will end June 8. Registration is due by Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Children will enjoy this fun introduction and initial exposure to the Spanish language through games, art, songs, and other engaging activities for only $169 per student. Click here to register online or see foxmillpta.com/programs/flex. Choose "FP08115 Spanish Level 1 - 15 Hours" from the list then click Register next to Fox Mill. Please direct questions to Gina Farra at gsfarra@juno.com.
We look forward to including your children in this wonderful cultural enrichment.
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JCC Matsuri Planning Meeting Feb. 7
|  The Japanese Cultural Committee (JCC) is meeting on Feb. 7 at 8:45 a.m. in the cafeteria to discuss the Matsuri (Japanese Festival) as well as other JCC activities. All are invited to attend the meeting; newcomers, latecomers and siblings welcome. If you are interested in helping with the Matsuri but cannot attend the meeting, e-mail Liz Pfeifle at elizbethpfeifle@gmail.com. |
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Spirit Wear Sales Start Feb. 8
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Don't miss out on our new spring spirit wear line!
Clothing and apparel will be available to purchase from Feb. 8 until Feb. 24 only. No late orders will be accepted. Pony-o's and magnets will be available to purchase all school year. Foxy Wear will be delivered to the school for pickup on March 16 at the Fox Mill Family Festival. All orders must be placed online with Burke Sporting Goods. Here's how: - Go to www.burkesports.com.
- Click the "spirit packs" link at the top.
- Click the link that says "click here to order with your group code."
- Type in our school's Group Code: Foxywear then click on "GO SHOP" button.
- The next page displays the spirit wear and other items for sale. Just click on the items you want to purchase, then click on the desired number and size on the next page. Then click on the "Add to cart" button.
- The next page shows you what you've ordered. To remove an item, click on the little trash can on the right of the price. If you want to order more items, click on the "+ Continue shopping" link. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until your order is complete.
- When your order is complete, click on the "Checkout" button.On the next page, type in your name, number, e-mail address, child's name, teacher, and grade in the spaces provided. Then click on the "Proceed to Payment" button.
- Clicking this button will take you to a new page to complete payment through Paypal. This new page will be the standard Paypal page, including your order summary. If you/your family has a registered Paypal account, you may submit payment through that account. If you do not have a Paypal account, simply click the "Don't Have A Paypal Account" button below, and complete your payment with a credit or debit card. You will receive an e-mail confirmation after payment has been successfully completed.
Before you order, please keep in mind that all sales are final and no exchanges. If you have questions, e-mail Emily Madden at emilymadden@yahoo.com. Do not contact Burke Sporting Goods regarding your purchase. |
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Mobile Robotics Starts Feb. 8
|  Mobile Robotics (Grades 4-6) REGISTRATION STILL OPEN Mobile Robotics is back! This class is an introduction to LEGO Mindstorms NXT robotics for older elementary school students. Students learn to build and program mobile robots using the graphical NXT-G programming language. Activities include programming exercises with NXT-G, experimenting with wheel sizes and gear ratios, implementing robot speed control and turning, making robots respond to sounds, and programming robots to detect and avoid obstacles. There is no free play with the robot components during this class. Students will follow strict instructions on how to build and program a robot. Classes start on Wednesday, Feb. 8 and run until April 11. There will be no class on Feb. 20 or during Spring Break. The eight, 1 1/2 hour classes will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. The cost is $180 per session, with a $15 materials fee, for a total of $195. To run each class, a minimum of eight students is required. Fairfax Collegiate caps classes at twelve students to ensure a high quality of instruction. This class is open to grades 4-6 only. There will be a class for younger grades later this school year. Please note that the nature of this class requires students to listen carefully and pay attention to detail. Parents will be asked to come to help keep class disruptions to a minimum. If a child is too distracting, then Fairfax Collegiate reserves the right to remove that child from the class, with a limited refund. THERE ARE STILL SLOTS LEFT AFTER THE LOTTERY LAST FRIDAY. Please fill out a registration form and send it to school with your student. SPOTS WILL BE FILLED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Do NOT send the check with the registration. If your student gets a place in the class, then payment will be required. For a registration form, click here or see foxmillpta.com/robotics_classes. If you have any questions, e-mail Amanda Owens at amanda.j.owens@me.com.
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Science Fair: Register by Feb. 10
|  Announcing the 2012 Fox Mill Science Fair! The Fox Mill Science Fair is back and will be bigger and better than ever! All students in grades 3-6 are invited to enter individually or in teams of 2 or 3. Student judging, Science Showcase, and an awards ceremony will be held on the Feb. 22 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (snow date is Feb. 29). As a special bonus, students will display their projects for the entire Fox Mill student body on the following day. NOW is the time to start thinking about your ideas. Deadline to register is Feb. 10. Click here for the registration form. Click here for the science fair guidelines and rules. Click here for a project guide. All documents are also available at foxmillpta.com/events/science-fair. All you need is to have an inquisitive mind and be ready to have fun experimenting and showing off your investigation. All students who enter receive medals and gift bags! Don't miss the fun. |
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Dining for Dollars: Ghengis Grill on Feb. 16
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Dining for Dollars Update and BIG event
Guess what, Fox Mill families? We broke another Dining for Dollars record in January. A big thank you goes out to Lucia's Italian Ristorante and all the families who participated in the January event there. We raised $328 that day for Fox Mill just by eating at Lucia's. For those of you who haven't participated in Dining for Dollars yet, you only have two more chances this school year, and a great one is coming up this month!
 Dining for Dollars is looking to shake off its winter blues with a big celebration. On Thursday, Feb. 16, it will be at Ghengis Grill in Chantilly.
Never been there? Well, Dining for Dollars hasn't either, but it is really looking forward to it. It looks like a totally fun, healthy, and social night out with friends and other Fox Mill families doing Mongolian BBQ style "make your own" stir fry. You pick all your protein, vegetables seasonings, and sauce from a buffet (uncooked). Then you hand your bowl to some people working at a big hot fiery grill with long sticks, and presto, they cook it for you while you watch. Then, they serve it up with some carbs like fried or steamed rice or tortillas. What could be more fun, except maybe watching Groundhog Day on pay per view? Oh, wait, did we forget to tell you the best part? You will get to see all your friends and your kids friends from Fox Mill while you are dining there. Oh, we already told you that.
The best part is, YOU will be raising money for Fox Mill just by ordering dinner. How much, you say? That, my friends, is up to you. Fox Mill will earn -- either 10%, 15%, or 20% of the proceeds that come in that night depending on how many people show up. So bring your friends and come on down to Chantilly and get your Mardi Gras celebration off to an early start. We'll provide more details and times next week.
The event will be on Thursday, Feb. 16 at: Ghengis Grill 14410 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151 (703) 961-1825 (near Chantilly Costco) |
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Spirit Night at Rebounderz on Feb. 27
|  REBOUNDERZ, an indoor trampoline arena, welcomes Fox Mill Elementary to celebrate School Spirit Night
On Monday Feb. 27, Rebounderz is having a spirit night for Fox Mill students and their family and friends. You can jump for 2 hours for the price of one hour between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15.75 a person. What this means is students are getting an extra hour of jumping since it is $15.75 for one hour of jump time and the school will get 10% of the proceeds (not including food sales). Please remember to mention at the front desk you are with Fox Mill Elementary. Don't forget to fill out and bring the waiver with you that night. Socks are required. Click here for a waiver and click here for a flyer. |
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Fox Mill Family Festival March 16
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FOX MILL FAMILY FESTIVAL
Friday March 16, 2012
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mark your calendars for a very fun and exciting night!
NEW THIS YEAR
Face Painters, Balloon Artists, a Magician, a DJ, an arts and crafts room, a photo op area for kids to create great memories, and more!
FEWER PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
LOWER TICKET COSTS!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Fox Mill Favorites Raffle, the 2-Liter Bottle Ring Toss Game, the Stuffed Animal Game, the Lollipop Tree, the Basketball Challenge, Bowling, Bingo and Ring the Rhino...just to name a few. We've added some new games, as well, and a few extra surprises that will be sure to thrill every child of every age!
RAFFLE PRIZE
Four, One-Day Park Hopper tickets to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!
Bring the entire family to the Festival, including Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins! Adults and children under 4 years of age enter for FREE!
Ticket order forms will be placed your child's Tuesday packet, coming home on Feb. 14. Order forms also can be picked up in the brochure display in the school lobby and be downloaded from the Fox Mill PTA website. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Tina Anderson at (703) 919-3075 or tina@novakbiddle.com.
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6th Grade's Got Talent
|  Congratulations to all the 6th grade students who participated in this years' talent show on Friday, Feb 3. What an amazing night full of talented young people. The talent committee would like to thank Mrs. Vigan for her assistance in scheduling the practices and show dates for this event, as well as Mrs. Diamond and Mrs. Ricci for ensuring we had the technical equipment to support this event.
A special thank you goes out to our parent volunteers; Beth & Brett Kreider, Patti Hempel, Joy Grant, Kristi Yarnall, Cindy Workosky, Cindy Ragone, Marissa McKinley, Laura Mikols, Karen Fisher, and Penny Coon, for all their support with this 6th Grade event.
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Online Auction Needs Your Help!
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Read to Earn Free Books for Fox Mill
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Starting on Feb. 14 and continuing through March 14, We Give Books, which is a non-profit Pearson Foundation Initiative, is giving books to public elementary schools across the United States in an exciting reading challenge! They are giving away books - 150,000 of them, to be exact - to schools nationwide. Earning free books for your school is fun and easy!
- Just visit the site, www.wegivebooks.org. Starting on Feb. 14 you'll be able to sign up to read on behalf of the Read for My School campaign.
- Enter Fox Mill Elementary School, Herndon, VA as your school name on the registration form so that they can track the number of books that we earn. If you're already a member of We Give Books, please visit your member profile and enter your school name (Login > Settings > Country > School Name) before reading for the Read for My School campaign.
- Choose a great children's book and read! Click "Give a Book" at the end of the story to be counted toward our school's reading total.
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