15-17 Oct - 2nd Gr. CogAt Testing

15-18 Oct - National School Lunch Week

18 Oct - Stories and PJs, 6:30-7:30pm

25 Oct - School Spirit Day - Wacky Hair!

28 Oct - National Red Ribbon Week

01 Nov - First Quarter ends

04 Nov - Student Holiday

05 Nov - Student Holiday

06 Nov - Second Quarter begins

08-14 Nov - Book Fair

14 Nov - Picture Make-up day

18-19 Nov - 1st Gr. Naglieri Testing

19 Nov - PTA meeting, 7pm

21 Nov - Thanksgiving Lunch

27 Nov - 2 hour Early Release at 1:20pm

27 Nov - Turkey Trot

28-29 Nov - Holiday

Welcome to our newest staff members!  Sixteen new additions come to us with a wealth of education and expertise, and add to our wonderful staff and community at Chesterbrook.  Please help us extend a warm welcome to the following:  

Anne Himelfarb (Instructional Aide, Kindergarten),  Lyndsay Kilberg (Third Grade teacher), Kassandra Teske (Fourth Grade teacher), Lora Smith (Fifth Grade teacher), Megan Spangler (Fifth Grade teacher), Jacqlene Pelletier (Sixth Grade teacher), Stacey Wei (Special Education Staff), Barbara Gaver (Special Education Staff), Jessica Montana (Special Education Instructional Aide), Rhonda Singleton (Special Education Instructional Aide), Sabrina Buckley (Librarian), Meredith Swift (Resource Teacher), Wendy Hockersmith (Reading Specialist), Sarina Harris (Art Teacher), Andrew Gekoskie (Music Teacher), Mary Huber (Strings), and Cara Vernon (Band Director).

(Click here to read more on each new staff member) 

Anne Himelfarb	Lyndsay Kilberg

Kassandra Teske	Lora Smith

Megan Spangler	Jacqlene Pelletier

Stacey Wei	Barbara Gaver

Jessica Montana	Rhonda Singleton

Sabrina Buckley	Meredith Swift

Wendy Hockersmith	Sarina Harris

	No Photo
Andrew Gekoskie	Mary Huber

Cara Vernon

Does Your Family Love a Good Story? Don't Miss Our "Stories and PJs" Family Fun Event!

Mark your calendars!  Friday, October 18th, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., CES families are invited to a Storytelling Evening in the Chesterbrook Cafeteria.  Renowned, award-winning storyteller, Jim Weiss, is back at CES by popular demand.  Jim Weiss brings his storytelling gift to libraries, schools and community events across the United States. He has even hosted and starred in a PBS television pilot that won a Northern California Emmy for "Best Children's Show," and performed at The White House Annual Easter Event.

CES students are encouraged to come in their pajamas, bring a comfy blanket and favorite stuffed animal, and be ready to be entertained and enchanted.

Many of you may have purchased or checked out Jim's audio books from the public library and have experienced first-hand how he brings historical, mythological, and fictional characters to life. If your family has a Jim Weiss story favorite that you would like to hear during the evening, you can email your suggestion to the Family Fun Event Committee for consideration.

We hope your family will join us for this free event brought to you by the Chesterbrook PTA!  

The PTA School Outreach Committee's fall collection is underway.  We work with elementary schools in both Arlington and Fairfax Counties to make sure students and families in need have the following critical supplies. Please consider donating any of the following:

Clothing (new or gently used, except for the underwear and socks, which should be new)
- Boys or girls jackets;
- Boys or girls long pants;
- Boys underwear and
- Unisex socks.

New school supply items
- Glue sticks;
- USB sticks;
- Pocket Folders;
- Large backpacks;
- Marble composition books;
- No. 2 pencils; and
- Single subject wide ruled spiral notebooks.

Food
- School snacks (e.g., pretzels, goldfish, animal crackers or graham crackers); and  
- Grocery gift cards (which are most appreciated).  

to learn about community service opportunities in our area.

Please leave your donations in the plastic bin outside the library marked "School Outreach Collection" or send your gift cards via backpack mail to "PTA School Outreach." It would by most helpful if these donations are received by Friday, October 25th.  The collection box is in the pod across from the Media Center (aka, library).

If you have any questions or would like to help with sorting and delivering the donations, please email Emily Ludwikowski.

In fact, there are a multitude of opportunities and events within Fairfax County that could be of value to many families at CES.  These include, but are not limited to: Celebrate Calm - Motivate Unmotivated Kids - Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 7-9 pm; iCan Bike After-School Program; Disability Awareness Day at the FCPS Parent Resource Center - Friday, October 25, 2013 10 am - 2 pm; Family Support Training Workshop - "Getting Started: What Families with Young Children with Disabilities Need to Know," Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 7-9 pm; "Parenting Children with Special Needs: Navigating the Joys and Challenges," Monday, November 4, 2013, 7:30-9:00 pm.  These are only a sampling of what is available. 

If you are unable to attend the coffee, but wish to learn more about all the events offered or more about the events and resources mentioned above, please email me for a complete list.  Or visit the Parent Resource Center's website at http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/ for information on these free workshops.  Please note, registration for these events are free, but limited in space.

We invite all Chesterbrook families to participate in our "Friends of Chesterbrook" armchair fundraiser. 

With the Online Auction on hiatus this year, this is one of Chesterbrook PTA's primary means to support important academic and cultural needs. We ask for everyone's support of $100 per family to reach our goal, but your gift of any size is appreciated. We can help determine whether your company participates in a program to match employee donations.

Businesses that donate $500 to our "Business Friends of Chesterbrook" program will be recognized on our website and in other ways at school. For more information visit www.chesterbrookpta.org and click on the "Become a Business Friend" tab.

There are two easy ways to give:

1. You can donate online at www.chesterbrookpta.org. Click on "Become a Family Friend" or "Become a Business Friend".

2. You can donate by check. Please make checks payable to "Chesterbrook PTA" and forward to school via backpack mail or mail it directly to Chesterbrook PTA, 1753 Kirby Road, McLean, VA 22101.

Contact Trisha Downey or Amanda Abraham with any questions at friends@chesterbrookpta.org.

November 15th.   As always, there will be hundreds of books for all ages covering all genres and will include classics, favorite series, award winners and new releases.   There will also be a wide assortment of

games and other items.  It's the perfect place to do some holiday shopping!  

Reminder flyers and details about the Pizza Night food prices will come home in the Thursday folders beginning October 24th.  If you have questions, please contact Book Fair Co-chairs Beth Stewart and Robin Birchfield at bookfair@chesterbrookpta.org.

Click here for more details and important dates! Be on the look out for the Book Fair Volunteer Sign-Up Genius coming soon.  

Because of such a great turnout at our Pulcinella fundraiser night on October 9th, we raised $2,800 (the Community Charity Champions record so far!) and totally overwhelmed Pulcinella's kitchen. They've never seen such a big charity night and were pleased with a good Tuesday evening crowd. We're showing McLean what dinner nights are all about!   

We understand some families had an extra long wait for eat-in and carry-out, that some orders were mixed up, and that some families were not able to stay for the wait.  We apologize, as does Pulcinella, but want to thank our families for showing Chesterbrook's pride (and hunger). And if you had to wait a long time for carry out or dine in service, Moe Jebali, Pulcinella's very gracious owner, said to call him directly at the restaurant as he would like to make it up to you.

Big thanks to all of the members of the HBC Community Charity Champions for sponsoring the event -- Lizzy Conroy and Karen Briscoe of HBC Realty Group/Keller Williams Realty, Moe Jebali of Pulcinella Italian Host, The Simmons Team of George Mason Mortgage, Betty Sparkman & Chris Lara of Reveal Remodel, Kevin Dougherty of Pillar to Post Home Inspections, and Marcus Simon with EKKO Title.

On October 5th, the CES community as well as the greater McLean community came together for a morning of fun, exercise and a great cause: the McLean 5K Run with the Warriors.  On this beautiful morning, excited CES kids and parents came out to support an important member of our community.  All proceeds from the Run goes to our neighbor, Wounded Warrior Transitional Housing at Vinson Hall, an essential resource in the recovery process of our many wounded warriors.

Not only was CES represented by many runners and walkers in the Race, including Chester the Chipmunk, but also as many of the volunteers. Chesterbrook kids provided wonderful sideline support.  Children from all grades sang for the participants. 5th & 6th graders cheered and helped hydrate the runners with the assistance of Ms. Sweet and parent volunteers.

Good job, CES, showing up to support our neighbor and their very important mission. 

 Photos by Sunghee Chon

On October 9th, CES participated in another successful Walk/bike to School day.  Happy faces were the norm, on both parents' and children's faces, especially since we lucked out with no rain!   And the whole community benefits when we can set an example for our children regarding the rewards of exercise. Thanks to all those who made this event a success.  One more step toward safer commute for our kids! 

Photos by Sunghee Chon 

Thanks to all who have joined the PTA at or before Open House. There's still time! By joining the Chesterbrook Parent Teachers Association (PTA), you are investing in our children and making a difference at Chesterbrook Elementary. Your PTA dues provide or subsidize a host of education enrichment activities, including:

    ►Staff Development               ►Discovery Gardens
    ►Classroom materials & equipment...and so much more!   

In addition, by joining the PTA, you will receive a FREE copy of the Chesterbrook family directory. This is an essential tool for every household!

Joining does not mean you are signing up for a volunteer position. While the PTA welcomes and encourages volunteers, membership does not mean you have volunteered for any specific activity.

Joining is simple! Go online at http://chesterbrookpta.org and purchase your membership there. Families are encouraged to join for $20; however, individual memberships are available for $10.

Remember, the more you support the PTA, the more the PTA can support our kids. Thank you for your support! 

Vote on Virginia PTA Proposed Legislative Program

Each year the Virginia PTA develops a legislative program and presents it to the membership for adoption as the "official" position of the Virginia PTA on a variety of issues affecting children and youth.  As members of the PTA, you are invited to vote on this year's proposed program, which includes two action items and two position statements.  

October 31st.  All members are eligible to vote (if you have a family membership, both parents may vote), but you may only vote once. 

Click here to read more and click here to view the ballot.

Looking for an easy way to earn money for the CES PTA?  Money that can be spent on all the significant projects of the PTA mentioned above?  Here it is:  We earn 4% - 10% of your purchase for the PTA if you use the following directions:

Visit www.chesterbrookpta.org and click on the Amazon icon on the right to help our school. Always use it to access Amazon before you add items to your cart.

The more items our community buys, the higher the percentage we earn each month. Every purchase counts...movie downloads, electronics, sports equipment, grocery items, Kindle books, even 99 cent music downloads! Use the link whenever you visit Amazon.

This is an easy fundraiser for Chesterbrook and it requires nothing more than using our link whenever you shop at Amazon. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please participate!  If your family, friends and co-workers use this link, it also credits back to the PTA, so share the word and tell everyone you know about this fundraising opportunity who orders through Amazon.  Email amazon@chesterbrookpta.org if you have questions.