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| Business Friends | |
if interested in becoming a Friend for the 2013-2014 school year.
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| FAQs | |
Question: We just started at Chesterbrook in January. While we're really happy with the school, I feel a bit lost and have a few questions about the area, the school, the PTA, and other ways we can fit in the mix.
Answer: Welcome, if we haven't said so before now! We love new families! In fact, we're having another New Parent Coffee next week. Please join us Monday, March 31 at 8:45 in the cafeteria for coffee and light refreshments. You can meet some other new parents, some "old" parents, and some administrators. We can chat individually, enjoy a question and answer session, and take a tour of the school. We'd love to meet you, even if you aren't exactly new, but just have some questions or want to meet others. All are welcome, young children included! (See right for more information.)
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Chesterbrook PTA Digest
No.13, March 24, 2014
Huge thank yous to Jennifer Von Elm, Hope Mallon-Perlish and their whole team who made Fun Fair such a success! Coming up this week: Friday is the SCA's March Spirit Day--Mustache Day, so let's see some Chesterbrook Spirit 'Staches! Upcoming events:- Spirit Day--Mustache Day: Friday, March 28
- Fifth Grade Choral Concert: April 3, 2:10 and 7 pm
- Family Fun Movie Night: April 4, 6-8:30
- National Volunteer Week: April 7-11
- Snow Makeup Day, Full day of school: Monday, April 7
- PTA Meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 8:45 am, Cafeteria
- Principal's Coffee: Tuesday, April 8, 2-3 pm
- Museum Without Walls Family Science Night: Wednesday, April 9, 6-8 pm, Volunteers Needed-See below!
- Schoolwide Picture: April 10, 10-11 am
- Spring Break: April 14-18
- Administrative Professional Appreciation Week: April 21-25
- Spring Pictures: Tuesday, April 22
- Spring Book Fair: April 28 - May 1
- PTA Meeting: Thursday (new day!), May 1, 7 pm
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New Parent Coffee
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 Are you new to Chesterbrook? Please join us Monday, March 31st at 8:45 a.m. in the cafeteria for a casual and informative coffee. It's a great opportunity to learn more about Chesterbrook and meet the administrators and other parents of students who are new to our school! Take a tour of the school and learn how you can get involved. We will have coffee and light refreshments, a question and answer session, and a tour of the school.
Email Elizabeth Hale with questions and to let us know you're coming (for refreshment planning purposes).
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| Museum Without Walls Returns |
On Wednesday, April 9, from 6-8 p.m.,  Chesterbrook families will have the chance to attend a FREE science learning event! Sponsored by the Chesterbrook PTA, the program comes via Museum Without Walls Mobile Labs, which was created by The Children's Science Center to engage children ages 5-12 in hands-on activities that demonstrate scientific principles. The event is back at Chesterbrook by popular demand and features new exhibits as well as some old favorites. We do need some enthusiastic parents and teens to help with some of the exhibits. No experience is necessary as the Children's Science Center provides all of the supplies, onsite helpers, and very simple instructions to follow for each station - it is easy and fun! Please go to our Sign Up Genius to to help make the event a success. |
Activity Registration
| The spring sessions of many of our before and after school activities begins soon. Registration for Drama, Science Enrichment, Zumba and Fitness Warriors is open now. (Fitness Warriors Grades 1-2 and 5-6 are full, as is 2nd Grade Science). Ms Vallath's Electronic Magazine session for the spring will start registration in early April. Stay tuned here and look for flyers in Thursday folders as details become available! There are a few spots left in Zumba, Science enrichment for girls grades 5-6 and drama! Check them out here!
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Yearbook Orders
| Don't forget to order your 2013-2014 Chesterbrook Yearbooks by April 8. To order online, just go to the Chesterbrook PTA website.
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Summer Quest 2014 Registration is Underway
|  Summer Quest is sponsored by the Chesterbrook PTA and provides fun, educational sessions for your elementary school child over 4 1-week sessions each summer, with morning and afternoon sessions and an after-care program. The sessions are primarily taught by Chesterbrook Elementary teachers. Camps run in week-long sessions July 7 - August 1 with offerings for rising kindergartners through rising 7th graders. The full catalog for 2014 is available by clicking here. You can also view a quick-reference table of offerings. Please read all the Summer Quest policies on cancelations and refunds, which can be found by clicking here. If you have any problems registering please email summerquest@chesterbrookpta.org.
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| World Autism Awareness Day |  Light it Up Blue: April 2nd is World Autism Day & April is Autism Awareness Month World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated every April 2nd since adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on Autism as a growing global health crisis. The Light it Up Blue campaign is an effort to help to increase and develop knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. The campaign celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism. Community events around the nation are taking place in an effort to inspire compassion, empowerment and hope for the more than 3 million Americans who currently live with an Autism spectrum disorder. Autism is the nation's fastest-growing developmental disability. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), autism prevalence rates currently stand at 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys, but a report recently released by CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration suggests this figure could be as high as 1 in 50 children. April 2nd is JEANS/BLUE CLOTHING DAY at Chesterbrook! Let's do our part to shine a light on autism and show our support for the millions of individuals and families affected by autism. To Light it Up Blue, we will also celebrate Autism Awareness Month by lighting up our lobby display case blue and featuring informative materials and resources. For more information on Light it Up Blue, go to www.autismspeaks.org. Calendar of Community Events - Public Safety Considerations for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Cognitive Disabilities: Guidance for Families, Caregivers and Self-Advocates - Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other cognitive disabilities may not recognize danger, react well in an emergency or be able to seek help. Join us for this important workshop, presented by Scott Campbell, President of the Autism Society of Northern Virginia, to learn proactive steps parents can take to reduce the risk of potential dangers. Thursday, April 4th, 10:00 a.m. - noon, Dunn Loring Center.
- Autism Awareness Day at the Parent Resource Center- Friday, April 25th, 2014
- Language Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorders - Dr. Laurie Swineford, primary clinician at the National Institute of Mental Health will discuss early communication impairments and developmental delays in toddlers and children at this free workshop for parents and educators. 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Lunch 11:30-12:30, Resources, Door Prizes & More!
- Anxiety in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Dr. Sajjad Khan, clinician and researcher at NeuroScience Inc., will discuss anxiety in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and the behaviors resulting from anxiety. Dr. Khan will also discuss assessment and treatment options at this free workshop for parents and educators. 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Introduction to Special Education: Join our Parent Resource Center Liaisons for this orientation to the Special Education process. This workshop is most appropriate for parents with children in the referral or eligibility phase of the Special Education process; parents who want to know more about how the Special Education process works; and parents with children new to Special Education. Friday, May 2, 10 a.m. - noon. Parents can register online http://www.fcps.edu/dss/conference/ or by phone at 703-204-3941.
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Attention Rising Kindergarten Parents
| We have several parent representatives who are planning playground play dates over the summer for rising kindergartners and their families to meet others. Send an email to kinders@chesterbrookpta.org to get on the mailing list for information and to ask any questions of these seasoned experts!
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Attention 6th Grade Parents--Save the Date!
|  Parents of rising 7th graders are invited to an informational program "How to Thrive at Longfellow" Thursday, April 24th from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Longfellow Lecture Hall. If your child will be entering Longfellow next Fall, please join us for this important program. Hear from Counseling Staff about the ins and outs of Life at Longfellow: from the lockers and clubs to late buses and lunch: - An overview of Longfellow Middle School
- How to Help Your Student be Successful
- Uncover the meaning of mysterious terms such as "Yagottawanna" and "Lancer Time"
- What You Really Need to Know as a Longfellow Parent
Learn from our School Psychologist what really goes on in the adolescent brain - Adolescent Development in Context
Current Longfellow Students will be available to answer your questions. This program is being presented by Longfellow Middle School and the Longfellow PTA. |
| PTA Bylaws Revisions |  Every 5 years the Virginia PTA requires that we review and revise our Bylaws. Much of this is to include new state requirements which generally do not affect our PTA much. However, this year we are also proposing to amend our Bylaws to allow for a President Elect position. Typically we have had PTA presidents hold office for 2 years. Under the proposed structure, a parent would be voted as President Elect for one year and then automatically become President the following year. This will allow for a better transition into the position, better transfer of institutional knowledge, and most importantly, a better way to share the duties of the President. With a President Elect, President, and Past President in office, we will be better able to manage our very large portfolio of activities, fundraisers, and programs. Most of the elementary schools in our area use this system and have been pleased with it.
Bylaws must be voted on by the general membership, which includes almost all of our families. We will hold this vote at our May 1 meeting. You can read the Bylaws and contact Laurie Plishker if you have any questions.
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Friends of Chesterbrook
|  Thank you to all the Family Friends who have donated this year! We are almost at our goal, but need 25 more families to join. With the Online Auction on hiatus this year, our Family Friends Program is one of Chesterbrook PTA's primary means to support important academic and school support needs.
We ask for everyone's support of $100 per family to reach our goal, but your gift of any size is appreciated. Check out all our donors so far! We can also help determine whether your company participates in a program to match employee donations. With the Online Auction on hiatus this year, this is one of Chesterbrook PTA's primary means to support important academic and school support needs.
Businesses that donate $500 to our "Business Friends of Chesterbrook" program will be recognized on our website, on these emails (see left sidebar), and in other ways at school. For more information visit our website and click on the "Become a Business Friend" tab.
There are two easy ways to give:
- You can donate online on our website: Family Friends or Business Friends.
- 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. |
Family Science Night
| | We've rescheduled Eric Energy for Friday, May 9, 6:45 pm. Eric Energy brings scientific concepts to young audiences through live, interactive, hands-on science shows. Please arrive at 6:30 for a 6:45pm start. It's a one hour show. This is not a drop off event. For more information you can check out Eric Energy's website or email Joy Molony. |
2014-15 PTA Positions
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Looking for more ways to get involved next year? We have quite a few positions to fill for next year--everything from a couple hours at home to a few days here and there to monthly meetings. Just come to a meeting or contact nominating@chesterbrookpta.org.
- Secretary (the smallest Officer position)
- Family Fun Events CoChair
- School Supply Kit Delivery Coordinator, a small, late August job, much simpler for this year!
- Spring Art Project Sale
- Library Volunteer Coordinator
- Clinic Aid Substitute Coordinator, no nursing experience necessary
- Back to School Folder Coordinator, late August, one morning
- Before-School Teacher-led Activities Coordinator, home-based
- After-School Teacher-led Activities Coordinator, home-based
- Ideaventions/Science Enrichment Coordinator, home-based
- Zumba Coordinator, home-based
- Drama Coordinator, home-based
Beyond PTA-related jobs, all grades can use volunteers for REACH activities, which take place for 40 minute slots throughout the day and week, depending on grade level. Our teachers can always use extra hands during this time; just be sure to let them know you plan to come, so they can have something prepared for you. This is a great way to get to know your teachers, other students, and the curriculum.You do not need to assist for your grade levels, so you can find a schedule that suits you!
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| Library Volunteers Needed | |
The library is still in desperate need of volunteers to help shelve books. We only have 3 regular shelvers for 9 shifts per week. With over 600 students, there are hundreds of library books returned each day. It's a great way to find new books for your children and see what everyone else is reading.You can come in any time during your scheduled period.
If you haven't volunteered in the library yet, please contact Robin Birchfield to set up a quick tutorial session. Please sign up for as many slots as you can using this Sign Up Genius. Thanks to all the great volunteers who have helped so much this year!
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Check out the Chesterbrook PTA Facebook page! We'll keep you up to date
and in the know!
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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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