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Important Upcoming DatesSpirit Week (see below for remaining theme days)
October 23 (Tuesday): Reflections contest deadline.
October 26 (Friday): Run for Rocky!, Spirit Parade, Box Tops due.
November 5-6 (Monday-Tuesday): School CLOSED.
November 7 (Wednesday): AAP Information Meeting, 3-4pm, Cafeteria.
Run for Rocky, Superheroes
Run This School!
Run for Rocky will be held this year on October 26th! Theme is Superheroes Run This School! This is the PTA's biggest fundraiser of the year! Help us raise money for technology, school enhancements, curriculum materials and many other wonderful things for our school. The Pep Rally will be held on October 18th, and fundraising will begin! The Run for Rocky will be held on October 26th and fundraising will extend through November 1st. Students will have the opportunity to Win Prizes, including the following: Kindle For Kids donated by Judd | Mack Properties
Echo Dot Kid Edition donated by Quest Remodeling
Fit Bit Aced donated by JL Tree Service, Inc.
iPod Touch donated by Elite M.A. Center - Fairfax
Nintendo Switch Bundle donated by Anne and Sarah Harrington Nintendo Switch Bundle donated by Banaji Pediatric Dental Specialists Donations can be made at https://bit.ly/2QwVnvX
Spirit Week!
Our wonderful SCA has put together an amazing Spirit Week to compliment the Run for Rocky spirit week! We have combined everyone’s ideas and here is our NEW UPGRADED AWESOME Spirit Week!
Wednesday, Oct. 24 --Superhero Day:
Dress up as one of your favorite superhero, don’t forget your cape! Thursday, Oct. 25 --PJ or Harry Potter Day:
Wear your pajamas to school, or dress up as anything Potter!
Friday, Oct. 26 --Run for Rocky and Spirit Parade:
Run for Rocky shirts and each grade level has a theme to dress up for the Spirit Parade. Author Visit and Book Sale
On October 24, Mantua 5th and 6th graders will be visiting with writer J. A. White, the author of the Thickety series and a new book out this past summer called Nightbooks. We are excited to offer students the opportunity to purchase books from a local bookstore and they will be signed by the author. To take advantage of this offer, please fill out the form and return it to school with a check (made out to Mantua Elementary School) no later than October 10th. Questions? Email our librarians
Mrs. Adams kmadams@fcps.edu or
Ms. Graap kegraap@fcps.eduhttp://mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/geninfo/ja-white.pdf Impact Aid Student-Parent Survey DueThe federal presence in our area and the significant tax exemptions available to federally connected personnel, businesses, and agencies, has permitted Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to be eligible for federal Impact Aid grants.
Impact Aid programs and grants are designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally connected students. The grants from these programs will become a part of FCPS' general operating budget and are critical to ensuring that all children in FCPS receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving about $3,000,000 annually in Impact Aid funds.
FCPS uses the Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students and to support our request for Impact Aid resources.
For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school by October 26. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by October 26. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality. To ensure complete accuracy, please use the pre-filled survey that was sent home with your child. Forms in English and other languages are available.
If you need more information regarding the Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid, please call 703-329-7655 to speak with an Information Technology staff member. Additional information about Impact Aid Programs and grants is available on the U.S. Department of Education's website at DoED Impact Aid Programs.https://www.fcps.edu/event/impact-aid-student-parent-survey-dueWish FundThe Mantua PTA Wish Fund is back for its fifth year. Through the generous support of PTA fundraising efforts and its' members, the Wish Fund operates as a grant program to fund valuable projects that benefit our school. Teachers, faculty and PTA members are invited to submit an application for funding of their project. Application and related materials can be found at mantuapta.org and on the PTA Facebook page. Any questions, please contact Kristina Clarke at wishfund@mantuapta.org.
Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, October 26.http://mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/programs/wishfund/application.pdfAAP Parent Information Meeting at MantuaAn Advanced Academics Program Parent Information Meeting will be held at Mantua Elementary School on Wednesday, November 7th from 3-4pm in the cafeteria. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Eva Bousbouras, and Mrs. Fernandez will provide information about levels of service at Mantua, as well as explain and answer questions about the screening processes for Level IV services. The meeting is open to parents of general education students in grades 2-6.
Please Note: Students may not be called for dismissal after 3:40 PM. If you who wish to take your child home after the meeting, please have your child meet you in the lobby at dismissal (4:05 PM). The office must know about any dismissal changes by 1PM.Call for Donation of Used Tennis Balls!
If you have any used tennis balls that you no longer need, we would appreciate them at Mantua. Our custodians will use them at the bottom of chair legs in order to help protect the floors. You can send them in with your student or drop them off at the Front Office.
Any number of used tennis balls, from 1 to 100, will help out!
Thank you!
Gardening!
Calling all volunteers!
The Mantua ES Garden Committee needs your help on Sunday, October 28th, to cleanup, organize and build new raised bed structures for the garden area near the playground/SACC. No experience necessary, we will find a job for everyone. Please RSVP at the link below -- we need volunteers for both morning (8-12) and afternoon (12-4) shifts (come for any amount of time you can give, do not have to be there for the whole shift!), as well as some supplies. Thank you!Online Directory Opt-outMantua Online Directory Opt-out Please complete this short form if you do NOT wish to be published in The NEW Mantua PTA Online Student Directory. The NEW Mantua PTA Online Student Directory contains student names, teachers, parent names and email addresses of Mantua ES's families as well as some important school information. The information you provided to the school upon registration of your child(ren) will be used to create our directory—unless you have since updated your information with the front office. The majority of parents opt to include their family's information in the directory as it is a great resource for parents, students, and faculty throughout the school year.www.memberplanet.com/s/mantuaelementaryschoolpta/directoryoptout2018Manuta YearbookWe have copies of the 2017-18 yearbook available for $35 and the 2016-17 available for $5. Contact Ms. Dunfee at pjdunfee@fcps.edu and she will leave it at the front office for you to pay and pickup.
Why Support the Mantua PTA?
Click below to see where our money was spent last year and what we have in store for this year!
https://tinyurl.com/ya3ahgxjConsider joining the Mantua PTA! Cost is only $15 per family (tax deductible).
Visit the registration website for more information. AMM AMC 8
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40 minutes, multiple choice math
exam in middle school mathematics designed to develop students’ problem-solving skills and interest in mathematics.
This year’s AMC 8 at Mantua Elementary School will be held on Wednesday, November 14th . If your child who is in 6th grade or middle school math is interested in participating, please email Joanne Choe by Friday, October 26th at joannechoe@yahoo.com to register. A fee of $10-$15 per child will be due before the exam. If you are unable to take the test due to an unforeseen event after the sign-up, you may be responsible for a fee contingent on finding an alternate student to participate in your event.
For resources and more information, please visit:
https://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-resources
https://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-preparation-materials-for-purchase
Thank you for your support and participation!
Thank You to the Reflections Contest Judges
Yay!!! Our judging panel for the Reflections contest has been finalized. We are excited to get your childrens' entries!!! Thank you to Fairfax Art League, Cindy Wallin, Jacie Lee Almira, Jenn McRobbie, Jeremy Zeigler, and Greg Cioffi!
http://www.mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/programs/reflections/judges.pdf
Reminder About Early Dismissals
As shared in the first day folders, children will not be called out of class for early dismissal after 3:40pm and cannot be released to anyone other than a parent unless that person is on the emergency care card. The exception to the emergency care card requirement would be a release authorized by the parent through an email to mantuaesattendance@fcps.edu received prior to 1pm that day.
For “play dates” notes from parents of both the visitor and the host will be required for students planning to go home with a friend or neighbor after school. Students without corresponding notes will follow their typical dismissal plan.
2018-19 PTA Reflections Art Contest
This year's PTA Reflections contest is underway! The theme is HEROES AROUND ME. Students may submit entries in 1 or all of the arts categories (dance, film, literature, music, photography, and visual arts) along with a fully-completed entry form. Entries are due TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2018. Thank you for participating! Please contact ReflectionsMantua@gmail.com with any questions.
The FAQ: http://www.mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/programs/reflections/faq.pdf
The Entry Form:http://www.mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/programs/reflections/entry.pdf
PTA Parent Education Session: How to Raise Responsible, Respectful Kids
How to Raise Responsible, Respectful Children…Without Yelling or Nagging Presented by Rachel Bailey, M.A., CPDPE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 7:00 PM Mantua Elementary School Library FREE! No RSVP Necessary. Bring a Friend! For questions about the program, email Mantua PTA Parent Education Coordinator Johanna Friedlander, Johanna_Friedlander@hotmail.com.
http://mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/programs/parent-ed/rachel-bailey.pdf
Box Top Contest
It's Box Top Contest time! Please turn in all Box Top collection sheets and/or baggies labeled with your teacher's name by October 26 to your teacher or the collection box in the front hallway. Classroom winner chooses pizza, popsicles or ice cream to celebrate!
http://www.mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/fundraisers/boxtops.pdf
Local 3-on-3 Basketball League for 1st & 2nd Graders
Turnpike Basketball Club provides basketball leagues for the non-Mantua elementary schools in the Woodson High School pyramid. We invite Mantua 1st and 2nd grade boys and girls to play in our developmental 1st & 2nd grade 3-on-3 basketball league this winter to help them prepare for the Mantua Basketball League in 3rd grade. Player evaluations for registrants begin the week of Monday, October 22nd so register today at Turnpikebasketball.org. Contact us at turnpike.basketball@gmail.com if you have any questions.
http://mantuapta.org/documents/dtf/2018-19/flyers/geninfo/turnpike.pdf
National Geographic GeoBee
Mantua will be hosting a school GeoBee again this year for 4th - 6th graders (it is a strict National Geographic rule, we can't allow other grades). If your student is interested in a one afternoon event to determine the school winner who will go on to compete in the state GeoBee, please email Megan Burski Wells (burskiwells@yahoo.com) with student name, grade, teacher, parent name and email. A date for the competition will be forthcoming, but if your student is interested, please follow the link for rules and ideas for studying.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/bee/study
Annual Holiday Happenings Craft Show
W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax will host the 26th Annual Holiday Happenings Craft Show on November 3rd from 10am-4pm (9525 Main St., Fairfax VA 22031). This exceptional show features juried handmade arts and crafts with a diverse selection of: fine arts, jewelry, fiber arts, wood, photography, pottery, giftware, pet accessories, stress relief items & hundreds of holiday collectibles/decorations. There will be approximately 100 exhibitors and admission is FREE for shoppers. *All proceeds benefit the W.T. Woodson Crew Team www.wtwcrew.org
Lost and Found
There is a large number of items in the lost and found. All personal items brought to school should be labeled including lunch boxes, water bottles, jackets, coats, sweaters, etc. The lost and found is currently located outside the gym, please check there for any missing personal items. All items left in the lost and found after November 16 will be donated to charity.
Fall Classroom Parties - Tips
Fall parties are soon upon us. In support of Mantua's Eco initiatives, please consider the following, this will help protect the environment and save $’s along the way.
1) Ask kids to bring their own reusable water bottles. Mantua now has its own refillable water station to use. Help phase out plastic water bottles at Mantua.
2) Stick to finger foods! Avoid using plastic utensils which will never degrade in landfills. Cut up fruit, chips, crackers and cheese. Make parties centered around activities and movement, and less on treats.
3) Don’t use styrofoam products, which contain styrene which can cause adverse health effects. If you need plates, buy small compostable and biodegradable ones. You can find them on Amazon, and also earn $’s for the school.
4) For activities, consider an outdoor event or using recyclable materials for craft projects.
5) Forgo plastic tablecloths and decorations, the kids will have fun either way! Minimize the amount of trash produced - it will make set-up and clean-up afterwards much easier!
Shopping Online?
Anyone (parents, family and friends) who shops on Amazon can effortlessly earn money for Mantua ES by simply using a special Amazon link on Mantua PTA website. No sign-ups or codes required, no loyalty cards to manage - just click, shop, and watch the contributions to Mantua ES come in! Help us cast a wider net by sharing the links with friends and family. Go to http://www.mantuapta.org and click the Amazon link before beginning your shopping and Amazon will donate to our school. The link is located in the upper right corner of PTA website and also further down under "passive fundraising".
Unsubscribing from the Alert News
If your student has graduated and/or you have moved away from the Mantua ES community, you can help us to maintain a current distribution list by unsubscribing from the Alert News list.
It is as simple as clicking on the word "unsubscribe" at the very bottom of this newsletter. Thank you for your assistance!
Translators
Translators comprise another vital part of our outreach efforts. We want every Mantua ES family to feel included and connected—should families need to have a document translated into their native language, our volunteers are here to help!- للحصول على نسخة مترجمة للغة العربية، نرجو الإتصال بالأخت بدرية كفالة على هذا الإيميل: cbn@mantuapta.org . If you need to have a document translated into Arabic, please email cbn@mantuapta.org .
- Если вам необходимо перевести документ на русский язык, пожалуйста обращайтесь к Анне Жердецкой или Виктору Жердецкому по электронной почте: cbn@mantuapta.org или cbn@mantuapta.org . If you need to have a document translated into Russian, please contact Hanna Zhardzetskaya and Viktar Zhardzetski.
- 혹시 한국어로 번역된 자료가 필요하시면 좌승관씨에게 연락주세요(cbn@mantuapta.org.) If you need to have a document translated into Korean, please contact Lisa Libby.
- Para obtener una copia en Espanol favor de contactar a Lisa Libby at cbn@mantuapta.org. If you need to have a document translated into Spanish, please contact Lisa Libby.
Email Lisa Libby at cbn@mantuapta.org if you have any questions or would like to volunteer as an ambassador or translator with Mantua ES’s Community Building Network. |
