PATRIOTS’ PRESS Holiday Issue – December 2014

Hugh Mercer Elementary School 2100 Cowan Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Telephone: (540) 372-1115 Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal Fax: (540) 372-6753 [email protected] Web: www.cityschools.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Families and Friends, more focused and ready to settle down to academic work. The holidays are upon us, and we’ve been busily working to complete our many tasks before I have just mentioned two outstanding ways our Winter Break. We conclude 2014 with our PTA has recently helped Hugh Mercer. This is a annual Hugh Mercer Holiday Sing-Along on great group of parents, friends, and teachers Friday. who love our school and want to support it. If you have the time, we would love each of you to After a wonderful two-week break, we will return join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, to school on Monday, January 5. During the January 14 beginning at 6:30 P.M. in the school week of January 5 through 9, all classroom library. Babysitting will be provided, and the teachers will be administering mid-year PALS meetings are always over in less than an hour. tests. This helps teachers gauge the progress of We hope to see many of you there. each child in reading and is an invaluable tool to help us provide the best possible reading This is just a quick reminder there will be no program to your children. school on Monday, January 19 in honor of Martin Luther King Day. I’m sure you all heard about the Holiday Shoppe, sponsored by our PTA. These folks worked very January 27 ends the second quarter and the first hard to offer each child at Hugh Mercer the half of the school year. My, how time flies! opportunity to purchase small items to give to There is no school on Wednesday, January 28 as their families and special friends. It was a HUGE teachers will have a workday to complete report success, and we are grateful they took their time cards. School resumes on Thursday, January 29. to make this a fun and beneficial effort. The Holiday Shoppe was not a fund raiser. It was an As we move into the holiday season, our wish effort to help all students be involved in the for you and your families is to celebrate in your holiday season in a very positive way. own special way, whether it is Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, or any other. Enjoy the Our big fund raiser sponsored by the PTA was special rituals and customs associated with your Boosterthon, and I know you heard about that! beliefs and family traditions. And, as always, I It was a two-week long campaign to earn suggest you find several of the many wonderful pledges to students for running laps. I know the books and stories associated with the holiday PTA made money on this, but the program the season and share these with your child. May you Boosterthon people brought made it all the all have a healthy, restful Winter Break, and best more worthwhile. Each day for two weeks, your wishes for the coming New Year! children received a short but concise lesson in character building. Each lesson incorporated Sincerely, some physical activity, something we consider very important at Hugh Mercer. After finishing the lesson, students returned to their classrooms Marjorie R. Tankersley HMES STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM & COMMUNITY!

Congratulations to the following first and second grade Jingle Bell Jog top runners. For their achievement, they will be recognized at the School Board meeting being held at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, January 12 at James Monroe High School.

FIRST GRADE 1st Place: Holly Rowland and Jeremiah Crawford 2nd Place: Mackenzie Mueller and Ari Lucas

SECOND GRADE 1st Place: Addyson Hough and Angel Marcia 2nd Place: Halliday Kelly-Maartens and McLane Maynard

TEA WITH MRS. TANKERSLEY - Congratulations to the following second graders for being selected by their teachers to have Tea with Mrs. Tankersley this month by exhibiting good behavior, nice manners, or improvement: Kameron Brown, Gabrielle Thurman, Janelle Mkhail, Jayden Oakley, Boysie Hux, Heaven Betancourt, Tristan Morales, Jeffrey Trigueros, Tana Loving, Jamin Thompson, Alexi Guzman, Jaden Bumbrey, Ruben Zarate, Merlin Adrade Lovo, Grant May, Claire Kuiper, Halliday Kelly-Maartens, Jamie Martino, Nevaeh Millsap, Ellie Jurlando, Kharmeen Smithers, Zachary Tate, Melei Turner, Joziah Chaos, Vivian Lau, Emma Souza, Julio Sanchez-Manjiav, Danitza Santiago-Mendoza, Nicole Lopez, and Misha FNU.

PATRIOT SINGERS - Under the direction of music teacher, Mrs. Holly Horn, the Patriot Singers kicked off the holiday season with a performance at the Fredericksburg Tree Lighting Ceremony over Thanksgiving weekend.

Pictured: Sophie Coulon, Addyson Hough, Erin Robinson

S.T.E.M. - Second grade investigator, Rhett Coulon, and Mr. Josh Long, instructional technology resource teacher, explore how to make drums play on a computer by using only aluminum foil and the invention kit, Makey Makey.

CHARACTER COUNTS! - Mrs. Obert’s second graders recently welcomed a guest speaker to their classroom! Former HMES student, Brandon Robinson, contributed to their Character lesson by motivating them to do their best.

SOCK DONATIONS APPRECIATED! The PE department is in need of socks for the gymnastics lessons being taught in January and February. Your donations of NEW socks are greatly appreciated.

READING MAKES CENT$ Reading Makes Cent$ is a financial literacy program offered by the Virginia529 Program. For participating, our librarian, Mrs. Norma Bourne, will receive lesson plans prepared by JMU educational professors and 3 free books on economics for students to enjoy and learn about making decisions regarding money. Parents can participate by reading from the list provided at www.virginia529.com/readingmakescents, keep a record, send it to Reading Makes Cent$ Reading Challenge, and be entered to win a start-up 529 College Savings Plan account valued at $529. Your participation gives our school a chance to win $500 for purchasing financial literacy books. We all win!

WHAT IS A VIRGINIA529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN? Prepay your cost of future college tuition and mandatory fees at any public college or university today! Use benefits at public and private colleges and universities around the world!

Find out more about READING MAKES CENT$ and Virginia529 from program representatives who will be available at the next PTA meeting being held in the school library on January 14 at 6:30 P.M.

GIFTED EDUCATION Students referred for the General Intellectual Program must meet 5 out of 7 criteria to be eligible for services. Students must meet 3 out of 4 criteria in Tier 2 in order to move on to Tier 2. Students who meet criteria on both the Cognitive and Achievement testing are found eligible, and no additional testing is required. Referral due dates:

February 6, 2015 April 3, 2015

If you have questions or for more information please contact Mrs. Barbara Donaldson, assistant principal, at 372-1115 or [email protected].

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, PARENT VOLUNTEERS!

Dads Who C.A.R.E. (Character Building, Kelly Maartens, James Roberson, Kimberly All-Star Attitudes, Role Models, Encouraging Eggleston, Chanelle Tooker, Prity Patil, Katie Success) Thank you to the Daily Dads in Pomeroy, Sara Mellinger, Keishawn Guidry, December: Rich Mitchell, James Roberson, Chanel Garris, Janet Senavail, Julie Sweeney, John Garman, Will Gravatt, Joe Reiner, J. P. Beth Lucarell, Elizabeth Souza, Laverne Gibbons, Keith Mellinger, Jonathan Levin, Walton, Joanne Kaiman, Kim Montgomery, Sean Doud, and Whit Coulon. These dads Connie Lane, Heidi Ribel, Lisa Lynn, Suzanne committed to spend the day at HM to assist Rossi, Neal Reed, Katie Furrow, Pam Ross, with bus or car rider duty, in the cafeteria, Rebecca Malin, Crystal Hardison, Kadie King, and in classrooms. For more information, Beth Lucarell, Christine Garman, Monica contact Mrs. Libba White, guidance Pettie, Larry Hardison, Libby O’Malley, counselor, at [email protected]. Shawanda Chapman, and Sarah Mcintosh.

PTA Holiday Shoppe - Thank you, UPCOMING EVENTS volunteers, for all your hard work in making January 5 – 9 PALS Testing (All Grades) the Holiday Shoppe such a BIG success! January 12 – 16 Make-Up PALS Testing (All Grades) Your efforts and the generosity of donors January 14 PTA Meeting @ 6:30 PM (library) st nd afforded EVERY student an opportunity to January 15 – 23 Q2 9-Wks Testing (1 /2 Grades) January 19 NO SCHOOL (MLK Day) shop for gifts for family and friends: Kristina January 27 End of 2nd Grading Period Brough, Elizabeth Ledoux, Sheri Kline, Susan January 28 NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday) Moss, Maggie Van Zandt, Debbie Brough, January 29 End of ASP (Session #1) Gelora and Darrell Champion, Rebecca January 30 Patriot Pride Fun Day Jacobs, Khaki Valentine, Gin Shaffer, Alex January 31 Saturday School (for required students)

WINTER WEATHER PROCEDURES

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

When Fredericksburg City Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, it will be announced on the TV and Radio stations listed below. On days when FCPS are closed, have a delayed opening, or dismiss early due to weather conditions, the TV/radio announcement will state Fredericksburg City Schools. Frederick County, the surrounding counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, etc., and private schools (Fredericksburg Christian, Fredericksburg Academy, etc.) are separate school divisions whose inclement weather schedules may vary from FCPS.

TV Stations Radio Stations WFVA ( B101.5/FM 101.5) Channel 4 WFLS (FM 93.3) Channel 6 WGRQ (Q96) Channel 8 WWVB (FM 99.3) Channel 9 WGRX ( Thunder104.5) Channel 18 WWUZ Radio (FM 96.9)

WYSK (AM 1350)

School personnel cannot individually notify parents when schools are dismissed early due to inclement weather. You are encouraged to listen to the local radio stations or check our web site.

When schools are closed, all school-related events or activities are cancelled.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB follows FCPS’ inclement weather schedule:

 If school is closed for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is closed.  If school dismisses early for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is closed.  If after school programs are cancelled for weather reasons, the Boys & Girls Club is closed.

DELAYED OPENINGS

Due to inclement weather will be announced on the TV and Radio stations listed above. School hours on delayed opening days are as follows: (Buses will arrive at their designated stops 2 hours later than usual.). Breakfast will NOT be served on delayed opening days.

Hugh Mercer 10:35 – 3:15 P.M. Lafayette 10:25 – 3:15 P.M. Walker-Grant 9:40 – 2:40 P.M. James Monroe 9:45 – 2:45 P.M. RISE/STARS 10:30 – 2:00 P.M. ECSE 10:40 - 1:30 P.M. Head Start/VPI 10:40 – 1:30 P.M.

School closings and delayed opening information are posted on the school’s web site (www.cityschools.com). Early Dismissals due to inclement weather will be announced on the radio stations listed above and posted on the school division internet site. Schools will be dismissed in this order: James Monroe High School, Head Start and Preschool, Walker-Grant Middle School, Lafayette Upper Elementary School, Hugh Mercer Elementary School.

Sign up for Fred Alerts (click on link on our webpage, www.cityschools.com) to receive text and/or email messages of weather or emergency related school delays and/or closings.