PATRIOTS’ PRESS Holiday Issue (December 2018/January 2019) Hugh Mercer Elementary School “A Foundation of Excellence) 2100 Cowan Boulevard Telephone: (540) 372-1115 Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Fax: (540) 372-6753 Web: www.cityschools.comm/hughmercer Email: [email protected] Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Families and Friends, These last days before Winter Break have been amazing! It’s all been good, just very busy. Today we concluded the week, the holiday season, and the calendar year with a festive Sing-A-Long lead by our amazing music teacher, Mrs. Holly Horn. She did a masterful job incorporating songs from the various cultures represented by our wonderfully diverse population. After that, students enjoyed holiday-themed classroom activities. It’s wonderful to see how well they blend learning and fun and still celebrate the holiday season. This was a very positive finish to a busy time before sending everyone home for rest and relaxation with friends and family. With this letter comes the wish that you and your loved ones enjoy all the fun, beauty, magic, and joy that this lovely season has to offer. After you’ve watched all those holiday movies and specials, try relaxing with your child(ren) with a good book. There is nothing more special than to share a book with a child. Happy holidays, and we’ll see you again on Thursday, January 3, 2019! Marjorie R. Tankersley Principal INCLEMENT WEATHER/ EMERGENCY-RELATED SCHOOL PROCEDURES SCHOOL CLOSINGS When Fredericksburg City Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather or an emergency situation, it will be announced on the web sites, TV, and radio stations listed below. NOTE: When schools are closed, all school-related events or activities are cancelled. On days when FCPS are closed, have a delayed opening, or dismiss early due to weather conditions, the 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 INTERNET SITES WRC (DC) Channel 4 WFVA/B101.5/ (FM 101.5) (AM 1230) www.cityschools.com WTVR (Richmond) Channel 6 WFLS (FM 93.3) www.fredericksburg.com WJLA (DC) Channel 7 WGRQ (FM 95.9) WRIC (Richmond) Channel 8 WVBX (FM 99.3) WUSA (DC) Channel 9 WGRX (104.5) FCPS (Local Educational Access) Cox 83, WWUZ (FM 96.9) Verizon 41, Comcast 18 WTOP (FM 107.7) School personnel cannot individually notify you when schools are dismissed early due to inclement weather. You are encouraged to sign up for Fredericksburg Notifications to receive notice of inclement weather/emergency related school procedures, or check the radio, TV, or internet sites listed above. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB follows FCPS’ inclement weather/emergency situation schedule: . If school is closed for weather/emergency reasons, the B & G Club is closed. If school dismisses early for weather/emergency reasons, the B & G Club is closed. If after school activities are cancelled for weather/emergency reasons, the B & G Club is closed. DELAYED OPENINGS due to inclement weather/emergency situation will be announced on the internet sites, 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 (HMES) 10:35 – 3:15 P.M. Lafayette (LUES) 10:25 – 3:15 P.M. Walker-Grant (WGMS) 9:40 – 2:40 P.M. James Monroe (JMHS) 9:45 – 2:45 P.M. RISE/STARS 10:30 – 2:00 P.M. VPI 10:35 - 3:15 P.M. Head Start 10:35 – 3:15 P.M. EARLY DISMISSALS due to inclement weather/emergency situations will be announced on the internet sites, TV, and radio stations listed above and posted on the school division internet site. Schools will be dismissed in this order: JM, Head Start, WGMS, LUES, HMES and VPI. Sign up for Fredericksburg Notifications! Visit www.cityschools.com and use FCPS link FREDERICKSBURG NOTIFICATIONS SIGN UP to receive text and/or email messages of weather or emergency related school delays and/or closings. Title 1 Reading and math support is provided by Mrs. Kankam and Mrs. Teri (Reading); Mrs. Clark (Math, Title 1). Administrative support for Title 1 services is provided by assistant principals Mrs. Wheeler (Math, Title 1) and Mrs. Gillenwater (Reading). IB Hugh Mercer scholars have been invited to share the Word of the Month "principled" at our January School Board meeting. Please take a moment to talk to your student about what it means to be principled. Our scholars often describe this word as doing the right thing even when no one else is watching. Across Hugh Mercer, our scholars are growing knowledge and exploring their world. We have recently begun our third IB PYP Units. In kindergarten, they are studying How We Organize Ourselves through the Central Idea: Living things have needs. In first grade, scholars are learning about How We Express Ourselves through the Central Idea: Humans express their ideas, feelings, and beliefs in a variety of ways. Our second grade scholars are learning about How We Organize Ourselves by studying the Central Ideas: Humans form systems within their communities to manage their resources. We look forward to seeing how our scholars approach each of these topics with their own unique perspective. TURKEY TROT (TOP RUNNERS) Congratulations to the following first graders for being top runners in the Turkey Trot: Rebecca McIntosh and Max Rico 1st Place Vivienne Furrow and Jack McClellan 2nd Place Oliva Stone and Jackson Hall 3rd Place Haley James and Rome Davis 4th Place Adelyn Hlywa and Daniel Cook 5th Place SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY - Working Together! DADS WHO C.A.R.E. (Character Building, All-Star Attitudes, Role Models, Encouraging Success) – Thank you to the Daily Dads in December: Anthony Williams, Jason Harding, Robert Bailey, Scott Vezino, Jamaal Warren, Thomas Badoud, Christopher Williams, Nathan Templeton, and Jonathan Watson. These dads committed to spend the day assisting with bus or car rider duty, in the cafeteria, and in classrooms. For more information, contact Mrs. Libba White, guidance counselor, at [email protected]. COMING EVENTS! JANUARY 2019 January 3 Welcome Back! January 7 – 11 PALS Testing (Kindergarten) January 7 – 16 MAP Testing January 15 School Board Meeting (7:30 PM) – WG Center January 21 NO SCHOOL (MLK Day) Jan 23 – Feb 1 Boosterthon January 31 End of 2nd Grading Period February 1 NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Breakfast Hugh Mercer Elementary School January Breakfast Menu 2019 OWG No Charge HM No Charge LUES No Charge COMMERCIAL FAST FOOD IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIAS!!! WGMS No Charge BAG LUNCHES FROM HOME ARE WELCOME. JMHS 1.00 Products containing Peanuts or Pork are NOT Served!! Adult: 2.00 Non-discrimination Statement: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Jumpstart Breakfast & Breakfast Bar Additional Items 3 Welcome Back 4 Scrambled Eggs Daily Bacon or Sausage Low Fat Yogurt Hot Ham & Jumpstart Breakfast Whole Grain Cereals Toast or Biscuit 100% Juices Cheese Biscuit Chilled Juice Fresh Fruit or Juice Fresh Fruit Offered Fresh Fruit Cup Milk Milk Daily Milk 7 8 9 10 11 Breakfast Pizza Turkey Sausage Waffle Sticks Egg/Cheese Jumpstart Breakfast Chilled Juice Biscuit Fresh Fruit Cup Muffin Chilled Juice Milk Chilled Juice Milk Chilled Fruit Milk Milk Milk 14 15 1 6 17 18 Breakfast Griller Chicken Biscuit Mini Pancakes Breakfast Wrap Jumpstart Breakfast Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Cup w/sausage Sliced Oranges Fresh fruit Milk Milk Orange Juice Milk Milk Milk 21 NO SCHOOL 22 23 24 25 Cheddar Omelet French Toast Bacon Cheddar Br eakfast Bar w/toast Sticks w/sausage Croissant Fresh Fruit Chilled Juice Chilled Fruit Fresh Fruit Milk Milk Milk Milk Martin Luther King Day 28 29 30 31 Breakfast Pizza Ham & Cheese Mini Waffles Fried Egg Griller Fresh Fruit English Muffin w/sausage Chilled Fruit Milk Chilled Fruit Chilled Fruit Milk Milk Milk Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday LUNCH Hugh Mercer Elementary School OWG No Charge January 2019 Lunch Menu HM No Charge LUES No Charge COMMERCIAL FAST FOOD IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIAS!!! WGMS No Charge BAG LUNCHES FROM HOME ARE WELCOME.