Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal - Fredericksburg City Public Schools

PATRIOTS’ PRESS
December 2010
Hugh Mercer Elementary School
“A Foundation of Excellence”
Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal
mtankers@cityschools.com
Barbara N. Donaldson, Assistant Principal
bdonaldson@cityschools.com
Sandra P. Gillenwater, Administrative Ass’t
sgillenwater@cityschools.com
2100 Cowan Boulevard
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
www.cityschools.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families and Friends,
It is that proverbial “most wonderful time of the year,” and there is no better place to
appreciate it than with five, six and seven-year-olds. They are already bursting with
excitement. They bound through the doors in the morning just full of the season’s good
cheer.
As one would expect, our December calendar is chock full of interesting and exciting
events. On Monday, December 6, our School Board will hold its monthly meeting
beginning at 7:30 P.M. in City Council Chambers. The following Wednesday, December
8, we will have the Ident-a-Kid folks here to help with providing additional security for
those who choose to subscribe to this program. We will also be having our monthly
celebration of Proud Patriots, a program sponsored by our PTA. Proud Patriots are
children who have exhibited outstanding behavior and academic performance during the
past month. One Proud Patriot is chosen from each classroom in the school.
On Friday, December 10, interim reports will go home. If you notice your child’s grades
have fallen, or the teacher has indicated problems or issues on the interim report please be sure to get in touch with the teacher. It is still early in the school year, and
your child has a greater chance of success if home and school are working together to
solve any problems.
On Monday, December 13, our P.E. Department will sponsor the Jingle Bell Jog for first
and second graders. This is a great way to promote fitness and running beginning at an
early age. We always get a great turn out for this exciting event. Also, Monday,
December 13 is the day set aside for our Holiday Shoppe preview. Our PTA has worked
hard to assemble a wide selection of inexpensive items for children to purchase as gifts
for all members of the family. The Holiday Shoppe will be open beginning Tuesday,
December 13 through Friday, December 17 in our playroom.
We will continue to be very academically focused throughout the week until Friday,
December 17, when we will relax and enjoy the season with a Holiday Sing-Along
beginning at 1:30 A.M. in the gym. We will conclude the day with holiday classroom
parties beginning at 2:30 P.M. We will then send our 830 youngsters home to enjoy a
wonderful and well-earned two week break from December 20 through December 31.
Wishing you warmest holiday wishes,
Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
2
3
8
Identa-Kid
9
10
DECEMBER 2010
6
School Board
Meeting (City
Council
Chambers)
(7:30 PM)
7
13
PTA Holiday
Shoppe Preview
Day
14
PTA Holiday
Shoppe
(Playroom)
Interim Reports
Go Home
w/Students
Proud Patriot
Celebration
(2 PM)
15
PTA Holiday
Shoppe
(Playroom)
16
PTA Holiday
Shoppe
(Playroom)
17
PTA Holiday
Shoppe
(Playroom)
Holiday SingAlong (1:30 AM)
st
Jingle Bell Jog (1
nd
& 2 Grades) @
3:30 PM
20
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
Class Parties
(2:30 PM)
21
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
22
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
23
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
24
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
27
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
28
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
29
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
30
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
31
WINTER BREAK
(No School)
2
WINTER WEATHER
PROCEDURES
School Closings: When Fredericksburg City Public
Schools are closed due to inclement weather, an announcement will
be placed 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
Channel 4
Channel 6
Channel 8
Channel 9
Channel 18
WFVA (101.5)
WFLS (93.3)
WGRQ (Q96)
WYSK (99.3)
WGRX (104.5)
WWUZ Radio (FM 96.9)
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 (The 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.)
10:35 – 3:15 P.M.
10:25 – 3:15 P.M.
9:40 – 2:40 P.M.
9:45 – 2:45 P.M.
10:30 – 2:00 P.M.
11:00 – 12:30 P.M.
10:40 – 2:10 P.M.
Hugh Mercer
Lafayette
Walker-Grant
James Monroe
RISE/STARS
Preschool
Head Start
School closings and delayed opening information will be recorded on the school voice mail
(372-1115) and posted on the school’s web site (www.cityschools.com). Sign-up for email
notification of school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals! 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 the following order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
James Monroe
Head Start and Preschool
Walker-Grant
Lafayette
Hugh Mercer
3
death in the family, observance of
religious holiday, and possibly
extenuating circumstances determined
by the school administration. A written
note from the parent/guardian or a
physician must be provided within two
days after the absence for the absence
to be excused. Excessive absences can
lead to a conference with parents,
Saturday School, or a referral to the
court system.
ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM
SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors:
Kathy Izzo, Denise and Tom Reavis, and
Adam and Christina Gutshall.
If you would like to sponsor a
classroom, please contact Mrs. Barbara
Donaldson, assistant principal, at 3721115 (x2004).
The following actions will apply:
 3 absences – A letter sent to
parent/guardian with
notification of the number of
absences.
 5 absences –A plan will be
developed jointly with parent to
resolve the attendance.
 6 absences –A conference will be
scheduled with parent and
student within 10 days.
 7 absences – The principal will
notify the truancy designee to
take action – may result in
attending Saturday School.
 25 absences or more (excused or
unexcused) – The principal will
meet with a Promotion
Committee to determine
possible retention for the
following year.
G.E.D.A.C. MEETING
The Gifted Education and
Differentiation Advisory Committee will
meet in the school library at 3:00 P.M.
on Wednesday, December 1. All are
welcome to attend.
PTA Volunteers – We
appreciate you!
Make-Up Pictures: Erin Westcott
ATTENDANCE POLICY
School attendance is critical for
academic achievement and the
preparation of students for the world of
work and personal success. Student
attendance is a joint effort between the
school and home. Students are
expected to arrive at school on time and
attend class for the full instructional
day. Parents or guardians must inform
the school each time their child is
absent from school, and the school will
make a reasonable attempt to notify
parents of students’ absences. The only
absences that may be excused include
the following: illness, medical/dental
appointments, court appearances,
SATURDAY SCHOOL
Fredericksburg City Public Schools has
implemented a Saturday School
Program. Hugh Mercer students who
have over 7 absences or 3 or more
disciplinary infractions during a nineweek period will be required to attend
Saturday School. This program is
designed to provide students an
opportunity to make up missed
4
instruction due to excessive absences or
misbehavior which resulted in time
spent out of class in ACC.
Parents of students that are required to
attend this session will be notified by
letter by Friday, December 3.
The first Saturday School will be held on
December 11 from 8:30 – 11:30 A.M.
Students must be at school by 8:30 A.M.
and must be picked up no later than
11:45 A.M. Please note that the doors
will be locked at 8:30 A.M. sharp, and
students will not be admitted late. Also,
students who are not picked up by
11L45 A.M. will be referred to Social
Services.
Attendance at Saturday School will
equal one day of school missed and will
provide the student an opportunity to
make-up the academic assignments
while out of the classroom. Instruction
will be provided by classroom teachers,
and an administrator will be present for
questions and/or concerns. Parents will
be required to provide transportation to
and from school.
Parents who fail to send their children
to Saturday School will be required to
meet with an administrator the Monday
following Saturday School in order for
their children to be admitted to school.
Additional Saturday Schools will be held
on the third Saturday of the month
starting in January through May.
It is the administrators’ hope that
Saturday School will allow students to
make up missed instruction so they will
have a successful school year.
TURKEY TROT RACE RESULTS
First graders participated in their first fun run of the year on November 22. The race
consisted of a 2-lap run around the front parking area of the school. Top runners are:
1st Place:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
4th Place:
5th Place:
Grace Maynard
Charlotte Snead
Brianna Denson
Yasmin Deane
Anne Byrd Fickling
and
and
and
and
and
5
Joe Hardy
Ryelan White
Orion Hairston
Sam Mitchell
Sam Lewis