Vienna Elementary

SPRING TESTING CONTINUES TO BE UPON US! This year’s Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) testing for Mathematics will begin for all Grades 3-5 students starting May 5th, 2025. **Grade 3 Math: May 5 - 8, 2025** **Grade 4 Math: May 12 - 15, 2025** **Grade 5 Math: May 19 - 22, 2025** For the Math tests, there are four sections and 40 minutes per section. The goal for all students is to earn a level 3 (“proficient”) or level 4 (“distinguished”). The individual, grade level, and school-wide results are used for improving instruction, designing interventions, and scheduling students. The grade level scores also are used to determine a school’s ratings on the Maryland State Department of Education’s yearly “Maryland Report Card”. *** Personal electronics may not be accessed during testing (and should not be at a DCPS elementary school at any time.) ** Please make sure your student is well rested, on time to school, and encouraged to do their best on these tests! Testing will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Thank you for your support!

** HAPPY MAIL** We just wanted to take a moment to brag about our outstanding students! Each note is color-coded to represent their "HOUSE" color, and our students can earn points for their "HOUSE" by showing off some fantastic positive behaviors, such as: -Being a good friend -Showing great improvement -Showing kindness -Excellent behavior ALL day -Uplifting others -Working well with others -Helping others -Following instructions -Moving up a level in reading We are proud of their achievements and encourage them to keep shining bright! Keep up the great work!

**Vienna Elementary School's PreK Transition Night! ** We invite new and current students entering PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten for the 2025–2026 school year to join us for a special event! Enjoy a bus ride, tour the school, and check out your future classroom. Dinner will be provided! Please RSVP by May 12, 2025, using the following link: https://qrto.org/nyxtS2

Wear green on Thursday, May 8th, 2025, for Mental Health Awareness Day! If you choose not to participate, uniforms are required.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Vienna Elementary School wore red to support public education. Dorchester County Public Schools are home to some of the best educators in the world who go above and beyond every day. Thank you for being so dedicated to your students and the community; your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Happy National Principals' Day! Mrs. Susie Price is the BEST principal ever! You are amazing, and we love you!

Tomorrow, Friday, May 2nd, 2025, wear your "HOUSE" t-shirt. Uniforms are expected if a house shirt is not worn.

The 4th-grade class of Mr. Sorrells recently enjoyed an exciting trip to Handsell House, a historic plantation located on Indiantown Road, just north of Vienna, Maryland. This amazing site is on the grounds of the Chicone Native American village and is filled with rich history and culture! During their tour, the students explored fun exhibits that shared the stories of the African American and Native American people who once called Handsell House home. As one of the few remaining 18th-century houses in Dorchester County, Handsell offers a unique peek into the past. The fingerprints of young, enslaved children are visible in the bricks, imprinted as a touching reminder of those who worked on the land. The students also discovered interesting farming practices and learned about the tools Native Americans used. The Handsell guides were impressed by the students and their bright, curious minds, as they showed a great understanding of Native American history! This visit deepened the students’ knowledge and helped them appreciate our nation's rich heritage even more. We thank our wonderful 4th-grade social studies and language arts teacher, Mr. Sorrells, for arranging this trip. We also thank the VPA (Vienna Parents Association) for their fundraising efforts, and the 4th-grade parents who helped cover the cost of this field trip. Together, we are nurturing a generation that values and understands our diverse history!

Mrs. Sherri Todd, our Pre-K 4 teacher, introduced her class to the delightful story of "The Little Red Hen." She brought the tale to life by showing how the hardworking hen grew and harvested wheat to bake delicious bread. The kids loved discussing the hen's dedication and discovered the importance of teamwork along the way! To make the learning even more exciting, Mrs. Todd organized a fun hands-on activity where the children made fresh butter from cream. They had a blast watching the cream turn to butter through their hard work! When they finished, the students eagerly spread their homemade butter on slices of bread, making a perfect connection to the story. It was such a joyful experience that taught them about collaboration and gave them a proud sense of accomplishment. What an amazing day filled with learning and fun!

Tomorrow, April 25th, 2025, a video game truck will visit Vienna Elementary School for respectful and responsible students who followed directions in April. As Autism Acceptance and Appreciation Week comes to a close, we will have Sensory Friendly Friday. Please wear your comfy clothes and/or your favorite pair of sunglasses. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and support for World Autism Month this week!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today, we proudly honor our exceptional Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Katie Crucillo. Her outstanding attention to detail, superior organizational abilities, and talent for ensuring everything runs seamlessly are remarkable. Every day, her unwavering dedication, optimistic spirit, and proactive support significantly enhance our workflow and elevate team dynamics. Thank you, Mrs. Crucillo, for being the backbone of our school office and for your invaluable contributions! Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are genuinely appreciated!

**SAVE THE DATE: MIDSHORE MEALS TIL MONDAY BOWLING FUNDRAISER! ** Join us for a fun-filled afternoon with family and friends! Show off your bowling skills while supporting our mission to end childhood hunger! **Admission Prices: ** - Adults: $15.00 - Kids (12 and under): $10.00 Both ticket prices include bowling games and shoe rental! **Date and Time: ** Sunday, April 27, 2025 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM **Location: ** Choptank Bowling and Billiards 1200 Goodwill Ave. Cambridge, MD For questions, please call 443-225-5678 or email info@midshoremealstilmonday.org. Click the link here for more details: https://bit.ly/4hUvDpS Tickets are available for purchase online or at the door. Additionally, there will be two raffles with a chance to win: a 50/50 raffle and a Restaurant Raffle. The winner does not need to be present. Winning tickets for both raffles will be drawn at the bowling event on April 27th. To purchase raffle tickets, click the link here: https://bit.ly/4hUvDpS or contact Joyce at 443-477-2572

Ready…Set…Register! Online registration for the 2025-2026 school year for PreK-3 through Kindergarten will open on Thursday, April 24, 2025. PreK-3 slots are limited and are only offered at Sandy Hill, Maple, Vienna and Hurlock Elementary Schools. PreK-3 students must be 3 years old by September 1, 2025; PreK-4 students must be 4 years old by September 1, 2025; and Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2025. Kindergarten attendance is mandatory by the State of Maryland. What do you need to register? Proof of age (original birth certificate or passport), proof of residence (lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill), proof of relationship to the student (birth certificate, court order, legal documentation), and up-to-date immunization records. PreK-3 and PreK-4 students also need proof of income for all adults residing in the household (2024 tax return, 2024 W2’s, current paystubs, and proof of additional income—TCA, child support, unemployment). For more information, please contact the school or Julie Lewis, Supervisor of Early Childhood Education at 410-228-4747 ext. 1035 or email: lewisju@dcpsmd.org.

**Vienna Elementary School's PreK Transition Night! ** We invite new and current students entering PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten for the 2025–2026 school year to join us for a special event! Enjoy a bus ride, tour the school, and check out your future classroom. Dinner will be provided! Please RSVP by May 12, 2025, using the following link: https://qrto.org/nyxtS2

Happy Easter to all our wonderful Vienna families! We hope you are enjoying this special time with your loved ones. We are excited to share all the memories we captured in pictures from Thursday. We would also like to remind everyone that Tuesday, April 22, 2025, marks the beginning of Autism Acceptance and Appreciation Week! We invite everyone to wear a shade of Blue on that day to help raise awareness and show support for World Autism Month. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

On Tuesday, April 8th, we held a Family Engagement Night for PreK3 students and their parents. The theme of the evening was a pajama party with the book, "Llama Llama Red Pajama." We focused on English Language Arts (ELA), specifically on rhyming and sequencing stories using picture cards. Our amazing PreK3 teacher, Ms. Joy Bradshaw, led the way, helping the children teach their parents about rhyming. After the discussion, the real fun began! Everyone got creative and made adorable llama puppets using markers, glitter, and stickers. It was heartwarming to see parents and children laughing and working together to color and decorate their puppets. Each student took home a goodie bag and a copy of the "Llama Llama Red Pajama" book! Mrs. Julie Lewis, Supervisor of Early Childhood Development, generously provided dinner for everyone after all the activities. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our PreK3 teacher, Ms. Joy Bradshaw, Mrs. Julie Lewis, and all the wonderful PreK3 students and their families who attended. Your participation means the world to us, and we can't wait for our next adventure together!

Pep Rally on Thursday, April 17th, 2025! Wear your "HOUSE" t-shirt! ( Uniforms are expected if a house shirt is not worn).

There was plenty of fun on April 1st. Nusybah, a witty student in Ms. Perry's third-grade class, decided to play a little prank on her teacher. With a playful grin, she announced, "Ms. Perry, I brought you a brownie!" Ms. Perry was thrilled! Who doesn't love chocolate? Nusybah presented her with an envelope, which turned out to be a clever twist; “Here is your brown E”! 😊 Ms. Perry burst into laughter. What a clever April Fool's joke!

Mrs. Carroll organized an engaging and memorable day for her 2nd-grade students on April 1st. The day's highlight was an exciting discussion about the elusive Sloof Lirpa bird. As she read from a worksheet, Mrs. Carroll captivated her students with fascinating details about this bird, which migrates to our area at the start of April and can be hard to spot. With vivid descriptions of its colors, wings, beak, head, and feet, she painted a picture of the bird's habitat and diet. Again, the perfect time to catch a glimpse of this colorful creature is in the first week of April. After their inspiring indoor session, the students eagerly ventured outside in search of the bird perched in the trees. "Look for bright orange feathers!" Mrs. Carroll urged them. If their search proved fruitless, she had a fun trick up her sleeve: they could sing "Sloof Lirpa" three times in a row, spin around while flapping their arms, and then spin again while singing. To top it off, the students were challenged to spell "Sloof Lirpa" backward on the back of their worksheets. APRIL FOOLS! What a clever and entertaining way to celebrate the start of April! Mrs. Carroll's charm and infectious laughter ensure that learning is fun and truly enjoyable for her students!

**AUTISM ACCEPTANCE AND APPRECIATION WEEK** **Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - We See You: ** Wear any shade of BLUE to show your awareness and support for World Autism Month. **Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - What's Your Passion? ** Wear an outfit or shirt that shows off your favorite interests or hobbies. **Thursday, April 24, 2025 - Uniquely You: ** Celebrate the beauty in the diverse spectrum of the human mind by wearing RAINBOW and/ or TIE-DYE. **Friday, April 25, 2025 - Sensory Friendly Friday: ** Wear your most comfy clothes, use as much natural light in your classrooms and/or wear a favorite pair of sunglasses.