Vienna Elementary

Vienna Elementary School students, please wear your “HOUSE” colors tomorrow, Friday, February 7th, 2025. This day is also Reward Day, a special celebration for Vienna Terrapin students who are Respectful and Responsible. Students will be rewarded with a snowball fight and delicious hot chocolate to celebrate their achievements! This event emphasizes our Code of Conduct and Classroom Behavior Expectations: - Be Respectful - Be Responsible - Be Safe - Be Persistent We look forward to having fun and celebrating your achievements together!

Vienna Elementary School will be participating in the "Hit the Books" reading incentive again this year. This program is sponsored by the Delmarva Shorebirds. Your child's participation earns them 2 tickets to a spring Shorebirds Game. ** To qualify, each student must read 4 books and complete an assignment (teacher directive) for each book. ** Students will bring the titles of the books to their teacher, so they can be recorded on the bookmark supplied by the Shorebirds. ** Students complete the assignments and finish the bookmark by February 21, 2025. So, students, start reading now!!

In November, several reading coaches, math coaches, teachers, and staff traveled to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. We participated in a two-day professional development program, during which we observed teachers and students in their classrooms, participated in workshops, and interacted with the academy's students and staff. Upon entering the Ron Clark Academy, we were warmly welcomed by enthusiastic students, teachers, and administrators. The impressive decorations, featuring dragons, suits of armor, and winding staircases, brought to mind the magic of Harry Potter's Hogwarts. House plaques adorned the walls, showcasing the school spirit, while students entertained us with live music and singing. After the students' outstanding performance, we were led up the winding staircase to the auditorium for the first session with Mr. Clark. His charming Southern accent captivates the audience while sharing the school's philosophy through humorous stories about students, teachers, and parents. He emphasizes raising classroom expectations and outlines his classic principles in his book, "The Essential 55." During our class visits, we were impressed by the students' politeness, intelligence, and confidence. The teachers effectively facilitated discussions, allowing students to find answers independently and share their solutions with classmates. The supportive environment among RCA students, who cheered each other on, was heartwarming. We also received valuable suggestions for incorporating strategies and learning tools in our classrooms. All visiting teachers were invited to ride down the blue RCA slide to become "Slide Certified." The experience was filled with music, dancing, and celebration, making it incredible and joyful!

Dear Parent/Guardian/Community Member, Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has initiated a process to modernize its elementary schools, and we need your input in the first step—the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. This document will identify what an ideal elementary school in Dorchester County should be: the types of instructional and support spaces it will contain, its educational philosophy, and its community features. It will be used to evaluate the older elementary schools in the system, leading to capital improvement projects that will support your children’s needs. You are invited to a listening session to learn about the process for developing the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. The first session will be held on February 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School in the auditorium, and the second session will be held on February 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at North Dorchester High School in the auditorium. At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to provide input on the elementary schools. You do not need to attend both sessions as they will both cover the same information. Additional opportunities will be available later this spring to provide comments as the draft educational specification document is developed. The Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification is the first step in providing modernized facilities for the elementary school students of Dorchester County. Your concerns and observations are crucial to the success of this process. We look forward to seeing you at one or both sessions. Sincerely, Dr. Jymil Thompson Superintendent of Schools

We are thrilled to announce our exceptional Teacher of the Year nominees: Ms. Jo Ann Dechert, Ms. Susan Thomas, Ms. Sherri Todd, Ms. Kayla Rider, Ms. Jennifer Bailey, and Ms. Kaitlin Carroll. Your dedication to students and passion for teaching inspires us all! Let’s celebrate Ms. Joy Bradshaw, who was nominated for Early Excellence Educator of the Year. Each of you represents the very best in education, and we wholeheartedly believe you are all winners! Keep shining brightly!

**Rêveur House of Dreamers ** Rêveur is a royal house whose name in French means "dreamers" or "idealists." Members of this house are students filled with freedom and wild abandon who embrace their dreams and will let nothing stand in the way of achieving them. This spirit is represented by the unicorn at the center of the house's crest, a powerful creature almost impossible to tame. Rêveur's hand signal is called the Crescent Moons. To make this signal, we cup our hands into a "C" shape, hold them up, and cross our arms over our chest with the moons facing up. The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and turning dreams into reality. It is also connected to our symbolic animal, the wolf. Rêveur's house chant is: “R-ê-v-e-u-r!”

** Isibindi House of Courage ** The House of Isibindi honors the inspiring legacies of Nelson Mandela and Shaka Zulu. Our symbolic animals, the mute swan, and the lion, beautifully represent our values. Like a pride of African lions, Isibindi students understand the importance of family and support. "Isibindi" means "courage" in Zulu, and we take pride in our South African heritage. Isibindi's hand signal is the "I Love You" sign. To perform it, fold your middle and ring fingers down to your palm while extending your thumb, index finger, and pinky finger. Hold it up as a gesture of love and connection. We emphasize the strength and growth of our teaching members, fostering a warm and inclusive environment for everyone. Our chant is "b-i-n-d-i, b-i-n-d-i, bindi!"

Vienna Elementary School is excited to honor our School Counselor, Mrs. Frost, with a week-long celebration starting Monday, February 3rd, 2025. - **Monday, February 3rd**: **Sweatshirt Day! ** Wear your favorite sweatshirt with jeans, just like Mrs. Frost! - **Tuesday, February 4th**: **Kindness Day! ** Wear something to show when you can be anything, be kind! - **Wednesday, February 5th**: **Yellow Day! ** Since Mrs. Frost's favorite color is yellow, wear yellow to brighten her day! - **Thursday, February 6th**: **Lemonade Day! ** Give your favorite counselor a “big squeeze” hug! -**Friday, February 7th**: Wacky Hair Day! ** Since Mrs. Frost loves to change her hair colors, wear your hair in a fun and crazy style! Join us in celebrating Mrs. Frost and show her how much we love and appreciate her!

Get ready to show your spirit! Tomorrow, Friday, January 31st, wear your "HOUSE" colors with pride. Plus, don't forget it's Bowling Reward Day—let's celebrate together! We will show off our three houses and how we work and play together!

**Amistad House of Friendship!** The name "Amistad" means "friendship" in Spanish, reflecting our Mexican heritage. Amistad is represented by the vibrant color red, symbolizing kindness and compassion. Our symbolic animal is the immortal peacock, which represents love and spirit. Our hand signal consists of forming a heart shape with both hands, using our thumbs and index fingers. Join us in our spirited chant: A-M-I-S-T-A-D! Together, we proudly represent the House of Friendship! Our Amistad parents hold a special place in our hearts, and we affectionately refer to them as "Ami Mommies" and "Ami Poppies".

WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE! THREE HOUSES...ONE VIENNA FAMILY! Joining a "HOUSE" signifies becoming part of a family. Houses create a unique environment where competition sparks growth, friendship flourishes, collaboration thrives, communication strengthens, and connections deepen. Embrace the sense of belonging and experience the power of unity! We are dedicated to motivating our Vienna students to attend school, achieve their goals, and build a strong sense of community. This is how our "House System" works: Throughout the year, the Houses compete against each other in various competitions to accumulate House points. Individual students can also earn points for their House based on their behavior and academic achievements. We will organize House meetings, celebrations, and team-building activities to foster community among our students. **Ron Clark Academy (RCA)FOUNDER AND MATHEMATICS TEACHER** RCA was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by Ron Clark. He is a "New York Times" bestselling author whose book, "The Essential 55", has sold over 1 million copies. Ron’s teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film "The Ron Clark Story." RCA is known for its outstanding achievement of students using the House System.

Attention PreK3 families! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity designed just for you. Please join us for a "Bedtime in a Box" presentation to learn about the importance of establishing healthy sleep habits for your child. Each participant will receive their own Bedtime in a Box! **Date: ** Thursday, February 13, 2025 **Time: ** 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM **Location: ** Vienna Elementary School Dinner from Chick-fil-A will be provided. Please return the bottom portion of the flyer sent home by February 12th to let us know if you will attend!

** JOIN US FOR THE FAMILY SWEETHEART DANCE! ** **Date: ** Friday, February 7th **Time: ** 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM **Admission: ** FREE Please note that a bake sale and photo opportunities will be available at an additional cost. - The cafeteria will accommodate students in grades PreK – 2. - The gym will accommodate students in grades 3 – 5. We are looking for volunteers to help with the event or with decorations from 2:50 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day of the dance. Additionally, we are requesting donations of unopened, store-bought snacks, juice boxes, or mini water bottles for the bake sale table. Please remember that an adult family member must accompany the children. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Vienna Parents Association for organizing another great, fun, and memorable event for everyone to enjoy!

Welcome Dorchester County families to the PEP Family Resiliency Program! The PEP Family Resiliency Program (FRP) is a free online program for DCPS parents and caregivers of children ages 5-18. You’ll learn tools to support your child’s mental wellness, resiliency, and success in school. Important details about the PEP Family Resiliency Program (FRP): Our Winter 2025 session begins in February and ends in late March. Sessions are held in the once a week in the evenings via Zoom. Those who actively participate in 5+ sessions and then complete the evaluation will receive a $50 gift card (one per household/family) Things you will need for the session: Please provide a mobile phone number where we can reach you. This is how you will receive session reminders and other time-sensitive communications. An email address that you check: This is how you will receive important program information. A phone or webcam: FRP is a "cameras on" program in order to create connections and foster supportive learning environment. When are the sessions? Thursdays, starting on February 6, from 7-8:30pm (ends late March) OR Sundays, starting on February 9, from 7-8:30pm (ends late March) If you need assistance with any of the above requirements, please contact frp@PEPparent.org Information gathered in this form will not be used for any other purpose than to verify your eligibility in this program and to be reported in the aggregate to our grantmakers and stakeholders. Please visit our website at pep-frp.org for more details.

Semester 1 Break On Monday, January 27th, and Tuesday, January 28th, all schools are closed for report card preparation, teacher professional development, and Semester 2 class/Schedule changes for middle and high schools.

Tomorrow, Friday, January 24th, is "HOUSE" meeting day! No uniform if you wear your "HOUSE" colors for our end-of-quarter 2 celebration!

Our "Stand Out Students" for December! These extraordinary students are celebrated for their remarkable qualities, which could include academic achievements, positive attitudes, athleticism, active participation, making good choices, demonstrating leadership, showing kindness, helping others, taking responsibility, and serving as exemplary role models. Join us in applauding their exceptional accomplishments!

** REWARD FIELD TRIP for Grades 1 - 5 ** We are excited to announce a reward field trip to Choptank Bowling Alley for our Vienna Terrapins on Friday, January 31, 2025! Your Vienna Terrapin has earned the opportunity for a special field trip. Your child has worked very hard to focus on instruction and learning at school since our return from Winter Break. The focus for this reward has been following directions at school as part of being respectful and responsible. Teachers are collecting data and keeping track of student behavior. On Thursday, January 30th, we will determine if your child is eligible to attend this special trip based on the information tallied that day. ( You will be notified if he/she is not able to attend.) There is no cost for students to attend. Please complete and return the permission slip by Friday, January 24th

Our fantastic Art and Media Teacher, Mrs. LeMire, celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by organizing some fun and engaging activities!

Carter Noelsaint is a second grader in Mrs. Rider’s class. He plays indoor soccer on the junior team. He is a member of the yellow team and wears the number 4 jersey. Interestingly, Carter is now the smallest player on the team, which amuses his family since he is typically the biggest. Indoor soccer is a fantastic way to stay in shape during cold weather when going outside is not possible. Thank you for sharing, Carter!