PATRIOTS’ PRESS December 2011 Hugh Mercer Elementary School “A Foundation of Excellence”

2100 Cowan Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401 www.cityschools.com

Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal mtankersley@cityschools.com Barbara N. Donaldson, Assistant Principal bdonaldson@cityschools.com Sandra P. Gillenwater, Administrative Ass’t sgillenwater@cityschools.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Friends and Families, SEASONS GREETINGS! The last month of the year has arrived, and we will be packing as much seasonal interest into our instruction as we can creatively do. Our teachers are exceptionally good at cross-curriculum instruction where they might discuss the water cycle through reading The Polar Express, or “wants versus needs” through a discussion of gift giving. It’s amazing what our teachers come up with when they let their creative juices flow! Our PTA-sponsored Holiday Shoppe will be held in the faculty and staff lounge from December 5 through December 9. This is an opportunity for all children to make inexpensive gift purchases for families and friends. The Ident-a-Kid company will be here on Tuesday, December 7. That afternoon, all students will come home with interim reports. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible so that any issues can be resolved. Once again, our wonderful P.E. department will be sponsoring a fun run. The Jingle Bell Jog will be held on Monday, December 19 at 3:30 P.M. and is open to all first and second graders. We applaud our P.E. teachers, Ms. Jolene Jonas, Mr. P.J. Pcsolinski, and Mrs. Molly Roohi, for planning these extra-curricular runs. We are already seeing the benefits of this early start for our students as we peruse the sports section of The Free Lance-Star. We often see former Hugh Mercer “fun runners” making a name for themselves in track and field at James Monroe High School. On Tuesday, December 20 and on Wednesday, December 21, all students will have the opportunity to view the classic movie, The Polar Express. Our Hugh Mercer Holiday Sing-Along, led by our music teacher, Mrs. Kim Milai, will take place in the gym on Wednesday, December 21 at 1:30 P.M. That happy holiday event will be followed by classroom parties beginning at 2:30 P.M. After the parties, everyone will depart Hugh Mercer for a long Winter Break from Thursday, December 22 through January 2. School will resume on Tuesday, January 3. Our wish for all of you is that you have a safe, happy and healthy holiday, sharing good times with friends and family. And remember, the best gift you can give your children is the gift of TIME. Take time to read to them, talk to them, share a game with them, and share meals with them. Thank you all for your help and many kindnesses throughout the year. Sincerely, Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal

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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

DECEMBER 2011

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5 PTA Holiday Shoppe Preview Day School Board Meeting (City Council Chambers) (7:30 PM)

6 PTA Holiday Shoppe (Lounge) 8:30 – 2:30 PM

7 PTA Holiday Shoppe (Lounge) 8:30 – 2:30 PM Identa-Kid Interim Reports Go Home w/Students

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PTA Holiday Shoppe (Lounge) 8:30 – 2:30 PM Kindergartners attend “Beauty & the Beast” Performance @ Riverside Children’s Theater

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PTA Holiday Shoppe (Lounge) 8:30 – 12:30 PM GE Referrals Due

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Jingle Bell Jog (1st

& 2nd

Grades) @ 3:30 PM

20 “Polar Express” Beamed throughout school (9 – 11 AM and 1:15 – 2:55 PM)

21 Final Showing of “Polar Express” (9 – 11 AM) Holiday Sing-Along (1:30 AM) Class Parties (2:30 PM)

22 WINTER BREAK (No School)

23 WINTER BREAK (No School)

26 WINTER BREAK (No School)

27 WINTER BREAK (No School)

28 WINTER BREAK (No School)

29 WINTER BREAK (No School)

30 WINTER BREAK (No School)

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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 (FM 101.5) (AM 1230) WFLS (FM 93.3) WGRQ (Q96) WVBX - The Vibe (FM 99.3) WGRX (Thunder104.5) WWUZ – Classic Rock (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.)

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.

Preschool 11:00 – 12:30 P.M.

Head Start 10:40 – 2:10 P.M.

School closings and delayed opening information will be posted on the school’s web site (www.cityschools.com) and www.fredericksburg.com. Sign-up for email/text alerts 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. James Monroe High School 2. Head Start and Preschool 3. Walker-Grant Middle School 4. Lafayette Upper Elementary School 5. Hugh Mercer Elementary School

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ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM SPONSORS Thank you to the following sponsors: The American History Company (Patricia Conway), Andre Pineda and Carol Kando-Pineda, Chris Wilson, Gary and Jane Sokoloski, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beringer, and Brooke and Stephen Kingsley. If you would like to sponsor a classroom, please contact Mrs. Barbara Donaldson, assistant principal, at 372-1115 (x2004).

BOX TOPS WINNERS! The following classrooms collected the most Box Tops for Education during the months of September and October: Ms. Stapleton’s kindergartners, Mr. Hayden’s first graders, and Mrs. Chases’ second graders. Way to go!

BUS ROUTES & SCHEDULES Since the first day of school, our bus schedules and route times have been adjusted at each school. While no route is ever set in stone because of the possibility of students entering or leaving our district, we now have the framework for each route posted on the website and at each school. Some of the steps we have taken over the last few weeks include:

1. All schools will have their telephones monitored until 4:30 so that parents can call the school with inquiries.

2. The bus transportation telephone line at 372-1123 will be monitored from 7:00 to 8:30 each morning and from 2:30 to 5:00 each afternoon. Mr. Williams, transportation supervisor, and Mr. Hilliard, transportation assistant, often have had to take over routes when drivers call in sick and were not always available to parents before. Now an assistant, Ms. Samuel, will be monitoring the telephone each day.

3. We have added bus routes and moved stops to deal with overcrowding and to shorten routes at Walker-Grant Middle School and Lafayette Upper Elementary School.

We sincerely hope that these changes improve communication and ease your concerns. As always, please feel free to contact us if there is anything we can do to better serve you.

PUMPKIN RUN RACE RESULTS - Second graders participated in their first fun

run of the year on October 31. The race consisted of a 2-lap run around the front parking area of the school. Top runners are:

1st Place: Grace Maynard and Joe Hardy 2nd Place: Brianna Denson and Reece Healey 3rd Place: Katie Fidler,

Yasmin Deane and Jayden Williams 4th Place: Charlotte Snead and Ryelan White 5th Place: William Martinez

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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: Sarah Rigual and Luke DuMont 2nd Place: Ahzadara Scott and Jasiah Smith 3rd Place: Jade Brown and Jack Bowles 4th Place: Cameran Isler and Zachary Horn 5th Place: Jennifer Lopez and Angel Reza Hernandez

Proud Patriots (Students of the Month) for November are:

GRADE STUDENT’S NAME TEACHER’S NAME

Kindergarten George Howard Mrs. Bishop

Abigail Lyles Mrs. Chaney

Keira Whitehead Mrs. Dannals

Aryanna Tovar Ms. Downer

Elsa Sesay Mrs. Hughes

Brendon Davis Mrs. Jones

Peter Tankelewicz Mrs. Mann

Owen Benedict Mr. McClung

Amiri Tre Adams Ms. Reynolds

Henry Salinas-Lopoez Ms. Sillas

Lilyan Rose Ms. Stapleton

Jordan Doucette Mrs. Szafranski

Ella Byrd Ms. Utz

Maggie Lacy Mrs. Weller

1st Grade Tionne Minor Mrs. Anderson

Jaelin Henry Mr. Anne

Nasiir Callahan Ms. David

Sabur Abdul Wadood Mrs. Doerr

George Sanchez Mrs. Ehlen

Joyce Long Mr. Hayden

Mikayla Pratt Mrs. Murray

ZaNiya Young Mrs. Phipps

Mason Allen Ms. Rinker

Vanesa Guevara-Zarate Ms. Salamon

Chloe Berardino Mrs. Schwarz

Jose Pablo Baltazar Ms. Thomas

Stephanie Marin Ms. Treblic

Scarlett Klaus Mrs. VanBlaricome

2nd Grade Kyle Snnider Ms. Causin

Dylan Scott Mrs. Chase

Celissa Samora-Nixon Ms. Clausen

Justyn Mason Mrs. Cobey

Daniel Curry Mrs. Lane

Lesly Ventura Mrs. Lewis

Joe Hardy Ms. Lovitt

Hunter Wright Mrs. McKinney

Sharon Simon Ms. Overstreet

Lola Martinelli-Guzman Mrs. Porcelli

Sydney Lute Mrs. Russell

Christian Scott Ms. Wolfe