PATRIOTS’ PRESS December 2013 ~ Holiday Issue Hugh Mercer Elementary School 2100 Cowan Boulevard Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Telephone: (540) 372-1115 Fax: (540) 372-6753 Web: www.cityschools.com

Marjorie R. Tankersley, Principal mtankersley@cityschools.com Barbara N. Donaldson, Assistant Principal bdonaldson@cityschools.com Sandra P. Gillenwater, Assistant Principal sgillenwater@cityschools.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Families and Friends- How the time flies! We’re already through the first quarter, and the addition to the building is going well. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, please drive by the front or the back of the building and take a look. It appears it will soon be under roof! And believe me, we need it. We are up to 920 students. I believe this is the most students Hugh Mercer has ever had. All is going amazingly well! We have made some significant changes to our reading instructional program to make it even better. It seems to be working. Students are focused and learning well. December will be our shortest month. We begin with one of most academic yet fun events of the year. Our annual Math/Science Night is Thursday, December 5 from 6:00 – 7:30 P.M. This is an active, hands-on learning evening, and all family members are invited. There will be fun learning activities involving science experiments and S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities. Please join us on that evening.

Once again, our hard working PTA will sponsor a Holiday Gift Shoppe for children to purchase inexpensive but nice gifts for parents and other family members. The holiday shop will be held on our stage (we get very creative with limited space!) and will run through the week of December 9 through 13. On December 13, Interim Reports go home. Please take time to examine these and if you have any questions - especially if your child’s grades seem to be slipping – contact his/her teacher. Parents and teachers working together can ensure a successful year for all students. Two or more heads together often come up with better solutions to problems. Attendance is very important at Hugh Mercer. What we teach your children is the foundation of all their future learning. That foundation needs to be solid and strong. For students to get that solid foundation, they need to be here every day. Of course, if children are sick, they should stay home and get well. Please don’t forget to send a note explaining their absence when they return to school. Children who have three or more unexcused absences

during a 9-week period are required to attend Saturday School. Our next Saturday School will be Saturday, December 14. First and second grade students will participate in our second fun run of the year, the Jingle Bell Jog. It begins at 3:45 P.M. on Monday, December 16. We hope to see many parents there to support their children in this worthwhile event. That same evening our wonderful PTA is sponsoring a Spirit Night at the McDonald’s on Route 1 (college), which is not far from Hugh Mercer. Why not treat your runners to dinner at McDonald’s after their effort in the Jingle Bell Jog? Part of the proceeds goes to our PTA for some of their many worthwhile projects. We end the year 2013 on a happy note with our annual Holiday Sing-Along on December 20 at 1:45 P.M. in our gym. The sing-along should end just in time for our Holiday Parties, which will begin in classrooms at 2:30 P.M. School will dismiss beginning at 3:15 P.M., and we will send your children home for a wonderful, restful two week Winter Break.

This time of year can be magical and memorable. We encourage you to relax and enjoy time with your children. For children, one of the best gifts of all is for parents and caregivers to take time with them. And one of the easiest and most worthwhile activities is for the adult to read to the child. They absolutely LOVE this! I have included a list of age appropriate books your children might enjoy which should be available at our local library or in most book stores. Happy reading and happy holidays! May you all enjoy a wonderful holiday season, celebrating in whatever way you choose, and may everyone enjoy a much deserved break. Our Winter Break runs from December 23 through January 3. We will welcome your children back to a new year on Monday, January 6, 2014. Once again, we thank you for entrusting your most precious possessions, your children, to learning under our care. Sincerely, Marjorie R. Tankersley Principal

PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Congratulations to the following students for having perfect attendance for the month of October. For their accomplishment, each student received a dog tag chain with two charms, an attendance award star, and a pumpkin to signify the month of October. For each month they have perfect attendance from here on, they will receive another charm to signify that month (turkey for November, Christmas tree for December, etc.). Kindergarten – Bresli Acevedo, Brooklyn Adams, Ghazi Alanazi, Sujad Alemy, DeAvion Allen, Kaelyn Allen, William Alvarez, Edwin Alvarez-Benitez, Rodolfo Andino-Martinez, William Argueta Rivas, Hadi Attie, Dyshon Barnes-Rivers, Nicholas Battista, Charles

Battiste, Nathan Bayton, Olivia Bennett, Aaron Berrios-Ramirez, Michael Bridgeman, Jayela Blakeney, Darrien Bland, Maddox, Bond, Zyion Brooks, Maleah Brosseau, Ameena Brown, Christian Brown, Tylaysia Brown, Jayden Bryan, Kira Bugge, Katelyn Burns, Chloe Bustle, Ryan Butler, Zavion Carey, Amelia Carter, AnnMarie Casey, Krystal Castro-Mendoza, Corrine Chapman, Conor Clarke, Luis Coon, Roberto Cruz-Vasquez, Cameron Cubbage, Amari Day, Mia DeAngelo, Nataly Del Cid, Breanna Dempsey, Jayden Dexter, Jazmyn Encarnacion, Jaiden Edwards, Jonathan Farias, Christian Ferebee, Basmaina Fnu, Gael Garcia, Timnite Gebreegziabher, Evan George, Cheyanne Gibson, Je’Veon Gowdy, Dominic Graham, Jackson Gravatt, Aaniyah Graves, Jackson Green, Mohammad Hady, Emmet Hart, Mary Claire Hart, Autumn Heiston, Alexi Henriquez, Emily Hernandez-Fernandez, Roman Hernandez-Presa, Ashely Hernandez-Velasco, Brodi Herrera, Lurence Holloway, Nasir Holmes, Alyssah Housey, Brayden Heuter, Kelise Hunter, Daniel Jackson, Marley Jackson, Obani Jackson, Liliana Jahnke-Aragon, Javien Jimenez, Damir Johnson, Jahzell Johnson, Laniya Johnosn, Dylan Joy, Jordan Juggins, Donald Kearsley, Kilyn Khanna, Hubert King, Sydney Labrador, Angel Lazaro-Cordoba, Austin Lee, Adam Lin, Jasmine Lincoln, Jayiah Long, Luna Lopez-Valdivia, Jonathan Lovos, Ari Lucas, Camila Maldonado, Amina Mansaray, David Martinez-Machado, Liam McCormmick, Luca Meli, Andres Miguel-Francisco, Jacob Mkhail, Madisyn Montgomery, Ty Montgomery, Mary Muldrow, Mariana Murcia, Jerome Murphy, Zyion Murphy, John Myles-Mills, David Nettles, Eveln O’Brien, Kaitlyn O’Daniel, Kamdyn Orange, Kelvin Ortiz-Funez, Gabrielle Ott, Oneil Oussantidja, Nadia Pina-Garcia, Clara Pompilio, Zion Pratt, Adam Reiner, Kenneth Reyes-Bonnilla, Allison Reyes-Gomez, Karen Rivas-Reyes, Jaden Rivera, Julion Rivera, Dennis Roberts, Allison Rodenberg, Luke Rossi, Holly Rowland, Bogdan Rus, Norma Salinas, Desiree Scott, Ka’Leeyah Scott, Ella Sherfield, Zoey Shifflet, Frnaklin Skinner, Alyssa Smith, Jordan Smith, James Snyder, Brianna Stanley, Niya Stevenson, Ray Stitt, Amaziana Taimanglo, Doneal Taylor, Indya Terrell, Anisah Thoams, Liam Thomas-Rensink, Haidyn Thompkins, Marcell Thompson, Mason Thompson, Michaela Thornton, Kristian Toney, Curon Torres, Kassandra Tovar, Paige Turner, Milton Valiente-Lopez, Amiyah Vannorman, Carlos Vargas, Elizabeth Vezina, Tiffani Walker, Olivia Warren, Taliyah Watson, Justin Weldon, J’Mylah White, Ammirah Whitties, HyZaun Williams, Elijah Wilson, Jaedin Winn, Samara Word, Richard Yang, Heriberto Zarate First Grade – Sara Abdul-Shakur, Shiaunta Adams, Reagan Adgerson, Mohammed Almuslimawl, Luis Alvarado Zamora, Orlando Alvarez Benitez, Melin Andrade Lovo, Justin Andreoni, Adonai Annor, Ashly Arana, Garbiela Arredondo-Bravo, Autumn Ashton, Khadija Askari, Nadia Avila, Paola Badillo Ventura, Karuna Baniya, Lavyeska Barrera Camacho, Ashley Barrios, Tyler Belance, Diamon Eelen, Lowell Bertolet, Katherine Blalock, Dasia Bostick, Ava Brewer, Kendra Brewer, Alessandra Brisbin, Lorenzo Brooks, Abigail Brown, Jaylen Brown, Jeremiah Bucknor, Jayden Brumbrey, Parish Burton, Cedric Byers, Micahel Carella, Oscar Casro Mendoza, Caedon Clark, Jadon Cook, Rhett Coulon, Sophia Coulon, Cameron Cressman, Joshua Cruz Diaz, Savanna Daley, Aleasecia Davis, Destin Davis, Lucy Davis, Brianna Del Cid, Peter Descorbeth, Jeanne Dodd, Jordan Dominguez, Maggie Dougherty, Dakari Dunn, Charles Edson, Daija Edwards, Daijon Edeards, Michael Edwards, Victoria Edwards Coffman, Moses Evans, Addison Everett, Brian Farish, Delaysia Foster, Aaliyah Fox-Carter, MyNashia Fox, Kobe Freeman, De’Sean French, Elizabeth Furrow, Raven Furrow, Gregory Gibson, Anthony Granados Arenivar, Kimberly Granados-Jovel, Yovani Gonzalez Sanchez, Emerson Guevarra Santos, Jamison Healey, Aleah Henderson, Hailey Hernandez, Brissia Hernandez-Luis, Jefferson

Hernandez-Nunez, Alyssa Herreera, Ian Hewlett, Spogmai Himat, Katherine Hooks, Joseph Hooks, Duncan Hoosier, Addyson Hough, Jin Huff, Mindi Huynh, Sanaa Ingram, Adan Ismalej Sorto, Jared Jackson Bryhanna Jennings, Jeyren Jimenez, Franklin Johnson, Jacoby Johnson, Rasheed Johnson, Eleanor Jurlando, Aniyah King, Teandra King, Anna Kurylo, Brooke Layton, Toby Levin, Betzy Loepz Guerrero, Jessica Lovos, Brooke Loscomb, Hannah Malin, Zahory Martinez Paz, Bryan Martinez Zamorano, Kaleb Matthews, Desmond Maul, Grant May, McLane Maynard, Ciara McCane, Carlos McClain, Jaden McKoy, Cheyanne McNeil, Rosario Medina, Oscar mejia, Cecilia Mellinger, Luna Mendoza Castro, Antonio Mendoza Chen, Danitza Mendoza Santiago, Dinita Misidor, Janelle Mkhail, Inti Money-Guerra, Tristan Morales, Emerson Moriarty, Melvin Mosley, Angel Murcia Alvarenga, Keyonna Murphy, Ismael Nicolas Hernandez, Brittany Orellana, Isabel Para, Yash Patil, Malachi Parker, Zamihrah Parker, Keyshawn Pendleton, Ty’Kori Pettus, Joselin Pineda Valiente, Jayden Pratt, Rosemary Portillo Lovo, Molly Rathgeb, Samanatha Recinos, Baxter Reed, Keri Rivas Machado, Alyana Robinson, Camiya Robinson, Dezaun Robinson, Elizabeth Rodenberg, Ariana Rodriguez, Alejandron Rodriguez-Seitor, Jjoseph Rose, Ishmael Ross, Tamya Ross, Grace Rouzer, Madelyn Rowe, Hailye ryder, Kevin Samayoa Melendez, Axel Sanchez, Julio Sanchez-Menjivar, Mahki Sands, Yasmin Santos, Ella Sherfield, Jakya Sims, Destiny Singleton, Jeremiah Singleton, Theodore Smalley, Alyssa Smith, Iyana Smith, Emma Souza, Payton Spellman, Alivia Teri, Gabrielle Thurman, Melei Turner, Elijah Tyree, Brooke Walters, Jamonte Washington, Jeremiah Washington, Naziah Wilkerson, Walter William, Jocelyn Wright, Te’Ron Woolen, Ethan Wyatt, Simon Young, Ruben Zarate Second Grade – Gustavo Abraham-Reyes, Mahmood Alemy, Maniyah Alston, Jordan Austin, Brooke Baldwin, Jaruna Baniya, Nakiya Banks, Durrell Barnett, Joseph Barrera, Isaac Battista, Mihaila Baylor, Owen Benedict, Keila Berrios-Ramirez, Marcus Berry, Mia Beverly, Payton Billingsley, Caroline Bond, Diara Donilla, Ashton Bragg, John Brindley, Jayden Broach, Shaylah Brooks, Izac Brower, Damien Brown, Mariah Bryan, Aliviyah Byrd, Catherine Byrd, Tyree Byrd, Samiya Campbell, Zymerra Carey, Scarlett Castillo-Tejada, Jackson Clarke, Carley Coghill, DreQuan Coleman, Brianna Collins, Keshawn Comfort, Jeremiah Cousins, Iris Crouch, Elyjah Dangerfield, Julius Davis, Kiaerstin Davis, Emma Davis, Ashley Del Cid, Olivia Delgado, Nicole Deza, Aiden Duncan, Reanna Ellis, Yaretzi, Esquivel, Jordan Fleming, Kennedy Flynn, Timothy Ford, Avery Foresman, Malakai Francis, Dennys Garcia, Geroge Garzon Martinez, Jason George, Samuel Gertner, Addison Gindlesperger, Oscar Gonzalez, Evan Gravatt, Erin Hancock, Lyric Harris, Addison Heasley, Ivan Hedgepath, Daniel Hernandez, Bianca Hernandez Alvarez, Victor Herrera, Makenna Hine, Lauren Holland, Elijah Horsley, Adan Ismalej Sorto, Tahvon Johnson, Jariah Johnson, Jose Juarez Barrios, Regis Keddie, Heweit Keeler, Josselyn Kilby, Piper Kingsley, Zamyah Knox, Grant Kornegay, Allaln Lackland, Margaret Lacy, Stephanie Landaverde Rivas, Miles Landeck, Alyssa Layton, Ashlynn Lee, Jayde Lewis, Jamaal Lewis, Zanaya Lighfoot, Jakyiah Lincoln, Cecilia Lucas, Kaniyia Mack, Justin Maldonado, Henry Malin, Zahory Martinez Paz, Brayan Martinez Zamorano, Ana Martinez, Noel McFee, KeShawn McLaughlin, Gabriel Mellinger, Michelle Midy, Patrick Mozingo, Regina Ndihokubwayo, Brendan O’Brien, Angelo Oickett, Kasper Olson, Britney Orellana, Laurie Palma, Zaryah Parker, Zamihrah Parker, Krisha Patel, Aiden Payne, Essynce Pierce, Cameron Plajzer, Jocelyn Poland, Delphine Pomeroy, Sabrina Portillo-Marin, Noah Randell, Cedric Rashed, Cristian Reyes Saenz, Isaac Robinson, Jeremy Rodriguez, Lilyan Rose, Tamya Ross, Jeremy Saavedra Cotaquispe, Aiymere Sanchez, Aura Sanchez Salazar,

Carlos Santos, Nathan Scharf, Adriannah Scott, Destiny Scruggs, Elsa Sesay, Kayla Shepard, De’Shea Smith, Brianna Smith, Angel Standfield, Olivia Stanley, Amera Stephens, Madison Stewart, Amya Stitt, Locke Strejcek, Timothy Terpening, Ava Thorpe, Aryanna Tovar, Nathaniel Tremper, Leah Turner, Melei Turner, Agnes Tusenge, Benjamin Valentine, Aubree Van Wey, Anthony Vargas Gonzalez, Zowie Voje, Zarius Ward, Xzayvion Watson, Shalise White, Montel Wilson, Brian Wilson, Lily Yager

SUGGESTED READING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Our librarian (Mrs. Bourne) and reading coaches (Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Teri) compiled a list of suggested books for reading over the holidays. We hope and your child will enjoy the selections! Favorite Characters:

A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas! By Victoria Kann There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro

Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Award Winners and Classics: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats The Mitten, The Hat, or Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke More or

Major Henry Livingston, Jr. Books about Kwanzaa: A Kwanzaa Miracle by Sharon Shavers Gayle My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah Chocolate Seven Candles for Kwanzaa by Andrea Davis Pinkney Horrible Harry and the Holidaze by Suzy Kline Books about Hanukkah (Chanukah): Eight Wild Nights: A Family Hanukkah Tale by Brian P. Cleary On the First Night of Chanukah by Cecily Kaiser The Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Judy Nayer Light the Candles: A Hanukkah Picture Flap Book by Joan Holub Other Fun Books: Chita’s Christmas Tree by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard Littlejim’s Gift: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Gloria Houston American Girl Christmas Stories Merry Christmas, Curious George by Cathy Hapka Dinosaur Christmas by Jerry Pallotta Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner Charlie and the Christmas Kitty by Ree Drummond The Gingerbread Men Loose In School by Laurra Murray

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 for the month of November: Michael Bridgeman, Christopher Pederson, Whitney Coulon, Stewart Lane, Will Gravatt, Mr. Montgomery, Stephen Tate, Mike Benedict, and Aaron Penney. These dads committed to spend the day at Hugh Mercer to assist with bus duty, car rider duty, in the cafeteria, and in classrooms. To find out more about this program, contact Mrs. White, guidance counselor, at ewhite@cityschools.com. ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM - The Willis family has adopted Mrs. Lewis’ class, and J.C. Penney has adopted Mrs. White, Mr. Riley, Ms. Saunders, and Ms. Wilkens’ classes through the Adopt-A-Classroom Program. Consider giving the perfect gift this holiday season by adopting your child’s classroom! Contact Mrs. Donaldson, assistant principal, at bdonaldson@cityschools.com for more information. PAYING IT FORWARD – Guidance counselor, Mrs. Overton, organized an effort to help families in need during the holiday season. Thank you to the community partners who joined this effort and filled Thanksgiving baskets with food: Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church, PTA/Girl Scouts, and The Lord’s Supper Community Outreach. We’d also like to thank Hugh Mercer families for donating canned goods and non-perishables to the Salvation Army Food Drive. BARNES AND NOBLE HOLIDAY EDUCATOR APPRECIATION EVENT – Barnes and Noble invited our Patriot Singers to perform at their Holiday Educator Appreciation event being held at 3:00 P.M. on December 7. Patriot Singers are Innea Kersey, Caroline Bond, Erin Hancock, Scarlett Castillo, Angelica Caron, Aliviyah Byrd, Kaila Wright, Savannah Bolte, Zymerra Carey, Ashley Del Cid, Lauren Holland, Symphoni Swain, Cecilia Lucas, Amber Jenkins, Della Pomeroy, Ella Byrd, Alicia Bailey, Agnes Tusenge, Amelia Garman, Harmoney Prue, and Kennedy Flynn.

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 5 Math/Science Night (6:00 – 7:30 P.M.) December 9 - 13 PTA Holiday Shoppe (Gym – Stage Area) December 13 Gifted Education Referrals Due

Interim Reports Go Home w/Students December 14 Saturday School (for required students) December 16 Jingle Bell Jog (1st and 2nd Grades) @ 3:45 P.M.

Spirit Night @ McDonald’s (college) 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. December 20 Patriot Pride Fun Day

Holiday Sing-Along @ 1:45 P.M. (Gym) Classroom Holiday Parties @ 2:30 P.M.

Dec 23 – Jan 3 WINTER BREAK (No School) SAVE THE DATE! FAMILY LIFE PREVIEW – The P. E. department is offering a Family Life preview session on January 27 from 8:00 – 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. If you’re interested in previewing the upcoming family life curriculum, please plan to attend either of these sessions. Opt-out forms are available through the P. E. department if you wish for your child to opt-out of family life instruction. For more information, please contact a P. E. teacher: Jolene Jonas (jjonas@cityschools.com), Molly Roohi (mroohi@cityschools.com), or Tony Wishard (wwishard@cityschools.com).

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. PLEASE NOTE: 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 (95.9) WVBX (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 check our web site (www.cityschools.com) or listen to the local radio stations.

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.

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 2. Head Start and Preschool 3. Walker-Grant 4. Lafayette 5. Hugh Mercer

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 Fred Alerts (you can use the link on our web site to sign up!) and receive text and/or email notification of school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals!