From the Principal’s Desk

Mrs. Laura Seck, Principal

Mrs. Jeanie Showalter, Assistant Principal

Meadowland Elementary School

729 Sugarland Run Drive, Sterling, VA 20164

571-434-4440 (Absentee: 571-434-4441)

www.loudoun.k12.va.us/school/meadowland

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Bell Schedule

MORNING

7:40 a.m.—first bell

7:50 a.m.—tardy bell

DISMISSAL

2:35 p.m.—bus riders

2:40 p.m.—walkers

September 2nd

Labor Day Holiday

September 10th

Ice Cream Social

September 19th

Back to School Night

6:30 AMK, 1,2

7:30 PMK, 3,4,5

September 25h

Picture Day

October 3rd

PTO Meeting

October 14

Columbus Holiday

October 25

Bingo

As a Meadowland School Student, I will strive to show RESPECT by demonstrating Re-sponsibility, Determina-tion, Helpfulness, Loyal-ty, and Honesty. This will help me to become a successful student who will work and play well with others.

September, 2013

Dear Families, Happy Autumn! It has been a very busy month at Meadowland. The children have quick-ly settled into the routines of school. We were delighted to see over 400 people at our annual PTO Ice Cream Social. Back to School Night was also very well attended. I am sure you learned a great deal about your child’s day and the grade level curriculum to be taught. Per Virginia code, we have been practicing fire drills and have had our first “lock-down” practice. The children did very well and we can now evacuate the entire building in less than two minutes! We would like to welcome new members to our staff. Wendy Adler, is our new STEP pre-school teacher. Mrs. Adler comes to us from Sterling Elementary School, where she was a third grade teacher. We’d also like to welcome Laura Spence as the new teaching as-sistant for Ms. Selestay’s kindergarten class. Christine Ellis is our new FLES teacher. She will be here on Wednesdays to work with our fourth and fifth grade students. Kelly Gesser is our half-time reading specialist. She will be here 2.5 days per week. Ms. Ges-ser comes to us from Steuart Weller Elementary School. We were also fortunate to have another preschool program transfer to us from Guilford Elementary School. Ellen Barton, Terry Carlson, Lynn Balanc and Carmen Massey are the newest members of our Mead-owland family. We want to make sure that all of our children are safe. In the morning, our staff does not arrive until 7:30. Doors are locked until that time. Do not drop off children before 7:30 AM as there is no adult supervision. In the lower “Kiss and Ride” lot, do not drop off children until you see an adult and the patrols. Please do not wave off a patrol. Once your car has stopped and you are in front of a patrol, let your child exit the car from the passenger side. At dismissal time in the lower lot, children must be picked up at the curb, or escorted from the sidewalk using the crosswalk, to your car. It is not safe to have your child go between parked cars to a car, which is double parked, or to cross the parking lot unescorted. Fol-lowing these few simple rules will ensure that everyone is safe! Thank you for helping us during our busy arrival and dismissal times. We look forward to seeing you at our PTO BINGO night in October.

Fondly,

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Meet Our New Faces

Welcome our new staff members at Meadowland.

Christine Ellis

Kelly Gesser

I’m Christine Ellis this is my 6th year teaching Spanish with the FLES program, and my first year at Meadow-land. As a FLES teacher, I am itinerant, and work at 3 other schools. My day at Meadowland is very special to her, because that means I can leave my car at home and walk to school with my son, Constantine (a second-grader in Ms. Mitchell's class). My family and I have lived across the street from Meadowland since 1995, and all four of her children have been Mustangs at one time or another. I am originally from the Buffalo, New York area, and have a BA degree in Spanish from the University of Dayton. I became a teacher after trying my hand at many other professions, and after 10 years as a stay-at-home mother. In my very limited free time, I enjoy cooking, sewing, needlework, tennis, and staying ac-tive.

Hello Mustangs! My name is Kelly Gesser and I am a Reading Specialist at Meadowland ES! The 2013-14 school year will be my tenth year teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools. Previously I worked with ELL stu-dents at Sully ES and Steuart Weller ES. I’m excited to be

able to work with young readers!

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Lan-guage and Literature. Later, I earned my MEd in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. I am currently certified to teach PreK-3, Pre-

school Special Education, ELLs K-12, and Reading K-12.

BrainPOP and BrainPOP JR creates animated, curriculum-based content that engages students, sup-ports educators, and bolsters achievement. Ideal for both group and one-on-one settings, BrainPOP is used in numerous ways in classrooms, at home, and on mobile devices, from introducing a new les-son or topic to illustrating complex subject matter to reviewing before a test. Content is aligned to aca-demic standards. Uniquely suited for 21st-century learning, all products are fully compatible with inter-active whiteboards. Free BrainPOP app is available for the IPhone. Access BrainPOP through the Meadowland website. It is listed under Library and Homework Help. http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/Page/53455

Username: lcpse

Check out the new School lunch regulations. If you go the

Meadowland home page and click on School Menu.

Breakfast is being served in the cafeteria every morning starting

at 7:30 a.m. Please refer to the breakfast menu on Meadowlands

Website for the breakfast choice of the day.

A survey was sent home in your child’s backpack the week of Sept. 23. You may also go online to complete the survey at http//.LoudounHealthCheck.com. Fill the survey out and enter a chance to win a $25 gift card.

Parents, Passwords for the Homework Help/Online Subscription Databases were distributed on Back to School Night for students In Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2. Stu-dents in Grades 3,4, and 5 have the passwords in the front of their agendas. Databases include

Brain Pop Culture Grams Grolier Online Tumble Books NetTrekker Safari Montage

We will be covering this information during library classes. Please explore these resources at home with your child. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Bardos. Shawna.Bardos@lcps.org

10 Things You Can Do to Raise a Reader

Parents are a child's first teacher, and there are many simple things you can do every day to share the joy of reading while strengthening your child's literacy skills.

1. Read from day one. Start a reading routine in those very first days with a newborn. Even very young babies respond to the

warmth of a lap and the soothing sound of a book being read aloud.

2. Share books every day. Read with your child every day, even after he becomes an independent reader.

3. Reread favorites. Most children love to hear their favorite stories over and over again. Rereading books provides an oppor-

tunity to hear or see something that may have been missed the first time, and provides another chance to hear a favorite part.

4. Send positive messages about the joys of literacy. Your own interest and excitement about books will be contagious!

5. Visit the library early and often. Public libraries are great resources for books, helpful advice about authors and illustra-

tors, story times, and more. Make visiting the library part of your family's routine.

6. Find the reading and writing in everyday things. Take the time to show your child ways that adults use reading and writing

every day. Grocery lists, notes to the teacher, maps, and cooking all involve important reading and writing skills.

7. Give your reader something to think and talk about. There are many different types of books available to readers. Vary

the types of books you check out from the library, and seek out new subjects that give you and your reader something to think and talk about.

8. Talk, talk, talk. A child's vocabulary grows through rich conversations with others. No matter your child's age, narrate what

you're doing, talk in full sentences, and sprinkle your conversations with interesting words.

9. Know your stuff. Parents don't need to be reading specialists, but it is important to understand the basics about learning

to read.

10. Speak up if something doesn't feel right. Parents are often the first ones to recognize a problem. If you have concerns

about your child's development, speak with your child's teacher and your pediatrician. It's never too early to check in with an expert.

Look for new books and authors that your child may enjoy. Organize an area dedicated to reading and writing tools. Visit the library for story time and book recommendations. Encourage your child to talk about what he's read.

Talk to your child, and sprinkle interesting words into your conversation. Offer a variety of books to read.

Read with your child every day. Expand your home library to include magazines and nonfiction. Ask questions if you're concerned about your child's development.

Decide to raise a reader!

By: Reading Rockets

Meadowland School

Visitor Parking

Staff Parking

Staff Parking

Sugarland Run Road

Parents and students must use the cross

walks

Parents and students must use the cross

walks

“Kiss and Ride”

One Way

This area is to be only used to drop

off and pick up children.

Use this lot to park and walk your child into the building.

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Morning Drop Off

Dear Family & Friends, Meadowland is participating in the

Giant A+ BonusBucks Program.

Meadowland can earn CASH

through this exciting program.

You can help! Fill in the Registration

Card below and return it to the Customer Service counter at your local Giant

or log on to www.giantfood.com/aplus and choose “Register your Card” from

the menu on the left to designate online. Then, each time you shop at Giant

using your GIANT CARD, you will earn CASH for our book club! Our school

ID# is #02103