January 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7

Page 1

THE TRAILBLAZER

“For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” ~Rudyard Kipling

Dear Trailside Community,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2015. As we approach

the end of the first semester, we want to make sure that

all of our students are working towards their learning

goals and engaged in every class. The second semester

will bring more challenges and learning opportunities.

Our staff has been engaged in the study of “Mindset”.

Over the summer, all staff members read the book

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. We have continued to

work through professional learning modules and are

engaged in a discussion forum. In February, we are

offering a parent book club and the first book we will

discuss is Mindset. I strongly encourage you to join us

on February 5th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

At Trailside, we emphasize a growth mindset. Research

regarding a “growth mindset” vs a “fixed mindset” on

student achievement has been our central focus for

professional development this year. We look forward to

talking with parents about this research and how we can

support our students in having a “growth mindset.”

As we move into the middle of January, school counselors

are beginning the presentations on course selection for

the 2015-16 school year. There is a parent information

meeting for all current 6th and 7th grade parents on

Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:30 PM in the school

auditorium. I encourage all parents to attend this

information session. Teachers for World Language, Math,

Language Arts, English, and Social Science will be on

hand to answer questions.

Stone Bridge High School will be hosting a parent

information night for our current 8th graders on February

10th. Please plan to attend this transition meeting for

your child. Our current 8th grade teachers will be meeting

with the High School teachers to talk about course

selection as well as teacher recommendations.

Our winter season has brought not just the cold weather

but many colds and illness. We want to make sure that

students and parents put health first and have students

remain at home when they are ill. When you are feeling

well though, we want to have you in class every day. We

have numerous students every day arriving tardy to

school without an excuse. Please work together to make

sure that your child arrives to school on time so that he/

she is ready to learn at the beginning of the day.

Best wishes for a safe and healthy January!

Warm regards,

Bridget

20325 Claiborne Parkway

Ashburn, VA 20147

571-252-2280

Bridget.Beichler@lcps.org

January 16: Last day to order a yearbook January 19: Martin Luther King Jr, Holiday January 22: Band 6 Concert January 23: Geography Bee January 26: Moveable Student Holiday January 28: IMPACK award ceremony

February 2: Guitar 7 Concert February 3: Rising 7th and 8th grade parent information night February 4: 6th grade Orchestra Concert February 4: Report cards distributed February 10: Rising 9th grade parent information night

From the Principal’s Desk

January 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7

Page 2

It’s All Write is Loudoun County Public

Library’s writing competition for teens

where the top 3 winners will win cash

prizes. To help inspire the teens, LCPL

holds several writing workshops, which

are listed in the flier. At the conclusion

of It’s All Write, we host a program at

a Loudoun High School, where we have

a YA novel author give a keynote

address to the family and friends of

the teen participants.

Thank you to Firehouse Subs for sponsoring our Trailside Scholar and IMPACK Programs. Every child who earns the Trailside Scholar or IMPACK award will receive a free kid’s combo meal.

Instrument Test Drive nights: January 20th January 27th January 29th

Attention parents of CURRENT 5th graders

VALOR essay contest winners! 6th - Morgan Porter

7th - Tehya Green

8th - Saarthak Maheshwari

SCHOOL WINNER: Saarthak Maheshwari

Saarthak will receive $250 for the winning essay. All winners will receive Trailside spirit wear.

Food Drive Bright Life Buddies is collecting canned food to replenish the food banks as part of their community outreach.

Students can drop off canned foods in the house offices.

Did you know Trailside

collects Box Tops? They

can be dropped off in the

main office or the house

offices.

Link your store cards to earn money

for our school. Details can be found

on our website at http://lcps.org/

domain/15480

January 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7

Page 3

Did you know?...LCPS runs on a fixed A/B Day schedule—no changes are

made due to snow days. Find the school year calendar at A/B Day Calendar

STEM Summer Program

Attention 8th grade parents: There’s

an excellent FREE program for the summer of 2015 that will allow students to spend three exciting days on the campus of Virginia Tech or the University of Virginia engaged in hands-on STEM activities and demonstrations. The application deadline is February 2, 2015.

The online application can be accessed at www.blast.spacegrant.org.

A program flier is attached for your convenience.

The last day to order yearbooks will be January 23, 2015! Get them while you can! Here is the link to follow to order your yearbook https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/general/displayLanding . You may also order you yearbook and find out more information by going to Trailside Middle School's Homepage, click on Activities and then click on Yearbook.

We are also in need of pictures of our students outside of school doing community service, hanging out with friends, partaking in clubs, sports etc. If you would like to share your photos

with us so that they may be used in the yearbook please visit http://

www.hjeshare.com. The school code is trailside, all lower case.

The Chemical Educational Foundation® (CEF) is a

nationally recognized, award winning non-profit

organization committed to enhancing science

education

among

every

generation,

beginning

with our

youth. This

year Trailside Middle School will be participating in the

2014-2015 You Be the Chemist Challenge.

The qualifying Test will be held after school on January

28, 2015. If interested, please complete the

permission slip and return it to Mrs. Koptish or your

science teacher by January 23, 2015.

Study materials can be found at: http://lcps.org/

Page/146184

Trailside Timberwolves

First Annual National

Geographic Geography

Bee

Friday, January 23, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Trailside Auditorium

Moderated by Akhil Rekulapelli, National Geography Bee Champion 2014

Come out for an exciting night of geography as our Trailside Timberwolves compete in the school challenge to name the school champion. We are honored this, our inaugural year, to have our Bee moderated by the National Geographic Society Geography Bee National Champion, Ahkil Rekulapelli. Akhil was the Virginia State Bee champion in 2013 and 2014. He was fourth in the nation in 2013 and named the national champion this past year. He is currently a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

We hope to see you there!

January 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7

Page 4

In February we will begin a Parent Evening Book Club focusing on educational and parenting topics. Our first session will be February 5th from 6:30-7:30 pm in the TMS Reading Lounge-Room 811. We will read and discuss the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. The book is focused on two mindsets-fixed and growth.

Below is a brief of the book:

Dweck explains why it’s not just our abilities and talent that bring us success–but whether we approach them with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn’t foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may actually jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids and help them to raise their grades, as well as reach our own goals–personal and professional. Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about

the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.

The staff at Trailside Middle School has read and continues to study this book and components of it. We feel it is important to involve parents in the ideas focused on by author Carol Dweck.

If you are interested and would like to sign-up and participate in this book club please contact Kelly Garrity-Kelly.garrity@lcps.org.

Below is an amazon link to order a copy of the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Success-Carol-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418656494&sr=8-1&keywords=mindset+by+carol+dweck&pebp=1418656496410

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking forward to having parent volunteers return for 2015.

The 6th, 7th & 8th grade house secretaries and staff would appreciate parent support any Tuesday and/or Thursday between the

hours of 9am-12pm or 2pm-3:30pm. We would ask volunteers to assist with copying, laminating, grade level projects guided by

a staff member or other light office tasks.

Also, our school library is in need of parent help any weekday between 8:30am-3:30pm.

Please email Kelly Garrity at Kelly.Garrity@lcps.org and she will add you to our volunteer schedule as well as answer any

questions you may have.

Don’t be shy, we truly enjoy having our Trailside parents here during school hours and could not make Trailside the awesome

school it is without your support!

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

January 2015 Volume 1, Issue 7

Page 5

6th grade Abigail Lips

Aditi Chandrashekar

Alexis Strandberg

Alissa Lovejoy

Amanda Koehler

Amish Madhav

Andrew Poerksen

Anna Ferrin

Audrey Cowden

Boston Billings

Brett Davis

Camron Williams

Diego Battle

Dominick Dellecave

Gabriella Manziano-Faustino

Gretchen Albers

Ian Roeder

Jack Posada

Jason Simmons

Jonathan Ryerse

Kevin Minaya

Kieran McGrail

Kushi Sethuram

Lauren Hentz

Madeline Berger

Marc Nguyen

Michael Coppola

Natasha Rabinowitch

Neha Saravanan

Noah Bowe

Owen Fliess

Raquel Odei-Morris

Salome Augusto

Sean Gallagher

Sydney Jackman

Veronica Kidwell

7th grade Allison Culko

Amber Schmitt

Anna Holmes

Aria Abedinzadeh

Bradley Meech

Briana House

Christopher Moore

Emma Dimitrov

Emma Thorn

Giselle Odei-Morris

Henry Mejia-Cerritos

Isabel Gonzalez-Alvarez

Isabella Moore

Jade Grindle

Kashish Khanna

Kelly Zeng

Kenneth (Gabe) Templeton

Kevin Zeng

Madison Norman

Mahad Zulfiqar

Mark Deng

Mathew Padath

Max Gettleman

Maybelline Martinez

Mia Hagood

Nicholas Reynolds

Patrick Hutecker

Patrick Sliwinski

Ridha Mahmood

Ryan Nealon

Samuel Knowles

Sophia Baroody

Tallon Allway

Trevor Juranek

Vedika Arunkumar

Zach Jacobson

8th grade Alex Spahr

Andrew Toczko

Anna Chapman

Brennan Speier

Cameron Cocozza

Camille Lewis

Christian Fitch

Daniel Antonucci

Dominic Cole

Dominic Fornatora

Eilish Neff

Emma Logue

Ernest Tussey

Gabrielle Rtiz

Hannah Holcomb

Jackson Ignotz

Joey Welch

Jordan Yankee

Kiera Brice

Kirthana Srinivasan

Lola McMullan

Lucas Nemier

Maleehah Zafar

Marcus Fleming

Osman Orellana-Rubio

Rachel Rountree

Reed Macnulty

Roujon Aranowzari

Ryan Needles

Samantha Gray

Sami Yamak

Sean England

Sophia Berger

Sydney Sterling

Taylor Coon

Taylor Stevens

IMPACK award presentations will be held on January 28th at 7pm in the auditorium. Please plan to join us.

Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology

The Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) program offers an exciting, on-campus summer

experience designed to increase student interest and curiosity in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

BLAST provides a residential opportunity to current 8th and 9th grade students. Faculty members lead hands-on

activities and demonstrations that seek to motivate and inspire students for STEM studies and careers. BLAST is free

of charge to students who are selected to participate, but transportation to and from Virginia Tech and the University

of Virginia is the responsibility of each family. The program is a partnership between the Virginia Space Grant Consor-

tium (VSGC), the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

—Application deadline: February 2, 2015

CONTACT INFORMATION:Brenda NeilProgram Manager bneil@odu.edu(757) 766-5210

Summer 2015 Session Dates

Virginia Tech •July 12-15University of Virginia •July 26-29 •August 2-5

www.blast.spacegrant.org

SHAKING OUT A SHORT STORY ASHBURN LIBRARY / Thursday, January 29, 7:00 pm

HOW TO PUBLISH A BOOK IN FIVE (HUNDRED) EASY STEPS

with Cristin TerrillLOVETTSVILLE LIBRARY / Wednesday, February 18, 6:00 pm

EDITING WORKSHOPRUST LIBRARY / Wednesday, February 25, 6:00 pm

WRITER’S WORKSHOPSwith Young Adult Science Fiction Author Cristin Terrill

STERLING LIBRARY / Wednesday, January 7, 7:00–9:00 pmASHBURN LIBRARY / Monday, January 12, 7:00–8:30 pm

RUST LIBRARY / Saturday, January 24, 1:00–4:00 pmPURCELLVILLE LIBRARY / Saturday, January 31, 2:00–4:00 pm

THREE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING TODAYwith Cristin Terrill

CASCADES LIBRARY / Wednesday, January 28, 7:00 pm

SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST FOR TEENS • GRADES 6–12SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: JANUARY 1–MARCH 1, 2015 • ITSALLWRITE@LIBRARY.LOUDOUN.GOV

1ST PLACE: $200 • 2ND PLACE: $100 • 3RD PLACE: $50FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES VISIT LIBRARY.LOUDOUN.GOV/ITSALLWRITE

SPONSORED BY THE JAMES HORTON FOR THE ARTS TRUST FUND AND LOUDOUN LIBRARY FOUNDATION, INC.

Prizes awarded for grades 6–8 and grades 9–12!WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY

SHORT STORY AWARD PARTY!

BRING YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!

IT S ALL

TO REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY,PLEASE CALL 703-777-0368. THREE DAYS NOTICE IS REQUESTED.

RY THESE WORKSHOPS TO SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY

SUNDAY, APRIL • 2 PM • PARK VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (2014 winner of the ALSC Pura Belpré Award), Milagros: Girl from Away and The Girl Who could Silence the Wind.

P o o l T r i p s

O u t d o o r

T r i p s

F r i e n d s

A d v e n t u r e

E x p e r i m e n t s

F i e l d

T r i p s

S p e c i a l G u e s t s

Returning Camper Pre Registration - March 9th to March 20th

Open Registration - March 24th (New to camp)

Children's Programs Day Camp (Summer Daze, SummerFest) is to

provide safe, accountable, fun, recreational activities for children in grades K-8

Adaptive Recreation (AR) Camps offer participants opportunities, within

the least restrictive environment, to enjoy traditional recreation activities, as well

as new experiences through leisure exploration.

For more information

Please call 703-737-8042

or

Visit www.loudoun.gov/camps