Discovery Weekly Newsletter
Week of January 11
Administrative Update
Greetings Trailblazers!
It is hard to believe that we are in a new year of 2021 and in the last week of the second quarter! As we are approaching the opportunity to start fresh in a new quarter, I challenge you to recommit your family to strong attendance this quarter…Be Online and Be On Time. We recognize that times are challenging, and many factors may contribute to difficulties logging your student(s) online on time each day. But please take some time to reassess and recommit to logging your student on every day for the entire time they are expected to be online. Missing classes adds stress to everyone as students have difficulty figuring out how to catch up on assignments and on materials presented. Missing classes makes it even more challenging than it already is to make and maintain connections to their teachers and peers as they miss shared experiences together.
Why Attendance Matters:
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
- Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves.
- Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important.
- Good attendance will help children do well in middle school, high school, college, and eventually in the workplace.
Please see some practical suggestions below to increase or maintain a strong attendance record.
What You Can Do:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Virtual Learning: Lay out all the necessary materials and prepare your workspace the night before. Lay out your clothes and some easy breakfast options.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless (s)he is truly sick. Keep in mind, complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers and school counselors for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
- Keep a chart recording your child’s attendance at home (by day or even by subject if needed). At the end of the week, talk with your child about what you both see and celebrate even small successes.
Find other interesting information and suggestions at www.attendanceworks.org.
Another great resource if you need assistance to increase your child’s attendance, please reach out to our wonderful Parent Liaison, Neremaan Qureshi (Neremaan.Qureshi@lcps.org). She has many creative solutions and resources to overcome a multitude of challenges that may be contributing to attendance challenges. Please review just some of her resources below:
1) Mobile Internet Hotspots: Just a reminder, if you don’t have access to internet in your home, LCPS has purchased mobile internet hotspots to help ensure access to internet-based instruction for students during our extended closure. There is a limit of one hotspot per household. To request a device, families must complete this form
https://forms.gle/TjcZmeRwMXCXMbhq6
Once you have filled it out, you will receive an email within 2 days whether your application has been approved and what the next steps are. If you have any questions, please contact Neremaan.Qureshi@lcps.org
2) Free/Reduced Lunches: Also, please make sure you apply for free/reduced lunches if you have not done so already. Please use this link:
https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=4dcdd23b5ed3bc35da3233be99f2379d#loaded
Last year, the county sent out P-EBT cards based on those applications . Please keep in mind that if you are approved to receive free meals and have moved, to make sure your address is updated with the school. For more information with regards to the current distribution of meals, please visit the county website:
For more information about P-EBT program please visit
3) Backpack Buddy Program: Our school also participates in the Backpack buddy program which is intended for families who may be struggling to provide food for their families on the weekends. For more information, please see the links below. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Parent Liaison, Neremaan Qureshi at Neremaan.Qureshi@lcps.org
In English:
https://forms.gle/Ktd9XdRCXQSyQ5oN8
En Español:
https://forms.gle/RW6u3iFnkZxRxZcd9
We look forward to seeing all our Trailblazers online and on time as we wrap up the last week of the second quarter and we hope it is a happy, healthy, and safe week!
Warmly,
Debbie Ragan
Your Assistant Principal
Save The Date
No School; 1/18 - 1/20
Tuesday, 1/19 - Student Holiday/Teacher Planning Day
Wednesday, 1/20 - Holiday; Inauguration Day
January 19
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
PTO Update
We are nearly halfway through the school year! The 2nd quarter ends on Friday, January 15, so we hope everyone is ready for a five day weekend!
To help celebrate the 1/2-way point of the year and to raise money for Discovery ES, we are holding a Spirit Day...PLEASE join us on Tuesday, January 19, for our all-day fundraiser at Famous Toastery! Breakfast or lunch, served all day...a perfect activity for such a long weekend!
Looking further ahead, we are planning to hold our annual K.I.S.S. event, as well. Right now, it is planned for Saturday, February 13, from 8:30-10:30 am. Location and details to follow in next months newsletter.
Erin Sullivan & Kristin Stephens
PTO Presidents
discoverydonationsandevents@gmail.com
Stay Connected:
Instagram @discoveryPTO
FB @discovery.pto.trailblazers
Twitter @discoverypto1
Common Sense Media Message
Dear Discovery Families,
Happy 2021! As we continue learning in a virtual environment, I wanted to share some of the great resources Common Sense Media has provided that can be used to support your students' academic achievement. Please feel free to explore and use whatever resources work best for your family!
Homework and Learning with Technology:
K-2 Resource: Reading Apps, Games and Websites Here
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Ms. Peterson
School Counselor
Grades 3-5
#takeouttuesday at Famous Toastery
Be sure to mention Discovery Elementary when ordering as a portion of the proceeds will come back to the school.
Reserve Your Library Books for Next Week
Reserve your books for CURBSIDE PICK-UP on Monday, January 25 at Discovery from 8:00 am-2:30 pm in the lobby.
Please bring ID to buzz in the school and the reserved books are on the carts by grade to the right. Please reserve by 12:00 pm on January 21 so that we have time to get the books ready. Please RETURN any books you have out to the blue bin in the lobby.
Scan the following to reserve...
Winter/Spring Gifted Evaluations Delayed
Due to COVID-19, the gifted evaluation process for winter/spring, 2021 will be delayed. The Gifted Education Department is currently developing a plan to evaluate this year’s 3rd - 5th grade students when it is safe and equitable to do so.
Please check the SEARCH webpage on the Discovery Elementary School website and/or the LCPS Gifted and Talented webpage for the most up-to-date information. As soon as the 2021 gifted evaluation timeline and referral window is established, it will be posted at these locations.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Mr. Jones
SEARCH Teacher
Ways to Support Discovery Elementary
Scan Your Box Tops
Shop Amazon Smile
Do you use the Amazon app? Now you can support Discovery while doing it. Simply add Discovery Elementary School PTO as your charity within Amazon Smile. Make sure it is the Ashburn VA Discovery and help us earn money while you shop. It’s that easy. To learn how to sign up for Amazon Smile, visit this link.
It Only Takes a Moment
Help Discovery earn money while doing your grocery shopping by linking our school to your card today. You can go through the app, website, or send us the info and we will do it for you. This easy, once a year, sign up will help us out all year, so please relink every year!
To link your Harris Teeter account, you may click here to link directly to the Harris Teeter website. (NOTE: Discovery's code is 2009.)
Parent Resources
Staff's Favorite Things & Amazon Wish Lists
Schoology Cliff Notes
For assistance with logging in please refer to these documents..
LCPS Meal Services
Join our PTO
We'd love to have you! Please fill out the membership form to join the Discovery PTO.
PTO membership conveys voting rights, but it does not obligate you to volunteer or attend PTO events. All dues go to supporting classroom improvements. Thank you in advance for supporting Discovery Elementary School!
PTO Parent Toolbox
- PTO Membership
- Fundraising & Spirit Nights
- School Activities
- and much more...
Parent Liaison Services
Discovery's Parent Liaison job is to connect you to county resources and help you navigate through all the information. There are always new resources and information that we feel are important to share with you. We encourage you to visit this link often throughout the year as it will be updated on a continual basis.
Shop Discovery's Spirit Wear
Discovery Elementary Home Page
Get Social
Contact Us
Website: https://www.lcps.org/des
Location: Discovery Elementary School, Grace Bridge Drive, Ashburn, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-2370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovery.pto.trailblazers/
Twitter: @discoverypto1