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October 1, 2024 | Back to School Issue 8
Important Upcoming Dates
September 15-October 15: It's National Hispanic Heritage Month
October 2: Religious and Cultural Observance, Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown)
October 3: Rosh Hashanah, student holiday, schools and offices closed
October 4: Teacher workday, schools closed for students
October 8: School Picture Day
October 14: Student Holiday - Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 21: Three - Hour Early Release Monday
October 25: Run for Rocky
October 31: End of First Quarter, Two - Hour Early Release
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS School Calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
Join the PTA!
Help support our students and teachers!
We are excited to announce that we will be raffling off a $60 Amazon gift card to families who sign up before October 15th at midnight.
Thank you to the 150 families who have already joined. You are automatically in the raffle!!
YEARLY DUES are only $20 per family.
https://mantuapta.memberhub.com/store
Your membership dues are very important. Your ongoing support has funded and sponsored projects throughout Mantua. Some of these include:
Weekly Alert News
After School Enrichment
Basketball League
Kids Care Club
Library Resources
PTA Online Student Directory
New Computers and Programs
Teacher Education
Parent Education Seminars
Drama Club
Wish Fund
Chat and Chew Book Club
Field Trips
Spring Dance
Run for Rocky Save the Date!
Mantua Elementary’s Run for Rocky will take place on Friday, October 25
- Grades 1 & 2: 9:45 -10:30 AM
- Grade 3: 10:45 - 11:30 AM
- Grade 5: 12:35 – 1:20 PM
- Grade 4: 1:40 – 2:25 PM
- Grades PreK, K, & 6: 2:55 – 3:40 PM
- Rain date: Monday, October 28
The fundraising period is open from Friday, October 11 through Friday, November 1. More information will be shared by early October.
Run for Rocky is one of the PTA’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Our goal is to raise $35,000 to benefit the PTA. Funds raised will support school needs including technology, versatile seating and furniture, STEM kits, beautification (including support for the gardening committee), licenses for math software, new books, staff appreciation, the PTA wish fund, community events such as the spring dance, learning resources, and more.
Stay tuned for a volunteer sign up and additional information.
Volunteer Opportunity!
Mantua is in need of 2-4 volunteers to help out with picture day on Tuesday, October 8 from 9:30-4:15pm. They need two parent helpers for the morning shift and two parent helpers for the afternoon shift.
Each volunteer will receive picture vouchers for their time. Volunteers will help check in each class and keep the students moving through the picture line.
Please email [email protected] if you can help or if you have questions!
Mantua Fall Book Fair
Preview days on 10/23-10/24
10/25-10/31 Open 9:00am-4:00pm
Open Saturday 10/26 10:00am-2:00pm
Char’d Burger and Captain Cookie food trucks will be there with food available for purchase
Mantua PTA Basketball Registration is Open!
Mantua PTA Basketball registration is open! Click the following link to register:
https://www.mantuabasketball.org/hom
Listed below are some key dates and important announcements for the upcoming season.
Key Upcoming Dates:
- Player evaluations will be rescheduled to future dates, more details coming soon!
- Player evaluations will be held on three (3) separate dates and more details will be shared on the recommended date for Coaches and children to attend.
- The following individuals have volunteered to serve as League Commissioners for three (3) of our leagues:
- These individuals will serve as the primary point of contact for each league should you have any initial questions during the league season.
Request for Volunteers!
This league needs volunteers.
- We are still looking for individuals to serve as Referees for the 5/6 Boys League Commissioner. The Commissioner role must be filled or we will not be able to have a Boys 5/6 Division.
- We need referees. If your child is in 2nd grade, it’s not too early to volunteer and get more exposure to the league.
If you have any question on the roles and/or time commitment, please don't hesitate to reach out to: [email protected]
National Geography Bee Club Coming Soon!
What is it?
This is a fun club for students in grades 1-6 to learn geography and prepare for the National Geography Bee competition.
Where and when do we meet?
Tuesday afternoons after school from 4:10 to 5:10 in room 254.
Who runs the geography bee?
International Academic Competitions runs three national competitions on the same days: the National Geography Bee, National History Bee, and National Science Bee. Students can participate in all three, but this club is dedicated to the Geography Bee.
How do I sign up for the geography bee?
Go to the IAC website (https://www.iacompetitions.com/) and follow the instructions to create an account and sign up for the online test. Students must pass the online test before signing up for a regional final, but there is no limit to the times you can attempt the test. There are numerous regional finals in the DC area throughout the year, and you can sign up for any one and more than one if you like (for a $49 fee per event). Top scorers at the regional finals are invited to sign up for the national finals in May (also for a fee).
Who are you?
I’m a Mantua parent, an editor at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and a big geography nerd! Coach Dan Rothfarb
What is the competition like?
There are individual and team competitions. The individual competitions consist of quiz show-style heats in which students try to buzz in first with a correct answer. A competitor can get up to five correct answers per heat, and there are bonus points for finishing early. High scorers in the regional finals are invited to the national finals in the spring. The team competition is an academic bowl-style contest held at the national finals.
We’ll be mainly preparing for the individual competition (with the option of adding the team competition, pending interest), but the students will support each other’s learning to represent Mantua as well as we can!
How will we prepare for the competition?
Our study sessions will include quiz (review) time, regional and country-specific study, and homework to prepare for the next meeting. Older students will help to mentor younger ones, and everyone will be invited to share their expertise with the group. Studying geography can be a lot of memorization, but memory works best when you’re having fun, so we’ll work together to make each meeting memorable!
How much does the club cost?
I’m asking parents to contribute $20 for materials at the start of the year. This will go toward printing materials and purchasing snacks.
How can I help?
Please let me know if you’d like to help plan or run any sessions! Geography is a huge subject, and the more perspectives we hear from, the better for everyone.
Should I tell a friend?
Yes!
Volunteers Needed for the Art Department
The Art Department is ready for volunteers! We always have something to prepare, sort, frame, hang, etc. No experience necessary! See time slots by going to the link below. When you arrive, check in at the front office and join us in the Art Room work room where we'll set you up to help out. No amount of time is too short, we appreciate all your support! Looking forward to a fun and exciting year in ART! ~Mrs. Shirley & Mr. Lorenzi
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4AA9AC22A6FF2-mantua
Classroom Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for classroom volunteers! (Room parents, Tuesday folder helpers, and party coordinators.) These are great opportunities to get to know your teacher better and to spend time in your kiddo’s classroom!
A brief description of the current volunteer opportunities is included below.
Can’t commit to one of these jobs? More opportunities will be posted throughout the year for various events and programs!
Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
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Room Parent - Send email reminders to class families about PTA events and fundraisers, communicate with parents to coordinate teacher gifts, help party coordinators plan seasonal class parties, this job can be done remotely.
Tuesday Folder Helper - Comes to the classroom on a weekly basis at a time coordinated with the teacher to stuff Tuesday folders that will go home with each student. Since this requires someone to come weekly, this position can be split between two parents who alternate weeks.
Party Coordinators - Coordinators get a set date and time from the teacher and coordinate games, crafts, snacks, etc. for the class, often soliciting the other class parents for supply donations and extra volunteer help.
Note: the sign up link says kindergarten volunteers, but there is a tab at the top for each grade for the 2024-2025 school year.
https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/53170DF07A3CAEEC06-volunteers
Falls Church High School Fall Festival
Come one, come all!
Saturday, October 5th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Falls Church High School
7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042
9107 Horner Court, Fairfax, VA 22031 | Main Office: 703-645-6300
Attendance: 703-645-6363 | Web | PTA Web | Twitter
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