1. education
2. school

Happy Spring Petsworth Patriots!
I believe the warm weather has finally arrived! We are looking forward to drier and warmer days
ahead. It is hard to believe that the 1st of May is this week! Our school year has sped by us and
doesn’t seem to be slowing down! As we approach the last 6 weeks of school, there are many
exciting events/activities planned, not to mention SOL testing. Our testing schedule begins on
Thursday, May 21st. The schedule will be as follows:
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Grade 3
Reading
Friday, May 22, 2015
Grade 4
Reading
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Grade 5
Reading
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Grade 4
Math
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Grade 5
Math
Friday, May 29, 2015
Grade 3
Math
Monday, June 1, 2015
Grade 4/5
VA Studies/Science
PLEASE be sure that your child is adequately prepared each day with a good night’s rest and a balanced
breakfast. It is also equally important that your child attend school and arrive on time. Testing begins promptly
after breakfast and students need to be in their “natural” learning environment when testing vs. a make-up test.
Make-up testing will occur the day your child returns to school.
This school year, we have the opportunity to provide students in grades 3-5 with “expedited retakes.” This will
only occur if they score within 375-399 on their first attempt. Prior to a 2nd opportunity, your student will be
provided with several days of remediation! A letter came home in each report card for grades 3-5 explaining
this retake opportunity. Please be sure to review, sign and return to school the permission stating that you give
permission for your student to retake. We will be in contact with each parent this applies to in order to keep
you informed of your child’s results and opportunity to retake a particular test (s). We greatly appreciate you
allowing your student the opportunity to show us what he or she truly knows – sometimes a score falls in this
range due to one or two questions! Encourage them to do their very best on the 1st attempt!
Thank you for all you do each day and night to best prepare your child for school! Your continued support at
home with homework and our school wide expectations, in all grade levels, is greatly appreciated. Report cards
came home last week. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress, please contact his/her
teacher(s). We are here to help you at home just as much as your student. We reinforce our motto as “Proud,
Positive and Productive” patriots each day with students! (continued on page 6)
is brought to you by Petsworth Community Education, a division of
the Gloucester County Department of Community Education,
http://www.gloucesterva.info/communityed. Please contact Cindy Thomas at
693-4555 or [email protected] with any questions or
comments.
Petsworth Cafeteria staff gave away
Easter baskets to one boy and one girl
if they sent in their RSVP for the
Easter Bunny Breakfast by the specified
date. All the names of those students
were then put in a drawing.
Kindergarten student, Rhianna
was one of the winners. She is pictured
here with Ms. Craig, our cafeteria
manager.
The Virginia Department of Forestry and the Tidewater Soil &
Water Conservation District celebrated Arbor Day with 3rd grade
students by conducting a tree planting. They gave a short
presentation on trees and then had the students replant a tree
seedling in a cup to take home and plant. Pictured are:
LaVerne Calhoun, Rene Moring, Carl Thiel-Goin. Students are: left
to right- Evy , Sophia , Aleciya, Kaydence,
Miranda, Sasha
Thanks to our 5th grade teachers and
26 chaperones, our 5th grade students
enjoyed an educational and fun day at Luray
Caverns on Friday, April 17th.
(Left to right): Gwyneth, Lydia,
Alanna, Eliana,
Cassidy, Kasey,
Melody, Makayla,
Alicia, Torri
Students in Ms. Stiebeling’s 2nd grade class
recognized Ms. Chowning and Ms. Nichols for
Administrative Professional’s Day by making a
bouquet of paper flowers with each student’s
picture pasted to the flower.
Pictured are: Back row: Julian,
Jordan, Amir,
Ray, Caleb, Aurora,
Ashton
Front row: Jessi, Keira,
Maddison, Sawyer,
Faith, James, Jade,
Breanna
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TOGETHER IS BETTER
Pictured are League members: Bruce Phillips, Phil Olekszyk,
Jackie Partin, Paul Malcolm, Jonathan Partin, and Susan Malcolm
Members of the Piankatank Community League donated 60 "Book
Buddy" gift bags to students at Petsworth Elementary School. The
"Book Buddy" Community League project, a partnership formed in
2009, emphasizes the importance of reading and encourages the love of
reading at home. The contents of each gift bag held 4-5 books,
journals, bookmarks, and pens. Combined efforts between
representatives from the League, the school’s Reading Team, School
Principal, and Community Education Coordinator provided the best
quality and level appropriate materials. Students were assembled and
members of the Piankatank Community League presented the gift bags.
Once again, Petsworth Pacers under
the leadership of Ms. Watkins
won the trophy for having the
largest number in attendance at the
Family Fun Run on Sunday, April
12th. Pictured are: Leela and
Abigail
Kids♥Art (Art Supply Drive)
Please help the Gloucester High School National Art
Honor Society collect art supplies for Elementary Art
teachers to give out to their students who have shown
a significant interest in art. The goal of Kids Art is to
provide drawing materials for these children over their
summer vacation. Crayons, markers, sketchbooks,
pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, etc. This
drive is taking place until May 15th. For more
information call 693-2526.
A BIG thank you to everyone who supported the
Chick-fil-A contest in March. Petsworth placed
1st for Gloucester schools, with a school in
Middlesex County winning overall. Ms. Gilliam’s class won the most
participation and won recess supplies.
Ms. Parks instructs students on Codes and Ciphers used
during various times throughout history. Pictured are:
Ian, Nikolas, Aaliyah, Abigail,
Declan
Back Row: Cheyanne, Carter,
Hannah, Rebekah, Seamus,
Joey, and Ms. Parks
WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS! TEACHER
APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 4-9
Ms. Christina Mahoney, Ed.S.,
School Psychologist for Gloucester
County Public Schools, provided a
presentation at the Moms Matter in
the Batter event titled Piecing
Together the Friendship Puzzle:
Recognizing and Promoting Healthy
Relationships Among Elementary Aged
Children. Afterwards a cookie baking
activity was facilitated by Ms.
Michelle Craig, Petsworth Cafeteria
Manager and each participant left
with their own cookies. Pictured
here are Taylor and Trish Wood.
G. Thomas Haskins, Jr., Investment
Executive for Investment Advantage at
The Bank of Lancaster was our guest
speaker on Thursday, March 26th, for the
Guys Night Out and March Dadness event.
Pictured are: Joseph and Joey
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COMMUNITY CONNECTION
SpeakUp Gloucester!
Gloucester County announces a
new way for citizens to get involved on
current issues or provide input
SpeakUp Gloucester is an interactive,
on-line forum where citizen's may learn
about current county topics of interest, and share their input
and comments. Visit www.speakupgloucesterva.info,
register and then SpeakUp!
24th Annual D.A.R.E. Family Night
May 6, 2015
4:30 –p.m. un l Close Goodfella’s Restaurant Come join us for dinner and support the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. scholarship fund! 20% of your bill will be donated to D.A.R.E. Boy Scout Troop 138’s
Spring Open House
For Boys 6th to 12th Grade (If you will be comple ng the 5th in June, you are eligible to join) HeartChase is a GIANT scavenger hunt just like the popular TV show The Amazing Race. Teams meet at Game Central and use the HeartChase App on their phone to find and complete checkpoint challenges. The team with the most points wins prizes and bragging rights! Form your team of 2‐5 players and register online at hƩp://HeartChaseGloucester.org
Then, join the online fundraising efforts and support the mission of the American Heart Associa on. Gear up for Game Day with the HeartChase™ app (free to download.) For more informa on, email [email protected] or call 804‐693‐5575. May 16, 2015
9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Come join Troop 138 for a Day of Fun and Adventure! Orienteering Course ~ Knots and Lashings Athle cs ~ First Aid ~ Cooking/Fire Building Axe Yard Safety Demo ~ Games and much more! Lunch Provided For more informa on, please contact Glenn Holland, Troop 138 Scoutmaster at 804-693-9111. The Community Connection section is presented by Gloucester Community Education through the community schools initiative.
Gloucester County Public Schools neither sponsors/endorses organizations listed in Community Connections & information included is solely
from the organizations. Gloucester County Public Schools shall not be liable for any loss/damage as a result of information included in the
Community Connection section.
No other country in the world has more tornadoes
than the United States.
In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported resulting in 80
deaths and over 1500 injuries. When it comes to tornadoes,
there’s no such thing as a “tornado season.” Tornadoes strike
anywhere, anytime, and you need to be prepared to act quickly.
Know the Signs
* Hail or heavy rain followed by dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift
Tornadoes may be wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen
* Noticeable change in sky color to greenish-yellow
* Lowering of the cloud base and persistent rotation
* Whirling dust or debris under a cloud or a visible funnel cloud
* Loud, continuous roar/rumble… or well-known “train” sound
* At night, small bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level,
which are power lines being snapped by strong winds
Watches and Warnings
Learn the terms that are used
to identify a tornado.
Tornado Watch: a tornado is possible
in your area. You should monitor your
weather-alert radios, local radio and TV
stations for information.
Tornado Warning: a tornado has been
sighted in the area or has been indicated
by National Weather Service Doppler
radar. When a warning is issued, take
Where is the safest place to take shelter from a tornado...
In my home?
- Get away from windows
- Go to the basement and get under the stairs
- Go to an inside closet/bathroom/hall on the lowest level of the house
- Get under a mattress.
- Protect your head
In my car?
- Get out of a car and inside a sturdy building, if possible
- If outside with no cover, lie flat and cover your head
- Do NOT try to outrun a tornado in a car.
In a mobile home?
- Get out and seek sturdy shelter into a safe place.
- Lie in a ditch or get as low as you can and cover your head
If caught outside?
Take shelter in a ditch, culvert, or ravine and cover your head
cover immediately.
Weather
Alerts
&
Notifications
There are numerous ways to
receive instant notification of
severe weather events.
Visit the Virginia Department
of Emergency Management
website:
www.vaemergency.gov
and register for alerts.
Special Dates in
May and June
Monday, May 4– Snow Make Up Day
Wednesday, May 6– 5th Grade Shots
Saturday, May 9– PTA Mother’s Day Breakfast 8:30 am
Monday, May 11– All Pro Dads Breakfast 7:30 am
Thursday, May 14– DARE Graduation 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 21– Chick-fil-A Spirit Night 5- 8:00 pm
Monday, June 8– K-4 Field Day
Monday, June 8- 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 7:00 pm
Tuesday, June 9- 5th Grade Sports Day
Wednesday, June 10– (Now a student day due to
inclement weather) SOL Carnival and picnic lunch for
grades 3-5
*Anyone wishing to volunteer at an above event, please
contact Mrs. Cindy Thomas.
On behalf of the Petsworth PTA, I
want to thank all of our wonderful
Petsworth Patriots for your ongoing
support over the last 2 years that I
have been PTA President. We are
so lucky to have such a great school
with great teachers and staff and
such wonderful and supportive families. It has
been a pleasure to be a part of this school and I
am lucky to still have a few years left at
Petsworth to enjoy.
The PTA has hosted many family-oriented
events and has supported our students and staff
in a variety of other ways. PTA member and
volunteer, Karin Wade spent numerous hours
processing the Box Tops, Labels for Education.
This year we earned $1,046.80 for our Box Top
reimbursements. New rugs for each
kindergarten classroom, like the one pictured to
the right, were purchased through the Box Top
rewards.
Please remember to continue to collect Coke
Reward points, Campbell soup labels and Box
Tops over the summer. You can always drop
them off at the office to either Ms. Thomas or
Ms. Nichols over the summer months.
The PTA Board will continue to hold our regular
meetings in July and August to plan for the
upcoming school year. If you have any
suggestions, please do not hesitate to send a
message through the contact information on our
webpage.
Mya Tyler, PTA President
( continued from front page) As a result of your
students’ hard work, the following awards have
been distributed for the 3rd quarter:
14 3rd-5th graders obtain the Principal’s List
(which is all A’s in core content only)
46 3rd-5th graders obtain the Honor Roll
(which would be all A’s and B’s in core content
only)
80 K-2nd graders obtained the Patriot Award (which is all
S’s in core content only)
37 students in grades K-5 obtained Perfect Attendance
(where students are here all day, every day – zero tardies and
zero early dismissals).
We are very proud of our Patriots! They certainly
exemplify themselves as
“Proud, Positive and Productive!”
The following students were chosen by their teachers for the
Citizen of the Quarter:
K: Ily, Corben, and Emily
1st Grade: Hayden, Nathaniel, and
Trenitee
2nd Grade: Kiera, Faith, and Rebekah
3rd Grade: Ethan, Nathan, and
Bentley
4th Grade: Brady, Abigail, and
Mallory
5th Grade: Brenna, Madison, and
Ethan
Congratulations to our citizens of the 3rd quarter!!
We hope everyone has a terrific final quarter of the school
year! As we obtain more information about summer school,
we will contact families of those requested to attend. Keep
working hard Patriots!
Sincerely, Cathy Balderson, Principal
8 ft. by 11 ft. educational Fun Rugs purchased by the PTA
for use in each kindergarten classroom.
Page 6