Mill Run Register Newsletter for Mill Run Elementary Volume 55 October 2015

October At-A-Glance

Oct. 5 : Author Kevin Sherry visits Mill Run 4th & 5th grade SCA speeches & Applications due Summer Reading Pizza Par ties

Oct. 5-10 : Fire Prevention Week Fall After-school activities begin

Oct. 7 : Mt. Lion Pride Citizenship Breakfast @ 7:50 am (by  invitation)

  SCA speeches returned to candidates PTO Restaurant Day @ Rubino’s (11:00-9:30 pm)

Oct. 8 : 5th grade SCA candidate speeches @ 8:30 am in the cafe Run for Fun flyers go home

Oct. 9 : 4th grade SCA candidate speeches @ 8:30 am in the cafe SCA Finalists announced @ 2:20 pm

Oct. 12 : Nat’l School Lunch Week Columbus Day Holiday / No school!

Oct. 13 : Specials run on Monday schedule SCA Finalists can put up posters PTO Board Meeting in Library @ 2:50 pm

Oct. 14 : Official Opening of the Mill Run Outdoor Project @ 4:30 - Rain  Date  Oct.  21st

Oct. 15 : SCA Finalists speeches after morning news/ SCA voting SCA Officers Announced

Oct. 19 : School Bus Safety Week Bus Driver Appreciation week, thank you!!!

Oct. 21 : 1st grade field trip to Great Country Farms

Oct. 25 : Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-free America

Oct. 26 : Mill Run Changing the World - Connecting with Sully Elementary School (More  information  to  come)

Oct. 28: 5th grade field trip to Hemlock - All classesOct. 30 : Book Character Dress-up Parade @ 1:30 pm Final day of First Grading Period

Nov. 2-3 : Student Holidays/ Conference Days

Cornely’s CornerThey  say  if  it  rains  on  your  wedding  day,  it  is  supposed  to  bring  good  luck  to  your  marriage.    Well,  I  would  like  to  believe  that  if  it  rains  on  your  =irst  day  of  school  as  a  new  principal,  the  same  will  hold  true  for  my  tenure  at  Mill  Run.It  has  been  an  incredible  start  to  this  school  year,  beginning  from  the  moment  our  amazing  teachers  returned  to  school,  followed  by  welcoming  back  the  greatest  school  community  to  Open  House/Back  to  School  Night,  to  where  we  are  at  the  end  of  our  =irst  month  of  school!    Our  students  returned  to  school  with  incredible  and  infectious  energy,  and  an  excitement  that  you  always  want  from  your  children  –  an  excitement  and  passion  to  learn!    I’ve  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  children  learn  from  the  moment  they  arrived  to  their  new  school  home  for  this  school  year.    Their  teachers  are  leading  their  classrooms  and  instruction  with  outstanding,  authentic  lessons  designed  to  have  children  experience  their  learning.      I  believe  that  with  the  knowledge  they  are  learning  every  day,  it  is  allowing  them  to  Change  the  World,  which  as  you  know  is  our  theme  for  this  school  year.This  year,  I  am  so  excited  to  take  part  in  the  One  to  the  World  (OTTW)  instructional  initiative  that  speci=ically  addresses  what  an  LCPS  graduate  should  know  and  be  able  to  do.    It  is  my  belief  that  this  expectation  begins  with  us  in  elementary  school,  as  we  build  the  structure  and  foundation  to  allow  our  students  to  be  lifelong  learners  in  and  outside  of  the  classroom.    Loudoun  County  Public  Schools  is  undertaking  this  initiative,  and  we  could  not  be  more  excited.    Essentially,  we  will  continue  the  wonderful  instruction  already  established  at  Mill  Run  by  focusing  on  signi=icant  content  and  important  competencies  to  solve  authentic  problems  in  the  world.    The  students’  work  will  be  displayed  through  a  public  product  and  will  connect  their  learning  with  the  world.Our  staff  began  this  school  year  by  participating  in  a  One  to  the  World  project,  which  involved  designing  a  garden  that  would  bene=it  the  Loudoun  Homeless  Shelter.    Earlier  in  my  newsletter,  I  referenced  Open  House  being  such  a  big  success.    I  would  like  to  take  a  moment  to  thank-­‐you  for  stopping  in  our  front  lobby  to  vote  for  one  of  the  six  gardens  (designed  by  our  staff)  that  you  wished  to  see  become  built  at  Mill  Run.    They  all  were  remarkable  designs,  but  the  winner  is…Nourishing  Hope!      We  are  in  the  process  of  =inalizing  this  design  and  preparing  to  have  this  built  on  our  campus.    Our  students  will  take  an  active  role  in  growing  and  maintaining  this  garden  so  that  our  vegetables  will  be  able  to  successfully  grow  beginning  in  the  spring.    You

(con’t. on next page)

may  be  wondering  what  we  will  do  with  our  vegetables?    They  will  be  donated  to  the  Loudoun  Homeless  Shelter  to  be  shared  with  families  in  need.    If  you  are  handy  and  would  like  to  donate  your  time  to  help  build  the  garden’s  framework,  please  consider  contacting  me  at  john.cornely@lcps.org.  

As  you  know,  our  staff’s  dedication  to  bring  learning  to  life  is  nothing  new  to  our  students.    We  will  continue  to  bring  One  to  the  World  experiences  into  our  classrooms,  with  the  anticipation  that  our  instruction  will  truly  Change  the  World.    I  am  con=ident  that  your  children  will  bring  this  excitement  home  with  them  to  share  with  you.  If  you  have  been  on  Mill  Run’s  campus,  it  is  not  secret  that  we  have  one  of  the  most  beautiful  campuses  around!    There  has  been  so  much  hard  work,  dedication,  sweat,  and  help  from  our  teachers,  students,  community,  and  outside  organizations  to  bring  this  environment  to  life.    Please  consider  joining  us  on  Wednesday,  October  14th    beginning  at  4:30  for  some  fun  outdoor  activities  and  our  “Of:icial  Opening  of  the  Mill  Run  Outdoor  Project.”    

If  you  haven’t  already  done  so,  please  consider  following  Mill  Run  on  Twitter  @MillRunLCPS,  along  with  my  Cornely’s  Corner  blog  to  see  some  of  the  wonderful  learning  happening  in  our  school.

As  always,  thank  you  for  sharing  your  wonderful  children  with  us!    It  is  going  to  be  an  incredible  2015-­‐2016  school  year.    And  please,  plan  to  join  us  for  our  annual  “Book  Character  Dress-­‐Up  Parade”  on  Friday,  October  30th  @  1:30.    It  will  be  one  to  remember.

Respectfully,

John  CornelyPrincipal  

To  our  Mill  Run  families  and  friends  for  coming  out  and  supporting  the  6th  annual  Mill  Run  softball  game.  

It  was  great  fun  for  all!!

And  a  very  big  Thank  You  to  the  many  PTO  volunteers,  staff  and  friends  who  volunteered  their  time  to  help  with  the  big  day  -­‐

it’s  not  possible  without  you!

A  very  big  congratulations  toCornely’s  Dream  Team  who  took  home  the  win!

Thank You to all of our community sponsors at this year’s game:

The  ZoneGo  BananasRubino’s

Cheers  SportsCuriosity  Zone

Sweet  n  SassyDiamond  Sports  Training

Hello Mill Run Families!

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! We are very excited about the upcoming year and all the sensational events and opportunities in place for the students and families of Mill Run. Without a doubt, our school has the best staff, students, parents and community! Our students have done an outstanding job these first few weeks getting back “into the groove!” It’s so wonderful to greet their smiling faces each morning as they arrive to school. It’s very clear they are excited and ready to make each and every day their personal best!

This year our cafeteria program, “Lunchin’ for Loot” will continue. We have spent time in the cafeteria reviewing this exciting program so that all of our students can work collaboratively to achieve success for their entire class! Students, as a class, can earn $40.00 of “Lion Loot”. Once earned, they can choose a class reward! To earn the “loot”, students must follow PBIS rules while in the cafeteria. Throughout our school building, you will see our PBIS rules posted in the hallways, cafeteria, restrooms, and playground.

To be sure you stay informed of all the exciting activities and events happening at Mill Run, please check your child(s) yellow Thursday folder and our school website for upcoming information. This is the best way to stay connected with your child and their school day.

We are looking forward to working with our Mill Run school community to provide a wonderful and productive school year for everyone!

Tricia Ulbrich Marisa VeltriAssistant Principal Administrative Intern

To check out the monthly School Menu for OctoberPlease visit:

http://lcpshealthycafe.org/index.php?

Mill Run Cares

This  year  our  Mill  Run  Cares  Campaign  will  bene=it  our  “sister  school”  Sully  Elementary  in  Sterling.  

Run  for  Fun:  November  6th  after  school.

More  information  to  come  soon!

Administration  News  &  Views

Welcome back to a new and exciting school year! The “Character Word” for the month of September is

RESPECT . At Mill Run we reinforce this message each day during the morning announcements as we recite the Character Pledge--Today…I will do more than I have to; I will treat others as I want to be treated, and I will try to become a better person. Guidance lessons will emphasize the concept of respect as it applies to the three areas of focus--academic, social and career. Please ask your children to tell you about what they learned in their guidance lessons.

We hope to start small groups by October, so watch your Thursday folders for referral letters and permissions slips. No child will be placed in a small group without parental consent.

The first Mountain Lion’s Pride Citizenship Breakfast for the 2015-2016 year will be held on Wednesday, October 7th at 7:50 a.m. For those who are new to our school, this breakfast recognizes students that have been selected by their teachers for demonstrating good citizenship skills. A gentle reminder to parents, if you are unable to attend the Mountain Lion’s Pride breakfast when your child is receiving the reward, please let the school counselors and/or the classroom teacher know. Students feel so sad, and many tears are shed when there is no one there to see them receive their award. You will be notified by mail if your child has been selected. Mill Run has an abundance of good citizenship filling its hallways and classrooms!

Please feel free to contact your grade-level counselor at any time with your questions or concerns so that we may discuss them with you. It is our pleasure to be able to provide support and information to the students and families of Mill Run.

Sara Millikin (K-2)Michele Kovach (3-5)

Counselor’s

Corner

Cut those box tops and send them in!!!  

Can you imagine a fundraiser that's easier than eating a bowl of cereal or having a snack? With General Mills Box Tops for Education it's that simple. The school earns 10 cents for every box top logo that we submit to General Mills. Last year, Mill Run collected $3,629.30. Box Tops can be turned in to your child's teacher any day of the week. The teachers submit their Box Tops on the first Monday of every month.  So please remember to neatly trim your Box Tops, check the expiration dates, and send them to school! 

Visit http://www.boxtops4education.com for more information. Contact Liz Eagan at lizeagan@smartneighborhood.net with any questions!

Bing  in  the  Classroom  is  now  enabled  at  Mill  Run!

 Bing  is  Microso+'s  search  engine  and  a  few  years  ago  now  they  released  "Bing  in  the  Classroom"  which  includes  a  variety  of  items  that  are  beneficial  to  the  teaching  and  learning  process.  Students  can  prac@ce  their  digital  literacy  and  search  skills  in  a  safer  search  environment.        

Help  get  free  Microso;  Surface  tablets  into  Mill  Run’s  classrooms

Bing  Rewards  makes  it  easy  for  parents,  teacher  &  community  members  to  earn  free  Surface  tablets  for  our  classrooms  just  by  searching  on  Bing.    It’s  completely  free,  just  follow  these  three  simple  steps:

1.  Sign  up  for  Bing  Rewards  at  BingRewardsSchools.com2. Search  on  Bing  to  earn  credits3. Donate  your  credits  to  Mill  Run

Once  enough  credits  have  been  donated  to  Mill  Run,  Microso+  will  send  a  free  Surface  with  a  Type  Cover  directly  to  our  school.    Join  Bing  Rewards  at  BingRewardsSchools.com  to  start  earning  credits  today,  and  donate  your  credits  to  Mill  Run!

Library/Computer  Lab  News

Media  and  technology  are  at  the  very  center  of  all  our  lives  today  -­‐-­‐  especially  our  children’s.    Kids  today  spend  over  50  hours  of  screen  @me  every  week.  The  media  content  they  consume  and  create  has  a  profound  impact  on  their  social,  emo@onal,  cogni@ve,  and  physical  development.    Learning  how  to  use  media  and  technology  wisely  is  an  essen@al  skill  for  life  and  learning  in  the  21st  century.  But  parents,  teachers,  and  policymakers  struggle  to  keep  up  with  the  rapidly  changing  digital  world  in  which  our  children  live  and  learn.    Now  more  than  ever,  they  need  a  trusted  guide  to  help  them  navigate  a  world  where  change  is  the  only  constant.

LCPS  and  Mill  Run  Elementary  School  are  commiYed  to  training  our  students  to  be  good  digital  ci@zens.    Working  together,  Mrs.  Damewood  and  Mr.  Browning  will  be  using  the  Common  Sense  Educa@on  curriculum  to  teach  all  students  how  to  be  beYer  users  of  technology  while  being  safe.    

Common  Sense  Educa@on  provides  teachers  and  schools  with  free  research-­‐based  classroom  tools  to  help  students  harness  technology  for  learning  and  life.  Our  K–12  Digital  Ci@zenship  Curriculum  and  interac@ve  games  teach  students  how  to  make  safe,  smart,  and  ethical  decisions  in  the  digital  world.    

For  more  informa@on  about  Common  Sense  Media,  go  to  hYps://www.commonsensemedia.org/.

Library News

B i r t h d a y B o o k C l u b 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6We  would  like  to  thank  the  following  students  for  dona3ng  a  new  book  to  the  Mill  Run  Elementary  library  to  celebrate  a  birthday.If  you  are  interested  in  dona3ng  a  Birthday  Book,  informa3on  can  be  found  on  the  Library  Web  Page.

September 2015J.  Gaertner…Clams  All  Year

D.  Ostergard…Diary  of  a  Wimpy  Kid  Hard  LuckD.  Ostergard…Diary  of  a  Wimpy  Kid  The  Last  Straw

K.  Greene…S3nk  and  the  World’s  Worst  Super-­‐S3nky  SneakersK.  Greene…S3nk  the  Incredible  Shrinking  Kid

K.  Greene…S3nk  and  the  Midnight  Zombie  WalkM.  Kordes…The  Chicken  Squad,  the  First  Misadventure

M.  Kordes…Charlie  Goes  to  SchoolD.  Peterson…Tombquest:  Amulet  KeepersN.  Calderazzi…Whatever  AWer:  Cold  as  Ice

A.  Rodriguez…Magic  Tree  House  #45:  A  Crazy  Day  with  Cobras

Odyssey of the Mind 2015-2016What is it?

Odyssey of the Mind is a unique program where teams of 7 students apply their creativity to solve problems ranging from building mechanical devices to writing and performing original skits. Who can join? All Mill Run students are welcomed and encouraged to participate. We hope to build on and develop skill sets of the child in the following areas:Leadership - Art – Singing - Music -Crafting -Building -Writing –Acting – and Others When does it take place? Registration begins September 17th and applications are due by October 2nd Applications are available at http://millrunom.com

Where can I learn more? Please check the websites at www.odysseyofthemind.com and http://Millrunom.com Or contact John Fitzgerald at coordinator@millrunom.com.

As we begin a new year I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new families coming to Mill Run for the first time and a welcome back to all our returning families. It was nice to see so many of you at back to school day and our September meeting. I invite all PTO members to attend our monthly meetings held the second Tuesday of each month at 2:50pm in the school. If you are unable to attend, the meeting minutes are available under the PTO tab of Mill Run’s website.

We are always looking for fresh faces and new ideas in the PTO. If you have anything to share, please reach out to myself or one of our amazing board members. If you haven’t yet joined the PTO, it’s not too late! You can still join online. Also, don’t hesitate to fill in our volunteer interest form. Checking any of the boxes does not commit you to volunteering, it simply means when that event comes up, you’ll be included in the email for sign up opportunities. If you’re able to help out, great! The success of our PTO is driven by the amazing amount of volunteers that make our events remarkable. Any amount of time you are able to give is appreciated.

The amount of volunteers constantly at work behind the scenes at Mill Run always astounds me. Quite a bit of work went on through the summer to be sure the PTO was ready for back to school day. I would like to thank the following volunteers for being so giving with their time: Natalia Almuhaya, Christine Andretta, Denise Angelo, Jessica Chestnut, Liz Eagan, Ashley Grigg, Colleen Hughes, Andi Huppert, Erin Louis, Karina McKee, Oya Simpson, Emily Sparrow and Mellany Weaver. I would also like to thank all of the volunteers that brought items in for the PTO Staff Welcome Back luncheon the Wednesday before school started and all the volunteers that worked during Back to School day. We also had a very successful Mill Run Staff Softball game. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make that a success and to Andi Huppert, Kim McCracken and Heather Roper for organizing.

After School Activities- Thanks to all the parents for their patience during the registration process. We had a great turn out with approximately 430 registrations and 24 classes. Parent notifications will be sent via email before October 2nd. Classes begin October 5th. If you have any questions, please send an email to mreasa@gmail.com. Many thanks to Kristin Fetterman, Caroline Molthen, Beth Zemcik, and Natalia Almuhaya for organizing.

Our Fall Fundraiser, a Read-A-Thon, is underway. Each student should have received their secret code. Use this code to create your child’s personal Read-A-Thon page, then gather sponsors by sharing this page via electronic media with friends and family. Our Read-A-Thon runs from Sept 28th through October 9th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Emily Sparrow at jecsparrow@yahoo.com. The class per each grade level with the most sponsors will receive $100 to enhance their classroom reading area.

Our first Spirit Night is at Rubinos on Wednesday, October 7th. Eat in, carry out, lunch and/or dinner-please come out and support Mill Run.

I hope you have had a great start to the 2015-2016 school year!

Kristy McGehee

PTO President

PTO NEWS

Be the change you want to see in the world. -Gandhi

Follow us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/MillRunPTO

Grocery Links!

If due to a disability, you need assistance to enable you to meaningfully participate in any activities listed in this newsletter, please contact Mr. Cornely in the Mill Run office at (571) 252-2160 at least

five working days prior to the event. if the event is not at Mill Run, he will direct you to the appropriate resource.

Mill Run Elementary is dedicated to continuous school improvement. A formal School Improvement Plan has been developed by staff, parents, and community members. The plan is reviewed on an

ongoing basis. A copy is available in the school office and the school library. You may also call us at (571) 252-2160 to have a copy sent home with your child. We welcome your input!

Get ready for holiday shopping!

The Gift Card Fundraiser begins again on

November 12th

Mill Run Spirit Store is Now Open!Hours: Every Thursday Morning, 7:30-7:45am

The Spirit Store is run by parent volunteers. Children of our volunteers are welcome to help also!

If you are interested, please contact Ashley Grigg.Contact: Ashley Grigg terriagrigg@gmail.com with any questions.

Paw Pride Pencil, assorted pastels: $ .50

Bookmarks: $.75

Paw Pride Vinyl Ruler: $1.00

Pawsome Notebook: $2.00

Sharpener: $1.00

Paw Pride Car Magnet $3.00

Foam Fingers $3.00

Drawstring Backpacks $3.00

MILL RUN PTO 2015-2016

CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS

Robo>csTuesday  –  December  1,  2011  (2  shows,  8:30am,  9:40am)

Tuesday,  December  1,  2015  (2  shows,  8:30  AM,  9:40  AM)  The  Bureau  of  Lectures  is  proud  to  bring  you  a  brand  new  interacHve  journey  from  simple,  funny  robots  to  complex  (and  super  cute)  humanoid  robots.  Explore  the  Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  and  MathemaHcs  (STEM)  concepts  that  bring  roboHcs  to  life!  Your  students  will  get  to  interact  and  assist  with  robots  on  the  cuQng  edge  of  technology  and  then  see  the  robots  carry  out  their  commands.

Concepts  to  be  explored:

• Sensing  /  Electricity  –  How  do  switches  work?  What  is  electricity?  How  do  other  senses  sense?

• Programming  –  How  do  robots  “know”  what  to  do?

• Output  /  Motors  –  How  can  we  turn  electricity  into  moHon,  light,  or  other  forms  of  energy?

• Feedback  Loops  –  Self  correcHon  is  what  robots  uniquely  do.  Don’t  fall!

Fall  Shows

RESTAURANT  DAY!

Take  a  break  from  your  routine  to  join  us  at  

Rubinos  for  Pizzas,  Calzones  and  Fun!

Save  the  cooking  for  another  night  

and  join  other  Mill  Run  families  

for  a  night  out.

Wednesday,  October  7th

11:00  am  -­  9:30  pm

PTO Meetings for the School Year

October 13th

November 10th

December 8th

January 12th

February 9th

March 8th

April 12th

May 10th

Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 2:50 p.m. in the library at Mill Run.

All are welcome, including children! We encourage your participation and feedback.

MANY THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORS!

MILL RUN SCHOOL MOTTO

Today...

I will do more than I have to,

I will treat others as I want to be treated,

And I will try to become a better person.

Absentee Phone Line

If your child is absent for any reason, please make sure to call the Mill Run Absentee Phone Line, (571) 252-2162, on the day or days your child is not in school. When possible, we would like to receive your

call before our work day begins at 7:30 am. Also, please call the absentee number if your child will be tardy that day to prevent a phone call having to be made home. The absentee phone line is available for your use 24 hours a

day, everyday. You can also save time and email us about your child’s absence!