Mantua Elementary School
PTA

Legislative Call-to-Action

LEGISLATIVE ALERT FOR MANTUA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS: E-MAIL OR CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT SB 768 This legislation is being fast-tracked in Richmond this week. It would eliminate the current ability of the Fairfax County Public Schools to negotiate a proffer with developers seeking to rezone property for denser residential development (except in limited urban development areas). The proffer system allows for developers to make a one-time financial contribution for any additional students that are generated though rezoning. The proffers are to be used by FCPS to build additional school capacity. FCPS needs to build additional classroom capacity for our school area and for the surrounding area. Our school would get less money to do this as a result of this legislation. Click here to get contact information for the appropriate State Representatives.

Counselor News

Mrs. McConnel, Counselor K-3, now has a counselor-intern with her until May 1. Mrs. Andi Farrow, who also has experience as a classroom teacher, is finishing her Masters degree at George Mason University this spring. She will be assisting Mrs. McConnel in her lessons and counseling activities for the next few months.

Distance Learning Center

Ms. Dunfee would love if you could donate your flat bedsheets or long curtains to the Distance Learning Center. She could use them for backdrops..

Hello, Mantua Korean Parents!

Several Korean parents who attended the PTA Volunteer Information meeting held at school last year decided to organize a group to insure all the Korean families are better connected to the school community. We have been putting together a directory with correct email addresses, setting up an internet cafe, and encouraging all to actively participate in upcoming school events. If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities and MantuaKoreanParents activities, please call Bonhee Ku (703-865-4548). The Mantua Korean Parents' internet cafe is open. The address is http:// cafe.daum.net/MantuaKoreanParents . Questions, answers and announcements regarding volunteer activities and school life will be posted here in Korean. If you have any difficulties opening the site, please call Young-mi Shim. (703-647-0181)

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do...

Like to be social and bring folks together? We have the job for you! The School Spirit Coordinator sets up social activities to bring families together outside of the school environment. In the past, we’ve had a Pizza Night, an ice skating party, Chuck E. Cheese party, and a paintball war! The possibilities are limitless. You can choose to work with a partner or as a committee if you prefer. You can coordinate one or two events for the rest of the schoolyear or however many you have time. Your call! Most of your work is coordinating with the establishment and then sending a flyer out to the school thru Tues. Folders announcing the essentials (time, date, place). If this sounds like a job you could have fun with please contact Trish Williams at trishdowney@gmail.com or call 703-865-8855. If you would like to serve on the PTA Think Tank Committee, please contact Bob Greene, PTA President, rgreene@afponline.org If you have ideas, recommendations for improvements or new programs, we’d love to hear them! We are looking forward to working with you! For further information on the above, please feel free to contact Monica Cameron monica.cameron@cox.net and/or Trish Williams at the #/address listed above. Talk to you soon!

Online Parent Database

Welcome to the 2007 - 2008 school year. The year promises to provide lots of opportunities to enhance our children's "school experience," and many of those opportunities are supported by the Mantua PTA. The PTA is a great way to get involved with Mantua Elementary, and we encourage every family to join and -- PTA member or not -- to participate! Check this site frequently! We've got info on upcoming events, and lots of information on the many, many PTA-sponsored activities. Check out the choice on the tab line above: you can use the Parent Database to join the PTA, let us know with which activities and events you'd like to help, or verify your information in the parent directory.

PTA Membership ...

has been a huge success this year! With your support, the PTA has funded and contributed funds for many items throughout the school as well as some fabulous programs, some of which are only offered here at Mantua. If you have not joined, now would be a perfect time to show your school support by becoming a part of the PTA. All families with at least one PTA member receive a Mantua School directory. Send in cash or write a check to “Mantua PTA” for $14 for a family membership or $7 for a single membership. Include “PTA Membership,” member(s) name(s), your child’s name, and his/her class on the envelope. You may also mail your check to: PTA Membership 9335 Tovito Drive Fairfax, VA 22031 THANK YOU! Donna Stelling McGrath, PTA Membership

The Latest on the Woodson Renovation

Please see the current schedule of events and a short question/answer dialog about the coming renovation! This information was presented at the January meeting of the Woodson PTSA. Please also check out comments from the President of the Woodson PTSA on the PTSA web site.

Info on Internet Safety

The PTA is most fortunate to have had Frost SBTS Jennifer Krell address us with information on how we can help keep our children safe from internet predators when they use the computer. Ms. Krell has kindly made available her materials, along with supplementary information. We've posted her materials on our "For Parents" page: click the tab above, or just click here.

Woodson Renovation Video

The FCPS Office of Design and Construction Services has released an animated, "fly-through" presentation of the Woodson HS renovation. You're welcome to view this interesting, virtual tour.

PTA Publications

In any organization, communication is of great importance. The Mantua PTA communicates with its members via the weekly Alert News, its quarterly Mantua PTA Newsletter, monthly meetings, Tuesday-folder flyers, occasional email, and this web site. Use the PTA Publications tab, above, to find the current and archived issues of the Alert News and the PTA Newsletter, the PTA bylaws, and other PTA publications.

Check Out the Latest on SLEEP

Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal's web site, www.SLEEPinFairfax.org, provides information about the organization's efforts to get later start times at Fairfax County high schools and middle schools. The site contains information about the group and its mission, a fact sheet on adolescents and sleep, and a petition to sign for those supporting later start times at secondary schools. SLEEP is a grassroots organization started by two Fairfax County parents concerned about the early start times of the county’s secondary schools. Five years ago, a Fairfax County Public Schools Task Force studying school start times concluded that later start times would benefit adolescents. There is a large body of research which supports the Task Force’s finding, saying that teenagers’ natural sleep patterns make it difficult for them to go to sleep and wake up early. Currently, however, most county high schools begin at 7:20 am, and adolescents are often going to school sleep-deprived. This matter will soon touch on all of our children. Learn as much as possible about it! SLEEP's web site is a great place to start.