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Terraset
PTA TouchPoint
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2008-2009 Board
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Contact Us
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Terraset Elementary PTA
11411 Ridge Heights Road
Reston, Virginia 20191
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This
Issue Sponsored By
ASPEN JEWELRY DESIGNS
Dear Friend of Terraset,
It is hard to imagine that our children have almost made it to 100 days
at school this year. There seems to be so much still to do!
You are probably getting organiized
for the big Earth Day Event, thinking about your childrens'
participation in talent shows, string performances, and the school
musical. Helping with submissions for the new Terraset Literary
Magazine as well as thinking about preparing for tests and assessment.
Yes, we are busy... but its such a
good cause! Can we add two more things to your "to do" list? Make sure
you are informed about possible changes to the school's bell schedule
next year and think about making yourself available to work with the
PTA as a board member. That will really make you feel
invovled!
If there
is information that you would like to see included in this publication,
please send us your
thoughts.
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| Possible
New Bell Schedule for FCPS |
The following has been posted on the
FCPS website regarding the possible new Bell Schedule for FCPS:
What's
New...
The School Board discussed the possibility of changing school start and
dismissal times at its work session on Monday, January 12. At that
meeting, the Transportation Office provided a third iteration of a bell schedule. No decision has been made on
changing the bell schedule. Likewise, no decision has been
made on any programs that could be impacted such as after-school
activities and athletics.
Before making a decision, the School Board will explore how parents,
staff, and community members feel about such a
change. Six community
dialogues are being scheduled the last week in February to
invite families and community members to share their thoughts on such a
change. We will be inviting our families, community members,
and employees to complete a survey that will be posted on our web site
the first week of February.
If you examine the proposed
schedule, you will see that Terraset Elementary School's start time may
change to 7:50am with school finishing at 2:30pm. Should this proposal
be approved, it will certainly represent a big change to our community.
However, the recommended changes are based on many months of
discussion, solid research on the sleep needs of children and
adolescents, and a thorough examination of related transportation
issues.
You may be interested in some of the
following background information:
- report on the FCCPTA survey of
parents from June, 2008, on the FCCPTA website (www.fccpta.org)
- all materials and documents posted
on the FCPS website in connection with the school board's
transportation task force (www.fcps.edu/fts/taskforce07/)
- scientific data on the sleep needs
of teens, children, and adults at the National Sleep Foundation website
(www.sleepfoundation.org, then
select Teens from the list of topics)
- read the February FCCPTA
newsletter for a history of the later high school start time
initiative and the FCCPTA's role in that history
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| Barnes
& Noble Supports Terraset |
 Don't forget that if you
make any purchases at Barnes & Noble, Spectrum
Center, through February 18th, mention Terraset! Barnes
& Noble will make a donation to our school!
Check your Tuesday Pack for more
information!
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| GRACE
Art Corner: African Art |
 This
month the PTA will be presenting the African Art GRACE Art portfolio in
your child's class.
Art links past, present, and future
generations and works of art that outlive their creators can provide a
point of contact between people living now and those living centuries
ago. African Art epitomizes this characteristic.
In Africa, ancestors are seen to be
spiritual forces, able to intercede on behalf of the living.
Maintaining a positive relationship with the ancestors is believed to
assure the well being of individuals, families, and communities. To
emphasize this desire for harmony among all generations, African Art
celebrates its ancestry.
Students may be encouraged to consider
some of the following elements of the African Aesthetic.
- Resemblance to a human being:
African artists praise a carved figure by saying that it "looks like a
human being." Artists seldom portray particular people, actual animals,
or the actual form of invisible spirits. Rather, they aim to portray
ideas about reality, spiritual or human, and express these ideas
through human or animal images.
- Luminosity:
The lustrously smooth surface of most African figural sculpture, often
embellished with decorative scarification, indicates beautifully
shining, healthy skin. Figures with rough surfaces and deformities are
intended to appear ugly and morally flawed.
- Self-composure:
The person who is composed behaves in a measured and rational way; he
or she is controlled, proud, dignified, and cool.
- Youthfulness:
A youthful appearance connotes vigor, productiveness, fertility, and an
ability to labor. Illness and deformity are rarely depicted because
they are signs of evil.
- Clarity of form and detail,
complexity of composition, balance and symmetry, smoothness of finish:
African artists place a high value on fine workmanship and mastery of
the medium.
The GRACE Art project this month will have
the children trying their hands at beadwork. Beadwork has
been a very important and integral part of many
African tribes, playing an important role in
religious beliefs and magic, education, communication and recreation.
This profile was developed from materials
provided by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE)- www.restonarts.org in
conjunction with information from the University of Virginia, online at
http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/artsandmedia/artmuseum/africanart/index.html
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| Terraset
Literary Magazine |
 Don't forget that Terraset is
going to publish a new Literary Magazine.
Applications from students who wish to be
editors are currently under consideration. Once they are in place, they
will consider and review submissions from any student within the school.
So, if your child is interested in
writing, encourage them to make their submission.
Submissions will be accepted through April
3rd by email ( Bettina.forman@fcps.edu) or for
younger students, by placing submissions in a special basket designated
"literary magazine entries" in the front office. Poems, songs,
very short stories (150 words or less) or essays, written at home or
during writing workshop in school, will be reviewed.
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| PTA
Board Nominations |
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"Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has..." Margaret
Mead.
Now is the time to start thinking about
whether you are willing to serve on the PTA Board next year.
A nominating committee was established at
this week's PTA meeting. The committee will announce open positions
shortly with a view to calling for nominations.
The PTA is required to elect its new Board
in May, so nominations will be called for next month to ensure they can
be considered by a general meeting of the PTA well in advance of the
election.
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| Dates
to Remember |
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2/10/09 Tue 7:00pm, Beginning Strings
Valentine's Concert
2/20/09 Fri 9:30am, Assembly:
Rumpelstiltskin K-6
2/23/09 Mon, Science Fair
Projects Due
2/26/09 Thu 7:00pm, Scinece Fair Open House
3/3/09 Tue 7:00pm, PTA Meeting
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