“Success through Working with Integrity and Motivation!”
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From the Principal’s Desk
January is here, and with it comes the fresh start of a new year and renewed focus. This month is particularly important as we return from winter break to continue with our commitment to student learning and well-being. At Jennie Dean Elementary School, we remain dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where every student can achieve at high levels.
As we move forward into this new year, we remain focused on our academic goals and core values captured in our S.W.I.M. program: "Success through Working with Integrity and Motivation." Your partnership is the cornerstone of our school's success, and we appreciate your continued support in helping our students grow. Together, we can ensure that every child feels valued, respected, and ready to succeed through quality collaboration and honest work. Ed Stephenson, PhD
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Announcements This is a reminder to our families that we are using our learning management system, Schoology, for recording grades until Parent Portal is functional. The website below provides information about using Schoology, including how those with existing accounts can login and set new passwords.
Schoology Information for Parents: https://www.mcpsva.org/page/schoology-for-parents-december-2025
We sent home information on how to set up Schoology accounts for those parents who do not yet have them, including student-specific access codes last month. If you have any questions about your child's progress, or would like to have another copy of the letter sent home, please reach out directly to their classroom teacher. They are also glad to discuss the status of assignments and learning with you. Thank you for your patience and continued partnership as we work through these technical issues.
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Upcoming Events
9 Professional Day, no students 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school 28 Early Release
Update from the Music Room
Mark your calendars for February 18, 2025! The Dynamic Dolphins are taking the stage at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:15 PM, admission is free, and it’s an event you won’t want to miss! |
| News From PTO
Thank you so much for everyone who came to Cocoa Cookies and Coloring! It was a big hit!! Also, thanks to everyone who shopped at the Reindeer Shop! It was a little crazy but was fun to watch all of the joy in the kids faces! And a BIG THANK YOU to ALL of our VOLUNTEERS!
Look for fliers in January about upcoming activities, volunteer opportunities and meetings! Check out and follow our School and PTO FB pages Jennie Dean Elementary and Jennie Dean Elementary PTO! We are making sure to post all upcoming events and fun things going on!! Happy Holiday from your PTO!
JDPTO25@gmail.com (for anything regarding volunteering and or activities!!) Letter from our Librarian
Congratulations to students who are going to the School Spelling Bee on January 12. Please make sure that your students return their library books. If books are damaged, they still need to come back to the library. |
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Family Liaison’s Letter
Your Family Liaison: A Bridge to Resources and Support |
I am here Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. to support you. Please feel free to call me directly at 571-377-6313.. To set up an appointment, please call 571-377-6313 or simply scan the QR code below. We look forward to working with you! |
| Health and PE Update
Benefits of Exercise Mental: better memory and concentration, reduce stress, anger management, better self-confidence, better sleep, better self esteem Physical: burns fat, builds muscle strength, stronger bones, more energy, increases flexibility, better immunity, faster recovery from being sick
Social: gain new friends, helps learn empathy and other social skills Hydration Drinking water helps our brain stay focused and concentrate. Drinking water helps us get better faster when we are sick. Drinking water gives us energy and keeps our bodies cool. Drink 1 cup of water for how old you are; for example, if you are 7, drink 7 cups of water per day Volleying We have learned about volleying in PE this month! Volleying is to use your hands, arms, or a paddle to keep an object up in the air, without it hitting the ground. |
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Prekindergarten
PreK classes will be studying Clothes and answering questions such as, “What different types of clothes are there?”, “How do we take care of our clothes?”, and “What special clothes do people wear for work and play?”. We will use Clothes to learn concepts such as same and different, matching, and sorting. Clothes will be incorporated into literacy through stories such as The Mitten, Froggy Gets Dressed, and The Quinceanera. You can extend learning at home by talking about your clothes as you get dressed, and what clothes you wear for work, play, and special occasions.
Kindergarten Hello Kindergarten Families! For the month of January in language arts we will be working on writing and learning the sounds of the letters: B, U, and R. We will also be learning the high frequency words: and, you, big, with.
In math, we will start to learn about teen numbers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) and we will start to identify and sort shapes. As always, please continue to work on writing, counting, and building numbers 1-10. Please review our letters, sight words, and numbers as well as practice writing daily at home! Thank you!
-Ms. Jasmine and Ms. Winstead, Ms. Shakes and Ms. Molestina, Ms. Brown and Mr. D, & Ms. Holden and Ms. Galvez. |
| First Grade Math We will be focusing on comparing numbers to 100, subtraction, and area model fractions. Science and Social Studies We focus on Traits of a Good Citizen and Light, Sound and Motion.
Benchmark/ ELA Students will continue to learn about consonant digraphs. They will also continue learn about adjectives and using commas. Students will continue to practice writing.
Reminders Please remember to have your child read every night for 20 minutes and to practice writing at least a sentence about what he/she has done at school. Support your child in completing other tasks too.
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Second Grade
Math We learned many different subtraction strategies and are excited to learn about measurement and focus on inches. Science and Social Studies We are wrapping up our unit on Indigenous People and will be learning about Economics.
Benchmark/ ELA We are wrapping up our unit on folktales and fables and learning about lessons and central messages. Phonics focuses on ear, eer, ere as well as adjectives and adverbs. Reminders We are starting a "Lexia Lounge" in which students will get to make a special flavored water drink every 2 weeks when they make progress in their Lexia lessons. Students are excited about it and teachers are too! |
| Third Grade Math The students will be focusing on Division, Multiplication, Data and graphing, and Standard algorithm of addition.
Science and Social Studies We will continue learning about Natural Events and Human Influences. We will also be finishing ancient Egypt
Benchmark/ ELA In reading we will be wrapping up Unit 4 Comparing Points of View with a focus on summarizing, main idea and text evidence. We will also be writing an narrative journal entry and starting Unit 5 Advancements in technology.
Reminders Please remember to have your child read every night for 30 minutes and record their time on their reading logs. Also, each Monday a math worksheet is sent home for their weekly homework. This is due on Friday. |
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Contact Information
Please make sure you set up your ROOMs/Thrillshare account and reach out on ROOMS! or
Email your child’s teacher or send a note in green Daily Communications Folder! At Home Skill Building Practice-
Reading- Please make sure your child is reading for at least 15 minutes each night. It can be a book of choice or a library book.
Study your” Multiples Chart” for a few minutes each night. Charts are in the back of the green Daily folder. |
| Math Study your” Multiples Chart” for a few minutes each night. Charts are in the back of the green daily folder.
Benchmark/ ELA Please make sure your child is reading for at least 15 minutes each night. It can be a book of choice or a school or public library book. Reminders
Please check your child’s daily folder for important notices!
If you would like a conference (phone, face-to-face, or on-line) please contact your child’s teacher to schedule one. Conference day is Nov. 3rd! |
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| Encore Calendar
Our students attend music, library, art, and physical education on a rotating schedule. The schedule is noted as days A through E, and are available here. Encore schedules adjust with days when school is unexpectedly closed, such as snow days. The updated schedule is available here. Contact your student's teacher for more information.
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