|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
RAVEN REPORT
I know this week we had to pivot with the unexpected snow on Monday and I thank you for being so flexible. Our 8th grade students had the opportunity to go to Finance Park on Tuesday. We also had an opportunity to see lots of our Raven Time intervention in action this week. Thank you to all of you who are supporting literacy with our students. We know there are a lot of needs, and we have to be able to support in lots of different ways- it’s truly collective responsibility in action. Lastly this week we continue to see amazing high-leverage moves in action. Thank you for trying new things and committing to best instructional practices. This March we will be focusing on student presence in school and with our March Madness competition we want to bring some friendly competition to our community teams. Thank you for continuing to support our students and while I don’t want to jinx it, I look forward to a full week of school this week!
Follow us on Social Media: To see the latest from Poe MS follow us on Instagram at @poeravensfcps!
 |
|
Important Dates |
3/2: Attendance March Madness Begins (see below)
3/6: Tardy Sweep (beginning period 4)
3/10, 3/11, 3/12: MWEE Field Trip (7th Grade)
3/11: Parent Advisory Committee 5:00-6:00 Library
3/13: Theater Field Trip
3/20: No School
3/27: Early Release Day Q3
3/30-4/3: Spring Break
Spirit Week
 |
|
Raving Ravens |
HLM Reflections:
As we begin to finish up our high leverage moves, I’d like to take some time to share the impact these moves have had on individuals and their instruction. Here are two that I’d like to highlight:
“ How has your teaching changed so far as a result of the environmental scan observations & feedback?”
Math Reflection: “I intentionally plan small group instruction that is differentiated based on individual student needs. Groups are formed using current data, allowing me to provide targeted support, enrichment, or reteaching where necessary. This structure ensures that each student receives instruction aligned to their readiness level and learning goals.
My goal is for students to recognize that we are a community of learners who support and learn from one another. Through collaborative problem-solving, guided discussion, and shared accountability, students begin to see that growth is not competitive but collective. By fostering this environment, I aim to build both academic confidence and a strong sense of belonging within the classroom.
Moving forward, I will continue refining group structures, increasing opportunities for peer discourse, and reinforcing norms that promote mutual respect and shared responsibility for learning.”
FRED Cards: Here’s what people are saying about our amazing staff. Below are some of the highlights from the recent FRED Cards that were submitted. The person’s name is who is being highlighted followed by what was said about them by a colleague. I will continue to highlight them in each Raven Report so keep them coming!
-
Ahmed Ashour: “I was so impressed when you pulled a student aside that was crying, connected with him & talked through healthy ways to solve problems in the future. AND your apology to him was so powerful. I can tell you care about your students as people & you see the good in them. You reminded me of the joy of interacting with young people.”
-
Chris Waters: “Thank you for being such a positive force at Poe! I feel like you've been able to build strong relationships with kids. They know you care about them AND have the right expectation. I love seeing you in the halls. Thank you for all you do for our kids!”
-
Cheryl Menotti: “Thank you for always being gracious and welcoming when we have classroom CT visitors. I know I can always count on you to be flexible in letting colleagues take a peek into your classroom. I appreciate you!”
 |
|
Important Information |
March Madness Attendance Competition: To continue to work on our chronic absenteeism rate, we are holding a March Madness Attendance Competition! Here are the details:
-
Community Teams will compete for the lowest percentage of absences for all students in each team
- Absence rates are calculated based on percentage of students on each team (as opposed to number of students) to make the competition fair
- Each week, the team in the lead will earn a small prize (they will be called to the cafeteria at the beginning of Advisory on Mondays). Teams in the lead will be announced on the morning announcements each week.
- There will be a large prize at the end of the competition after Spring Break (they will be called to the cafeteria at the beginning of Advisory that day)
- On the first Friday of the competition (March 6), students will take an attendance pledge in Advisory
- We will also have a spirit week March 2-6 to build momentum with the completion:
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid: As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
-
Tuesday, March 3, at Waples Mill Elementary School.
-
Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
-
Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
-
Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Celebrating the Power of School Breakfast: Multiple studies show that school breakfast is important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Also, students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers.
This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Would you like to know what’s for breakfast? View Nutrition Services’ printable menus.
Become Unskippable: Share the Facts About Fentanyl With Teens
Talking with teens about the facts of fentanyl is a conversation you can’t skip. Learning about fentanyl gives teens a better understanding of the risks and effects of the drug, and what they can do to keep themselves and their communities safe.
Share these important facts with your child:
- Even half a fentanyl-laced pill can be fatal. Just a few salt-sized grains of fentanyl are enough to cause an overdose.
- More than half of local street pills contain a deadly dose of fentanyl. As of 2023, seven in 10 counterfeit pills in the U.S. contain enough fentanyl to cause a fatal overdose.
- Fentanyl is usually taken accidentally. Many people have no idea they’ve taken it until they overdose because you can’t see, smell, or taste it in pills and powders.
- Overdose can happen in an instant. In as little as four minutes, the lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage and even death.
Learn more about how to have conversations with your child in a way that will make you Become Unskippable.
 |
|
News from Students Services & MTSS Team |
National School Social Worker Appreciation Week: March 1-7 is National School Social Worker Appreciation Week! Please join me in thanking Stephanie Marine for her dedication to and efforts in supporting our students, families, and Student Services team. While Stephanie is new to Poe, she jumped right in with meeting with students, staff and families, and is already making an impact with our Attendance Team. Stephanie connects our families with essential resources to ensure our students' physical and emotional needs are met, provides counseling to our most at-risk students, collaborates with outside agencies to support our families with access to resources, supports Student Services schoolwide programming and interventions, and much more. We are so thankful she came to Poe. Please take a moment to thank Stephanie for her support and service!
 |
|
Updates from Tech Office |
Technology issues? Please send Marc Perella an email so he can investigate the problem. Some teachers are having problems with their ScreenBeams. The ScreenBeams are pretty old and some need a simple firmware update. Also, when issues arise, Marc can ask other TSSPEC’s in the County to find out if they are having similar issues as well.
Another tech trick for staff to regularly restart their computers, close tabs that are not being used, delete files they download from the Internet, and delete cookies from their browsing cache in Chrome. Reach out to Marc if you need assistance with any of these items.
Technology Visits: Please email Marc Perella prior to sending students to the technology office. He is often running around the building, and we don’t want students out of class too long missing instruction. Also, please make sure to send students with a pass.
Projectors: Please remember to turn off your projector when you are not using it throughout the school day. The bulbs wear down faster when left on for long periods of time. It is very important to turn off the projector at the end of the school day and before leaving for the weekend.
Student Laptop Care: Please continue to encourage your students to take good care of their laptops, keep the cases on and to not use stickers, graffiti, etc. on the cases or the actual laptop. There have been instances where students are removing the cases, carrying laptops by the screen or throwing backpacks which are causing damage to the machine. Gently remind your students that a damaged screen costs $84 to repair.
News from the PTSA
|
|
