Parent Teacher Association

THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: May 20-24

Posted by Audrey Pritchard at 5/19/2013

Monday Morning Movers, 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., Monday, May 20. We will meet on the blacktop/playground, weather permitting,for some before-school fun with plenty of equipment for your enjoyment! Just a reminder that for the safety of our children, parents must stay and supervise their children. We look forward to seeing you there!

Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27

SCHOOL NEWS

Join Us in Honoring Terry Bratt. After 18 years as Barrett's extraordinary principal and 43 years as an educator, Mrs. Bratt is retiring. Join us in honoring her on Wednesday, June 12 with a breakfast reception from 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Barrett library, and then at a school-wide assembly from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the Barrett gym. All are welcome to attend both events.

Pick Barrett's Produce! Barrett Families, we need your help to maintain Barrett's new Bountiful Garden over the summer. We are asking families to sign-up for a 3 DAY SLOT over the summer to: water, pick produce, weed, and weigh the produce. Picked produce needs to be delivered to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) on the 3rd day (the last day of the slot). More detailed instructions will be provided to families. Families with children on free-and-reduced lunch can keep the produce they pick. You can sign up for more than one slot.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4AAFAB2B0-barrett1
Thank you!
Save the Date for Reading Fun Day Friday, June 14! The kids have been reading and collecting words all year, and they're on their way to meeting Mrs. Bratt's challenge. A flyer (and Signup Genius) will be out shortly with many opportunities to help celebrate their accomplishments! 　

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:
· Live bats in the Discovery Lab!
· Writing about Bats
· Barrett Bat Kids are raising money to help the bats
· 3rd grade classes videoconference with NASA to compare and contrast habitats on Earth and Space
· Mrs. Landgraf's second grade class participated in a NASA and Sally Ride Science Digital Learning Network event about earth imagery and erosion. The event featured astronaut Mike Fincke, the uncle of one of the students in Langraf's class.
PHOTOS, PHOTOS, and MORE PHOTOS! Check out the blog　http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab

UPCOMING EVENTS
Roving Readers Day, Tuesday, June 4
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
Volunteer Tea, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 5
Rising K Orientation, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
Friday Volunteers Breakfast, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
First Chapter Days, Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11
Family Library Night - Movie Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 11
Terry Bratt Retirement Celebration, June 12, 7:30-9:00 a.m. (Breakfast reception), 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Assembly)
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, June 12
Instrumental Concert, 1:30 and 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 13

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.

Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: May 13-17

Posted by Katherine Roberts at 5/13/2013
Monday Morning Movers, 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., Monday, May 6. We will meet on the blacktop/playground, weather permitting,for some before-school fun with plenty of equipment for your enjoyment! Just a reminder that for the safety of our children, parents must stay and supervise their children. We look forward to seeing you there!

SCHOOL NEWS
Save the Date for Reading Fun Day Friday, June 14! The kids have been reading and collecting words all year, and they're on their way to meeting Mrs. Bratt's challenge. A flyer (and Signup Genius) will be out shortly with many opportunities to help celebrate their accomplishments! 　
Pennies for Patients. Barrett's 4-H Save the Earth Environmental Club is sponsoring a fundraiser for the Lymphoma Leuukemia Society of the National Capital Area. Each classroom has a box to collect money made by 4-H Club members. Small boxes have been distributed to individual students to collect money and place it in their classroom's large box. The class who earns the most will have a celebration pizza party! Questions? Please contact Stephanie Shaefer at 703-228-8532. Make checks payable to Lymphoma Leukemia Society.

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

K — Whooping Crane Skit

1st Grade — iPad Toontastic Animals in Space project

2nd Grade — Endangered Sea Turtles

3rd Grade — Local Bat Expert Visit on Monday

4th Grade — Engineering Design Challenge — Updated with Photos from Allen's Class

PHOTOS, PHOTOS, and MORE PHOTOS! Check out the blog http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab

UPCOMING EVENTS
Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27
Roving Readers Day, Tuesday, June 4
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
Volunteer Tea, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 5
Rising K Orientation, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
Friday Volunteers Breakfast, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
First Chapter Days, Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11
Family Library Night - Movie Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 11
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, June 12
Instrumental Concert, 1:30 and 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 13

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.
Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: May 6-10

Posted by Audrey Pritchard at 5/5/2013

Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday-Friday, May 6-10. This is the week when we get to show our amazing teachers how much we appreciate all they do for our children. Barrett families will be recognizing teachers with the following activities:
Monday, May 6. Munchkins and coffee in the teacher's lounge, sponsored by Barrett PTA.
Tuesday, May 7. Flower Day. Send your child to school with a purchased, picked, crafted, or illustrated flower and/or card to give to the teacher.
Wednesday, May 8. Teacher Breakfast in the teacher's lounge. Sign up to bring in breakfast items for teachers and staff http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4FAAAE229-teacher . There are still a few slots left!
Thursday, May 9. Recess coverage/Teacher Lunch sponsored by the Barrett PTA. Families will provide recess coverage for teachers so they can enjoy a longer lunch break. All slots are filled. Thank you!
Friday, May 10. Recess coverage. All slots are filled. Thank you!
Monday Morning Movers, 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., Monday, May 6. We will meet on the blacktop/playground, weather permitting,for some before-school fun with plenty of equipment for your enjoyment! Just a reminder that for the safety of our children, parents must stay and supervise their children. We look forward to seeing you there!

PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7. Highlights of the meeting will include: Special Guest Abby Rafael, Arlington School Board; Presentation by Dr. Rosa Biceno on "Family Engagement: Why it Matters, What it Looks Like"; Update on the Principal Selection Process; Election of the new PTA Board for 2013-2014; WIN Nationals vs Phillies tix. Raffle Tix just $3.00 each or four for $10.00. Child care and refreshments will be provided.

Bike or Walk to School Day, Wednesday, May 8. Students should lock their bikes securely in the rack behind the school or on the white rails nearby. Overflow bike parking will be on the large stage in the courtyard outdoor classroom. P.E. teachers will be talking to students during their classes about bicycle safety.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Thursday, May 9.

Kindergarten Concert, 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 10.

SCHOOL NEWS
Calling All Nats Fans! The Barrett PTA is raffling off four tickets to see the Washington Nationals play the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. Included with the tickets are free parking and an autographed baseball from pitcher Tyler Clippard. Tickets will be sold at the PTA meeting on Tuesday, May 7 and before and after school on Wednesday, May 8. They are $3.00 each or four for $10.00. The winner will be announced on Tiger TV Thursday, May 9.

Pennies for Patients. Barrett's 4-H Save the Earth Environmental Club is sponsoring a fundraiser for the Lymphoma Leuukemia Society of the National Capital Area. Each classroom has a box to collect money made by 4-H Club members. Small boxes have been distributed to individual students to collect money and place it in their classroom's large box. The class who earns the most will have a celebration pizza party! Questions? Please contact Stephanie Shaefer at 703-228-8532. Make checks payable to Lymphoma Leukemia Society.
New Reading Blog. Dr. Judy Concha, Lead Reading Teacher at Barrett, has started a weekly post to the English/Language Arts blog. English/Language Arts includes reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing media literacy. Read the ELA Blog to learn about these aspects of Language Arts, and how children develop them through home and school experiences. Read the blog to learn about how your child's teachers are planning and implementing 'best practices' in ELA instruction, and what you can do at home to support this instruction. You can see the weekly blog at http://www.apsva.us/Page/4204.

Box Tops Contest Reminder. Please keep sending in your Box Tops. The class that turns in the most will have a pizza party in June!

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

PHOTOS, PHOTOS, and MORE PHOTOS! Check out the blog http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab
· K - Whooping Crane Story Hats
· 1st Grade - Science Centers: Animals in Space
· 2nd Grade - WALL-E & NASA Kennedy Center Videoconference
· 3rd Grade - Mind Maps: How are Bat Helpful?
· 4th Grade - Engineering Design Challenge
· 5th Grade - JASON Project Digital Lab based on Dr. Sala's research on the relationship between tiger sharks and endangered monk seals in Hawaii

COMMUNITY NEWS

Upcoming School Board Caucus. There will be a School Board Caucus on May 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Drew Elementary, and Saturday, May 11 at W-L High School. Make sure you vote!

Community Reading Festival. All Arlington families are invited to The Reading Connection’s free Community Reading Festival Saturday, May 11 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School in Arlington, VA. Join The Reading Connection for an afternoon of reading, crafts, food and the opportunity to meet Clifford The Big Red Dog. Storytellers and VIPS include Arlington County Library’s Desiree Fairooz, educator Maria Elena Giraldo Greene, Senator Adam Ebbin, Delegate Alfonso Lopez and County Board member Mary Hynes. Register online at: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e7bi49po7dadc950&oseq=&c=&ch=.

Input from Parents Needed. WAMU 88.5's The Kojo Nnamdi Show is putting together a program exploring the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. Parents can share their experiences via an online form: http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/wamu/b6cb19144eeb/what-is-it-like-to-have-a-child-with-special-needs or by e-mailing mailto:insight%40wamu.org. WAMU 88.5 is an NPR station in the DC area.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27
Roving Readers Day, Tuesday, June 4
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
Volunteer Tea, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 5
Rising K Orientation, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
Friday Volunteers Breakfast, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
First Chapter Days, Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11
Family Library Night - Movie Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 11
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, June 12
Instrumental Concert, 1:30 and 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 13

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.

Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: April 29-May 3

Posted by Katherine Roberts at 4/29/2013

Mulch Madness. Saturday, May 4 at 9:00 a.m. (rain date May 5). Your help is needed to fill our vegetable garden boxes and mulch the pathways. If possible please bring a wheelbarrow, shovels, and work gloves. Bountiful Barrett: An Arlington Food Assistance Center "Plot Against Hunger" project.

SCHOOL NEWS
Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10. This is the week when we get to show our amazing teachers how much we appreciate all they do for our children. Barrett families will be recognizing teachers with the following activities:
Monday, May 6. Munchkins and coffee in the teacher's lounge, sponsored by Barrett PTA.
Tuesday, May 7. Flower Day. Send your child to school with a purchased, picked, crafted, or illustrated flower and/or card to give to the teacher.
Wednesday, May 8. Teacher Breakfast in the teacher's lounge. Sign up to bring in breakfast items for teachers and staff http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4FAAAE229-teacher . There are still a few slots left!
Thursday, May 9. Recess coverage/Teacher Lunch sponsored by the Barrett PTA. Families will provide recess coverage for teachers so they can enjoy a longer lunch break. Please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4FAAAE229-barrett1 . There are still a few slots left!
Friday, May 10. Recess coverage. Sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4FAAAE229-barrett1 .

New Reading Blog. Dr. Judy Concha, Lead Reading Teacher at Barrett, has started a weekly post to the English/Language Arts blog. English/Language Arts includes reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing media literacy. Read the ELA Blog to learn about these aspects of Language Arts, and how children develop them through home and school experiences. Read the blog to learn about how your child's teachers are planning and implementing 'best practices' in ELA instruction, and what you can do at home to support this instruction. You can see the weekly blog at http://www.apsva.us/Page/4204.

Stacker Movie Screening, Sunday, May 5, 2013 4:30 pm (doors open at 4:00). Support Barrett Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools at a screening of the sport stacking documentary movie Stacker, which follows the leading sport stackers as they train for and compete in the 2011 World Sport Stacking Championships. The movie features Barrett alumnus and Jefferson 6th grader William Polly, with appearances by Jefferson 6th grader Joshua Wacker, Barrett staff members Courtney Allen and Marvin Flores, and several Barrett students, too! Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington Tickets are $6.50, available at the door or online at http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1728

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

April brings an exciting month of learning in the Discovery Lab:
· K - Signs of Spring....Birds! Kindergarten kicked off the Bird Unit that will feature the endangered Whooping Crane. Ask your child, "What bird beak did you use? What food could it eat?"
· 1st Grade - Students videoconferenced with NASA Glenn Research Center in Ohio about Animals in Space.
· 2nd Grade - All classes completed an animated Apollo Mission to the Moon project using Toontastic. Over the next week students will share their projects with one another.
· 3rd Grade - Students replicated some of the work of a bat researcher as they classified bats and graphically represented the bat population data to share with their classmates. Ask your child, "What did you do as a bat researcher?"
· 4th Grade - Students watched the DVD Roving Mars to prepare for the upcoming Engineering Design Challenge of designing a landing system for a Mars spacecraft.
· 5th Grade - Students completed a JASON Project Digital Lab based on Dr. Sala's research on the relationship between tiger sharks and endangered monk seals in Hawaii. Ask your child, "What did you do to find out what the shark had eaten? What did you learn from the data?" Mrs. Lombardi's and Mrs. White's classes have completed this two-day lesson. Mr. Morse's class and Mrs. Harvey's class will complete the lab over the next two weeks.
Clothing and Totes from Lands’ End
http://tinyurl.com/BarrettLandsEnd
25% off Sale until Tuesday, April 30. Free Shipping on $50 orders + 25% off order; Savings reflected at checkout when you enter Promotion Code: HAPPY Pin: 1610
Lands’ End has created an online store for Barrett Elementary School. After you select the item you would like to order, choose to add the NASA Explorer School logo from the pull-down menu.
If you would like to add the NASA Explorer School logo to items not listed in the Barrett online store, call 1-800-469-2222 and a representative will be happy to help you. Barrett’s Preferred School number is 900155003
COMMUNITY NEWS

OPEN HOUSE AT THE OUTDOOR LAB! Sunday, May 5, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thinking about a fun, free, spring day in the country? The Outdoor Lab Open House is the event for you! The Open House is for all Arlington public school students, families and staff — bring your friends, too! This is your chance to relax, fish, hike, explore the animal lab, admire the spring blossoms, investigate a stream, breathe fresh country air, roast hot dogs and cook s’mores. Just bring your family and friends and have a great time! The Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor environmental education opportunities to learn about animals, science, outdoor skills, arts, and humanities in a natural setting—over 200 acres of forests, fields and hills, a spring-fed stream, a pond, and nature hiking trails.
DIRECTIONS: The lab is roughly 35 miles and takes approximately 45 minutes. It is west of Arlington, just a few miles off I-66. Take I-66 West about 26 miles to Exit 40 - Haymarket. At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 15 South. At the 2nd traffic light turn right onto Route 55 West. After about 3.5 miles turn left onto Beverly's Mill Rd. (Route 600). After 1.4 miles turn right into the new driveway - look for a sign that says "Outdoor Lab." Parking is free. No pets, please. 703-228-7650. Call if the weather is questionable. http://www.outdoorlab.org

Upcoming School Board Caucus. There will be a School Board Caucus on May 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Drew Elementary, and Saturday, May 11 at W-L High School. Make sure you vote!
Input from Parents Needed. WAMU 88.5's The Kojo Nnamdi Show is putting together a program exploring the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. Parents can share their experiences via an online form: http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/wamu/b6cb19144eeb/what-is-it-like-to-have-a-child-with-special-needs or by e-mailing mailto:insight%40wamu.org. WAMU 88.5 is an NPR station in the DC area.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday-Friday, May 6-10
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Thursday, May 9
Kindergarten Concert, 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 10
Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27
Roving Readers Day, Tuesday, June 4
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
Volunteer Tea, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 5
Rising K Orientation, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7
Friday Volunteers Breakfast, 8:30-10:00 a.m., Friday, June 7

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.

Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: April 22-26

Posted by Audrey Pritchard at 4/21/2013

Earth Week Celebration, Monday-Friday, April 22-26. Every day this week, Barrett students will have experiences that increase their knowledge about the environment and encourage them to participate in caring for our earth and its resources. Here is the schedule of events:

Monday: Poster contest awards announced on Tiger TV
Tuesday: Lunch on the Lawn; Library Night and large recycled art piece; plant sale
Wednesday: E-Shirt Spirit Day (PreK-1 wears white for air; grades 2-3 wear green for land; grades 4-5 wear blue for water); Green Patrol Kick-off
Thursday: "Farm-to-Table" at Lunch
Friday: Garden work day; recycling at lunch
All Week: A Poem a Day on Tiger TV; poetry scavenger hunt; Earth Week posters display (library); Nature Walk with pedometers (PE); Student-made "EcoActions Videos" on Tiger TV; Enormous Radish Project (FLES K-2); Air Quality Explorations (FLES 3rd-5th); Special Projects (Art)

Volunteers are still needed for several of these activities, but particularly for our Farm-to-Table event scheduled over lunch on Thursday. If you are able to donate produce, wash and prep vegetables, help hand out samples to students or answer veggie related questions, please sign up via this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DAEAC2AA13-earth. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Steph Dempsey pharmletto@yahoo.com or cindy.mcgonigle@apsva.us.

Earth Week Family Library Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23. Join Pajama Mama and her friends in reading about the creative world of Grandma Prisbey, who built beautiful houses from glass bottles. In the tradition of Grandma Prisbey, families will make a large recycled art piece to be installed in the school hallway. We will be finger weaving with fabric scraps, yarn remnants, plastic bags and old t-shirts. You can even wear your pajamas!

Plant Sale, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23. During library night, you can purchase locally grown (at Barrett) tomato, pepper, herb, and other vegetable plants in the alcove by Room 100. Proceeds will go to the PTA to help cover the cost of the "Bountiful Garden."

Honor Roll Assembly, 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24.

Garden Work Day, 3:15-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26.

SCHOOL NEWS
Feedback Sought in New Principal Search. As we begin the search for a principal at Barrett Elementary School, we would like to have feedback from parents, staff and community regarding the strengths of the school, the most important challenges faced by the school, and the attributes desired in a principal. Please fill out our feedback form, which can be found at http://research.zarca.com/survey.aspx?k=RQsSRTVsTRUsPsPsP&lang=0&data. The form will be available through April 26, 2013. More information can be found on the Barrett Elementary home page.

Direct Mail Campaign. Recently an envelope came home in you child's folder. It contained the flyer for this year's direct mail campaign. The PTA is collecting donations to help support Barrett's Bountiful Garden, as well as the many activities and special events the PTA hosts. Completed forms and donations can be returned in your child's backpack address to the PTA or to the office. Thank you! Jennifer Claffey 703-328-0751

New Reading Blog. Dr. Judy Concha, Lead Reading Teacher at Barrett, has started a weekly post to the English/Language Arts blog. English/Language Arts includes reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing media literacy. Read the ELA Blog to learn about these aspects of Language Arts, and how children develop them through home and school experiences. Read the blog to learn about how your child's teachers are planning and implementing 'best practices' in ELA instruction, and what you can do at home to support this instruction. You can see the weekly blog at http://www.apsva.us/Page/4204.
Seeking Veggie VIPs. Do you have a food-related job? Are you an avid gardener, chef, dietician, CSA member, or farmer's market frequenter? We would like to make Farm-to-Table a reccuring event at Barrett and are in need of some interested parents who would like to make this happen. If you would like to be a part of Farm-to-Table or have contacts and ideas you'd like to share, please sign up via the Earth Week Sign-Up Genius under "overview" so we can contact you: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DAEAC2AA13-earth.
Stacker Movie Screening, Sunday, May 5, 2013 4:30 pm (doors open at 4:00). Support Barrett Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools at a screening of the sport stacking documentary movie Stacker, which follows the leading sport stackers as they train for and compete in the 2011 World Sport Stacking Championships. The movie features Barrett alumnus and Jefferson 6th grader William Polly, with appearances by Jefferson 6th grader Joshua Wacker, Barrett staff members Courtney Allen and Marvin Flores, and several Barrett students, too! Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington Tickets are $6.50, available at the door or online at http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1728

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

April brings an exciting month of learning in the Discovery Lab:
· K - Signs of Spring....Birds! Kindergarten kicked off the Bird Unit that will feature the endangered Whooping Crane. Ask your child, "What bird beak did you use? What food could it eat?"
· 1st Grade - Students videoconferenced with NASA Glenn Research Center in Ohio about Animals in Space.
· 2nd Grade - All classes completed an animated Apollo Mission to the Moon project using Toontastic. Over the next week students will share their projects with one another.
· 3rd Grade - Students replicated some of the work of a bat researcher as they classified bats and graphically represented the bat population data to share with their classmates. Ask your child, "What did you do as a bat researcher?"
· 4th Grade - Students watched the DVD Roving Mars to prepare for the upcoming Engineering Design Challenge of designing a landing system for a Mars spacecraft.
· 5th Grade - Students completed a JASON Project Digital Lab based on Dr. Sala's research on the relationship between tiger sharks and endangered monk seals in Hawaii. Ask your child, "What did you do to find out what the shark had eaten? What did you learn from the data?" Mrs. Lombardi's and Mrs. White's classes have completed this two-day lesson. Mr. Morse's class and Mrs. Harvey's class will complete the lab over the next two weeks.
Barrett in the News
Barrett is featured in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Report: Bringing Environmental Education to Diverse Audiences. The article can be found on pages 20 - 23. Also, check out our photo on the Table of Contents page. We are really excited to be included in this publication! http://www.fws.gov/refuges/education/pdfs/FWS_specialReport.pdf

COMMUNITY NEWS
OPEN HOUSE AT THE OUTDOOR LAB! Sunday, May 5, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thinking about a fun, free, spring day in the country? The Outdoor Lab Open House is the event for you! The Open House is for all Arlington public school students, families and staff — bring your friends, too! This is your chance to relax, fish, hike, explore the animal lab, admire the spring blossoms, investigate a stream, breathe fresh country air, roast hot dogs and cook s’mores. Just bring your family and friends and have a great time! The Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor environmental education opportunities to learn about animals, science, outdoor skills, arts, and humanities in a natural setting—over 200 acres of forests, fields and hills, a spring-fed stream, a pond, and nature hiking trails.
DIRECTIONS: The lab is roughly 35 miles and takes approximately 45 minutes. It is west of Arlington, just a few miles off I-66. Take I-66 West about 26 miles to Exit 40 - Haymarket. At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 15 South. At the 2nd traffic light turn right onto Route 55 West. After about 3.5 miles turn left onto Beverly's Mill Rd. (Route 600). After 1.4 miles turn right into the new driveway - look for a sign that says "Outdoor Lab." Parking is free. No pets, please. 703-228-7650. Call if the weather is questionable. http://www.outdoorlab.org

Upcoming School Board Caucus. There will be a School Board Caucus on May 9th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Drew Elementary, and Saturday, May 11th at W-L High School. Make sure you vote!
Input from Parents Needed. WAMU 88.5's The Kojo Nnamdi Show is putting together a program exploring the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. Parents can share their experiences via an online form: http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/wamu/b6cb19144eeb/what-is-it-like-to-have-a-child-with-special-needs or by e-mailing mailto:insight%40wamu.org. WAMU 88.5 is an NPR station in the DC area.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday-Friday, May 6-10
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Thursday, May 9
Kindergarten Concert, 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 10
Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.

Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: April 15-19

Posted by Katherine Roberts at 4/15/2013
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, April 17

Principal Selection Process Meeting. Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (child care will be provided) As we begin the search for a new principal at Barrett Elementary School, we would like to have feedback from parents and staff regarding the strengths of the school, the most important challenges faced by the school, and the attributes desired in a principal. Please attend the following meetings to hear the parent representative selection process, participate in a focused discussion of the attributes we are looking for in a new principal, and help formulate interview questions. Another meeting is scheduled for Friday morning, April 19 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Arts and Writers Fair, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18. Come celebrate Barrett's great artists, writers, and musicians...and support the PTA at the Barrett Used Book Sale. The evening will include family music-making, open mic poetry, and music presentations. Come see your student's art and writing, add to the Barrett community painting, participate in a treasure hunt, and more.

Used Book Sale, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18. Donated items are sold for 50 cents each and we typically raise $1,000 in just a few hours. In addition to raising money for the PTA, the Used Book Sale allows for many books to be recycled and is a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, and staff to purchase books at a low cost. The Used Book Sale will be held in the school gym. Contact Sarah Campany with any questions at 703-346-0854 or scampany5@gmail.com.

Barrett 5K & Kids Fun Run, 8:00 a.m., Saturday, April 20. Please be aware that due to an overwhelming response, we completed our registration process on April 13. Walkers and runners among our families, staff, and surrounding community will be gathering in Bluemont Park at 601 North Manchester, with the 5K to begin at 8:00 a.m. and the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run will start at 9:00 a.m. Come out and share your Barrett spirit by cheering them on--it's a really fun morning and we'd love to have you join us! 　

SCHOOL NEWS
Earth Week Activities Need Volunteers. Planting a seed and waiting eagerly for it to sprout. Tasting a radish or garden fresh lettuce for the first time ever. Doing an air pollution experiment and perhaps even feeling moved to help make a difference. Every day during Earth Week (April 22-26), Barrett students will have experiences like these that increase their knowledge about the environment and encourage them to participate in caring for our earth and its resources. Many of these activities are hands-on by design and extra volunteer help — big and small! — will be required to make them successful.
One of our biggest needs is for volunteers to assist with the "Enormous Radish" planting. During this activity the K-2 kids will read The Enormous Watermelon, The Gigantic Sweet Potato or the Giant Carrot and then plant their own Giant German Radish seeds in recycled paper pots. Volunteers will assist students in constructing paper pots using newspaper, filling pots with soil, and planting Giant German Radish seeds. Believe it or not, these seeds are capable of growing up to tennis ball size! The students will care for the seedlings over the next few weeks and will have a giant radish contest at the end of the growing season to see just how much they grew! Please consider volunteering to help with an Earth Week project. If you are a parent of a K-2 grader and would like to volunteer to help with the "Enormous Radish" planting a particular class, please contact me for specific class times. Steph Dempsey pharmletto@yahoo.com

Please take a look at www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DAEAC2AA13-earth to see how you might help, or contact cindy.mcgonigle@apsva.us for more information. Thank you! ~ The Barrett Staff Outdoor Classroom & PTA "Go Green" Committees

Earth Week Celebration Schedule
Monday: Poster contest awards announced on Tiger TV
Tuesday: Lunch on the Lawn; Library Night and large recycled art piece
Wednesday: E-Shirt Spirit Day (PreK-1 wears white for air; grades 2-3 wear green for land; grades 4-5 wear blue for water); Green Patrol Kick-off
Thursday: Farm to Table at Lunch
Friday: Garden work day; Recycling at lunch
All Week: A Poem a Day on Tiger TV; Poetry scavenger hunt; Earth Week Posters Display; Nature Walk with pedometers (PE); Student-made EcoActions Videos on Tiger TV; Enormous Radish Project (FLES K-2); Air Quality Explorations (FLES 3rd-5th); Special Projects (Art)

Plant Sale. Locally grown (at Barrett) tomato, pepper, herb, and other vegetable plants will be on sale April 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m. during the Arts and Writers Fair AND 7:00-8:00 p.m. on April 23 during Library Night. Proceeds will go to the PTA to help cover the cost of the "Bountiful Garden."
Direct Mail Campaign. Last week an envelope came home in you child's folder. It contained the flyer for this year's direct mail campaign. The PTA is collecting donations to help support Barrett's Bountiful Garden, as well as the many activities and special event the PTA hosts. Completed forms and donations can be returned in your child's backpack address to the PTA or to the office. Thank you! Jennifer Claffey 703-328-0751
Stacker Movie Screening, Sunday, May 5, 2013 4:30 pm (doors open at 4:00). Support Barrett Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools at a screening of the sport stacking documentary movie Stacker, which follows the leading sport stackers as they train for and compete in the 2011 World Sport Stacking Championships. The movie features Barrett alumnus and Jefferson 6th grader William Polly, with appearances by Jefferson 6th grader Joshua Wacker, Barrett staff members Courtney Allen and Marvin Flores, and several Barrett students, too! Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington Tickets are $6.50, available at the door or online at http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1728

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

April brings an exciting month of learning in the Discovery Lab:
· K - Signs of Spring....Birds! Kindergarten kicked off the Bird Unit that will feature the endangered Whooping Crane. Ask your child, "What bird beak did you use? What food could it eat?"
· 1st Grade - Students videoconferenced with NASA Glenn Research Center in Ohio about Animals in Space.
· 2nd Grade - All classes completed an animated Apollo Mission to the Moon project using Toontastic. Over the next week students will share their projects with one another.
· 3rd Grade - Students replicated some of the work of a bat researcher as they classified bats and graphically represented the bat population data to share with their classmates. Ask your child, "What did you do as a bat researcher?"
· 4th Grade - Students watched the DVD Roving Mars to prepare for the upcoming Engineering Design Challenge of designing a landing system for a Mars spacecraft.
· 5th Grade - Students completed a JASON Project Digital Lab based on Dr. Sala's research on the relationship between tiger sharks and endangered monk seals in Hawaii. Ask your child, "What did you do to find out what the shark had eaten? What did you learn from the data?" Mrs. Lombardi's and Mrs. White's classes have completed this two-day lesson. Mr. Morse's class and Mrs. Harvey's class will complete the lab over the next two weeks.
Barrett in the News
Barrett is featured in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Report: Bringing Environmental Education to Diverse Audiences. The article can be found on pages 20 - 23. Also, check out our photo on the Table of Contents page. We are really excited to be included in this publication! http://www.fws.gov/refuges/education/pdfs/FWS_specialReport.pdf
Poster Contest for Earth Week
Create a poster of any size to celebrate the theme of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! One prize per grade level will be awarded! Submit your entries to the library on Friday, April 19.
RULES
Must feature one way you can Reduce, Reuse OR Recycle.
Tell how your example helps the environment.
All artwork must be original, hand-drawn. NO technology or photographs.
Posters must be done individually; NO teams or pairs
Name, grade level, and teacher must be on the back of the poster
Questions? Please email Mr. Porter or Ms. Delli, Members of the Outdoor Classroom Committee
COMMUNITY NEWS

OPEN HOUSE AT THE OUTDOOR LAB! Sunday, May 5, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thinking about a fun, free, spring day in the country? The Outdoor Lab Open House is the event for you! The Open House is for all Arlington public school students, families and staff — bring your friends, too! This is your chance to relax, fish, hike, explore the animal lab, admire the spring blossoms, investigate a stream, breathe fresh country air, roast hot dogs and cook s’mores. Just bring your family and friends and have a great time! The Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor environmental education opportunities to learn about animals, science, outdoor skills, arts, and humanities in a natural setting—over 200 acres of forests, fields and hills, a spring-fed stream, a pond, and nature hiking trails.
DIRECTIONS: The lab is roughly 35 miles and takes approximately 45 minutes. It is west of Arlington, just a few miles off I-66. Take I-66 West about 26 miles to Exit 40 - Haymarket. At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 15 South. At the 2nd traffic light turn right onto Route 55 West. After about 3.5 miles turn left onto Beverly's Mill Rd. (Route 600). After 1.4 miles turn right into the new driveway - look for a sign that says "Outdoor Lab." Parking is free. No pets, please. 703-228-7650. Call if the weather is questionable. http://www.outdoorlab.org

Upcoming School Board Caucus. There will be a School Board Caucus on May 9th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Drew Elementary, and Saturday, May 11th at W-L High School. Make sure you vote!
Input from Parents Needed. WAMU 88.5's The Kojo Nnamdi Show is putting together a program exploring the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. Parents can share their experiences via an online form: http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/wamu/b6cb19144eeb/what-is-it-like-to-have-a-child-with-special-needs or by e-mailing mailto:insight%40wamu.org. WAMU 88.5 is an NPR station in the DC area.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Earth Week Family Library Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23
Honor Roll Assembly, 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24
Garden Work Day, 3:15-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26
Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday-Friday, May 6-10
PTA Meeting, Tuesday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Thursday, May 9
Kindergarten Concert, 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 10
Memorial Day—NO SCHOOL, Monday, May 27

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.
Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: April 8-12

Posted by Audrey Pritchard at 4/7/2013

Monday Morning Movers, 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., Monday, April 8. Monday Morning Movers is back! Beginning Monday, we will meet on the blacktop/playground each Monday morning through the end of the school year. Join us from 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., weather permitting,for some before-school fun with plenty of equipment for your enjoyment! Just a reminder that for the safety of our children, parents must stay and supervise their children. We look forward to seeing you there!
Principal Search Meeting With Superintendent, 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 8. APS Superintendent Dr. Murphy and Dr. Hobbs, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services, will meet with Barrett parents at 7:00 p.m. Monday night to discuss the procedure for selection of the new principal, perceptions regarding the strength our school, the most important challenges faced by the school, and the attributes desired in a new principal. All are invited to attend. Child care will be provided.

Kindergarten Information Session, 12:45-2:15 p.m., Friday, April 12. Do you have a rising kindergartener? Please join us for Barrett's Kindergarten Information Session. Learn about the amazing things happening at Barrett Elementary School. Each session will include school tours, exhibits of students' work, and information on Barrett's focus in math, science and the arts.

Yearbook Order Forms Due, Friday, April 12. If you would like to order a Barrett 2012-13 yearbook, please return the forms that came home in Friday folders by this Friday. Yearbooks are $22.50 per copy. Return the form and payment (cash or check - checks preferred, payable to Barrett PTA) to your child's classroom teacher.
SCHOOL NEWS
Come Build a Garden! Barrett is creating a vegetable garden: BOUNTIFUL BARRETT. The produce from the garden will be donated to the Arlington Food Assistance Center. We need your help with Phase 1: Building the Garden Boxes on Saturday, April 13 starting at 9:00 a.m. behind the pre-school playground in back of Barrett. Adults are needed to help carry lumber from the parking lot to the garden and to help our construction expert, Dick Engelken, build the garden boxes. No experience necessary--just the willingness to do outdoor work. Please contact Wendy Cohen at wendy.cohen@apsva.us if you can come.　
Arts and Writers Fair, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18. Come celebrate Barrett's great artists, writers, and musicians...and support the PTA at the Barrett Used Book Sale. The evening will include family music-making, open mic poetry, and music presentations. Come see your student's art and writing, add to the Barrett community painting, participate in a treasure hunt, and more.

Barrett Used Book Sale Collection. Please use the box in the lobby to donate your gently used books, videos, DVDs, CDs, board games, and puzzles. Each year we hold a Used Book Sale in the gym and every year we receive many generous donations from the Barrett community. Donated items are sold for 50 cents each and we typically raise $1,000 in just a few hours. In addition to raising money for the PTA, the Used Book Sale allows for many books to be recycled and is a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, and staff to purchase books at low costs. The Used Book Sale will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the school gym. Contact Sarah Campany with any questions at 703-346-0854 or scampany5@gmail.com.

Register for Barrett's 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, April 20th! As in past years, we will be gathering in Bluemont Park at 601 North Manchester, with the 5K to begin at 8:00 a.m. and the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run to start at 9:00 a.m. For additional details and to register, please check out our website at http://barrett5k.jimdo.com. You get a really cool Tigers race shirt if you sign up this week! Even if you are not a runner, please join us as a volunteer (a Sign-Up Genius will be sent shortly) and/or just to cheer our runners on!

Also, this event is being generously sponsored by Gold's Gym but we remain interested in having additional support from our business community, so please contact Lori Engelken at lori.engelken@verizon.net with ideas regarding additional sponsorship opportunities. Thanks and we look forward to another fun and healthy event! PTA, Health and Wellness Committee

Earth Week Activities Need Volunteers. Planting a seed and waiting eagerly for it to sprout. Tasting a radish or garden fresh lettuce for the first time ever. Doing an air pollution experiment and perhaps even feeling moved to help make a difference. Every day during Earth Week (April 22-26), Barrett students will have experiences like these that increase their knowledge about the environment and encourage them to participate in caring for our earth and its resources. Many of these activities are hands-on by design and extra volunteer help ~ big and small! ~ will be required to make them successful. Please take a look at www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DAEAC2AA13-earth to see how you might help, or contact cindy.mcgonigle@apsva.us for more information. Thank you! ~ The Barrett Staff Outdoor Classroom & PTA "Go Green" Committees

Stacker Movie Screening, Sunday, May 5, 2013 4:30 pm (doors open at 4:00). Support Barrett Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools at a screening of the sport stacking documentary movie Stacker, which follows the leading sport stackers as they train for and compete in the 2011 World Sport Stacking Championships. The movie features Barrett alumnus and Jefferson 6th grader William Polly, with appearances by Jefferson 6th grader Joshua Wacker, Barrett staff members Courtney Allen and Marvin Flores, and several Barrett students, too! Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington Tickets are $6.50, available at the door or online at http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1728

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:
· NASA-related centers for Kindergarten students
o Robonaut on the International Space Station
o Robonaut Game
o NASA Our World "Spacesuits"
o Space Shuttles
o Space Ice Cream
o Reading in the Space Station module
o Building with "astronaut gloves"
· 1st Grade - Women's History Month Focus on 1st American female astronaut Sally Ride
· 2nd Grade - Kick off Apollo to the Moon Project
· 3rd Grade - Beginning collaborative Bat Unit in the Discovery Lab, Library, and Classroom
· 4th Grade - Building a working model End Effector (hand) for Robotic Arm similar to that on the ISS
· 5th Grade - Rock Cycle Game

COMMUNITY NEWS

OPEN HOUSE AT THE OUTDOOR LAB! Sunday, May 5, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thinking about a fun, free, spring day in the country? The Outdoor Lab Open House is the event for you! The Open House is for all Arlington public school students, families and staff — bring your friends, too! This is your chance to relax, fish, hike, explore the animal lab, admire the spring blossoms, investigate a stream, breathe fresh country air, roast hot dogs and cook s’mores. Just bring your family and friends and have a great time! The Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor environmental education opportunities to learn about animals, science, outdoor skills, arts, and humanities in a natural setting—over 200 acres of forests, fields and hills, a spring-fed stream, a pond, and nature hiking trails.
DIRECTIONS: The lab is roughly 35 miles and takes approximately 45 minutes. It is west of Arlington, just a few miles off I-66. Take I-66 West about 26 miles to Exit 40 - Haymarket. At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 15 South. At the 2nd traffic light turn right onto Route 55 West. After about 3.5 miles turn left onto Beverly's Mill Rd. (Route 600). After 1.4 miles turn right into the new driveway - look for a sign that says "Outdoor Lab." Parking is free. No pets, please. 703-228-7650. Call if the weather is questionable. http://www.outdoorlab.org

Upcoming School Board Caucus. There will be a School Board Caucus on May 9th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Drew Elementary, and Saturday, May 11th at W-L High School. Make sure you vote!
Input from Parents Needed. WAMU 88.5's The Kojo Nnamdi Show is putting together a program exploring the challenges faced by parents of children with special needs. Parents can share their experiences via an online form: http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/wamu/b6cb19144eeb/what-is-it-like-to-have-a-child-with-special-needs or by e-mailing mailto:insight%40wamu.org. WAMU 88.5 is an NPR station in the DC area.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, April 17
Arts and Writers Fair, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Used Book Sale, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Barrett 5K & Kids Fun Run, 8:00 a.m., Saturday, April 20
Earth Week Family Library Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23
Honor Roll Assembly, 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24
Garden Work Day, 3:15-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26
Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday-Friday, May 6-10
PTA Meeting, Tuesday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Thursday, May 9

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.

Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: April 2-5

Posted by Katherine Roberts at 4/2/2013
Direct Mail Pizza Party and PTA Meeting, Tuesday, April 2. Please join us tonight at 6:00 p.m. for the Direct Mail Campaign Envelope Stuffing Pizza Party, and at 7:00 p.m. for the PTA meeting.
Direct Mail Campaign Envelope Stuffing Pizza Party: Volunteers of all ages needed. The direct mail campaign needs lots of extra hands for our envelope stuffing pizza party! We will be putting together the mailing for the PTA's direct mail campaign before the PTA meeting. Pizza and drinks will be provided. If you plan to come, please e-mail Samara Weinstein at samarajw@yahoo.com so we know how much pizza to order!
PTA Meeting:　

Hear a presentation by Barrett’s Reading Team!

Learn about the process for hiring a replacement principal.

Provide input on the PTA's fundraising plans for next year!

Learn the latest on the Arlington budget impacts on Barrett.

The Nominating Committee will introduce the 2013-2014 PTA Executive Board. Elections in May.
SCHOOL NEWS
Monday Morning Movers. Yes, it's true… Monday Morning Movers is back! Beginning on April 8, we will meet on the blacktop/playground each Monday morning, weather permitting, from 7:45 to 8:10 a.m. for some before-school fun! Just a reminder that for the safety of our children, parents must stay and supervise their children.　
Stacker Movie Screening, Sunday, May 5, 2013 4:30 pm (doors open at 4:00). Support Barrett Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools at a screening of the sport stacking documentary movie Stacker, which follows the leading sport stackers as they train for and compete in the 2011 World Sport Stacking Championships. The movie features Barrett alumnus and Jefferson 6th grader William Polly, with appearances by Jefferson 6th grader Joshua Wacker, Barrett staff members Courtney Allen and Marvin Flores, and several Barrett students, too! Children under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington Tickets are $6.50, available at the door or online at http://arlingtondrafthouse.com/drafthouse/event.aspx?eid=1728
Barrett Used Book Sale Collection. Please use the box in the lobby to donate your gently used books, videos, DVDs, CDs, board games, and puzzles. Each year we hold a Used Book Sale in the gym and every year we receive many generous donations from the Barrett community. Donated items are sold for 50 cents each and we typically raise $1,000 in just a few hours. In addition to raising money for the PTA, the Used Book Sale allows for many books to be recycled and is a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, and staff to purchase books at low costs. The Used Book Sale will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the school gym. Contact Sarah Campany with any questions at 703-346-0854 or scampany5@gmail.com.

Mark Your Calendars for our 3rd Annual Barrett 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, April 20th! As in past years, we will be gathering in Bluemont Park at 601 North Manchester, with the 5K to begin at 8am and the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run to start at 9:00 a.m. For additional details and to register, please check out our website at http://barrett5k.jimdo.com. Even if you are not a runner, please join us as a volunteer (a Sign-Up Genius will be sent shortly) and/or just to cheer our runners on!
Also, this event is being generously sponsored by Gold's Gym but we remain interested in having additional support from our business community, so please contact Lori Engelken at lori.engelken@verizon.net with ideas regarding additional sponsorship opportunities. Thanks and we look forward to another fun and healthy event! PTA, Health and Wellness Committee

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

· NASA-related centers for Kindergarten students
o Robonaut on the International Space Station
o Robonaut Game
o NASA Our World "Spacesuits"
o Space Shuttles
o Space Ice Cream
o Reading in the Space Station module
o Building with "astronaut gloves"
· 1st Grade - Women's History Month Focus on 1st American female astronaut Sally Ride
· 2nd Grade - Kick off Apollo to the Moon Project
· 3rd Grade - Beginning collaborative Bat Unit in the Discovery Lab, Library, and Classroom
· 4th Grade - Building a working model End Effector (hand) for Robotic Arm similar to that on the ISS
· 5th Grade - Rock Cycle Game

COMMUNITY NEWS

OPEN HOUSE AT THE OUTDOOR LAB! Sunday, May 5, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Thinking about a fun, free, spring day in the country? The Outdoor Lab Open House is the event for you! The Open House is for all Arlington public school students, families and staff — bring your friends, too! This is your chance to relax, fish, hike, explore the animal lab, admire the spring blossoms, investigate a stream, breathe fresh country air, roast hot dogs and cook s’mores. Just bring your family and friends and have a great time! The Outdoor Lab provides hands-on outdoor environmental education opportunities to learn about animals, science, outdoor skills, arts, and humanities in a natural setting—over 200 acres of forests, fields and hills, a spring-fed stream, a pond, and nature hiking trails.
DIRECTIONS: The lab is roughly 35 miles and takes approximately 45 minutes. It is west of Arlington, just a few miles off I-66. Take I-66 West about 26 miles to Exit 40 - Haymarket. At the traffic light at the top of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 15 South. At the 2nd traffic light turn right onto Route 55 West. After about 3.5 miles turn left onto Beverly's Mill Rd. (Route 600). After 1.4 miles turn right into the new driveway - look for a sign that says "Outdoor Lab." Parking is free. No pets, please. 703-228-7650. Call if the weather is questionable. http://www.outdoorlab.org
Care for a Change Logo Contest. Care for a Change is a two-year initiative to increase and encourage empathy among Arlington youth. It is a community-based initiative with support from the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. Logo Requirements:

- "Care For a Change" or "CFAC" should be included
- Logo should be useful on both promotional materials and business letters
- Logo needs to work in black and white
- Logo should be re-sizeable and readable when reduced to as small as a 1" square

Winners and runners-up will receive countywide recognition, a gift card, and a certificate of merit award. Entries are now due April 5. Everyone who participates will be recognized. Online submissions can be sent to: tnb.ice@gmail.com, or submit your hand-drawn logos to 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, Va. 22204 c/o Arlington Teen Network Board. Please include your name, grade, and phone number.

UPCOMING EVENTS
School Information Session, 12:45-2:15 p.m., Friday, April 12
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, April 17
Arts and Writers Fair, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Used Book Sale, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Barrett 5K & Kids Fun Run, 8:00 a.m., Saturday, April 20
Earth Week Family Library Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23
Honor Roll Assembly, 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 26
Garden Work Day, 3:15-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.
Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: March 18-22

Posted by Audrey Pritchard at 3/17/2013
Pre-K Day/Night, 8:20-9:30 a.m. and 6:15-7:30 p.m., Monday, March 18.

Roving Readers Day(Women's History), Wednesday, March 20.

Pirates! The Musical, 1:30 and 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21. Come and see what the 4th- and 5th-grade chorus have been practicing for many weeks. Bring the whole family--see what happens when a stowaway goes aboard a pirate ship; will the stowaway end up walking the plank? You'll have to come see to find out . . .

No School — Spring Break/Teacher Work Day, Monday, March 25 to Monday, April 1.

SCHOOL NEWS
YES Club Clothing Donation. For the entire month of March, the YES Club will be collecting clothing to donate to
needy families in the Barrett community,
Pamela Rodriguez to help with students needs and accidents at school, and
a local charity.　
Please clean out your closets and donate any clean, used clothing to help support this cause. We are accepting all clothing and shoes for infants to adult. Have students write their teacher's name on the bag before they put it in the red boxes in the lobby. We will select a class with the most donations to get a tasty snack each week. Any questions, contact Meaghan Heiges, John Stewart, or your friendly YES Club member. Thank you for your support!

Barrett Student Recognized by KidsPost. 5th grader Zoe Cachion was one of two runners-up (out of 179 entries) in a KidsPost contest to write an essay on what makes a successful team. Mr. Morse challenged his students to write an essay and submitted their work to the Post. Zoe's name and picture were printed n KidsPost last Thursday and her essay can currently be viewed at kidspost.com. She also received four tickets to a Wizards game and a Wizards fun pack. Way to go!

Barrett Used Book Sale Collection. Please use the box in the lobby to donate your gently used books, videos, DVDs, CDs, board games, and puzzles. Each year we hold a Used Book Sale in the gym and every year we receive many generous donations from the Barrett community. Donated items are sold for 50 cents each and we typically raise $1,000 in just a few hours. In addition to raising money for the PTA, the Used Book Sale allows for many books to be recycled and is a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, and staff to purchase books at low costs. The Used Book Sale will be held on Thursday, April 18 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. in the school gym. Contact Sarah Campany with any questions at 703-346-0854 or scampany5@gmail.com.
Mark Your Calendars for our 3rd Annual Barrett 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, April 20th! As in past years, we will be gathering in Bluemont Park at 601 North Manchester, with the 5K to begin at 8am and the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run to start at 9:00 a.m. For additional details and to register, please check out our website at http://barrett5k.jimdo.com. Even if you are not a runner, please join us as a volunteer (a Sign-Up Genius will be sent shortly) and/or just to cheer our runners on!
Also, this event is being generously sponsored by Gold's Gym but we remain interested in having additional support from our business community, so please contact Lori Engelken at lori.engelken@verizon.net with ideas regarding additional sponsorship opportunities. Thanks and we look forward to another fun and healthy event! PTA, Health and Wellness Committee

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:

· NASA-related centers for Kindergarten students
o Robonaut on the International Space Station
o Robonaut Game
o NASA Our World "Spacesuits"
o Space Shuttles
o Space Ice Cream
o Reading in the Space Station module
o Building with "astronaut gloves"
· 1st Grade - Women's History Month Focus on 1st American female astronaut Sally Ride
· 2nd Grade - Kick off Apollo to the Moon Project
· 3rd Grade - Beginning collaborative Bat Unit in the Discovery Lab, Library, and Classroom
· 4th Grade - Building a working model End Effector (hand) for Robotic Arm similar to that on the ISS
· 5th Grade - Rock Cycle Game
Sale on NASA Explorer School Clothing Through Tuesday March 19. Lands End is having a sale through March 19. All logos will have a one-cent application fee (save $5.49 on each logo application).
http://tinyurl.com/BarrettLandsEnd
If you would like to add the NASA Explorer School logo to items not listed in the Barrett online store, call 1-800-469-2222 and a representative will be happy to help you. Barrett’s Preferred School number is 900155003.

COMMUNITY NEWS

School Board Meeting on Superintendent's Budget. This Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 p.m., the School Board is holding a public hearing on the Superintendent's proposed FYI 2014 Budget. PTA President Samara Weinstein plans to speak and would encourage others to attend and make statements as well. Citizens may sign up electronically to speak at this meeting until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at: www.apsva.us/schoolboard/speak. Speakers also may sign up on the night of the meeting by filling out and submitting a Request to Speak form to the Clerk before the desired agenda item is announced by the Chair. Request to Speak forms will be available outside the Board room on the night of the meeting.　
The meeting's agenda is posted on BoardDocs at: https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vpublic?open. The location is the Board Room at 1426 N. Quincy St.A Message For Incoming Swanson Middle School Familes. The Swanson Middle School PTA is seeking the following officers and committee chairs for the 2013-14 year: Vice President; Book Fair; Community Service; County PTA Liaison; School Directory; Grocery Receipts; In-service Teacher Breakfasts; PTA Membership; PTA Email ; Listserv; Social Activities; Spirit Sales; Volunteer Coordinator; and Welcome Reception.
These are essential roles and are not massively time-consuming. Worried about how to do these jobs? Fret not -- our outgoing committee chairs will share that information with you! These committees are part of what makes Swanson such a great place to learn and grow, but we can't run these programs without your leadership. Please contact Julie Jernigan, Swanson PTA President, at 3jernigans@verizon.net or at 703/864-2973 to volunteer. Many thanks!
Care for a Change Logo Contest. Care for a Change is a two-year initiative to increase and encourage empathy among Arlington youth. It is a community-based initiative with support from the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. Logo Requirements:

- "Care For a Change" or "CFAC" should be included
- Logo should be useful on both promotional materials and business letters
- Logo needs to work in black and white
- Logo should be re-sizeable and readable when reduced to as small as a 1" square

Winners and runners-up will receive countywide recognition, a gift card, and a certificate of merit award. Entries are now due April 5. Everyone who participates will be recognized. Online submissions can be sent to: tnb.ice@gmail.com, or submit your hand-drawn logos to 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, Va. 22204 c/o Arlington Teen Network Board. Please include your name, grade, and phone number.

Formals for Five. Please consider contributing to Arlington County's Formals for Five (F3) event, organized by the Washington Lee High School PTA. The event is now collecting dresses, jewelry and other accessories. The collection continues until Saturday, April 20th. The program collects gently used formal dresses to be sold for just $5 to students from all five Arlington, VA high schools. This program is all about making it easier for every young lady to go to the prom. All proceeds are donated to the Washington-Lee High School PTA. The sales event takes place on April 23rd and 24th at the Washington-Lee High School Little Theater from 3:00-7:00 p.m. both days.
To donate please drop off your gently used gowns and short dresses to any of the collection points listed below.
430 N. Kenmore Street, Arlington VA 22201
3806 S. 16th Street, Arlington VA 22204
5850 N. 26th Street, Arlington VA 22207
1101 S. Quinn Street 22204
346 N. Kensington Street 22205
3510 N. Pershing Drive 22201
34 N Highland Street (the back deck)
The Washington-Lee High School Main Office
We are also accepting accessories including jewelry and handbags. OR--if you love to shop and feel generous, you can BUY a prom dress to donate. Lots of good choices at vintage and resale shops, Nordstrom RACK, TJ Maxx....your donation is tax-deductible and will help Arlington prom-goers look amazing on their big night! Donation forms for tax-purposes can be found in the collection bins. We are also seeking sponsors for this year's F3 event. Sponsorships help support the purchase of clothing racks, collection bins and refreshments at the F3 sales event. Contributions also support outreach materials. To sponsor or volunteer on one of the sales days, or to find out more information about the event, please email promdressdonation@gmail.com or any of the co-chairs Natalie Roy, Nroyvilla@aol.com, Elizabeth Bramham, ebramham@gmail.com, or Carolyn Schimley, carolynschimley@verizon.net. Also don't forget to like F3 on facebook, which is also the place to get all of the latest breaking news on this popular event! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Formals-For-Five-Prom-Dress-Collection/108879489150648.

UPCOMING EVENTS
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 2
School Information Session, 12:45-2:15 p.m., Friday, April 12
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, April 17
Arts and Writers Fair, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Used Book Sale, 5:30-8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18
Barrett 5K & Kids Fun Run, 8:00 a.m., Saturday, April 20
Earth Week Family Library Night, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 23
Honor Roll Assembly, 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 26
Garden Work Day, 3:15-5:00 p.m., Friday, April 26

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.
Comments (-1)
THIS WEEK AT BARRETT: March 11-15

Posted by Katherine Roberts at 3/10/2013
Kindergarten Information Session, 9:15-10:45 a.m., Tuesday, March 12. Do you have a rising kindergartener? Please join us for Barrett's Kindergarten Information Sessions. Learn about the amazing things happening at Barrett Elementary School. Each session will include school tours, exhibits of students' work, and information on Barrett's focus in math, science and the arts.

Family Library Night, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 12. Come "Stretch Your Mind and Your Body" with Yoga demonstrations and readings by Ms. Shaefer, Ms. Rosen and Mr. Reisinger. Wear your yoga or exercise clothes all day and then come back at night to learn yoga!

Early Release Day, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, March 13

Roving Readers Day/Women's History, Thursday, March 14

Silver Diner Restaurant Night. Thursday, March 14, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join Barrett Elementary School when we 'Run the Diner!' A percentage of the night's sales will be donated back to our school! Join us for Barrett’s "Run the Diner" Restaurant Night at Silver Diner in Clarendon. Barrett staff will be working as hosts/hostesses. They will greet and seat families. It will be a super fun night! You are guaranteed to have a blast and help raise funds for our children at Barrett! We have enrolled in the Silver Diner’s EAT WELL, DO WELL program to raise funds specifically for our wellness programs. You can help us by linking your EAT WELL, DO WELL card to our school and using it when you dine at Silver Diner. Simply register for a card at a local Silver Diner or online at: www.silverdiner.com/eat-well-do-well. Be sure to link your card to our school. Every time you dine at Silver Diner or Metro Diner Café and use your EAT WELL, DO WELL card, in addition to earning rewards for yourself, a percentage of what you spend will go back to our school. You can also precharge money to your card online at silverdiner.com and 5% of what you precharge will go back to our school.

Registration for the Spring Session of PTA After-School Enrichments Ends, 9:00 a.m., Friday, March 15. Registration will run the rest of this week until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 15. Go to www.enrichmentmatters.com/barrett to view classes that will be offered this spring and to register. A limited number of paper copies of the Enrichment catalog are available in the main office. Help with online registration will be available in the library from 8:00-9:00 a.m. on March 11, 13, and 15. Remember, absolutely NO LATE REGISTRATIONS will be accepted!

Rising Kindergartener Playdate. All incoming kindergarteners and their families are invited to Barrett for a giant playdate on Saturday, March 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Current Barrett parents and their children (especially K-2) can come play games, enjoy snacks, and get to know prospective Barrett families. The playdate will be held inside the gym. Volunteers are still needed www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E054CA5AB2BA64-kindergarten/6019758. Please contact Susan Bartow with questions at suebartow@hotmail.com.

SCHOOL NEWS
YES Club Clothing Donation. For the entire month of March, the YES Club will be collecting clothing to donate to
needy families in the Barrett community,
Pamela Rodriguez to help with students needs and accidents at school, and
a local charity.　
Please clean out your closets and donate any clean, used clothing to help support this cause. We are accepting all clothing and shoes for infants to adult. Have students write their teacher's name on the bag before they put it in the red boxes in the lobby. We will select a class with the most donations to get a tasty snack each week. Any questions, contact Meaghan Heiges, John Stewart, or your friendly YES Club member. Thank you for your support!
Mark Your Calendars for our 3rd Annual Barrett 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, April 20th! As in past years, we will be gathering in Bluemont Park at 601 North Manchester, with the 5K to begin at 8am and the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run to start at 9:00 a.m. For additional details and to register, please check out our website at http://barrett5k.jimdo.com. Even if you are not a runner, please join us as a volunteer (a Sign-Up Genius will be sent shortly) and/or just to cheer our runners on!
Also, this event is being generously sponsored by Gold's Gym but we remain interested in having additional support from our business community, so please contact Lori Engelken at lori.engelken@verizon.net with ideas regarding additional sponsorship opportunities. Thanks and we look forward to another fun and healthy event! PTA, Health and Wellness Committee
EXEMPLARY PROJECTS
Project Discovery. From Laurie.Sullivan@apsva.us. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/DiscoveryLab to view the following blog post:
Over 1,000 people attended Barrett's Discovery STEM Night! Photos are posted on the Discovery Blog. Here is a description of the event from Principal Bratt's Monthy Message: The month ended with our exciting Discovery S.T.E.M. Night on February 28. Astronaut Leland Melvin and NASA scientist and Barrett parent George Tahu were our featured speakers. Excellent student projects were displayed in the library and hallways. In addition to our first ever S.T.E.M. book fair, there were videoconferences with NASA, Angry Birds, Human Hamster Ball, scientists from NASA headquarters, Measurement demonstrations, and Night Sky Observations. Many thanks go to Project Discovery teacher Laurie Sullivan, FLES Science teachers Allyson Greene and Susan Garman, and Math Coach Che Abdeljawad for coordinating this wonderful evening for us and to all the staff members who turned out to man the activities.　

COMMUNITY NEWS

Preventing Another Newtown: A Conversation on Gun Violence in America, March 11, 7:00 p.m. Washington-Lee High School Auditorium, 1301 N. Stafford Street, Arlington. Join Congressman Moran for a community conversation on gun violence in America, featuring a panel of experts on the Second Amendment, public safety, and mental health policies. The event is open to residents of the 8th District. For more information, contact Outreach Director Krysta Jones at 703-971-4700.
Montessori Parent Education, Thursday, March 14, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Drew Community Center, 3500 S. 23rd St. Arlington. Guest Speaker: Ms. Janet McDonell Washington Montessori Institute. Come learn more about Montessori Philosophy and ways to foster learning at home, techniques for discipline, and much more. Free child care will be provided. Pizza will be available to purchase from AMAC (Arlington Montessori Action Committee). Contact the APS Early Childhood Office with questions, 703-228–8632.
Care for a Change Logo Contest. Care for a Change is a 2-year initiative to increase and encourage empathy among Arlington youth. It is a community-based initiative with support from the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. Logo Requirements:

- "Care For a Change" or "CFAC" should be included
- Logo should be useful on both promotional materials and business letters
- Logo needs to work in black and white
- Logo should be re-sizeable and readable when reduced to as small as a 1" square

Winners and runners-up will receive countywide recognition, a gift card, and a certificate of merit award. Entries are now due April 5. Everyone who participates will be recognized. Online submissions can be sent to: tnb.ice@gmail.com, or submit your hand-drawn logos to 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, Va. 22204 c/o Arlington Teen Network Board. Please include your name, grade, and phone number.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Pre-K Day/Night, 8:20-9:30 a.m. and 6:15-7:30 p.m., Monday, March 18
Spring Musical, 1:30 and 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21
No School — Spring Break/Teacher Work Day, Monday, March 25 to Monday, April 1
PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 2
School Information Session, 12:45-2:15 p.m., Friday, April 12
Early Release, 12:51 p.m., Wednesday, April 17

Editor's Note: E-newsletter compiled by Audrey Pritchard and Katherine Roberts. If you would like to include school-related information in upcoming e-newsletters, please contact Katherine Roberts kenkatroberts@verizon.net by Friday at the latest to get your item into the following week's newsletter.
Comments (-1)

Last Modified on Sunday at 11:38 PM

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