Every Raider. Every Day.
Dr. Jason Bowyer, Principal
Mrs. Sharon Pettus, Assistant Principal
Principal's Corner
As we enter the month of February, we are reminded that love is in the air all around us! We don't have to have Valentine's Day to show how much we care for each other, but February reminds us that we need to take time to do just that! This month, our students will be focusing on kindness
and celebrating National Kindness Day. We invite you all to join us in celebrating one another through random acts of kindness throughout the month of February.
A few weeks ago, we shared a quote with our students by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said, "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." This message of perseverance was inspirational to us all as it reminds us to continue setting goals that keeps us moving forward in life. This quote is a reminder of our theme, Every Raider. Every Day. As we enter this month of kindness, let us not forget how much a simple gesture or word of kindness can change someone's day. Our challenge to all of our students is to look for one way to spread kindness each day. That random act could be the one thing that helps someone continue moving forward that day.
School Hours
7:55 am - 8:15 am -- Bus Arrival
8:00 am - 8:15 am -- Car Rider Arrival
8:15 am -- Tardy Time
8:15 am - 3:10 pm -- Instructional Day
3:10 pm - 3:35 pm -- Dismissal Time
Visitors' Passes
Parents or other individuals who are in the building for
conferences or other school business are expected to report to
the office to obtain a pass. You must present a state issued ID.
Phone Numbers
If you would like a time reserved or a time to meet with the principal, teacher, school counselor, or nurse, you are encouraged to call for an appointment.
Jason Bowyer, Principal - 352-7463
Sharon Pettus, Assistant Principal - 352-7463
Amy Rostan, School Counselor - 352-0531
Katie Wootton, School Counselor - 352-7463
Brittany Barney, Nurse - 352-5411
Third Grade
The third quarter is well underway; students are familiar with our
daily routines.
In Reading, we have continued with our nonfiction unit. We are
currently learning how to identify the main idea and supporting
details of a nonfiction text. We will spend a couple of weeks on
this skill, then we will move on to drawing conclusions. In mid
February, we will also start to look at dictionaries and other word
reference materials to learn how we can use them. We will end
February with asking and answering questions about different
nonfiction texts. Along with all of these skills, we will be practicing how to answer SOL-based questions in class to help prepare them for this test at the end of the year.
In Math, students are finishing their unit on Money where students learn how to determine the value of a collection of bills and coins whose total value is $5.00 or less; compare the value of two
sets of coins or two sets of coins and bills; and how to make change from $5.00 or less. Next, we will begin our unit on Geometry. In this unit students will be learning how to identify and name polygons with 10 or fewer sides; and combine and subdivide polygons with three or four sides and name the resulting polygon(s).
In the third nine weeks, students have moved back to studying Social Studies. We will be spending a great deal of time learning about the contributions of ancient China and Egypt and how they have influenced the present world in terms of architecture, inventions, the calendar, and written language. We will develop our map skills to get a better understanding of change over time by locating major ancient world cultures on world maps at the beginning of their culture; during their period of greatest influence; and today.
Please continue to encourage your child to complete their math and reading homework nightly. These small things help support students’ learning in third grade.
Fourth Grade
4th grade has started their 3rd 9 weeks strong! We finished our
growth assessments for Math and Reading after we returned from
Winter Break and our 4th graders took their Otis Lennon test.
In Language Arts, we are learning about fact and opinion, poetry,
conflict and resolution, as well as other skills. Students will be
writing poetry as well as longer pieces of writing.
In Math, students are doing a great job learning division. Please
practice these skills at home as well as multiplication facts so
students can continue to succeed. 4th graders are also learning about the New Nation and Civil War in Social Studies. We look forward to seeing your child's growth over the next few months!
Fifth Grade
It is hard to believe that we have completed our first semester of
fifth grade!
In Language Arts the students have been studying poetry in the
area of reading and writing. Students are currently analyzing
carefully selected poems and experimenting with writing original
poems. We also continue to read a variety of novels, reviewing
elements of fiction and nonfiction text structures and features. In
the near future we will begin a research unit where students will be
guided through the information gathering process and the
composing process. Students continue to learn a variety of
phonemes in the area of word study to assist them with sounding out or spelling words.
In Math, we have started our Measurement unit. This unit covers concepts such as, metric measurement and conversions, elapsed time practical problems, and perimeter/area/volume. In Science, we are starting our Earth Science unit. During this unit, students will learn more about the planet they live on. Concepts that we will be covering include, layers of the Earth, plate tectonics, weather/erosion/deposition, the rock types, and rock cycle. Students were excited to bring in and share their Sound projects as a part of their Music Resource.
We are looking forward to having a great second semester!
AES Raider's spent the entire month of January focusing on
Perseverance. They have learned strategies on physical and mental
perseverance as well as emotional perseverance. Moving into
February, we will focus on Kindness, celebrating National Kindness
Day on February 17. As a famous writer once said, "Kindness is a
gift everyone can afford to give."
Free Online Tutoring
ACPS is pleased to offer a free online tutoring service to all students through Varsity Tutors. The link to access Varsity Tutors can be found in your child's Classlink dashboard. Please view the attached flyer for additional information.
Box
launch varsitytutorsllc.app.box.com
Presidents' Day Contest
AES invites all students to participate in the Presidents' Day Contest from February 5, 2024 - February 29, 2024. Students can use the attached document to memorize all 46 presidents and recite them to their teacher or Mrs. Ranson. Students who successfully recite all 46 presidents will earn their name on the announcements plus their picture on our "Wall of Fame." Good Luck to all!
president memorization contest.pdf
24 Game
The 24 Game is popular here at Appomattox Elementary School. The object of the game is to make the number 24 from the four numbers shown on the card. You can add, subtract, multiply and divide. Use all four numbers on the card, but use each number only once. You do not have to use
all four operations. All number nines have a red center, so you can
tell a nine from a six. Can you solve
the card to the right?
All grade levels participate in a 24 Tournament toward the end of
the school year. After classroom representatives are selected,
those students compete to determine a 24 Champion at each grade
level. While we practice a lot at school, you may want to consider practicing at home. The cards are usually available to purchase from Little Dickens on Lakeside Drive in Lynchburg, or on Amazon. The single digit original version cards are used for our tournament. There is also a 24 math game app available for 99 cents. Be sure you get the one by Suntex International.
February 19 -- No School - Presidents' Day
March 7 -- End of Third Nine Weeks
March 8 -- No School - Teacher Work Day
March 11 -- Fourth Nine Weeks Begins
March 12 -- Spring Picture Day
March 29 -- 2 Hour Early Dismissal
April 1-5 -- No School - Spring Break
April 23 -- 5th Grade Science SOLs
April 24 -- 4th Grade History SOLs
March 30 - May 1 -- Reading SOLs
May 7-8 -- Math SOLs
May 22 -- 2 Hour Early Dismissal
May 23 -- 2 Hour Early Dismissal/ Last Day of School
Appomattox Elementary School
176 Kids Place Appomattox, VA 24522