Dear Eagle View Families,

Last week we were fortunate to hear our 4-6th grade strings students’ winter performance.  With over 170 students in our strings program, the sound was tremendous!  What a testament to their hard work and dedication.  The spring concert will likely reflect even more growth! 

The ice hit Eagle View hard on Tuesday morning, with the ice taking hours to melt/be removed.  Thanks to the custodial staff who worked so hard to get our sidewalks in shape for Wednesday.

Finally, the fifth grade is collecting soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald house.  Our collection container is in the office, always at the ready for more soda tabs!

I had the pleasure of visiting a sixth grade classroom where students were experimenting with density.  They made hypotheses about the density of substances when compared to each other, then they tested their hypotheses.  The pictures show how students are “decanting” the glycerine, rubbing alcohol, and water.  It was a pleasure to see the students interacting with ideas, materials, and each other in this way!  Sincerely, Patty Granada, Ed.D., Principal

I have had the pleasure of visiting several 3rd-6th grade classes in the past couple days where the focus has been on reading.  In every lesson during these particular visits, the class started out sitting on the rug for a “focus lesson.”  During the focus lesson, the teacher would highlight a particular reading strategy or strategies and model thinking while all students could see the text on the SMART board.  Then, students would independently read at their desks while the teacher met with individual and groups of students on their reading goals.  While students were independently reading, they were recording their thoughts in their reading logs and/or using post-it notes to identify vocabulary words that they were monitoring. They use metacognitive (“thinking about their thinking”) strategies to assist them in this interactive process.  Students at Eagle View are truly immersed in reading….and reading is THINKING! 

As a parent myself, I enjoy reading with my third grader and kindergartner.  Sometimes it is hard to spend quality, leisurely reading time with them, but we usually can fit in some read-aloud/think-aloud time each week.  A book can often be the window through which I learn about my children’s thinking!  And I usually find that there is more learning to be done–theirs as well as mine.

My missing camera has pushed me back lately!  Nonetheless (and camera-less), I wanted to share some thoughts about our Eagle View school and community.

Last night at the PTA meeting, we were excited about the success of the Potbelly fundraiser and looking forward with anticipation to upcoming events like the Book Fair and Bingo Night.  The PTA is working very hard this year to add after-school enrichment opportunities for children.  Please stay posted.  As always, please volunteer wherever you can.  Thanks in advance for all of your support of our special school.

You may be aware that Eagle View has been growing!  We finished last year with around 880 students, and now we are at 930.  Our school is included in the Southwest Boundary study, and community input meetings will be held later this month.  Information about the meetings is on our home page, and detailed information about the process can be found at www.fcps.edu.

Of course, the most important thing about Eagle View is student learning.  Every day that I walk around the school and into classrooms and learning spaces of all sizes, I am amazed at student engagement in learning in all subject areas.  They are enthusiastic and respectful learners.  Truly it is their positive attitude toward school that makes them want to learn more.  As children’s first teachers, you have an important role in shaping and fostering this joy for learning.  The Eagle View staff appreciates your continued support of our number 1 goal:  success for all students. 

Sincerely, Patty Granada, Ed.D., Principal

I enjoyed observing students participating in Chalk 4 Peace!  Thanks to Ms. Chinn and Ms. Haab, their art teachers!

It seems that the students have transitioned very nicely into the routines of school!  You may have heard of “The Eagle View Way,” or “Respect SOS” (Self, Others, Surroundings).  In the picture on the top right, students are showing respect by the way they are walking in the hall, quietly and in between the blue and yellow lines.  In the top center picture, music teacher Ms. Reklau is singing and signing with students, who are singing and signing back.  Finally, the picture on the bottom right shows our parent liaison Ms. Hutchinson, who is standing in our new Parent Center.  The Parent Center is located near our main office and is a place where parents may go for information related to their children.

As we look ahead to our approaching Back-to-School Nights this week, we eagerly anticipate seeing our students’ parents in the same rooms where their children learn every day!  Sincerely,

Patty Granada, Ed.D., Principal, Eagle View ES

We had a great start to the school year.  Welcome to new EV families.  To returning EV families….Welcome back! 

The month of August was a busy time of preparation at Eagle View!  To explain these pictures, all were taken before teachers were officially supposed to report to work:  1)  Teachers and families taking a break in the library from setting up classrooms.  2)  Teachers setting up the master schedule (With 40 homeroom classes, that’s a lot of lunch, music, PE, art, etc!).  3)  Teachers (There were 30 of them!) taking a week-long summer institute on math instruction, assessments, and activities.  4)  A dozen EV teachers learning more about vocabulary instruction.  5)  Although there is no picture of this, the entire staff enjoyed a bus ride through the EV neighborhoods last week.

To come next week…Pictures of students!   Sincerely, Patty Granada, Ed.D., Principal