January 25, 2018 Volume 5 Issue 10

Thoreau Matters is published every two weeks by the Thoreau Administration and the PTA

to inform the community of important information about school life at Thoreau Middle School.

THOREAU MATTERS

Dear Thoreau Community:

I have written to you before that we are focused on specific multi-year instructional initiatives at Thoreau. One of those

initiatives is our executive functioning program called Steps to Success, and I would like to briefly bring you up to speed

as to what we have been accomplishing. This is the second year of our formal plan to embed this work as part of the

culture at Thoreau with the intent of nurturing and supporting the holistic child.

To put it succinctly, EF skills are those processes within the brain that allow a person to manage oneself and one’s

resources in order to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. There are a number of EF skills, but the Thoreau faculty is

focused on the three skills of planning, time management and organization with our students. In addition, we explore

topics like persistence, mindset and goal setting with them. We have a committee of teachers who work together to

develop lessons that classroom teachers then deliver to their students on days where we hold Steps to Success

lessons. Among many other items, students have learned test-taking strategies and study skills, how to keep a growth

mindset, and how to keep an organized locker. Our goal with this focus on executive functioning is to plant seeds in our

middle schoolers of skills that will serve them well throughout their adolescence.

I encourage anyone interested in seeing what lessons have been done so far this year to visit our Steps to Success page

on the Thoreau website. I hope you will enjoy viewing what our teachers have created and the skills students are working

on that will be of great benefit to them in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Yusef Azimi

THOREAU THEATRE 2

STUDENT SERVICES 2

THOREAU ART 3

NEWS/NOTEWORTHY 4

PTA UPDATE 4

MESSAGE FROM MR. AZIMI

Inside this issue:

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

Thursday, January 25th - End of 2nd Quarter and Two-Hour Early Release

Friday, January 26th and Monday, January 29th - Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

Mr. Loht’s science students wrapped up their unit on the elements by creating tiles of an

element they researched. The tiles were then used to create a huge reproduction of the

Periodic Table which hang on the 2nd floor walls of Thoreau.

Volume 5 Issue 10

Thoreau Theatre Updates

Page 2

2nd Semester Schedule Distribution: On Tuesday, January 30th, students will report to an orientation room at 7:30

AM to pick up a copy of their 2nd semester schedule. Orientation rooms have been advertised this week during lunches

and we would appreciate parental support in ensuring our students know where to report after this

upcoming long weekend. 7th Grade Orientation Room Assignments 8th Grade Orientation Room Assignments

Thoreau Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night & Open House: Our Curriculum Night & Open House will take place on

Thursday, February 15th. This event is open to our rising 7th grade parents and students. It is a great

opportunity for students to see our building, explore core and elective offerings, and learn about our clubs and

activities. Parents will also have an opportunity to register for Excellence in Action, our summer transition

program for rising 7th grade students. For more information and specific details about this evening, click here.

7th Grade Upcoming Registration & Transition Activities: A full list of upcoming registration and transition activities for

rising 7th grade students is posted on our website for your reference and planning. The list can be found here.

Thoreau Student Services Updates

Tech Theatre Arts Appreciation for Rising 8th Graders: Technical Theatre Arts Appreciation is a new FCPS elective that is a

semester-long course. Students will be introduced to concepts and skills of technical elements,

design, and construction of theatre. Learning subjects include: light design, sound design, costume design, set design,

makeup design, directing, and stage combat. Course selection is opening this month. Students in this course will be eligi-

ble for the annual Advanced Theatre Arts field trip to NYC and Broadway! Talk to your Thoreau counselor for more details.

Little Mermaid T-Shirt Design Contest: The Theatre Department is hosting a Little Mermaid t-shirt design

contest open to all students. Help us design our spring musical shirt. The winner will receive a $10.00 Target gift card, a

Little Mermaid t-shirt, and one free concession item at the musical! Go to www.thoreaumsdrama.com for contest rules.

Submissions are due by Friday, February 2nd.

Volunteer: Little Mermaid rehearsals have begun. Our musical relies on active parental involvement. There are always

things for adults to help with such as selling candy at concessions or donating items. Get involved! The following link will

show you how to sign up: http://www.thoreaumsdrama.com/parent-volunteers

Students in our family &

consumer science classes

completed their first

machine sewing unit

where they used quilting

cotton to

make pillows.

Page 3

Volume 5 Issue 10

Thoreau Art is Alive! Walk the halls of Thoreau and you will see evidence of our very busy art students. Projects are

displayed showing the use of different methods and medium.

3-D Cardboard Portraits:

Students were tasked to make a cardboard portrait

of themselves and include three inner qualities.

Look closely and you can identify them!

Social Issue Installation:

These students chose the social issue of academic stress and how to deal with

it. The take-away was to place a sticky note with a positive message on the

glass.

Volume 5 Issue 10

Thoreau Matters is

published every two weeks

by Thoreau Administration

and the PTA to inform the

community of important

information about school life

at Thoreau Middle School.

Main Office: 703-846-8000

Attendance: 703-846-8080

Thoreau Website:

thoreaums.fcps.edu

PTA Website:

www.ThoreauPTA.org

News/Noteworthy

Thoreau Yearbook: The yearbook committee is trying to break a purchasing record of

600 copies purchased by January 30th. To date we have sold 400 copies. We encourage

every family to purchase a yearbook so that memories of these two years at Thoreau will

be preserved forever. Purchases can be made at www.yearbookforever.com or

www.myschoolbucks.com. Contact Ms. BenZion, Thoreau yearbook sponsor, with

questions at gbenzion@fcps.edu.

Community Program: Vienna’s Club Phoenix invites you to attend a program on

Wednesday, January 31st titled Teen Self Awareness and Suicide Prevention. Find more

details here.

Crosstown Hoops: It's that time of the year again! We are

starting to prepare for our annual Crosstown Hoops

basketball games versus Kilmer. The games will take place

in the evening on Friday, April 6th, at Madison. There will be

four games: 7th grade girls, 7th grade boys, 8th grade girls,

8th grade boys. Details about tryouts and practices can be

found here.

PTA NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Page 4

Thank you to all who attended the PTA meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd. A special thanks to our panel on Parenting in

the Digital Age, sponsored by Generation Code. Our next PTA meeting will feature the annual

Principal Coffee and will be held on Tuesday, February 20th at 9:30 AM in Eagle Hall. Please join us.

Dining for Dollars: We had another successful Dining For Dollars event on Monday, January 22nd at Church Street Pizza

thanks to your support. Our next event will be held on Sunday, March 18th at the Lost Dog Cafe. Thanks

to parent Michelle Alonso for organizing our Dining for Dollars events.

Souper Bowl Luncheon: The Thoreau staff would like to thank everyone who generously helped with the PTA-sponsored

“Souper Bowl” luncheon being held today, Thursday, January 25th. Our wonderful hospitality chairs are parents

Margaret Herbold, Gayle Schlueter, Emily Korff and Nene Spivy!

School Store Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are needed for the Thoreau School Store. The schedule runs through

March. The store provides a service to the students and raises funds for Thoreau so your help is greatly appreciat-

ed. Huge thanks to parents Tana Keeffe and Negin Dehn for all of their efforts!

Thoreau Spelling Bee: The PTA invites all students to be a part of the first-ever Thoreau Spelling

Bee! The event will be held on Wednesday, February 21st, from 6:30 PM—8:30 PM in Eagle Hall.

Registration opened Tuesday, January 9th and will end on Friday, February 16th. Students must be

registered in order to participate and here is the link to register. Paper registration forms are also

available in the main office. Word study lists, rules and a program FAQ will be provided by email with

confirmation of registration. The champion of the Thoreau Spelling Bee will compete with other regional

school champions on Sunday, March 18th in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee. Please contact

parent Eliza Morss at eliza.morss@gmail.com with questions. The Thoreau Spelling Bee is sponsored by your PTA and is

part of the Fairfax County Spelling Bee Program. “Bee” the first to participate!

Sincerely,

Beth Eachus, PTA President

President@ThoreauPTA.org