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Dear Mantua families,
Mantua was truly a flurry of activity this past week! We are thrilled to report that students earned an overwhelming number of Rocky’s Reward tickets this week from staff members. We saw quiet, attentive, and safe students in the hallways all week, and students were motivated to earn their reward tickets! Our 4th-grade students attended a symphony concert dressed in their finest attire, our 5th and 6th-grade band students gave an outstanding musical performance, and our 5th graders learned about how science and history interconnect at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Finally, we closed the week with incredible student performances and one swimmingly good staff performance at the PTA's Annual Talent Show!
In the week ahead:
- Raccoon Run 5k/Fun Run May 10
- Next Early Release Monday is May 12
Have a wonderful week!
Take good care,
Ms. Shannon, Mrs. Vaughan, and Mr. Webster
 
Important Upcoming Dates
May 3: Mantua Talent Show, 5 PM
May 10: Raccoon Run 5k/Fun Run
May 12: Early Release Monday, Volleyball Clinic for 4th grade girls (registration required)
May 15: 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Strings Spring concert, 5:45 and 7 PM
May 16: Mantua PTA Spring Dance (all students welcome with parents)
May 26: Memorial Day, Staff and Student holiday, offices closed
June 6: Grad Walk 3 PM, Mantua Alumni preparing for graduation will walk the halls!
June 9: Mantua 6th Grade Promotion, Woodson High School, details to follow
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS School Calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
SOL Test Dates
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Grade 3
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May 7 Reading
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May 21 Math
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Grade 4
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May 8 Reading
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May 20 Math
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Grade 5
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May 15 Science
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May 22 Math
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Grade 6
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May 6 Reading
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May 13 Math
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Feature Friday
Feature Friday is our way of spotlighting Mantua's incredible staff regularly! Each week, we recognize a group of staff members. Check them out on Mantua ES Instagram.
Our 05/02 staff members are our clinic staff, Ms. Marcelo and Ms. Lindholm, and our music teachers, Ms. Aberle and Ms. Sudweeks.
Please take a moment to share a positive message for the teams using the Google form, which is open until 5/10/25.
The Positivity Project
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means approaching life with energy and excitement, and it helps bring joy to those around us.
When people are enthusiastic, they show excitement about tasks, making it easier for them and others to stay involved. Enthusiastic people often inspire others, bringing fresh ideas and helping groups work better together.
Enthusiasm is contagious! It can lead to more success and happiness for both individuals and groups. When one person shows enthusiasm, it can encourage others to feel more energized and motivated, too.
To practice and encourage the character strength of enthusiasm at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Family Input for Student Placement 2025-26
We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Taken together with teacher input and student services, your feedback will be included in the class placement process. We respectfully ask that you refrain from citing a specific teacher by name. The information you provide will be shared with your child's current teacher and grade-level team as they work on the placement process and will be provided to next year's teacher to best support the transition.
If you're providing input for multiple children, please fill out one form for each child.
Submissions are due May 9, 2025. They must be on time to be considered, as our staff will use this input as they form student groups the following week. All input must be made through this Family Input Form to be included in the placement process.
Raccoon Run
Please support the Mantua Kids Care Club and Life With Cancer by coming out for the 25th annual Raccoon Run! Race Day is May 10, with the 1-mile fun run kicking off at 8:00 AM, followed by the 5K at 8:30 AM. As always, all proceeds will go to Life With Cancer, and there will be prizes! Register here https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Fairfax/RaccoonRun5K1M or visit www.raccoonrun.wordpress.com for more details. Feel free to reach out to Allison Stellatos at raccoonrunally@gmail.com with any questions.
If running isn’t your thing, but you want to help out, we need LOTS of volunteers to make this a success!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4DAAAC29A5F85-racoon
The Mantua Spring Dance
The Mantua Spring Dance will return on Friday, May 16, 6:00-8:30 PM in the Mantua Gym! This will be a fun-filled, Tropical Glow-themed evening of music, dancing, pizza/refreshments/Kona Ice (for purchase), and socializing for our students and their families.
There is no charge to attend, and pizza, other concessions, and the Kona Ice Truck will be available for purchase on-site.
The event is open to all students in grades PK-6 and their families.
National School Nurse Day
National School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 7. It is a day to recognize the many contributions that school nurses make to student health and learning.
FCPS appreciates the role of School Public Health Nurses (PHNs) for their contribution to the health and welfare of all our students. Professional school nurses support the needs of students through their delivery of healthcare, contributions to local school communities, and promotion of safety, prevention, and wellness throughout the year. They are advocates who bridge healthcare and education by supporting student health and readiness to learn. School nurses are essential to our community and work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of their students.
Please join us in thanking our clinic staff, Neita Lindholm and Kaitlin Marcelo, whose work at lending a Band-Aid and a listening ear never ends. Our students are comforted and well-cared for in our Mantua clinic!
Quick Contacts & Links
Linda Shannon, Principal LCSshannon@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
Chris Webster, Interim Assistant Principal cwebster@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Administrative/Finance Assistant SLPalomino@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, MBKakouris@fcps.edu
Jane Dunfee, SBTS, Testing Coordinator, pjdunfee@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, FFinaish@fcps.edu
Judy Toy, Office Assistant, JPToy@fcps.edu
Luis Uribe Gamboa, Family Liaison, lauribegambo@fcps.edu
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