May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are excited to announce that the Office of Student Services will sponsor our 5th Annual Mental Health Poster Contest. This contest is open to ALL Dorchester County Public School Students.
Just a few pieces of information to share:
*All entries are due by April 18, 2025, to our School Social Worker, Mrs. Winn.
*All posters submitted will be on display in local businesses in Dorchester County to bring awareness about Mental Health between May 5th – May 30th. Parent permission is required. Please provide information on the submission slip with each poster.
*Each school will announce a winner! Each winner will receive a $50 Wal-Mart gift card and public recognition. Prizes will be distributed to winners the week of May 5th.
We look forward to your creative entries!
PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten recently went on a field trip to the “Be with Me, Playseum” in Easton.
The students explored a mini community with a grocery store, dentist office, and restaurant. They dressed up as workers such as firefighters, veterinarians, barbers, farmers, and more.
The students had the chance to interact with a rabbit named Peanut Butter, a guinea pig named Hot Chocolate, and a dove named Hope, who flew around the room and even sat on the student’s arms.
The dental hygienist,” Hazel, a kindergartener, “cleaned” Mrs. Malchow's teeth. Harpa, also in kindergarten, playfully wore a wig. Meanwhile, Zayne in PreK3 made a pizza, hopefully for everyone to enjoy. Jeffrey and Mrs. Dechert on the bus showed their excitement about the fun ahead!
Thank you to “The Be with Me, Playseum”, for having us for such a fun-filled time. For more information, visit their website: https://www.playseum.com/eastonplayseum
Vienna Elementary School recently attended two incredible performances by Cambridge South Dorchester High School's senior class play, The Wizard of Oz. One half of the school went and saw the A Cast and the other half went the next day and saw the B Cast! What a treat on both days!
Upon entering, we were greeted by the Ozians and the atmosphere was magic-filled with the yellow brick road, a cornfield, a forest, the enchanting land of Oz, and the charming Munchkin Land. The creativity behind the props was awe-inspiring!
From the moment the play commenced, the students were captivated by the visuals and delightful sounds starting with especially Dorothy's enchanting rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." The wicked witch, with her ominous cackle of “I’ll get you, my pretty!” provided just the right amount of excitement for everyone. For many adults, the performance was a delightful trip down memory lane, filled with cherished childhood memories.
What made it even more special was witnessing the remarkable performances of familiar Vienna faces! The VES students in attendance were thrilled to see their fellow Terrapins Jeffrey, Addi, Genevieve, Haven, Brinlee, Teagan, and Sophia truly shine on stage. We are so proud of their hard work and talent.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Cambridge-South Dorchester High School and everyone involved for this fantastic opportunity to experience a remarkable show by the Senior Class of 2025. Congratulations on an exceptional job!
A special shout-out to Addi’s mom for capturing these unforgettable moments with her wonderful pictures! 😊
Tomorrow, Friday, March 28th, we have a fun day planned at Vienna Elementary School! Students who have consistently followed directions for the month of March will get to enjoy cotton candy, popcorn, and the company of MANY furry friends from The Little Farm Petting Zoo. And don’t forget to wear your “HOUSE” t-shirt!
“Spring is great! Let's celebrate!”
On Thursday, March 20th, 2025, our PreK4 teacher, Mrs. Sherri Todd, was excited to welcome spring with her students with songs, cheers, crafts and a farmers’ market center!
Mrs. Todd read the book "Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring," which talked about all the wonderful changes happening as winter gives way to spring. The students sang a song with fun hand motions called "Springtime Dance" by Jack Hartmann.
After pairing up with a partner to answer the question, “What is your favorite fruit?”, the students practiced replying in complete sentences: “My favorite fruit is . . .” After sharing, they returned to their seats for journal time, where they “wrote” (in their four-year-old fashion), drew, and colored their favorite fruit. Some examples of what they learned about each other was that Kierra’s favorite is apples, Dai’Jiyrah’s is oranges, and Aitana’s is grapes. Holt made sure his classmates knew his was apples, right off an apple tree.
During circle time, Mrs. Todd emphasized, “If you want to learn, you first need to listen.” In small groups, the students practiced writing the letter “t.” Their classmate, Cashae, demonstrated the letter “t” in front of the class. They even worked on blending sounds together!
At recess, the children played an old favorite—Ring Around the Rosy. The joy on their faces during playtime was priceless.
What a wonderful way to kick off the first spring day in PreK4!
The Vienna Parents Association will host an Easter Egg Hunt and Book Bingo at Vienna Elementary School on Sunday, April 6th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Easter egg hunt schedule is as follows:
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Ages 3 and under
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PreK 4 and Kindergarten
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Grades 1-2
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Grades 3-5
Students who are not participating in an egg hunt can play book bingo.
ALL children will leave with a book! See you then!
Mrs. Susan Thomas photographed her class happily showing off their new analog clock that purposefully designates the hour, minute, and second hands in a way her young students can see!
Digital clocks that are in use in our world of computers, cause so much confusion while children are learning to tell time in our increasingly digital world. This kind of clock visually assists in helping students to understand the terms “quarter past”, “half past’, and “quarter til”, phrases that are seldom used these days, but connect to fractions (fourths) and money (quarters). It also assists them in understanding that there are 60 minutes in an hour along with how the numerals represent counting by fives and the tic marks in between are single minutes.
We know Mrs. Thomas will put this traditional analog clock to great use and so will her students! It’s “time” to get learning!
LEARN TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.
PEP (Parents Encouragement Program) Family Resiliency Program
FREE 8-week program for parents and caregivers to support your child’s mental wellness, resiliency, and success in school!
• Learn new tools each week.
• Meet with parents to share ideas and support each other.
• For parents of children ages 5 to 18.
• In English and Spanish
SESSIONS MEET ON THURSDAYS OR SUNDAYS STARTING THE WEEK OF APRIL 21
MEET ONCE A WEEK ON ZOOM FROM 7-8:30 PM FOR 8 WEEKS.
WHAT DO PARENTS & CAREGIVERS LEARN?
How to Manage Change and Transitions
Raising More Motivated and Cooperative Kids
Emotion Coaching—Responding to Your Child’s Strong Emotions
Understanding and Supporting Children’s Mental Health Needs
When to Set Limits and When to Let Go
Managing Your Anger When It Flares
Evaluation. Participants who complete at least five program sessions and the evaluation session on week 8 receive a $50 gift card (one per family/household)
Click link here to register: https://pep.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9rCmXJjWVujubc
Mrs. Rider's 2nd-grade class held a diner-themed centers day for math to conclude their lessons on money, specifically coins.
The students earned gold coins for completing activities at each center or "booth," which they could cash in for prizes. Great job, 2nd grade!
On Monday, March 17th, Vienna Elementary School celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and Isibindi Day!
PreK3 and Kindergarten students had an exciting visit from mischievous leprechauns, who left a mess behind! Despite the clever traps created by our PreK3 students, the leprechauns managed to evade capture, bringing a whirlwind of fun and surprises instead.
The leprechauns left trails of shredded paper, overturned chairs, and scattered books, pencils, and toys, filling the classrooms with laughter and joy.
Our students did a fantastic job working together to help their teachers clean up the mess left behind! To make the day even more fun, the leprechauns surprised the kindergarten students by leaving shiny gold coins.
Plus, our wonderful Isibindi friends shared clovers (or lucky charms) with everyone, spreading good luck and smiles all around!
Wear your "HOUSE" t-shirt tomorrow, Friday, March 21, 2025.
Recess is truly the highlight of the students' day! It offers them a chance to unwind, play, and recharge after the mental effort of their classes.
Our students never cease to amaze us with their big hearts and willingness to help one another. Whether they’re picking someone up after a fall, tying shoelaces, or helping friends retrieve shoes that have come off while running, they show kindness in everything they do.
A simple, “Are you okay?”, goes a long way in showing their genuine caring for each other.
Watching the friendships and support they share is simply heartwarming!
Vienna Elementary School VPA Designer Purse Bingo & Tricky Tray!
Tickets are officially on sale for our 2nd Designer Purse Bingo to benefit the Vienna Elementary School VPA!
Anyone who pays for their tickets prior to bingo will be entered to win $100 cash!
Tickets are $30 can be purchased by texting Katie at 410-253-0189. Please don't fall for scammers!
Bingo is Sunday, May 18th, at East New Market Fire Hall with doors opening at 11:30 and games starting at 1:00pm.
Along with regular bingo games there will be tricky tray, tag boards, special games and more!
**Virtual Parent Webinar, Topic: Fun For Families: 7 Habits for Highly Effective Families
** Tuesday, March 18th, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
**Join us by clicking the link here: https://franklincovey.zoom.us/my/tiffanydillon **
"Want to get new and fresh ideas for fun that will appeal to the whole family?
Want to learn how to engage your kids in a way they'll enjoy while learning important life skills?
Join us for a virtual webinar for parents on Tuesday, March 18th!
For more questions, call 410- 943-3775 ext. 1913 or email hughesco@dcpsmd.org
We’re off to see the wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
All Vienna Elementary Students in grades K through 5 are traveling to Cambridge – South Dorchester High School, 2475 Cambridge Beltway, Cambridge, MD 21613, to watch this year’s Senior Class play. We are visiting on two different days for a morning performance to support their fine arts program.
Thursday, March 20, 2025, Grade K, 1, and 5
Leaving VES: 8:55 a.m.
Returning to VES: 12:00 noon
Lunches will be served upon return to our school.
Friday, March 21, 2025, Grades 2, 3, and 4
Leaving VES: 8:55 a.m.
Returning to VES: 12:00 noon
Lunches will be served upon return to our school.
Please sign and return the permission slip! Thank you!
Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Diffenbach's first graders recently went on a field trip to the “Be with Me, Playseum” in Easton.
The students explored a mini-community with a grocery store, dentist office, and restaurant. They dressed up as acted as workers like firefighters, veterinarians, barbers, and farmers. They played in those roles while learning about the relationship between goods and services and exchanged money.
Additionally, the students had the opportunity to decorate cookies and enjoy them before leaving.
We love having our chaperones! Just looking at the pictures, it appears that they had fun, too! Thank you to our teachers for putting together this worthwhile trip! Our teachers are amazing!
Isibindi Day and St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17th, 2025. Everyone please wear green in support of our Isibindi friends.
A few weeks ago, PreK3 had a fun-filled Pet Day! Parents sent in adorable pictures of their children’s pets, and the kids got to show off some truly unique animals with their creative names for their furry (or feathered) friends.
- Maverick brought in his dog, Rocko.
- Micah shared his dog, Zoey and cat Killona.
- Matthew introduced us to his three cute rats: Marshmallow, Graham crackers,, and Toasty.
- Zayne showed off his two dogs, Reece Puff and Brutus.
- Brooklyn proudly presented her dog, Creed, and her chicken, Rosie.
- Tatum talked about her lovely dog named Remi.
It sounds like everyone had an amazing time celebrating their pets in PreK3! A big thank you to all the families for sharing these wonderful moments!
Wear your "HOUSE" t-shirt tomorrow, Friday, March 14th.
One of our two second grade teachers, Mrs. Susan Thomas, introduced an incentive with her class called Candyland, like the classic board game. Student progress is tracked in DCPS programs called “Amplify Boost” and “iReady”. Disney Candyland was voted on for the reward and every Friday is “Disney Day”.
The hard work of these students is truly inspiring! Their excitement of all of her students as they strive for success is heartwarming, and Mrs. Thomas hopes they enjoy this incentive as much as she does. ❤️
Congratulations to Abdiel, Allison, Gracie, and Adalynn, as they were the February winners.
