Pearl Sample Elementary School

Pumpkin Math Fun! 📏🔢
Ms. Van Pelt's first grade class had an amazing couple of days diving into "pumpkin math" after reading "How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin"! 📚

Her little scientists were busy with:

⚖️ Estimating the weight of the pumpkin and then checking it on the scale.

➖ Estimating the number of lines around the pumpkin before counting them.

🧵 Estimating the circumference by cutting a piece of string they thought would fit all the way around!

💡 The grand finale: Estimating the number of seeds and then counting them by grouping them into sets of 10. They found a whopping 527 seeds in their pumpkin!

It was a fantastic way to practice estimation, measurement, and counting! These hands-on activities make learning so much fun!

#PumpkinMath #HowManySeedsInAPumpkin #Estimation #Measurement #Math

1 day ago, PSES

A group of elementary school children, possibly kindergarten or first grade, sitting at a table engaged in a hands-on activity, likely counting pumpkin seeds. A girl in the foreground is focusing intently on the task.

Several young children clustered around a table, actively involved in a classroom activity. Two girls in the foreground are looking down at a task in front of them.

A group of students sitting at a blue table, with several children reaching toward the center of the table. They appear to be counting or sorting small items.

Multiple young students seated around a bright blue table, working on an activity together, with various expressions of focus and engagement.

Two children, a boy and a girl, smiling and looking up from their task while sitting at a table with other classmates. They are in a brightly lit classroom setting.

A girl with a bright smile sitting at a table with other students, participating in a group activity.

A wider view of the classroom showing a larger group of students sitting at multiple tables, all engaged in the same activity, likely involving counting.

A photo of a smiling girl sitting at a table in the classroom, with other students and classroom materials visible in the background.

🎉🐯 Congratulations to our 2025 Teacher of the Year — Mrs. Jennifer Bodekor! 🐯🎉

We are so proud to celebrate her for her dedication, creativity, and the countless ways she make(s) a difference in the lives of our students every day. 💛

Mrs. Bodekor truly embodies our Tiger spirit — showing respect, working hard, and helping every student succeed! 🧡

Drop a 🐅 or 👏 in the comments to help us celebrate this amazing educator!

#TigerPride #TeacherOfTheYear #WeShowRespectWeWorkHardWeWillSucceed

1 day ago, PSES

A smiling woman holding a bouquet of flowers stands in front of a classroom bulletin board that says “We Are Nuts About Fall.” The board is decorated with pumpkins, acorns, and squirrels. Backpacks hang on hooks along the wall behind her.

🐾 Girls on the Run Community Impact Project! 🏃‍♀️💜

This season, our Girls on the Run team is teaming up with SCA to support our local animal shelter! 🐶🐱

📦 What: Animal Shelter Drive – bring food, treats, toys, etc.
📍 Where: Ms. Cook’s Room (PSES)
📅 When: October 27 – November 3
💡 Why: To make a pawsitive difference in our community!

Help us spread kindness, one wag at a time! 🐾💜 #GirlsOnTheRun #TigerPride #CommunityImpact #PSESCares

5 days ago, PSES

🎉📚 It’s almost time for our Book Fair & Spirit Week! 📚🎉
Get ready to celebrate reading and show your Tiger spirit all week long — October 27–31!

Here’s what’s happening each day:
🌍 Monday – Destination Day: Wear gear from your favorite city, state, or theme park!
🤪 Tuesday – Crazy About Reading Day: Rock your craziest hair or hat!
👕 Wednesday – Read Me Day: Dress in clothes with words (school-appropriate, of course!)
📖 Family Night: 5–7 PM – Join us for books, games, and fun!
💛 Thursday – All About the Feels Day: Dress to match your mood!
🎃 Friday – Halloween: Wear your costumes to wrap up the week!

The Book Fair runs October 23–31, so stop by and find your next great read! 🐯💥
#BookFair #SpiritWeek #TigerPride #ReadersAreLeaders

5 days ago, PSES

🎃🐄 Our first graders had a moo-velous time at Cows-N-Corn! They learned all about the life cycle of pumpkins and how both people and animals use them. 🍂

From petting goats and donkeys to hayrides, climbing hay bales, riding mini trains, and conquering the spider web — it was a day full of learning, laughter, and fall fun! 🍁🐐🚜

#TigerPride #FieldTripFun #CowsNCorn #PumpkinLearning

6 days ago, PSES

A large group of diverse elementary school children are seated on long picnic benches facing a small, wooden stage with a few pumpkins. A person is standing by the stage, apparently telling a story or giving a presentation. Several children are raising their hands, and an adult is sitting with them on the bench. The setting is a sunny, grassy field.

A large group of elementary school children are sitting and lying on a large, outdoor black net or spiderweb-style climbing structure supported by wooden posts. The ground beneath is covered in black mulch. The sky is bright blue and sunny, and a few farm buildings are visible in the background.

A group of children are playing and climbing on a pyramid structure made of large, square hay bales in a grassy field on a sunny day. A red barn and a few smaller outbuildings are in the background.

A young boy wearing a mint green shirt and red sunglasses gently pets the nose of a donkey over a wooden fence. An older man in a cap and light-colored shirt stands next to the donkey, also looking at the animal. The scene is bright and grassy.

A close-up shot of two smiling children, a girl with dark hair wearing a light pink sweater and a boy with dark hair wearing a black jacket, looking out of the red wooden window of a small structure, possibly a train car or playhouse. The boy is holding up a peace sign.

A group of diverse elementary school children are seated on hay bales inside the metal frame of a farm trailer for a hayride. Many are smiling and looking through the metal bars at the camera. A red and white reflective slow-moving vehicle sign is visible in the foreground.

A closer view of a few smiling elementary school children, including a girl in a purple fleece hoodie and a boy in a blue jacket, climbing and posing on a large black spiderweb net on a bright, sunny day at a farm. Other children are playing in the background.

A group of elementary school children and one adult female teacher are making silly faces and striking fun poses while standing and sitting on large hay bales in a sunny, grassy field. They are all smiling and enjoying the outdoor setting, with red farm buildings in the background.

Today it was Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Jennings' classes turn to visit Kenmore! They got to experience a little bit of history and see what life was like long ago.

7 days ago, PSES

students in a line listening to a man dressed in colonial clothes

A student is playing a game that was played long ago

students learning about the Kenmore plantation

students listening to a man dressed in colonial attire

A group of students checking out an old school house

A group of students learning more about life long

A group of students standing outside on a sunny day, listening to a man talk about life long ago, while dressed in colonial clothes

This morning, our SCA officers met our bus drivers outside with cards, signs, and donuts! We are so thankful for them!!

7 days ago, PSES

students standing near the bus holding a thank you sign

Mrs. Q and Ms. Kall's classes took a trip back in time today at Kenmore! What a fun and educational day of history and discovery! 🕰️🐅#FieldTripFun #TigerPride

8 days ago, PSES

A group of children and adults standing close together for a picture in front of a brick building

A group of students and an adult in colonial era clothing stand outside a brick building on a sunny day

A brick building with white trim, a porch, and several trees is shown under a clear blue sky

several young students are walking in in line on a grassy lawn outside a historic brick building

🦓🐘 Miss Kall’s 4th graders are designing animal habitats using area and perimeter to build their own zoos! Math meets creativity in every enclosure. Check out these zookeepers-in-training!

9 days ago, PSES

📚🎉 It’s almost Book Fair time, Tigers! 🎉📚

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming October 23–31, and the official flier is here! Take a peek to see some of the exciting new titles your readers will love. 🐯💛

🗓️ Book Fair Dates: October 23–31, 2025
💻 Online Shopping: October 23–November 5
📍 Location: Pearl Sample Library
🌟 Family Night: October 29 • 5–7 PM

Don’t forget to set up your child’s eWallet for easy shopping and consider donating to Share the Fair to help every student bring home a book!

📖 Every purchase supports our school and helps build a love of reading!
Check out the flier below and start your wish list today!

https://online.fliphtml5.com/vfkrg/iugk/#p=1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AFUI8JFyqVV7lmqvBSgd1_6_gh3NSTRj/view?usp=drive_link

#ScholasticBookFair #PearlSamplePride #TigerReaders #LetsGoTigers #BookFairMagic

9 days ago, PSES

It was pajama day here at Pearl Sample! It looks like our 4th graders have the same taste in pajamas! 😂❤️

11 days ago, PSES

group of 4th graders all wearing red and black checkered pajama pants

📸📸 SMILE! Tomorrow is picture day! 📸📸

14 days ago, PSES

What a glowing success! 🌟Our Tigers ran hard, had fun, and helped raise money for our school! We are so grateful for everyone who donated, volunteered, and cheered us on! 🐯✨#GoTigers #GlowRun2025

15 days ago, PSES

students giving high-fives during the glow run

Students running during the glow run in the gym

📚✨ The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Pearl Sample Elementary! ✨📚

Get ready to discover new adventures, favorite characters, and endless stories waiting to be read!
🗓️ When: October 23–31, 2025
💻 Online Fair: October 23–November 5
📍 Where: Pearl Sample Library
🎉 Family Night: October 29 • 5:00–7:00 p.m.

💳 Set up your child’s eWallet for easy, cash-free shopping — and don’t forget to support our Share the Fair program to help every Tiger go home with a book!

Every purchase benefits our school and helps grow a love of reading. 🧡🐯
📖 Visit our Fair homepage for details: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/pearlsampleelementaryschool

#ScholasticBookFair #TigerReaders #PearlSamplePride #LetsGoTigers

19 days ago, PSES

A letter to Pearl Sample Elementary families announcing the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. It includes event details such as dates (October 23–31, 2025; online through November 5), location (school library), and Family Night on October 29 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. The letter encourages families to set up an eWallet for student shopping, contribute to the “Share the Fair” program to help all students get books, and volunteer to support the fair. It’s signed by Principal Mrs. Hokanson and includes a link to the school’s Scholastic Book Fair homepage.

🎉 Way to go, Tigers! 🎉

In September, 575 students earned "Good" Attendance and 259 students rocked Perfect Attendance! 🐾👏

Now we’re setting our sights on October. Our goal: 630 students eligible to win! 🏆 Students who are present 20 out of 22 days (or 54 out of 60 days) this month will be entered to win a FREE pass to Urban Air Fredericksburg! 🎟️🎈

Thank you for your amazing support—together we can make it happen. 💪
✨ Good luck & Let’s Go Tigers!
#StriveToArrive #TigerPride 🐯

27 days ago, PSES

An orange October 2025 calendar outlining all the days of the month and how to win the attendance challenge.

🌍🍪 5th graders in Ms. Keyser's class are breaking it down—literally! Using graham crackers, they explored how Earth’s tectonic plates move, collide, and shift. Hands-on (and delicious!) science makes learning stick! #TigerScientists #HandsOnLearning #STEM

about 1 month ago, PSES

Two fifth-grade students sit at their desks smiling at the camera while working with graham crackers on wax paper. Other students can be seen in the background also participating in the activity.

Two fifth-grade students sit side by side at their desks, smiling at the camera while using graham crackers and frosting for a plate tectonics activity. Classmates in the background are engaged in the same project.

🚓🐯 Students in Mrs. Brinks, Ms. Dominguez, and Ms. Stiffler's classes had a fantastic visit to the Culpeper Police Department today! They learned all about how our local officers help keep our community safe, got a behind-the-scenes look at the station, and even had the chance to ask some great questions.

A big thank you to the Culpeper Police Department for welcoming our Tigers and teaching them the importance of safety, responsibility, and community service! 💙

about 1 month ago, PSES

Sign outside of Culpeper Police Department

☕🐯 A huge THANK YOU to Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck for bringing the caffeine and fun to PSE today! We’re so excited to have won the contest, and it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing Tiger families who showed up and supported us. 💛🖤

We are grateful for this sweet treat and for a community that always rallies behind our school. Go Tigers! 🐯🎉

about 1 month ago, PSES

A brightly painted teal Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck is parked in a lot. Two women stand at the window ordering drinks, while a worker inside the truck takes their order. The truck’s menu and large coffee graphics are visible on the side.

The Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck is parked in a school lot at sunrise. The truck’s colorful teal design with coffee graphics stands out against the trees and open space in the background.

Kindergarten and 3rd grade are reading buddies! They meet twice a week to read together!

about 2 months ago, PSES

a boy in an orange shirt and a girl in a rainbow striped shirt read a book together

🎉Congratulations to Jaxon and Olivia for winning a free ultimate pass to Urban Air in Fredericksburg! They won the August Attendance Raffle!

Thank you to the Urban Air Team for supporting positive attendance at Pearl Sample Elementary!

Keep up the great work Tigers! We love seeing you here each and every day!!

about 2 months ago, PSES

Two students hold their Urban Air passes while standing in front of a black wall with orange lettering and teacher names written in colorful chalk.