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Dear GFES Parents,
We take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously and are always looking for ways to improve upon our current safety measures. As you know, we have a door security system whereby visitors must ring the bell in order to request entry into the school. Upon entry of the school, a valid ID is required to be scanned to enter our main building.
To ensure proper procedures are followed, effective immediately, all visitors must request entry using the main entrance door. Visitors asking for entry at any other door will be asked to walk around to the main entrance.
In addition, please do not park your vehicle in the loop in front of the school, even if it’s for a quick run in and out of the school. This loop is designated for school buses and emergency vehicles only. The curbs are painted yellow indicating a no parking area, and there are signs noting No Parking. This is also a security measure so please always park in our designated parking lot.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Sara Harper and Chris Litz
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3/2 Talent Show, Gr 4-6, Gym, 6:00 p.m.
3/8 Deadline to
Order 17-18 GFES Yearbook
3/26-30 Spring
Break Week
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 4/2 Student
Holiday
4/5 Gr. 2
Field Trip, Mount Vernon
4/9 Book
Fair Week
4/12 School Photos, Individual and Class
4/13 1:35 p.m.
Early Dismissal
End of 3rd Grading
Period
4/16 Student
Holiday
4/20 Volleyball:
Students vs. Staff
4/23 AAP Level IV Parent Orientation, 9-10:00
am, Café.
4/26 Kindergarten Orientation, 9:15 a.m.,
Café.
4/27 Gr. 1
Field Trip, National Zoo
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If your child will be 5 years old by
September 30, 2018,
it’s time to register for Kindergarten!
Parents and children eligible for
kindergarten are invited to an overview of the school’s kindergarten program on
Tuesday,
April 26, 2018 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in our school
cafeteria.
Rising kindergarten students will
meet our kindergarten teachers in the classroom for a
special welcome and activities. Parents
will meet in the cafeteria to receive an overview of GFES and the kindergarten
program. A kindergarten teacher will
present an overview of the kindergarten curriculum and the daily schedule. This
is an excellent opportunity for parents unsure of whether or not their child is
ready for kindergarten to come, listen, and make an informed decision.
Student Attendance Resources Available
Virginia State School Attendance laws are changing. FCPS has developed some
attendance guidelines that may be helpful to parents throughout the year. For more information: https://www.fcps.edu/node/35733
 Don't Delay... Order your Yearbook Today!
Friday, March 9th is the deadline to order your 2017-2018 Great Falls Elementary School
Yearbook!
The
price for the yearbook is $20.00 per copy.
How to order:
1) Online: www.jostens.com/yearbooks
or www.fcps.edu/GreatFallsES
2) Order form: Turn the order form in to your child’s
teacher by using exact cash- (we cannot provide change) or check payable
to Provine School Pictures
Only those who place an order by March 9th are
guaranteed a yearbook.
Don’t miss out!
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 From the Healthy Minds Blog: JUULing
Parents, Are You Aware of “JUULing,” the Latest Trend in Vaping?
JUULs and “JUULing” are the latest version of e-cigarettes and a fast growing trend among youth. The JUUL e-cigarette stands apart from others in its clever and often deceiving design which makes it look just like a typical flash drive or USB charger. The JUUL pen breaks down into two pieces, the shell and the pod. The shell is the mechanism by which the vapor is heated and delivered, the pod contains the nicotine and flavored vapor. Together, the JUUL pen looks just like your average flash drive.
Parents must stay informed regarding new devices being marketed. Speak with other parents, share information, read about the subject, and be available for your child and other children who may need a trusted adult to guide their choices.
Healthy Minds is a new blog for parents, educators, and community-based providers who are interested in supporting student mental health and wellness. It represents a collaboration between FCPS’ Office of Intervention and Prevention Services and the Prevention Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. It is part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, which is designed to reinforce emotional wellness in youth and families.
To read posts about past topics, click here.
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Save the Date: 13th Annual Special Education
Conference to Be Held Saturday, April 21, at Hayfield Secondary School
Mark your calendars now for the 13th annual FCPS Special Education
Conference, which will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Hayfield Secondary School. Go to the Special Education
Conference website for further information and to register for
conference workshop sessions.
GFES PTA Updates
Talent Show
Grades 4-6 this Friday, March 2nd, 6:00 pm
Don’t miss the upper grades Talent Show! Bring your children to support
their friends. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family at the door. (If
you paid at the lower grade Talent Show and signed in, you do not need to pay
again for admission.)
 Reflections Contest Winners!
We'd like to congratulate the following students whose Reflections contest
submissions won awards at the District level! As a reminder, these works
all received outstanding interpretation marks during our school's contest, then
they moved on to the Fairfax County Council of PTAs awards where they also
received outstanding interpretation marks to move on to the district level!
We are so proud of all the amazing artists at Great Falls
Elementary!
Intermediate Photography Category -
3rd Place (tie) Claire Marciano, 3rd grade, “Forest Fire Within Reach”
Intermediate Dance Category -
Director’s Award Sadie Leasure, 5th grade “Reaching”
Middle School Dance Category -
2nd Place Diego Tablett, 6th grade – “Marinera de mi
Corazon"
A casual reception to honor ALL participants in the Reflections contest
will be held on Wednesday, March 21 at 2:30pm in the GFES cafeteria. If
your child participated in the Reflections contest this year, their teacher
will release them from class for the brief reception. Parents and other
family members are welcome to attend the reception. More details will be shared
as the event date approaches.
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School Support
Interested in helping out at school? Click the links below to volunteer
Critical Thinking Lab - Volunteers Needed
Library - Help out shelving books and keep our library organized.
Art Room - Help sort and hang student art work.
Embry Rucker - Help transport donated food that is uneaten from our cafeteria to the shelter.
Change of Transportation (COT) - Click here to volunteer
Cooper Middle School World Heritage Night 2018
“Save the Date” Golf Tournament
Celebrate Great Falls will hold its annual Golf Tournament, May 14th at Hidden Creek Golf Course in
Reston. Tee time is 1:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. Mark your calendars now for this great event that
provides proceeds to Great Falls ES, Forestville ES, and Colvin Run ES. More information
regarding the Golf tournament and how to Bid on the Online Auction Items will be made available as
we get closer to the date.
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 Culinary Challenge and Wellness Expo
March 17 at Hayfield Secondary School
The 2018 Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge and Wellness
Expo will be held on March 17 at Hayfield Secondary School from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors and exhibits open at 10 a.m. The event
will feature a public tasting of dishes created by students to be
considered for school menus along with a plenary session with
speakers, panelists, and special guests sharing insights on food,
nutrition, and health. Admission is $15 per person and includes
the public tasting, plenary, and exhibits.
Get more information and register to attend.
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 The Art and Science of Talking with Your Kids
featuring Dr. Wendy Mogel
Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 7 p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom in McLean
Buy your tickets here for this
essential guide to the art of talking with children of all ages. Learn how to
cultivate the art of conversation – from infancy to adulthood – in an age of
hurry, worry, and digital distraction. Presented by the Safe Community
Coalition, Dr. Mogel is known for combining cutting-edge psychological
research with timeless wisdom in guiding parents through the rough waters
of child rearing in today’s competitive world.
In her new book, Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say it,
and When to Listen, Dr. Mogel shows us how a change in voice can
transform communication and ease the relationship between parents and
children. Her research-based guidelines help parents communicate with
more warmth, respect, and sincerity, as well as foster open parent-child
relationships that will help ensure our children’s success in the classroom
and in life.
Find more information at the Safe Community Coalition website.
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