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Children in 3rd-6th grade will take the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, starting next week. The reading and math tests will be split over two days for students in grades 3 through 5. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, May 8: 5th Grade Reading Part I
Wednesday, May 9: 5th Grade Reading Part II
Thursday, May 10: 4th Grade Reading Part I
Friday, May 11: 4th Grade Reading Part II
Monday, May 14: 6th Grade Reading
Wednesday, May 16: 4th Grade Social Studies
Thursday, May 17: 3rd Grade Reading Part I
Friday, May 18: 3rd Grade Reading Part II
Monday, May 21: 4th Grade Math Part I
Tuesday, May 22: 4th Grade Math Part II
Wednesday May 23: 3rd Grade Math Part I
Thursday, May 24: 3rd Grade Math Part II
Friday, May 25: 5th Grade Science
Tuesday, May 29: 5th Grade Math Part I
Wednesday, May 30: 5th Grade Math Part II
Thursday, May 31: 6th Grade Math
The Virginia Department of
Education (VDOE) introduced mathematics Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) during
the 2014-15 school year and has expanded use of this format each year to
include more grades and subjects. This school year, students in grades 3-8 will
take a computer adaptive SOL test for both reading and mathematics. All other
SOL tests that students take this year will be administered using the
traditional format.
CAT provides a customized
assessment for each student. Each test begins with a question of moderate
difficulty. A correct response leads to a more difficult question, while an
incorrect response leads to a less difficult question. However, all students
complete the same number of questions for the overall test.
On a mathematics CAT, a student
cannot skip questions or return to previous questions. On a reading CAT, a
student may move forward and backward among the questions connected with a
particular passage; however, once the student navigates to the next passage, he
or she may not return to questions from the previous passage.
Teachers and
other instructional staff in our school are working with students to help them
prepare for CAT. Your child will have opportunities to practice taking this
type of test before the spring SOL testing window begins.
The development
of CAT is part of VDOE’s continuing efforts to provide students with the best
possible testing experience. CAT requires fewer total questions than a
traditional SOL test to determine a student’s proficiency and has been proven
to increase student focus and engagement. Additional information on CAT is
available on the VDOE webpage at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/cat/index.shtml.
Forest Edge Families:
Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner and the PTA is in need of gift card donations for our awesome teachers. We will be using these as raffle prizes throughout the week, as well as providing them as prizes for a special Teacher event on Friday afternoon, 5/11. Any denomination is appreciated! So if you're out and about this weekend and can pick up one or two, we would greatly appreciate it. All donations can be dropped off in the Front Office any day next week. We are also hosting a Teacher Breakfast on Wednesday, 5/9. You can sign up to help here: Help With The Teacher Appreciation Breakfast!
Do you have a child who will be in 6th grade next year? If yes, he or she may need a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Sixth grade students cannot begin school in August without documentation of the Tdap booster. Parents or guardians should ask their private healthcare provider, or the health department, to review their child’s immunization record if they are unsure if their child has received the Tdap booster. Students who have received a Tdap booster between the ages of seven and eleven do not need another dose.
Documentation must be provided to the school student information assistant (SIA) or registrar as soon as possible. Acceptable documentation can be one of the following:
- A copy of your child’s immunization record showing the month, day, and year the Tdap vaccine was given.
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the month, day, and year the Tdap vaccine was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption. (A student whose healthcare provider prefers to wait until the student turns 11 to administer the Tdap must provide a temporary medical exemption.)
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form, which is available online.
Fairfax County Public Schools tracks compliance with this state requirement and students who do not meet the requirement before August 28, 2018, will not be able to start school.
Students can receive immunizations required for school at any Fairfax County Health Department immunization clinic. Information about health department clinic locations and hours can be found on the Fairfax County Health Department website.
More information about immunization requirements and exemptions can be found in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2101 and on the General Registration Requirement section of the FCPS website.
If you have any questions, contact Teresa Gallahan, school health specialist, Department of Special Services, at 571-423-4313 or at tlgallahan@fcps.edu.
The Student Council Association (SCA) is happy to announce that we will be holding elections to determine the officers for the 2018-19 school year!
Rising 6th grade students may run for:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- 6th Grade Historian
Rising 5th grade students may run for:
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- 5th Grade Historian
Students in the rising 4th grade may run for:
The election schedule is as follows:
May 21-25
Applications will be available from Ms. Nagel in the cafeteria during lunch
Written applications must include reasons for running for office, platform ideas, signatures from 4 school employees who will recommend them for office, and the classroom teacher's signature, verifying that the applicant is in good standing in academics, citizenship, and attendance.
May 28:
Completed applications are DUE to Ms. Nagel by the end of the school day.
June 1:
Students will be notified via letter if they've been chosen for the primary election.
June 4:
Campaign posters will be hung in the hallways, pending Ms. Nagel's approval. No flyers, buttons, or stickers are permitted.
June 7:
Students will vote in the primary election.
June 8:
Candidates will be notified whether they are moving on to the general election.
June 11:
General election posters and speeches are due to Ms. Nagel for approval, then posters may be hung.
June 11-14:
Candidates will broadcast their election speeches on the morning news throughout the week.
June 14:
Students will vote and election results will be shared by the end of the day.
Questions? Contact Chelsea Nagel: cenagel@fcps.edu
Friday, June 8: K-2 Field Day
Monday, June 11: 3-6 Field Day
Wednesday, June 13: 6th Grade Celebration
Sincerely,
Leona Smith-Vance
Principal
LMSmith3@fcps.edu
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