 Principal's Note
Parents,
It is my pleasure to announce Lindsey Covey as our new Assistant Principal at Sleepy Hollow Elementary. Mrs. Covey has served as our Math Instructional Coach and Math Specialist for the past seven years. In her role, she has made a tremendous impact by leading grade level collaborative team meetings where she assists teams in planning, analyzing student data, and encouraging teachers to actually do the math before teaching.
Mrs. Covey introduced our school to the Math Workshop model where all students are provided with rich and hands-on learning opportunities that are engaging and differentiated to meet the needs of each learner. Mrs. Covey strives to make mathematics exciting and fun for teachers and students and works closely with teams to raise the bar for all learners. As a result of her instructional leadership, we have seen our mathematics state assessment data dramatically increase over the last seven years.
Prior to coming to Sleepy Hollow, Mrs. Covey taught 3rd and 4th grades at Beech Tree Elementary School in FCPS. During her tenure at Beech Tree, Mrs. Covey was the Responsive Classroom lead that trained teachers and also modeled these practices schoolwide. She was especially passionate about teaching mathematics in a way that was relevant and engaging which led her to pursue her Math Specialist Endorsement from George Mason University. Also, Mrs. Covey is a proud Virginia Tech graduate where she earned her Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She recently earned her Administrative Leadership Endorsement from the University of Virginia.
Outside of work, Mrs. Covey loves to spend time with her husband Justin, two year old son Bennett, and dog Kobey. They enjoy getting out and about in the Falls Church community going to parks, farmers markets, and on long walks. She is excited to welcome her baby girl into the world at the beginning of April and is trying her best to prepare Bennett for the new addition.
Mrs. Covey has loved being a part of the Sleepy Hollow Community for the past seven years and is honored and excited to take on the Assistant Principal role starting on January 7, 2019. I am so excited to bring her on board as my new partner to work closely with me to focus on learning, results and collaborating with all stakeholders. Congratulations Mrs. Covey!
Thank you,
Eric T. Johnson
Principal
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 Niema Awadalla Retires
Please join the SHES staff in congratulating Mrs. Niema Awadalla on her retirement in FCPS this month. Mrs. Awadalla began her career in 1999 as a food service worker in the cafeteria at Freedom Hill ES in FCPS and later transferred to working as a PHTA with students who have Intellectual Disabilities. In 2006, Mrs. Awadalla transferred to Woodburn ES in FCPS and continued her work as a PHTA. In 2007, Mrs. Awadalla transferred to Sleepy Hollow ES, where she has been working as a PHTA in our Enhanced Autism/Self Contained special education program ever since.
Mrs. Awadalla says, “the greatest gift she has learned from working here at Sleepy Hollow is the gift of patience.” She will miss her large special education “family”, who have always been supportive and made her feel happy to come to work each day and the students and their dedication to learning.
After retirement, Mrs. Awadalla is looking forward to spending time with her five grandchildren. She also hopes to visit friends and family. She mentioned that she will also probably take a shopping trip or two! Who knows, we may even be lucky enough to have her back occasionally as a substitute from time to time.
Mrs. Awadalla will be truly missed, and we are thankful for her loyalty and service to our students at Sleepy Hollow ES.
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Calendar Reminder: Winter Break Is December 24 through January 4, 2019
As a reminder, this year’s winter break starts on Monday, December 24, and ends on January 4, 2019. Classes will resume on Monday, January 7, 2019. Please note that the last day of classes before break, December 21, is a full day. See the complete 2018-19 school year calendar.
e-Notify Emergency Messages Will Be Communicated via New Vendor Beginning December 14
Fairfax County Public Schools will be moving to a new vendor to provide emergency and essential email, text, and phone notifications beginning December 14, 2018.
Parents and guardians who have included a cell phone number (in the cell phone field) on a student’s emergency care card will receive a text message on December 14 to confirm the account is set up to receive text messages from FCPS. You do not need to do anything when you receive the text message from the new vendor, School Messenger, on December 14. If you do not receive a text message, please check the contact information listed on your child’s emergency care card in weCare. Your cell phone number must be listed in the cellphone field in order to receive text messages from FCPS.
New this year, parents can enter their student’s cell phone number in weCare so that their student will also receive text messages for delayed openings, school closings, and late bus notifications. The student’s cell phone number will need to be entered in Section 4, under Additional Information. If the student’s cell phone is listed in weCare, they will also receive the text message on December 14.
If you currently receive emergency and essential communications via email, text, or phone, you do not need to do anything as you will continue to receive this information.
Emergency and essential information includes:
- Emergency.
- Delayed openings/school closings.
- Attendance.
- Early release.
- Buses running late.
- Low lunch balance.
- Power, telephone, internet outages or facility repairs.
- Back to school information.
- Important testing dates.
If you have recently changed your contact information, please be sure to update the emergency contact information in weCare.
As a reminder, in addition to email and text messages, all FCPS weather delays and openings are also posted on Twitter, Facebook, the FCPS website, school websites, and local radio and television broadcasts.
Read more about Weather Cancellation Procedures
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FCPS Cares
Do you know a Sleepy Hollow Elementary staff member who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of Sleepy Hollow faculty and staff members.
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2019-20 School Year Calendar Announced
In case you missed the announcement over the summer, the School Board adopted the calendar for the 2019-20 school year. The first day of school will be Monday, August 26, 2019, and the last day will be Friday, June 12, 2020. Notable dates include a three-day break for Thanksgiving (November 27-29, 2019) a two-week winter break (December 23, 2019 to January 3, 2020) and a one-week spring break (April 6-10, 2020). See the complete 2019-20 school year calendar.
Parent Workshops
Workshops below are held at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, Entrance 1 - Room 100, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA, 22027.
Register for January Workshops
Workshops below are held at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA, Entrance 1, Room 100. Language interpreters and accommodations are available for all PRC workshops upon request by contacting us at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu.
Coping Strategies for Anxious Children, National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will present this important workshop for parents of anxious children ages 8-17. Highlights include how to help children with anxiety, when anxiety becomes a disorder, strategies for treating specific anxiety disorders and stress reduction tools. Participants will also hear about current NIMH studies on anxiety in children.
Friday, January 11, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon
Register for Coping Strategies for Anxious Children, National Institute of Mental Health
Introduction to Special Education
This workshop is provided for parents NEW to special education. Topics covered included: what is special education, early intervention resources and services, the special education process, 504 plans, and Individual Education Plans (IEP).
Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Introduction to Special Education
Mind in the Making Series
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky, encompasses an evidence-based list of life skills that are essential for children to succeed socially, emotionally and intellectually in the short and long term. In these workshops, participants will learn strategies for improving these skills, their importance in children's lives and activities to promote them.
Participants may register for one or all of the workshops and do not need to attend the previous class. Registration is limited, please register early.
All workshops are held at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA, Entrance 1, Room 100. Language interpreters and accommodations are available upon request by contacting us at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu.
Mind in the Making: Focus and Self Control
This is part one of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Focus & Self Control
Mind in the Making: Perspective Taking
This is part two of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Perspective Taking
Mind in the Making: Communicating
This is part three of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Communicating
Mind in the Making: Making Connections
This is part four of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Making Connections
Mind in the Making: Critical Thinking
This is part five of seven in the Mind in the Making Series.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Critical Thinking
Mind in the Making: Taking on Challenges
This is part six of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Taking on Challenges
Mind in the Making: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning
This is part seven of seven in the Mind in the Making series.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Register for Mind in the Making: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning
 Glasgow Open House
Rising 6th Grade Open House – Glasgow Middle School – Wednesday, January 30 – 6:00 to 8:00PM
(Snow Date = February 6)
Calling all Future Panthers & Families: We can’t wait to meet you! Come join us for an Open House to learn more about what middle school at Glasgow is all about! We will offer short (optional) sessions on our various Glasgow programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 6th Graders. We hope you leave this event excited about all the opportunities you will have as a Glasgow Panther and prepared to complete your course request form!
Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening (detailed schedule to come):
- Welcome to Glasgow!
- Course Request 101
- Level IV Advanced Academic Program
- Spanish Immersion Program
- English for Speakers of Other Languages Program
- Special Education Office
- Math Course Placement and Selection Q&A
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December 21 - Class Holiday Parties and Pajama Day for students
January 1 - Happy New Year
January 11- STEAM Assembly
January 15 - Parent Coffee on Internet Safety 9-10:00 AM
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