Upcoming Dates
3/1 - 4th Grade Colonial Day
3/4 - PTA Restaurant Night at Chipotle
3/5-3/6 - Maryland Science Center Assembly
3/11 - 3 hour early release
3/15 - 6th Grade Ethics Day
3/21 - 4th Grade Field Trip to the Kennedy Center
3/25-3/28 - Walk in my Shoes Assembly
Colonial Day - Weather Advisory Message
Due to the anticipation of bad weather for Friday, March 1st, we have made a back-up plan for the 4th grade Colonial Day.
If school is full day tomorrow, Colonial day will be held as planned.
If school is delayed or cancelled, Colonial Day will be rescheduled for Wednesday, March 6th. If it is rescheduled, communication will go out to volunteers to confirm support for the rescheduled day.
We hope to have the event, but if we have a delay, students should NOT wear costumes
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Meghan Crowley is our new Attendance Intervention Specialist. She will be working with the entire McLean pyramid to promote good attendance for all students. Here are some facts from Meghan about attendance and her suggestions to help all children be in school, on time, everyday:
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of the three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- Missing 10% (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read and drastically affect a student’s academic success.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher slows down learning to help absent children catch up.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
- Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpack the night before.
- Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required shots.
- Introduce your child to her teachers and classmates before school starts to help her transition.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
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News from the Family Engagement Office -
Parent Information Event -
On March 6th at 6:00pm, Falls Church High School will be hosting an event open to all parents from the Annandale, Falls Church, McLean, Marshall, TJHSST, and Justice High School pyramids. This session has five goals:
- inform parents of the latest drug use information by high school students (including JUULing/ vape devices)
- communicate the dangers of the various drugs
- learn how to identify the latest drug paraphernalia out there and signs of use
- drug use the and SR&R
- tips for communication with their children about drug use
The presentation portion of the event will take no more than the first 40 minutes and will be delivered by a panel of school staff, drug abuse counselors, and a Fairfax County Police member in the Crime Prevention unit. The rest of the time will be open for Q&A as well as an opportunity for parents to come up and see actual samples of drug paraphernalia (including the latest vaping devices).
This is a free event. We will start at 6pm in the Falls Church High School auditorium. Questions: call Colleen Lally, 703-207-4050
FCPS Parent Workshops and Conferences
The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers FREE workshops and conferences throughout the school year! Click here to view available opportunities.
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