Dear GFES Families,
Today was our final 3 hour early release until June; these release days can be difficult this time of year when snow days/delays make school schedules inconsistent. Please know, we appreciate your support as we hold professional development sessions designed to improve our practice as educators. These PD sessions keep our staff up to date about important county initiatives and the most successful and research based methods in which to instruct our students.
During 3-hour release today, we learned about equitable practices and cultural responsiveness in education. Our FCPS Strategic Plan highlights the establishment of a strong, caring culture. The plan states: “FCPS will demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity when supporting families, students, and employees by requiring employee training on cultural proficiency, fairness and equity.”
In order to continue to develop the idea of Caring Cultures in our schools, this spring, we're celebrating and recognizing all of the random acts of kindness around us each and every day. As homework, our counselors are asking students to do five random acts of kindness at home, five acts in school, and five acts within their community. This pairs with our mindfulness instruction (also centered around the number 5) where students begin and end their practice with five deep breaths.
Sara Harper
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3/12 - Talent Show - Mandatory Dress Rehearsal (Grades 4-6)
3/13 - Talent Show Night (Grades 4-6)
3/14 - Talent Show - Mandatory Dress Rehearsal (Grades K-3)
3/15 - Talent Show Night (Grades K-3)
3/21 - 4th Grade Field Trip to NSO
3/22 - Last Day to Preorder Yearbooks
3/22 - Individual Spring Photo Day
3/25-3/29 Spring Book Fair Week
3/28 - Kindergarten Orientation, 9:15 am in Cafeteria
3/29 - 3rd Grade Trip to Ballentine Farms
Langley Pyramid Art Show
March is Youth Art Month! Celebrate with us by viewing artwork by Great Falls ES students, March 7 through March 19, at the McLean Project for the Arts - located near the Giant Food in downtown McLean.
Congratulations to the following students who have artwork on display at the Langley Pyramid Art show!
Kindergarten: Jack Murrow, Felix Woitte
First Grade: Davis Clarke, Christopher Kim
Second Grade: Roma Woitte, Adrian Garreta-Vander Jagt, Carol Ann Garreta-Vander Jagt, Sophia Noznesky
Third Grade: Talia Dahncke, Hannah Stevens, Maddie Hankins
Fourth Grade: Sora Huffman, Lyra Warner, Quinn O’Connor, Donya Zamani, Nick Ohem, Audrey Preta, Kate Turner
Fifth Grade: Tiffany Li, Charlotte Gould, Martina Dethero
Sixth Grade: Peter Turner, Caitlyn Crapco-Wang, Ava Song, Amiliya Smith, Addy Collins, Alex Ohem
We hope you'll celebrate this unique opportunity for our students' work to be hung in a professional art gallery. The reception is Tuesday, March 12th, 4:30 - 6 pm - all are welcome!
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Children who are five by September 30, 2019, are eligible to enter kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year. You will need to register your child at the school he or she will attend. Use the boundary locator to verify that your Great Falls Elementary is the school that serves your address.
Parents and eligible children are invited to an overview of the Great Falls Elementary School kindergarten program on Thursday, March 28, 2019, 9:15-10:15 a.m. 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 information about required immunizations, physical examinations and health forms from the public health nurse. A classroom teacher will present information on 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.
Check out our Kindergarten Registration page for more information and forms regarding registration. Registration materials will also be available in the school’s main office. Parents who bring completed registration materials, your child’s original birth certificate and deed or lease, may register their child directly after the Kindergarten Orientation. The Physical/Immunization Form may be turned in at a later date if necessary. A completed physical and all required immunization must be received before your child may start school.
Spring Picture Day! Volunteers Needed!
March 22, 2019
Individual Photos and Class Group Photos
We appreciate your assistance! Please find the volunteer duties listed below:
- Must be able to assist the full shift: 8:50am-12:15pm
- Three volunteer spaces available
- Grooming assistance of the child such as: combing hair, straightening collars, cleaning faces, etc.
- Runner/Escort to and from the classroom and/or office.
- Assist in keeping students in a single file line and talking to a minimum.
If you are available and willing to perform these duties, please contact our school office to schedule your volunteer start/shift time. As a thank you for your service, you will receive a complimentary photo package of your child (one per family). Please indicate your package selection on the return order envelope and write “Volunteer” on the bottom of the envelope. Thank you!
Yearbook Deadline Approaching
March 22 is the last day to order a Great Falls Elementary School Yearbook! Still only $20.00 per copy.
How to order:
Only those who place an order by March 22nd are guaranteed a yearbook. We did not have enough extra copies to sell and meet the demand last year, so please order today!
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2019 GFES Spelling Bee
Our GFES students were all “a buzz” on February 8th, as our 4th, 5th and 6th graders competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, sponsored by our PTA. Previous to this date, each class held their class bee and two winners were selected from each class to compete in the school bee. The finalists were well prepared and very enthusiastic.
Congratulations to 6th grade student, Cami Knight, who is our spelling bee champion. Cami will go on to compete against other students at the Fairfax County Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to all our grade level participants!
Geography Bee
Ian Buckler qualified for the State Geography Bee! We wish Ian the best of luck at the Longwood University on March 29th!
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Dr. Zurbuchen visit with NASA
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Zurbuchen, a Science Mission Directorate for NASA, visited Great Falls Elementary to speak with our young scientists. Students in grades 4-6 participated in an awesome assembly where Dr. Zurbuchen presented about Astronomy his work at NASA, and their missions. Dr. Zurbuchen took time out of his very busy schedule to give our students insight into a day in the life of a space/aerospace engineer. Thanks to Erin Zurbuchen (our strings teacher), and Frost-sensei for making this unique opportunity possible.
If you would like to know more about Dr. Zurbuchen feel free to look at his page on the NASA website, link below. https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/leadership/Thomas-Zurbuchen
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FCPS Cares (All Grades)
If you would like to recognize a staff member for showing he/she “CARES”, click here to nominate the staff member or for additional information. Fairfax County Public Schools wants to recognize employees who go above and beyond to ensure the students, teachers, parents, and community have an extraordinary experience throughout the school year. This is just another means by which parents and community members can recognize the wonderful GFES teachers and staff. The acronym “CARES” clearly defines the GFES approach to meeting the learning needs of our students on a daily basis; A Responsive Culture, with a focus on Excellence in Academics, through Positive Relationships, with Enriching Experiences, For all Students.
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News Updates from our PTA
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Spring Book Fair
The Spring Book Fair starts on Monday, March 25th and runs through Friday, March 29th. There will be an evening Fair on Wednesday, March 27th. Please visit and support our school while enriching your children with a variety of books.
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Talent Show
Our dazzling Talent Show is a two-night affair, divided by lower and upper grades, that celebrates our students' passion for the visual and performing arts. Acts range from singing to stand-up comedy, dancing to karate, painting presentations to monologues as well as any performance that showcases a child's interest. A night for our kids to shine on stage! Please come out and show your support for the lower grades on March 15th at 6:30 pm and the upper grades on March 13st at 6:30 pm.
Please bring your children to come support their friends!
Admission: $5 per person; $10 per family (paid admission allows entrance to either or both show nights; prepay via your AtoZConnect account under Store/Products/Events/Talent Show or pay at the door)
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Skate Night
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday for the GFES PTA Skate Night! To pre-register, please log onto your AtoZ Connect account under Store/Products/Events/Skate Night or return form (with check made payable to GFES PTA) to the front office by the end of the school day. GFES families and friends welcome. Tickets also available at the door. See you on the ice!
Forms available on the GFES PTA website: http://www.gfespta.com/uploads/3/4/4/3/34433896/skate_night_2019.pdf
Volunteers needed to help with registration and serving hot chocolate. Please signup here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CABA82AA20-gfes
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