Read Across America Day
Read Across America Day was a HUGE success! Students enjoyed sharing their love for reading while engaging in sprit days such as pajama day, crazy sock day, hat day, red shirt/blue shirt day, and crazy hair day. They created reading quilts, shared Dr. Seuss books and enjoyed the company of Sandy Pugh, author of We the Peepers books and Darren Haynes, Sports Director from WUSA.
Boosterthon
We would like to thank all of the parents, friends and family members of the Forestdale community for such a successful Fun Run. We couldn’t have done it without all of your enthusiasm and support. We were able to raise almost $10,000, which will provide for gym mats, musical instruments, and art supplies. Thank you for your continued support of our school!
We are about $800 from collecting 100% of the pledges made. Please send any remaining pledge money to school in an envelope labeled with your student’s name by Monday, March 11, 2019.
Equity Survey
One of the priorities of Fairfax County Public Schools and Forestdale Elementary School is to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement for all students. FCPS schools have been engaging in professional development over the past two years in Cultural Proficiency and Equity. Forestdale ES has extended this mission by participating in a Cultural Proficiency Cohort and developing an Equity Committee.
One of the goals of our Equity Committee this year is to gain a better understanding of our connection between home and school. Please click on one of these forms in English or Spanish to help guide our next steps. A paper version of this survey will be sent home on March 14, 2019. Please submit this form once, either online or via the paper version. Thank you for helping to guide our equity work.
3rd Grade Parent SOL Information Night!
Come join us for an evening event where you can learn more about the SOLs your child with be taking and how you can support your child at home.
When: Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m.
Where: M2-Mrs. L’Etiole’s classroom
SOL Dates for Grades 3 – 6
Please take note of the SOL Testing Schedule for grades 3 - 6. It is important that students are at school on the dates that they are scheduled for Standards of Learning Assessments. Please refrain from scheduling vacations or appointments on these dates. Please ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep (at least 9 hours of sleep is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics) and a balanced breakfast.
If you’d like resources to help your child prepare for the SOL assessments, please go to the Virginia Department of Education site. A great resource on the VDOE site is the released items from previous tests. This gives your child a chance to practice the format and types of questions they may be exposed to during the SOLs.
Instead of having your child practice all items, have them focus on the areas that they feel they might struggle with. Most importantly, remember to foster a growth mindset in your children by focusing on what they can learn versus what they don’t know yet.
SOL Testing Schedule:
May 7 - 3rd Grade Math Day 1 & 4th Grade Math Day 1
May 8 - 3rd Grade Math Day 2 & 4th Grade Math Day 2
May 9 - 5th Grade Math Day 1, 6th/7th Grade Math Day 1
May 10 - 5th grade Math Day 2
May 14 - 5th grade Science
May 15 - 4th Grade VA Studies
May 16 - 6th Grade Reading, 3rd Grade Reading Day 1
May 17 - 3rd Grade Reading Day 2
May 21 – 4th Grade Reading Day 1, 5th Grade Reading Day 1
May 22 - 4th Grade Reading Day 2, 5th Grade Reading Day 2
2018-2019 Kindergarten Orientation
Will your child be five years old by September 30, 2019? If so, contact the Forestdale ES office (703-313-4300) to begin the process for kindergarten enrollment.
Kindergarten Orientation at Forestdale is scheduled for Friday, May 3. Information packets will be mailed out to families in April. Forms and other information about registration are available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration
FCPS Family Engagement Survey
Dear Families,
Fairfax County Public Schools will be conducting a survey to gather information about family engagement in our schools. Relationships are important to us, and your opinion is critical to help us support your engagement in your child’s education. Your feedback will also help us determine how well we are reaching the goals for Caring Culture we have set in our Strategic Plan. Survey translations will be made available, and the survey can be taken on electronic devices, including smartphones.
Survey administration is scheduled for March 24-April 12, 2019, and you will receive more information about how to take the survey in the near future.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Merrell Dade
Lee High School PTSA presents:
A showing of the movie Angst, an IndieFlix Original, documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenge in the U.S., impacting 54 percent of females and 46 percent of males, with the age of 7 being the median age of onset, according to the World Health Organization. While anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only one-third of those suffering receive treatment. Everyone involved in the development of “Angst” has a personal experience with anxiety – from the producers to the interviewees.
All 6th grade parents and students are welcome on:
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 pm
Lee High School Library
6540 Franconia Road, Springfield, VA, 22150
For more info about Angst: www.Angstmovie.com
Appropriate for ages 11 and older
Communication Regarding the Momo Challenge and Digital Citizenship Resources
In Fairfax County schools, county agencies and families are working together to create an environment where children and youth can safely learn, work, and play. Similar to our message containing information about the 13 Reasons Why NETFLIX program and the Blue Whale Challenge, we are sending this communication to alert you to a recent rise in new games and social media challenges that encourage young people to participate in harmful behavior.
One example of this is a potentially harmful game called the “Momo Challenge" that has reportedly been posted on different social media platforms to include WhatsApp and assigns players a series of progressively more intense tasks, to include self-harm. It is important to note that the Momo Challenge is a hoax that has received a significant amount of media attention.
This hoax has been seen across the United States in recent months, targeting primarily elementary aged children. Vigilant parents and guardians in Fairfax County have also reported seeing information about the Momo Challenge or similar games on their children's phones and have alerted school authorities.
Please talk to your child about this type of internet hoax, and check his or her phone or other device for signs of an app or communications with anyone telling them to do specific tasks. This provides an excellent opportunity to remind your child of best practices for internet safety and digital citizenship:
- Remind your child information shared on social media is not always true and how quickly misinformation can create a panic online.
- Children should never engage in conversations with strangers online.
- Be aware of the sites and apps your children are using and know their usernames and passwords.
- Turn off suggested autoplay on videos to stop children from viewing content they have not selected, and you have not approved.
- If appropriate, tell your children that Momo is not real and will not hurt them.
- Encourage open dialogue with them around any concerns.
FCPS has additional resources available on this website: https://www.fcps.edu/node/32086. If you have concerns about your child, please contact your school counselor. Please be aware that a number of mental health resources are available, including Fairfax County Public School resources: School Counseling Services at 571-423- 4420, School Psychology Services at 571-423-4250, and School Social Work Services at 571-423-4300 and Fairfax County resources: Crisis Link Hotline at 703-527-4077, Merrifield Emergency Services 703-573-5679 (available 24/7) or Entry and Referral during business hours at 703-383-8500. The Fairfax County Police Department non-emergency number is 703-691-2131.
More information about the Momo Challenge and other internet challenges or hoaxes is available at these links:
Forestdale Elementary PTA Corner
Keep informed and don’t forget "Like" our Facebook page: Forestdale PTA Facebook Page
PTA Memberships
Membership is open to anyone! We’d love to have all families join us this year. Together we are a powerful voice for our children. Thank you to the families and staff members who have already joined us!
To join the PTA:
1.Join online. Go to https://member.pta.org and click join. Find Forestdale by entering Springfield as the city but leaving the state blank.
OR
1.Send in $10 for one child or $20 for a family (cash or check made out to Forestdale PTA) with your name, your child’s name, your child’s teacher, and your email address. You can also pick up a membership envelope from the school office.
PTA Meeting
This month our PTA Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the library. We hope to see you there!
Giant A+ Rewards Program
Forestdale participates in Giant grocery store's A+ School Rewards. A portion of registered participant's purchases between October and March are given back to our school.
Visit https://giantfood.com/sign-up/ and select Savings & Rewards. Follow the prompts to create your online account. You’ll need your 11-digit BonusCard® number and the School ID # (02069).
You do not need to re-register your card if your school selection(s) remains the same as last year.
Box Tops
Collecting Box Tops is an easy way to help our school earn cash this school year. Every Box Top is worth 10 cents and they are available on items you already buy. You can drop them off at school or send them in with your child. Please make sure that your child’s teacher’s name is on all collection sheets or bags of Box Tops. Our goal is 10,000 Box Tops this year = $1,000 for Forestdale Elementary!
Important Dates:
March 7 - Interims go Home
March 11 - 3 hour early release
March 12 - Spring Picture Day
March 12 - PTA Meeting – Library at 7 p.m.
March 19 - 3rd Grade SOL Parent Information Night 5:30 p.m.
March 22 - PTA Family Game Night at 6:30 p.m.
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