Uncle Slam's Reading Program
Forestdale ES students were excited to meet Uncle Slam, the mascot from the Potomac Nationals baseball team! He visited our school to promote student reading. Uncle Slam is challenging Forestdale Falcons to read four books at their reading level. Students should write the titles of the books on the special bookmark they received last Thursday. Then they can bring their completed bookmark to the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office and receive two FREE tickets to a Potomac Nationals baseball game. Additional tickets can be purchased at the ticket office. Forestdale Elementary has selected May 19th as their game day! If they are not able to make it on May 19th, there are other games that they may attend. Details regarding this program were sent home last Thursday.
Special Education Conference
The 14th Annual Special Education Conference will be held on Saturday, April 6th at Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015. Click here for more information and to review the conference schedule.
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Parents and Community Members can register online or by phone
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FCPS Educators, Administrators, and Preservice Teachers can register online and earn five recertification points for attending the entire conference
- View the New Self-Determined Student Strand for more information on breakout session for FCPS students ages 14-22
- Email prc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-3941 with questions
Forestdale Yearbook Orders Due April 12
Yearbook order forms were sent home with students last week and this week in Thursday Folders. The cost for a yearbook is $16.00. There are optional add-ons for purchase such as having your student’s name printed on the front cover, stickers, and extra autograph pages.
You can also purchase a yearbook online here
The Yearbook ID code is: 13267019
All yearbook order forms and payment are due by Friday, April 12th.
Kindergarten Orientation for 2019-2020
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, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. Information packets will be mailed out to families early next month. Forms and other information about registration are available here.
More information about kindergarten in FCPS can be found here.
FCPS Family Engagement Survey
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Building trust and authentic partnerships with our families is a priority for Fairfax County Public Schools. You have an important voice in your child's education. We need your input and perspectives on how our schools can best engage with you as we prepare your children for college, career and life after high school. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
Hacer clic Open Survey para tomar la encuesta
لاتخاذ الاستطلاع Open Survey لاتخاذ الاستطلاع
برای گرفتن نظرسنجی Open Survey کلیک
سروے لینے کے لئے Open Survey کلک کریں
点击 Open Survey 参加调查
딸깍 하는 소리 Open Survey 설문 조사에 응하기
Nhấp chuột Open Survey tham gia khảo sát
Open Survey
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your input will help us ensure excellence for every child in FCPS.
Sincerely,
Dr. Scott Brabrand
Superintendent Fairfax County Public Schools
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 was 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.
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 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.
Standards of Learning (SOL) Test Information
Released Tests & Item Sets
Another great resource which includes study guides, activities and practice questions for the various SOLs is SOL Pass. 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.
http://www.solpass.org/elementary.php
Forestdale ES SOL 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
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 - 5th Grade Reading Day 1
May 22 - 4th Grade Reading Day 1, 5th Grade Reading Day 2
May 23 - 4th Grade Reading Day 2
*Note change to 4th Grade Reading SOL dates
Your Input for Class Groupings
Creating class assignments for next year requires careful consideration and the involvement of many staff members. We know that a good teacher-student match and a productive mix of children are ingredients for success. If you feel that you have information about your child that the school staff may not know, particularly regarding friendships or neighborhood factors, please submit it to the principal, Merrell Dade, in writing by Friday, May 17. Our teachers use this information to create preliminary class groupings in May/June.
We also ask that you do not request specific teachers. This does not take into account the many variables to be considered such as grade-level changes or reductions in staff. It is far more valuable to share particular academic or behavioral concerns. Be assured that, with or without a parent letter, each child’s strengths and needs are considered in this lengthy and complex process.
Staff Appreciation Week, May 6 - 10
When asked about those who have profoundly influenced our lives, adults often include a teacher. Whether it was someone who has inspired us, expressed confidence in us, or pushed us, his/her positive impact may have become clear only as we grew to adulthood.
Each spring, schools recognize and appreciate the educational professionals who serve our communities. Hats off to our instructional staff during Staff Appreciation Week, which will be celebrated from May 6-10 this year! We believe that our students will fondly remember their elementary school days at Forestdale. We appreciate the special qualities that all students contribute to make Forestdale a special place, and it’s our hope that students will think fondly of the relationships they made when they were in our care!
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:
- 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
- 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 Monday, April 8, 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 each 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!
PTA Family Movie Night – April 26
Come join us for a night of fun under the stars on Friday, April 26, 2019. The PTA proudly presents the movie Coco! Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Pizza and refreshments will be available for purchase. The movie will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. in the back field behind the modular. Come a little early to claim your spot on the lawn before the movie begins.
Important Dates
April 4 - End of 3rd Quarter
April 5 - No School – Teacher Workday
April 8 - 6th Graders visit Key Middle School
April 8 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., library
April 11 - Progress Reports Go Home
April 15 - 19 - Spring Break – No School
April 26 - PTA Family Movie Night, 6:00 p.m., back field
May 1 - Band/Strings/Chorus Concert 7:00 p.m., gym
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