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Ms. Sarah Cohen and Ms. Andrea Flores
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Dear Villa Parents and Community,
As we move toward the end of the school year, there are always transitions for some of our staff members. We are sad to say goodbye to Ms. Andrea Flores and Ms. Sarah Cohen. After five years here at the Villa, Ms. Flores will be moving to Gunston Elementary School where she will be much closer to home and will be teaching first grade. Ms. Cohen is pursuing her next career endeavor and has taken a position at Terra Centre Elementary School where she will be a kindergarten instructional assistant. We will miss both staff members. We thank them for all their dedication to our students and wish them all the best as they move on to pursue new professional experiences.
Best,
Dave Gerstner
Principal
Fairfax Villa Elementary School
https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/
FAIRFAX VILLA VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOL) 2018-2019 TESTING SCHEDULE
Students in grades 3-6 in our school will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests from May 7th to May 29th. It will be very helpful if you can avoid appointments which may take your child out of school during this time period. To help your child to perform at his or her best, ensure he or she has had a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast and comes to school with a positive attitude.
As in past years, the Virginia Board of Education allows elementary school students who fail SOL tests by a narrow margin (scoring between a 375 and 399) to be retested before the end of the year provided parental permission is obtained. In grades 3-6, a student’s performance on the SOL does not impact the student’s grade in the class, nor their academic record. If your child falls in this range, staff members from Fairfax Villa will be contacting you to see if you believe your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate proficiency before the end of the school year.
WHAT ARE THE SOLs? Each year, there are annual assessments, commonly known as SOL tests, to provide information on individual student achievement including those with special needs in grades 3-12 in the subjects of math, English, social studies and science. Not every student in every grade will take every test. In 3-6, the tests will vary by grade.
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD WITH SOLs? The best thing to do with your child is to prepare them for the testing days in a few simple ways:
- Encourage them to be relaxed and calm
- Have a positive attitude yourself
- Ensure they have a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast
- Be on time to school
- Try to avoid appointments that can be rescheduled like check-ups
- Help students remember important items - glasses, medications
- Let them wear comfortable, familiar clothes
3rd Grade Tests: Coded in red (4 total days)
Reading 3: Part 1
Reading 3: Part 2
Math 3: Part 1
Math 3: Part 2
4th Grade Tests: Coded in green (5 total days)
Reading 4: Part 1
Reading 4: Part 2
Math 4: Part 1
Math 4: Part 2
Virginia Studies
5th Grade Tests: Coded in blue (4 or 5 total days)
Reading 5: Part 1
Reading 5: Part 2
Math 5: Part 1
Math 5: Part 2
Math 6 (Some 5th Graders for a one-day test)
Science 5
6th Grade Tests: Coded in purple (2 total days)
Reading 6
Math 6 & Math 7 (Some 6th Graders)
With April and spring finally here, we are already looking ahead to next year. While we look at class placements for the coming year, we want you to be aware of the process. We place students in classrooms based on numerous criteria. Students are grouped so that classrooms are heterogeneous, having a balance of boys and girls, a balance of academic performance and ability, and groups that will allow for the greatest support from our resource teachers.
Classroom teachers will have input into the recommendations for next year, as will our counselors and specialists. Our staff has been told that we will not take requests for particular teachers because we base our placement on instructional criteria and individual student strengths and needs. It is unfair to give special consideration to some parents when it would be impossible to grant requests from all parents. Please be aware that grade level assignments for staff sometimes change, due to late enrollments or other changes. Staff assignments are determined at the end of the summer. Our staff has been directed not to give out information about placement prior to that time. Children and parents are disappointed when changes must be made due to staffing issues.
In addition, we also value parent input. If you feel there is pertinent information to support your child’s success for the upcoming school year, you may email Principal Dave Gerstner at drgerstner@fcps.edu and/or complete the form that was sent home in your child’s Tuesday folder. Emails and/or the class placement parent input forms are due by May 17th.
6TH GRADE PICTURE
Villa 6th graders will take their panoramic class picture on Friday, May 3rd.
1st GRADE SHOW
GOAL! “The Beautiful Game” of Football… er… Soccer!
The 1st graders have been working as a team to bring you an entertaining and ‘Awesome’ show about ‘kickin’ it’ as a team and setting goals through the fun sport of soccer! We invite you to join us on Monday, May 6th at 7:00pm in the Fairfax Villa gym. You don’t want to miss it!
SCA MEETING
Wednesday, May 1st
The April SCCA meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 1st. Permission forms will be sent home with SCA representatives in Tuesday Folders today.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2019-2020
Kindergarten registration for 2019-2020 now open.
Do you have a rising kindergartener or know someone in the community who will have a child in kindergarten next year? Registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. Please contact our registrar, Jose Flores, at 703.267.2801 or JLFlores@fcps.edu, to make an appointment and start the registration process.
TWITTER
Twitter – will continue to be used to post pictures and tweets about our students and staff. Follow our school account @FairfaxVillaES. Mr. Gerstner is @MrGerstner_FCPS and Ms. An is @MsAn_FCPS.
PARENT SIS ACCOUNT
Parent SIS Account – will continue to be used by parents to access information about their children’s attendance, grades and class information. If you do not have a Parent SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at bdschmidt@fcps.edu.
 Mr. Lee’s 2nd graders get focused with scents to help their creativity!
The following message is sent on behalf of the Fairfax Villa ES School PTA. Its content reflects the views of the PTA.
PTA 2019-2020
All good things must come to an end. The current PTA Board will be finishing up their 2-year terms at the end of this school year. Per current Bylaws, the board cannot be re-elected to their current positions. We are looking for new board members. If you are interested, please let us know as soon as possible. It is very rewarding. The PTA MUST have a President, Treasurer and Secretary in order to operate. We would be happy to give you more information or answer any questions you might have. Please contact us at villapta@gmail.com.
If there is no PTA, then there are no after school classes, Fall Festivals, Bingo Nights, etc. The current board will still be very active participants in the PTA. We are a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to make a difference at Fairfax Villa!
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITES
Please remind your child to say after school if they are participating. Also, please arrive on time to pick up your child. We have had a few issues with parents running late recently.
VILLA FUN RUN
Thank you to all parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, co-workers, businesses and anyone else who sponsored a student this year for the Villa Fun Run. We have made over $20,000.00!! As soon as the final numbers come in we will post them.
PLEDGES DUE! If you have any outstanding pledges, please get those in as soon as possible.
TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK –
May 6-10 Theme: “Our Staff is Magical”
Happenings that week:
Tuesday: Honeydukes Express – Staff will get to select from a trolley of treats
Wednesday: Potions Class – a fun school-friendly drinks bar
Thursday: Dining in the Great Hall – lunch provided for all staff
Friday: Herbology Class – fresh plants and t-shirt for all staff
Your student will bring home a magic wand paper and we ask that you send that back in with words of appreciation for teachers and staff.
If you have any donations for raffle prizes, that would be great!
Your help is needed to show appreciation! Contributions to support the week will be gladly accepted. You can send in cash or checks in an envelope marked “PTA TSAW” or make contributions via PayPal:
https://www.paypal.me/FairfaxVillaPTA. Your contributions make it possible for us to gift the entire staff with treats, lunches, t-shirts, prizes and more.
UPCOMING DATES
May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 15 - PTA Meeting – Volunteer Recognition
May 17 - Muffins with Mom
June 7 – Donuts with Dad
SUPPORTING THE PTA
There are three ways you can support the PTA. 1. Join the PTA! When you join the PTA, you become an advocate for your child and every other Villa student. We normally meet the third Wednesday of the month and many times will have guest speakers or other programs as well. PTA Membership forms will be in your student’s Tuesday folder. You can also join online at http://villapta.ptboard.com. The school code is DRAPTE. 2. Donate! Any amount given is helpful and it all goes into benefits and services that benefit the Villa staff and students. 3. Volunteer! Volunteering is NOT required but it is always greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact us at villapta@gmail.com
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