Positivity Project: Curiosity

You like exploration and discovery. You ask lots of questions because you want to learn more about anything and everything.

Curiosity is a crucial component of one's character. Our innate urge for discovery and exploration is a key element of our human desire for wisdom and knowledge. It’s what keeps us intrigued in the plotlines of movies and books. It’s what pushes us to try new activities or travel to different places. All individuals experience curiosity, but differ in their willingness to experience it – behaviorally, intellectually, and emotionally.

Curiosity is associated with novelty-seeking. Novelty-seekers are more willing to endure risks – such as physical risks of skydiving or social risks of meeting new people – in order to gain the benefits of new experiences. Curiosity is also associated with being receptive to exploring new ideas, feelings, or values – which carry their own inherent risks and rewards.

Birthday Celebration Policy

Weyanoke Elementary School recognize that birthdays are a special day for our students. Additionally, our school recognizes the importance of wellness, good nutrition and an active lifestyle in the overall health of our students.

Due to a number of food allergies among our students and to promote healthy lifestyle choices, please do not bring food items (fast food, cupcakes, etc.) to share with the class for birthday celebrations.

We have provided a list below of other choices for honoring your child on their special day:

• Donate a book to the school library or classroom in honor of your child’s birthday with his/her name inside.
• Donate a classroom gift to be enjoyed all year, such as: indoor games, pencils, erasers, etc.
• Donate a ball or jump rope to the school playground for recess.
• Provide each student in class with a colorful pencil or eraser to be distributed before the bell rings.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to reflect on how to provide all students with a healthy environment.

Universal Screener Testing Dates

The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Board adopted a universal screener assessment for use with all elementary school students in kindergarten through grade 6. The universal screener assessment includes a reading test and a mathematics test. Students in kindergarten will receive screening for reading only. Students in grades 1-6 will receive screening for both mathematics and reading.

The purpose of this assessment is to identify students who may have gaps in foundational literacy and mathematics skills. Based on universal screener results, some students may require an additional assessment to further diagnose the specific learning areas that may need support. The universal screener reading test, together with any necessary follow-up diagnostic assessments, also fulfills state testing expectations for primary students.

The universal screener and any necessary follow-up assessments will be given at the beginning of the school year. Depending on grade level and previous screener performance, students may receive screening again in the winter and/or in the spring. Schools set the specific dates for testing in each class.

The testing dates are as follows:

• Grades 1-5 Reading: September 17 and 18
• Grades 1-5 Math: September 19 and 20
• Kindergarten: October 7 through November 1

Additional information, including a short video, about the universal screener in FCPS can be found at this webpage. If you have further questions about this assessment, please contact your child’s teacher or the school’s test coordinator, Michelle Doyle.

Title I Parent & Family Engagement Policy & Compact

Weyanoke Elementary is a Title I school within Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) and utilizes the Title I grant to improve student achievement and help all students meet the objectives of the FCPS Program of Studies and the Virginia Standards of Learning. A partnership with families is essential to meeting this goal.

Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, schools that receive Title I funds are expected to collaborate with families to develop and maintain a parent and family engagement policy that describes the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning and includes a compact expressing the partnerships among staff, caregivers, and students to reach high academic goals for every student.

Weyanoke Elementary jointly developed this policy and compact with members of the school community and adopted it for the 2019 - 2020 school year. A number of the provisions specifically address state or federal expectations for the policy and compact.

This policy and compact is distributed to all caregivers in a language that families can understand. Caregivers have opportunities to provide comments and feedback on the policy and compact through comment boxes housed in the front office and family center and during the Title I Annual Meeting. Comments are submitted with the school’s policy and compact to FCPS central offices and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). This policy and compact are made available to the broader school community through the school website.