Sleepy Hollow News

Kiss_and_Ride

Principal's Note

Dear Parents,

The gate on Sleepy Lane will no longer be accessible for parents to use at arrival and dismissal beginning on Thursday, October 3rd

Below is the school’s arrival and dismissal policy for students. Please adhere as we continue to keep all students safe.

 

Kiss and Ride Guidelines-          

    • PULL UP to the orange cone, unload/load 3-4 cars at a time, and drive off slowly.  Students should be secured with a seat belt in the car before the driver pulls away.
    • STAY IN YOUR CAR - do not leave your car unattended in the Kiss and Ride area. 
    • STAY IN LINE- do not pull out and around other cars.
    • PICK UP your child at the Pickup Area only. Parents and students are not allowed to cross the parking lot to get in cars.

Thank you,
Eric T. Johnson
Principal


photo of jackson

SHES New Staff Members

Mrs. Victoria Jackson

Hello! My name is Victoria Jackson and I am teaching third grade this year at SHES. I am from sunny California, which is also where I completed my Bachelors and Masters in Reading at PLNU. After finishing my Bachelors, I taught 4 years of kindergarten and 1 year of first grade. I just moved to Virginia in July, after getting married! In my free time I enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, reading, and line dancing! I am so lucky to be a part of the SHES community and am looking forward to a great school year!


Join us for the First-ever Sleepy Hollow Elementary Family Dance Party!

Shine those dancing shoes, don your coolest outfits, and join the PTA and SHES community to dance the night away! 

What: SHES Families Dance Party

When: Friday, October 4 from 7 to 9 pm

Where: Willston Multicultural Center, 6131 Willston Dr, Falls Church, VA 22044

  • All SHES families welcome
  • Dress code: informal or fancy dress/attire - your choice! 
  • There will be music, lights, and a fog machine!
  • Practice the macarena, cha-cha slide, git up, and more because there will be a chance to show your smoothest moves!

Sign up to bring food or drinks to share here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094ea9ac28a0fa7-shes5!


Safety and Security

Sleepy Hollow Elementary, along with all Fairfax County Public Schools, has an extensive safety, security and emergency readiness plan and is guided by FCPS safety and security experts.  It is very important to us that our students work in a safe and secure environment while they are at school.  We follow prescribed guidelines on a regular basis.  We practice emergency procedures with the students by conducting safety drills (e.g. fire evacuation drills, tornado drills, bus evacuation drills, and lock-down responses).  To assist us in this process, all visitors must be verified prior to entry.  When visiting the school, please push the door bell and wait for staff to unlock the door.  Visitors and volunteers are required to register in the office.


SHES Kindergarten Parents

What: Kindergarten parents are invited to visit their child’s classroom

When: Thursday, October 10th at 5:30pm-6:30pm

Where: Sleepy Hollow Elementary School

Why: Build relationships with our families to bridge the gap with school and home


FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference October 5; Registration Now Open

The sixth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference will be held on Saturday, October 5, at Fairfax High School from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, sponsored by Inova and Kaiser Permanente. The morning session will focus on social and emotional learning, with a keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. A spcial session for high school students, the Our Minds Matter Teen Summit, will take place in the morning as well.

Attendees are encouraged to stay for Inova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m.  Participants in this conference will be able to choose from a wide variety of breakout sessions, and there will be many resource tables available, representing public and private offices and agencies providing services within our schools and community. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Inova.

For more information or to register, go to the Mental Health and Wellness Conference webpage.  


bullying photo

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

According to the Center for Disease Control, students who are bullied are more likely to experience low self-esteem and isolation, perform poorly in school, have few friends in school, have a negative view of school, experience physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomachaches, or problems sleeping), and to experience mental health issues (such as depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety). 

How you can stomp out bullying

  1. Talk to your child about it.
  2. Support and empower your child.
  3. Learn your rights.

For more information on how to stop bullying click here.

(Center for Disease Control, Bullying Surveillance Among Youths, 2014)


FCPS will Recognize and Build Awareness Around Dyslexia throughout the Month of October

School Board Proclamation:  September 26, 2019

  • The School Board will recognize October as Dyslexia Awareness Month.
  • Teachers and community members can attend this open meeting.

District Read Aloud

  • Classrooms can select a book that teaches about dyslexia. Schools can take a picture and tweet out the picture with the hashtag #FCPSgreatminds &  #dyslexiaawareness  Classes who participate will receive a prize. Make sure you tag your school.

Wear Red

  • On October 15th, the FCPS community is encouraged to wear red to build awareness around dyslexia.

Dyslexia Open House

  • The Parent Resource Center will be holding a Dyslexia Open House on October 24th from 10-12.

Irritability in Children and Youth: How to Help Children Cope

Dr. Ramaris German, Ph.D., Psychologist and Ms. Wanda Wheeler, Mental Health Clinician from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), will present this important workshop for parents of irritable children and youth.

They will highlight:

  • Understanding appropriate vs. inappropriate levels of irritability
  • The psychological processes that underlie irritability
  • The impact on home and school for children with irritability
  • Strategies for children and youth to use to cope
  • Current NIMH studies on irritability in children

Friday, November 1, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon.

Register for Irritability in Children and Youth

Sibshops

An exciting workshop for brothers and sisters of children with special needs!

*Registration must be completed separately for each session.

Register for Sibshops Session 1

Raising a Screen Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age

For parents who didn't grow up with smartphones but can't let go of them now, expert advice on raising kids in our constantly connected world. This presentation will focus how to help kids navigate friendships, bullying, dating, self-esteem, and more online. 

  • Using social media to enhance connection with friends and family, instead of following strangers and celebrities
  • Finding online support and community for conditions such as depression and eating disorders
  • Learning and developing life skills through technology--for example, by problem-solving in online games--while avoiding inappropriate content

Presented by Juliana Miner, public health expert and the creator of the popular blog Rants from Mommyland.

Thursday, November 7, 2019 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Register for Raising a Screen Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in a Digital Age

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Beginning Your Journey

Attend this important workshop, presented by Julia Calhoun and Katie Boxer, FCPS Behavior Intervention Teachers to understand characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

  • Does your child have a new diagnosis?
  • Do you suspect your child may have Autism?

Highlights will include:

  • Understanding the unique learning styles of students with Autism.
  • Effective strategies to use in the home and classroom.
  • Examine examples of resources.

Friday, November 8, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon.

Register for Understanding Autism

Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School

Topics Include:

  • What is Special Education?
  • How do children qualify for services?
  • What is Least Restrictive Environment?
  • What is the difference between accommodations and modifications?
  • What is an IEP?
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of IEP team members?
  • How can I work with the school team to develop an IEP?
  • How do I advocate for my child at school and in the IEP process?

Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Register for Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School

Building Success in Physical Education

Learn fun activities for the whole family to get your child moving while reinforcing a wide range of skills needed to participate in physical education.

You will learn how to:

  • Motivate your child to be physically active
  • Modify games to enhance success
  • Reinforce the adaptive skills students need to be successful in PE:
    • Taking turns and following rules
    • Participating in group games and interacting interact with peers

Presented by Phyllis Orner, FCPS Adapted PE Specialist, Manda Tirado and Christy Stone, FCPS Adapted PE Teachers

Friday, November 15, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon.

Register for Building Success in Physical Education

Parenting Through Challenging Times: Supporting Your Child Through Life’s Ups and Downs

Transform feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious and stressed to calm, confident and compassionate. Learn tools and techniques to navigate turbulent waters and times of change within your home and family life.

Major Life Changes can make you feel out of control:

  • A Job Change/Loss
  • A Move
  • Divorce/Separation
  • Addition of a family member or sibling to the home
  • Death
  • Mental/physical illness
  • Child leaving the home

Presented by Corinne Coppola, M.A., and Well-Being Professional.

Friday, November 22, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon.

Register for Parenting Through Challenging Times: Supporting Your Child Through Life's Ups and Downs


Student Mental Health and Resiliency

Many students struggle with emotional and behavioral issues that can affect their learning and overall wellness. If you have any concerns about anxiety, peer relationship problems, depression, or other social and emotional issues your child may be experiencing, please contact your school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor. They are available for consultation and support.

Visit the Mental Health and Resiliency and Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies web pages to learn about mental health resources and fostering resiliency in your child. 


New This Year: FCPS Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday Camps

Need something fun, engaging, and academic for your child (grades 3-8) to do during teacher workdays? FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) has the solution, with a full-day, affordable camp. Introduce your child to a foreign language and related cultural culinary activities taught by enthusiastic and experienced instructors. Each day is a new adventure!

Camp dates: October 14, November 4-5, and December 23. Camps start at 9 a.m. with before-care starting at 7:30 a.m., and after-care from 3:30-6 p.m. Sign up for all four days and receive a discount. To apply this bundle discount, call the ACE registration office at 703-658-1201.

Camp offerings and prices may be viewed on the ACE website by clicking on K-12 Classes and Camps. Registration may be completed online, by phone at 703-658-1201, by mail, or in person.


SAVE THE DATE

October 4 - Family Dance Party
October 10 - Kindergarten Parents invited to visit their child's classroom 5:30-6:30pm
October 19 - Family Field Trip to the National Museum of American History


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