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Welcome to our Parent Liaison Amal El Sayed!
Dear Families,
This week we welcomed our Parent Liaison Amal El Sayed. Parent Liaisons, representing a variety of cultures, languages, and races, work in the schools and community to help families get the information and assistance they need to support their children and to ensure their academic success. Amal is a recent emigrant from Egypt and a mother of two FCPS students who experienced some difficulties adjusting to the educational system, the culture and the community in general. Her expertise as an FCPS employee, Arabic Interpreter, former teacher and mother, makes her an excellent resource to help our Arabic families. She is also Spanish speaker as she has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature from Faculty of Arts Spanish Department, Cairo University, Egypt. Please join us in welcoming Amal to our Floris community. She will be at Floris every Tuesday and located in the front office.
Fall is in the air and our annual Harvest Parade is right around the corner! Next Friday, October 25th, the school’s creative juices flow as students and staff dress as our favorite characters and themes such as super heroes and crayon colors. Parents are welcome to attend this festive event. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The parade begins at approximately 9:30 AM – the parade will be held indoors throughout the building and will pass through the blacktop area.
- Parents will be stationed outside on the blacktop and in the Cafeteria – it is here that you will be able to take pictures. You may only enter and exit the school via Door #6 (cafeteria). As part of the parade, students will exit at Door #4 onto the blacktop and re-enter at Door #6 (cafeteria).
- PARKING: Please plan to park on one of the adjacent streets, do not park in the bus loop or the Kiss 'n Ride loop.
- Students may wear costumes to school *NO WEAPONS AND NO MASKS*
- There is no need to sign in at the front office as you will be entering and exiting at Door #6.
- We have a few costumes available to borrow - if your child needs one, please contact our counselors, Mrs. Ramia or Mrs. de Kramer.
We are excited to see how creative our students and staff are as they dress as their favorite characters, heroes, and even some objects and words. Be sure to check out Facebook and Twitter next week for photos from the parade!
We also know it’s fall when it's time for us to issue the Federal Impact Aid Survey. On Tuesday, October 22, Floris will send home, in your child’s Tuesday Folder, the Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an anticipated $3 million dollars in grant funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by October 30. All results are CONFIDENTIAL.
SAVE THE DATE: On Wednesday, October 30th, we will hold our FLE (Family Life Education) Parent Preview Curriculum Night. Please see below for further information about the FLE program.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Gail Porter, Principal and Amanda Dorr, Assistant Principal
POSITIVITY TRAIT OF THE WEEK (October 21, 2019): PERSPECTIVE
What Does PERSPECTIVE Mean? You appreciate when people see things in different ways. You have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view. PERSPECTIVE is also referred to as wisdom and is distinct from intelligence. People with this strength are sought out for advice because they see the big picture and can make sense of the world’s complexity.
Why does it Matter? PERSPECTIVE helps an individual make sense of the world. It provides clarity on what matter and what does not. Reflecting on their own feelings, thoughts, and motives helps them understand and empathize with other people.
Curiosity Quote of the Week: “We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.” – Helen Keller
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Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, non-punitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education . Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) https://fcps.blackboard.com/http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml . FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View. Account information is available through your local school. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Elizabeth Payne, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at etpayne@fcps.edu.
News from Westfield High School
Westfield High School is hosting a screening of the film, Angst. The intent is for this movie to raise awareness around anxiety and start a dialogue amongst families and community members. We will have community agencies available before and after the movie screening to offer information and resources to attendees. After the film, we will have a panel discussion from about 7:30-8:00pm. Please see details below and feel free to share with Westfield Pyramid families:
What: Angst movie screening https://angstmovie.com/
When: Thursday, November 21st at 6:30pm. Doors open at 6pm
Where: Westfield High School auditorium (4700 Stonecroft Blvd Chantilly 20151)
The following is sent from & reflects the views of the Floris PTA
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 REFLECTIONS! REFLECTIONS! REFLECTIONS!
Do you enjoy art, music, dance or have an interest in writing, producing films, and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! This year’s theme, “Look Within,” calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts.
Click here to learn more about categories and submission guidelines: CLICK HERE
All entries due to Front Office by Wednesday, October 30th by 3 pm EST. Firm deadline. No exceptions due to Fairfax County deadline. Contact Nicki Crane, Reflections volunteer, at ncrane47@gmail.com if you have questions
Are you a Friend of Floris?
Friends of Floris is a single, straight-donation fundraiser, operated solely by the PTA. Donation starting at $80 per student or $150 for families with 2 or more. Benefits include two free memberships to the PTA and a front row seat to the exciting activities that happen all year long. Any donation of $250 and above includes those items, and I’ll add a FREE 2019-2020 yearbook. The class with the highest contributions wins a pizza party! DONATE TODAY!
Helping Hands – Thursday, November 14th 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Looking for ways to help your teacher? Please join us in the Green Workroom. Any time you can spare is always appreciated! Read more about it on our website. Sign up now!
PTA Membership Meeting – Wednesday, November 13th 6 p.m.
You are invited to attend the monthly PTA meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, in the Cafeteria. Check out the full schedule on our website. PTA leadership and Floris administrative leadership will be present to answer your questions. Learn more about how we organize student enrichment programs, foster a strong community, and support our Floris teachers and staff. And learn how you can get involved in making a difference! Now is a great time to Join PTA!
Volunteers Needed – PTA Committees & Chair Positions
We are looking for an energetic, organized parent to Chair our upcoming Spirit Ball! The ball is scheduled for November 8th. Are you that someone we are looking for? If so, contact florispta.pres@gmail.com. We are also currently recruiting volunteers for our to Chair/Organizer Positions: Walk in My Shoes, Spirit Events, Bingo Night, Movie Night, Spirit Wear.
Harris Teeter – Together in Education
Harris Teeter's Together in Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. Harris Teeter has donated over $27.4 million to Together in Education schools since 1998! When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to your school. There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn. Link your card now online or in the store by mentioning Floris Elementary School PTA or code 5921. Thank you! Please Note: you have to re-Link our eVIC card at the beginning of every school year.
Giant – A+ School Rewards
Giant’s A+ School Rewards is an easy way to earn money for Floris! Link your Giant Card by logging in or registering online. Once you are logged into your account, you may select Floris Elementary as your school. This money does not come through the PTA, but goes directly to the school.
Amazon Smile – Earn Money for Floris PTA While You Shop
This is the easiest way to raise money to support our kids! Click the link. Shop on Amazon. Done! Bookmark it and use it for all of your Amazon purchases. At this time, Smile Credit IS ONLY calculated when using an internets browsers NOT the app!
Volunteer – Your Gift to the Floris Community
There are so many opportunities here at Floris to get involved and to support your kids. Learn more about what is happening right now. Sign up for future opportunities.
Message from our PTA President
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” -Dr. Seuss
Hello Floris Families! As fall FINALLY rolls in take time to make seasonal memories. What are some fun, fall family activities that you enjoy? Head over to Twitter and Facebook and let me know!!!
See you around the halls!
Zaya Bowen,
PTA President, Mom, Wife, Human
florispta.pres@gmail.com
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