 Are you able to help with the Floris Giving Tree?
Floris Community having fun at our annual Thankgiving Luncheon!
Dear Floris Families –
What a wonderful busy week we had here at Floris. Our Stand-Up to Bullying spirit days were a huge success. Everyone is standing-up against bullying. Our Thanksgiving Luncheon was also a huge success. We served over 260 families and friends. Thank you to all our volunteers and to all the families that were able to join us for helping make our community event such a success.
The holiday season is fast approaching. We are once again participating in The Floris Giving Tree. As a school community, we will be “adopting” local families in our community for the holiday season to provide gifts for their children and food for the whole family.
Our Giving Tree is now up in the front lobby! Thank you to all the families and staff who have already signed out a tag(s). This morning, Ms. Ramia reloaded our Giving Tree with more tags. Please stop by anytime through Dec. 6 and sign out a tag to support a child for the upcoming holidays! You can also email Diane Ramia, school counselor, at dnramia@fcps.edu if you are interested in sponsoring a child or family for the holidays. Please make sure to sign out the tag you select with your name, email address and phone number. Thank you for your support of this program!
Directions for Participation:
- Select a tag and remove it from the tree.
- Sign the tag out on the posted list with your name and contact info.
- Purchase and wrap the gift, attaching the tag securely.
- Return to the front office by Monday, Dec. 9th.
If you have any questions about this program please contact our counselors at shdekramer@fcps.edu or dnramia@fcps.edu.
FROM THE FLORIS AAP OFFICE: Any parent interested in referring their 2nd– 6th grade child to the level IV AAP (Advanced Academics Program) for the 2020-2021 school year, the deadline for referral is January 9, 2020. Please submit the level IV referral form to the front office with attention to Amy Albanese. If you’d like more information on the screening process, you are invited to attend a screening and identification information session on Thursday, December 5 at 8:30 AM in the library. For any questions, please see the more detailed message below or contact Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu.
Lastly, just a reminder that Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed starting Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1. School will resume Monday, December 2. Only SACC will be open on Wednesday, November 27.
Wishing everyone an enjoyable weekend!
Gail Porter, Principal and Amanda Dorr, Assistant Principal
POSITIVITY CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE WEEK (Nov 18-Nov 26, 2019): GRATITUDE
What Does GRATITUDE Mean? You are aware of and thankful for good things that happen. Gratitude is the quality of feeling and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world, and that we have received that goodness.
Why does it Matter? Out of all 24-character strengths, gratitude is the single best predictor of individual well-being. It is correlated with increased energy, empathy, happiness and optimism. Numerous studies have concluded that gratitude is like a muscle. The more you practice it, the stronger it gets – and the more you’re able to reap its benefits.
Quote of the Week: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” – John F. Kennedy
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News from our Advanced Academic Office
If you are looking for enrichment ideas for your child to complete at home or if you have questions about Advanced Academic Programs, please check out Mrs. Albanese’s web page: https://sites.google.com/view/aap-at-floris/home
On this site you will find forms, past presentations, important dates, websites and enrichment activities for your child.
If you plan to refer your child for level IV (Full-Time) AAP for the 2020-2021 school year (students currently in grades 2-6 only), please turn in referral forms to Amy Albanese by January 9, 2020. Forms can be turned into the front office any time between now and January 9th. No late forms will be accepted. Please refer to Mrs. Albanese’s web page to download the forms.
There will be an information session about the screening and referral process for those who would like more information or clarification on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 8:30AM in the school library. This is for parents who have students in grades 2-6 who are interested in having their child screened for Level IV (full-time) AAP.
Please feel free to email Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu with any questions regarding Advanced Academic Programs.
The following is sent from & reflects the views of the Floris PTA
PTA News and Upcoming Events
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Join PTA! Sign up now. Welcome to the Floris PTA!
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!
Walk In My Shoes – December 3rd & 4th
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING WITH THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM!
Walk In My Shoes is an interactive program for 3rd – 5th grade students, which fosters an environment where differences are respected by providing students with the opportunity to see the world from the viewpoints of others. The goal is for every child to feel welcome, safe and included in the Floris community. Read more about it on our website and please sign up here if you are interested in helping out. We welcome anyone who loves working with kids and wants to help make this world a more understanding place.
Helping Hands – Thursday, December 12th 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, January 15th 6 p.m.
THERE IS NO DECEMBER MEETING!!
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!
Our Next Box Top Store is Thursday, January 23rd during ALL Lunchtimes!
Come shop the Box Tops Store in the cafeteria during lunch time. Floris PTA will have all types of goodies for you to “purchase” with box tops. We will have toys, stickers, pens, pencils and more! We have something for you, even if you have just one box top. Find a list of participating products on the box top website.
The store will return every Third Thursday DURING lunch periods (except December- there will no store during this month). Students must bring the box tops with them to lunch and based off the amount they possess they can make a “purchase.” NO CURRENCY IS NEEDED
Volunteers Needed – PTA Committees & Chair Positions
We are 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
"Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge." -- Eckhart Toll
Wow Floris Families!
It’s already time for the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon! The means transitioning into the holiday seasons, winter break and the NEW YEAR! These are the constants in life - season, time and a the beginning of a new year.
Along that same vein of transitions, I would like to announce a major change for my family. WE ARE HEADING WEST! My husband has been blessed with a wonderful career opportunity that takes us to California. I know that change is difficult (and trust me I struggled with this transition), but I also know that as long as my family is together we can do anything. So we pivot and chart our new course!
I will miss this Floris community. The staff, teachers and families have been so welcoming and supportive to my family. It has been a honor to serve as your PTA President.
Thank you all!
Zaya Bowen, florispta.pres@gmail.com
florispta.org
PTA President, Mom, Wife, Human
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