A Message from the Principals
Dear Gunston Families,
Welcome to December! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break filled with food, family, and friends. The bustling holiday season is upon us. We are working hard to keep the students on task and engaged in meaningful learning experience these next two weeks. This is the time of year we tend to reflect and consider our new year resolutions. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Gunston community and look forward to our continued success as a school family. Hopefully you too will find some time to reflect and be reminded of how fortunate we are to be partners in nurturing and educating young minds.
We look forward to ending 2019 with a bang this month. We will continue to celebrate our decade days as we approach the 100th day of school by celebrating 70’s day on Wednesday, December 11th. Our talented Eagles have been working diligently and enthusiastically for the upcoming Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 18th.
Thank you to all of the families who have begun to donate hats and gloves to our giving tree. We continue to encourage students to consider how they can give back to their family and community by making a card or completing that extra chore around the house. We hope that you enjoy your winter break with family and friends! Take some time to snuggle up with a good book and warm cup of hot chocolate together. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!
From our family to yours, have a peaceful and safe holiday season!
XOXOXO
Mrs. Rogers & Ms. Rucinski
Our Winter Break is....
December 23, 2019 - January 3, 2020
Winter break can be stressful if your children are out of school but you have to work.
If you have to work, sometimes it can be difficult to find a place for your children to go while you are at work. The County of Fairfax has options for you.
Neighborhood and Community Services offers a variety of out-of-school time programs to keep Fairfax County kids and teens engaged outside of school hours. They provide a safe, structured environment for promoting social connections, commitment to learning, health, wellness, and individual growth.
Whether it's on a school day or during summer, spring or winter break, our Out-of-School Time Programs are designed to support the ongoing and well-rounded learning, development of Fairfax County kids and teens. For more information click here.
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SCA Giving Tree
The SCA is sponsoring a holiday Giving Tree for needy families in the Gunston/Lorton Community.
Please bring in child and adult sizes of the following (new) winter items by Wednesday, December 18th and place them on or under the tree:
Hats, Gloves/Mittens, Scarves, Winter Socks, Earmuffs
Thank you, Gunston, for making a difference.
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Visitor Check-In
We require all visitors to Gunston Elementary School to sign-in and show identification. Please be sure that you bring your driver’s license or identification card in order to sign into the school. Safety regulations prohibit us from allowing access without identification.
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Picture Retake Day
Tuesday, December 10th
If your child was absent on Picture Day or would like to retake the picture, please return the original picture packet to the school and your child's picture will be retaken.
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Winter Concert
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Band, Strings, and Chorus Students arrive @ 6:00pm
- Other sing-along participants remain with parents.
- Concert dress:(boys: red or white shirt/black pants girls: red or white blouse/black pants or skirt)
- Families are invited to a Cookie Reception following the concert (cafeteria)
- The Holiday Shop will be open from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Pod
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Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals
This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for referring students in Grades 2-7 for AAP full-time Level IV consideration is due no later than January 9, 2020. Parents are welcome to submit early, but no late referrals will be accepted. We advise parents not to wait for pending abilities test scores if they would like their student screened. While the Grade 2 screening pool casts a starting point for screening some students, test scores are only one factor in the eligibility decision.
If you would like more information about Level IV AAP services or the screening process for Level IV, you can attend the Level IV Screening Parent Information Meeting on Thursday, December 19th at 9:00am or 6:00pm. If you are unable to attend, there are two parent presentations available on the AAP public website in both English and Spanish that have the same information that will be shared at the meeting.
Referrals can be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Melissa Chang at any time up through January 9. You can reach out to Melissa Chang at mschang@fcps.edu or (703)541-3672 with any questions that you have.
Attendance and Holiday Vacation
We are quickly approaching holiday vacations. Please remember that an extended vacation is an unexcused absence. Also, please remember that if a student is absent for more than 15 consecutive days they must be withdrawn from school. This is a required law in the state of Virginia. Also, if a child visits a high risk country they must have a negative TB test before they can return to school. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 703-541-3600.
Attendance Reminders
It’s never too early to start encouraging regular school attendance. Nationwide data shows that starting in Kindergarten, missing 10% (about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read and by 6th grade, absenteeism is one of the three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
FCPS expects students to be in school and follow their assigned schedules unless their absence is excused due to:
- Illness
- a death in the family
- a medical or dental appointment/ procedure
- military event
- or religious obligations.
FCPS regulation states:
“Parents should notify the school prior to, or at the start of, the school day when their child will be absent. When a student has been absent from school for any reason other than for a school sponsored activity, and the parents have not previously contacted the school, the parent must send written or electronic communication citing the reason(s) for the absence to the principal or designee no later than three days following the student’s return to school.”
A reminder that a notification to the school that your child will be absent does not automatically mean the absence is excused. If you call the school to report your child absent and the reason is unexcused, you will still receive an automated phone call stating that your child is absent that day.
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Cultural/Heritage Night
Marca la fecha: ¡Noche Cultural
Thursday, January 30th
Jueves el 30 de Enero
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FCPS Weather Cancellation Policy
Please view FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures page for more information on weather closing and delays
Follow us... @GunstonElem
We love to share all of the wonderful things happening at Gunston!
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PTA News & Events |
Breakfast with Buddies -
Friday, December 6th at 8:00am
The PTA is looking forward to seeing you all at our Breakfast with Buddies tomorrow! Make sure to arrive early and bring your ID as everyone will need to scan in to gain entrance!
PTA Holiday Shop
December 16 - December 18
Have you signed up yet to volunteer? Help us at the Holiday Shop and spread some cheer! Sign up here:
Let your Eagles also spread some joy when they buy from the PTA Holiday Shop, Oh Boy!
The gift shop is a place for all of our scholars to pick out gifts for family and friends priced at $1.00 - $15.00.
So check out this link and make a list then send the kids to school with cash and we’ll assist!
The Holiday Shop will also be open for parents and children to purchase items during the Holiday Sing-a-Long. Thank you for your support!
Receipts for Glory Days Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who supported our November Glory Days fundraiser!! Please send any Glory Days itemized receipts for the period of November 1 - November 30 to school in your child's daily folder by Monday, December 9. The PTA will be submitting all receipts to Glory Days next week.
Holiday Shopping?
Use AmazonSmile to raise funds for the PTA!
AmazonSmile has the same items you find on Amazon but donates a percentage of the price of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice!! You can create a shortcut or bookmark, install the AmazonAssistant, and now you can also use AmazonSmile directly through the Amazon Shopping App on Android phones. Visit our website to learn more.
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 Thank you for your support of our 2nd Annual Turkey Trot.
Congratulations to our Classroom co-winners, Mrs. Daugherty and Mrs. Opie. The classes will share the title of Turkey Trot Winner raising $1,201 and $1,200 respectively!!!
Congrats to our individual winners:
- John Simmons - Autographed Washington Capitals Hockey Puck
- Alexa Myers - Tickets to Autobahn
- Alexander Sand - Tickets to Flight
We will be coming around with prizes for all those who raised $40 or more!
Thank you for supporting the Gunston PTA.
Save these Dates!
(remember to keep an eye on our websites)
Gunston Elementary website
Gunston PTA website
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December 6 - 8:00 am Breakfast with Buddies
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December 6 - Grade 5 Field Trip
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December 10 - Picture Retake Day
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December 11 - 70s Day Celebration
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December 16-18 - Holiday Shop
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December 18 - Winter Concert
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December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
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January 30 - Cultural/Heritage Night
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