Gunston Gazette 05-07-2020

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A Note From Your Principals

Dear Gunston Families,

We are thrilled to successfully conclude week 2 of distance learning on such a positive note.  Participation is consistent and the lessons continue to be engaging and impactful!

Thank you to all the families for showing love to our teachers and staff this past week.  Teacher Appreciation week was filled with pictures, messages, and videos of gratitude.  The teachers really appreciated all your kind words of support.

Many thanks to our amazing staff of teachers who continue to go above and beyond for our students, families, and community.  We are very fortunate to have a dedicated, caring, and compassionate group of professionals at Gunston.

We are looking forward to another great week of distance learning!

Fondly,

Ms. Rucinski and Mrs. White


Notice for parents of Grade 6 students ONLY

Your student registered and made payments in connection with a field trip. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent closure of Fairfax County Public Schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, your student’s field trip was cancelled.  If you wish to request a refund, you must do so in writing after reading the  letter and form found here.  The completed form is to be emailed it to Sharon Gunn at sygunn@fcps.edu 

 

Su estudiante registro y hizo un pago para un viaje de estudios.  Debido al COVID-19 pandémico y la cerrada de las Escuelas del Condado de Fairfax para el resto del año escolar 2019 - 2020, el viaje de estudios de tu estudiante se canceló. Si quieren pedir que les devuelvan el dinero, tienen que solicitarlo por escrito después de leer la carta y el formulario que se encuentra aquí.   El formulario completo se manda por email a Sharon Gunn at sygunn@fcps.edu


Student Support Team - Tips for Gunston Families

The student support team wants you to know that we miss you and we are here for you! We know how challenging this time is for our students and parents so we wanted to offer some resources to help during this time.

Breathing Strategies

Breathing strategies may seem simple and cliché but they really work when they are done effectively. Think of times when you are frustrated or angry and how a few minutes away from the situation with some deep breaths can help you regain composure. The same is true for children. We have worked with our students on breathing exercises at school so they should be familiar with the term “Elevator breathing”, “Hot Cocoa breathing”, and “Figure 8 breathing”. No matter what it is called, the best strategy is to breathe in through your nose and hold for 4 seconds and then exhale slowly through your mouth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCACkuZ2bU&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3G7BO71x7Pf6MiSSEmjYU2AKSYJStIlgOlB9y9DJKH24vUCiNFbI7a1P4

 

This site offers some great mindfulness and breathing tools for students and tips for parents.

https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-for-children-kids-activities/

 

Grounding Technique

Utilizing grounding techniques can be useful for anxiety in kids and adults. Try this simple one if someone in your home is struggling with anxiety.

5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique for Anxiety

5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pen, a spot on the ceiling, anything in your surroundings.

4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. ...

3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. ...

2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. ...

1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste.

 



Registration Process Update!

Registration is now open for all grade levels for the upcoming 2020 – 2021 school year. With the building closed, registration will happen virtually, with our registrar, Cassandra Baltimore, conducting enrollment interviews over the phone or via e-mail. If you need to register your child for school, please reach out to Ms. Baltimore at clbaltimore@fcps.edu

Please note that once schools reopen to the public, parents will need to make an appointment to complete the registration and present all required original documentation (birth certificate, deed or lease, etc.).

Please share this information with friends or neighbors who also need to register!



pta

        PTA News & Information


Visit our PTA Facebook Page

Don’t forget to visit the Gunston Elementary PTA Facebook page to check out information our PTA is sharing, including what we’ve done for Teacher Appreciation week.  We are so thankful for such awesome teachers at Gunston! 


Virtual PTA Meeting

May 21 at 7:00 pm

Please join us for our last PTA meeting of the year!  We will hold a virtual meeting via zoom, information is below.  We plan to do a short wrap up of the year and finalize any PTA business, including voting on our carryover budget (which can be found in advance in the financial documents and forms folder on our website).  

We have not yet found anyone interested in most of our officer positions, which are all available for next year.  Please email ptagunston@gmail.com if you’re interested.  If we have no interested candidates by 5/21 we will move elections to the fall.  

Topic: May PTA meeting 

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/3236608793

Meeting ID: 323 660 8793