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Dear Olde Creek Families and Friends,
We want to welcome all of our new students and families to our incredible school community! We look forward to continuing to meet you during our new family orientations and kindergarten family gatherings.
It was wonderful to connect with so many of you during our Virtual Learning Information Sessions. Thank you for joining us! Please continue to reach out to us if we can answer any questions related to our virtual instructional program and schedules. If you were not able to join us, you can access the recording. Click here to access our grade level virtual instructional schedules.
We also want to thank our families that were able to join us and the families in the Woodson Pyramid for our town hall conversation that was focused on equity and cultural responsiveness. Our follow-up town hall will be held on Wednesday, September 30th. We hope that you will be able to join us to continue the conversation and share your experiences.
It was an exciting week as we welcomed our new staff members to Olde Creek and all of our teachers and staff are back as of Friday! Our new staff are introduced below and we have been sharing introductions on social media for them as well. As staff return, they will participate in ongoing professional development to support your child in our virtual learning environment and have many new resources to use and implement in their online classrooms. As we move through the planning process, we will continue to communicate important updates and information with you to ensure you and our students are ready for the year.
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back during our Virtual Orientation and Open House on September 2nd. We will be providing additional details soon. FCPS is also doing a return to school countdown that you can access for helpful information as we prepare for the first day of school.
Warm Regards,
Melissa Miller
mhmiller@fcps.edu
Updates & Reminders
Welcome to our New Staff Members
Please help us welcome our exceptional new staff members to Olde Creek!
MeChelle Cavanaugh, Music Teacher
Emily Chapman, PE Teacher
Max Chin, Enhanced Autism Teacher
Kelsey Christian, Crisis Resource Teacher
Christina Cronin, 1st Grade Teacher
Erin Henry, Art Teacher
Marilyn Lockhart, Special Education Teacher
Jena Samman, 1st Grade Teacher
Technology Updates & Distribution Dates
As we prepare for the start of the school year, we want to ensure that each student has access to our virtual learning environment.
Below are the Laptop Distribution Days for each grade level.
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Thursday, August 20
8:30AM-12:00PM
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6th Grade
5th Grade
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Tuesday, August 25
8:30AM-12:00PM
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4th Grade
3rd Grade
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Thursday, August 27
8:30AM-12:00PM
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2nd Grade
1st Grade
Kindergarten
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- Families that have responded to the survey below will also receive a detailed email for day of procedures.
- If you have multiple students picking up laptops, you may pick all of them up on one day.
- Please make sure that an adult is accompanying the student receiving the school laptop and all students receiving laptops are present.
- The student receiving the laptop should know their student ID and password to log in on site.
- Kindergartners & new FCPS students: username/password will be provided the day of.
- When you arrive at Olde Creek, please drive through the bus loop to the main entrance (Door 1) and stay in your car.
If you have not already, please complete this survey to help us prepare to meet your needs in regards to accessing a technology device and the internet.
If a personal device is used in place of an FCPS-issued laptop, the personal device needs a screen, keyboard, webcam and microphone. The personally owned device must be able to run Google Apps for Education and Microsoft Office products. Additionally, please check in with us about what applications might be needed for your student’s learning. FCPS does not have the licensing authority to install applications on personal devices, so parents would be responsible for securing any necessary apps their student may need that are not web-based. Please also note that FCPS cannot provide tech support for personally owned devices.
Questions? Please reach out to Alison Butler (ajbutler@fcps.edu).
Virtual Family Events
We are excited to meet our new students and families that are joining Olde Creek this year. Whether you have an incoming kindergartner or are new to the OC community, we hope you will be able to join us for the events listed below. Encourage any of your neighbors who have incoming Olde Creek students to join us for an event so they can connect with one another and learn more about the Olde Creek community. Below are the days and times.
Click here to join these sessions.
New Family Orientation/Gathering: Wednesday, August 19 at 9:00 AM
Kindergarten Family Gathering: Friday, August 21 at 9:00 AM
New Family Orientation/Gathering: Monday, August 24 at 5:00 PM
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Special Education
Families who have a student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan will be contacted by their assigned case manager in August and early September to discuss what updates may be needed to the IEP or 504 plan. Special education services and accommodations will be provided in our virtual format. Read more Special Education updates here.
Class Placements
Our class lists are still being revised based on a number of factors. We are weighing family designations for virtual versus in person, teacher input, parent input, as well as the programs that students are accessing during the school day. We will be communicating student class placements electronically during the week of August 24, 2020.
School Supplies
If your family ordered an EPI school supply box, they will be delivered to Olde Creek in mid-August. Once they arrive at the school, we will plan a distribution day for families that would like to pick up the boxes to utilize at home. We have modified our school supply lists for each grade level to meet the needs of our virtual learning environment. The lists have been updated on our website, please click here.
Olde Creek would like to support families in need of assistance with supplies. If you are unable to access school supplies, please contact our school counselor, Jeanna Squif at JMSquif@fcps.edu
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Last Call
Student personal belongings from last year that were not picked up will be discarded at the end of August. If you wish to retrieve your student’s belongings between the hours of 9:00AM to 3:00PM Monday-Friday, please call the office (703-426-3100) with your child’s name and we will bring it to the front door for you to pick-up.
Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You
Are you worried about managing your child’s virtual schooling this year? Do you hate becoming the “school police” when your child won’t focus? Do you have to balance your child’s schooling with your own remote workload? We hear you, and we’re here to help.
You’ll learn how to avoid parent-child conflict around academics with practical tips for:
- Establishing routines and expectations that really work
- Creating ideal spaces for virtual learning
- Keeping kids focused while learning online
- Minimizing distractions from video games and other screens
- Getting your own work done at the same time (Yes, it’s possible!)
Don’t tackle this unusual year without a plan. Instead, join us and feel more prepared and confident for the year ahead, with a toolbox full of practical strategies that actually work. We can’t wait to see you there!
Presented by Ann Dolin, M.Ed., educational consultant and award-winning author. Ann is the President and Director of Educational Connections, Inc.
Friday September 11, 2020, 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You
Olde Creek Bears Care Community Outreach Program
Help! Donations Needed for Bears Care Community Program
As school is approaching, we will be collecting donations for the Bears Care Food Pantry. The pantry distributes food provisions to Olde Creek students and their families in need for the week. Use this link to sign up for any donations you are able to provide during this extraordinary time!
Instead of the previous drop off procedure at the school, please email Lisa Goodwin at lisamarm@gmail.com about a drop off or for a pick up time and date. Check out our list of item ideas on our PTA website. Most food items are welcome at this time. Gift cards are also greatly appreciated for families right now! Stores, such as Walmart, can mail gift cards without even having to make a trip to the store!
Or, order food items from our Bears Care Amazon Wish List and have it delivered directly. (Use Amazon Smile and have a percentage donated to OC!). Thank you, as always, for your kindness and generosity!
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Summer Office Hours and Registration
Our Olde Creek ES main office is now open by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for registration, please contact Mr. Santos (LISantos@fcps.edu) and for all other appointments, please contact Ms. Platenkamp (amplatenkamp@fcps.edu). As decisions are being made regarding the fall, it is vital we have all kindergartners and new students registered. Important information will be sent to parents of registered students and fall schedules will be determined based on the specific students in each class. If you, a neighbor, or friend have a child to register please contact Mr. Santos.
If you need assistance with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Melissa Miller, Principal: mhmiller@fcps.edu
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal: ajbutler@fcps.edu
Kelly Durso, Assistant Principal: kldurso@fcps.edu
Sylvia Alverson, Administrative Assistant: sjalverson@fcps.edu
Ann Platenkamp, Administrative Assistant: amplatenkamp@fcps.edu
Lizardo Santos, Student Information Assistant: LISantos@fcps.edu
Sandy McCulloch, Office Assistant: slmcculloch@fcps.edu
Upcoming Dates
August 19: New Family Orientation- 9:00 AM
August 20: 5th & 6th Grade Technology Distribution-8:30-12:00 PM
August 21: Kindergarten Family Gathering-9:00 AM
August 24: New Family Orientation-5:00 PM
August 25: 3rd & 4th Technology Distribution--8:30-12:00 PM
August 27: K, 1st & 2nd Technology Distribution--8:30-12:00 PM
September 1: Student Materials Distribution
September 2: Virtual Orientation & Open House
September 8: First Day of School
September 23: Virtual Back to School Night
September 30: Olde Creek Town Hall
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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