Important Upcoming Dates
8/31 Laptop Distribution (see below for details)
9/1 Laptop Distribution (see below for details)
9/2 Virtual Student Orientation
9/3 Student School Supply Pick Up Day (9 AM-3 PM)
9/8 First Day of Virtual Class
9/21 Virtual Back to School Event - more information to come
9/23 Virtual PTA Meeting
10/12 School Planning Day / Student Holiday
IN THIS ISSUE
- NEW: Virtual Student Orientation
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NEW: Student School Supply Pick Up Day
- NEW: Virtual Back to School Event (Date Change)
- NEW: Laptop Distribution
- NEW: Parent Approval Needed for Digital Resources
- Student Passwords
- Laptops at Home
- NEW: FCPS Launches New Parent Technology Help Desk
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NEW: Student Attendance for the 2020-21 School Year
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NEW: Family Life Education Instructional Program Information (REVISED)
- Student Registration (Kindergarten Registration/ 1-6 New Student Registration)
- Not Returning to Fairfax Villa Next School Year?
- PTA News
Greetings Fairfax Villa Families,
We hope you are enjoying these last weeks of summer! Our staff has been very busy preparing for a successful opening of the new school year. Although it is going to be in a virtual format, we are very excited to welcome returning Dragons back to the Villa and welcome new Dragons to the Villa! In this issue of News You Choose, we have added new information about many things that you will need to know before the first day of school. Please read the new information carefully.
Also, on Wednesday, August 26, our teachers sent emails to parents to introduce themselves to their 2020-21 students and families. The email includes teacher assignment, student schedule, how the teacher will communicate throughout the year, information about virtual student orientation as well as our Back to School Event. It is strongly recommended that you have your child access the grade level Google Classroom NOW with the code that was linked in the email from the teacher. The use of the classroom will be discussed at the virtual orientation on September 2 and accessing it now will help your child to be ready for the orientation.
Lastly, we wish you a wonderful last week of summer! Continue to stay safe and healthy!
All the best,
Dave Gerstner, Principal
KJ An, Assistant Principal
Barbara Schmidt, School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS)
1. Virtual Student Orientation, September 2
On September 2, Fairfax Villa will be holding our first ever Virtual Student Orientation for students and caregivers. The goal is to make the student transition to virtual learning as smooth as possible and to reduce any anxiety leading up to and on the first day of school. The virtual orientation is an opportunity to meet the teacher(s), provide an overview of how virtual learning will work, such as basic expectations on logging into students’ FCPS Gmail accounts to access virtual classroom links and how to use BBCU, and teachers to answer basic questions to prepare families for the first day of school.
Here’s how you can access the virtual student orientation:
- Students can find the link that they will use to join the orientation in an email in their FCPS Google Gmail. It will not be from the teacher’s name but from Blackboard Collaborate Support.
- The link in blue in that email is a student-specific link and cannot be shared with others. Since this is the same link that you will use when you start class on September 8th, please click on the star beside the email. Once you “star” that email, it will show up when you click on “STARRED” on the left side. That will make it easy for you to find the link and enter your class.
 2. Student School Supply Pick Up Day, September 3
On September 3 between 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, we will be hosting our first Student School Supply Pick Up Day. We have a supply bag for all students. Our staff has been busy creating school supply bags for each student in grades PK-6 will need to begin the school year.
Please follow these procedures for our no contact environment to meet all current safety and distancing guidelines:
- You will drive up to the main entrance to pick up your child’s school supply bag.
- You will tell the staff member your child's name and grade level.
- The staff member will then bring you the bag of supplies that is for your child’s grade level.
- Once the car in front of you has exited the area, the next car in line will pull up and this will continue one car at a time.
- If parents choose to walk to the school for this, masks must be worn and you will have to get in the same line to receive your bags. Please do not send students alone to this event.
If you ordered school material supply kits via the PTA, please let the staff member know that and it will also be brought out to you.
3.Virtual Back to School Event, September 21
On September 21st, Fairfax Villa will be holding our first ever Virtual Back to School event for families. This event was originally scheduled for August 28; however, we have decided to select this date to allow families the opportunity to begin engaging in the learning process and to experience the virtual platform and practices for this year. We look forward to meeting with families to answer any questions that you may have in the first two weeks about online learning.
Here is the schedule for the virtual Back to School Event. A guest link will be shared by your child’s classroom teacher as we get closer to the date.
Start time for Back to School Event is as follows:
- 1:00 - Kindergarten
- 1:30 - 1st Grade
- 2:00 - 2nd Grade
- 2:30 - 3rd Grade
- 3:00 - 4th Grade
- 3:30- 5th Grade
- 4:00- 6th Grade
4. Laptop Distribution
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Parents of Students in Preschool - 3rd Grade: If you did not request a laptop earlier but now need one for your child in grades Preschool - 3, complete this form for your child. You do NOT need to complete the form for grades 4-6. https://forms.gle/a9isDgbyhaRDymo3A
This form will close on Wednesday, September 2 at 2:00. Look for details on when to pick up your child's laptop in the Keep in Touch newsletter on Thursday, September 3rd. Please wait on those details and do not come for the distribution listed below.
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Parents of Students in Grades K-3 Who Already Signed Up: If you signed up on the first form sent to parents to request a laptop for your child, you will be able to bring your child with you and get the laptop at the following days and times below according to your child’s last name.
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Parents of Students in Grades 4-6: If you did not pick up your laptop this week, you will be able to bring your child with you and still get the laptop at the following days and times below according to your child’s last name.
Please read and follow the guidelines below. This will save you lots of time!
Monday, August 31
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8:00- 9:00: Students whose last name starts with A-B
- 9:00 - 10:00: Students whose last name starts with C-G
- 10:00 - 11:00: Students whose last name starts with H-K
- 11:00 - 12:00: Student whose last name starts with L-M
Tuesday, September 1
- 10:00 - 11:00: Students whose last name starts with N-R
- 11:00 - 12:00: Students whose last name starts with S
- 12:00 - 1:00: Students whose last name starts with T-Z
- 1:00 - 2:00: Any student & parent who could not come at their assigned time.
What to Do
- Please note: If you or your child are not feeling well the day of distribution, please contact Ms. Schmidt at bdschmidt@fcps.edu to reschedule.
- One parent and the student must attend on Distribution Day. Both must wear masks at all times. You are also welcome to wear protective gloves.
- When entering school property, please park in the side parking lot and walk to the table at the Kiss and Ride door for a staff member to check you in and give you the ID tag cards for your child.
- You and your child must stay 6 feet away from all other families and staff members.
- You will be given a Covid-19 form to fill out for both you and your child.
- Once checked in, you will be given a laptop that is for your child’s grade and directed to a table where your child will log into the laptop. The parent will have to sign the parent responsibility forms.
- If your child does not remember his/her password from last year, Ms. Schmidt will reset the password when you are there.
- There will be directions on the table for what your child needs to do once logged on.
- Your child will leave with a laptop and power cord.
What to Bring
- Student’s First and Last Name
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A pen for you to use to sign the papers with.
Mandatory Safety Guidelines
- Masks are required throughout the distribution process.
- Additional staff will be on hand to ensure safety measures are followed.
- All staff members involved with distributing student items will be wearing gloves.
- If there are 10 students/parents already in the cafeteria, you will need to wait outside until one has left. We are limiting the number to ten student/parent groups in the cafeteria.
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5. Parent Approval Needed Now For Digital Resources
Parents can now visit this page on our Fairfax Villa website to find the information and the link to the form that all parents need to submit for approval of digital resources. The information page lists the digital tools that may be used at Fairfax Villa that require parental approval. Not all tools will be used by every student. The tools have been carefully reviewed to ensure that they align with the FCPS Learning Model and FCPS conducts the same technical evaluations for all products that use student information.
Please visit this page to get the link and submit your approval as soon as you can. Until you do, your child will not be able to use any of the tools that the teacher may want to use with the rest of the class. Teachers will be able to see which parents have approved use of the resources.
https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources
6. Student Passwords
Student passwords will not expire this year! Your student can continue to login to their FCPS computer, Google Apps, FCPS 24/7 Blackboard, and other FCPS applications that require their username and password.
Password Recovery: (Rising 1st-6th only) We encourage parents to setup password recovery information for their student using the FCPS Account Manager system located here https://itweb.fcps.edu/AccountManager/
7. Laptops at Home
. If you currently have an FCPS issued laptop at home, please help your school’s technology team prepare devices to receive county updates by doing the following once per week until school starts:
- Plug the laptop into an outlet.
- Turn the laptop on and let it boot up.
- Login to ensure it connects to the internet at that location.
- Launch Google Chrome and visit the FCPS website to ensure the internet is connected on the computer.
- Leave the laptop on and connected to the internet for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, the laptop may be shut down.
8. FCPS Launches New Parent Technology Help Desk, Readies Students and Families for Virtual Learning
To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, Fairfax County Public Schools is launching a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective today, Monday, August 24. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered by staff 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If the help desk is unable to solve the issue on the phone with the parent or guardian, they will enter a ticket on the parent’s behalf and the request for help will be transferred to the appropriate FCPS team.
Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and an interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS also has existing parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages, that can assist with general questions about FCPS.)
FCPS has also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents and guardians to request technology help directly.
Get more information about the new Parent Technology Help Desk.
9. Student Attendance for the 2020-21 School Year
In Virginia, students enrolled in public schools are required to attend school regularly, regardless of the type of instruction offered. Our students need to be present, engaged, and supported as they return for the 2020-21 school year. Teachers will take attendance daily and ensure that all students are counted.
During our virtual opening:
- FCPS must record student attendance every school day.
- Parents should report their student’s absences to school any day students are unable to participate in learning, including on Mondays. They may report the absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.
- When parents do not report their students’ absences, teachers and school personnel will call to identify the student’s absence reasons.
- An eNotify (electronic) message will reach parents about the student absence.
- Parents then can reach the school and provide information about the student absences.
Common reason why students may not be able to participate in virtual learning:
- Student illnesses
- Religious holiday observances
- Temporary family hardship, such as temporary relocation
- Lack of reliable Internet connection.School personnel need to know if families are experiencing challenges in accessing online instruction, so that they can offer support and connect families to resources.
- Stay in contact with your students’ schools so that we can work together to support their learning.
10.Family Life Education Instructional Program Information (REVISED)
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, nonpunitive 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 for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. 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) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). 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 https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Account information is available at your local school or online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml. 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 Carrie Reynolds, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.
11. Student Registration (Kindergarten/ Grades 1-6 New Students)
Kindergarten Registration for 2020-2021
If your upcoming kindergarten student does fall in the Fairfax Villa ES boundary, please complete the form on the link below. Your form will be submitted to Jose Flores, our school registrar, who will be able to assist you with the registration process.
https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/new-student-registration-2020-21
Registration for Students in Grades 1-6 New to Fairfax Villa
If you need to register a new student in grades 1-6, please contact Jose Flores, our school registrar, at jlflores@fcps.edu. Please provide the student's first and last name, enrolling parent's first and last name, student mailing address, enrolling parent's email address, and the enrolling parent's phone number. Mr. Flores will be in contact with you via email.
12. Not Returning to Fairfax Villa Next School Year?
In planning for both staffing and materials for the coming 2020-2021 school year, it is extremely important that we have a reasonable projection on the number of students who will be returning to Fairfax Villa ES next school year.
Please complete the Student Intention form for next school year, 2020-2021 Student Intention Form if your student is transferring to:
- Another FCPS school other than Fairfax Villa ES
- A private school in Virginia or out of Virginia
- Another Virginia public school division outside FCPS
- Another state public school outside of Virginia
- Out of the United States
Only those families whose students are transferring need to return the completed form to our Registrar, Jose Flores at jlflores@fcps.edu. Please complete and email this form as soon as possible. If you are unsure what your intentions are for the next school year, please note this on the form.
Visit the FCPS general registration page.
13.PTA News
The following message is sent on behalf of the Fairfax Villa ES School PTA. Its content reflects the views of the PTA.
Memberships
Membership is open for the 2020-2021 school year! Please join online at https://fairfaxvilla.memberhub.store/.
PTA Meeting
Mark your calendars for the first PTA meeting of the year! We will be meeting virtually on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 PM. We will share more information and the Blackboard meeting link soon.
Please contact Jessie Crain & Simon Bowyer (CO-PRESIDENTS) anytime with questions at villapta@gmail.com.
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