Sangster News You Choose
Two Weeks At a Glance
September 17 – Constitution Day
September 18-20 – Rosh Hashanah
September 22 – Autumnal Equinox
September 22 – FCPS School Board Work Session
September 27-28 – Yom Kippur
October 8 – PTA Virtual Meeting, 7 p.m.
October 9 – PTA Reflections entries due
October 12 – Student Holiday
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Information
Parents and guardians, please review the Student Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, fill out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form using the link below. This form must be filled out once for each student in your family. We will also be putting the survey on the Sangster school website for families to fill it out there, too.
Link: https://forms.gle/RAgGK3wwTZfg7UtP9
School Board to Discuss Health and Operational Metrics for Return to In-Person Instruction on Tuesday, September 22
At the Tuesday, September 22, School Board work session, Superintendent Brabrand will provide updated information on health and operational metrics to guide the decision-making process to resume in-person instruction. Information will also be provided on an updated plan to begin to offer in-person instruction by phasing in students in small cohorts when these metrics are met.
The work session can be viewed on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 or on the FCPS website.
Connecting Bluetooth headphones and home printers to FCPS computers
Good news for elementary schools as of this week! If a student takes his/her laptop to the school’s bus loop or parking lot and reboots it twice, the student’s account will have the ability to add printer, Bluetooth, and change the displaying settings. Access to control and settings are now enabled for student accounts.
Assessments
In the next few weeks your child will be taking a variety of assessments across content areas. The purpose of these assessments is to determine students’ areas of strength and growth. This data will help drive the teachers’ instruction and enable differentiation to best support your child this school year. These assessments will not be graded. To ensure equity, these assessments should be completed independently by the student. Below are a few suggestions on ways to encourage your student, rather than help, while they take assessments in the virtual environment.
Remind your student that the assessment is not graded and will be used by their teacher to help them learn this school year. It is okay if they do not know the answer to a question as it will tell the teacher that they need help to learn that concept.
 Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's learning. We look forward to a great school year!
FCPS Cares
The FCPS Cares Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can acknowledge our Sangster staff members.
Summer Reading and Math Challenge
Congratulations to all the students who completed the Summer Reading Challenge and/or Math Bingo card! Please inform us of your child’s accomplishment by completing this form by September 30th: Summer Challenge Google Form. The names of all who accomplished either of these challenges will be listed on our weekly W.H.S.E. news show and will be entered in a drawing for Sangster Spirit Wear. NOTE: If your child attended a different school last year and completed a summer reading or math challenge from that school, you may also complete the form.
Forms to Complete On-Line
Please fill out these forms electronically. Forms can be accessed through WeCare, scanned and emailed to Marian Hoelscher, student registrar at mthoelscher@fcps.edu. Some of the forms are explained in greater detail below.
Emergency Care Form
Health Information Form
Homeless Student Referral Form
Identification of Military Families
FLE Opt Out
Parent consent for digital tools
Positivity Project
This year, Sangster will continue implementing the Positivity Project(P2). P2 is dedicated to empowering America’s youth to build strong relationships and to understand, appreciate, and exemplify the character strengths in us all. Every 1-2 weeks, students learn about a new character strength.
It is easier than ever for Sangster families to access P2 resources this year! The site P2 For Families is available for connecting P2 to your home and you can learn more about the site here. Many of the slides are password protected and the password is P2 (case-sensitive).
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Positivity Project - Week of September 13
This week students will continue to learn about the Other People Mindset, which is the Positivity Project motto. This way of thinking includes knowing that your words and actions affect others, cheering others’ successes, being present and giving others attention, supporting others when they struggle, and identifying and appreciating the good in others. Find out more about this mindset by watching this video by Positivity Project co-founder Mike Erwin.
Next week’s character strength: Curiosity
Attendance—Make Sure Your Child Is Logged-On Everyday
The new school year has begun for students in Fairfax County Public Schools. All students are expected to attend school virtually Monday – Friday.
In Virginia, public school students ages 5-18 are required to attend school regularly, whether they attend virtually by logging onto a computer or in-person instruction. Teachers are taking attendance every day at Sangster at 9:10 a.m.
We know this is an unusual school year for everyone. We want each child to succeed. Please make sure your child is attending school by logging on to their online classes. If you need help, please contact your school. More information about attendance is available online.
FCPS Virtual Mental Health and Wellness Conference
FCPS will host its seventh Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference over a three-week period beginning today, Monday, September 14, through Saturday, October 3. The conference features multiple keynote speakers who will address social emotional learning and resiliency. Our Minds Matter will also host a student strand. Inova and Kaiser Permanente will again be sponsoring the conference.
Registration information and the complete schedule and list of speakers are now available online.
Calling All String Books
If you have a Strings Instrumental Music book from last school year and you are NOT participating in Strings again this year, please return your book. There will be a box in front of the school building beginning Friday, September 18 – Friday, September 25 where you can drop off the books. Thanks!
Food Distribution
FCPS will continue to provide “grab-and-go” meals during the upcoming school year. Our goal is to provide every FCPS student daily access to a healthy breakfast and lunch during this pandemic. Visit our Food Resources for Families page for more information.
How to Stay In-Touch at Sangster
Please stay in touch throughout the year through these official FCPS and Sangster sites:
Sangster sends a weekly News You Choose with the latest school updates.
Reflections Contest Entries Due October 9
Reflections is a National PTA program where students can be artists and creators! Entrants should reflect on this year's theme: “I Matter Because" - and create entries in various visual, musical and digital arts categories. Entrants fill out a google form, then receive a link to a drop box site where entries are digitally submitted. Entries are due Friday, October 9. Questions? Contact Cherilyn McCall at Reflections@SangsterPTA.org Here is the link for submission: https://sangster.digitalpto.com/student-activities/
PTA Fundraising
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SANGSTER SPIRIT WEAR is now available! Pre-order your t-shirts and masks for an October delivery date. Click here: http://sangster.digitalpto.com/fund-raising/spirit-wear/
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SANGSTER FALCON YARD SIGNS available at this link: https://sangster.new.memberhub.store/store
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FALCON MISSIONS to neighbors (or your own!) yard are available here: https://forms.gle/XsvjzVdffUQBV7Gh7
- Questions about yard signs, email: SangsterFalcons@gmail.com
PTA Fall Club Information
Sangster PTA will offer 6 student clubs this fall. Links to all clubs are available here: https://sangster.digitalpto.com/student-activities/
PTA New Family Welcome Programs
The Sangster PTA New Family Welcome Website is now online! We hope that the information included is helpful to new families as you begin your journey as Sangster Falcons. Falcon Family Friends are Sangster families volunteering to answer your community questions. New families interested in this PTA program can get more info here. The PTA will be hosting small-group virtual coffee meet-ups for new families. Interested? Click here. Questions? SangsterWelcome@gmail.com
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