Fairhill Forum 9/29/2020

Fairhill Forum September 29, 2020 


Facebooktwitter

Follow us!

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

#aplaceforjoy

Click here to like our Facebook page.


News from Fairhill


Dates to Remember:

NOW -September 30th: PTA Tech For Teachers Drive

October 5th: Reading on the Run Library Checkout Begins

October 7th: Walking Wednesday

October 8th: AAP Info Meeting, 6:00 p.m. 

October 8th: PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

October 12th: Indigenous People's Day- Student Holiday (No School)

October 13th: PTA Family Night (Take) Out- Koobala, 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.


iReady Assessment Information

The online iReady assessment (also known as the universal screener) provides an initial view of all students’ foundational skills to help teachers identify students who may have challenges in reading or mathematics. Students in grades K-6 will take the iReady reading assessment. Students in grades 1-6 will take the iReady mathematics assessment. More information about the assessment can be found on the FCPS Universal Screener Parent Notification webpage.

Students will take iReady at home instead of at school. Teachers will discuss the assessment with students in advance, including how to log in and what to expect.  We also encourage you to watch the following videos to better understand iReady and how to best support your child while they are taking the assessment. 

Please see your teacher newsletters this week for more information on when your student will be taking these assessments. 

 

Learn About Taking the iReady at Home

English

Spanish

Tips for Successful Testing at Home

English

Spanish

Checklist For Supporting Your Child at Home

English

Spanish

 

Please do not have your child start and/or complete i-Ready assessments unless instructed by their teacher.


fsd

The Importance of Productive Struggle

As we start school in a new virtual setting, it is still important to allow students to fully engage without much academic support from families. 

The resiliency of our students is amazing and we as a school will never let students knowingly fail. Please allow students to take risks and make mistakes as mistakes grow our brain! 

"As parents and teachers, we do just about everything we can to make sure that children don’t struggle. It turns out we are making a terrible mistake. Research shows that struggling is absolutely critical to mastery and that the highest achieving people in the world are those who have struggled the most."Jo Boaler 

In addition to the above linked article, please enjoy this video on the Importance of Struggle.

 


gfd

Fairhill Library’s “Reading on the Run” Curbside Check-out:

  1. Curbside Check-out will be offered on Mondays, beginning Monday, October 5th. Families will use the Kiss and Ride loop from 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. to collect their books. 
  2. How to Choose Books:
    1. Grades 3-6: Students can place holds by logging into the Destiny catalog, which is accessed through the Library page on Fairhill’s website. (A how-to video will be posted in the Library Google Classroom, and Mrs. Howard will also be teaching students how to do this during Library time.) Students are limited to 5 holds at a time. Sometimes a ‘Hold is Ready” notification will pop up. Please disregard this notice and wait for email notification. When arriving, please state the student’s last name and grade level and wait while we gather the books.
    2. Grades prek-2: Themed grab bags will be available for the first few weeks (with a plan to move to holds once students learn how to place holds in their library class.) Themes will be posted in the Library Google Classroom and will rotate each week to maximize variety When you arrive, please state which theme you are interested in, student’s name, student’s teacher, and wait while we check the books out to your child. 
  3. Grades 3-6 students and families will be responsible for checking their fcpsschools.net email accounts for notification that holds are ready to be picked up. If holds are not picked up within two weeks (two Mondays), the books will be checked back in so others may get them.
  4. All students will be limited to checking out no more than 5 books at a time in order for staff to have adequate time for pulling, quarantining, and reshelving the books.
  5. Returns can take place at the same time as pick-up. Returns will go into quarantine for a week in accordance with FCPS guidelines and recent Covid-detecting studies. You may also return library books from this past Spring! We’d love to have our missing 792 titles back! Overdue notices will be emailed to fcpsschools.net accounts--please check for those!
  6. We will also be collecting food donations for Fairhill families in need. Canned and boxed goods will be accepted during “Reading on The Run.”
  7. Thank you for your patience and grace as we try something new! We welcome feedback to make our process smooth and enjoyable! You may email Mrs. Howard at: lghoward@fcps.edu

AAP Information

Please review the AAP Newsletter by clicking this link

Mrs. Arman will be hosting a 30-minute info session at 6:00 p.m. on October 8th (just before the PTA meeting). This info session will be a combination of levels of service and screening information for all interested

All Level IV referrals and optional materials for consideration for the 2021-2022 school year are due December 1, 2020 by 4:00 p.m

Please email Mrs. Arman, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, for more information. 


Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

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 this link we have provided.  The form must be filled out one time per student.

fds

hjk

School Forms

As the school year begins virtually, it is important  that required forms are complete for all students for SY 20-21.

The Emergency Care Form and Health Forms are available for electronic submission by parents via their FCPS 24/7 (Blackboard) accounts within the weCare@school (weCare) module. 

 

Please complete the following FCPS forms (linked below) that we will need for all students. We have also mailed these forms home through the USPS.

You may fill them out electronically by clicking the links below or wait until paper copies are sent home. Forms can completed  through WeCare, scanned and emailed to FairhillElem.Attendance@fcps.edu , or placed in the box next to the doorbell at  Door 1.

Emergency Care Form 

Health Information Form 

Homeless Student Referral Form 

Identification of Military Families 

FLE Opt Out 

Opt-Out Forms Packet


Digital Resources at Fairhill-Parent Consent Form

Fairhill will be using a variety of digital resources and tools this year, and parent permission is required for some of these applications. FCPS is committed to using  innovative tools that positively impact learning while ensuring student privacy and safety.

The list of resources for Fairhill can be found  on the Digital Resources at Fairhill Webpage. This page outlines the tools with links to more information, as well as the parent consent form.

Please complete the parent consent form so that our teachers know if permission has been provided for these tools to be used with your child.

gfd

das

Tech for Teachers

Please help support our PTA and teachers by participating in this AMAZING tech drive. 

The unique circumstances of distance learning have required our teachers to create very unique home classrooms.  Our Fairhill teachers would greatly benefit from using document cameras and/or other technology aids to teach our children this year.  Many of these tools will also be of great use once we return to the classroom. 

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by September 30th that will be distributed amongst the Fairhill staff to enhance their virtual classrooms.  Please see the link here for details on pledge levels and fun Fairhill prizes!  Donate today to ensure that virtual learning benefits EVERYONE! To donate, click here.


Screen-Free Activities 

Are you looking for some enrichment activities away from the screen?

With the help of Mrs. Arman, Advanced Academics Teacher, please review this document with some helpful resources and ideas to help students engage in some screen-free activities at home. 

fsd

parade

Positivity Project-

Weekly Character Strength:Teamwork

WHAT DOES TEAMWORK MEAN?
You work well as a member of a group or
team. You are loyal and sacrifice your
individual desires for the greater good.

Click here for the full explanation of Teamwork and what it means in terms of P2 in the classroom.  

We will continue to be a Positivity Project Partner School. Learn more about it here.


News from Fairhill PTA


pta

Become a Fairhill PTA Member!

Please consider becoming a PTA member for the 20-21 school year. 

Click this link for membership options! 


PTA Meetings

Mark your calendars for all PTA meetings throughout the year. 

  • October 8, 6:30 p.m.
  • November 12, 6:30 p.m.
  • December 10, 6:30 p.m.
  • January 14, 6:30 p.m.  
  • February 11, 6:30 p.m.
  • March 11, 6:30 p.m.  
  • April 8, 6:30 p.m.
  • May 13, 6:30 p.m.
fds

gfd

PTA Family Night (Take) Outs

Even though we are not physically in the school building, we still are trying to raise funds for our students. Please consdier taking the night off from cooking and order in some food. 

Fairhill gets a percentage of money spent from each location. It's a WIN--WIN!

Mark your calendars NOW! 

October 13th: Koobala, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.    (click here to RSVP)

             3987 Pickett Rd


News from FCPS


Safe Routes to School Walking Wednesdays

jhg

FCPS Safe Routes to School in collaboration with Fairfax County Park Authority’s Move Your Way and Healthy Strides campaign will be promoting Walking Wednesdays during the 2020-2021 school year to encourage physical activity.  

Walking Wednesdays is a county-wide community program designed to promote physical and mental health. FCPS Safe Routes to School in collaboration with Fairfax County Park Authority’s Move Your Way and Healthy Strides campaign encourages students and parents/guardians to take time each Wednesday to walk and connect with friends, neighbors and classmates before the school day and workday begins.  Whether your walk takes you around the block, to the bus stop, or to your school, we hope you will find others out walking and can greet one another from a distance.

Walking Wednesdays will kick off on October 7, 2020, which is International Walk to School Day.  Coming in November will be Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 18, 2020.  More information about Walking Wednesdays can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/safety-and-transportation/transportation-services/safe-routes-school-srts.

Families, neighborhoods or schools can register their participation in International Walk to School Day on October 7, 2020 at http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/registration/

Here are some ideas for your neighborhood Walk to School Day 2020:
http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/20-ideas-for-walk-to-school-day-2020/


Bus Route Meal Service Fall 2020

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) buses are delivering grab and go meals along some bus routes.  School buses will stop at designated intersections to deliver these meals. 

All FCPS students (regardless of age) are eligible for free grab and go breakfast and lunch, as well as other county children, under the age of 18. Adults picking up meals for children should let staff know how many children meals they need. Adults may pay $2 for the meals as well.

The service will be available Monday - Friday only.  

New for this fall:  breakfast and lunch meals for Saturdays will be distributed at all sites and bus routes each Friday.

PLEASE NOTE:  Updates to bus routes are posted each afternoon by 5pm. Changes will be marked as "new" or "updated".    

Arrival times at bus stops may be delayed several minutes due to unexpected issues.

dsf

abc

Technology Support for Families

Access videos and resources to help your student in the virtual learning environment on the Technology Support for Families webpage

laptop

New Virtual Learning Tech Tips Videos

New videos have been posted on the virtual learning playlist. They include tips on signing in, locating assignments, and submitting assignments in Google Classroom, as well as how to use Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (BBCU). Go to the video learning playlist


Fairhill's Mission 

Fairhill Elementary fosters academic excellence in a respectful environment which instills strength of character and embraces community involvement.

Fairhill's Vision

The staff of Fairhill Elementary prepares children for a productive future by providing for successes in a positive, enriching and academically stimulating environment. We celebrate diversity, foster mutual respect and embrace collaboration as we unite to achieve common purposes and clear goals.

Our vision for the 2020-2021 school year

To be:

A place where every staff member and students feels included and loved.

A place where every student and staff member can be their best and true self.

A place where every student and staff member feels seen and valued.

A place for joy!


Important Contact Information

Fairhill Phone Numbers:

• Health Room 703-208-8110

• Cafeteria 703-208-8121

Administration e-mail addresses:

• Principal, Candace Hunstad: cjhunstad@fcps.edu 

• Assistant Principal, Courtney Korb: cbkorb@fcps.edu