Principals' Message
Dear Families,
We can’t believe it is the first day of October already! Thank you for taking the time to attend our virtual "Back to School Night” last week. We had a great turnout! If you were unable to attend, please contact your child's teacher to locate the recorded version. It has been made available for you. Our Virtual Parent Coffees continued last night with a focus on supporting your child with reading at home. Stay tuned for information about our next parent coffee later this month presented by our math specialist.
Over the last month, we've seen students become accustomed to their new school routines and procedures. We have enjoyed meeting with each grade level to review the Students Rights and Responsibilities. Please make sure you review with your child how they can continue to be safe, respectful, and responsible eagles in our virtual classrooms. Our specialists are enjoying connecting with students during our clubs that started this week. While this isn't the ideal environment for school, we see that students, parents and teachers are making the very best of the time they have together.
Communication continues to be at the heart of collaboration between school and home. Please continue to share your successes and challenges with our teachers, so that they can best support all of our eagles. Interims will be sent home at the end of next week. This is a great opportunity to reinforce goal-setting with your child and to reflect on their strengths and an area they would like to improve.
We hope you and your family are finding time to disconnect and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.
Virtual hugs,
Ms. Rucinski and Mrs. Opie
“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” – Nat Turner
Parent Coffee
Our first parent coffee was a huge success! Mrs. Robinson shared strategies to support readers at home and Mrs. McIntyre shared how students can access books. If you missed it, check out the recording below! Mark your calendars our next parent coffee will be October 28th at 7:00pm. We can’t wait to share ways to support your students in math with Mrs. Schroeder.
Gunston Parent Coffee - recording_1
Gunston
Library Books
coming to you!
Exciting news! Students will now have the opportunity to check out Gunston ES library books!. There will be a rotating Monday schedule for curbside collection and neighborhood delivery Watch student and parent emails for detailed information regarding pick up.
Monday, October 5th will be curbside only at Gunston ES from 3:00pm - 5:30pm. If you receive a confirmation email you may collect your books on this day and time. Stay tuned for the first bus delivery date.
Directions on how to borrow books and access ebooks
1) Go to Google Classrooms.
If you don’t have a method, go to Gunston ES homepage, click on “Resources” at the top, click on the Google Classroom icon.
2) Open the Specials class (if there is a join button, click that first).
3) At the top of the page, click on “Classwork.”
4) Scroll down to Library and open “library information & links” and the link it opens.
You should now be in Mrs. McIntyre’s virtual library.
Kindergarten and 1st grade have a form to fill out. Grades 2-6 have directions on how to hold books.
Watch for an email the Friday before detailing your Monday delivery of books.
Enjoy!
Email Diana McIntyre at dhmcintyre@fcps.edu with any questions.
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FCPS Parent Resource Center
Hello Gunston Community!
The Wellness team at Gunston would like to provide you with information on the FCPS Parent Resource Center.
The Parent Resource Center offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members. They provide access to information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs and disabilities. The Parent Resource Center also offers a number of informational webinars on their YouTube channel that can be accessed by all. Families can schedule a consultation with a PRC employee right on the FCPS site. Contact information for the PRC is below.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact us by email prc@fcps.edu or phone 703-204-3941.
Address: FCPS Parent Resource Center Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, Entrance 1 2334 Gallows Road, Room 105 Dunn Loring, Virginia 22027
Upcoming in October:
How to Get Your Child/Adolescent to Open Up to You
We all want to know what's going on in our children's lives. We want to know about school and about their friends. We want to hear their successes and their struggles. But what happens when your kids won't tell you what's going on in their lives? What if you ask questions and all they do is shrug and mumble "It was fine," or "I don't know"?
Webinar Highlights:
Strategies to use with reluctant children
How to open lines of communication with your children
How to increase productive, effective communication
Presented by Parenting Specialist, Rachel Bailey, M.A., CPDPE.
Friday October 2, 2020, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Reporting Absences
Please remember to notify the Gunston office when your student(s) will be absent and be sure to include a reason.
Methods of reporting:
Attendance Line: 703-541-3636
Attendance Email: GunstonElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Forms and Virtual First Day Packet
There are several important forms that need to be filled out as the school year begins. Please read below for more information and take action as needed.
Virtual First Day Packet
The Parent Consent Form is just one of the forms we need you to review and/or fill out as the school year begins. Usually we provide paper copies of these forms in our First Day Packet. For this virtual environment, we have adapted that process to a digital format. Please visit the Virtual First Day Packet page on our school website and follow the directions for each form if applicable to your family. Forms listed there include:
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PTA News & Announcements |
Join the PTA today!
We hope that you will join us in our efforts this year and choose to renew your membership in the PTA or choose to join the PTA. It is $10 for the year and is a very easy process. You can sign-up in the store on our website, gunstonpta.org. You will receive your membership card right away.
SAVE the Shoes
Our collection of gently used shoes has begun. Our goal is to collect 1000 pairs of shoes to raise $1,200. The shoes will be sent to developing nations to provide an economic opportunity for micro-entrepreneurs. It is also a way to help the environment by repurposing shoes. We plan to use the money to buy supplies to help the school purchase distance learning supplies for when we eventually return to school. There is a donation box near the front door of the school. Thank you for your support!
Operation Stocking Stuffer
Parents, are you looking for an activity for your kids during screen breaks? Please consider having your kids make a "Thank You" or holiday card for servicemembers that will be deployed over the holidays.
One of our PTA members is in charge of Operation Stocking Stuffer this year. Operation Stocking Stuffer is a fundraiser that is organized to send holiday boxes to troops deployed over the holidays. Feedback from past recipients is that cards from kids has been their favorite item! There will be a collection box outside of the front office from October 1-October 15 so you can drop off your cards.
If you wish to donate nonmonetary items for the boxes in addition to cards, please reach out to Ashley at ashleyn6396@gmail.com.
Class Hub
PTA is trying to make it easier for families to connect with each other. If you would like your child's information to be accessible to other Gunston families, please go to the PTA's website: ptagunston.org to sign up for their class hub.
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