Forestdale students in grades K-2 made their own musical instrument kits using items found at home. (Haven't done so yet? Check out your Google classroom for more details!) We have such creative and resourceful musicians, and we are loving making music together!
Student Holiday on Monday
Monday, October 12, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, is a School Planning Day and student holiday in FCPS. There will be no school for students, and therefore, no synchronous and asynchronous work assigned for the day. Enjoy the day off, students!
Parent Coffee Recording and Resources
Thank you to all the families who joined us for our first Parent Coffee this past Monday! Along with the Forestdale clinical team (school counselors, social worker, and psychologist), families discussed creating learning spaces at home and strategies for supporting students' learning stamina in this new virtual world. If you weren’t able to join us, you can watch the recording here and access the slides, which include links to resources, here.
Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Sessions & Resources
We enjoyed spending Tuesday evening with many of our grades 3-6 families as Ms. Katelyn Spengler, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, reviewed the continuum of advanced academics services. If you missed the session and want to know more, click here to access the recording and resources. We will continue to add the recordings from future presentations to that document for reference (see image below). We look forward to seeing more families at future evening sessions. As always, reach out to Katelyn Spengler at kcspengler@fcps.edu with any questions you might have.
Art Supply Drive-Through (Gr. 3-6): October 14
Falcons are artists! Forestdale has purchased art supplies for students to use at home during distance learning. Students in K-2 received their art supplies during the materials drive-through on September 28. Upper grades, it’s your turn now! Families of students in grades 3-6 (and families of students in K-2 who did not make it last time) can come pick up their art supplies via drive-through on Wednesday, October 14 from 4:00- 5:30 p.m. Just drive through the bus lane, stop at the front door, and Ms. Barrett will hand a bag to you through your window!
That time frame is also our Library Curbside Pickup window for those who have checked out books this week. Haven’t checked out library books yet? Click here for more details and come on by!
No Interim Reports in Quarter 1
Communicating student progress and working in partnership with our families to support student learning has always been a priority for us at Forestdale. During these first weeks of school, our focus has not only been on routines and procedures within a virtual environment, but on building relationships and connections with our students and their families. The virtual environment has given us a unique opportunity to be in close contact with families and share updates more frequently. As parents, guardians, and caretakers, you have been an integral part of this work! Your support in assisting your child to log on, navigating the different online tools, and often sitting with them during their instructional blocks has provided you a glimpse into their learning that otherwise was not available.
During the month of October, instructional staff will be giving students assessments and collecting information regarding student learning to prepare for parent-teacher conferences in November. Therefore, interims will not be distributed to students this quarter. This will give teachers necessary time to gather information on student learning in this new virtual environment. If you have specific questions regarding your child’s progress prior to your conference next month, please contact his/her classroom teacher.
Space Still Available in the Early Literacy Program
Forestdale is excited to partner with the FCPS Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement to offer the Early Literacy Program, free for families, for a second year in a row. We had our first virtual sessions this week, connecting families and exploring literacy and learning for children ages 2-5. We still have space available in this program!
The program is held virtually from 1:30- 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 9 weeks. Classes are held in Spanish.
Contact our Parent Liaison, Rosario Carrasco, at rdcarrasco@fcps.edu for more information and/or to sign up.
PTA Corner
Meet your PTA Board
The Forestdale PTA is excited to partner with families for the 2020-2021 school year.
Our PTA officers this year are:
President-Cristina Lopez
Vice President-Soojin Henceroth
Treasurer-Jessica McCarl
Co-Secretary-Jamie Edwards
Co-Secretary-Cathleen Barry
Join the PTA
Have you joined the PTA yet? Membership is $10 for the year, per family. Our membership goal is 100% of families and staff. The membership dues, along with fundraising efforts, contribute toward instructional opportunities and resources for the school community. Please click here to join.
Join us for our First PTA Meeting
The PTA will meet virtually on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. on the BBCU link called “Forestdale School Wide Events” that was sent to all parent emails. We look forward to seeing you next week!
Important Dates
October 12
Indigenous Peoples' Day, No School for Students
October 13
Virtual Advanced Academics Overview: Grades K-2, 7:00- 7:30 p.m.
October 13- 21
iReady Testing Window, Grades K-6
October 14
Library Curbside Pickup, 4:00- 5:30 p.m.
Art Supply Pickup Grades 3-6, 4:00- 5:30 p.m.
Virtual PTA Meeting, 6:00 p.m
|
