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In this Friday Message you will find:
- Principals' Message
- Soaring Eagles
- Read and Ride next Monday, November 9th
- AAP Level IV Information
- November Floris Kids' Clubs
- FCPS Looking for Substitutes and Classroom Monitors
- Positivity Project
- Spotlight on Staff
- FCPS Meals Information
- Using School Grounds
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
It was a busy week with planning days, conferences, Election Day and lots of learning. We also completed the first Lockdown Drill of this school year and our weekly fire drill.
Next Wednesday, November 11, is a two-hour early release for students. It will be a teacher led virtual learning day for all students; there will be no in-person classes. Individual teachers will communicate the class schedule for next Wednesday with families.
We are working on the classes for Kindergarten-2nd grade and emails to those families will be sent by next week. As we have shared, changes to class rosters and schedules are coming. We know this is challenging for our students and staff. We also know that our staff is exceptional and that they’ll be ready to establish great relationships with new students and build amazing classroom cultures. All our teachers are members of a grade level team, where they plan lessons, solve problems, and advocate for students together. We are confident that our staff will continue the great work already started this fall.
There are many factors that impact the need to change classes as we are shifting to an in-person program. We must honor all parent choices, protect staff members with health conditions or with other circumstances that make working from home necessary, and stand up two simultaneous programs (virtual and in-person school) with the same staff. We appreciate your patience and flexibility.
Kindergarten Parents- Please remember that FCPS has set November 9, 12, 13 and 16 as independent learning time for our Kindergarten students as the teachers prepare and plan as a team for cohort #5 to return to in-person learning on November 17. Kindergarten students will have no synchronous learning on those 4 dates. This information was previously shared by FCPS Superintendent Dr. Brabrand.
Thank you again for your support.
Have a great weekend!
Holly Walker and Amanda Dorr
#Eagles:SoaringHigherTogether
hjwalker@fcps.edu
acdorr@fcps.edu
Soaring Eagles
Please share your love, gratitude and kindness with our staff on Soaring Eagles, the new online tradition at Floris. Please take a moment to say thank you and/or show appreciation for our staff and the hours of hard work happening day and night!
Please click HERE to share your Floris Soaring Eagles!
#EaglesSoaringHigherTogether
#PositivityinAction
Read and Ride Day
When: Monday, November 9th from 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Who: Floris Students
What: An opportunity to check-out and return library books from the comfort of the car.
How:
- Families drive up to Door 1
- Remain in the car with face masks on
- Have a piece of paper with their child’s name and student ID number ready
- Student tells a staff member the book choice
- Books will be delivered to the car
Book choices for Monday, November 9 include:
- All about Going Green
- All about Ocean Animals
- All about the Olympics
- All about American History
- Drawing Books
- Graphic Novels
- Kylie Jean
- Rescue Princess
- Poetry
- Judy Moody
- Funny Chapter Books
- Mystery Chapter Books
- Scary Chapter Books
- Funny Picture Books
- Caldecott Picture Books- 6th Grade Only
The next Read and Ride Date is November 23.
AAP Level IV Information
If you are interested in referring your child for level IV AAP services, please submit the required Level IV Referral Form and optional Parent/Guardian Questionnaire to Mrs. Albanese (by email) by no later than DECEMBER 1, 2020. (There are no exceptions to this deadline.)
For more information about this process, please watch the Level IV Screening and Identification Presentation about the level IV screening process. After viewing the video, if you have additional questions about Level IV Screening, you are invited to join Mrs. Albanese during one of her Q & A sessions, offered on the following dates:
November 10 8:30 – 9:30 AM
November 19 5 – 6 PM
November 24 12 – 1 PM.
These sessions are informal and unstructured, but offer a time and place for you to ask any specific questions you may have about the process and learn more about ideas for possible work samples. Please click on the linked date above to join these sessions.
If you want to review the Level IV Screening Presentation on your own, or if you’d like to revisit the AAP Information Session Presentation from Sept. 30, you may access them through Mrs. Albanese’s website Floris AAP, under “presentations.”
New employment opportunity in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)!
FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual. If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.
FPCS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers!
Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session visit our substitute information page here. Say Yes 2 FCPS!
Positivity Project
Bravery
What Does BRAVERY Mean? You act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary. Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgement; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting.
Why does it Matter? Overcoming fears is critically important in individual development, as it allows the person to do more and become more. A person can be brave every single day. On a physical level, bravery allows us to overcome fears such as swimming or playing a sport. And on a moral level, doing what we know to be right, despite the risks, gives us the sense that we are acting on behalf of a larger purpose.
BRAVERY Quote of the Week: “I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” -Nelson Mandella
You may also visit P2 for Families and use the password P2 to access activities and tools for you to use at home with your children.
This week's spotlight...
Kindergarten Team
The Floris Kindergarten Team is outstanding. They work together to meet the needs of our youngest Eagles. How do they support these young ones? The list is long and varied. Here are just a few things they do... ignite the spark for a love of learning, joyfully start students on their lifelong literacy and numeracy journeys, conference with parents, show their spirit on the spirit days, help students (and families) understand how to "do" school, and so many more!
Please send a thank you and a smile to our Kindergarten Team members! K Team, we are shining the spotlight on you to let you know we appreciate each of you!
Food for Students
Floris is now a Meal Kits Distribution Location!
The kits will be available for pick up on Wednesdays only, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or until they run out. Meal kits will be available to ALL FCPS students and children 18 years of age and under at no cost. Each meal kit will contain breakfast and lunch for one person for a week. Parents and caregivers may pick up one meal kit for each child. Adults may purchase meal kits for $28. Instructions on how to store the food and prepare it will be provided.
Please check out this link for all details, additional options and additional locations.
https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/return-school/food
Using School Grounds
We know that many families have been enjoying the fields and playground during distance learning. We will no longer be able to have families enjoy school grounds during school hours. We have student cohorts returning to the building and we will need to have school fields accessible to students in the building. We hope that you can enjoy the fields and playgrounds outside of school hours.
November 9:
- Kindergarten Independent Learning Day
- Read and Ride Day, 1:00-3:00pm, Floris Bus Loop
November 10: AAP Q&A Session, 8:30-9:30am
November 11: Veterans Day Holiday, 2 hour early student release (synchronous virtual learning day for all students)
November 12: Kindergarten Independent Learning
November 13: Kindergarten Independent Learning
November 16: Kindergarten,1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
November 17: Cohort Group 6 (Kindergarten) begins
November 18:
- Walking Wednesday: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
- PTA Meeting, 6:30pm, Zoom Link from PTA
November 19:
- Parent Coffee, Finding Calm in Chaos, 9:30-10:30am
- AAP Q&A Session, 5:00-6:00pm
November 20: 1st and 2nd grade Independent Learning
November 23:
- 1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
- Read and Ride Day, 1:00-3:00pm, Floris Bus Loop
November 24:
- 1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
- AAP Q&A Session, 12:00-1:00pm
November 25-27: No School- Thanksgiving Holiday- Floris Main Office Closed
November 30: Kindergarten,1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
December 1:
- Cohort Group 6 (1st-2nd grade) begins
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AAP Level IV Referrals due to Amy Albanese by 4pm today- there are no exceptions to this deadline
December 7: Kindergarten,1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
December 14: Kindergarten,1st and 2nd Grade Independent Learning
December 16: PTA Meeting, 6:30pm, Zoom Link from PTA
December 21- January 1- No School- Winter Break
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