January 4, 2021
Principal's Message
My Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,
Happy New Year! We welcome 2021 with a renewed spirit and a promise of hope. We wish you a new year filled with prosperity, peace, good health, happiness, peace, and JOY!
~Learn from yesterday; live for today; hope for tomorrow~ Albert Einstein
All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal
Important Dates
Monday, January 4: Staff Planning Day - Asynchronous (independent) work for students
Tuesday, January 5: Author Erin Teagan sharing microscope science @ 3:30 pm
Thursday, January 7: Bedtime Stories with Mrs. Fallen@ 7:30 PM
Monday, January 11: Asynchronous (independent) work for students
Tuesday, January 12: PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM
Monday, January 18: Martin Luther King Holiday – All Offices and Schools Closed
Wednesday, January 20: Inauguration Day – All Offices & Schools Closed
Monday, January 25: Teacher Workday – Student Holiday
Religious Holidays-Observances
Epiphany or Three Kings Day – January 6
Orthodox Christmas – January 7
Orthodox New Year’s Day – January 14
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FCPS Return to School Updates
After Winter Break, all student groups will start school virtually the week of January 4-8.
Monday, January 4, and Monday, January 11, will be Staff Planning Days. No student interventions will be held. All instruction will be asynchronous (independent) with work assigned by teachers. Teachers will use this time to prepare for the return of additional groups of students to in-person instruction in the weeks ahead.
Dr. Brabrand presented the latest information and timelines for in-person return at the December 10 School Board Work Session. Watch the meeting here. The next update on Return to School will be at the January 5 School Board Work Session. The current DRAFT dates for return of in-person students are listed here. Please go here to see the FCPS COVID data and Fairfax County health metrics.
FCPS - New Bell Schedules Begin Tuesday, January 12
As more students return for in-person learning, it will be necessary to revise the bell schedule to accommodate more bus runs. The number of students allowed on each bus will be reduced substantially to meet social distancing requirements. With fewer students able to ride a bus at the same time, FCPS must adjust the times that our buses are transporting students. The school day will be reduced by 15 minutes due to the increased cleaning time required between bus runs.
New Sleepy Hollow Bell Schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m .
Health Screening Commitment Form Required Prior to Student Return to School Buildings
As students return to school, parents/caregivers will be asked to acknowledge a Health Screening Commitment form before their student(s) return to school buildings. This document confirms that a parent/caregiver/guardian will complete a daily health screening and will keep their children home when they are ill.
The Health Commitment form can be submitted electronically through in ParentVUE (PVUE) beginning January 4, or via hard copy. Please contact your child’s school to have a hard copy sent to you.
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Walking Wednesday (Every Week)
Bundle up, take a break, and take a walk with the family. Have fun! Don’t forget to send in a photo of you and your child/family walking.
Library News-
We have one more week of our online book fair and Dolphinpalooza events! Please continue to share and shop at this link: https://rb.gy/e02rr8 and make plans to join our two final events:
Author Erin Teagan sharing microscope science Tuesday 1/5 @ 3:30 pm
Bedtime Stories with Principal Mrs. Fallen Thursday 1/7 @ 7:30 pm
Details for both events can be found by clicking the link above and then clicking into the Dolphinpalooza events list. Thank you so much for everyone’s support of our book fair; it benefits our school library which, in turn, benefits all in our school community. Please reach out to Mrs. Oswalt at beoswalt@fcps.edu with any questions you may have about the fair.
Library book checkout:
Delivery: FRIDAYS 11:45-12:00 @ 2909 John Marshall Drive (concurrent with FCPS food delivery) – NO MORE SCHOOL BUS LIBRARY BOOK DELIVERY ON MONDAYS – the Friday delivery replaces the previous Monday schedule
Curbside: Mondays 10-12 noon – Please phone the library @ 703-237-7012 when you arrive at school and Mrs. Kline will bring your student’s books to Door 1 (will no longer be sitting outside Door 1 during this interval)
Wednesdays 3:30-5:00 – please note these are NEW HOURS of when library staff will be at Door 1
Checkout from the school library is for ALL our students – please reach out to Mrs. Oswalt at beoswalt@fcps.edu if you have any questions about how your student can get library books. Happy reading!
Sleepy Hollow PTA – It’s Not Too Late!
Please join the SHES PTA! Join here: shespta.org/membership
Take Care of Your Health and Wellness
It is more important than ever to get your flu shot
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Health Department Clinics in Mt. Vernon, Herndon, and Fairfax City (Willard) are providing flu shots for those on Medicaid, Medicare, and who are uninsured. Please call 703-246-7100 to make an appointment.
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Senior Centers are making appointments for flu shots too. Call 703-246-6010 to make an appointment.
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Neighborhood Health, primarily serving eastern Fairfax, will provide flu shots to its patients (and will enroll new patients). Call 703-535-5568 to make an appointment
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Healthworks primarily serving western Fairfax will provide flu shots to its patients (and will enroll new patients). Call 703-481-8160 to make an appointment
For those who are insured, please visit:
- Your primary care physician
- Just about any pharmacy
- Grocery stores
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FCPS Technology Resources
FCPS has developed multiple resources that can help with basic technology issues to support learning at home:
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The Parent Technology Help Desk (toll free) at 833-921-3277 is available for technical support questions about online parent accounts, your student’s FCPS laptop, or your student’s online applications.
- If there is a problem with your Sleepy Hollow issued laptop, you may enter a support request ticket via Parent and Student IT Portal
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FCPS' Parent Technology Resource page includes tip sheets in multiple languages that provide answers to basic questions about FCPS technologies.
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Laptop/MiFi problems supported by our Sleepy Hollow Technology Team will be addressed by APPOINTMENTS Only. If responding to Request IT tickets via the Parent and Student IT Portal, a technology team member will contact you. Please, NO Walk-In support requests. Thank you for your understanding.
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FCPS’ YouTube channel has videos on basic technology topics that highlight some of the key FCPS tools, such as Google and Blackboard. These videos are designed to provide solutions for quick, simple questions.
Other inquiries about FCPS programs or resources for families may be directed to the Parent Resource Center at 703-204-3941 or use one of our eight Parent Information Phone Lines for information in multiple languages.
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Parent Resource Center Webinars
Encouraging Positive Behaviors at Home Series
Thursdays September 2020 through April 2021
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. and
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
In collaboration with FCPS Behavior Intervention Services, the Parent Resource Center brings you Encouraging Positive Behaviors at Home Series of Webinars. This series will provide families with strategies and positive supports to help encourage social, emotional, and behavioral growth. For more information about each session visit: https://bit.ly/3hahky7
- 01/21/21: Strategies for Increasing Replacement Behaviors
- 02/18/21: Teaching your Children to Follow Directions
- 03/18/21: Effectively Communicating with Your Child
- 04/22/21: Minimizing Prompts and Maximizing Your Child’s Independence
Register online: https://bit.ly/3hahky7
Register Now for January Webinars
Zoomed Out? 5 Strategies to Get Even the Most Reluctant Kids Focused, Engaged, and Motivated: A Webinar for Families
What’s a parent to do when kids are already unfocused and unmotivated when it comes to virtual learning? Ann Dolin will help “right the ship” so that parenting doesn’t feel like a grind. In this webinar, Ann shares practical, easy-to-implement virtual learning strategies for:
- Tackling the daily power struggle of just getting started
- Helping children to focus during teacher-led instruction
- Dealing with social avoidance (not wanting to be seen and heard in front of peers)
- Keeping kids engaged by encouraging them to ask questions and advocate for themselves
- Opening the lines of communication to improve the parent/child relationship
Presented by Ann Dolin, M.Ed., educational consultant and award-winning author. Ann is the President and Director of Educational Connections, Inc.
January 7, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. January 8, 2021 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Zoomed Out? 5 Strategies to Get Even the Most Reluctant Kids Focused, Engaged, and Motivated: A Webinar for Families
Community Resources
Warmline Available to All Virginians Struggling to Cope
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused upheaval and unexpected stress in the lives of so many people. To support Virginians, the VA C.O.P.E.S. (compassionate, optimistic, person-centered, empowering support) warmline is available to offer support. The mental health tip line started in May 2020 and, thanks to new funding, the service will be extended through May 2021.
Any Virginian can make a confidential call and speak to a crisis counselor about what's bothering them. The line is available Monday-Friday 9am-9pm and 5pm-9pm on the weekends by phone or text at 877-349-6428. Spanish counselors are also available.
The warmline is available to residents who may be struggling to cope with the effects of the pandemic including isolation, fear, grief, and anxiety. Not only will callers be provided a supportive compassionate ear, but they will also be provided additional information, resources, and referrals as needed.
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Upcoming Events
January 18: Martin Luther King Holiday – No School
January 20: Inauguration Day- No School
February 15: Presidents’ Day Holiday – No School
Monitor you student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
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