- Principal's Message
- FCPS Meals Distribution
- Curbside Checkout - Note revised times
- Imagine Language and Literacy
- FCPS Parent Resources
- Student Laptop Support
- Positivity Project
- FCPS Employment Opportunities
- PTA Events & Announcements
- Important Events Coming Up
Return to School Paused
At the January 5 Fairfax County School Board Work Session, Dr. Brabrand provided an update on our plan to bring students and staff back for in-person instruction. He shared a proposed timeline for a return to in-person learning that would bring back those staff and students who were already in buildings first, followed by a phased and measured approach to bringing in new groups of students and staff in January and early February.
Current community transmission of COVID-19 in Fairfax County remains high. After discussing the plan with the School Board and hearing from many parents and staff, Dr. Brabrand and the School Board made the decision to pause the plan to bring students and staff back into school buildings. Dr. Brabrand will provide an update on the Return to School plan to the School Board on Tuesday, February 2.
New Bell Schedule Paused
Because students will not be transported to school during the pause in our plan, FCPS will not be moving to the new bell schedule on January 12. We will continue to use the current bell schedule until we have a revised Return to School schedule. We will communicate any future changes to the bell schedule in advance.
Brownies with Principals - Thursday, January 14 - 6:30 – 7:15 pm
Please join us on Thursday, January 14 for Brownies with Principals. Mr. Cook and I will be showing students how to make Ghirardelli Brownies! After the Brownies with Principals, Mrs. Wilbern will be sharing a little about her Polish heritage and her favorite family dish - Pierogis! Following both events, we will transition directly into the PTA meeting using the same link.
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Our hope is to enjoy some good fellowship while baking in a virtual environment with our GBW community, and we hope you can make it! The brownie recipe, meeting details, and meeting link will be sent via an e-Notify email.
Here’s the schedule:
6:30 - 7:15 pm Brownies with Principals
7:15 - 7:30 pm Transition Break
7:30 - 8:30 pm PTA Meeting
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Monday Schedules for January
- January 11 - Teacher Workday / Students - Asynchronous Independent Work (no small group instruction)
- January 18 - Martin Luther King Holiday - Schools Closed
- January 25 - Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
GREAT NEWS...Starting January 13 meal kits will include 7-day PM snacks and 7-day suppers along with the bulk meal kits.
Meal kits are 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 are provided with the kit.
NOTE: Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 20 for inauguration. Meal kits will be distributed that week on Tuesday, January 19.
Curbside Pickup Resumes January 11 (Revised Times)
Starting January 11 the newly revised times for pickup will be:
8:30 – 9:30 AM and 2 – 4 PM
For more information about Curbside Checkout click HERE.
Kindergarten and First Grade students also have the option of reserving a Mystery Bag of books for Curbside Checkout. If you are interested in this option, please fill out this Google Form.
Imagine Language & Literacy is an adaptive learning solution that accelerates reading and language proficiency for students in grades PreK–6. Imagine Language & Literacy delivers explicit, targeted instruction to each student through personalized learning paths that continually adapt based on their performance.
After an initial placement test, ongoing predictive and evaluative checkpoints ensure students are working in their zone of proximal development. It is important that you do not help your child during the use of Imagine Literacy as it will alter their appropriate reading level based on their answers and not provide them with accurate activities. We do encourage support for any technology issues with logins or slowness of the tool. When used with fidelity, Imagine Language & Literacy is proven to accelerate both reading proficiency and English language proficiency.
The default time per session is 10 minutes for Kindergarten and 20 minutes for Grades 1-6 students. There is an automatic log off in these programs for students so they can keep track of their time. If your child needs to take a break during their time, they can simply pause the tool and resume when returning to their work. It is recommended that students use Imagine Literacy at least 3-5 times a week.
Your child can access Imagine Literacy by logging into Clever with their FCPS username and password (the same information they use to login to their computer). Sometimes Imagine Literacy works better in the Microsoft Edge browser instead of Chrome. If your child is having issues using Imagine Literacy in the Chrome browser, please use these instructions to login to Clever in Edge instead. Ideally you can help your child make a bookmark so they can access it easily even if you are not available.
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FCPS Parent Resource Center
Excellent free webinars for students and families presented by the FCPS Parent Resource Center.
Please click on the following link to register : Parent Resource Center Webinars
- Zoomed Out? Five Strategies to Keep the Most Reluctant Students Focused, Engaged, and Motivated: A Webinar for Families
- Exploring Post-Secondary Options: A Webinar for Families
- Supporting Your Children in Math Grades K-6: A Webinar for Families
- Transition IEP Workshop: A Webinar for Families
- Encouraging Positive Behaviors: At Home Series
- SIBSHOPS: An Exciting Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs
Healthy Minds Fairfax
Click here for information on emotional wellness in youth and families.
FCPS Technology Help Desk
For families with children in virtual learning, FCPS has a Parent Technology Help Desk (not located at the school), which can be reached at 833-921-3277, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week. Should you need help in a language other than English, you can ask the help desk for an interpreter to help with the call. In lieu of calling you may also submit a ticket at:https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport
NOTE: If you contact the FCPS Help Desk after business hours, and the FCPS Help Desk is unable to correct the issue at the time you call, they will forward a request ticket to the school’s tech specialist who will respond to you the next business day.
Positivity Project (P2) has an online parent component called P2 for Families 1-1-3. There is 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to help you and your children discuss the character trait of the week. Using the password P2, log into this link to explore all the character traits with your children. The next trait will be PRUDENCE!!
Classroom Monitors
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. In addition, please email Jordan Cook, Assistant Principal, at jccook@fcps.edu expressing your interest.
Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.
Substitutes
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!
Happy New Year from the PTA Executive Board!
Dear GBW families,
Happy 2021! We know this school year has been a roller coaster ride on many levels. We know this has been a different and challenging year, but our PTA Board remains steadfast in our mission to support GBW parents, students, and staff for the rest of this school year and beyond. We appreciate everyone's continued support of our PTA.
Thank you, and we are looking forward to another great year together,
Jen, Roli, Amy, Amrinder, Navin, and Laura
PTA Membership Meeting - January 14 - 7:30pm
Please join us for our monthly virtual GBW PTA Membership Meeting after the Brownies with Principals event on January 14!
PTA meetings are a great way to learn about what is happening at our school (i.e. Return to School updates), learn about PTA activities and initiatives to support staff and students, and have a say on how we use our donor funds.
A secure meeting link will be sent via e-Notify. Hope to see you there!
Save the Date: Spirit Night at the New Panda Express in Greenbriar - January 28
Mark your calendar for GBW Spirit Night at the new Panda Express in Greenbriar Town Center! We hope many Pandas will participate and place an order online Thursday, January 28. See flyer here and watch for more details in the coming weeks.
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2020-21 GBW Yearbook Pictures Wanted!
The Yearbook Committee wants to hear from you!
Send your virtual learning pictures to gbwpandayearbook@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your student’s name, grade, and teacher name in the email.
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Still Shopping Amazon After the Holidays? Why Not Shop Using AmazonSmile!
Purchasing school supplies, books, PPE, holiday gifts, and other items from Amazon? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization (GBW PTA!) every time you shop, at no cost to you.
When you shop using smile.amazon.com or turn on AmazonSmile on your Amazon shopping app (select Greenbriar West PTA), Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to support our school.
Thank you for your support and happy online shopping!
Can't Hide That Panda Pride!
 Want to show your support of your favorite GBW Panda? Buy a yard sign or a GBW magnet TODAY! 100% of proceeds go towards our school!
Yard signs are $6 and magnets are $5 and may be purchased here:https://gbwpta.ptboard.com/formvw/store?store=1784
Order this week and receive FREE delivery of your yard sign and magnet! Please email us at greenbriarwestpta@gmail.com to make arrangements
 It's A New Year!
Time to try something different! Savage Panda’s next production crew starts this week. It’s going to be dynamite!
The sessions will be held virtually on Tuesdays or Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. For all the information you need to know about the program, including how to join, go to https://bit.ly/spnafterschool20x21 or https://bit.ly/sppafterschool20x21
See you soon!
Monday, January 11
Teacher Workday / Students- Asynchronous Independent Work (no small group instruction)
Thursday, January 14
Brownies with Principals 6:30 pm
PTA Virtual Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
Monday, January 18
Martin Luther King Jr Holiday - Schools Closed
Wednesday, January 20
Inauguration Day - Schools Closed
Friday, January 22
2-Hour Early Release
Monday, January 25
Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
Thursday, February 18
PTA Virtual Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
Thursday, March 18
PTA Virtual Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
Thursday, April 15
PTA Virtual Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
Thursday, May 20
PTA Virtual Membership Meeting 7:30 pm
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