Lemon Road Community News 3.20.21

Message from Mrs. Castillo

Return to School

We hope everyone had a great week! It was another busy week at Lemon Road. We are so proud of our staff and students for their hard work! This week we continued to see our students engaged in learning both in the school building and at home. We really are seeing amazing things happening everywhere! We also love seeing the spirited yard signs! Thank you PTA for offering this for our students and families.

Spring break is just around the corner: Monday, 3/29 - Friday, 4/2. Also, Monday, 4/5, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students. There will be no Morning Meeting, enrichments, or assignments for students to complete.  FCPS is committed to providing all students access to meals during this break from school. See the food distribution web page for more information. Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture announced this week that no-cost breakfast and lunch meals for all students have been extended through September 30.

We look forward to having all students’ photos taken next week. In-person students will have their photo taken by Lifetouch on Tuesday or Thursday (even if parents do not wish to purchase photos). We ask parents of our virtual students to bring their child either Monday morning or Tuesday afterschool to have their photo taken in a socially-distant manner. Here is the link to the packages and sign-up.

Looking for a spring break project? Please have your child consider entering our Memory Book Cover Contest! See the photos below for where to drop their entries off before or after spring break.

Thank you for helping students adjust to the Monday enrichment schedule. The updated schedule is linked here for your convenience. This Monday, most of our 3rd – 6th graders will take an eCART assessment after their morning meeting, be sure they follow the directions of their teacher. While this assessment is not used for progress reports, it helps our teachers plan what content must be taught or reviewed as we begin to prepare for the end of year SOL tests.

A reminder that our in-person learners should bring their fully charged FCPS laptop to school each day. Personal devices can be used at home, but to ensure ease for your child’s internet access and settings, please have them bring their FCPS laptop with them in-person. If they are experiencing difficulty with their FCPS device, we can problem solve better with it on campus!

Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend! ~ Mrs. Castillo

Cover ContestDrop Off

PTA Read-A-Thon

Read-a-thon

Read-a-thons get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more! Our Read-a-thon begins Monday April 12th, 2021. About one week before our Read-a-thon begins, the PTA will email parents instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress. We've chosen Read-a-thon as a final fundraiser for the year because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read, and helps in the development of stronger reading skills. There will be individual, class, grade, and school rewards for participation so We hope EVERYONE participates. Thanks so much ~ The Lemon Road Elementary School PTA


Kiss & Ride Expectations

Kiss and Ride Map

This week, we sent home bright colored kiss & ride numbers with each in-person family. Practice this number with your student and please be sure this sign is displayed in your windshield or passenger window during pick up each afternoon. This will help us move the kiss & ride line along more efficiently.

Please also follow these kiss & ride safety expectations:

  • Masks must be worn by all members in the car when you pull onto school grounds
  • Practice having your child exit and enter the vehicle independently from the passenger side to minimize wait time for others
  • Do not pass any cars in line
  • Drivers make the full loop around the back parking lot and do not make a U-turn through our cones
  • If your family requires additional time, please pull forward to the county vehicle parking spots to allow others to move quickly through the line

Advanced Academic Programs Screening for School-Based Services

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8.  Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS).  Teachers, administrators, and advanced academic resource teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:

  • Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I)
  • Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)
  • Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)

Click here to learn more about Elementary School AAP levels of service. Screening for school-based Level II and III AAP services can happen at any time during the school year, but it is done schoolwide in the spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate screening for Level II and Level III services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form. Click here for the form. Please email completed forms to Avery Straw, AART at akstraw@fcps.edu if you would like your child to be considered for services for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels. Families who submit a referral will be notified in June with their student’s eligibility status for Level II-III services beginning in the fall. If you have any questions please contact Avery Straw at akstraw@fcps.edu.


Upcoming Important Dates

Monday, March 22: Lifetouch Photos for Virtual Students & Staff (8 AM – 1 PM); Kindergarten and Make Up WIDA testing

Tuesday, March 23: Lifetouch Photos for In-Person Students & Staff; Photos for Virtual Students & Staff (3:30 – 5:00 PM); PTA Restaurant Night – Ledo’s Pizza

Wednesday, March 24: PTA Restaurant Night – Ledo’s Pizza

Thursday, March 25: Lifetouch Photos for In-Person Students & Staff

Friday, March 26: March Freaky Friday: Storybook Character Day; Early Release (Dismissal at 1:30 PM)

March 29 – April 2: Spring Break

Monday, April 5: Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)

Friday, April 9: Virtual Principals Coffee (9 AM)

Virtually UnstoppableYard Sign