Spring SOL Testing Information and Schedule

Grades 3-6

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Across Virginia, students will be taking Standards of Learning (SOL) tests this spring. Federal and state education departments have decided not to cancel this year’s assessments. In Fairfax County Public Schools, testing for grades 3-8 will be scheduled between April 26 and June 4, 2021. 

 If you do not wish for your student to take SOL tests at school this spring, you have the right to refuse testing. The Right to Refuse Assessments webpage https://www.fcps.edu/node/34277) offers information and considerations as you make this decision. 

All Students (Virtual and Hybrid) - As we prepare for spring assessments, we need to collect information about your intentions for spring SOL tests. Please complete this online Google intent form: https://forms.gle/Nj8PdrMvt3oiE6tz8 Contact Michael Wilson, Assistant Principal/ School Test Coordinator or Amy Willis, Instructional Coach at our school if you need help accessing or completing the form. 

If you have questions about state assessments for your student, please contact their teacher or Michael Wilson, Assistant Principal/ School Test Coordinator. 

Estimados padres y tutores:

En todo el estado de Virginia, los estudiantes tomarán las pruebas de los Estándares de Aprendizaje (SOL) esta primavera. Los departamentos de educación federal y estatal han decidido no cancelar las evaluaciones de este año. En las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax, las pruebas para los grados 3 a 8 se tomarán entre el 26 de abril y el 4 de junio de 2021.

Todas las pruebas SOL deben tomarse en persona en la escuela. Las pruebas SOL no están disponibles para ser tomadas a distancia desde el hogar.  Si usted no desea que su estudiante tome las pruebas SOL en la escuela esta primavera, tiene el derecho de rechazar las pruebas. La página web del Derecho a Rechazar las Evaluaciones https://www.fcps.edu/node/34277) ofrece información y consideraciones para tomar esta decisión.

Todos los estudiantes (virtuales e híbridos) - Mientras nos preparamos para las evaluaciones de primavera, necesitamos recopilar información sobre sus intenciones para las pruebas SOL de primavera. Por favor, complete este formulario de intención en línea de: https://forms.gle/Nj8PdrMvt3oiE6tz8 Póngase en contacto con Michael Wilson, Subdirector / Coordinador de Pruebas de la Escuela o Amy Willis, Entrenador de Instrucción en nuestra escuela si necesita ayuda para acceder o completar el formulario.

SPRING SCHOOL-BASED AAP SERVICES NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP)

SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED (LEVEL II-III) 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)

All students in kindergarten through grade six receive level I services which consist of model lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills.  The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and the thinking strategies are then used throughout the year by classroom teachers and other teachers who work with students. Student responses to these model lessons are used as part of the identification process for AAP services.  Parents may also practice the thinking strategies during family conversations and activities.  A description of the nine critical and creative thinking strategies can be found  on the FCPS AAP Website. 

Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)

The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenge through lessons and resources that extend and enrich the POS.  Level II services are part of a talent development pool.  Students are rescreened annually to make decisions about the need for this level of service.

Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)

Students identified by a local school screening committee for part-time advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas.  Students receive direct instruction from the AART at the local school using curriculum from the AAP Curriculum and Resources to Support the Differentiated Framework.  Students identified for Level III services continue to receive level III services through grade 6.

School-Based Screening (Levels II-III and Young Scholars)

Screening for school-based services can happen at any time during the school year but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year. Our school-based screening will take place in May. All students will be screened during our Spring School-Based Screening.  At all other times of the year, parents can initiate a referral by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form .  If you have any questions, please email me at seterrone@fcps.edu or visit the Advanced Academics site for more information.  If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee.  This new information should be submitted to Sarah Terrone, AART. 

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Terrone, at seterrone@fcps.edu.

VKRP Testing - Kindergarten

The Virginia state government expects all schools to take part in the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP). The VKRP assesses literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills.

Kindergarten students in Fairfax County Public Schools take the iReady universal screener reading test for VKRP literacy. Teachers interview students using the Early Mathematics Assessment System (EMAS) for VKRP mathematics. After observing the student 3-4 weeks, teachers complete the Child Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS) for VKRP self-regulation and social skills. 

VKRP assessments are given in the fall and spring of kindergarten. Students will take the reading test in the fall, winter, and spring. Schools set specific testing dates for each class. 

VKRP is designed to help state officials understand school readiness and student success across Virginia. VKRP results also help teachers, school leaders, and parents know how to support each child's learning and development. 

If you have questions about VKRP assessments, please contact your child's teacher or the school's test coordinator, Mr. Wilson.

Order Your 2020-2021 Yearbooks

Wear Purple on Wednesday, April 21st!

We are excited to celebrate our military youth in a special way this month.  

If you have any military family photos, please email Mr. Wilson mjwilson@fcps.edu to be highlighted on our Morning News Show this upcoming week.  

Kiss-N-Ride Sign-Up Information

Need to sign up your child for Kiss & Ride?

Registration for 2020-2021 Kiss and Ride is only needed if you plan to pick up your child(ren) in the AFTERNOONS from the Kiss and Ride Loop.

Please read over our procedures below and sign up using the link at the bottom of this page.

Kiss & Ride is a designated loop for parents to drop off and/or pick up children before and after school.  Our Kiss & Ride is located on the side of Washington Mill Elementary School.  For Kiss and Ride to function properly, we are asking parents to follow these procedures:

• Washington Mill school staff members will provide supervision for Kiss & Ride from 8:35 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. 
• Children will load and unload from the passenger side of the car only, so that they do not cross in front of the carpool cars.
• Drivers of school-aged children must remain in the car.
• Cars must stay in a single file line as they move to and from the Kiss & Ride area.  For the safety of the children, no passing will be permitted in the Kiss & Ride area.
• Parents intending to enter the building must park in the front parking lot and report to the main office.
• Inclement weather presents an added safety concern for children who are privately transported.  Extreme caution is necessary on rainy days when traffic is unusually heavy.
• Please be kind and patient while using Kiss & Ride.  It is important that all adults set a good example of cooperation and consideration for all of our children.
• Each student and parent will be assigned a matching number.  Please place the Kiss-N-Ride Number on your rear-view mirror when you pick up your child(ren) for afternoon dismissal. Mr. Wilson has started sending families their numbers prior to their return to school start date.  
• Parents carpooling other students must have those students’ Kiss & Ride numbers.

Thank you for your efforts to keep Washington Mill Elementary School a safe place for children!!

If you have any questions concerning Kiss-N-Ride, please contact Michael Wilson, Assistant Principal at mjwilson@fcps.edu or 703-619-2500.

To register your child for Kiss & Ride, please click here to fill out this online form. You will need to complete a separate form for each child using Kiss & Ride.

Positivity Project

Each week, students at Washington Mill are introduced to a new character trait on the WMES Morning News Show from the Positivity Project.  Administrators give a brief explanation of the character trait to the school community, and each classroom is assigned a character trait to present to the school community. In the past students have created videos, read books, talked about their personal experiences with the character trait, and illustrated pictures. 

For the week of April 19th - April 23rd, we will be focusing on 

Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence

with Ms. Harrision's 1st Grade Class. 

WHAT DOES APPRECIATION MEAN?

Appreciation of beauty and excellence is the ability to
identify and enjoy that which is admirable in the world.
There are three types of goodness in which positive
psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, song,
or building); an exceptional skill or talent; and moral
goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of
beauty can generate awe; appreciation of a skill can
generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness
can generate moral elevation. All of these feelings (awe,
admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves
and find increased joy and meaning in the world.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Appreciating excellence and beauty helps an individual
experience positive emotions and connect to the world
around him/her. It’s an outward facing strength, meaning
the individual is focused on the world outside his/her head.
And, not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often
deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing
him/her to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is
associated with other strengths, such as gratitude,
curiosity, love of learning, and connection/purpose.

THANK YOU to the Washington Mill ES Office Staff!

Parent Resources

This picture shows what our completed school will look like at the end of renovation.

FCPS Grab and Go Meals 

Meals will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.  As a reminder, it is important to follow social distancing guidelines. Be sure to stand a minimum of 6 feet apart from others and practice regular hand washing, including prior to leaving a residence to pick-up meals, upon returning home, and before consuming food.  Please wear a mask when picking up meals.  

For more information, visit FCPS' Food Distribution Site.

UPCOMING PTA MEETING

The next virtual PTA Meeting will be Tuesday, April 20 at 7pm.

A link will be sent out before the meeting.

As a reminder, SignUpGenius is open for our Food for Thought food drive! Please go to the link below to sign up for donations and note there are specific items on the list that we are requesting at this time. Donations can be dropped off through April 21. More information, including drop-off location, can be found here: 

WMES Food For Thought SignUpGenius

We are still looking for help with Teacher Appreciation Week the week of May 3-7. If you are interested in helping the committee plan it, this is a great chance to give back to our wonderful teachers!

We are looking for nominations and/or parents interested in being on the PTA board next year. There are several positions that will have to be filled due to tenure limits or being vacant this year because of COVID.

If you are interested in either of the opportunities above, please contact us!

9100 Cherrytree Drive, Alexandria, VA 22309 |  Main Phone: 703.619-2500  Attendance: 703.619.2525 | Web | Twitter