Fairfax Villa Friday Message

Important Upcoming Dates  

5/3-5/7:  Teacher Appreciation Week

5/3:  Dragon Dreams

4/28-6/4:  SOL Assessments (Grades 3-6 only)

5/31:  Memorial Day Holiday

6/2:  6th Grade Ukulele Concert

6/8:  Virtual Synchronous Learning Day for ALL STUDENTS 

6/11:  Last Day of School (Early Release - Dismissal at 2:15)

IN THIS ISSUE

  1. NEW: Administrative Professionals Week

  2. Enrollment For the 2021-2022 School Year

  3. NEW: Parent Input Form for 2021-22 Class Placement

  4. NEW: Ukulele Concert

  5. UPDATED: Positivity Information

  6. Dragon Dreams Bedtime Stories

  7. May School Spirit Days

  8. Rec-PAC This Summer at Fairfax Villa

  9. Your Lifetouch Pictures

  10. Last Call: Boosterthon Prize Pickup

  11. NEW: June 8th: Virtual Synchronous Learning Day For Students

  12. NEW: Attention All 6th Grade Parents!

  13. PTA 

1

1.Administrative Professionals Week

Last week was Administrative Professionals Week, and we couldn’t let it pass by without expressing our gratitude to our amazing office staff for all they have done to serve our staff, students and families and keep our office operations running smoothly throughout this school year. If you have received excellent service from one of these dedicated staff members, please consider dropping them a note of appreciation.

2

2.Enrollment for the 2021-2022 School Year

Welcoming Future Dragons!

Is your child turning 5 years old by September 30, 2021 or  is a 1st-6th grader ready to attend Fairfax Villa ES for the 2021-2022 school year?

First, see if your student falls in the Fairfax Villa ES boundary by viewing the FCPS boundary locator. 

If your student does fall in the Fairfax Villa ES boundary, please click on the link below and  complete the form to get on Principal Gerstner's email list regarding our 2021-22 kindergarten orientation and other updates. Your form will be submitted to Silvia Dossmann, our school registrar, who will be able to assist you with the registration process.

https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/new-student-registration-2020-21

Please email any questions to Silvia Dossmann,  Fairfax Villa Student Information Assistant, at smdossmann@fcps.edu.

3.Parent Input Form for 2021-22 Class Placement

With May finally here, we are already looking ahead to next year. While we look at class placements for the coming year, we want you to be aware of the process. We place students in classrooms based on numerous criteria. Students are grouped so that classrooms are heterogeneous, having a balance of boys and girls, a balance of academic performance and ability, and groups that will allow for the greatest support from our resource teachers.

Classroom teachers will have input into the recommendations for next year, as will our counselors and specialists. Our staff has been told that we will not take requests for particular teachers because we base our placement on instructional criteria and individual student strengths and needs. It is unfair to give special consideration to some parents when it would be impossible to grant requests from all parents. Please be aware that grade level assignments for staff sometimes change, due to late enrollments or other changes.  Staff assignments are determined at the end of the summer. Our staff has been directed not to give out information about placement prior to that time. Children and parents are disappointed when changes must be made due to staffing issues.

In addition, we also value parent input.  If you feel there is pertinent information to support your child’s success for the upcoming school year, you may submit your input by clicking on this Google Form link: https://forms.gle/HZNFiP8tk4LM9xVY9. The parent input forms are due by May 24th.  We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Taken together with teacher input, your feedback informs class placements.

4.Ukulele Concert

LIVE Ukulele Performance!

Ms. Gaskins and Ms. Torres are excited to announce that our Villa 6th graders will be presenting a LIVE performance of their ukulele skills on Wednesday, June 2nd, at 7pm. The performance will be held outdoors behind the school. Since chairs will not be provided, families are encouraged to bring camp chairs or blankets to sit on. Masks and social distancing will be required. 

We are so proud of the hard work our 6th grade Dragons have been doing, and we can’t wait to share their music with you! More information will be shared with 6th grade families soon.

5.Positivity Information May 3-7:  LEADERSHIP

What does LEADERSHIP mean? Leadership can be both formal and informal. It is concerned with getting others to do what needs to be done while maintaining group morale to ensure readiness to act in the future. This character strength’s focus is on the personal qualities of leaders, rather than the practice of leadership. These qualities include the ability to understand others and inspire them toward a common goal, the capacity to mitigate conflict and mold consensus, and the desire to lead other people.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? For individuals, leadership is a way to achieve what you know is important, as groups of people invariably achieve more than individuals. If you want to achieve your vision for the future, you need to inspire others to join you. As an individual’s ability to lead develops, so does that person’s confidence and sense of self-efficacy. However, common dangers to guard against are egotism and arrogance.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” -RONALD REAGAN

Pos

6.Dragon Dreams Bedtime Stories

Thank you to all those families who joined us on April 19 for our  Dragon Dreams Bedtime Stories.We loved hearing  Ms. McNamee, Ms. Stoll, and Ms. Quinn  read  their favorite books to us.

Our next Dragon Dream Bedtime Stories will be on Monday, May 3 at 7:00. Our readers this time will be Ms. VonAncken, Ms Reilly, and Ms. Pivarik.

Please join us then using  this link. The BBC link will be available beginning at 6:45 PM. Because of the large group, the audio, video, and chat are automatically turned off.

We can’t wait to see you! Put on your coziest pajamas and join us for some delightful stories.

Stay tuned here for how your family can have a chance to read YOUR favorite book to us!

Dragon Dreams

7.May School Spirit Days

Let's continue to show how excited we are to be Villa Dragons during the month of May with more  Villa Spirit Days. Showing our school spirit helps us to feel connected to each other even when we can't be together.  Get ready to show us your Villa Spirit!!!

3

8.Rec-PAC This Summer at Fairfax Villa

We are thrilled to welcome back Rec-PAC for another summer to support our families from June 28-August 5! PRE-REGISTRATION: April 19-June 11, 2021 Save $8 per week by pre-registering. Mail (payment and registration form): FCPA/Rec-PAC P.O. Box 4606, Fairfax, Va. 22038. Mailed registrations must be postmarked by June 11 to receive early registration discount. FAX: (703) 653-9440 (When registering by fax, you must include credit card information.) PHONE: (703) 222-4664, ONLINE: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes

Children who have completed kindergarten through those entering 7th grade and who are residents of Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church. Children with disabilities may attend any location or select one of the lower ratio sites (specialized inclusion sites with staff trained to support children with disabilities). For ADA accommodations, call (703) 324-8563 or email Gary.Logue@fairfaxcounty.gov at least 10 working days in advance of your Rec-PAC start date. To register, call (703) 222-4664, TTY VA Relay 711

Link to brochure

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sites/parks/files/assets/documents/camps/rec-pac/2021-recpac-brochure.pdf

9.Your Lifetouch Pictures

Lifetouch Pictures have arrived!  If your student is Virtual, you may pick up his/her pictures in the main office Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm.  For all IN-PERSON students, your pictures are being sent home with your student.  

10.Last Call: Boosterthon Prize Pickup 

The Boosterthon prizes are here! All students (whether or not they participated) will get a prize from the Boosterthon sponsor. Students who are attending in-person were given their prizes by their teacher. Parents of students who are attending virtually may come by the school Monday - Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm to pick up the prize for their student(s). After ringing the bell at door 1 and being let into the main lobby, look for the box for your child’s grade and take a prize from that box. All prizes are the same within each grade. Please note the last day to pick up prizes will be Friday, May 7th.

11.June 8th will be a virtual synchronous learning day for students.

Tuesday, June 08, 2021 is Election Day and the Fairfax County Electoral Board and City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using Fairfax Villa ES as a polling place. Therefore, June 8th will be a virtual synchronous learning day for ALL students.  No students will come to school on that day. 

12.Attention all 6th Grade Parents!

Effective July 1, 2021, all students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), and Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY).            

Seventh grade students cannot begin school in August without proper Tdap and Meningococcal documentation. 

Thank you to those who have already submitted their TDAP and MenACWY immunizations records. If you have not already done so, please provide one of the following documents to Fairfax Villa ES as soon as possible. If shots are received after the end of this school year, please provide  records to Frost Middle School (or wherever your child will be attending 7th grade).

  1. An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the missing immunization(s).
  2. A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the vaccine(s) was given.
  3. A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  4. A notarized Religious Exemption Form which is available online at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf

Immunizations are available from your student's healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department clinic locations and hours are available online at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/immunization/school or by calling 703-246-2411.

13.PTA News

The following message is sent on behalf of the Fairfax Villa ES School PTA.  Its content reflects the PTA.

Calling Candidates for the next PTA Board!

We already have a couple of interested candidates! We’re looking for a couple more! Please contact Jessie at villapta@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss or to put your name on the candidate list.

PTA General Membership Meeting

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our PTA meeting on Wednesday night. If you missed it, check out the recording here. There’s a great presentation about the Local Level IV AAP program coming to Fairfax Villa next year!

https://us.bbcollab.com/recording/87f9d5ae586b4be586bd1614fe6ac0d6

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is coming up!

Starting May 3, we will spend the whole week showing our amazing Fairfax Villa teachers and staff how much we appreciate all the crazy hard work they have put in this school year! Thanks to everyone who made donations! 

Here’s the plan:

Monday, May 3: Restock and organize the staff lounge, to be ready for...

Tuesday, May 4: Freshly stocked lounge reveal!

Wednesday, May 5: Rita’s Desserts!

Thursday, May 6: Gift bags with Villa t-shirts and special supplies

Friday, May 7: Appreciation Lunch (with gift cards for remote teachers)

Help Us Refill the Dragon Snacks!

Our first round of snacks and water bottles lasted almost a month! With many students returning to the classroom four days a week, let's restock! Please sign up at the link below. You can drop off your contribution at the school office any day between 8:45 AM and 4:45 PM. (The sign up says April 20 - just ignore the date!) And many thanks to everyone who has already signed up and donated!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EADA628A13-dragon1

AmazonSmile

We raised $55 in our first 3 months with AmazonSmile! You can continue to support the Fairfax Villa PTA, and our kids and teachers, while you shop. Visit smile.amazon.com and choose the Fairfax Villa Elementary PTA as your charity, and AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your order total to the PTA.