May 27, 2021
Principal's Message
My Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,
We hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits.
It’s hard to believe that we are close to the end of our 2020-2021 school year--only 10 days left. I think we can all agree that it has been an unusual one! This school year has brought us many trials and tribulations, AND yet . . . it has also brought us and taught us to be more flexible and patient. It has taught us to be more empathetic and appreciative. It has taught us to look for small wins and the joy in the little things that we have taken for granted over the years. Well, please know that I can’t say it enough--I appreciate each of you beyond words for your support and partnership this year to “keep the main thing, the main thing—our kids.”
Wishing you a beautiful Memorial Holiday weekend filled with Amazing Grace, kindness, love, joy, peace, and GRATEFULNESS!
~Start each day with a grateful heart ~ Author Unknown
~Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms. ~ Alyssa Knight
~When gratitude becomes your default setting, life changes. ~ Nancy Leigh Demoss
Be well; be safe!
All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal
Important Dates
May is Asian and Pacific-American Heritage Month
Tuesday, June 1 – Friday, June 4: SOL Makeup Testing
Monday, June 7: Math and Literacy Day - 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 8: Virtual Learning for FCPS Students (Election Day)
Wednesday, June 9: Fifth Grade Celebration, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 10: Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony, 7:00 p.m.
Religious and Cultural Observances
Saturday, May 29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah
Sunday, May 30: Trinity Sunday
|
Student Holidays/Early Release
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day Holiday
Friday, June 11: - Last Day of School (Early Release)
A Note from our Strings Teacher
"If Strings students miss class because of SOL testing, they should review previous recordings of class and check Google Classroom for practice videos, weekly reviews, and other assignments." Please contact Miller Susens, String Educator if you have questions at msusens@fcps.edu.
Math and Literacy Day
Parents, you are invited to join your child on Monday, June 7th, from 9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. for our virtual Math and Literacy Day for a game and a read aloud. Please mark your calendars!
Library News
Hello from the SHES school library! It’s hard to believe we’re finished checking books out to students for the year – now we’re encouraging all students to bring back their books by the due date of Friday 5/28 (date set by FCPS). Thank you for helping your child locate all books they have checked out, whether from this school year or last spring.
And a quick reminder that if you are looking to purchase books for summer reading, our online Bookworm Central book fair is open through 6/8: https://bit.ly/33cacMQ. Every purchase benefits our school library and your support is very much appreciated!
Ask your student about our book fair’s author visits – hopefully they enjoyed one or both of these events!
Please reach out to beoswalt@fcps.edu if you have any questions our school library or the book fair – happy reading!
Donations Welcomed – Alphabet Puzzles
We are looking for new or gently used alphabet puzzles to support our students’ learning. Please contact Lauren Surber (ljsurber@fcps.edu) if you have questions or donations. Thank you!
Upcoming PTA Events
PTA General Membership Meeting
Please join us on Thursday, June 3rd, 7:00 p.m., for our last PTA meeting for the 2021-22 school year. Topics of interests include: Principal Updates/Celebrations, Boundary Adjustments Updates, PTA Nominations, etc. We look forward to seeing you on June 3rd. The meeting link will be sent the day of the event via eNotify and/or Talking Points.
Computer Coding Workshops
CodeVA is also offering seven FREE online workshops for elementary school students, six workshops for middle school students, and five non-grade specific workshops in coding and computer science during the summer, starting in mid-June. These workshops are entitled Eureka Workshops.
Please note that anyone is welcome to use the coupon code #2020 to register for Codevirginia's Eureka Workshops virtual offerings free of cost. Families can find this information under the Class Pricing section of the Student FAQ page of our website. https://www.codevirginia.org/students-programs/families-faqs/
CodeVA welcomes any student to use the coupon. Look here for a list of classes being offered.
Spring Season – Safety Mitigation
It’s officially spring! Many of us and our children have allergies that can resemble Covid-like symptoms. Please notify your child’s teacher if your child has allergies and if he/she is exhibiting symptoms. Please adhere to the Health Screening Commitment form guidelines before sending your children to school each day. This document confirms that as a parent/caregiver/guardian, you will complete a daily health screening and will keep your child/children home when he/she/they are ill. Also, as a measure of caution, please keep any/all children home if he/she/they have been exposed to others in the home with Covid-like symptoms. Please contact the school to let us know your child(ren) will be participating in virtual learning and why. Let’s work together to STOP THE SPREAD! Thank you!
FCPS Updates
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 31, for the Memorial Day holiday. Students are not expected to complete asynchronous assignments that day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, June 1. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
Dear Families of Currently Virtual Students and New Families for the 2021-22 School Year,
As a follow-up to previous communications, we are reminding you that the deadline to apply for FCPS’ limited Virtual Program is Friday, May 28. If your child will be returning for five days of in-person instruction this fall, you do not need to read any further.
If you would prefer your child remain virtual in the 2021-22 school year, due to their individual documented health or medical need (not a sibling’s or a family member’s), and you have not yet taken the following steps, please do so by Friday, May 28:
- Submit your child’s COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form to virtualenrollment@fcps.edu, including the required documentation from a medical provider as described on the form. .
- Complete the Virtual Program Enrollment Application via the online application portal. The portal link will be sent to the enrolling parent/guardian once the Virtual Program Enrollment Team receives your child’s Health Eligibility Form.
The enrolling parent/guardian and the school principal will receive an email with a decision by Monday, June 7.
If you are unable to access a healthcare provider, please contact your school for assistance. As always, they will be available to provide support for you and your family.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Boundary Adjustment
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On Tuesday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m., the School Board will hold a public hearing. Students, parents, staff and the community are invited to sign up to speak about the recommended boundary adjustment. The public hearing will take place at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. Sign up to speak.
The School Board will take action and vote on the boundary adjustment proposal at its regular meeting scheduled on Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m.
For more information about the proposal, please visit Proposed Boundary Adjustment for Elementary Schools in the Justice Pyramid.
As a reminder, any approved boundary adjustment related to the elementary schools will not change the middle or high school boundaries.
Sincerely,
Fabio Zuluaga
Region 2 Assistant Superintendent
Virtual Return to School Program - 2-21-22
Dear Families of Virtual Students and New Families for the 2021-22 School Year,
We recently shared information with you regarding FCPS’ limited Virtual Program for the 2021-22 school year. You may have also read about the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsing FCPS’ model of five days of in-person instruction for all children this fall. This is great news!
If your child will be returning in-person for the coming school year, you do not need to read any further. If you are planning for your child to remain virtual this fall, due to their individual documented health or medical need (not a sibling’s or a family member’s), please note that the deadline for the COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form AND the Virtual Enrollment Application has been extended to Friday, May 28.
Here are the next steps:
- Have your child’s COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form completed and signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or a licensed clinical psychologist.
- Email the completed form with health/medical certification to virtualenrollment@fcps.edu.
- The enrolling parent/guardian will receive an email confirming receipt of their documentation and instructions on how to complete the Virtual Enrollment Application via the online application portal. The application is due by Friday, May 28.
- The enrolling parent/guardian and the school principal will receive an email with a decision by Monday, June 7.
If you are unable to access a healthcare provider for whatever reason, please contact your school for assistance. They will do their best to support you and your family.
Fairfax County Public Schools
All Students to be Virtual on June 8
Tuesday, June 8, is the Democratic Primary Election. Because the Fairfax County Electoral Board and City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using 165 school facilities as polling locations, June 8 will be a virtual synchronous learning day (no in-person classes) for students.
Meal Distribution
The meal kits are NOW available for pick up at SHES every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or until supplies are exhausted.
Please go to the Food Distribution website to see if your meal site is changing.
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 the meal kits.
Walking Wednesday (Every Week)
Get into step. Let’s go! Have fun! Don’t forget to send in a photo of you and your child/family walking.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Let’s have some fun!
FCPS Technology Resources
FCPS has developed multiple resources that can help with basic technology issues to support learning at home:
-
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
-
FCPS' Parent Technology Resource page includes tip sheets in multiple languages that provide answers to basic questions about FCPS technologies.
-
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.
-
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.
|
Special Education Parent Newsletter and Workshop
The Department of Special Services (DSS) publishes a regular electronic newsletter for parents of special education students to provide updated DSS information, tips, and ideas to support you and your family during distance learning. The latest issue is available online.
Parenting Education Programs
Are you aware that the Parenting Education Programs provides a parenting class with an African American Cultural Focus? This parenting class is for families with children ages 5-11 years old. The course curriculum emphasizes how African American history, traditions, and culture affect the lives of African Americans today. Families taking this class have a safe space to learn parenting skills through the lens of the African American lived experience. It includes topics such as the slave experience, transcending oppression and acculturation, spirituality, and accessing resources. Concepts from the Nurturing Parenting Program Curriculum are taught alongside the exploration of cultural issues.
The goal of offering a class for parents of African American children is to encourage open discussion among families and facilitators about parenting issues/practices that are common to African American families. We are accepting registrations for the current African American Parenting Class through Wednesday, May 19th.
If you know of a family that would like to participate or could benefit from the class, contact Natalie Bailey at (703) 324- 3617 or myself directly. Thank you.
Lisa Chesley
Mobile: (571) 279-4671
FCPS – Family and School Partnerships
Fairfax County Public Schools Enrichment Camps
Keep students engaged in educational activities during the summer months. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers exciting summer learning opportunities. The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is offering two enrichment programs this summer - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy.
-
Tech Adventure Camp is an exploratory program in career and technical education for students in grades 2 – 6.
-
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a weekly summer enrichment program that encourages skill development and career exploration in such areas as business, engineering, health industry, and family sciences. The program is open to students in grades 7-11.
The Institute for the Arts also offers students in grades 2-11, a 70-minute class in dance, music, theatre, and visual art every day.
|
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.
|
Monitor you student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
|
