Important Upcoming Dates
June 7: Car Parade for Graduating Seniors-2:30PM
June 7: Virtual Student Drive Through-3:00PM
June 8: All Students-Virtual Synchronous Instruction/Building used as polling location
June 8: Battle of the Books-Virtual Final Round
June 8: Bears Bedtime Stories-7:00PM
June 9: 6th Grade Ceremony
June 11: Last Day of School-2 Hour Early Release-1:30PM
New This Week
1. Congratulations to our Retirees
2. Congratulations to Mrs. Smalley
3. Virtual Student Drive Through
4. Car Parade for Former OC Students
5. Calendar Reminders
6. Bears Bedtime Stories
7. Library News and Information
8. Summer Break Challenges
9. 2021-22 School Supplies
10. Laps for Learning - Fall 2021
Updates & Reminders
11. Medication Pick Up
12. Laptop Return Information
13. Bears Care Outreach
14. Contacts
15. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
1. Congratulations to our Retirees
This time of year is always hard when we have to say good-bye to some of our amazing staff. We have four staff members retiring this year and we had a wonderful celebration for them this week. We invite you to join us in wishing them well on their next adventure!
- Sue Dodson, Custodian
- Sue Hopkins, Kindergarten Instructional Assistant
- Beth Parton, School-based Technology Specialist
- Pat Ridley, Special Education Instructional Assistant
2. Congratulations to Mrs. Smalley
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Smalley, our outstanding librarian, for being selected as the Region 5 FCPS Cares of the Month Winner for April. Thank you to all of our families that submitted FCPS Cares for Mrs. Smalley and other staff members.
April FCPS CARES of the Month Winners
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. All FCPS Cares submissions were reviewed, and six winners were selected for the month of April—one for each region and the central office—to receive extra recognition for their work. They are:
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Central Office: Rahul Nooniwal – Energy Zone Food Services Center.
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Region 1: Brian Hollingsworth – Herndon Middle School.
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Region 2, Bernie DeLeo – Marshall High School.
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Region 3, Izza McDonald – Fort Hunt Elementary School.
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Region 4, Tina Perez – Mountain View High School.
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Region 5, Patty Smalley – Olde Creek Elementary School.
Get more information about the winners and how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee who has gone above and beyond.
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3. Save the Date: Virtual Student Drive Through
On Monday, June 7, from 3:00-4:00pm, we want to celebrate our online students. During this hour timeframe, we ask our parents of virtual students only to drive them through the Olde Creek bus loop and kiss-n-ride parking lot where our teachers will be waiting to wave and wish them a safe and wonderful summer of fun! Please take advantage of this great opportunity. We hope to see all of our virtual families!
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4. Car Parade for Former OC Students
In lieu of our annual Grad Walk where graduating seniors that attended Olde Creek are celebrated as they walk through our hallways, we will be hosting a car parade on Monday, June 7th at 2:30 p.m. We have invited all of our former Bears to drive through our bus loop so we can celebrate and wish you well!
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5. Calendar Reminders
All Students to Be Virtual on June 8 Due to Democratic Primary Election
2 Hour Early Dismissal for Last Day of School
We will dismiss our students on the last day of school, June 11th, 2 hours early at 1:30pm. Please let the office know if your child will have a change in transportation on this day by calling us at 703-426-3100.
2021-22 School Year to Start on August 23
With the school year winding down and many families making plans for summer camps, vacations, and other activities, be sure to note that the first day of school for the 2021-22 school year will be Monday, August 23. The last day of school is June 10, 2022. See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar.
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6. Bears Bedtime Stories
7. Library News and Information
The new book on the OC story walk this week is, And then Comes Summer, by Tom Brenner. This lovely, lyrical story about summers spent outdoors will make it easy for readers to connect to counting down the days until school gets out. Visit the story walk with your family on the OC playground, near the school building.
Thanks to all families that went out of their way to ensure that our OC readers had books in their hands this school year. We still have hundreds of library books checked out from the OC Library. Please look for and return your books as soon as you can. In-person students can return them to the blue library book return tub outside their classroom doors. Virtual students can drop off their books in a library return tub in the OC front office daily from 8:00-4:30. Lost books can be paid for using either cash or a check made out to OCES. The price of library books is noted on the overdue forms. Lost books from the 2019-20 school year have been forgiven and do not require reimbursement. Paper library overdue notices went home with students on Friday, June 4th. Emails will be sent on Monday, June 7th.
The Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Adventure – Tails & Tales
The Fairfax County Public Library is going back to “normal” hours this coming Saturday, June 5. Not knowing that this would be the case when the Summer Reading Program was planned, most of it is virtual, though there will be a few in-person programs. And, of course, kids can come and browse for books again.
Here's a PSA about the program: Summer Reading Adventure 2021: Celebrate Tails and Tales! - YouTube
The program is being run using Beanstack, beanstack.fairfaxcounty.org. Earning 10 badges completes the program. Badges can be earned by reading for 100 minutes (and the app has a timer) or doing activities at a student’s age level. You can find out more the badges here: Youth Summer Reading - Reading Challenges for Youth and Adults - FCPL Curated Content at Fairfax County Government
There will be drawings for prizes among all who participate, among those who finish, and among those who read 500 minutes. We’ve got something for all levels, including adults – so whole families can sign up. And with Beanstack, a parent can sign up the whole family without having to repeat all the information. It is recommended that elementary level students have a parent register them for the program and help them to track their progress. This will be easy if you choose to sign up as a family.
We’ve also got online booktalks for all levels. Here’s the playlist for that: 2021 Booktalk Series - YouTube It includes various age levels, so be sure to pick out the booktalks at your child’s interest level.
8. Summer Break Challenges
We are excited to share these optional challenges for our bears to try over summer break. Students who complete challenges will be entered into a giveaway for a copy of the book Paige's Super Friends. We’d love to see you try these challenges! Share photos with us by tagging @OldeCreek on Social Media.
9. 2021-22 School Supplies
Order Now to avoid the stores and have an easier way to order school supplies! Each pack contains all the items our teachers approved.
DEADLINE IS JULY 6TH
Click here to review the flyer and order
- Go to https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks
- Enter the school ID, OLD003 (3 Numbers/3 Letters)
- Follow the directions to complete your order.
- Keep your online confirmation as your receipt.
Prefer to do your own shopping? Our supply lists will be up on our website.
10. Laps for Learning
Help Needed for Laps for Learning fundraising event this Fall 2021!
Laps for Learning is returning to Olde Creek September 25th! We are in need of volunteers to help organize the first big event of the 2021-2022 school year and Olde Creek's largest fundraiser. Funds raised at Laps for Learning are used for student activities, field trips, resources and so much more. If you can help, please consider joining this fantastic team of parents!
We need help with registration, T-shirts, sponsorships, prizes and more.
Please reach out to Laps for Learning Coordinator Kelly Dillon dillonks@gmail.com if you are interested.
Thank you for your support!
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11. Medication Pick Up
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than June 11th at 1:30 p.m. Medication left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student.
If your child will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, your existing long-term medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
Your cooperation will ensure that we can safely give your student his or her medication. If you have any questions, please contact your school health room aide, at 703-426-3110.
Thank you for your cooperation and have a great summer.
12. Laptop Return Information
At the end of the school year, Olde Creek will be collecting the laptops and power cords that were given to your child to use at home and school this school year. Students who are returning to Olde Creek in the fall will be issued another laptop at that time. Students going to middle school will be issued a laptop by that school later.
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Students who are enrolled in the SOAR, Bridge to 1, and Young Scholars summer school programs at OCES may keep their FCPS laptops for those programs. They will be collected on the last day of the program.
In-Person Students
- Students will turn in their laptops on Friday, June 11th.
- A staff member will come to the classroom to check the laptops back in. If you have lost the power cord and need to replace it, please send a check for $23 made out to Olde Creek Elementary. You may also send the exact amount in cash. We will not be able to make change for you.
Virtual Students
- Students will need to return the laptop and power cord to the school on any of the following dates:
- Monday, June 14th from 8:00-10:00AM.
- Monday, June 14th from 1:00-3:00PM.
- Tuesday, June 15th from 11:00AM-1:00PM
- Tuesday, June 15th from 2:00-4:00PM
- Drive through the OC Bus Loop. Remain in your car, a staff member will come to your car to get the laptop.
- Please have all equipment ready. Leave the name tags on the laptop.
- We will check the barcode to make sure that the laptop matches the one that was checked out to your child.
- If you have lost the power cord and need to replace it, please bring a check for $23 made out to Olde Creek Elementary. You may also bring the exact amount in cash. We will not be able to make change for you.
Thank you for returning your child’s laptop on time so that we are able to start getting them ready for the next school year.
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13. Bears Care Outreach
The Bears Care food pantry will be providing gift cards for the summer to families in lieu of food provisions. Sign up here to donate a $25 gift card. Stores like Walmart and Target will mail them directly! Food store gift cards like Giant and Safeway are great, too. (Email lisamarm@gmail.com for drop off/mailing information.)
New! You can donate through the OC PTA PayPal account. The funds will be used to purchase items and gift cards based on the greatest needs of our families. Access the OC PTA PayPal account here: https://paypal.me/OldeCreekPTA.
Thank you, as always, for your kindness and generosity!
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14. Contacts
Olde Creek Attendance Phone Line: 703-426-3192
Olde Creek Attendance mailbox: OldeCreekElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
Melissa Miller, Principal, mhmiller@fcps.edu
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal, ajbutler@fcps.edu
Kelly Durso, Assistant Principal, kldurso@fcps.edu
Sylvia Alverson, Administrative Assistant, sjalverson@fcps.edu
Ann Platenkamp, Administrative Assistant, amplatenkamp@fcps.edu
Lizardo Santos, Student Information Assistant, LISantos@fcps.edu
Sandy McCulloch, Office Assistant, slmcculloch@fcps.edu
15. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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