Important Upcoming Dates
August 13: Kindergarten Safari-10:00-11:00 a.m.-OCES
August 13: First Grade Safari-11:00-12:00 p.m.-OCES
August 18: Welcome Email from Teacher
August 18: New Family Meet & Greet-2:00-3:00 p.m.
August 18: Back to School Parent Information Session-6:00p.m.
August 19: Welcome Walk-8:30-11:30 a.m.
August 19: Olde Creek Family Picnic-5:00-6:30 p.m.-OC Blacktop
August 22: First Bears Bedtime Stories-7:00 p.m.
August 23: First Day of School (Bell Schedule-8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.)
September 22: Back to School Night-6:30 p.m.
Back to School Events
1. Kindergarten and First Grade Safaris
2. Welcome Email from Teacher
3. New Family Meet & Greet
4. Back to School Parent Information Session
5. Welcome Walk
6. OC Family Picnic
7. Bears Bedtime Stories
Updates & Reminders
8. Health and Safety in FCPS Schools: Layered Prevention Strategies
9. Dr. Brabrand Hosts Two Virtual Community Town Halls
10. Meet Our New Olde Creek Staff
11. Contacts
12. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
1. Kindergarten and First Grade Safaris
Our rising kindergarten and first grade students are invited to come to Olde Creek for their grade level safari on Friday, August 13. All kindergarten and first grade families should have received a specific grade level schedule in their email on Wednesday, August 11 with additional details. All attendees are required to wear a mask.
Kindergarten: 10:00-11:00 a.m.
First Grade: 11:00-12:00 p.m.
As a reminder, the First Grade Playdate has been rescheduled for tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.
2. Welcome Email from Teacher
On Wednesday, August 18, every family will receive an email from their classroom teacher to introduce themselves and welcome you to the 2021-22 school year.
If you do not receive an email by 3:00 p.m., please call the main office. (703-426-3100)
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3. New Family Meet & Greet
All of our new Olde Creek families are invited to attend a new family orientation on Wednesday, August 18 at 2:00 p.m. to become more familiar with our staff and school.
- Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Durso, and Mrs. Butler will facilitate an orientation.
- Families will have the opportunity to go on a school tour.
- We will close this event with popsicles on our playground for all of our new Bears!
- All attendees are required to wear a mask for this indoor event.
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4. Back to School Parent Information Session
We are excited to welcome you all home to Olde Creek as we prepare to kick-off this school year. Parents and guardians are invited to join Mrs. Miller for an information session on Wednesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. Back to school updates will be shared along with health and safety updates.
This session will be facilitated virtually. Families will receive a Zoom link to join on Wednesday morning. If you are not able to attend, we will be sending out the recording of the session.
During this session, information will be presented about Health and Safety as it relates to COVID protocols. Here are a few important highlights:
- Students and staff must wear masks indoors but not outdoors;
- We will be using tables and desks throughout our building;
- Frequent hand sanitizing, handwashing, and surface cleaning will continue to be implemented;
- All students will be eating lunch in the cafeteria distanced approximately 3 feet apart and all facing one direction;
- Students will wear masks in the cafeteria when they are not actively eating or drinking.
- A Dining Room Assistant will be helping students follow our layered prevention strategies.
5. Welcome Walk
We are thrilled to introduce a new event as we reconnect with all of our Bears and their families. As an Olde Creek staff, we will be coming into the community to meet our families and kick-off the new school year. We will welcome everyone back by making a brief visit to your home on Thursday, August 19.
What is the Welcome Walk? What can my family expect? Your student(s) will be welcomed with a short visit at your front door or your front lawn by their new teacher and another OC staff member! We want a chance to say hello, meet you, and answer any questions you may have.
What time will my child’s teacher be visiting? All visits will happen between the hours of 8:30-11:30 a.m. Due to the differences in travel time, we are not able to share exact times that teams will be arriving.
Will my child’s teacher be wearing a mask? All staff members will be wearing masks and we request that all families also wear masks if participating.
What if my family is out of town, or does not want to participate? If you will be away or prefer to not participate, please complete this form by tomorrow, Friday, August 13. If you are not able to participate, our staff will connect with you by Friday to introduce themselves to our OC Bears and families prior to the first day.
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6. OC Family Picnic
On the evening of Thursday, August 19 from 5:00-6:30 p.m., we will host a picnic for families that would like to connect with one another and visit the building. This year, in lieu of an open house, we are offering an opportunity for any students and families that would like to visit the building prior to the first day of school.
We welcome families to pack a picnic and consider bringing a blanket or some camping chairs to enjoy on the blacktop and grassy areas. Popsicles will be available for participants to enjoy-thank you to our PTA!
Additional Details:
- Students may participate in a Bear Scavenger Hunt to become familiar with the building.
- Students will have the opportunity to locate their classroom prior to the first day of school.
- Families are invited to drop off any school supplies in the cafeteria.
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All attendees will need to wear a mask when indoors. It is also recommended to wear a mask outside when not actively eating or drinking.
We look forward to seeing all of our families that are able to attend!
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7. Bears Bedtime Stories
On the evening before our first day of school, on August 22 at 7:00 p.m., all of our Bears are invited to attend our first Bears Bedtime Stories event of this school year. Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Butler, and Mrs. Durso will be reading First Day Jitters as we get ready for an exciting first day of school. We hope that many of our Bears will be able to join us! A link to the virtual session will be sent out that morning.
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8. Health and Safety in FCPS Schools: Layered Prevention Strategies
As we prepare to begin the 2021-22 school year, FCPS is aware of your questions and concerns about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community are the school system’s highest priority and every day we are working closely with health officials to review our layered prevention strategies and ensure our schools and buildings are safe places to learn and work. We are also using universal masking as a key mitigation strategy as we gear up to start the school year five days in-person.
Masks
Masks are an essential tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting those unable to be vaccinated. To ensure a safe start to the school year, masks will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, inside FCPS buildings.
As we bring large numbers of students and staff back to buildings, FCPS is committed to doing all we can to provide a safe environment for everyone to learn and work. Therefore, existing mask requirements have been extended to include everyone, regardless of vaccination status and location. We will all wear masks indoors, unless we are alone in an office or room. Outdoor masking is still recommended for those who are unvaccinated.
There are some situations in school when students and staff are permitted to remove their masks, including:
- When actively eating or drinking (if eating indoors, individuals are required to put their masks back on when not actually eating or drinking)
- When outside (e.g. outdoor recess, outdoor physical education, outdoor instructional groups; anyone not fully vaccinated is recommended, but not required, to wear a mask in crowded settings)
9. Dr. Brabrand Hosts Two Virtual Community Town Halls
Superintendent Scott Brabrand will be hosting two virtual community Town Halls next week ahead of the start of school:
Monday, August 16, from 6 - 7 p.m. (In English) where he will be joined by Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Fairfax County Health Department, Jeffrey Platenberg, assistant superintendent of FCPS Department of Facilities and Transportation, and Michelle Boyd, assistant superintendent of FCPS Department of Special Services. The Town Hall will focus on returning to five full days of in-person instruction for the new school year and layered prevention strategies that will be implemented to help keep students and staff safe. Watch the Town Hall on FCPS’ website or on Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11). Please send your questions in advance to returntoschool@fcps.edu or ask your question live during the event by calling 1-800-231-6359.
Tuesday, August 17, from 6 - 7 p.m. (In Spanish) The superintendent, joined by two school principals, will answer questions about returning to five full days of in-person learning and measures to help keep everyone safe for a strong return to school. The Town Hall will be streamed live on FCPS Facebook en Español. Please email your questions to returntoSchool@fcps.edu. You may also send us a message on our Facebook page or leave it in the “Comment” section during the Town Hall.
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10. Meet our New Olde Creek Staff
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Jake Clemmer - 2nd Grade
Hi everyone! My name is Jake Clemmer and I am super excited to be joining the second grade team at Olde Creek Elementary this year. I have 2 years of teaching experience and I am very passionate about educating our leaders of tomorrow! The past 2 years I have taught kindergarten and I am excited for this new opportunity to teach second grade. In 2019, I graduated from Bridgewater College where I played 4 years of Collegiate Lacrosse. I am an assistant lacrosse coach in Fairfax County and I love coaching lacrosse to all ages! I am a big fan of both watching and playing all different sports. Let's have a great year!
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Maggie Lubinski - Strings
Hello! My name is Maggie Lubinski, and I will be the new Strings teacher this year at Olde Creek ES. 2021-22 will be my 14th year teaching Strings in FCPS. I grew up with the snow in Buffalo, NY. I enjoy playing violin and sharing my love of String music with my students.
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Meg Clarke - Music
Hello! My name is Meg Clarke, and I've been teaching General Music in Northern Virginia for 11 years. I'm excited to be joining Olde Creek and Mrs. Cavenaugh as a Music teacher this year. My favorite instruments to play are the recorder and the guitar. I love to go hiking with my husband and our dog, Lewis. We love visiting different National Parks together and finding new trails to explore. Fun Fact: I love to bake, and have competed in local Christmas Cookie competitions!
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Lisa Goodwin - Special Education Teacher
Hi, my name is Lisa Goodwin, and I am thrilled to be moving to a Special Education teaching position this year. This will be my third year working at Olde Creek. My husband and I have three kids, two of which are also Olde Creek Bears. We are originally from Buffalo, NY. I love being outside with my family in the gorgeous VA weather, and get really excited when it snows here in the winter. I am really looking forward to seeing all the kids again soon!
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11. 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
12. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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