RAVENS' NEST 08/25/2021

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Upcoming Events

Sept. 3rd & 6th – School Holidays (Labor Day) – All FCPS Offices Closed

Sept. 8thPTA Back to School Bash, Gazebo/Playground, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Sept 13th – General Membership PTA Meeting, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Cafeteria

Sept. 30th – Back to School Family Literacy Night, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Oct 11th  - Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Student Holiday - School Planning Day 

 

Message from our Principal

Dear Ravensworth Families,

We have had an exciting start to the school year. We were happy to have our Ravens back in the building and filling our space up with the noise of learning and laughter.

We will be working through the kinks in these first few weeks and will keep you informed as changes occur. We expect the transportation will still be delayed until the routes become familiar to the drivers and the children are able to identify their bus. Please remind them of their bus number to help with loading in the afternoon.

Our school water fountains continue to be closed; please make sure your child has a refillable water bottle each day with their name on it. They are able to refill it throughout the day.

Thank you!

Erika Aspuria

Principal

 

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Health and Safety Guidelines

As we 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. 

We encourage all families to review the FCPS Health & Safety Document which includes information regarding:

  • Universal Mask Wearing
  • Cleaning & Disinfecting
  • Hand Hygiene & Respiratory Etiquette
  • Ventilation

 

Screen for Illness Every Day, Stay Home When Sick

As a reminder, any student who is ill or has COVID-like symptoms should remain at home. The daily health screening questionnaire and all translated versions can be found on our Health and Safety Guidance webpage. Daily completion of the health screening is done on an honor basis and does not need to be sent to the school.

 

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FCPS Mask Guidelines

Approved Masks vs Not Recommended Masks

Full details regarding face masks are available in the Health and Safety Guidance Document.

Approved Types of Masks

  • Disposable masks
  • Cloth mask coverings
  • Gaiters
  • Clear masks
  • Cloth masks with clear plastic panel

All face coverings/masks must meet the following requirements:

  • Face coverings/masks that fit properly (snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face)
  • Face covering/mask with two (2) or more layers of non-woven material

Face Coverings/Masks that are Not Recommended

  • Face coverings/masks that do not fit properly (large gaps, too loose or too tight)
  • Face coverings/masks or gaiters with one layer
  • Face coverings/masks with exhalation valves or vents

 

Cultural Observances and Religious Holidays

The Fairfax County School Board voted to approve a calendar for the 2021-2022 Calendar that is designed to recognize, respect, and honor the plurality of religious and cultural observances in Fairfax County. The calendar ensures students will not have to make choices between honoring their cultural or religious beliefs and missing a test or school activity. 

On the observance days listed below, Ravensworth ES will not schedule tests or quizzes. Tests and quizzes will be given before any of these days, so students are not expected to study on the observance day. 

In addition, Ravensworth ES will not schedule class-level, grade-level or schoolwide special events on any of the observance days below. The calendar recognizes diverse religious and cultural observances including:

  • Rosh Hashanah 9/7/2021 
  • Yom Kippur 9/16/2021
  • Diwali 11/4/2021
  • Bodhi Day 12/8/2021
  • Three Kings Day/Epiphany 1/6/2022
  • Orthodox Christmas 1/7/2022
  • Orthodox Epiphany 1/19/2022
  • Lunar New Year 2/1/2022
  • Ramadan 4/3/2022
  • Good Friday 4/15/2022
  • Theravada 4/16/2022
  • Orthodox Good Friday 4/22/2022
  • Eid al-Fitr  5/3/2022

 

The 2021-22 calendar also separates spring break from any religious or cultural observances.

 

Health Information and Emergency Care Forms

The Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE -71) Health Information Form and the Emergency Care Information form (SS/SE-3) Emergency Care Information provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are critical in the early identification of students who may need healthcare support in the educational environment. Along with the development of Healthcare Plans (HCP) and Action Plans, the Public Health Nurses (PHNs) utilize the information contained in the HIF to develop teaching strategies for FCPS staff in order to meet the requirements of Regulation 2104 Health Services-School Health Related Needs.

For SY 21-22, these forms will be required for all students. Parents/guardians may submit these forms either through electronic submission accessed within the weCare@school (weCare) module; or through Back to School packets for those families without ParentVue accounts.

 

Will You Have a Change of Transportation?

During the school year, changes to transportation can be made at any time with Ricardo Bermudez or Sheryl Hall in our front office.  You can also go to the Ravensworth homepage and search Change of Transportation.

 

Kiss and Ride Information

Kiss and Ride drop off is located at Door 3.  Kiss and Ride begins at 8:20 am; please do not drop off your child earlier than 8:20 am.  For your child’s safety, they should exit the car door closest to the curb.  This year every family will receive an assigned Kiss and Ride car tag number.  The tag will be in the beginning of the year envelope of the oldest and/or only child in your family at Ravensworth.

 

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FCPSon and Laptops

All FCPS students in grades 3-6 are part of the FCPSon Program.  Students are assigned a laptop that they are responsible for during the school year.  FCPS requires that students in grades 3-6 take their laptops home and back to school daily.  Our students in grades K-2 will have assigned laptops that stay in their classroom.

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Schoology

We are excited about Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/), FCPS' new learning management system. Schoology is a learning space that enhances communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families.

Through it families will have access to their student’s digital assignments and access to many of the virtual resources they will use. The following are some resources that will help you prepare to use Schoology this year:

Over the next few weeks your student’s homeroom teacher will begin posting information within Schoology. Stay tuned for updates!

 

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PTA News

NEW PTA Executive Board Officers

 

Congratulations to our newly elected Ravensworth ES PTA officers Amanda Mundy as Secretary and Lane Seleme as Treasurer.  Megan Farinholt was re-elected as President.  PTA extends our gratitude for your willingness to volunteer & serve in these critical roles for our Ravensworth ES community!   Congratulations & Thank you!

 

Back to School Bash

Join us on Wednesday, September 8 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to celebrate returning to school. There will be food trucks available (From Tuscany with Love and Rockland’s BBQ), plus you’ll be able to join the PTA and purchase new Spirit Wear items for the 2021/22 school year. Come hang out with friends to kick off the school year!  

 

New Spirit Wear Available

Check out the PTA MemberHub website at https://ravensworth.new.memberhub.store – you can join the PTA and purchase Spirit Wear all in one spot. We have exciting new Spirit Wear items (youth and adult sizes), with limited inventory of items from years past. Contact Dori Sophia at spiritwear@ravensworthpta.org if you have any questions. Show your school spirit today!  

 

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Follow Ravensworth on Social Media

Are you connected to Ravensworth Elementary School and the Ravensworth PTA on Social Media? The PTA’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ravensworthelementarypta and the school’s accounts are https://www.facebook.com/RavensworthElementary and https://twitter.com/RavensworthES