September 1, 2021
Labor Day Weekend - No School
In observance of Labor Day, schools will be closed Friday, September 3rd-September 6th.
Dear Fairview Families,
We love hearing the joy back in our classrooms and seeing all of our students' smiling eyes as they reconnect and engage in learning while building relationships. Health and safety of our Fairview family remains paramount to daily operations. We continue to revise our school's operational plans to provide social distancing to the greatest extent possible in addition to universal masking and consistent healthy hand hygiene. Our custodial team is committed to frequent sanitization of high touch areas throughout our facility during the day and ensures a thorough nightly cleaning. It is a team effort every day at Fairview, and we are grateful for our amazing team members.
We know that last week's standardized community notifications of Covid positive cases at Fairview caused concern for many families. For that, we apologize. Below, we provide a health and safety update to provide an overview of the process for the school and Fairfax County Health Department's response. If your child is experiencing any COVID-related symptoms, please keep them home and update us through our attendance line. If you or any household member is not feeling well and awaiting results from a test, please do not send your child to school. We need to minimize any potential contacts as we provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment for your children.
Please know your children are important to every staff member, and we will work together as a team to do all we can to help them grow academically and socially. Our teachers are excited to be connecting with you over the next several weeks to learn more about your student and your family. In the meantime, if you have a concern or want to share information to support your child, please reach out to your child's teacher.
We hope you have a wonderful long weekend.
Sincerely,
Sara Van Aalst, Principal
Meghan Ehrman, Assistant Principal
Back to School Night: September 14
6:00-8:00 PM
We are looking forward to seeing families at Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, September 14. During your grade level evening event, teachers will discuss the curriculum and expectations for the school year and be available to answer any questions. Our specialists: Music, P.E., Art, Library, Expansions, Technology, etc., will be available to meet with you prior to your grade level session. As this is an in-person event, please limit the number of family members attending to two family members per student. This meeting is designed for parents and there will be no child care available. Please stay tuned for information about virtual participation.
6:00-6:30 Specialist Show Case (Cafeteria)
6:30-6:45 PTA Meeting (Standing Meeting, Gym)
6:55-7:25 Homeroom Session 1
7:30-8:00 Homeroom Session 2
A school bus shuttle will be provided between St Peters in the Woods and Fairview. St Peters in the Woods is located at 5911 Fairview Woods Drive, Fairfax Station, VA.
Lunch Volunteers Currently Needed
Monday-Friday, 10:30 AM -1:30 PM, 4 volunteers needed
Please contact Meghan Ehrman, Assistant Principal, mrehrman@fcps.edu, if interested.
This is an opportunity to support the needs of Fairview. We’re currently seeking a small cohort of daily volunteers to help our students during lunchtime so we may consider alternative lunch options. Responsibilities include sanitizing tables, monitoring student spacing, supporting children with needs during their lunch time, and assisting children with hand-sanitizing entering and leaving the lunch space. Having parent volunteers to help us maximize our mitigation strategies during lunch and ensure consistent daily coverage, would have such a great impact on our operations. A training will be provided to parents who are able to volunteer.
Refillable Water Bottles
As the weather continues to stay warm, please remember to send your child to school with a refillable water bottle. Our bottle filling stations are open!
Health and Safety Updates
FCPS has created a flowchart outlining the process for students identified as a close contact and a Health and Safety Guidance Webpage where you can find the most updated information. In addition, the FCPS Covid-19 Dashboard will allow you to keep updated on the changing situations in our community.
Teacher Communication
Our teachers are working very hard to keep your children safe and engaged in meaningful learning. Please do not contact your child’s teacher to ask if a Covid case has been reported in their room. Due to student privacy, they will not be able to share that information with you. Please keep in mind that you will be contacted directly if your child is considered a close contact. If you have questions, please reach out to me directly at smvanaalst@fcps.edu.
Health Screening
The best way for you to help keep our community safe and moving forward is to continue to carefully monitor your child for signs of illness and keep your child home if they display possible symptoms of COVID-19. We ask that each morning families self-assess their children using the Health Screening Questionnaire.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ updated Student Rights & Responsibility booklet is now available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents to review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. In ParentVue, you may now download and digitally sign the SR&R. Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed.
Your name in the digital signature box must match the parent/guardian’s first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted.
Please take a moment to log into ParentVue in your child’s SIS account to access the SR&R. Signatures are due by October 29, 2021.
Safety Drills
Safety is our number one priority at school. At the beginning of the year, we spend extra time learning safety drills and practicing procedures. A fire evacuation plan and tornado map are posted in each room.
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Bus drills are conducted twice a year in the first 30 instructional days of each semester to teach safety rules to bus riders.
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Fire drills are conducted twice during the first 20 days of school and monthly thereafter.
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Lockdown drills are conducted twice a year, once during the first 20 days of school and once after the first 60 days of school, to practice what would happen if a threat entered the school building.
- A tornado drill is conducted once a year in March. Teachers review safety procedures to follow in the event of a tornado.
FCPS Emergency Planning and Crisis Response Terms
Fairfax County Public Schools' main goal is to keep students and staff safe at school. For more information on safety planning and crisis response terms, please visit: FCPS Emergency Planning and Crisis Response.
Click here for an article about Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers. As always, our counseling and clinical staff are here to provide additional support for children and families as needed.
Transportation Update
Thank you for your patience regarding some of the challenges around bus transportation. Please keep in mind that delays are not your bus driver’s fault. There is a significant bus driver shortage, and they are going above and beyond to get all students home in a timely way. The people driving the buses are on your side in wanting the best for your child. Please utilize the following apps and websites to track bus routes and potential delays:
Health Information and Emergency Care Forms
LOOK FOR THE EMERGENCY CARE INFORMATION form in your child's Wednesday Folder/backpack TODAY. Please review it, update it, sign and date it, and return it. Thank you!
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.
Parent Consent for Digital Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools uses a variety of resources to support student learning. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year require parental consent. FCPS requires that the vendor adhere to the security and privacy requirements specified in a confidentiality agreement included in their contracts.
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Click here to view a list of digital resources at Fairview ES that require parent consent.
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Click here to grant or deny consent for your child to use digital resources.
Opt-Out Flier Now Available Online
The 2021-22 Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms Flier is now available online. Please note that this is not the Family Life Education (FLE) opt-out. This flier provides information for parents on FCPS’ policies regarding parent rights to opt out of surveys, photographs, counseling, and more.
Mask Guidance
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 school buildings.
Wearing a mask protects us all:
- Children under 12 and the immunocompromised are not able to be vaccinated at this time.
- By wearing a mask, we all help create a safe environment for those who are unable to be vaccinated.
- When recommended social distancing is a challenge, universal masking is an approved substitute - meaning more students can engage in learning in classrooms and other spaces within the school building.
- Reducing the spread of COVID-19 also reduces student absences and missed extracurricular activities and athletic events.
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Buses: The CDC federal order requiring masks be worn on public transportation remains in effect, and applies to buses and school transportation operated by Virginia public schools.
Outdoors: Masks are not required when outside, including athletic activities.
Mealtimes: Masks may be removed while eating but should be reapplied as soon as you are finished with your meal.
 
Schoology Learning Management System
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The new learning management system is Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/). Schoology is a learning space that enhances communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families. Schoology will be used division-wide starting in July.
Schoology was chosen to:
- Support and implement instructional practices aligned to our learning model.
- Help students reach the Portrait of a Graduate goals.
- Provide all students with equitable access to meaningful learning experiences.
- Offer anytime access to their virtual learning space.
Students will have a Schoology account.
- Students use their FCPS student ID and password to login to Schoology.
- Students will not see any classes until the grading period starts.
As a parent or guardian, you will be able to use Schoology to view:
- Your child’s class.
- Your child’s assignments and participation.
- Your child’s calendar.
- Teacher comments, scores, and feedback.
Parent accounts will be available at the start of the grading period. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account.
- Please contact Sarah Fuller, slfuller@fcps.edu, to activate a new SIS/ParentVUE account.
Please review these resources to learn more about Schoology:
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Fairview PTA News
PTA Membership:
While all families are part of the PTA, only those who pay their annual dues are allowed to vote on PTA matters, such as the annual budget (new and updates), elections, etc. Paid members also have access to the school wide family directory.
Annual dues are $35 for families and $15 for teachers/staff.
Click here for directions on how to pay your PTA dues and enjoy these two perks!
PTA Restaurant Night:
We are sponsoring a Spirit Night at Chipotle (5747 Burke Centre Parkway) on September 15. You are invited to enjoy some great food and connect with other Fairview parents. A portion of the sales will go straight to the PTA.
Fairview Spirit Wear:
Use this flyer to order spirit wear and show your Falcon pride! Orders are due Friday, September 17.
Fairview Running Club
Greetings Fairview Parents-
Please join us in recognizing Erin Herbig and Fred Pechin for their 8+ years of commitment to the Fairview Running community. Executing a program at the level which GRFF and BOTT achieved requires a tremendous amount of dedication, organization, programmatic planning, logistics, and communication--their leadership offered the hundreds of kids involved over the years not only the opportunity to develop their individual running skills, but also to have fun and build a community in a safe, healthy environment.
Erin and Fred, from all of us, thank you for volunteering your time for the betterment of the children of Fairview, and for developing one of the most popular after-school programs.
With the “retirement” of Erin and Fred, we are left with a big void to fill surrounding the after-school running program. We recognize what the program means to you and to the kiddos, which underscores the importance of ensuring that any future iteration of the program is executed exceptionally well, in alignment with how it was run in the past.
A few weeks ago, the PTA extended an open call to parents announcing the need for volunteers to run (pun intended) the running program. In addition, the PTA has reached out to organized running groups to evaluate alternative options for carrying the program forward. Unfortunately, and understandably, given the busy-ness of life, we do not have enough volunteers to carry the program forward as it was.
While disappointing to all, rather than rush to push out a program that may not meet expectations (while also under the constant COVID-19 uncertainties) the PTA Board has decided to pause the running program for the fall semester, allowing us the opportunity and time to thoroughly evaluate outside running organizations, with the goal and intent of reintroducing the program in Spring 2022.
For those of you who paid for the running program during the 2020/2021 school year and requested to carry over your payment, we will be refunding your money within the next few weeks. If you do not receive a reimbursement by September 25, 2022, please email treasurer@fairviewpta.org.
We appreciate your patience while we worked through this tough decision, and look forward to your continued support for an awesome and active school year!
Sincerely-
Denise Ferugio, Treasurer and Acting Running Club Chair
Fairview Cub Scouts:
Attention rising kindergarten-5th grade boys and girls! Is your family looking for adventure? Join Fairview Cub Scouts!
What’s In It For The Scouts?
Games, activities, camping, hiking, arts and crafts, leadership opportunities, service projects, archery and much, much more!
What’s In It For The Parents?
Numerous opportunities to see your child grow and interact with peers. scouting helps you create the capacity for your child’s accomplishments. It also gives your child a sense of teamwork and belonging. Above all, scouting is fun!
If you are interested in joining the adventures of scouting and have a child entering K through 5th grades, consider registering your child in a year-round scout program designed for the entire family.
For more information, please complete this Interest Form or email us at Pack1346fairview@gmail.com.
Upcoming Fairview Events
September
3- Student Holiday
6- Student Holiday
14- Back to School Night (In person with a virtual participation option) 6-8 PM
15- PTA Restaurant Night at Chipotle
20- Fall SOL Growth Assessment Window opens (Grades 3-6)
22, 23, 24- i-Ready Assessments (Grades 1-6)
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