Fairhill Forum 09/07/2021

Fairhill Forum

September 7, 2021

 

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News from Fairhill


Dates to Remember:

September 8th:   PTA Dinner Night Out, Chipotle at Mosaic, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

September 9th:  Fairhill Virtual Town Hall, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

September 9th:   PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

September 23rd: Fall Picture Day

October 11th:  Student Holiday (Professional Development Day - Indigenous Peoples’ Day) 

October 29th:  End of First Quarter, 2 hour early release


Administrators' Avenue

Dear Fairhill Families-

Thank you to those of you who were able to come to our PTA event, Popsicles in the Park, on Thursday! We had a great turn out and it was wonderful to see so many Fairhill Families. We hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and found plenty of time to relax and reconnect with each other. 

While this weekend’s notification of our first COVID case this year is without a doubt disappointing, please know that we are doing everything that we can to reduce as much risk as possible and our teachers and staff are taking our mitigation strategies extremely seriously. Our students have been incredible about wearing masks and proper hand and respiratory hygiene. Our students have needed very few reminders from our teachers and the mitigation strategies have become habits at this point.  We know that health is everyone's main concern right now, it is ours too, and by working together we can do everything in our control to keep our students safe. 

Similar to last year, in order to strengthen our connection and communication between our school and community, we will be having monthly Town Halls the hour directly prior to PTA meetings. These informal meetings will be an opportunity to connect on relevant and timely topics such as beginning of school, reading and math instruction, social emotional learning and other topics we hope you find relevant. There will always be time for a Q&A at the end to ask any questions you may have. Our first Town Hall will be this Thursday, September 9th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. where we will talk about our first few weeks of school, COVID case responses, and we will have plenty of time for Q & A to answer any questions you may have. If you know in advance of a question you may have, please feel free to submit it HERE so we can be prepared to answer as many questions as possible. We will be meeting digitally for the first Town Hall using ZOOM. Directly after the Town Hall we will have our PTA meeting using the same link. We hope you can join for both.

A link to access the meetings will be sent via e-Notify.

Have a wonderful week,

Ted Cooper & Courtney Korb


Keep your child home from school with any symptoms that are COVID-like. 

The most important way you can help as a parent is to keep your child(ren) home if they present with any illness or symptoms that are associated with COVID: runny nose, coughing, headache, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhea, etc. If you keep your child home, and they are feeling better the next day, then they do not need documentation from a medical provider to return. However, if your child comes to school and presents with symptoms, they will be placed in the Care Room and will be sent home. Your child must then be seen by a medical provider in order to return to school and you will be given a form to get completed by the doctor. 

Parents, caregivers or guardians, are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of infectious illness every day through a home-based symptom screening and students who are sick should not attend in-person instruction. Please consider the questions in the HealthScreeningQuestionnaire for 2021-2022.pdf each morning before sending your child to school. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions, please keep your child home. 


Picture day is coming to Fairhill!

Save the date!  September 23 will be Fairhill Fall Picture Day.  Click here for the available packages and click here for online ordering. The code for Fairhill is FM370406.  

picture day image

forms

Forms, Forms, Forms!

As we return to school each fall, there are certain mandatory forms that need to be filled out.  Please click on the following links to fill out the necessary documentation we require each year for every student.  You can either print the copies and send them in with your student, or you can email them to ackane@fcps.edu

1. Digital Resources at Fairhill-Parent Consent Form (read below)

At Fairhill Elementary, our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. You can find our school’s list of the resources that require parental consent on our website. Additionally, you can find more information about approved digital resources in FCPS here: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/digital-resources.

 

Included on this page is also a link to a form where the enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval and why we must request your consent before using certain tools. We encourage you to complete the parental consent for digital resources form as soon as possible, as your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission. Please reach out to Stephen Giese, School Based Technology Specialist, if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.

A paper copy of the form can be requested and submitted in the main office at Fairhill.  

2.  Emergency Care Form or here for the online link to       WeCare@school.

3.  Health Information Form or here for the online submission link through              WeCare@school.

4.   Student Rights & Responsibilities Form

5.   Opt-Out Forms 

 


ParentVUE

The SIS (Student Information System) Parent Account is an online tool that parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, class schedule and performance, discipline incidents, health information, and more. If you registered in the past, your account is still active. If you have not, please create an account using this link. Please contact the Main Office if you have any questions or need support. 

 Information parents will be able to access includes:

  • Progress Reports
  • Attendance
  • Health information
  • Significant Discipline incidents
  • Name of Classroom Teacher
  • Teachers’ email addresses
  • FCPS calendar
  • Student’s emergency contact information
  • Transportation information including bus stops and times

Here comes the bus

Transportation and Transportation Changes

As we begin the school, please assist us by using consistent transportation methods with your students.  This will assure smooth dismissals and less mishaps which, in turn, leads to less worry.  Thank you for your cooperation with this.  If your student takes the bus, please download the Here Comes the BUS app!  This lets you know where your student's bus is at all times.  You will need a ParentVUE account in order to sign up, as well as our school code which is 28982.  On a rare occasion you may need to change your student's transportation mode for a day.  If that is the case, you can call the Main Office or click on the Change of Transportation Form found here or on Fairhill's website.  Any Transportation Changes made after 12:00 pm may not be guaranteed.  

All students and staff are required to wear masks on all buses. The CDC federal order requiring masks be worn on public transportation remains in effect and applies to buses operated by Virginia public schools.

You can find your students' bus stops and times on your ParentVUE page.  


Schoology FCPS photo

Schoology  

As many of you are already aware, FCPS has switched from Blackboard to another learning platform. 

Schoology is a learning space that enhances face-to-face and distance learning through communication, collaboration, and personalized learning.

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a safe forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized and it keeps the class connected.  As a parent you can set up a Schoology Parent Account to access your child’s classes, your child’s upcoming assignments, as well as school, class, and group announcements.

Please click here for more information, available in many languages. 

You will use your ParentVUE login name and password to access Schoology. 


New Birthday Treat Policy

Beginning this school year our birthday treat celebration policy will be new. Birthday celebrations are important!  We would  like to recognize the birthday celebrant on their special day at school! If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, here are ways we can celebrate:

  • Bring in a favorite book to share/read
  • Your child gets to pick the read aloud story for the day
  • Donate a book to the school library or classroom in honor of your child’s birthday
  • Donate a board game to your child’s class to be used for indoor recess
  • Send in small, tangible items to be distributed to the class (pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.)  

Unfortunately, sharing birthday treats with classmates/friends this year will  need to be done outside of the school building. Thank you for your understanding and support of our new Birthday Treat School Policy as we work towards providing safe and healthy options at all celebrations and events.


chorus

Is your 5th or 6th grade student interested in signing up for Chorus?  

Students may fill out the google form found here or turn in the paper form they received from Mr. Ryan.  Please contact Mr. Ryan at mpryan@fcps.edu if you have any questions.


Lockdown Drill

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.

A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.

We will conduct a lockdown drill at our school soon. Our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are exempt from mandatory participation in lockdown drills during the first 60 days of the school year. They will participate in our second and final drill later this school year.

Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.

Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe. 


COVID-19 Procedures

Please click here for important COVID-19 related health information from our Health Room.  


News from Fairhill PTA


Join the PTA!

pta

As we head back to school in person, it is the perfect time to bring our Fairhill community back together.  One of the best ways to feel connected to our teachers, staff and families is to join the PTA.  You can become a member by accessing this link


Restaurant fundraiser

Dinner Night Out!

Join us for our first dinner night out this year on September 8 at Chipotle, Mosaic!  Us the code VCM28Q7 when you order, either online or in person.  Fairhill PTA will get 33% of the proceeds.  

First Dinner Night Out of the year is Wednesday Sept 8 5-9pm

Dine in or take out (use code VCM28Q7 for online orders) and Fairhill will get 33% back!

Click here for more information.


News from FCPS


Parent/Guardian Access to Family Life Education Lessons

The Code of Virginia requires FCPS to make all Family Life Education (FLE) lessons (grades K-12 and modified) available for parent/guardian review. To meet this requirement, parents/guardians will be able to preview these FLE resources in Schoology:

  • lessons,
  • slide presentations, and
  • media for which FCPS has purchased streaming rights.

Some media titles may only be available for parents to view at the school.


Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Resources

Starting in the 2021-22 school year, parents/guardians with a ParentVUE account can download and digitally sign the SR&R in ParentVUE. Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account, regardless of relationship to the student, will see the SR&R upon login to PVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed and/or until the acknowledgement made inactive by IT at the client’s request.  If the parent chooses, he/she/they may “skip” the SR&R acknowledgement by clicking on “Remind me later!”. The next time the parent/guardian logs in the SR&R acknowledgement will appear again.

The parent/guardian will NOT be required to click on the pdf document link to download/view the SR&R packet before the parent/guardian will be able to digitally sign and acknowledge the SR&R. The name in the digital signature box must match the parent first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted. Schools will be provided with a resource sheet to assist parents/guardians in using Parent VUE to endorse the Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet.

While use of ParentVUE  to submit the SR&R signature sheet is preferred, parents/guardians are not required to use ParentVUE to submit the SR&R Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet. In cases where ParentVUE is not used, parents/guardians should download the signature sheet (pg. 3) in the SRR from the FCPS public site. If a parent/guardian needs assistance accessing the signature sheet, they may contact their child’s school and ask that the school provide the form.

The SR&R Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet is due October 29, 2021.


Mask Up!

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.

With respect to Fall 2021 Health and Safety practices, FCPS will continue to follow the guidance put forth by clinical researchers and medical providers from the CDC, VDH, and the FCHD to ensure the safest classrooms possible. This includes FCPS’ face covering (mask) requirements. Click here for more information.

 


Opt-Out Flier Now Online for Optional Printing by Schools

The 2021-22 Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms flier is now online.

  • Parents’ rights to inspect, and to consent or opt out, before their child participates in certain surveys administered to students.
  • Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum.
  • FCPS’ maintenance, retention, and disclosure rules regarding student scholastic records including parents and eligible students’ rights to inspect such records, to request amendment to such records and to opt out of disclosure of directory information about the student.
  • FCPS’ disclosure of student information for graduation photographs or other commercial purposes and the right of parents and eligible students to opt out of this disclosure.
  • FCPS’ disclosure of secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters and the right of parents and students to opt out of this disclosure.
  • Parents’ right to opt out of any physical examination of their child not required by state law.
  • The FCPS school counseling program and parents’ right to opt out their child from participation in academic, career, and/or social or emotional counseling.
  • The process by which parents and students may file complaints if they believe their rights as referenced above have been violated.
  • Student participation in the Library Equity Access Pass Project, and the rights of parents to refuse participation in the program.

News from the Community


Scouts BSA

Did you know that Scouts BSA is an activity for girls now as well as boys?  If you are a fifth or sixth grade girl interested in exciting outdoor events and in finding opportunities to learn leadership skills Scouts BSA could be the activity for you.  In recent years events have included high ropes climbing, horseback riding in the Shenandoah, and whitewater rafting.  At each of these events outdoor living and leadership skills have been instructed and exercised.   Join us September 14th from at 7:45 for Join Scouting night in Mantua cafeteria! Please check out Girls Troop 1533 here.


Fairhill's Mission 

Fairhill Elementary fosters academic excellence in a respectful environment which instills strength of character and embraces community involvement.

Fairhill's Vision

The staff of Fairhill Elementary prepares children for a productive future by providing for successes in a positive, enriching and academically stimulating environment. We celebrate diversity, foster mutual respect and embrace collaboration as we unite to achieve common purposes and clear goals.

Our vision for the 2020-2021 school year

To be:

A place where every staff member and students feels included and loved.

A place where every student and staff member can be their best and true self.

A place where every student and staff member feels seen and valued.

A place for joy! A place where you belong. 


FCPS cares

FCPS Cares

Do you know a Fairhill employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.


Important Contact Information

Fairhill Phone Numbers:

• Health Room 703-208-8110

• Cafeteria 703-208-8121

Administration e-mail addresses:

• Principal, Ted Cooper: egcooper@fcps.edu

• Assistant Principal, Courtney Korb: cbkorb@fcps.edu