|
Terra Centre Families,
Today marks the 20-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and United Airlines Flight 93. The United States Congress designated September 11th as “Patriot Day'' to remember and honor those whose lives were lost and those who took action to help.
Yesterday, Terra Centre and all FCPS schools had a special moment of silence to commemorate and acknowledge the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a chance to reflect and to act in service to others as a way of honoring those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
Please scroll down for important information and upcoming dates for our school and community.
Rebecca Gidoni Bunny Lancaster Teresa Lewis
Principal Interim Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, 9/14 7:00 Virtual PTA Meeting - Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rwz-bxnr-ini
Thursday, 9/16 Yom Kippur
Thursday, 9/23 Picture Day (Look for an email from Jostens)
Monday, 9/27 5:00 Virtual AAP Parent Info Session
(Link to Follow)
Tuesday, 9/28 PTA Spirit Night – Villa Bella
Wednesday, 10/6 Walk to School Day
Monday, 10/11 Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Student Holiday
Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL
5:00 Virtual Level IV AAP Referral Information Meeting
(Link to Follow)
Friday, 10/29 End of First Quarter – 2-hour Early Release (1:25 dismissal)
Kindergarten Color Days!
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. To mark this day, Thursday, September 16 is noted as a religious/cultural observance date on the FCPS calendar. We will also not schedule events on the evening of September 15.
The FCPS 2021-22 School Year Calendar ensures students do not have to make choices between honoring their cultural or religious beliefs and missing tests or school activities. Tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events cannot be scheduled on any religious and cultural observances. Tests and quizzes will be given prior to any of the 15 days so that students will not be expected to study on these days.
Community Flier Distribution
Each year schools invite non-profit organizations that benefit children to submit fliers for distribution to our school community. Our fall community flier distribution date is Thursday, September 30. If you would like to send a flier out to our school community, please submit a copy to our front office for approval by Thursday, September 16, and ensure the following is included on the flier: “This event (or activity) is sponsored by the (name of organization) and is operated independently of the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, and Union Mill Elementary School.” Additionally, make sure the sponsor, purpose, and designated use of the funds is stated on the flier. Details about quantities will be shared once the flier is approved.
Thank You to Apple Federal Credit Union!
Apple Federal Credit Union hosted their annual school supply drive and designated Terra Centre as one of the recipients! Thank you to the Burke Apple Federal Credit Union and Rosa Vasquez, Branch Manager at the Burke location, for all of the backpacks and school supplies for our students!
TERRA CENTRE
21-22 STUDENT LEADERSHIP APPLICATION
Below is the link for the 4th-6th grade students who want to apply to be members of the TC Leadership Team (2021-2022). Students need to log into their fcpsschools.net (Gmail) accounts to complete the form.
Leadership Application
Applications are due on Friday, Sept 17 by 3:30 PM.
Thank you,
Mrs. Toth Mrs. Jewell
jstoth@fcps.edu mcjewell@fcps.edu
ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP) ELEMENTARY CONTINUUM OF SERVICES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services rather than labeling students. Students have:
- Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
- A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.
Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level:
Tier 1 Access to AAP Curriculum and Strategies
Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
- All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
- Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Level I services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength
Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students are strong in one or more subject areas. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
- Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects
- Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness
- Classroom teachers provide additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Level II Services are re-evaluated each year.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs
Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas. They need part-time AAP services.
- Students work with students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
- Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Level III services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs
Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:
- Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, and social studies curriculum, and
- Mathematics curriculum with depth and complexity that is at least one year above grade level.
Level IV services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Screening for Levels II-IV
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Eligibility decisions for Level II and Level III services are made by a committee at the local school
Screening for Level II and Level III services is ongoing throughout the school year. To refer for Level II or III services, submit the AAP School-Based Referral Form to the AART and the local school.
Eligibility decisions for full-time Level IV services are made by the countywide central selection committee.
Screening for Level IV services occurs during specific screening cycles:
- Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
- Fall referrals are due October 7.
- Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student
- The referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.
Referral forms for Levels II-IV are found at https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Ability Testing
FCPS uses ability testing as one part of the holistic screening process for Levels II-IV services. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized in the holistic screening process.
- All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT).
- All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).
- NNAT and/or CogAT may be administered to students in Grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.
Parents or guardians may request a one-time retest in grades 3-6 during the fall testing windows. Please contact the school testing coordinator, Teresa Lewis TMLewis@fcps.edu, no later than September 15 to request a retake of the CogAT or no later than October 15 for a retake of the NNAT.
Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7 as there will be no referrals for Level IV screening accepted past the deadline.
Elementary Parent Information Meetings
A Terra Centre parent information meeting will be held virtually on September 27 at 5:00 pm (link to follow). The AART, Melanie Jewell MCJewell@fcps.edu, will provide information about levels of service and examples at Terra Centre, explain the screening processes, and answer questions about part-time school-based and full-time Level IV services. A specific Level IV referral information meeting will be held virtually on October 11 at 5:00 pm (link to follow).
Young Scholars
FCPS developed the Young Scholars Model to help identify students from historically underrepresented populations for AAP services. The model provides additional opportunity to nurture talent and build confidence so that students can meet their potential.
Twice-Exceptional (2e)
Some gifted students also have learning disabilities. These twice-exceptional, or “2e” students need strengths-based instruction. Their learning challenges also must be supported. FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students. You can find these resources by going to www.fcps.edu and searching “2e.”
Middle and High School AAP
Additional information about middle and high school services may be found on the Advanced Academic Programs web page. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs
Robinson's 50th Anniversary Homecoming
Friday, September 24
Tutoring Opportunity for Terra Centre Students
A message from Hana Choi, Center Manager with GIVE Youth (Growth and Inspiration through Volunteering and Education Burke Centre burke.centre@giveyouth.org:
GIVE Tutoring is a student run non-profit organization that provides free tutoring for elementary school students. Students are tutored by high school volunteers on the weekends during the school year. We have 20+ locations in the Northern Virginia area, including one at Burke Centre Library.
Each session is roughly 2 hours long with a short break in between. Last year we conducted tutoring virtually and now are proceeding with in-person sessions with COVID-19 precautions in place which includes: requiring masks regardless of vaccination status, socially distancing, sanitization, and monitoring of all students and tutors in addition to any future recommendations from the CDC.
We would like to extend the opportunity to students at Terra Centre Elementary School as a way to earn enrichment through this program. Parents and guardians may apply at this link and more information is available on our website (giveyouth.org) or through email at directors@giveyouth.org. Currently a date has not been yet finalized for the fall session however, any finalized information will be sent out to tutors and students.
COVID-19 Community Notifications
Health and Safety Guidance Webpage
Our Health and Safety Guidance Webpage has the most current information about our layered prevention strategies, what happens if your child becomes ill at school, and the process when there is a pause in instruction or activities after a positive COVID case.
Identified Close Contacts
FCPS has posted a flowchart outlining process for students identified as a close contact.
COVID Dashboard
FCPS Covid-19 Dashboard - All FCPS COVID-19 cases are reported via a dashboard posted to the FCPS website and updated daily.
FCPS Return to School Links
Please visit the following links for additional information on health and safety. Documents and information are continually updated.
-
Daily Health Screening Questionnaire: FCPS asks that all parents/guardians review the Daily Health Screening Questionnaire before sending their child to school. This is on the honor system.
|
