Great Falls ES Families,
Fall is finally here, and we could not be happier about the cooler temperatures and fun fall activities we have planned. Thanks to the PTA for a fantastic Fall Festival! It was so nice for Chris and myself to see all of the costumes and speak with families. It is always one of our favorite events!
I hope you all are enjoying the cooler weather and have plans to celebrate the upcoming long weekend together. As we kick off weekend, I want to bring your attention to a few items:
Tomorrow, Friday Oct 29
Tomorrow is an early release day; we will dismiss at 1:30. In addition, students will be able to dress as their favorite book character. The following are the guidelines for book character costume day:
- Students should not wear masks.
- Toys and/or fake weapons should remain at home.
- Costumes should be appropriate and follow dress code.
- Whenever possible, students should bring the book to align with their character costume.
Change of Transportation
Over the last month, we have noticed some common trends with our new Change of Transportation procedures. Please take the following into account to help support our ability to get students home safely:
- Please remember we can not honor COT requests for bus riders.
- COT forms should be completed the night before or day of the change.
- COT forms are processed daily at 1:00. If forms are submitted after this time, we are unable to ensure they will reach teachers and classrooms.
- You must complete your child's COT form only. Please do not submit for children in other families and/or friends.
- COT forms should not be completed in an attempt to pick students up early and avoid kiss and ride lines. Please refrain from pulling students from school after 3pm.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to iron out all of these processes and get our students home safely.
Thank you,
Sara Harper
 GFES is proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy for our continued efforts to improve the energy efficiency of our building.
Calendar Updates
October
16: SCA Spirit Day: Book Character Day
28: 2 Hour Early Release (1:30 p.m.)
November
1: Teacher Work Day/Parent Conferences: No School for Students
2: Teacher Work Day/Parent Conferences: No School for Students
11: 2 Hour Early Release (1:30 p.m.)
24-26: Schools and Office Closed - Thanksgiving
See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar
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Fond Farewell
Our wonderful school health aide, Mrs. Wallace, has decided to retire beginning November 5th. We realize that Ms. Wallace has impacted many students, families, and staff lives during her time at Great Falls Elementary.
We will certainly miss Mrs. Wallace, and she has assured us she will return to volunteer whenever we need her. We are all very excited to wish her well on her next great adventure!
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Picture Make Up Day - November 5
Make Up Day is for the following students:
*Students who were absent on our original picture day, September 23
*Students who enrolled at Great Falls after September 23 (the school has a list)
*Students who are dissatisfied with their original portrait. Note: Original portrait package must be returned on Make Up Day in order to receive a new package.
If you have not ordered pictures yet, you can do so using the link below:https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000874541
If you have questions regarding your pictures or the online ordering process, please contact Victor O'Neill Studios at underclass@vosphoto.com.
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GFES and the Positivity Project
This year, we continue with our MARK and Positivity Project work during morning meetings. The Positivity Project (P2) is dedicated to empowering America’s youth to build positive relationships by recognizing the character strengths in themselves and others. The vision is to help schools and families cultivate citizens and leaders who will enhance our communities and our country.
For the month of November, our students will focus on the following traits:
November 7: Bravery
November 14: Gratitude
November 28: Kindness
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Family Life Education Parent Preview Day
For students in grades 3-6 NEW to FCPS since January 2021
You are invited to attend an opportunity to preview Family Life Education media/lessons as well as talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on November 19th from 9:00am-10:00am in the Great Falls Elementary school library. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the opt out form found online by visiting https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form.
Instructional Resource Review
New K-8 Language Arts Instructional Resource Review
Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources for school years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet in November and December to review the instructional materials under consideration and community feedback. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources.
Elementary English Language Arts basal instructional resources may be accessed in person and online October 26 through November 26, 2021. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available at the following link https://www.fcps.edu/node/36853. People reviewing the material online may complete an electronic comment sheet https://forms.gle/VKxcfabLedjYAZpS8. In addition, hard copies of instructional resources will be available in the lobby of Willow Oaks Administrative Center. Willow Oaks is open each business day from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm and extended hours will be provided until 7:45 pm on October 26 and November 3, 2021. All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
New K-8 Science Basal Instructional Resource Review
Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new K – 8 Science Basal Instructional Resources for the 2022-2023 school year. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers will meet in November and December to review the instructional materials under consideration and community feedback. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources.
K - 8 basal instructional resources may be accessed online until November 14, 2021. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available at the following link https://www.fcps.edu/node/39027. People reviewing the material online may complete an electronic comment sheet https://forms.gle/g76TjGmewaN8Fgfb6. All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
Macey Zilberman
Hi! My name is Macey Zilberman, and I am so excited to be joining the Great Falls Elementary community this year! Last year, I was a 6th grade teacher at Graham Road Elementary in FCPS Region 2. I love seeing students five days a week again! I am also hoping to implement some inquiry-based learning in the classroom this year.
I live with my husband and daughter in Alexandria, VA. In my free time I love reading to my daughter, hiking around the national and state parks in our area, and cooking (not always very well).
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Kayoko Noonan
Hello Everyone! I'm so excited to be joining the GFES community! Last year, I had the opportunity to be a long-term substitute at Cooper Middle School, and I was so impressed with the kids and their Japanese abilities. To be able to teach Japanese Immersion at GFES and be at the beginning of the students' journey learning Japanese language and culture is a great honor; I'm very much looking forward to meeting and working with you.
I'm originally from Chiba, Japan, just outside of Tokyo. I taught public school there ten years before moving to Taiwan and then Kazan, Russia, for two years. We moved to DC in 2016 and I have been teaching at the Washington Japanese Language School since then. I have a nearly eight-year-old daughter who we are raising to be bilingual; it's a constant challenge to make Japanese an authentic part of her life, especially this year with not being able to travel back to Chiba. I enjoy hiking in the many green spaces in the DMV, enjoying a coffee outdoors and eventually traveling again.
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Ally Weingast
My name is Ally Weingast and I’m so thrilled to be a Roadrunner! I was able to see how special GFES is last Spring, when I was a Classroom Monitor for the 5th/6th Grade JIP students. This year, I’m excited to be joining the staff as an Instructional Assistant.
I am extremely familiar with FCPS as all four of our children, ages 27 to 15 have gone through Colvin Run Elementary, Cooper MS and Langley HS. Our youngest will be a Freshman at Langley this year and the oldest have all graduated college and are doing great things. I’ve always been an active participant in their education, serving many leadership roles on PTOs/PTSAs and volunteering in the classroom. Prior to motherhood, I was a journalist and worked for many years as a TV Producer for a weekly public affairs program on NBC. Last school year I was able to see first hand how hard teachers work and the compassion and patience they bring to the job every single day. I’m so happy to be working at GFES this year!
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Bus Driver Appreciation
On October 20th, the PTA helped celebrate Virginia's Bus Driver Appreciation Day with some special treats. We are so thankful for the wonderful team of drivers that safely shuttle our children to and from school each day. It is never too late to let your child's bus driver know how much you appreciate them with a note, a word of thanks or even a friendly wave and a smile! Thank you to our hospitality chairperson, Lauren Ambrosini, for putting these wonderful fall-themed gifts together.
Successful Book Fair!
Congratulations to the Book Fair Committee on a successful book fair week! This year's Fair was a huge undertaking given the limit on number of volunteers, so thanks to our volunteers for your hard work and dedication, particularly Co-Chairs Jannette Fields and Sandra Musser!
PTA General Meeting Notes
We were honored to have Principal Harper and Dr. Litz as our special guests during our 1st general PTA meeting of the school year. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties we were unable to record the meeting as planned. Thankfully, Mrs. Harper included her answers to all of your submitted questions in the slides linked below.
October 13 Meeting Notes
Please plan to attend our next general meeting on Wednesday November 10th at 9:45am when we will welcome Rachel Bailey (https://rachel-bailey.com/about-rachel-2/) as our speaker.
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