 Important Upcoming Dates
October 25-November 2: Fall Book Fair
October 29: End of First Quarter/2 Hour Early Release - 1:15p.m.
October 29: Action Item: Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) Signature Due
November 1 & 2: Student Holidays/Teacher Work Days
November 1: Dia de los Muertos
November 3: 2nd Quarter Begins
November 3: Family Life Education (FLE) Parent Information Session - 6:00p.m. (Virtual)
November 3: PTA Meeting - 6:30p.m. (Virtual)
November 4: Diwali
November 5: Federal Impact Aid Forms Due
November 5: PTA Fall Festival (Postponed Halloween Howl) - 5:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.
November 11: Veterans Day/2 Hour Early Release - 1:15p.m.
November 16: Picture Retakes
November 16: PTA Family Dinner Night - Noodles & Co. 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
November 16: Bears Bedtime Stories - 7:00p.m. (Virtual)
New This Week
1. Calendar Reminder
2. Halloween Howl - Postponed
3. Dismissal Reminders
4. OC Fall Book Fair
5. COVID-19 Screening Testing Updates
6. Action Needed: Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
7. Woodson’s Fall Festival
8. Veterans Day Event
9. PTA Corner
10. Community Review-Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
11. Community Review of K-8 Science Basal Instructional Resources
Reminders & Updates
12. FLE Parent Preview Night
13. Drama Club
14. Bears Care Outreach
15. Contacts
16. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
1. Calendar Reminder
As a reminder, Friday, October 29, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Students will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m.
Also, schools are closed for students on Monday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 2, for teacher work days. See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar.
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2. Halloween Howl - Postponed
The Howl will be replaced by a Fall Festival.
New Date: Friday, November 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Olde Creek Elementary School
It is with much sadness and disappointment that we will be postponing our Howl event. The weather forecasts predict heavy rain and strong wind gusts for Friday. The Howl will be replaced with a Fall Festival Friday, November 5th. The Fall Festival will be an all outdoor event. Masks will be encouraged. The Festival will include a DJ, carnival games, a cake walk, and other fun stations.
Please use this Google form - https://forms.gle/TkcUhapagEXA2ezDA - to:
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Get a refund if you purchased Howl tickets and can not attend the Fall Festival.
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RSVP yes or no for the November 5th Fall Festival.
- We need everyone who purchased Howl tickets to RSVP so we know how you would like us to handle your purchase.
- Adjust pizza pre-orders.
If you did not purchase tickets to the Halloween Howl and would like to purchase tickets or pre-order pizza for the Fall Festival, then please visit the PTA shop: https://shop.oldecreekpta.org. Ticket and pre-order pizza sales will close November 2nd.
Please sign-up to volunteer for the Fall Festival!
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3. Dismissal Reminders
We want to make sure all of our Bears get home safely each day. Due to Covid bus restrictions, students may not ride home on a bus that they are not assigned to in order to go home with a friend. Also, if a child is walking home with another student or being picked up at kiss & ride by another student’s parent, the office needs a written note from both children’s parents confirming this.
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4. OC Fall Book Fair
- The book fair is open and will run until Tuesday, November 2nd.
- We will be open during the teacher work days on 11/1 & 11/2 from 8:00a.m.-3:30p.m. Students must attend with an adult. Stop by and check out some of the great books!
- Look for your child’s wish list which should have come home recently in their backpack. Circle the titles on the wish list that you want to purchase. Then, send the wish list and the money for the books to school with your student. Their teacher will allow them to visit the book fair throughout the week.
- Tax is not charged for book fair items.
- Can’t make it to the in-person book fair? Then go to the virtual book fair using this link.
- Thank you for supporting the OC Library! 😊
5. COVID-19 Screening Testing Updates
Optional COVID-19 screening testing for students will begin November 15, not November 8 as previously announced. The change aligns all student screening testing start dates, making it more convenient for families with students in different grade levels.
Routine testing is a highly recommended strategy to reduce COVID-19 transmission and keep our schools safe. Following recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 10% of students who are not fully vaccinated and have parent/guardian consent will be randomly selected for weekly testing. Preregistration and consent information will be shared with families soon. Test results will be kept confidential. Parents/guardians will be able to review results through the secure vendor portal. Parents/guardians may select an option to share their child’s test results with FCPS.
For all the details about COVID-19 screening testing, visit our COVID-19 Screening Testing webpage. Screening testing is an important layered prevention strategy that helps keep our school a safe place for all students to learn. As always, I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
6. Action Needed: Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Parent/Guardian Signature
The Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable and supportive school environment. Changes to the 2021-22 SR&R include:
- Edited language throughout the document to reflect gender neutrality.
- A new section entitled Notable Changes for Students and Parents that highlights changes in the SR&R from last school year.
- Restructuring of the Rights and Responsibilities Chapter with student rights prominently featured.
- Language that further defines interaction of law enforcement and students.
- Additional terms in the glossary to increase understanding.
The SR&R Parent/Guardian signature sheet is due by October 29. More information about the SR&R is available online.
7. Woodson’s Fall Festival
8. Veterans Day Event
Olde Creek would like to invite our community’s military family members to speak with students and share their experiences on the morning of Thursday, November 11 to recognize Veterans Day. We are very proud to have so many military family members in our school community and we want our students and staff to have an opportunity to make a connection with all of you. We would like to invite all of the Active Duty, Reserve, and retired members of our Armed Forces in the Olde Creek community to join us on this important day.
On the morning of November 11 from 9:00-9:30, we invite veterans to visit a classroom in-person, to share a little bit about themselves and their service to our country.
If you are an active Duty, Reserve, or retired member of our Armed Forces or have a family member or friend that is interested in joining us on Thursday, November 11 from 9:00-9:30, please click on this link and fill out the survey by October 30. We look forward to seeing you on November 11.
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9. PTA Corner
Meeting Next Week: Please join us for the next PTA meeting on November 3rd at 6:30pm. The meeting link will be sent out next week.
Dinner Night: Our next PTA Family Dinner night will be on November 16 at Noodles and Company from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. Please see this flyer for more information.
School Directory - Sponsors Needed: Please consider sponsoring this year's school directory by placing an ad for your business! There are several options available in the print edition offering your business exposure for at least a year. You can refer to THIS LINK for pricing and available spaces. Please reach out to Stephanie Kempter from AtoZ if you want additional information. P: 240-328-9623 or E: stephanie@atozconnect.com
Yearbook Help: We are also looking for volunteers to help with the Olde Creek Yearbook. This volunteer position is completely online. The vendor makes it very easy to compile the yearbook. Please email Sandy, slmcculloch@fcps.edu, in the front office if you can help.
10. Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
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.
11. Community Review of K-8 Science Basal Instructional Resources
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.
12. FLE Parent Preview Night
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit.
Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions here.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
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Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
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Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
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Your child’s school. Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
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City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 3 from 6:00-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The link to join will be sent out on the morning of November 3.
Opt Out Information
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 form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt out forms online here. 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. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
If you have any questions, please feel free to connect with Ms. Butler, Assistant Principal.
13. Drama Club
It’s back!!! Drama club will be returning this year for another exciting season. This year, the club will be offered to 5th and 6th graders with a maximum of 35 students. Due to social distancing guidelines, priority will be given to 6th graders. Please register at this link by November 2, 2021.
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14. Bears Care Outreach
The Bears Care food pantry provides weekend food provisions to our families in need during this extraordinary time. Please use this sign up for much needed items that can either be dropped off at the school or sent through this Amazon Wish List. Go through Amazon Smile to donate a percentage to Olde Creek! (Email Lisa at lisamarm@gmail.com for other drop off/mailing information.)
New! You can donate through the OC PTA PayPal account. The funds will be used to purchase items and gift cards based on the greatest needs of our families. Access the OC PTA PayPal account here: https://paypal.me/OldeCreekPTA.
Thank you, as always, for your kindness and generosity!
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15. Contacts
Olde Creek Attendance Phone Line: 703-426-3192
Olde Creek Attendance mailbox: OldeCreekElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
Melissa Miller, Principal, mhmiller@fcps.edu
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal, ajbutler@fcps.edu
Kelly Durso, Assistant Principal, kldurso@fcps.edu
Sylvia Alverson, Administrative Assistant, sjalverson@fcps.edu
Ann Platenkamp, Administrative Assistant, amplatenkamp@fcps.edu
Lizardo Santos, Student Information Assistant, LISantos@fcps.edu
Sandy McCulloch, Office Assistant, slmcculloch@fcps.edu
16. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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