Lemon Road Community News 10.28.21

Message from Mrs. Castillo

DanceFit

Thank you for supporting the super-successful PTA fundraiser!  It was tons of fun and we have raised a lot of money that will be used to support math resources, math manipulatives in the classrooms, and STEAM materials.  We accomplished our goal of $15,000 and Mr. Birge and I look forward to working from the roof next Wednesday (weather-permitting). We are VERY close to our stretch goal of $20,000. As a celebration, we are planning for an outdoor movie night on November 12. More details to come!

Aside from Dance-a-Thon, we ended quarter 1 with a Spooky Spirit Week and welcomed School Board Member Elaine Tholen to spend an afternoon with us. During her visit, we spent time in many classrooms, observed kindergarten math workshop, second grade social studies, fifth grade science, a Socratic Seminar in sixth grade, and hit the dance floor.

Our ability to spend time outdoors has directly impacted keeping our students and staff safe and healthy in school. Students will continue to go outside daily. Please ensure all students have appropriate footwear and layers to adjust for changing temperatures throughout the day. We know our children need time outdoors for recess and are committed to remaining outdoors for lunch. Another huge thank you to our parent volunteers for helping us at lunch. Have a few hours to give between 10:45 – 1:15? Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4aafa92ea3f85-lemon we rely on volunteers and appreciate you!

Tomorrow is our first early dismissal of the year. Students will dismiss at 1 PM and rain is predicted. Please ensure that all students are sent with a rain coat and boots/shoes that can get wet.

Have a fun and safe weekend with your children. Thank you for sharing them with us!

Elaine Tholen

Support LRES Families

Families In Need

Each year, the Lemon Road community and staff support our own families in need. We plan to provide a large grocery order of food and holiday gifts for the children of families in need within the Lemon Road community. This is a joint effort shared between our parents and staff. We have partnered with Educate Fairfax (formerly the Foundation for FCPS) to create a safe way to collect needed donations to support our goal of supporting 30 families. Please consider making a donation and sharing this link with your network who may be interested in helping: https://educatefairfax.app.neoncrm.com/donation.jsp?campaign=129&


FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards

Staff

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! Would you like to celebrate the work of a staff member who has gone above and beyond welcoming students back to school this year? To submit a nomination for a Lemon Road Elementary School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. If you are unsure of which category to use for an employee, please read the criteria in the Google Form or email Abby Doble or Erin Dickey-Dunn! 

Outstanding Teacher  

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)

Outstanding New Teacher 

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)

Outstanding Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal 

Outstanding Leader  

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as an Assistant Principal

Outstanding Professional Employee  

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership such as School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor

Outstanding Operational Employee 

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee such as Administrative and Office Staff, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons 

The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

If you have any questions, please contact Abby Doble at abdoble@fcps.edu or Erin Dickey-Dunn at ekdickeydunn@fcps.edu. 


Quarter 1 Progress Reports

Progress Reports

Your child’s Quarter 1 progress report demonstrates achievement, effort and citizenship skills after the first 9 weeks of a return to in-person learning. The purpose of any system of reporting to families is to strengthen the home-school partnership and to inform families about student progress. This 1st quarter was unique and presented new opportunities for teachers to prioritize social-emotional health and wellness, as well as identify academic needs through a variety of assessments.  Getting to know each child is the best way to match instructional programming to student needs. School staff continues to assess and monitor students’ strengths and areas for growth using a variety of assessments. Your child will continue to have opportunities to demonstrate mastery towards grade level standards throughout the school year and your child’s teacher will continue to communicate your child’s progress. 

For more information about elementary grading and reporting, please visit the FCPS website (https://www.fcps.edu/academics/grading-and-reporting/elementary-school ) or refer to the information included on the progress report envelope. Progress Report grades will be viewable in SIS ParentVue on November 6 and will be sent home in Wednesday folders on November 10.


VaxUP FCPS

Vax Up

Tuesday, an FDA advisory panel voted to recommend that the full agency approve Pfizer’s low dose vaccine for children ages 5-11. We continue to monitor the approval process and engage with our community partners so we are ready to do our part to facilitate widespread vaccination among our young students. You may share the following statement with families:

Tuesday’s news that an FDA panel has recommended Pfizer’s low dose vaccine for children ages 5-11 brings hope that we can add another layer of prevention for children during this pandemic. As we await a final decision, please know that Fairfax County Public Schools and our community partners including the Fairfax County Health Department, Inova Health
System, and local pediatric groups, are working together to ensure that every
family who wishes to vaccinate their children ages 5-11 will have access to the
vaccine. For the latest information on our vaccination rollout plans, visit our website.


Positivity Project: Perspective

Perspective

You appreciate when people see things in different ways. You have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view.  Perspective is also referred to as wisdom and is distinct from intelligence. People with this strength are sought out for advice because they see the big picture and can make sense of the world’s complexity. This strength of perspective gives individuals the ability to see to the heart of difficult matters and achieve clarity. Most importantly, they are honest and behave in an ethically consistent manner.


Community Review of Elementary Basal Instructional Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources and Science Basal Instructional Resources for upcoming school years. 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.  All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting. 

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 November 3.

K - 8 Science 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


Upcoming Important Dates

Friday, October 29: End of First Quarter - 2 Hour Early Release; Freaky Friday – Costume Day

Monday, November 1: A Week; Student Holiday; Front Office Open 8 AM – 12 PM

Tuesday, November 2: Student Holiday; Voting at LRES; Front Office Open 8 AM – 12 PM

Wednesday, November 3: Principals work from the Roof; PTA Zoom Event with Pediatrician regarding Health & Vaccines for children (7 PM)

Thursday, November 4: Observance of Diwali

Friday, November 5: Grade 1 Field Trip; LRES Spirit Wear Day

Monday, November 8: B Week

Tuesday, November 9: Lifetouch Make Up Photos

Thursday, November 11: Veteran’s Day Early Release; Book Fair Set Up

Friday, November 12:  Virtual Principals’ Coffee – AAP Level IV Referral Process with Ms. Straw (8:30 AM); Hold for Outdoor Movie Night starting at 7 PM

Tuesday, November 16: Book Fair Purchase Day; Extended Family Hours (Last Names A – F) from 3:15 – 6:00 PM

Wednesday, November 17: Book Fair Purchase Day; Extended Family Hours (Last Names G – N) from 3:15 – 6:00 PM

Thursday, November 18: Book Fair Purchase Day; Extended Family Hours (Last Names O – Z) from 3:15 – 6:00 PM

Friday, November 19:  Book Fair Purchase Day

2021 FCPS Student Calendar Quick Glance

Pajama Day

Pajamas

Socks

Socks