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Good Afternoon Waples Mill Families,
Here are this week's updates:
WMES PTA Book Fair (Online) Open Through Dec. 1!
The Waples Mill PTA Fall Book Fair is online this year from November 1 - December 1. There are many great selections and even some recommendations from our own librarian, Ms. Bruner! Also be sure to check out the Teacher Wish Lists. There’s FREE direct shipping for orders over $40 or opt for FREE bulk shipping for items to be distributed at school once the book fair ends. All purchases benefit the WMES PTA. Thank you for your support!
Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid.
Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the boxes in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 5. All results are confidential.
More information is available online.
Children Ages 5-11 Now Eligible to VaxUP
Community clinics and local pediatricians will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11 very soon. Up-to-date information about vaccination opportunities will be available on our website.
Please view this short video to learn how the vaccine works and more about its safety.
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Information Meeting/Upcoming Deadlines
An Advanced Academic Program (AAP) parent information meeting will be held virtually on November 11, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Carrie Bannon (cmbannon@fcps.edu) will provide information about levels of service and examples at Waples Mill, as well as explain and answer questions about the screening process for part-time school-based and Level IV AAP services. The meeting is open to all K-6 parents.
Here is the link to access the meeting at 6:00 p.m.: Join Zoom Meeting
You can also join using the following Meeting ID and Passcode:
Meeting ID: 940 5452 4302
Passcode: 665584
The spring deadline for Level IV referrals is December 15, 2021, for the 2022-2023 school year. Level IV referral forms and screening materials are due on or before the due date, to Carrie Bannon (cmbannon@fcps.edu). Please copy Principal Brotemarkle (gjbrotemarkle@fcps.edu). It is important to note that there have been changes in the screening materials that parents can submit this year. Further information can be found at this link: Click Here.
Please contact Mrs. Bannon if you have any questions.
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 provide 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 by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/VKxcfabLedjYAZpS8.
All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
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 provide 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 by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/g76TjGmewaN8Fgfb6.
All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
WMES Outstanding Employee Awards
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Waples Mill 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 (individuals may 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. The google form has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below:
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 12, 2021
If you have any questions, please contact Bianca Sanchez at btsanchez@fcps.edu
Subs Save the Day!
FCPS is looking for kind and caring substitute teachers to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers need to be out of the building. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, and anyone who wants a flexible work schedule. Subs save the day- apply today!
Daily Health Screening Questionnaire Reminder
Parents, caregivers, and guardians are asked 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 screening questions, please keep your child home:
- Feeling feverish and/or having chills –documented temperature of 100.4°F or higher?
- Has there been any use of fever reducing medication within the last 24 hours?
- A new cough that is not due to another health condition?
- Nasal congestion or runny nose?
- New shortness of breath or difficulty breathing that is not due to another health condition?
- New chills that are not due to another health condition?
- A new sore throat that is not due to another health condition?
- New muscle aches that are not due to another health condition, or that may have been caused by a specific activity (such as physical exercise)?
- Fatigue (more tired than usual)?
- Headache?
- A new loss of taste or smell?
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting?
- New onset of poor appetite or poor feeding?
- Have you had a positive test for the virus that causes COVID-19 disease within the past 10 days?
- Were you currently tested for COVID-19 because you were sick and are still waiting for the lab results?
- In the past 14 days, have you had close contact (within about 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
Stay Connected By Signing Up for FCPS News You Choose Emails
Please make sure you are signed up to receive the news you need via the link to News You Choose. You need to actively select which newsletters you wish to receive.
Suggested selections include:
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Waples Mill Elementary and Waples Mill PTA Emails – Under the category of Waples Mill Elementary School, select “News and announcements” and “Waples Mill ES PTA” to receive the latest updates.
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FCPS This Week - this is where FCPS updates are shared with the community. Make sure you know what the community knows.
FCPS Cares Program
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
Important Calendar Reminders
November 11 – Veterans Day – Two hour early release (dismissal at 2:00)
November 24-26 – Thanksgiving Holiday – No School
(Standard School Year Calendar)
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