February 28, 2022
Principal's Message
My Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,
We hope this letter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits. Tomorrow, March 1st, marks a new phase in these unprecedented times--COVID. Based on the new metrics and CDC guidance, in addition to our students, FCPS will now allow everyone—staff, parents, and guardians of FCPS students to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask. The decision to wear a mask or not to wear a mask is a personal one for our staff and families. This decision may be based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture. Thank you, Dolphin Family, for all that you do to honor and respect each other during this transition.
Wishing you an amazing week filled with kindness, peace, and HOPE!
~Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. ~ Desmond Tutu
~Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and starts to sing while it is still dark.~ Author Unknown
All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal
Mark Your Calendars
Read Aross America Week
Monday, February 28: Books about Immigration
Tuesday, March 1: Books about Famous Americans
Wednesday March 2: Read a silly story
Thursday, March 3: Books about different cultures, Book Character dress up day, Book give-away, 2-hour Early Release
Friday, March 4: Student Holiday/Staff Development
Library News
Did you know myON has books in Spanish in addition to English? Students love using myON to access eBooks that are read aloud. This platform has thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles at many different reading levels. Users can filter a search by clicking the “water fountain” icon and then selecting fiction/non-fiction, grade level, language, and more. For language, users can select English (US or UK), Spanish, or bi-lingual! This amazing resource is available to all FCPS students free of charge. If you have any questions about using myON, please reach out to our librarian at beoswalt@fcps.edu. Happy reading!
|
Read Across America Week – February 28 – March 3
STEAM Fair April 20, 2022
Sign-up here!
FCPS Mask Update
Dear FCPS Community and Staff,
Late Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated health guidance that included new metrics for determining COVID-19 community levels. Based on this new guidance, Fairfax County’s current COVID-19 community level is low.
Based on these new metrics and CDC guidance, FCPS will now adjust our roll back plan and allow everyone - staff and parents/guardians of FCPS students - to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask starting Tuesday, March 1.
Monday will be a day to prepare for this transition. Students and staff will have the day to get answers to questions and prepare for the change. We will share additional information tomorrow that will help us all prepare.
The decision to wear a mask or not is a personal one for our staff and families, based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture, and we will see that value in action as we treat each other with respect and understanding during this transition.
Families, please talk with your children about these upcoming changes so they are prepared for this transition and understand your expectations for them at school.
We are encouraged by the continued decline in COVID-19 cases in our community. However, we are also committed to keeping our schools safe for all to learn and work in person. Please continue to do your part to maintain a healthy environment by monitoring for illness and staying home when sick.
Masking requirements will remain in place after March 1 for Fort Belvoir Elementary School, due to its location on a military base, and Head Start and Early Head Start, due to federal requirements.
Scott S. Brabrand Superintendent Fairfax County Public Schools
  Elementary magnet school program applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, March 1. Selection for available magnet school spaces is based on a lottery. Registration for the elementary magnet school lottery closes on Tuesday, April 12, at 4 p.m.
- Bailey’s Primary School for the Arts and Sciences will accept lottery applications for students who will be in grades K-2 during the 2022-23 school year;
- Bailey’s Upper School for the Arts and Sciences will accept applications for students in grades 3 and 4.
- Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences will accept lottery applications for students who will enter grades K-5 during the 2022-23 school year.
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend school-based information nights to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and available transportation. Sessions will be held virtually and parents will need to register in advance using the links found on the magnet lottery webpage
Get more information about parent information nights and the magnet school lottery.
Help Keep Kiss and Ride Lines Moving
This year, schools across FCPS have experienced a significant increase in Kiss and Ride. You can do your part to help make the Kiss and Ride line go as quickly and safely as possible by making sure that your student is ready to exit your vehicle when you enter the drop off zone. Have them gather everything they will be taking with them to school ahead of time so they are ready to go when it is your turn. Some schools have several hundred cars per day; even saving 10-20 seconds per car can make a big difference.
Also, please consider parking away from the school and walking with your student the rest of the way. This way you and your student get in a little exercise. If there is a public parking lot nearby, think about working with your neighbors and walking together from a remote location.
Performance-Based Assessments Allow Students to Show What They Know
 FCPS students in grades 3-8 will participate in performance-based assessments (PBAs) again this year in place of Standards of Learning (SOL) tests to show what they know about their elementary and middle school course standards. PBAs are an innovative assessment practice tied to students’ development of Portrait of a Graduate skills.
PBAs require students to perform a task that teachers score using a descriptive rubric. Examples include participating in a debate, creating a persuasive piece of media, or writing an essay. The following courses use at least one PBA each year as part of state expectations: grade 3 science, grades 3-8 social studies, grade 5 writing, and grade 8 writing.
To learn more about PBAs in grades 3-8 and how you can support your student, visit the Local Alternative Assessment and PBA public webpage.
Open Enrollment for Dual Language Immersion Programs
Online registration for the county-wide lottery for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) dual language immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 24. Current prekindergarten students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program and current kindergarten students may apply for the first-grade immersion programs for the 2022-23 school year. Online registration will close February 16, 2022, at 4 p.m. Late online registration will open February 28, 2022. Late applications will be added to the end of the generated waiting list according to the date received.
The kindergarten DLI programs are available in Korean and Spanish. Korean is available at Powell Elementary, and Spanish is available at Bailey’s Primary, Fort Hunt, Lake Anne, Laurel
Ridge, London Towne, and Rose Hill Elementary Schools. First grade DLI programs are available at 12 elementary schools and are offered in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. There are no formal criteria for enrollment, but the program is only open to residents of Fairfax County. Online registration is available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/dual-language-immersion-programs-registration
Take a Look at the Approved 2022-23 School Year Calendar
The 2022-23 school year calendar has been approved. Next year’s school calendar focuses on instruction and student and operational needs. The calendar also reflects significant community and employee engagement throughout the calendar development process.
Important Dates:
- Monday, August 22, 2022: First day of school.
- November 23-25, 2022: Thanksgiving break.
- December 19, 2022 - January 2, 2023: Winter break.
- April 3-7, 2023: Spring break.
Changes:
- Veteran’s Day will be a professional work day.
- Spring break is aligned with surrounding districts.
- New instruction will be allowed to take place on days denoted as religious and cultural observances, or “O” days.
- Four observances will be student holidays:
- Rosh Hashanah.
- Yom Kippur.
- Orthodox Good Friday.
- Diwali.
See other highlights of the 2022-23 school year calendar. Stay tuned for more.
Webinar: Parenting Education for Arabic Families 4-part Series *Presented in Arabic
Thursdays in March 2022 6:30-8 p.m.
The webinar series addresses the challenges faced by Arab parents when raising their children in the United States of America and the cultural differences between generations.
Topics include:
- Cultural, psychological, emotional, and personal differences
- Parenting strategies based on empathy and understanding
Join Sarah Amri, psychologist and Program Supervisor at Northern Virginia Family Service and Hunada Zein Eddin, counselor at Northern Virginia Family Service
-
3/03/2022 Bridging Cultural and Generational Differences
-
3/10/2022 Effective Ways to Communicate
-
3/17/2022 Discipline Strategies
-
3/24/2022 Effective Parenting Styles
Register for Webinar: Parenting Education for Arabic Families 4-part Series *Presented in Arabic
SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-Person and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:
- Meet other siblings in a relaxed, virtual setting.
- Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
- Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
- Play games and have fun!
Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services Registration is free, however, donations are accepted to support the cost of future Sibshops: Donate Here
Friday, March 4, 2022. *School Planning Day – students are not attending school
Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person, and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar Series for PreK-2 Families
- 3/11/22: Supporting Self-Regulation Development in Early Learners
- 4/22/22: Supporting Healthy Habits & Routines in Early Learners
- 5/20/22: Growing through Tough Moments in Early Learners
There are so many ways children learn and develop throughout early childhood. Relationships, habits, and even challenges can become rich opportunities to teach and foster lifelong learning and skills for our children. Learn more about how self-regulation, executive functioning, and routines can help your children learn and develop.
- Laura Thieman, LCSW, MPH, RPT- FCPS Social Worker Supervisor, Region 3
- Amy Sheldon, MEd, MSW, LCSW - FCPS Preschool Mental Health Clinician, Early Childhood Assessment Team
- Lori Kraden, FCPS Educational Specialist, Behavior Intervention Services
Fridays 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Supporting Early Learners: Growing the Caregiver’s Toolbox: A Webinar for PreK-2 Families
Gang Prevention for Families and
Community Members
Join us for this webinar about preventing gang involvement in Fairfax County.
- Participants will learn about programs, strategies, and supports to prevent youth involvement.
- Discussions will also include supports available to those youth who may already be involved with or are currently being recruited by gangs.
Topics include:
- What is a gang and why do youth join gangs?
- Common gang activities
- Risk factors associated with gang involvement
- Protective factors that reduce gang involvement
- Supports available in Fairfax County and FCPS
Presented by:
- Stefan Mascoll: Coordinator Student Safety and Wellness, Fairfax County Public Schools
- Kate Reen: Director of Youth Initiatives, Northern Virginia Family Service
- Francisco Klockner Gonzalez - Gang Prevention Coordinator, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
- Dianna Sosa, LCSW, FCPS School Social Worker
Friday March 18, 2022 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Gang Prevention for Families and Community Members
Monitor you student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
|
