 Soaring into the 2022-2023 School Year
What an amazing week it was! We welcomed back all teachers and staff on Monday for our inspiring Staff Kick Off, and the dedicated staff spent the week planning, learning, and preparing together for our students’ return. They can't wait to welcome our Falcons back tomorrow!
Our second annual Welcome Walks on Thursday were absolutely magical. Staff visited all our Forestdale Falcons at home, and it was an incredible opportunity to connect with students and families in the community and welcome them back to school.
We ended our week together with our annual Forestdale Family Day on Friday! The combined Open House/Back-to-School Night event was topped off with our Family BBQ where our community was able to connect with one another and meet new friends. It was such a joy to welcome our Falcons home.
What an incredible start to an incredible year ahead of us! Welcome back, Falcon Family!
Jenny Cunneen, Proud Principal
LaDonna Tate, Proud Assistant Principal
See you Tomorrow!
We are looking forward to seeing our Falcons tomorrow, August 22, for the first day of school! Here are a few reminders for parents:
Our school hours are from 8:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., and every minute counts!
The doors will open at 8:40 a.m., and parents may walk their child to the classroom door on Monday, August 22 and Tuesday, August 23. Students will be walking to class independently with staff support beginning Wednesday, August 24.
Students in grades PreK-6 should be in their classroom seats no later than 8:50 a.m. Our day begins by connecting with one another and building relationships among staff and students for productive learning.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
Forestdale is one of 34 schools in FCPS that has been given the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2022-2023 school year. Therefore, ALL Forestdale students may receive breakfast and lunch each day at no cost this school year.
If your child chooses to eat breakfast at home and bring a lunch to school, no worries. Please make sure any packed snacks or meals are in plastic containers that your child can open without adult assistance.
Note: Forestdale families do NOT need to complete a Free and Reduced Meals application this year. This is an update since our August 5 Falcon Press.
Transportation Information
Bus
Bus routes were shared with families by the FCPS Office of Transportation. If you are unsure of your child’s bus number and stop information, contact the school office at (703)313-4300.
To know when your child's bus is approaching, get the Here Comes the Bus mobile app. It is a school bus tracking system that gives you real-time bus location and text or email notification. Click here for more information and the FCPS access code.
Walkers
Families walking their student to school can walk them to the crosswalk on Elder Avenue or to Door 1. Walkers will be dismissed from Door 1 as well at the end of the day.
Kiss and Ride
- New families who are in need of a Kiss and Ride tag should come into the school office to get a tag. Tags are required for families whose students will be picked up every day from Kiss and Ride.
- Students will be let out of cars starting at 8:40 a.m. and will be dismissed to cars starting at 3:35 p.m.
- Please read the complete detailed Kiss and Ride procedures here.
Changes to Your Child's Transportation
Teachers need to know how all students typically get to school. Should you need to make alternate arrangements one day (i.e. you will pick up your child instead of sending him on the bus), let the office and teacher know that morning so they are aware of the change. Thank you for your support.
 Communications with Forestdale
Staying informed is essential to our successful partnership. There are several ways we will communicate with you this year:
News You Choose
Forestdale uses News You Choose to distribute our bi-weekly family newsletter, The Falcon Press (this newsletter). News You Choose is an electronic communication platform that allows community members the ability to select what information they want to receive and how often from individual schools, the School Board office and members, departments, programs, and PTA/PTO and booster organizations. Subscribers can change their settings or unsubscribe at any time.
All Falcon Press newsletters are archived on our school website and can be read in multiple languages.
Make sure we have your current email so that we can send you updates. Or, you can click here to subscribe!
eNotify
Parents/guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students are automatically enrolled to receive e-Notify Communications. FCPS central offices and schools use this system to communicate emergency, delayed opening and school closing information, attendance, and other essential communications. Contact information from the student information system are uploaded to the eNotify system. It is important that parents keep their child’s emergency contact information up-to-date. To update, email our interim Student Information Assistant, Ms. Jami O'Hagan, at JJOHagan@fcps.edu, fill out your emergency care card, or update through your SIS ParentVUE account.
Talking Points
Teachers use the Talking Points messenger app, which allows teachers and staff to connect and communicate with families via text messaging directly to their phones and in their home languages. Teachers will share information on how to sign up for Talking Points.
SIS ParentVUE
Parents can access information about their child’s attendance, class performance, and manage emergency communication and FCPS forms via a SIS ParentVue account. Click here for more information. If you need an activation code, please call the school at 703-313-4300.
PTA Corner
Free Pizza at our First PTA Meeting
Join us for our first PTA meeting of the year at 6 p.m. on September 7 in the cafeteria. Register for upcoming events, learn about our mission, and buy t-shirts (cash only). The meeting will be informal, giving you time to meet other families. Kids are welcome.
Become a Member
Join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)! Your membership helps support events and resources for our school You can join by clicking this link. You can also make donations to the PTA at this link. Membership is $10 per family.
Color Walk & Roll: September 23
Get messy and have fun at our first Color Walk and Roll from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. on September 23. The cost for this event is $5 per person or $20 per family. Register in advance here or with cash at the event. Participants can join in at any time and complete as many laps as they want. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. Our fabulous Forestdale staff will spray children with colorful powder paint, showing lots of school spirit! Children age 12 and younger will receive a free white t-shirt. Water and field activities will be available.
Learn More about the PTA
Learn more on Facebook by following "Forestdale Elementary PTA" on Facebook or emailing questions to forestdaleelementarypta@gmail.com.
Important Dates
August 22
First Day of School
September 2-5
Labor Day Holiday, No School
September 7
PTA Meeting, 6:00 p.m., cafeteria
September 23
PTA Color Walk & Roll, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
September 26
Rosh Hashanah: No School (Student Holiday/Staff Workday)
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