A Message from Principal Yacubovich


b2s

We are so excited to see all of our Bobcats tomorrow at 8:30 AM!


Bell Schedule

This year we will return to our normal bell schedule. Students will be welcomed into the building promptly at 8:30 AM, with the late bell ringing at 8:45 AM. We will release all students starting at 3:30 PM each day.


First Day

The first day of school is one of my favorite days of the year! It is important for children to begin and learn the routine of coming to school. I ask all families to arrive at school the same way you plan for them to travel each day. For example, if you want your child to ride the bus each morning, please have her/him ride the bus to school on the first day. 

Please talk with your child so they understand how they are going home. It is also important to communicate with the teacher. This communication helps ensure that everyone is dismissed successfully.

Bus Riders

If your child is going to take the bus, you will receive communication from transportation with your child’s bus number, stop, and approximate times. During the first week, your child should arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes early until the bus driver establishes a regular routine. We encourage you to practice going to your bus stop before the first day of school to help eliminate any additional first-day jitters. 

Here Comes the Bus® 

FCPS knows that knowing when the bus is coming is an important part of your morning and afternoon. You can download the app to know when your bus is approaching your stop.  Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. You can get additional information about the app and how to download it here.

Kiss and Ride

If you are planning to use Kiss and Ride during the school year, we ask that you please have a tag. If you previously had a Kiss and Ride tag, you will continue to use your current number. If you are new to Kiss and Ride, please complete the Kiss and Ride form. Please note that Kiss and Ride will take longer during the first two weeks. We ask that you continue to be patient and allow extra time.

The Kiss and Ride process will remain the same as the last 3 years. 

AM Dropoff 

  • Cars will pull to the front of the building with their student on the passenger side of the car if at all possible. (We do understand that some families have babies that need to be in the seat.)
  • A Pine Spring team member will open your child’s door and ensure your child gets into the building. Please do not get out of your car. 
  • We ask that you have said goodbye to your child and ensured that your child has everything they need for the day before you get to the drop-off zone. This ensures that all families are able to get through the line in a timely manner. 

PM Pick-up 

  • Cars will line up in the Kiss and Ride line outside of the main door, where you dropped your child off. We ask that you do not line up for pickup before 3 PM. 
  • A staff member will collect your tag number (or your child’s name for the first week). 
  • Once dismissal begins, children will come out of the building in the order of your arrival once you stop at the designated cones. 
  • Again, a team member will open your door so that your child can get into the car. 
  • If your child does not come out in time, or if your child still needs support with their seatbelt/car seat you will pull to the designated area so that you can park the car to wait/support your child. 
  • Please do not go around a car in line unless you are directed by a Pine Spring staff member. 

Walkers

Walkers Arrival 

  • We will welcome PreK-1st students starting at 8:30AM at Door 1.
  • We will welcome 2nd-6th students starting at 8:30AM at Door 6.
  • We will have staff stationed outside to support the transition.

Walkers Dismissal 

  • Parents of PreK walkers will be asked to meet their child at Door 1
  • Parents of K and 1st walkers will be asked to meet their child at the Library Door
  • Parents of 2nd-6th walkers will be asked to meet their child at Door 6 near the playground.

First Day Packets

  • A packet of information will be sent home on the first day of school. Please complete all mandatory forms in the packet and return them to school by Friday, August 26th
  • White envelopes will be sent home each Wednesday.  Please be sure that you check these envelopes each week and review the contents with your child. The folder should be returned each week.

safeway

Show your  Bobcat Pride! Help Safeway Foundation raise funds to support school projects and supplies for Pine Spring Elementary School. Donate at the Safeway store at 7397 Lee Hwy., Falls Church, VA. #Safeway Foundation #yourschoolhashtag #SafewaySchoolSpirit


Free and reduced

Free and Reduced Meal Application

Families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals for the 2022-23 school year.

Interested families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application ten days prior to the first day of the 2022-23 school year. The online application will be available later this summer and accessible via the FCPS homepage.  

Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. 

Please know that you are also helping Pine Spring when we are able to accurately record our school’s needs based on Free and Reduced Price Meal application numbers, as funds are distributed to schools based on these numbers. These funds allow us to provide our children with an equitable opportunity to thrive. At Pine Spring we use these funds to provide additional teachers that help close achievement gaps and increase rigor for all students. We also provide parent resources, supplies, family engagement opportunities such as Literacy and Science Night, and early intervention opportunities for our earliest learners. 

Watch your email and our website for more information. Learn more about the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program online. If you have questions, need a paper copy, or need assistance with the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application, please contact the front office at 571-226-4400. We look forward to supporting you. 

Pine Spring has been identified as a school that will continue to receive universal free breakfast and free lunch for the 2022-2023 school year. It is still critical to complete the application to ensure that you are able to access additional support such as support with field trips, additional weekend food supplies, band/string rental waiver, as well as other community supports.


Immunization

As we begin to look ahead to the 2022-23 school year, I encourage everyone to Be Wise, Immunize! Immunizations are required for public school entry and help keep children protected from many diseases. Many children missed their wellness check-ups and their recommended childhood immunizations due to the COVID-19 disruption. It is critical to catch up now to keep children healthy and protect them from serious diseases.

I encourage you to check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2022-23 school year as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine to complete their records, you can make an appointment with your healthcare provider or visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a schedule of child immunization clinics. 

Please keep in mind that the closer we get to school starting, the more difficult it will be to get an appointment that works with your schedule. If you wait till the end of the summer when appointments will be limited your child may not be able to start school on time due to a delayed immunization appointment.

Remember to request documentation of your child’s immunizations and bring that to Pine Spring as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact us at 571-226-4400. 


Back to School Night

On Tuesday, September 13th, we will have our virtual Back to School Night. This is an opportunity for you to learn about the grade-level curriculum, how to access and understand your child’s learning progress, understand how attendance impacts learning progress. More information will be provided as the date approaches. 


Stay Connected 

Pine Spring is working to ensure that families are well connected. We use a variety of platforms to provide you with the type of information you are looking for about your child. Below is a brief explanation of what you can expect from each of these avenues of communication. 

eNotify

Critical and timely information will be shared through eNotify. Every family is automatically enrolled in eNotify with the email you provided when you registered your child. This platform is used by both Pine Spring and other FCPS departments to communicate information such as school closures, emergency information, attendance information, and critical health information. Please be sure that your email is up-to-date in your ParentVue account.

 SIS ParentVUE

This platform is used for you to access information about your child such as homeroom teacher, attendance, county assessment results. You can also use this platform to update information such as your contact information and your child’s emergency contact information. If you need support setting up this platform, please contact our Parent Liaison, Roxana Rioja

News You Choose

This is a weekly email from Principal Yacubovich. This is our primary method of communication used for noncritical information with families. You will find information about important news, upcoming events, answers to frequently asked questions, PTA events and information, and stories about things happening in the building.  Do you know someone who isn’t signed up for NYC yet? If so, please encourage them to subscribe here

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 native languages.  Teachers will share information on how to sign up for Talking Points. 

Schoology

Schoology is FCPS' Learning Management System that replaced Google Classroom.  In this platform, you will be able to find information about the curriculum, assignments, due dates, and other information about what your child is doing in class. Your child’s teacher will discuss this platform during our virtual Back to School Night.

Twitter

We use this platform to share examples of the great things and fun moments that are happening at Pine Spring. You can follow us at @PineSpringFCPS. We also use the hashtag #PSLovesU

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