Fantastic First Week Back!
Dear Crestwood Families,
We have had an amazing First Week Back in School with our Owls! They are busy learning routines, connecting with each other and loving their learning. It is amazing watching their excitement as they begin a new school year.
Your Owl Administrative Team, Mrs. Saitta, Mr. Caines, and Mrs. De La Cruz feels fortunate to have our wonderful community to work alongside us. Our school-wide focus is the “Power of Building Moments” and seeing all the possibilities that surround us. We look forward to building these moments together with you as we provide the very best for each child.
We encourage families to volunteer in the school, join the PTA, and participate in our community programs. The Crestwood administration and staff are enthusiastic about providing a welcoming and safe environment to everyone. Please visit our website and sign up for News You Choose to receive information during the school year. Check in with your child’s teacher to receive class information through Talking Points.
Best Regards,
Marguerite Saitta, Principal
Larry Caines, Assistant Principal
Kolette De La Cruz, Assistant Principal
August 15, 2022
Dear FCPS Community,
We are excited to welcome students back to school on August 22. While we had hoped that the pandemic would be behind us, it seems that COVID will be something we must manage as a community for the foreseeable future. FCPS will continue to follow the guidance of national, state, and local health experts when determining the layered prevention strategies that are needed to keep our schools safe and open for learning. It is important that we all work together towards this goal.
Below are important updates to this year’s layered prevention strategies. More detailed information can be found in the Health and Safety Guidance Document on our website.
Staying Home When Sick
FCPS continues to require families to review the Daily Health Screening before sending students to school. The 5 Day Isolation Period will also continue for COVID positive students and staff.
Supports for Students in Isolation (StreamIn/CheckIn)
Our StreamIn/CheckIn continues for students who are in isolation due to COVID-19. No later than day three of the isolation, students will be able to access:
- Recording or Live Streaming of direct instruction for core classes
- Asynchronous class assignments via Schoology
- Interactive check-ins with teachers
Vaccinations
The CDC recommends the COVID vaccine as a safe and effective way of significantly lowering your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death if you get infected. Vaccines are now available for our youngest students. However, COVID vaccines are not part of the required immunizations for school entry.
Masking
FCPS requires all students to wear a face covering when indoors (except while actively eating/drinking) on school property (to include the buildings, school buses and other school provided vehicles) when the CDC COVID-19 Community Level for Fairfax County is high. The current level for Fairfax County is medium. The Code of Virginia allows parents/legal guardians to elect for their child not to wear a face covering while on school property.
Ventilation
FCPS will continue to optimize ventilation and improve indoor air quality. The Virginia Department of Health is providing nearly $400,000 to FCPS for ventilation repairs, upgrades, and/or replacements for this school year.
Testing Options
Diagnostic testing will be available beginning Tuesday, August 16, for FCPS students and staff who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Diagnostic testing will only be available during specific dates when FCPS has previously experienced an increase in testing requests. Information on diagnostic testing will continue to be updated on our website.
Screening testing is being developed on a limited basis for our students at the greatest risk. Specific schools will share that information to their eligible families.
COVID Case Notifications
FCPS will no longer send a daily or weekly COVID case update. Parents/Guardians will only receive an email from their child’s school when several cases of COVID-19 occur in a single classroom, sports team, or extracurricular activity within a 14-day period. Individual case reports will be available on the FCPS COVID-19 Dashboard on our website.
To stay up to date, please continue to review our Health and Safety Guidance on our website.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Digital Resources at Crestwood Elementary - Parent Consent
Some of the Digital Resources your child may use this year require digital consent. Please visit the Crestwood ES Digital Resources page to check out these resources and give consent.
Monkeypox Information
August 18, 2022
Dear FCPS Families and Staff
With the emerging concerns regarding the monkeypox virus, we want to provide you with information about the precautions that FCPS is taking in partnership with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). This is a serious health concern that may touch our entire community.
What is Monkeypox?
According to the CDC and FCHD, monkeypox is a disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Disease can spread through close contact including:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with monkeypox rash or scabs.
- Body fluids from a person with monkeypox.
- Sexual contact including kissing.
- Touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox.
- Exposure to respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact.
Monkeypox Signs and Symptoms
Illness usually begins about 6-13 days after exposure, but possibly as long as 17 days, and can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Backache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Exhaustion
After 1-3 days of illness, a rash develops progressing from red bumps to fluid filled sores (vesicles) and pustules. There may only be several monkeypox sores or the sores may be widespread. The rash may be located on or near the genitals or anus, but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.
Monkeypox in Fairfax County
Since May 2022, a global outbreak of monkeypox has occurred. As of Tuesday, August 16, there have been 56 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Fairfax County. To date, monkeypox has been rare in children nationwide; in Virginia, monkeypox cases have ranged in age from 18-70.
Prevention in FCPS
Per CDC recommendations, we encourage our community to prevent the spread of monkeypox by engaging the following steps:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox.
- Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox.
- Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox.
2.. Avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used.
- Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox.
- Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox.
- Wash your hands often.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.
Additional prevention strategies may be implemented in athletics or activities that are sport specific. Information regarding any additional prevention strategies in athletics or activities will be disseminated to participating students through the school’s Director of Student Activities.
FCPS Response Protocol
FCPS has worked with the communicable disease experts at the health department to develop a response protocol for FCPS. FCPS will provide a notification letter from the health department to the entire school community if a positive case is identified at a school site and it is deemed that exposures may have occurred in the school setting. FCHD Public Health experts will identify people who may have been exposed and contact parents and guardians if it is determined that a child needs to be tested or monitored. Vaccination also can prevent infection in those who have recently been exposed to monkeypox.
FCPS will continue the disinfection and sanitization processes that were begun in response to COVID-19, which are also effective against monkeypox. At least once a day, high touch surfaces, including counters, tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, stair rails, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, phones, toilets, faucets, and sinks, are cleaned. Cafeteria tables and chairs will continue to be cleaned and disinfected using Virex II 256. Standard personal protective equipment (PPE) remains available for use.
Guidance for Families
Children with a rash should stay home from school and be evaluated by a healthcare provider. This is true for all rash illnesses. Rash illnesses such as hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox are much more likely to affect children than monkeypox.
If you or your student has new or unexplained rash or symptoms consistent with monkeypox, seek medical care from your healthcare provider. If you do not have a health care provider, contact the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-267-3511. Your school’s public health nurse is also a good resource. The CDC recommends vaccinations for people who have been exposed to monkeypox and for those who are more likely to contract monkeypox.
Viruses do not discriminate by race, by religion or by sexual orientation. Our caring culture reminds us that we should treat each other with respect and dignity and that bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.
The CDC’s What You Need to Know about Monkeypox if You are a Teen or Young Adult is a good resource to educate about monkeypox. FCPS will continue to consult with the Health Department to provide updates to the community.
Fairfax County Public Schools
Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
Our new Superintendent will be hosting community conversations across the division this fall to get to know our communities.
All events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interpretation services, child care, and light refreshments will be provided.
This a great opportunity to come meet our new Superintendent!
Thursday, November 10 - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
John R. Lewis High School (Register)
- Crestwood Elementary School
- Forestdale Elementary School
- Garfield Elementary School
- Key Center
- Key Middle School
- Lewis High School
- Lynbrook Elementary School
- Saratoga Elementary School
- Springfield Estates Elementary School
Attendance Matters
In Virginia, students enrolled in public schools are required to attend school regularly, regardless of the type of instruction offered. Our students need to be present, engaged, and supported as they return for the 2021-22 school year.
Attendance Reminders:
- FCPS must record student attendance every school day.
- Parents should report their student’s absences to school any day students are unable to participate in learning. They may report the absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.
- When parents do not report their students’ absences, teachers and school personnel will call to identify the student’s absence reasons.
- An eNotify (electronic) message will reach parents about the student absence.
- Parents then can reach the school and provide information about the student absences.
Upcoming Dates:
September 2nd - 5th - Labor Day Holiday - No School
September 26th - Teacher Workday - No School for students
October 5th - Holiday - No School
October 10th - Staff Development Day - No School for students
October 24th - Holiday - No School
October 28th - End of 1st Quarter - 2 Hour Early Release
October 31st - Teacher Workday - No School for students
Join the PTA!
he number one reason to join the Crestwood Elementary PTA is to benefit your child. The PTA supports a number of efforts to enrich the lives of the children, teachers, and families of Crestwood. The PTA in partnership with Crestwood Elementary School sponsors a number of popular activities at the school each year.
Joining the PTA supports local, state, and national efforts to improve the education of children and the lives of families. You will find it a great way to learn what is going on in your school, meet other parents and teachers, and be part of the fun. Your children will appreciate that you are involved in their school and you will be a role model by showing the importance you place on education. Click Here to Join!
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