Important Upcoming Dates
8/24 - 9/30: iReady Fall Testing Window
9/2: Labor Day Break: Student / Staff Holiday
9/5: Labor Day Break: Student / Staff Holiday
9/6 - 9/14: Fairfax Villa Boosterthon Program
9/18: Asha-Jyothi and Fairfax Villa Partnership For 5K and 1K Events
9/20 - 10/4: VGA Testing Window
9/23: Woodson Feeder Night Football Game
9/26: Rosh Hashanah - Student Holiday
10/5: Yom Kippur- Student / Staff Holiday
10/10: Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Student Holiday/ Staff Workday
10/14: Deadline for SEL Opt Out
10/17 - 11/4: Social Emotional Learning Screener Window
10/24: Diwali: Student / Staff Holiday
10/28: End of Quarter One: 2 Hour Student Early Release
10/31: Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
IN THIS ISSUE
- Band/Strings Recruitment Message
- NEW: Testing Information: Virginia Growth Assessments
- NEW: Testing Information: Social Emotional Screener and Opt Out Information
- Testing Information: iReady Testing
- Kiss and Ride Information and Registration
- Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
- Fairfax Villa Fun Run Registration
- NEW: Student Rights & Responsibilities
- Required Annual Parent Permission Now Available
- Asha-Jyothi and Fairfax Villa Partnership For 5K and 1K Events
- Technology Updates and Information For Families
- Paperless Opt Outs
- Woodson HS Football Feeder Night
- Fairfax Villa Contacts
- Be Informed; Stay Involved!
- Attendance Matters
- PTA News
- COVID Updates
- Be Wise, Immunize! Required Vaccines for 2022-23 School Year
1.Band/Strings Recruitment Message
ATTENTION 4th-6th GRADERS: Would you like to be part of something “noteworthy” this year? Consider joining BAND (5th & 6th) or STRINGS (4th-6th) ! Ms. Ammirati (band) and Ms. Reilly (strings) would be delighted to welcome you to their ensembles and they promise there’ll be tons of awesome music-making and fun! For more information and online registration, explore the BAND website: https://forms.gle/TMNW8oKcrsKWRfTt6 and STRINGS website: https://forms.gle/QptWUMhHnTBHGd547
Online registration closes on Thursday, September 1st. Questions? Please email Ms. Ammirati (band) (cmammirati@fcps.edu) or Ms. Reilly (strings) (eareilly@fcps.edu)
 These third graders are writing and learning!
2.Testing Information: Virginia Growth Assessments
State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:
- Fall and winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) standardized tests in reading and mathematics. More information is available on the VGA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43932);
- Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/35021);
- Ongoing local alternative assessments (LAAs) including performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction in science, writing, and social studies; More information is available on the LAA and PBA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/45043).
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The Grade Level Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-assessment/grade-level-tests) provides information by grade level about the general assessment schedule and reporting method for each required assessment type in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). School staff will contact you with the specific dates your student is scheduled to take the standardized VGA and SOL assessments. If you have questions about state assessments, contact your student’s teacher or the school test coordinator.
3.Testing Information: Social Emotional Screener and Opt Out Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas. FCPS staff will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for students in grades K-12. The screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs.
SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The screener will review these skills, as well as students’ relationships, feelings of belonging, feelings about their school environment, and mood. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success.
All students in grades K-12 will participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. For students in grades K-2, teachers will complete a survey on their observations of students' skills and experiences. Students in grades 3-12 will reflect and report on their own skills and experiences. Screener data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with legitimate educational interests. Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals. Screener results will be used with other data to inform practices for SEL skill development and mental wellness. Screener data will also help staff plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window in SIS ParentVUE. School staff will be available to discuss results with families on planned support.
Schools will set specific dates for testing in each class. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please return the opt-out form below to the school or complete the opt-out via your SIS ParentVUE account.
More information, including a short video about the SEL screener in FCPS and the screener questions, can be found on the SEL Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43892). Please contact your student's school counselor or the school's test coordinator with questions.
Fairfax County Social Emotional Learning Screener
OPT OUT REQUEST FORM
If you wish to opt your child out of participating in the SEL Screener, please complete this form and return it to your child’s teacher by October 14. PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to return this form unless you do not want your child to participate in the SEL screener this year.
CHILD’S NAME__________________________________TEACHER____________________ Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________ Date_____________
(Parents may write out the form above and send it to the child’s teacher no later than Friday, October. 14)
4.Testing Information: iReady Assessments
iReady and Developmental Spelling Analysis, Grades 1-6
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) adopted iReady assessments as an academic universal screener for all elementary school students in grades 1-6. In addition to the iReady assessment, all elementary school students in grades 1-6 complete the Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA).
The purpose of iReady assessments is to identify students who may have gaps in foundational literacy and mathematics skills. iReady tests are also used to measure student progress in reading and mathematics skills. The purpose of the DSA is to measure the development of spelling skills.
The iReady assessment includes a reading test and a mathematics test. In grades 1-3, teachers also assess students’ oral reading fluency to fulfill state testing requirements. Based on test results, some students may require additional assessments to further diagnose specific skills that may need support.
All students complete iReady and DSA in fall and spring each year. Depending on fall performance, a student may take an assessment again in the winter. iReady and DSA are delivered within the classroom instructional block. Schools set the specific dates for testing in each class. The window for Fairfax Villa is August 24 - September 30. Your student’s teacher will share the specific dates scheduled for testing. You can find information about general timing of iReady and DSA testing on the grade level tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-assessment/grade-level-tests).
Additional information can be found at the iReady Universal Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/us). If you have further questions about these assessments, please contact your student’s teacher or the school test coordinators, Ms. Sobeski and Ms. Schmidt.
First graders are starting their morning off listening to the News Show!
5.Kiss and Ride Information and Registration
Parents may once again use the Kiss & Ride line this school year as a transportation option for students. Full instructions and rules about the Kiss & Ride transportation can be found here.
To register for Kiss & Ride, please complete this form.
A number will be assigned to your car to expedite the drop-off/pick-up process. You do not need this number immediately to go through the line! After registering, you will be given the number at pick-up time during the first week of school.
6.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
To celebrate being back in person, students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kickoff and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!
- On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year. The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run last year and we will be doing the same this September. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts.
- On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear. If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.
7.Fairfax Villa Fun Run Registration
8.Student Rights & Responsibilities
FCPS' updated Student Rights & Responsibility booklet is now available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents to review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. In ParentVue, you may now download and digitally sign the SR&R. Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed.
Your name in the digital signature box must match the parent/guardian’s first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted.
Please take a moment to log into ParentVue in your child's SIS account to access the SR&R. Signatures are due by September 30, 2022.
9.Required Annual Parent Permission Now Available!
As of August 10, parents can give the required yearly approval for their students to access the (pre-approved by FCPS) applications that the teachers may be using this year. It is very important that parents give this permission BEFORE school starts so that the student is able to access and use the resources with the rest of their class. Here is where you will find that information as of August 10.
Please be sure to complete this for each of your children as soon as you can. Thank you!
10.Asha-Jyothi and Fairfax Villa Partnership For 5K and 1K Events
11.Technology Updates and Information For Families
As we are getting into the new school year, we want to share the following technology information for parents and guardians. Please contact Ms. Schmidt if you have any questions.
- If your child still has a Fairfax Villa laptop issued from last year, please bring it to the office before the start of school so that we will be able to give your child a new laptop when they are here the first week.
- Preschoolers and kindergartners will receive new iPads in the first few weeks of school. Students in grades 1 and 2 have received laptops that will stay at school. Students in grades 3-6 have received laptops that will be taken home each day and returned to school the next day. Please be sure that your 3-6 students are changing these laptops at home each night.
- Make sure that you have your ParentVue/Parent SIS account set up so that you can get important information on your students. This is how many testing scores, including SOLs, are given to parents. If you have never set up your account, please email Ms. Schmidt to request the information you will need to set up yours. If you have already created one but need help logging in, go here.
12.Paperless Opt Outs
As a part of our ongoing efforts to streamline paper processes, parents can now select a number of opt-outs electronically via ParentVUE. Once you have signed into your ParentVUE account, simply select the “Student Info” tab and click on “Edit Information.” You will find opt-outs listed there. Parents that do not yet have a ParentVUE account will still be able to use paper forms for notification. If you need to set up your ParentVUE account, you can create one online via the FCPS ParentVUE Registration Page.
13.Woodson HS Football Feeder Night
Wear your Fairfax Villa ES gear and meet Mr. Gerstner and Mrs. Sobeski in the end zone no later than 6:30 PM. This is a fun family event!
WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL
“FEEDER NIGHT” FOOTBALL GAME
September 23, 2022 7:00pm
WOODSON CAVALIERS vs. Lewis Lancers
- All students from the Woodson pyramid are admitted into the game with the presentation of the flyer (sent home in Thursday folders September 8th) and when accompanied by a paying adult.
- All feeder school students will be recognized before the game at 6:40pm. Please meet at the scoreboard @ 6:30pm.
14.Fairfax Villa Contacts
Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800
Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828
Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
FCPS Transportation Phone Line: 703-446-2000
Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, CEDavis@fcps.edu
Dave Gerstner, Principal, drgerstner@fcps.edu
Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, sdsobeski@fcps.edu
Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, kewells@fcps.edu
Julie Scoville, Office Staff, jgscoville@fcps.edu
Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, smdossmann@fcps.edu
Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, bdschmidt@fcps.edu
15.Be Informed;Stay Involved!
16. Attendance Matters
DID YOU KNOW?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10 percent (or about 2 days per month) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required shots.
- Introduce your child to her teachers and classmates before school starts to help her transition.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
17.PTA Message
villapta.org
The following message is sent on behalf of the Fairfax Villa ES School PTA. Its content reflects the views of the PTA.
Families,
We've had a last minute change to the Baroody Camps offering on Thursday.
The "Acting Out" class has been changed to "Musical Theater" and is available to all grades. Registration forms are in today's take home folders. Feel free to select the Acting Out class on Thursday, even if your student is not in the grade on the form. The cost remains the same. Online registration will be modified soon.
It’s GO time! Don’t wait to join!
Fairfax Villa Elementary families,
⏰ IT’S TIME ⏰ Registration is open for our Fairfax Villa Fun Run kicking off on 09/06/2022! Our goal is to raise $25,000 + for items for the PTA and school supplies. Registering is easy and free❗️
⭐️ Register Now On MYBOOSTER.COM ⭐️
Registration is the first step in helping Fairfax Villa Elementary reach our fundraising goal. Once you’re registered, you have access to all of the fun sharing & donation features to help us raise funds. Be sure to check out the easy sharing functions let others know how they can help support our school.
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!
Registration for after school activities is coming home with students this Tuesday!
Here's a sneak peak of what's being offered this fall and when:
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FVES Merch Always Available, Now w/ More Inventory!
Always for sale. Only on sale until September 14th! Get yours today! 10% of sales goes back to the PTA to fund the activities for your child. The store now has “Class of Tees” you can customize, baby & toddler sizes, shorts, hats, tie-dye and more! Stock up on spirit wear today!
Spirit nights are back!
Feast with us at MOD Pizza in Kamp Washington, Fairfax September 22nd, 2022!
18.COVID Updates
Last week, FCPS sent an update on COVID-19 layered prevention strategies that will continue to be in place this school year. 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.
Highlights from that guidance include:
- FCPS continues to require families to review the Daily Health Screening before sending students to school.
- The 5 Day Isolation Period will continue for COVID positive students and staff.
- 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.
- At this time, masks are not required. The current CDC COVID-19 Community Level for Fairfax County is low. However, should the community level rise to “high,” FCPS would then require all students, staff, and visitors to wear a face covering when indoors on school property (to include the buildings, school buses and other school provided vehicles; except while actively eating/drinking). The Code of Virginia allows parents/legal guardians to elect for their child not to wear a face covering while on school property.
- 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 the Health and Safety Guidance on the FCPS website.
19.Be Wise, Immunize! Required Vaccines for 2022-23 School Year
Vaccinations are required for public school entry and help keep students protected from serious diseases. Many children missed their well check-ups and their recommended childhood vaccinations over recent years because of disruptions from COVID-19. It is critical to catch up now to keep children healthy and ready for school. Check with your students’ health care providers now to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines.
Appointments are required for most vaccination clinics. Don’t wait until the last minute when you might not be able to find an appointment. Visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a schedule of clinics or schedule with your family’s health care provider.
Remember to request documentation of your child’s immunizations to provide to their school. More information on immunization requirements and the necessary documentation is available online.
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