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Dear Spring Hill Families,
Another busy and amazing week at Spring Hill. We had a wonderful PTO meeting this morning. Our families got to hear all about our new intervention specialist and how she will support our students this year alongside our reading specialist. In addition, we shared the vision of our Intervention/Enrichment time to support and propel students in their learning. We also discussed how teachers are unpacking the state standards for learning and using learning targets for daily lesson.
In order to increase our communication with families, this year we will send home interim progress reports for all students. Interims help parents stay on top of their child's progress, and because they're usually issued halfway through a grading period, they also give families a chance to communicate with the teacher to ensure student success. Our first quarter interim reports will go home in the September 29th Thursday folder.
Have a fantastic weekend!
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration of the holistic screening process for advanced academic services. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized in the holistic screening process.
- All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT)
- All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)
Information from the assessment also may be considered when making instructional decisions for student differentiation needs, such as access to advanced mathematics coursework in elementary school.
Spring Hill Elementary School will administer the CogAT the week of October 11th, 2022 to all second grade students as well as select grade three through six students without an abilities test score on file. The NNAT3 will be administered to all students in first grade in March 2023.
Parents of students in grades three through six may request a one-time retake of the CogAT (week of October 11) or the NNAT3 (week of November 15). Please complete this google form by Thursday, September 22nd if you would like to exercise this one-time retake for your child. If you have any questions, please contact our Advanced Academic Teacher,Danni James (dfjames@fcps.edu) or Assistant Principal, Amy Briggs (arbriggs@fcps.edu). More information regarding the Advanced Academic Program and Ability Testing can be found by visiting this website.
FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, 1-to-1, online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 22-23 SY. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
If you would like to volunteer during lunch, please use this link to sign up. Kindergarten teachers have a separate form they share in their weekly newsletter.
Continuum of Services
Our in-person Parent Information Session will be held on September 27th at 6:00 PM. During this session, we will provide information on the continuum of AAP services for all students at Spring Hill. (Grades K-6)
Screening and Identification
Our in-person Screening and Identification Session will be held on September 29th at 6:00 PM. During this session, we will explain and answer questions about the screening process for part-time school-based and full-time Level IV services. (Grades 2-6).
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs and focuses on matching services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have:
- Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
- A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.
Teachers, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs), and school administrators work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level:
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
- All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons.
- Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor is for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by:
- Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
- Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
- Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. They need part-time AAP services.
- Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
- Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Full-Time Services, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:
- Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
- Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Screening for Advanced Academic Program Services
Multiple data points are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom. No pieces of the data are weighted in the holistic screening process.
Eligibility decisions for subject-specific advanced differentiation and part-time services are made by a committee at the local school, and screening is ongoing throughout the school year. To refer for subject-specific advanced differentiation and part-time services, submit the AAP School-Based Referral Form to the AART at the local school.
Eligibility decisions for full-time services are made by the countywide central selection committee.
Screening for full-time services occurs during specific screening cycles:
- Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
- The fall screening referral window is from the first day of school - October 15.
- Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
- The spring screening referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.
Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7. Referrals submitted after the full-time services referral windows noted above will not be accepted.
Referral forms for all advanced academic program services are found at https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Please RSVP using this link. We look forward to seeing you on October 15th.
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Picture day is quickly approaching! Lifetouch fliers were included in your student’s Thursday folder. Please return or submit your ordering information prior to picture day which will be held on Wednesday, September 21st for all grade levels. Didn’t get the flier? No problem, please check out the ordering information shared.
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Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit our site for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and your school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify Erin McRea, SHES Social Worker so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school public health nurse, and call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Healthy Food Swaps
Swapping out less healthy food choices for healthier ones is an easy way to make small changes that can have a big impact on your health. Try these alternatives to lower your sugar intake and boost your fiber and nutrient intake.
- Trade potato chips for whole grain pretzels or tortilla chips, popcorn, or nuts
- Try frozen grapes, dark chocolate, or fruit with low-sugar yogurt for dessert instead of ice cream or baked goods
- Swap white bread, rice, flour, and pasta for the whole grain versions of each
- Substitute plain greek yogurt for sour cream, and as a replacement for oil in baked goods
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
To ensure the day runs smoothly, we are looking for a few volunteers. Please visit the SignUp Genius to sign up for a slot.
Update Your Student Directory Information TODAY
A great way to connect with other Spring Hill families is through the PTO-sponsored Student Directory. AtoZ Connect manages our private student directory for the exclusive use of Spring Hill students, parents and staff. An updated directory site is here for the 2022-2023 school year, so you must visit this year’s site to create a new account (if you’re new to Spring Hill) or update your account (if you are a returning Spring Hill family). In addition to online access, a FREE printed copy of the directory will be provided to all families who have paid their PTO membership dues.
Outside School Activities (OSA) Registration
The Spring Hill PTO OSA committee has been hard at work securing some fantastic programs for our students. These activities are held outside school hours and are run by both Spring Hill teachers, and FCPS approved vendors. Registration goes live on the PTO website Monday, September 19th and will run through Thursday, September 29th.
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September 21 - Picture Day
September 26 - Student Holiday (Rosh Hashanah)
September 27 - AAP Parent Information Session - Continuum of Services - 6PM
September 29 - AAP Screening and Identification - 6PM
October 10 - Student Holiday
October 24 - Student Holiday
October 28 - End of First Quarter (2 hour early release)
October 31 - Student Holiday
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