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Dear Families,
We want your child to be successful in school and that means supporting and encouraging their whole development. While excelling in academic classes is important, children also need skills to take on learning challenges, make good decisions, manage strong emotions, and get along with others.
This week, we’ll begin Second Step® Elementary and Middle School, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve children’s social-emotional skills. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help children both in and out of school. Four units will be presented through the school year.
In Kindergarten through 5th Grade, students will learn:
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Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting: Children learn how to pay attention and manage distractions, develop a growth mindset, and apply goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.
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Emotion Management: Children learn how to identify and label emotions and use emotion management strategies—including stress management for older students—to calm strong feelings.
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Empathy & Kindness: Children learn how to recognize kindness and act kindly, have empathy for others and take others’ perspectives, and recognize kind acts and empathy as important elements of building and maintaining relationships.
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Problem-Solving: Children learn how to identify and state a problem, recognize if a problem is an accident, and use the STEP problem-solving process: S: Say the problem T: Think of solutions E: Explore the outcomes P: Pick a solution
In 6th Grade, students will learn:
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Mindsets and Goals: Students learn how to develop a growth mindset and apply research based goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.
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Recognizing Bullying and Harassment: Students learn how to recognize bullying and harassment, stand up safely to bullying, and respond appropriately to harassment.
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Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn how to recognize strong emotions and unhelpful thoughts, and apply strategies to manage their emotions and reduce stress.
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Managing Relationships and Social Conflict: Students learn strategies for developing and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective-taking, and dealing with conflict.
Throughout the year, you’ll receive communications from our school to help you reinforce Second Step language, skills, and goals at home. If you have any questions about Second Step Elementary or Middle School, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher for more information. Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community.
Please join us on Thursday, September 29th from 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. for an information session with our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Ms. Jen Spollen. Ms. Spollen will share an overview of the Advanced Academics Programming offered in FCPS. This meeting will take place via Zoom. The PTA meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., immediately following Ms. Spollen’s session. We will utilize the same Zoom link for both portions of our meeting. The Zoom link will be sent out to families on Thursday via email.
FIRST PTA MEETING THIS THURSDAY
Join us for the first general body PTA meeting of the year on Thursday, Sept. 29th at 7 pm. This meeting will be held on Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided before the meeting. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend!
PTA Membership Drive
When we work together, we make the Bush Hill Elementary School community stronger. Throughout the year, the PTA will call on you to contribute in ways that work for you; this may be a request of your time, your resources, or your talents with the ultimate goal of supporting our students and their teachers. One Team, One Dream!!
Let's kick off the year with a membership drive! We currently have less than 100 members of the PTA - can you help us get to at least 50% of the school population or 300+ members?
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Already renewed? Thank you! Tell your neighbors who just started at Bush Hill that they should also join the PTA.
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Not yet renewed? Remember, your membership is only valid for one year. If you purchased membership last year, it's likely time to renew.
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Teacher? You too can join the PTA and request funding for supplies!
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New community member? We need you!
Join the PTA now by visiting our website bushhill.memberhub.com.
Got questions? Email us at ptabushhillelementary@gmail.com.
Dear Bush Hill Families,
Due to the upcoming Religious and Cultural Observance day, we have rescheduled our Picture Day. Our new Picture Day will be on Monday, November 21st. Anyone who is not able to have their picture taken on 11/21, will have an opportunity to have it taken on our Absentee/Retake Picture Day on Thursday, January 12th.
Pictures that have been prepaid, will be held and honored on 11/21/22.
Thank you!
Please plan accordingly
| October 5 |
Student and Teacher Holiday - Yom Kippur |
| October 10 |
Student Holiday - Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Professional Workday) |
| October 24 |
Student and Teacher Holiday |
| October 28 |
End of First Quarter - 2-hour Early Release -- BHES 1:55 PM Dismissal |
| October 31 |
Student Holiday (Professional Workday) |
Please be sure to let Bush Hill ES know of any absence or tardy. We account for every child, every day. You may call the office, call the attendance line, send an attendance line email or use the attendance form below.
Submit an absence using our attendance form
https://bushhilles.fcps.edu/attendance-form
OR use one of these other two methods.
We welcome Ms. Sandra Ragusa, our new Strings Teacher who will be here Mondays working with Mr. Spencer Smith.
Saturday, October 2nd 2-4 PM An event for the community, by the community. Healthy Together Fairfax is a fun (and FREE) interactive event for the community focused on healthy and active living. The event includes free health screenings, access to community services and resources, fitness classes, hands-on activities and workshops for all ages. Come explore the trails and playgrounds at Lee District Park and enjoy a ride on the carousel.
The Child Care Assistance and Referral Program may be able to help with your child care expenses. Families must live in Fairfax County, City of Fairfax or City of Falls Church. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Apply for assistance Online: www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
Download: Child Care Service Application and Redetermination form at:
fairfaxcounty.gov/OFC (Search: CCAR)
Submit application and verification documents
Email: OFCCCARinfo@fairfaxcounty.gov
Fax: 703-324-3917
Mail: Office for Children/CCAR
12011 Government Center Pkwy., 8th Floor
Fairfax, VA 22035
For additional information Visit: fairfaxcounty.gov/OFC (Search: CCAR)
Call: 703-449-8484 or Email: OFCCCARinfo@FairfaxCounty
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