October 11 News from Sleepy Hollow

October 11, 2022


My Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,

We hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits. We certainly hope you had an amazing three-day weekend. Looking for something good and exciting to do with the family? Please join us for our PTA meeting on Thursday, October 13th and our first Octoberfest/Bingoween event next Wednesday, October 19th. It’s going to be epic!

Wishing you a wonderful week filled with Amazing Grace and KINDNESS!

~Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are. ~ Harold S. Kushner

~No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop

All the best,
Mattie S. Fallen, Principal


Get Involved…Join our Sleepy Hollow PTA!

 

Join the PTA

Advanced Academic Level IV Referral Meeting:

Parents who are interested in learning more about the referral and screening process for the Full-time Advanced Academic Program for students in grades 2-5 should plan on attending the virtual meeting on Tuesday, October 25 at 7:00 PM.  This meeting will explain the process of referring a student (grades 2-5 only) who needs enrichment in all four core content areas for advanced academic services next year. A Zoom link will be sent via eNotify the day of the meeting.

Sleepy Hollow’s AART, Diane Overton,  will answer general questions for the group at the end of the meeting.  Specific questions about your student can be addressed to dloverton@fcps.edu following the conclusion of the meeting. 


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National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of the members of our community whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

For more information on local celebrations, visit the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services website.


School Volunteers

Every day, volunteers change the lives of students across FCPS and we offer several ways for people in the community to get involved.

Examples of volunteer opportunities in FCPS include:

Business and Community Partnerships allow organizations to engage.  We encourage and support the development of partnerships that strengthen and enhance the quality of education and community connectedness.  Our Business and Community Partnerships team helps establish Ignite Partnerships, and we promote them so that there are some defined returns on your investment

Family Members Looking to Volunteer at their child’s school should call the school’s main office for information about their volunteer program. Please contact Karla Lobo, Administrative Assistant, if you are interested in volunteering at Sleepy Hollow. All volunteers are to be vetted through FCPS. This is simple process.

View procedures about Volunteer Procedures/Background Check Information.

Students in Grades 6-12 Looking to Volunteer in FCPS and elsewhere to meet the requirements of their service learning hours can find information on the Service Learning page.


Parent Lunch with Students

Parents who wish to have lunch with their children. Please . . .

·       Notify the classroom teacher.

·       Let us know if you are purchasing lunch(es) in advance.

·       Report to door 1 and check in the front office.


Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) ,. FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or fle@fcps.edu.


Parent Resource Center

Register Now for October Webinars

Promoting Digital Wellness

Access to technology provides limitless opportunities to connect with others, explore diverse perspectives, share and build upon ideas, get involved in the community, and find opportunities.  However, many kids are online almost constantly, which poses a number of challenges that impact youth wellness.  

Highlights will include:

  • How the attention economy makes technology irresistible 
  • How adolescent development impacts youth technology use 
  • How schools and families can build the skills needed to navigate the complexity of online life

Presented by Tammi Sisk, FCPS Educational Specialist, Educational Technology, and Bethany Demers, FCPS Educational Specialist, Mental Wellness

October 14, 2022 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Promoting Digital Wellness

Meet the Author Series - Paige Saves the Day

Paige is a happy kid with a unique fashion sense and creative imagination. Despite being bullied because of the things that make her different, she enjoys using her creativity to entertain her family and friends with stories in which she and her dog, Peppermint, are Super Heroes who always save the day!

Join us as the authors, Nalani Butler and Leila Butler, read Paige Saves the Day and share their experiences with families.

Children are welcome to join with their families for this very special webinar and book reading.

October 27, 2022 7-8 p.m.

Register for the Meet the Author Series - Paige Saves the Day

SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:

  • Meet other siblings in a relaxed, virtual setting.
  • Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
  • Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
  • Play games and have fun!

October 31, 2022 (Student Holiday) 9 a.m.- noon at Providence Community Center

Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services

Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person, and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

Register Now for November Workshops

Nontraditional Families: Fostering Resilience and Inclusivity While Welcoming and Affirming All Families

Welcoming nontraditional families into authentic partnerships takes effort and can reap great rewards. Nontraditional families include those with parents, caregivers, or youth who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as those formed through foster care, adoption, and kinship care by grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends.

Join Dr. Kelly Henderson, Executive Director of Formed Families Forward, for this important webinar.

Highlights include:

  • Identifying unique strengths and challenges faced by nontraditional families raising children and youth, including those with special needs.
  • Practicing effective communication strategies between families and school partners to increase comfort and inclusivity for students and families.
  • Collaboratively strategizing and planning supports for adults (families, caregivers, teachers, and support staff), while boosting personal resilience as they face stressful circumstances.

November 3, 2022, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Register for Nontraditional Families: Fostering Resilience and Inclusivity While Welcoming and Affirming All Families


Where to Start: Supporting Children When Someone They Love Has Cancer

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer, this presentation will provide information and guidance on how to support your children throughout the cancer journey. 

Webinar Highlights:

  • How to have open communication about cancer with your children
  • Strategies to use in the home to help your children adjust to changes
  • Activities that the entire family can use to support each other

Presented by Jemma Stratton, MSW Pediatric Oncology Clinical Therapist I, Supervisee of Social Work, Life with Cancer, Family Center

November 4, 2022, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Register for Where to Start: Supporting Children When Someone They Love Has Cancer


Moving On to Life in the Community:

Resource Fair

Once students with significant disabilities graduate, they may require additional, ongoing support in the areas of residential, leisure, recreation, independent living, advocacy and more.

This event will include:

  • various support programs in the community available to students.
  • A brief presentation about FCPS transition services and the bridge to adult services
  • An exhibitor/vendor fair.

Designed to assist parents, guardians, and caretakers with future planning for students with disabilities who may require ongoing supports after graduating from high school. 

  • Thursday, November 10, 2022
  • Willow Oaks Administrative Center – Room 1000 A&B, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Register online for Moving On To Life in The Community: Resource Fair


Everything You Need to Know About Opioids

Join us for this important webinar designed to inform and raise awareness about the dangers of children and adolescents using and overdosing on opioids. This webinar is for adults only due to the content.

Webinar Highlights:

  • How young people are getting drugs
  • Opioid risk, misuse, withdrawal, and overdose symptoms
  • The dangers of Fentanyl 
  • Naloxone and how it works

Presented by Tiffany Jones, FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist 

Thursday, November 10, 2022, 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Everything You Need to Know About Opioids


Bullying Prevention

FCPS is deeply committed to creating a safe and positive school environment where all students can learn. Through school-wide positive behavior approaches and participation in K-12 health and guidance lessons, students are taught to behave respectfully and to resolve conflicts in positive ways. 

The Bullying Prevention Webinar seeks to educate listeners on the following:

  • FCPS definition of bullying
  • Types of bullying
  • Differences between bullying and other forms of inappropriate behavior
  • How FCPS responds to allegations of bullying
  • How parents and schools can work together to prevent bullying

Presenters: 

  • Stefan Mascoll: Coordinator Student Safety and Wellness, Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Joan Lee: Educational Specialist, School Counseling Services, Fairfax County Public Schools

November 18 10:30 a.m. - noon

Register for Bullying Prevention


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