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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Wednesday, 10/12 - Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) meeting 6:00 pm
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Thursday, 10/13 - Superintendent Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families.
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Monday,10/24 - School Closed, Diwali
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Friday, 10/28 - End of First Quarter (2-hour Early Release)
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Monday 10/31- Student Holiday
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Saturday, 11/5 - Fun Run
Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) Meeting TONIGHT
Please join us for our second Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) meeting-- TONIGHT at 6 p.m. in Franconia's Library. We are excited to continue this program here at Franconia!
WHAT: PEP is a parent-teacher organization for parents of students from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade of any language or cultural background.
WHY: The mission of PEP is to increase the academic achievement of students by developing and maintaining strong school-home partnerships tied to improved student achievement.
HOW: During our meetings, we will create a safe, informed space through which we can empower families to seek information to best support their children's educational journeys.
WHEN: We plan to meet the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. Our next session will take place Wednesday, October 12th. During this session, we will discuss Fall conferences and establishing two way communication with teachers/staff at school.
WHERE: We will meet in the library at Franconia Elementary School.
Your PEP teachers are specifically prepared to provide you with accurate information about Franconia Elementary. Some of the topics that we may cover during our meetings include:
- School Personnel and the School Day
- School Procedures
- Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Report Cards and Curriculum
- Special Education and Advanced Academics
- Study skills/Homework
- School Health Procedures
- Other school-specific topics that are of interest and benefit to the group
Questions? Please email FranconiaPEP@fcps.edu.
Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families
Please join us for a Superintendent Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families tomorrow October 13, 2022, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn more about Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, and help her get to know our school community and the unique perspective of military-connected families. This hybrid event will be held in the 1st floor cafe at the FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church VA 22042. Free parking is available in the underground garage. Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as childcare and light refreshments. If you can attend, either in-person or virtually, please register to attend.
Fire Station Open House
Join our neighbors at the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department for an Open House in celebration of Fire Prevention Week.
This Saturday, October 15, 2022
10 AM – 4 PM
- Meet the Firefighters
- Safety Demos
- Fire Truck Tours
- And more!
6300 Beulah Street Alexandria, Virginia 22310
Hope to see you there!
Participate in the Yearbook Cover Contest
All Franconia students are invited to participate in our yearbook cover competition. Please use a white 8 x 11 sheet of paper and colored pencils. On the back of the paper, write your first and last name, teacher's name, and grade level. This year's yearbook theme is
Penguins Dream Big and Aim High!
Your cover designs should be related to the theme. Please include Franconia Elementary 2022-2023 on the cover and remember to check your spelling!
Designs are due to your homeroom teacher by
Friday, November 4th
Things to Consider when designing:
- Draw your picture with a pencil first.
- When coloring, use colored pencils only.
- Your design should be Portrait view (not landscape)
- Remember to use color to really make your picture pop! (don’t have a lot of white space)
4th Grade Field Trip Reminder
4th Grade has a Field Trip on Monday, October 17th. Please make sure to return the field trip permission form AND pay the $5.00 fee on myschoolbucks.com by Friday, October 14th so your child will be able to attend The National Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Philharmonia Fantastique at the Kennedy Center. If you have not turned the permission form, your child will not be able to attend the field trip to the Kennedy Center.
Please remember that your child will need to BRING THEIR LUNCH to school on Monday, October 17th. They will eat in their classrooms after they return from the field trip.
There are no chaperones needed for this field trip.
Any questions, please email jdlucius@fcps.edu
Let’s Celebrate Bully Prevention Week!
Theme: Penguins are Upstander’s Against Bullying!
October 25th-28th
Tuesday 10/25- Our Future Is Bright, Team Up Against Bullying!
(wear a team/college jersey)
Wednesday 10/26- Penguins Unite Against Bullying- (wear orange)
Thursday 10/27- Accept Everyone’s Unique Differences- (wear mismatched clothes)
Friday 10/28- Let’s Celebrate Penguins Uniting Against Bullying- (dress in a costume or favorite book character, please no masks).
****On Friday, we will wrap up our week by spreading kindness and joy with
a kindness parade!
October is Bully Prevention Month
In the month of October ( Bully Prevention Month), our school counselors will teach guidance lessons pertaining how we can prevent bullying behaviors by being an upstander for self and others and showing kindness.
Attention 6th grade parents,
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 each fall. It provides a wealth of information about a variety of topics related to our youth that influence their physical and mental well being, from sleep and nutritional habits to substance abuse behaviors to symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.
They Survey will begin in November. Opt out letters will come home in your child's Wednesday folder and are due by November 7th. If you do not want your child to participate, please send the opt out form back to your child’s teacher. To learn more about the youth survey, please visit FCPS website for youth survey https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/youth-survey
Help out in the Library
The library needs volunteers to help shelve books! Any adults who have time to stop by are welcome… even if it’s just a few minutes.
If you have an hour or more of time please sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E4CAEAD2FAAF49-library1
AAP Information Session
Save the Date!
Have questions about the Advanced Academics Program at Franconia? Join our Advanced Academic Resource Teachers, Jo-Ann Fouad and Katelyn Glines, for a virtual AAP Parent Information session via Zoom on October 26th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Zoom link to follow.
Please contact Jo-Ann Fouad jpfouad@fcps.edu or Katelyn Glines kjglines@fcps.edu with any questions.
Family Liaison Position Available
Franconia is looking for someone to fill the the Family Liaison position at our school. A Family Liaison serves as a liaison among families, community, and school staff, and provides FCPS information and resources to families.
Interested candidates can apply for this position HERE
Once you have applied, please let us know so we can be on the lookout for your application in our HR system. Email our Administrative Assistant, Melissa Anderson, at maanderson1@fcps.edu with this information.
Support the SCA's Art Supply Drive
7th Annual Art Supply Drive
Sponsored by the Franconia Student Council Association
For the seventh year in a row, the Franconia SCA is teaming up with Paint the Globe Foundation to provide school and art supplies for kids in need across the globe. Paint the Globe Foundation is currently working on campaigns in Tanzania, Nepal, and Thailand. All items donated will be delivered to local schools/community centers to allow students to use art for creative, educational, and therapeutic endeavors.
Items will be accepted 9/28-10/26:
Watercolor Paints* Paint Brushes Acrylic Paints* Colored Pencils* Pencil Sharpeners *Markers *Scissors
For additional information about Paint the Globe Foundation, or to make monetary donations, please visit:
www.painttheglobefoundation.org
Please donate only NEW items. Each class will have a box in which students can
place their donation
With your help, we can make a difference. AGAIN!!!
Student Council NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Please join the Franconia Elementary Student Council Association and the 3rd Grade Team to participate in the Marine Marathon Mile Clean-up!!
Who?
All Franconia Penguins and an adult to accompany them at the event. Other family members also welcome!
What?
Clean up after the Marine Marathon for the designated assigned miles.
When?
Sunday, October 30, 2022, at either 10:00am-12:00pm OR 11:00am-1 p.m.
Where?
We were able to secure 2 miles of the course this year. Once we know how many participants we have, we will notify you of your meeting point. It will be either mile marker 10 or mile marker 16. See the map on other side of this paper for exact locations. Use of Metro is highly recommended due to parking scarcity and road closures due to the marathon route.
Why?
Franconia Penguins will earn up to $900 from this event!!! This money will be for Student Council activities, or to purchase much needed school equipment, books, and other supplies that will be used by all Franconia Penguins!
How?
Meet us at your assigned mile marker and use the provided gloves and bags to pick up waste left from the marathon participants and spectators. The clean-up should only take about an hour. It is imperative that an adult accompany a child.
THIS IS NOT A DROP OFF EVENT
Use this link to sign-up
https://forms.gle/M5eWnaNFTTdqB6e1A
Come and Join Pack 867!
WHEN: Tuesday, October 25th, 7PM to 8PM
WHERE: St John’s Lutheran Church
Fellowship Hall
5952 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA
WHO, WHAT, & WHY: Cub Scout Pack 867 is open to boys and girls K-5th grades. Cub Scouting is a diverse year-round program with a fun purpose. Scouts learn and explore new things while having fun and making new friends. A focus on character, citizenship, and physical fitness, which are key to the Cub Scout program. All of our leaders are parents just like you, who are extensively trained to better serve our Scouts and to keep them safe. Stop by our Pack meeting and consider joining our Pack!
READY TO JOIN? Go ahead and make an account and fill out the application here: bit.ly/pack867, and then pay your National dues online. We will send you all the welcome material afterwards.
Want more information?
www.pack867.com
pack867committeechair@gmail.com
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
Dates: October 17th – November 4th
Grades: 3-12
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 3-12. 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.
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 teacher or the school counselor with questions.
Calendar Reminder:
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate this day and the victory of light over darkness. Monday, October 24 is a holiday for teachers and students.
See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
Model Policy Comment Period
A new proposed model policy (pdf) was recently proposed by the Virginia Department of Education regarding the “privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.” A 30-day public comment period on the model policy began September 26 and closes October 26. You may provide feedback to the Virginia Department of Education on the new drafted policy. If you missed Superintendent Reid’s message regarding the new proposed model policy, please view it on the FCPS website.
Please remember to notify the school office of any of the following changes that come up for your child.
Notification should be made by 9:00am on the day of the change.
- Absence
- Late arrival
- Planned early pick-up or mid-day appointment (pick-up and return)
- If your child needs to be picked up unexpectedly, please call the office (703-822-2200) in advance of your arrival
- This allows the office to contact your child’s teacher to prepare your child for their departure
- For early pick-ups after 3:00pm, please park on Kathmoor as the school buses start to arrive for dismissal at that time and the front parking lot will be off limits
- Changes in dismissal mode (https://franconiaes.fcps.edu/about/change-dismissal-form)
Below are the 3 options by which to notify the school office (choose one option):
Please do this IN ADDITION to contacting your child's teacher. There could be times when the teacher is absent and, by also contacting the office, the information will be properly noted.
To email your child’s teacher, click HERE.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
FCPS CARES
Recognize FCPS Employees
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care.
The start of the school year is a great time to acknowledge someone who has helped to make your child's return to school amazing.
Learn how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee for their great work.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services
2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1, Room 105
Dunn Loring, VA
The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members.
PARENT RESOURCE CENTER CONTACT INFO:
Email: prc@fcps.edu
Phone: 703-204-3941
Web: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center
Twitter: @prc_fcps
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fcpsprc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCPSParentResourceCenter
FREE CONSULTATIONS:
- The PRC offers free, confidential in-person, videoconference, and phone consultations for families and FCPS staff.
- Appointments are highly encouraged.
- They can brainstorm strategies and possible solutions to help you address your concerns by drawing upon resources and support from FCPS, as well as community, state, and national centers.
TUTOR LIST:
- The PRC maintains a list of current FCPS employees who hold a valid and current teaching license in VA and want to tutor after their contracted school day.
- Contact the PRC at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu for more information.
FREE LENDING LIBRARY:
- Come explore the library for families and staff, 8:00am-4:00pm
- The library contains over 10,000 books, eBooks, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
- Check out up to 6 items and keep them for 3 weeks. Renewals are easy - just call or email us.
- Find library resources to support your child with help from the Parent Resource Center staff.
- Call us and we can have library materials ready for you to pick up.
- Return library materials to us 24/7 in our book return or use the FCPS inter-office mail. Contact us for details.
FREE WEBINARS:
- Register here - https://bit.ly/3hSRIZW
- Watch recorded webinars - https://bit.ly3rpPl3Q
- To turn videos into preferred languages, open a video - choose any video on YouTube and follow these directions to have closed-captioning in your preferred language:
- Click the CC button - make sure it is underlined in red.
- Click the settings button - it looks like a gear.
- Click subtitles.
- Click auto-translate.
- Choose a language.
Penguin Points
Click on a link for information
Franconia Elementary School website
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