Important Upcoming Dates
10/10: Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Student Holiday / Staff Workday
10/14: Deadline for SEL Opt Out
10/14:Fall For the Book Interactive Workshop
10/17 - 11/4: Social Emotional Learning Screener Window
10/21: PTA Fall Fest
10/24: Diwali: Student / Staff Holiday
10/27: Parent Information Meeting for Level IV Screening Process (7:00 pm)
10/28: End of Quarter One: 2 Hour Student Early Release
10/31: Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
11/3: Fall Picture Retake Day
11/3: 2nd Quarter Begins
11/8: Election Day (Student and Staff Holiday)
11/9: Progress Reports Go Home With Students
11/11: Veterans’ Day (Student Holiday)
11/23-11/25: Thanksgiving Holidays
12/15: Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals
IN THIS ISSUE
- Lexia At Home-15 Minutes a Night
- Fall For the Book Interactive Workshop
- The Science of Reading
-
NEW: AAP Level IV Screening Information
- NEW: Lost and Found
- Testing Information: Social Emotional Screener and SEL Opt Out Information
- Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
- Paperless Opt Outs
- Fairfax Villa Contacts
- Be Informed; Stay Involved!
- UPDATED: Attendance Matters
- PTA News
- Girl Scouts
- Cub Scouts
-
1.Lexia At Home - 15 Minutes a Night!
If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal
to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program. Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.
Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.
If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar.
4th Graders and Frisbee Skills!
2.Fall For the Book Interactive Workshop
Fall for the Book 2022 is thrilled to invite the students of Fairfax Villa Elementary School to a special event! Come to the Burke Centre Library on Friday, October 14 at 4:30 PM for Project Superhero: From Awesome Aliens to Flying Cats!, an interactive workshop with John Gallagher, author of the graphic novel series, Max Meow.
Kids will use their imaginations to create stories, practice a few drawing skills, and even create their own superhero (or villain)! This event is geared towards children ages 6-12 but all are welcome.
Based at George Mason University, Fall for the Book is an independent non-profit literary arts organization that promotes reading by sponsoring a variety of year-round events and activities, the flagship of which is the Fall for the Book festival held each October.
3.The Science of Reading
What is the Science of Reading? Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy. What does this mean for your child’s instruction? These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns. When we know better,we do better! As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.
To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials
Ms. Paramore’s art students are working on their Original Art pieces!
4.AAP Level IV Screening Information
The deadline for AAP Level IV referrals is December 15, 2022. Cat Wilkins, Fairfax Villa’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), will be presenting information about the Level IV Screening process in a virtual parent meeting on October 26 at 7 p.m. The presentation is geared toward families of current 2nd-6th graders who are interested in referring their child for level IV services for the 2023-2024 school year.
The zoom link for the meeting is: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97560204040?pwd=Q2R1d1hYMG5QWEIrWldoUVUvUDRnZz09&from=addon
For a general overview of the Advanced Academics program, please see the recording and slides from the parent presentation that was held on 10/3, located in the All Parents/Guardians Schoology course: AAP Folder
Read the fall newsletter for our Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) news on our Fairfax Villa website here.
For more information on AAP in FCPS, including all forms, visit the AAP website here.
5.Lost and Found
If your child is missing a jacket, sweater, or some type of accessory item, please tell them to check out our Lost and Found located in the cafeteria alongside the right wall when you walk into the cafeteria. Families are welcome to look through the items between 9:00 – 9:15 and again at 4:00 – 4:15. If you are in the building for a parent-teacher conference or another meeting, please let the front office know that you would like to check out the lost and found. Items that are not retrieved in a timely manner will be donated periodically throughout the year.
6.Testing Information: Social Emotional Screener and SEL 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 3-12 will participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. 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)
7.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off 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 for the past 2 years. 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.
Ms. Luecke and Ms. Fesak introduce a new math tool!
8.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.
9.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:703-446-2050
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
10.Be Informed;Stay Involved!
11. Attendance Matters
Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD OR TEEN HAVE GOOD ATTENDANCE?
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.
- Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE SCHOOL
- Know the school’s attendance policy–incentives and penalties.
- Talk to teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be tied to something going on at school.
- Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not piling up.
- Ask for help from school officials, afterschool programs, other parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your child to school
- Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
12.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.
2022 / 2023 School Year Clubs
The following clubs will be brought to you by Fairfax Villa Elementary School’s PTA.
 Email: villapta@gmail.com
Choose from hundreds of spirit wear designs and garments that are delivered to your home in days. Don't miss it! Visit https://1stplace.sale/97243.
13.Girl Scouts
Fairfax Villa Parents and Caretakers: Do you know any Rising Kindergarteners or girls new to the Villa who want to join Girl Scouts for the new school year? Troops are forming and updating membership now! Please contact Julie Hetzler ( juliehetlzer723@gmail.com ) to get current and new students into newly formed Girl Scout troops.
14.Cub Scouts
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