Sangster News You Choose 10-27-2022



Upcoming Events

  • October 28       -  End of First Quarter (2 Hour Early Release)
  • October 31       -  Teacher Workday 
  • November 1-4  -  Book Fair
  • November 3     -  Math Night 6:00 - 7:30 (A-L Families)
  • November 4     -  Math Night 6:00 - 7:30 (M-Z Families)
  • November 8     -  Election Day 
  • November 11   -  Veterans Day 


Calendar Reminder:  End of the First Quarter

As a reminder, Friday, October 28, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Monday, October 31, for a teacher workday.

All Saints Day/Dia de Los Muertos

All Saints Day/Dia de los Muertos

 

Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Tuesday, November 1, and Wednesday, November 2, are “O” Days, religious and cultural observances noted in the school calendar. To learn more about Dia de los Muertos, watch this video.

While Dia de los Muertos is largely celebrated in Mexico and Latin America, it also coincides with All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). These days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants worldwide to honor those who have died and gone to heaven (All Saints Day) and those who may still be in purgatory (All Souls Day).

The school calendar recognizes many O days during the school year. Classes are held on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events not be held on these observance days. Read Regulation 2234.12 for details.

Election Day

Don’t forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 8! The day will be observed as a holiday for students and teachers. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website. 

See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.


Shop the Sangster Fall Book Fair!!

Books

In collaboration with Bookworm Central, Sangster is offering both in-person and online book fair options. We are pleased to offer Bookworm Central's diverse collection of popular books and games. Shop for new additions to your home library and/or purchase gifts for others - all while helping to raise money for Sangster's library and literacy programs! 

  • In-person for students from Tuesday, Nov. 1 - Friday, Nov. 4 (12:30 - 4:30)
  • Open both evenings during Math Night on Nov. 3 & 4 (6:00 - 7:30) 
  • Online 24/7 NOW through Friday, Nov. 11 

Shop online: tinyurl.com/sangsterbooks :

  • Choose SHIP TO SCHOOL for faster delivery and free shipping OR receive delivery right to your home (free shipping over $40)! 
  • Send the link to family and friends ANYWHERE. Anything bought through our bookfair site, regardless of location, supports Sangster! 

Shop in person: (STUDENTS ONLY during the school day

  • Payment options for student purchases: eWallet preferred (flyer sent home Thursday, Oct. 25), checks made out to Sangster Elementary, or cash in an envelope
  • Sangster library staff, volunteers, and teachers cannot be held responsible for any money sent with a child

A Message from the Clinic

Vision and Hearing Screening will be held November 1 – 4 for all 3rd Grade students. If your child wears eyeglasses, please be sure he/she has them at school on these screening days. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation because they have difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further testing is needed. Vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning. Prompt follow-up of a referral is recommended.  Please contact Sangster School Health Aide, Amy Friedman, at 703-644-8210 with any questions.


Nominate a Sangster Staff Member for the Outstanding Employee Awards

FCPS Awards

 

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Sangster Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link.  You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category).

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

Outstanding Teacher  

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)

Outstanding New Principal

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)

Outstanding Leader 

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)   

This process has several rounds. If your nomination is chosen to continue to the next round, the committee may reach back out to you to help prepare the final submission. 

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 11th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Meghan Buckles at mlbuckles@fcps.edu .


Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid

Dr Reid stands next to Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander

 

Beginning October 18, FCPS will be asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. 

Returning this form is important, because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If Sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 4. All responses are confidential. 

Watch the video to learn more about this process.


Family Math Night 

Math Night

6th Grade Parents Youth Survey Information

The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The results of this survey are published each year on the FCPS website and are used by school officials, youth leadership classes, youth-serving county agencies, and local non-profits to determine the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs offered in schools and communities. It is also used to identify changing trends and areas of need.  Online responses will not be traced back to your child's personal information or linked to a computer, email address, or other electronic identifiers. No personally identifiable information or IP addresses will be recorded.  

Sangster 6th graders will participate the Youth Survey sometime between November 7-22.

If you would like to opt your child out of the Youth Survey please do so before November 7th by filling out the opt out form found here or sending an email to ltrailan@fcps.edu stating that you would like to opt out your child.  


Information Night about AAP Level IV Services at Irving Middle School:

Irving staff will provide a program on Wednesday, November 9 at 7PM in Barker Hall at Irving to talk about the Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) they offer for students who have qualified for Level IV services as they differ from what students experience in elementary schools.

  1. Irving staff will discuss the classes offered for students who have qualified for Level IV services and the process to apply should families want their child to participate in these classes.
  2. The FCPS AAP website also provides information about the various levels and the process to apply.
  3. If you have any questions about this program or the classes for AAP Level IV students at Irving, please contact Irving’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Dana Gorman, at dwgorman@fcps.edu. Please include “Irving AAP Level IV question” in your email’s subject line.

West Springfield Pyramid Event

WS Trunk or Treat

Positivity Project - Week of October October 24, 2022

Positivity Project

This week’s character strength is Creativity. You show this strength when you come up with new and original ways to think about and do things. Creative people can look at the world in original ways. They are open to new experiences, and have an imaginative and independent thought process. They generate lots of different ideas and can pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity is a process that takes courage.

The site P2 For Families is available for connecting P2 to your home and you can learn more about the site here. Many of the slides are password protected and the password is P2 (case-sensitive).

Next week’s character strength:  Other People Mindset- Knowing my words and actions affect others


PTA

 

News from the Sangster PTA

 



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