Welcoming our Families to Halley
Halley Families,
Happy Friday! After two years of limited to no visitors in our building, we are excited to be able to welcome families back in-person to participate in events and support our school community. Please see below for various ways to get involved at school. Welcome home!
Lunch Visitors
We have returned to our pre-pandemic policy of welcoming family members to join their child for lunch! Just check in at the office (Driver's license needed) at your child's lunchtime, enjoy eating with them, and sign back out in the office when lunch is over. Feel free to bring a lunch for your child, however, please do not bring food to share with classmates. Here is our lunch schedule:
11:00 a.m. – 5th grade
11:30 a.m. – 6th grade
12:00 p.m. – 4th grade
12:30 p.m. – 2nd grade
1:00 p.m. – Kindergarten & 1st grade
1:30 p.m. – 3rd grade
Special Events
Last year, we started hosting in-person assemblies and events again, and it was wonderful to have families back in person! We are excited to announce that we are hosting several family events this year and already off to a great start! Please see below for details about our annual Veterans Day assembly which will return to in-person this year. We hope you will join us!
Family Engagement Committee
As we work to deepen relationships with and among families and amplify our family engagement efforts, family voices are critical! We are looking for family representatives for our Family Engagement Committee. This committee, comprised of staff, family and community members, and students, will meet quarterly to reflect on our family engagement efforts and plan next steps for our school community. Interested in serving on this committee? Please email Principal Kerry Peerman at Klpeerman@fcps.edu.
Whether you've been visiting the school already this year or have yet to stop by, we welcome you back to your Halley Hornet home! We are the loving and interdependent community that we are because of you all, our families. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Blessings and Joy,
Kerry Peerman, Principal
Paula Johnson-Tyler. Assistant Principal
Lucy Zamora, Assistant Principal
SAVE THE DATE
Veterans Day Celebration
Thursday, November 10th
3:00pm
Because Veterans Day is a Student Holiday this year (Friday, November 11th), we will be shifting our celebration to the day before – Thursday, November 10th. Family members who are current or former members of the military are invited to come to school that morning to speak to students about their experiences.
More information will be sent, but we wanted to make sure to get this “Save the Date” message out now so those who are interested can mark their calendars and arrange for time off from work, if necessary.
Monday, October 31st
Schools will be closed for students on Monday, October 31st, for a teacher workday
Nominations will be/are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Halley Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form 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 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)
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 18th
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Buchko at jmbuchko@fcps.edu
Impact Aid Survey Due November 4
FCPS is 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 results are confidential.
Watch this video to learn about the importance of the Impact Aid Survey and this video for directions on how to fill out the survey.
Have questions or need help? Contact Mrs. Connie Keefer, office assistant, at cjkeefer@fcps.edu or by calling the front office at (703)551-5700.
2022-23 Strategic Planning
Opportunity for Students to Help Inform FCPS’ Future
You may have heard FCPS is developing a Strategic Plan that will serve as the school division’s roadmap for the future. We encourage every parent/caregiver, student, employee, and community member to participate in this important work.
The first engagement opportunity will be an optional survey, which will be open to students in grades 3-12. Knowing what is important to students will be very helpful to Dr. Reid, as she leads the planning of FCPS’ future. All schools, including ours, will schedule a date and time during the school day to administer the survey between November 2-18. If you would prefer that your child not participate, you may opt your child out of taking the survey. Please visit FCPS’ website for more information.
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.
YOUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
We are honored to work with you this year and will work every day to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us if there is anything we can do to further support your child's learning and experience at Halley. We are here to listen and partner with you to help your child have a successful school year!
Your Halley Administrative Team,
Mrs. Peerman, Principal
Mrs. Johnson-Tyler, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Zamora, Assistant Principal
Mark Your Calendar
October 24-Student Holiday
October 28-End of First Quarter/2hr. Early Release
October 31-Teacher Workday/Student Holiday
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