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Para obtener una versión traducida de este mensaje, haga clic AQUÍ. Luego, haga clic en el icono IDIOMA en la esquina superior izquierda para elegir su idioma preferido.
Bee Hive
November 4, 2022
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#YouBEElonghere
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Dates to Remember:
November 6: Turn your clocks back 1 hour
November 8: NO School for Students and Teachers: Election Day
November 10: Report cards go home for students in grades 1-6
November 10: Virtual Advanced Academics Level IV Info Night, 6:15pm
November 11: NO School for Students: Veteran's Day and School Planning
November 14 - 18: PTA Scholastic Book Fair
November 17: Book Fair, Literacy, and Math Night, 5:30-7:30pm
November 23-25: Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL, OFFICE CLOSED
2022-23 FCPS School Calendar
Our littlest Herndon ES bees in PreK were mesmerized by Air Play, a breathtaking homage to the power of air, at the Kennedy Center. Air Play
Administrator Avenue
Dear Bee Families,
Thank you to all who have attended first-quarter parent-teacher conferences. We so appreciate the partnership that this time creates. We also realize that lives are hectic. If you have not been able to connect with your child’s teacher yet, please don’t give up! Teachers are willing to be flexible – holding them in person, over the phone, or via zoom. Since teachers also lead extremely hectic lives, we ask that you extend grace and compassion as you collaborate on schedules.
First-quarter progress reports will be sent home next Thursday, November 10, for students in grades 1-6. These can also be accessed in Parent Vue by the middle of next week.
In compliance with the Virginia Literacy Act, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has shifted its literacy practices to align with the Science of Reading. For the reading and writing block, some instructional practices are remaining the same, and others have shifted.
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Continuing
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Shifts
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- Read Alouds to support comprehension
- Small group targeted instruction
- Writing
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- Explicit, systematic phonics and phonemic awareness instruction in all grades
- Guided reading to skills groups
- Assessments (see below)
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One of our biggest shifts is moving away from “leveling” our students by a DRA score. This was an estimate of a student’s reading level and did not capture a complete picture of a student’s reading skills. The assessments given this fall provide a more comprehensive and nuanced picture of students as readers. Because of this shift, you will no longer see “On, Above, or Below” on your child’s Progress Report in the area of reading.
We would like to thank our families for your patience and understanding as FCPS undergoes this shift to best meet your student’s literacy needs. Our new assessments will identify and target strengths and areas of growth specifically. Teachers will use that information to scaffold small-group instruction. If you have any questions about our literacy instruction, please email or call the school.
As always, please reach out with questions, concerns or celebrations. If we live by the thought that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated, you will know how much it means to our staff when they receive an FCPS Cares.
Warmly,
Candace J. Hunstad Elizabeth Baxter Greg Brotemarkle
Proud Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Turn Clocks Back 1 Hour on November 6
Daylight saving time will end this Sunday, November 6, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
Election Day, November 8
NO SCHOOL
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.
Virtual AAP Level IV Screening
Parent Information Meeting
November 10, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Please join us for a virtual parent information night with information about our local level IV program at Herndon Elementary. We will also give you details about the screening process for advanced academics.
Join us if you want to know:
- How does my student apply for Level IV?
- What can I do as a parent to help with this process?
- What are the deadlines or timelines for this process?
- What does it look like once my student is accepted?
- What will the program for Level IV look like at Herndon Elementary School?
- Any other question you might have about the screening or Level IV process
Zoom link will be sent in an eNotify email.
Veterans' Day, November 11
As a reminder, Friday, November 11, is a student holiday/school planning day for the Veterans Day holiday. Veterans Day is a time to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our veterans and their families have made on our behalf. We thank them for their service. Learn about the history of Veterans Day.
See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
Parents and Community!
Nominate HES Staff for FCPS Outstanding Employees
If you would like to nominate any of our Herndon Elementary staff members for 2022-23 Outstanding Employees, please click the links below to submit your nominations. You may nominate more than one person per category. Preliminary nomination only requires a detailed paragraph or two about how the employee demonstrates the required criteria. The 2nd round is more detailed but worth the effort to recognize the hard work and dedication our amazing faculty and staff put forth daily.
Nomination Window: NOW – Thursday, November 18th
Herndon ES Operational Employee Nomination
Herndon ES Outstanding Teacher Nomination
Herndon ES Outstanding Leader Nomination
Herndon ES Outstanding NEW Teacher Nomination
Herndon ES Outstanding Principal Nomination
Herndon ES Outstanding Professional Employee Nomination
Thank you for taking the time to recognize the Herndon ES amazing & OUTSTANDING faculty and staff!
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact HES counselor, Tiffany Bryant, Awards Liaison – tabryant@fcps.edu
Meet our newest Bees 🐝
Administrative Assistant Position Available
Do you like working with finances, budgets, ordering, and deadlines? Are you well organized, flexible, and a multi-tasker? Would you like to be in a busy, diverse, elementary school environment helping support our principal, assistant principals, kids, teachers, staff, and families?
If so, Herndon Elementary is looking for an Administrative Assistant! This is a 12-month position with great FCPS benefits. You would be working with kind, dedicated, and energetic staff. Please contact our principal, Candace Hunstad, at cjhunstad@fcps.edu.
November 7- 11, 2022
Weekly Character Strength: Bravery
WHAT DOES Bravery mean: You act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary.
We will continue to be a Positivity Project Partner School. Learn more about it here.
Click here for the full explanation of Bravery and what it means in terms of P2 in the classroom.
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PTA News
 PTA Scholastic Book Fair
November 14-18
100% of proceeds go to the field trip fund and NEW books for HES!
All students will visit the book fair twice - once to preview and once to shop
Join us for Family Night - Thursday 11/17 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Unfortunately, new this year, 6% sales tax will be added to all purchases.
(The state of Virginia has eliminated the tax-free book fairs)
eWallet is available! Set up a cash-free account for your student at:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/herndonelementaryschool
After the Fair, remaining eWallet funds are not returned to a credit card but instead become a gift card balance that can be used online with Scholastic or to fund an eWallet for a future Book Fair. Be sure to sign in with the same email used to create the eWallet.
Contact Bryn Caraway, book fair chairperson, with any questions:
bcaraway5@gmail.com
¡La feria del libro ya casi está aquí! 14-18 de noviembre
¡El 100% de los ingresos se destinan al fondo de excursiones y libros NUEVOS para HES!
Todos los estudiantes visitarán la feria del libro dos veces: una para dar una vista previa y otra para comprar.
Comparta con nosotros durante la Noche Familiar - Jueves 17 Nov de 5:30pm a 7:30pm
Desafortunadamente, este año se agregará un impuesto sobre las ventas del 6% a todas las compras.
(El estado de Virginia ha eliminado las ferias de libros libres de impuestos)
¡La billetera electrónica está disponible! Configure una cuenta para su estudiante sin tener que usar efectivo aquí:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/herndonelementaryschool
**Después de la Feria, los fondos restantes de la billetera electrónica no se devuelven a una tarjeta de crédito, sino que se convierten en un saldo de tarjeta de regalo que se puede usar en línea con Scholastic o para financiar una billetera electrónica para una futura Feria del Libro. Asegúrese de iniciar sesión con el mismo correo electrónico que utilizó para crear la billetera electrónica.**
Comuníquese con Bryn Caraway, presidente de la feria del libro, si tiene alguna pregunta:
bcaraway5@gmail.com
 Our Bee the Hive fundraiser and it is coming to a close. This is our no-fuss fundraiser that helps us keep things afloat and do great things throughout the year. Be sure and check if your employer participates in a donor match program. Benevity is commonly used match company used by many employers (like Google and Oracle). If your company utilizes this platform, be sure to look for us on there at Herndon Elementary School PTA. Go straight here to make a donation today.
How does your donation help?
- FCPS buses for field trips
- Learning experiences like our "Mad Science" assembly
- Teacher Grants reimbursing teachers for classroom supplies they purchase out of their own pockets
and so much more!
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
Volunteer help needed in the Library
Please reach out to the PTA if you have any spare time you can donate to the library to help our lovely Ms. Sarah re-shelve book returns. Even 30 minutes or an hour can be such a ginormous help. Reach out to Monica, our VP of Volunteers, for details herndonptavolunteers@gmail.com.
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all the up-to-the-minute happenings with our hive.
FCPS News
 November Is Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions recognized by FCPS.
See the 2022-23 School Year Calendar.
How FCPS Develops Its School Year Calendar
In an annual planning process, Fairfax County Public Schools uses input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. Our framework for creating the calendar is available online to ensure transparency, as we work to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable. Stay tuned for information about FCPS’ upcoming Calendar Survey. Parents/caregivers, students in grades 7-12, and employees will be invited to participate.
Progress Reports and End of Quarter SIS Updates
FCPS weekly progress reports will not be sent to parents through Wednesday, November 9, while first quarter grading and report cards are created. Also, the Grade Book and Report Card modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed until Wednesday, November 9, at 6 a.m.
FCPS Receives $2 Million Grant to Fund STEAM
FCPS has been awarded a $2 million Department of Defense Education Activity Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs grant that will support STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and computer science integration to advance math learning goals. This grant project, Code UP!, is a five-year grant program that officially began last month.
Visit our website to learn more about Code UP! and see which schools will implement the program.
Feedback Welcome on Proposed Family Life Education Changes
The Fairfax County School Board is reviewing recommended changes to the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum and invites public feedback as part of the review process. In May 2022, the Family Life Education Curriculum Advisory Committee (FLECAC) presented recommended curriculum changes, to go into effect for the 2023-24 school year. Those changes include adopting gender-combined instruction, and exploring instruction of gender identity, recommended media, and other instructional changes.
The recommendations reflect leading education and child development research and expert advice. According to research cited in the recommendations, these changes will create a more inclusive learning environment, result in higher academic achievement for students, and improve school climate.
Public feedback will be shared with FLECAC and the School Board. FCPS staff and the School Board will consider all feedback but are unable to reply to individuals.
Learn more about the recommended changes. The public feedback form will be open October 31 through December 1.
Strategic Plan Student Survey Is Open!
We are excited to begin the process of developing FCPS’ new Strategic Plan! Starting today through Friday, November 18, students in grades 3-12 will have an opportunity to be a part of this work by taking the Strategic Plan Student Survey. The survey will allow students to share their thoughts about school and what's important to them. If you opted your child out of taking the survey, they will not be asked to participate.
Schools will be showing a short video to help familiarize students with the concept of a Strategic Plan prior to administering the survey. Students in grades 3-6 will watch this video, and those in grades 7-12 will be shown this version. Visit the Strategic Plan Student Survey webpage for more information.
Why Do We Need a Strategic Plan?
FCPS’ last strategic plan was developed in 2015. Since then, we experienced a pandemic that changed the way we think, a shift in technology that has seen eight new versions of the iPhone, and plans developed for the first manned mission to Mars.
Our students are preparing for careers that don’t exist today. In order to keep pace with these needs, we need to rethink our plans for the future—and how we will best serve our students for this new era. Employees, parents/caregivers, students, and our FCPS community must share the same purpose in order to recognize how we can move forward together.
We are all much more motivated, and successful, when we share clear end goals. Learn more on our Strategic Plan webpage.
Want to Work for FCPS? Subs, Monitors, and Others Needed!
FCPS will hold a virtual job fair on Wednesday, November 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. We are seeking those interested in positions as substitute teachers, substitute instructional assistants, student monitors, instructional assistants, public health attendants (PHAs), and public health training assistants (PHTAs). Register to attend or view current job openings.
$3,000 Signing Bonus for Bus Drivers
Job fairs will be held for those interested in becoming FCPS bus drivers on:
If you have questions, please call 571-423-3000 or email driveforfcps@fcps.edu.
Bonus Opportunities for Subs!
FCPS is always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers and instructional assistants need to be out of the classroom. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for future teachers, stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, part-time employees, and anyone who wants to make a difference.
FCPS has started offering bonuses for substitutes who are available to teach on high volume days. Also, substitutes who work more days will earn extra bonuses when they reach 50, 100, or 150 days worked in a school year. Visit the Substitute Teaching Employment Opportunities page for more information.
Substitute Teacher and Substitute Instructional Assistant information sessions are held virtually on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Candidates will receive a link to the virtual information session via email the Monday before the session. Sign up for an information session.
School Improvement and Innovation/ESSER III Plans
Wondering how ESSER funds are being spent at your school? The Fall 2022 School Improvement and Innovation (SIIP)/Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) plans are available online. Plans will be updated periodically as schools have opportunities to adjust their strategies and budgets.
Community News
Red Flag Gun Law in Virginia
 Virginia’s Emergency Substantial Risk Orders (ESRO) law prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing, possessing, or transporting any kind of firearm. If you know of someone with a gun acting in a way that concerns you, speak up to prevent a gun tragedy.
To request an ESRO in Fairfax County, call the police non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. If there is an immediate danger, call or text 911. Learn more about Red Flag laws on the county government website.
The vision of Herndon Elementary School is to provide students with a safe, nurturing learning environment where all students will work to their full potential.
The mission of Herndon Elementary is to develop children to their full potential by ensuring a high level of success for all students. Teachers will work to differentiate instruction, provide a safe environment, and develop goals with students. Parents and teachers will work together as a community to prepare students to become productive citizens.
Our vision for the 2022-2023 school year is…
- Strong relationships with each other and our bees will drive all that we do.
- We will know our bees as scholars.
- Every student will know #YouBeelonghere
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FCPS Cares
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Do you know a Herndon Elementary employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
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Important Contact Information
Herndon Elementary Phone Numbers:
- Health Room 703-326-3110
- Cafeteria 703-326-3121
Administration e-mail addresses:
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