Family Newsletter November 4, 2022

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Eric Johnson and Amanda Snyder

Principal's Message

Hello Families,

I am so excited to be back at Cameron to serve the community I love! I missed my little Cheetahs and their smiling faces! Ms. Linda Ferguson and Ms. Kristin Bennink, acting administrators did an amazing job with continuing to support the operational and instructional responsibilities of the school. We are grateful to these fine FCPS leaders.

I am very honored and look forward to working with our new Assistant Principal, Amanda Snyder.  Our leadership styles compliment each another. We share similar philosophical views and beliefs which are building strong relationships with all stakeholders, collaboration and having high expectations for all students. We are visible leaders that are proud to serve the Cameron community.

We are continuing to build a culture of collaboration with your support and advocacy. Our students and families are priority to us as we strive to bridge the gaps with school and home to create “One Cameron.”

Respectfully yours,

Mr. Eric T. Johnson, Principal

Ms. Amanda Snyder, Assistant Principal


Kindergarten Visits Pumpkin Patch

kindergarten field trip

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kinder field trip

veterans day

Veterans Day Celebration

Dear Cameron Active, Retired, Reserve, and National Guard Service Members,

Cameron Staff and students invite you to attend a Veterans Day Celebration for our military-connected family members on November 10th from 9 am to 10 am.  

Our Veterans Day Program will include musical and video presentations and a light breakfast will be served.   An invitation was sent home to families that have self- identified as military-connected.  If you did not receive an invitation, please contact Lisa Heath, School Counselor and proud Military Family Member via this email address:   lpheath@fcps.edu


Paisano's for Cameron

Go to or order from Paisano's for lunch or dinner on Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9! 20% of your total will be donated to the Cameron PTA. Students will be given the coupon shown, but you can also mention Cameron when ordering at Paisano's for the contribution. Online orders will count as well - just be sure to write Cameron in the comments of the order. 

paisanos fundraiser

Math and Literacy Night

Math at Literacy Night will be Thursday, November 10 from 5:30-6:30pm. We hope you join us with your family for fun math and literacy games!

math and literacy night

Order Cameron Gear!

The PTA is hosting a Cameron spirit wear fundraiser. Students have been given an order form. You can also order online. See the options below, and contact PTA President Lee Wilson if you have any questions! president@cameronpta.org 

spirit wear poster
spirit wear

integrity

Family Liaison Corner

-Susana Trupo

Integrity

"Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you."

Dear families

As part of the Cameron’s Positivity Project your child is learning, this week, about “Integrity”. It will be neat if you can also work at home on ways to grow your child’s integrity. I am sharing with you some interesting suggestions I found.

  1. Articulate family values.

What are your family values? Can your child discuss and defend them? Family values impact healthy child and adolescent development in profound ways. Most families have positive values that are steeped in their cultures or religions. Their values elicit habits of thinking and behaving that honor human strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and imperfections. Learn why family values should be intentionally articulated and how children learn through a parent’s words and actions.

  1. Develop a moral vocabulary.

Words like honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage are core to centuries of religious, philosophical, and family beliefs. Use them and others to express and reinforce your family values. Teach children the behaviors that flow from these principles. Use quotes to ignite meaningful dinner conversations and encourage kids to talk about these values. Check out an excellent list of quotes.

  1. Reward respectful behavior.

When children feel good about doing what’s right, they learn to measure the quality of their lives beyond grades and extra-curricular achievements. Parents who let children know that courage, honesty, and respect for others is more highly valued than quantifiable wealth or intelligence help kids understand the true meaning of being wholly human. When your children show integrity, tell them what you admire about their behavior.

  1. Explore consequences.

Learning integrity takes practice. Like all learning, failure produces consequences. When children explore, understand, and accept the consequences of failure, critical learning occurs.

For example, in elementary school, children often learn that being disrespectful to peers negatively affects their friendships. As they get older and feel pressure to succeed in school, some children learn that cheating affects their academic reputations. For a child, these can be tough consequences. Yet, they are consequences children learn to understand.

As children become teenagers and young adults, the consequences of not being responsible and honest become more serious. For example, teens who deceive parents and drive drunk can cause someone’s injury or death, perhaps their own. Often, the consequences of their actions can never be fully understood or accepted.

When integrity is taught at home from a young age, it becomes part of a child’s character. Ideally, children learn integrity when the consequences are small. Having integrity doesn’t mean children will always be honest, responsible, or respectful. What it does mean is that they will understand the consequences of their actions on themselves and others and, with that understanding, will make informed choices about how they live out their own values in the world.

  1. Respond appropriately.

Parents cannot control their child’s behavior, but they can respond with consistency when reinforcing family values. When learning is considered the foremost goal, dishonest or disrespectful behavior becomes a teachable moment for parents. What’s most important is that your child reflects on and gleans meaning from their behavior. Talk with them. Listen and show respect for your child’s thinking, and then restate your expectations that dishonesty or disrespect is never acceptable in your family. Consequences should be consistent and clearly understood.

  1. Be a role model.

Children often name parents as their role models. Research shows that role models live their values in the world. They help children understand how values, like integrity, are part of a successful and rewarding life. Review what you say or share on social media. Does it reflect your values? Is it hurtful to others? Are there more respectful ways to share what you believe? Children are watching and learning from their adult role models. Read about five qualities of role models that matter most to teens.

  1. Teach digital etiquette.

More than ever before, parents should teach all aspects of digital citizenship from an early age, including social networking etiquette, digital literacy, and standards of moral conduct. While it is difficult for children to stand up to disrespectful behavior online, they should always know that they can seek support from an adult when they feel threatened, bullied, or fearful. This is one way they can act with integrity and safely stand for what they believe.

  1. Share meaningful stories.

Examples of integrity are contained in human stories everywhere. When you read books with your kids, listen to stories about their peers, watch TV or movies together, or talk about what’s going on in the world, ask your kids to find examples of how individuals stood up for their beliefs in ways that made a difference for themselves or the world around them. Make the topic of integrity part of the conversation!

  1. Instill self-efficacy.

Children who stand up for principles in which they believe have high degrees of self-efficacy, the belief in one’s ability to accomplish goals and influence the future. Parents instill self-efficacy in children when they help kids be guided by their own internal compasses, allow them to grow from their relationships, and appreciate children for who they are, not just for what they achieve. When young people learn to believe in themselves, dishonesty and disrespect no longer make much sense. Living with integrity becomes a way of life. Read what it means to “believe in yourself,” through words from young people themselves.


DOE

 

 

Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid

Beginning on 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 boxes in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 4. All results are confidential

More information is available online.


international community day at emmanuel worship center

Community Event

On Sunday, November 6 from 11am-4pm, there will be an International Community Fun Day at Emmanuel Worship Center. This event is free, and highlights will include: taste free food from different countries, health and vaccination education, nutrition education, children dental, mental health, spiritual counseling, fun activities for kids.

Located at 8145 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-473-1883 for more information. 


native american heritage month

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 celebrated in FCPS.


Calendar Reminder

No School Nov 8 - Election Day

Don’t forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8! The day will be observed as a holiday for students and teachers. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.


veterans day

No School for Students Nov 11 - Veterans Day

As a reminder, Friday, November 11, is a student holiday/school planning day for the Veterans Day holiday. Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service.


Important Dates 

Nov 8 - No School, Election Day 

Nov 9 - HIPPY Family Program, 9:30am-2pm, SACC Room

Nov 10 - Early Literacy Family Program, 9:30am-2pm, SACC Room 

Nov 10 - Math & Literacy Night, 5:30-6:30pm

Nov 11- No School for students, Veterans Day

See the complete 2022-2023 school year calendar