|
Thank you to everyone who attended our Veterans Day program on Thursday!
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John F. Kennedy.
Join us for Curriculum Night!
Tuesday, Nov. 15th
6:00pm – 7:30pm
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Calendar Survey Coming Soon!
- Student Performance in Language Arts (Grades 1-6)
- Family Engagement Resources
- School Board Presentation: Academic Matters
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today
Halley Is a Positivity Project School! Thank you to our amazing PTO for partnering with us in this effort! Each month we will focus on a different character strength as we strive to be our best selves.
For the month of November, our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Gratitude. Gratitude means you are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
Gratitude is the quality of feelings and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world and that we have received that goodness. People with the strength of gratitude have a readiness to show appreciation for kindness and also to return kindness. A leading expert, Robert Emmons, calls gratitude a “relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
Out of all 24-character strengths, gratitude is the single best predictor of individual well-being. It is correlated with increased energy, empathy, happiness and optimism. And, the great thing about gratitude is that it can be intentionally cultivated. Numerous studies have concluded that gratitude is like a muscle. The more you practice it, the stronger it gets -- and the more you’re able to reap its benefits.
To practice and encourage the character strength of gratitude with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.
Thanksgiving Holiday
Schools and offices will be closed November 23-25. Classes will resume on Monday, November 28.
|
|
 |
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 on our website. The public feedback form will be available on our website and will be open October 31 through December 1.
Thanksgiving Luncheon
This school year, Halley ES is excited to be able to provide a Thanksgiving lunch menu for students on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Unfortunately, staffing and supply chain challenges continue to impact daily operations in FCPS; as a result, the Thanksgiving lunch will not be available to guests.
The Fall Halley Book Fair is almost here! This year’s dates will be Monday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Dec. 2.
Family Night will be Wednesday evening, Nov. 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
If you’d like to volunteer to help with this event, you can sign up here or contact Ms. Hall – cghall@fcps.edu. We hope to see you there!
Staying Healthy this
Cold/Flu Season
Although the community level of COVID-19 in Fairfax County is currently low, cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses are on the rise. It continues to be important to wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, monitor your health daily, and stay home if you are sick. For more tips, visit our Return to School website
Nominate an amazing
HALLEY Staff Member for the
Outstanding Employee Awards
 |
|
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 18th
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Buchko at jmbuchko@fcps.edu
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
Family Engagement Month
National Family Engagement Month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. More than 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in the education of their child. Strong parental and family support is vital to the well-being and success of students. FCPS has many resources for families designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
The national standards for family-school partnerships include welcoming all families, communicating effectively, supporting student success, speaking up for every child, sharing power, and collaborating with the community.
The following resources are available to all FCPS families. Visit the links below to learn more about workshops and classes for families, digital and printable resources for early childhood, mental health, military families, special education, multilingual and wellness topics.
FCPS Calendar Survey
Coming Soon!
In an annual planning process, FCPS uses input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. The Calendar Survey will be sent to parents/caregivers, employees, and students in grades 7-12 next week.
Our framework for creating the calendar is available online to ensure transparency, as we work to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable.
|
