Students all over the building, engaged in small group lessons which are an opportunity for teachers to meet students' specific needs throughout the day.

Bucknell Families!

This has been a packed week at Bucknell! Students were very excited to have a full week of learning, after school clubs, and fun! As the temperatures are dropping, we want to take the opportunity to remind you to please send a coat and hat with your students to school each day.  This is especially needed as students participate in recess or any outside learning. If your child is in need of a coat, please contact our Parent Liaison Marilyn Wilson at miwilson@fcps.edu or our school counselor Pierce Prior at plprior@fcps.edu.

This week was also our 2nd monthly Family Food Market! Families from all over the community were able to get FREE food at our market! Please make sure to mark your calendar for December 14th when our Family Food Market comes back again! If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact our Parent Liaison Marilyn Wilson at miwilson@fcps.edu.

Lastly, today our STEAM Teacher Ms. Simonds will accompany our Robotics Team for their competition at Hayfield Elementary! Our students have worked hard and are very excited! We can't wait to cheer them on! Please wish our students good luck!

Sincerely,

Rashida Green, Principal 

Gina Toler, Assistant Principal 

Follow Bucknell ES on Twitter: @BucknellElem

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• FCPS Calendar Survey
• How to be involved in the Strategic Plan
• Post-Thanksgiving COVID Testing
• Recommended Changes to Family Life Education Curriculum 

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.

After School Clubs Canceled This Tuesday, Nov. 22

Due to the Thanksgiving break there will be NO clubs held on Tuesday, November 22^nd. Clubs will resume the following week.

Post Thanksgiving - COVID Testing 

COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county November 28-30 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.

Families from our community enjoyed our FREE monthly Family Food Market! Please mark your calendars for our next one on December 14th!

Advanced Academics Full Time (Levle 4) Information Meeting

A virtual family information meeting will be held on Thursday, December 1^st from 6:00-7:00 PM. This meeting will provide information about full-time AAP services and the screening process for identifying students. A Zoom link will be sent in advance of the meeting. Students in grades 2-6 are eligible to be screened for full time services and parents can request this by completing a Level 4 Referral Form by the December 15^th deadline. English Referral Form  Spanish Referral Form Questions can be directed to Chris Roeseler at caroeseler@fcps.edu

Winter Assessment Calendar

Many winter assessments are coming up for our Bulldogs. Please see the table below for grade level assessments. 

iReady Assessments

VGA Assessments

We ask that you please make any possible effort to avoid absences or appointments on these days, if possible. We know that with your support this will be a successful testing season for both our students and staff.

Special Education Support Group In-Person Meeting - December 7th

We are restarting our Special Education Support Group for families (and staff) this year. Please join us on Wednesday, December 7th at 6PM in the Bucknell ES Library! We will provide translation in Spanish, and snacks courtesy of the Bucknell PTA. Share your experience and knowledge, as well as learn about the many resources FCPS and our community have to support you and your family. Our first meeting will be a time to connect with each other and discuss what we want our meetings to be like going forward. The feedback from this meeting will direct when and how we meet, as well as what topics or speakers we will have in the future. If you have any questions, reach out to our SEPTA (Special Education PTA) Liaison: Ashley Bryda, ashpearson@aol.com

Clase de educacion financiera (en Espanol) - Jueves, 8 de Diciembre

Nuestros amigos de Truist Bank ofrecerán a nuestras familias una clase gratuita de educación financiera básica Jueves, 8 de Diciembre a las 6PM. Las familias de Bucknell (¡y el personal!) están invitadas a reunirse en la cafetería de Bucknell para cenar, cortesía de Truist. Proporcionaremos una actividad tranquila para los niños que asistan. Todos son bienvenidos, pero tenga en cuenta que esta clase es SOLO en español. Más información a seguir. 

Our friends at Truist are offering our families a FREE Basic Financial Literacy Class. Interested families and staff are invited to join us for dinner in the Bucknell Cafeteria, courtesy of Truist. We will also provide a quiet activity for any children who attend. More information will follow. Classes in English will be offered at a later date. All families are welcome; but please be aware that this particular class will be offered in Spanish-only. 

Save the Date: Techstravaganza - Saturday May 13th 

TJ Techstravaganza is a free STEM activity fair that provides fun, hands-on labs and demonstrations for K-8 students across the DMV area. We will be holding the 19th annual Techstravaganza on May 13, 2023 from 10 AM to 4 PM at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA, and we would like to invite your school’s students to attend Techstravaganza.

Admission is free, food will be for sale, and we hope that you can spread the word at your school! Attached is a flyer (in English and Spanish) that can be used to advertise this event, and here is our registration link: https://tinyurl.com/techstrav2023tix.

This year, we are providing free transportation to elementary and middle schools in the area to make the event more accessible to students. If you are interested in attending the event, please reply to this email (twistcoordinators@gmail.com). More information about the event can be found on our website at tjtechstrav.org.

How Can You Help Your Child Have Good Attendance?

Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school.  This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation. 
• Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s  sleep.
• Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe at school. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
• Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work.  But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.

Visit our website for more attendance resources.

At Bucknell, relationships matter! Our Kinder and 5th grade buddies went on a Fall Scavenger Hunt!

Academics Matters

During the Academic Matters portion of Monday’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Reid discussed the innovative assessment practices happening in FCPS as part of our School Division of Innovation designation from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). 

This recognition means that VDOE has approved a plan to improve student learning, educational performance, and college, career, and citizenship readiness skills. It positions FCPS as a state leader in innovative practices with the opportunity to impact statewide policy decisions. Watch Dr. Reid’s presentation.

FREE! Tutor.com in FCPS

Did you know? Students who’ve used Tutor.com have provided positive feedback. Unless they’ve been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet the needs of the student from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers. Learn more at FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage. 

Learn how students can log in and access a tutor by watching a video: 

Tutor.com in FCPS: How it Works in English

Tutor.com in FCPS: How it Works in Spanish

FCPS Strategic Planning 

Opportunities to Participate in the Strategic Planning Process

FCPS is offering a number of opportunities for parents/caregivers to be involved in the Strategic Planning process! Check out two immediate options below:

Nominate Yourself or Someone Else for the Family Team 

We are currently seeking nominations for parents/caregivers who are interested in contributing to Strategic Plan development as part of the Family Team. This team will represent the rich diversity of families that make up FCPS’ community, and will focus on identifying engagement and outreach practices that will improve our partnerships with families.

If you are interested in being part of the Family Team or would like to nominate someone else, please fill out this form by Tuesday, November 22.

Be a Key Communicator!

If you are a member of a community organization or group, consider signing up to be a key communicator during the strategic planning process. FCPS key communicators are active members of the community who people turn to for information, and have an interest in sharing information about the school division and encouraging involvement. If this describes you or someone you know, please get the details and complete this form by Monday, November 28.

FCPS Calendar Survey: Make Your Voice Heard! 

FCPS parents/caregivers, employees, and students in grades 7-12 were emailed an invitation to take the 2023-24 School Year Calendar Survey. This survey is part of an annual process to gather input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. Please complete the survey by Thursday, December 1, and make your voice heard! For more information or help filling out the survey, please visit our website.

Alcohol & The Holidays 

The holidays usually involve family time, games, movies, food, and possibly drinks. Alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic and when ABC stores were deemed essential it didn’t help lower those rates (ABC News, September 29, 2020). Many people are still trying to figure out how to navigate our “new normal” and are still reeling from the consequences of so much isolation and loss. Increased alcohol consumption is one of those consequences to our communities. If you choose to drink, I invite you to drink responsibly this holiday season and talk with your child about the dangers of underage alcohol and substance use.

Questions to consider when drinking with your family:

1. What message am I sending if I drink in excess around my underage child?
2. Have I had conversations about responsible drinking with them?
3. Are the conversations I have about alcohol realistic?
4. Do my conversations with others reinforce alcohol use as a coping skill during stressful times?
5. What messages am I sending my underage child if I allow them to drink with me or another adult in the house?

Information to consider:

“One-third of Fairfax County students (33.7%) reported drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 18.8% of eighth-grade students to half of twelfth-grade students (49.4%). One in seven students (15.2%) reported drinking alcohol in the past month, ranging from 4.5% of eighth-grade students to 27.7% of twelfth-grade students.” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020)

“Female students reported higher rates of alcohol use in their lifetime (36.1% compared to 31.2% of male students), in the past month (17.1% and 13.1%, respectively), and binge drinking in the past two weeks (7.3% and 6.5%, respectively)” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020).

Resources:

Holiday Stress

Helpful Info to Quit Vaping

FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Substance Abuse Prevention (Spanish)

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.

For further Information & support:

Elizabeth Knudson, MA, NCC, LPC

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

eaknudson@fcps.edu

Want to Work for FCPS? Subs, Monitors, and Others Needed!

FCPS will hold a virtual job fair on November 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. FCPS is 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) positions. Learn more and 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 bus drivers for FCPS on Friday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stonecroft Transportation Center and Wednesday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lorton Center. Click on the links to learn more, call 571-423-3000, or email driveforfcps@fcps.edu. 

Sub and Save the Day! Bonus Opportunities! 

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. Additionally, substitutes who work more, will earn extra bonuses when they read 50, 100, or 150 days worked in a school year.   

Substitute Teacher and Substitute Instructional Assistant information sessions are held virtually on Wednesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Candidates will receive an email link to the virtual information session the Monday before the session. Sign up for an information session. 

FCPS Cares - Recognize Bucknell Employees! 

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS, and more specifically, Bucknell Elementary School employees.

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 celebrated in FCPS.

• November 8: No School - Student Holiday - Election Day
• November 9: PTA All Day Fundraiser at Ledo Pizza  
• November 11: No School - Student Holiday - School Planning Day
• November 16: Principal and PTA Breakfast at 9:00am 
• November 16: Family Food Market 11:30am - 1:00pm  
• November 23-25: No School - Thanksgiving Break 
• See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.

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