Terra Centre Families,
At this time of year we are thankful for many things. Please let us share a few them with you:
We are thankful for our students who come to Terra Centre every day ready to learn. They provide us all a daily reminder of why we are here and what is essential.
We are grateful for the support of our families in building an excellent community for our students. We are also thankful that our families have kept the trust and confidence in us. We are also grateful for our volunteers who enthusiastically provide so much to our school.
We are grateful for our Terra Centre staff who care about student success. We see dedicated and hard-working individuals going above and beyond to make sure that great things happen in our school. They do make a difference, and we all benefit from those efforts.
We would like to wish all of you and your families a healthy, relaxing and happy Thanksgiving break and will see students on Monday, November 28th.
Please read below for important updates, reminders, and upcoming events.
Rebecca Gidoni, Principal
Teresa Lewis, Assistant Principal
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November 23-25: Holiday - Thanksgiving
November 28-December 2: Scholastic Book Fair
November 30: VGA Reading, Grades 3-6, 9:00 AM
December 1: Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
December 5: VGA Math, Grades 3-6, 9:00 AM
December 6: STEAM Night, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM
December 8: Bohdi Day
December 15: Referrals for AAP Level IV services due
December 19-January 2: Holiday - Winter Break
January 3: Classes Resume
FCPS 2022-2023 Calendar
FCPS School Year 2022-2023
Happy Retirement Ms. Klieber!
We wanted to share that our Reading Teacher extraordinaire, Dorothy Klieber, will be retiring on November 30th, after serving 26 years in Fairfax County Public Schools. Ms. Klieber has been an instrumental member of our Terra Centre family for years, promoting and supporting the love of reading to all students. We wish her continued success as she begins her new adventure in Prince William County Public Schools. We will miss you, Ms. Klieber, and thank you for all that you have done for our students and families at Terra Centre!
For the Love of Erick
Thank you all for your support For the Love of Erick. We achieved our goal and each student will receive a $50. Target gift card and a $50. Walmart gift card so their parents can purchase gifts for their child. Each family will receive a $100. Giant gift card. Thank you for honoring my son and helping our students. I appreciate your support.
Thanks,
Dorothy Klieber
Post-Thanksgiving COVID Diagnostic 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. https://www.fcps.edu/return-school-covid-19-testing
Virginia Growth Assessments Grades 3-6
Terra Centre will continue to participate in VGA assessments in Reading and Math in Grades 3-6. Students will participate in their classrooms, using their devices. It will be important that all devices are charged the night prior.
VGA Reading 3-6: November 30th, 9:00 AM
VGA Math 3-6: December 5th, 9:00 AM
More information is available on the VGA webpage: VGA
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Cold Weather Safety
During this time of year and typical winter days, we often have to consider a number of factors related to student activities held outdoors. We need to look beyond a specific temperature and consider factors such as wind chill, whether the ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside.
It is our intention as a school to hold recess during cold spells and our students should come prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats). However, we will limit outdoor activities during National Weather Service (NWS) issued Wind Chill Advisories and Wind Chill Warnings. If we are unable to go outside, classes will hold indoor recess.
Outdoor activity includes: general and physical education classes, recess, and scheduled fire drills. This does not include students walking to and from school, students waiting at bus stops, student patrols or staff related outdoor duties before, during, or after the school day.
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Academic 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.
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The Scholastic Book Fair is coming, and we need volunteers to help make it a success! On Monday and Tuesday 11/21-11/22, we will be setting up the fair. The week of 11/28-12/2 we will open the Fair for purchases during the school day. There will even be a fun Family Night event on Thursday, 12/1 from 5:30-7:30pm where families can shop the fair together. This is definitely something that we could not do if we didn’t have a dedicated team of volunteers.
Volunteers for the fair do many tasks including: helping students locate books and other items, running the cash register, straightening displays, rearranging and stocking additional merchandise, as well as setting up and tearing down the fair. If you are a parent or guardian of a current TC student and are able to help, please click on the Sign Up Genius located at this link: Book Fair Sign Up For more general information about the Fair, you can also go to our Book Fair website: TC Book Fair
Please reach out to our librarian, Allison Petruzzellis at aepetruzzell@fcps.edu. with any questions.
Book Fair Family Night
The Fall Scholastic Book Fair will take place the week of Nov. 28 through Dec. 2, 2022. Book Fair Family Night will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5:30-7:30pm and will feature special guest Maleeha Siddiqui, Virginia Reads 22-23 nominee for her book Barakah Beats, which is featured on the 4th to 6th Grade TC Library Reading Challenge! She will be meeting kids as well as selling and signing copies of her books, both Barakah Beats, as well as her new one, Bhai for Now. Proceeds from buying either of Mrs. Siddiqui's books for signing as well as any of our wonderful Book Fair offerings will benefit the Terra Centre Elementary School Library! This time last year we sold 2,294 books! Let's see if we can raise that this year to sell 2,500 books! This is a great way to help out your school, as well as get our kids excited about books and reading! Our book fair website is:TC Book Fair if you'd like more information!
Referrals for the Full-Time Advanced Academic (Level IV)
Referrals for current 2nd-7th graders are accepted through December 15, 2022. More information about the referral process can be found on the FCPS.edu website, search AAP Level IV. FCPS AAP information The Level IV Referral and Screening presentation is also available on the Schoology Terra Centre Parent Course in the Advanced Academic Presentation folder. Please submit referrals to Melanie Jewell, AART, MCJewell@fcps.edu
STEAM Night at Terra Centre
We are excited to be holding a Terra Centre Family STEAM Night on December 6 from 6pm-8pm. We hope you are able to join us! Please complete this form so we can prepare for your attendance. Please note: This is not a drop off event- students must remain with their grown ups.
STEAM Night RSVP
If you would like to volunteer some time at the event you can sign up here:
STEAM Night Volunteer
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.
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FCPS in the News
Play Pays Off as Impact of Middle School Recess is Felt Across Fairfax County (Whitman MS, FCPS, November 14)
Coates Family Academy Has Parents Learning Tips to Support Kids in FCPS (FCPS, November 14)
Seniors Make a SUBstantial Difference in FCPS Schools (Bull Run ES, FCPS, November 7)
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