BUpper Weekly Parent Conversations

Families: Please Join Us Virtually on December 5^th for Wellness Night

Join school counselors, Maya Lidell and Derek Ryan, to discuss supporting your child’s emotions. They will go over coping strategies we teach here at school, and how to talk to your child about handling emotions.

Weekly Parent Conversations will occur virtually on Mondays, 7:00pm – 8:00pm. The themes will cover wellness, math, and language arts. Specific topics will be announced the Friday before in News You Choose.

(Spanish interpreter will be available*)  

See below for upcoming dates and themes: 

December:

12/5 – Wellness – Supporting Child’s Emotions

12/12 – Academic - Math is All Around Us

January:

1/9 – Wellness - Conversations Around Peer Conflict

1/23 – Academic - Literacy: Retelling a Story

February:

2/6 - Wellness: Attendance in the Winter

2/13 – Academic - Math: Building Fluency with Multiplication & Division

March:

3/6 - Wellness -Cyber Safety

3/13 – Academic - Literacy: Reader’s Theater

April:

4/17 - Wellness: Teaching Your Child Empathy

4/24 – Academic - Math: Online Math Learning

May:

5/8 - Wellness: Transition to Summer

5/15 – Academic - Literacy: Summer Reading

Would you like more information or have any questions?  Please contact the Bailey’s Upper ESSER III Leads:

Maya Lidell - mlidell@fcps.edu

Nicole Scher - nrscher@fcps.edu

Current and Upcoming Assessments at Bailey’s Upper

Our teachers are working hard to get to know the needs of each of our students. It is always important that we know where there might be gaps in our students' knowledge, where they might need additional support and where they are excelling. To identify these, we use screeners and benchmark exams. 

Beginning on November 30^th, students will take the Winter Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) for Reading and Math.  This is a state required exam that is used to measure student growth and progress in reading and mathematics. These are no "passing" or "failing" marks and students are not expected to study. Results are used as a starting point to identify areas of strength and growth. Parents will be able to view score reports in the spring.  

 Reading VGA Dates:

• November 30^th – 5^th Grade Reading
• December 1^st – 4^th Grade Reading
• December 2^nd – 3^rd Grade Reading

 Math VGA Dates:

• December 6^th 5^th Grade Math
• December 7^th – 3^rd Grade Math
• December 9^th 4^th Grade Math

If you have any questions in regards to upcoming assessments, please contact our School Testing Coordinators Nicole Cassidy or Nicole Scher at 703-503-2700.

Parent/Guardian Class Lunch Visits Schedule Update

We are excited to start welcoming parents/guardians next week to join their student(s) for a special lunch at school! Your students class will have an assigned day for you to join them here at Bailey’s Upper. This is a great opportunity for parents/guardians to come in for lunch with their child. Please see the schedule to view when your child’s class is scheduled for a lunch visit. We encourage parents to eat the same lunch as their child either packed or purchased. On the day of your child’s lunch, please arrive 5-10 minutes early so you can sign-in at the office. All lunches will be hosted in room 249. If you choose to buy lunch from the cafeteria, adult pricing is $4.50 and may be paid in cash. Click here for more information on purchasing a lunch. Click here for the full schedule, and see below for the upcoming week.

Upcoming Parent Lunch Dates 

3rd Grade Parents are invited to visit Bailey's Upper Reader's Theatre Class

Third grade students have been practicing their reading fluency with reader's theatre scripts in their Drama Specials Class. In January, each class will have a day to share a performance of an Aesop's Fable they have been working on. Parents are invited to attend as audience members on the dates and times below.

Mrs. Mann will be sending out talking points messages and invitations in Thursday Folders so that you can come and see your children celebrate their learning. Contact Mrs. Mann at kamann@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

My School Bucks

All fees for upcoming field trips should be paid online through My School Bucks or parents should bring cash directly to the main office. Cash may not be sent to school with children. My School Bucks (MSB) is a FCPS system for payments of student fees and activities. It is easy, secure, and there are no fees for parents. 

Through My School Bucks Parents pay for Instrument Rentals, Field Trips, and other special items.

Follow these simple steps:

• Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com, or the My School Bucks link on the Baileys Upper webpage and register an account. 
• Add a child by school & student ID or birthdate. You will receive a confirmation email.
• You may now pay for any item of your choice in the school store using a credit or debit card, or e-check.
• A confirmation email will be sent to the school to let us know you’ve paid.

If you have any issues with the My School Bucks system you may call the main office at (703) 503-2700 for assistance.

Friendly Reminders

• November 23-25: Holiday - Thanksgiving 

• November 29: Fifth Grade Field Trip to Kennedy Center
• November 30: VGA testing begins
• December 2: Bailey's Upper Dance Company Performance, 1pm
• December 2: Student Make-Up Picture Day 
• December 5: PTA General Meeting (PRIMARY & UPPER) In-Person & Virtual, 6:30pm Primary's Cafeteria
• December 5: Parent Conversation - Wellness Night, 7pm
• December 6th & 7th: Fourth Grade Fields Trip to Kennedy Center
• December 12: Parent Conversations - Math Night, 7pm
• December 12-December 16: FLE Instruction
• December 19-January 2: Holiday - Winter Break, Classes Resume on January 3, 2023
• January 16: Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday 
• January 25: End of Second Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
• January 26: Student Holiday (Professional Workday)
• January 27: Student Holiday (Professional Workday)

Wishing all of our Bailey's Upper family a joyous, safe and fun Thanksgiving.

Kiss and Ride Drop Off/Pick Up Schedule For Upper

8:25-8:35 a.m. and 3:25-3:35 p.m.

6245 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044  | Main Office: 703-503-2700
Attendance: 703-503-2727 | Web | Twitter