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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ebony Opie - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
Principals' Message
Happy New Year!
Welcome back after winter break. The students had a fantastic first week back to school, there was a lot of excitement to see each other and get back to our routines. Students have enjoyed the beautiful weather at recess this week. January can be a challenging month as our temperatures change so often, please make sure your child is dressed to go outside for recess even as the weather gets colder. I recommend putting names on clothing as our lost and found is growing by the day. Interim reports were sent home on Thursday in the students’ backpacks. Please make sure you have communicated with the teacher that you have reviewed the progress report by signing the report or emailing the teacher. Please indicate if you would like to have a follow up conference with the teacher to address any questions you may have after reviewing the progress report. This is an opportunity to reflect on progress and goals for the remaining of the quarter with your child. We appreciate your continued partnership to ensure that your child is meeting their goals and achievements.
We are excited as we plan for the remainder of the year. Our math specialist is continuing her math parent workshop series this month, please check your calendars for availability. The Hayfield Pyramid will be hosting a virtual event next Thursday about bullying. We hope you are able to join us. In addition, we are planning future opportunities for school community events the second half of the year. We encourage you to continue to enjoy read aloud experiences with your child, as modeling fluent reading helps support their growth. Thank you to the families who have been able to volunteer in classrooms or supporting teachers outside of the classroom as well. It takes a village and we are so proud and honored to serve the Gunston community.
Warmly,
Ms. Rucinski and Mrs. Opie
Bullying Education, Prevention and Intervention in FCPS
We invite you to join the Hayfield Pyramid Principals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom for a presentation given by Stefan Mascoll, coordinator for the office of Student Safety and Wellness at FCPS. Stefan will be giving a presentation for Hayfield Pyramid parents and guardians on Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention. Topics to be covered are the definitions and examples of bullying, harassment, and other types of concerning behaviors, school bullying, and harassment prevention and response, and tips and resources for parent prevention and response. We look forward to connecting with you on this important topic! Zoom link to come.
FCPS (virtual) Family Math Week
January 9 - January 13
Come together as a community for students in K-8 for 5 nights the week of January 9, 2023, with delightful math games and stories - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish.
Through rich story-based mathematics experiences, math week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China.
All content will be available completely free on the website starting January 9, 2023. To access the games, families will be able to simply click on the day of the week and find their child's grade and language. View the website at any time for explanations and videos.
Families can play for as little as 15 minutes or replay over and over lasting more than an hour on any given night. For families that want to reduce screen time, we will have physical print options for access to the content and games as well.
Use the games and stories on our website or dust off your favorite math game and play it as a family.
Any and ALL math experiences outside of a normal week count. Our goal is for FCPS to experience 1,000,000 minutes of math outside of the school day. Join us!
New Year’s Resolutions
In December, many people will head to their local Target or Michaels to find a new planner. The crisp, fresh feeling of new paper to write new and improved goals gets some of us excited. When thinking of your goals consider making them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound), this method breaks your goals down into specific objectives and makes it easier for you to track your progress. What goals would you like to share with your child, to show them examples of healthy adult introspection? Introspection, looking within, is necessary to learn how to manage stress in a healthy manner. What regular coping skills can be implemented into your daily/ weekly routine? Some goals may be physical, spiritual, financial, or emotional. Would it be easier to have serious conversations over a family dinner? Or maybe regular family dinners, spark joy and connection that’s often missing.
Research has shown that family therapy is the best treatment option for young people who misuse drugs and alcohol (SAMHSA). Many people use drugs to manage life’s hardships when they feel disconnected from themselves or others. The opposite of addiction is connection, and young people benefit from connection with their families. Families who have a common mission based on autonomy and openness instead of secrecy and silence thrive. Families teach young people how to manage stress when they communicate honestly and openly with one another. Learning how to manage stress early in life could be a major factor in whether or not a young person decides to use drugs.
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities
SEPTA, the Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association, was created to empower and connect families, students, and educators to ensure students with disabilities develop their full potential as individuals and community members. Learn more or become a member on the SEPTA website.
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is a state mandated Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). Parents/guardians, students, teachers, administrators, staff, and others interested in special education at FCPS are welcome and encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas, and/or public comment related to the unmet needs of students with disabilities.
FCPS’ Office of Special Education Procedural Support provides guidance to staff, families, and students in areas related to the implementation of and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
Families of students in special education programs can find more resources in the Special Education Handbook for Parents. (Translations are available from the Parent Resource Center (PRC).)
The PRC offers free webinars, consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Their YouTube channel includes videos of workshops and webinars for families and educators to support student success. Sign up for their newsletter to receive information on upcoming webinars and other resources. Please contact the PRC with any questions at prc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-2941.
Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, provides information and support to parents/caregivers and students regarding special education and Section 504 services. Staff in the Office of the Ombuds believe that by being transparent and connecting families with available supports and services, children with special needs can equitably access public education.
Contact the ombuds by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing ombuds@fcps.edu.
Helpful Links
January 9 - Chipotle fundraiser 4-8pm (Lorton Market St)
online order code: PZH9G6E
January 16 - No School/Office Closed - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday
January 19 - PTA Meeting 7:00pm
January 25 - End of 2nd Quarter (2 hour early release)
January 26 - Staff Development Day (no school for students)
January 27 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
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PTA News & Information |
PTA Meeting Portrait of a Graduate Presentation
Thursday, January 19th - 6:00 p.m.
There will be a short segment on PTA business, followed by a feature presentation from our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher Mr. Fahy. He will provide an overview of Portrait of a Graduate (POG) and Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning (POGPOL).
The division’s goal is for student POG growth to be measured through Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning (POG POL) by the school year 2025-2026.
What are they, and how can families help at home? Join us to find out!
PTA will again be providing food for this meeting, so we hope you will join us in person! We will also broadcast via zoom:
Topic: Gunston Elementary PTA's January PTA Meeting Time: Jan 19, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88122979013?pwd=NGxYR0QrVU4rTzMxV0oxd1FiNnkyZz09
Meeting ID: 881 2297 9013 Passcode: 981752
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