We're Better Together
Important Dates
February Black History Month
February 4 Dranesville District Strategic Planning Community Forum
February 20 Presidents Day Holiday
February 24 Community Flyer Distribution
School Calendar: 2022-23
Contents
The Survey of Preschool Children is a form used to collect information on rising kindergarten aged children. If you have a child who will be turning 5 years old by September 30, 2023 please complete this form and return it to our school Registrar, Ann Rajabi (arajabi@fcps.edu).
We would like to have to all forms returned as soon as possible.
Top of Page
Dranesville Strategic Planning Community Forum- February 4
Adults only-childcare provided with registration
Please join Elaine Tholen for the Dranesville District in-person Strategic Planning Community Forum. Help shape the division’s future for the next few years!
WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9- 10:30a.m.
WHERE: Spring Hill Elementary School Cafeteria-
Please register here. (link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1VbzKvC6JIK_aT4ZAMaOBwt8HoaOKsws9ctu23yKL5X19uQ/viewform) Child care and language interpretation will be provided at this event, and sign up is through the registration link above.
These Community Forums (link: https://www.fcps.edu/strategicplanning-communityforums) provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ new Strategic Plan. The goal is to have the final strategic plan by June 2023. Learn more about our strategic planning process here. (link: https://www.fcps.edu/strategicplanning) If you can’t join the Dranesville Forum, please check out the schedule of Community Forums, including several virtual options, and register for one that is most convenient for you.
What Happens at a Strategic Planning Community Forum?
- Community Forums will provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to review student achievement, access, and perception data and identify both strengths and challenges within the data.
- Working in small groups, participants will use research-based goals as a framework to transition their observations into recommended goals for the strategic plan that are focused on our desired future state for students.
- As a culminating activity, participants will identify the one guarantee they would like FCPS to make regarding our students’ education.
- The data from the Community Forums will be synthesized and that information will be shared with the Core Planning Team to incorporate those recommendations into finalized strategic plan goals.
What Can I Do to Prepare?
It's not necessary to do anything in advance. We want you to bring your thoughts and experiences to the discussion. If you'd like to review in advance, the data reports shared at the Community Forums are available on the Strategic Planning website.
Top of Page
The Code of Virginia, 22.1-273.2, requires Virginia Public Schools to provide, on an annual basis, parent educational information regarding eating disorders for pupils in grades five through twelve. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2022),
| “Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. While no one knows for sure what causes eating disorders, a growing consensus suggests that it is a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Eating disorders are not fads or phases, and can have serious consequences for health, productivity, and relationships.” |
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a webpage with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at the following link:
https://www.fcps.edu/node/37440
Top of Page
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Community Feedback on Calendars
- Text-to-Speech Function on Websites
- Summer Camps Information
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Top of Page
Teacher Appreciation Events
We have two events coming up to show our teachers and staff how much we love and appreciate them. Our school is very lucky to be fully staffed with teachers, and we've heard how our efforts make a difference.
-
Feb. 14 Lunch We are hosting a lunch for staff on Valentine's Day to include homemade soups, salad, and a candy bar. Please help by signing up to bring an item. Contributions can be dropped off between 9-9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 in the teacher's lounge. Please label crockpots with your name and phone number. Call Melissa Vayra with any questions at 646-467-3506. Contribute a Lunch Item
- May 8-12 Teacher Appreciation Week We'll need help with stocking the lounge, organizing lunches, setting up breakfast, delivering goodies for bus drivers, etc. Please contact Adrienne Dreyfuss if you can lend your time this week.
Sign Up for PTA Text Reminders
Have you ever forgotten a school deadline or activity? We realize parents get A LOT of emails. To help you cut through the clutter, the PTA is sending out occasional, short text reminders to help parents not miss out. If you'd like a reminder about the next ordering deadline, next picture day, or next PJ day, etc. please text "FSES OPT IN" to fsespta@gmail.com from the phone number where you'd like receive text messages (sending an email will not work).
Annual PTA membership costs $20 per family and is due EACH school year. Join here!
Top of Page
|
The Student Safety & Wellness Office has scheduled in-person Drug Education Nights for parents, guardians and youth caregivers across the division. This event is designed to inform parents only of substance use trends, the opioid epidemic, and how to connect with resources. The night will consist of a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist sharing information with support from School SROs/police detectives and Fairfax-Falls Church CSB managers. There will be an opportunity for question and answer.
For parents who are unable to attend in-person, a virtual option is scheduled through the Parent Resource Center for 3/21/2023 where more language options will be made available for live attendees.
See this flyer for more details about the McLean HS event on January 30 from 6-8 p.m.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).
FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in weCare@school, bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare, if appropriate, and know what items your child may need to take home before a weather event.
In the event of a virtual learning day you will find specific information about accessing instruction on the Franklin Sherman ES webpage.
Top of Page
|
