Mustang Memo 1.13.23

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Students explore our newly installed Sensory Path. Learn more about our Sensory Path here.


Note from Dr. Sheers

It was wonderful to have so many families join us in the classroom for our Read-In Day!  We hope you had as much fun as we did!

There are a variety of ways you can continue to visit and support our students and staff. We are always looking for classroom volunteers to support reading and/or math in our lower grades, cafeteria or, library helpers and more! If you are interested in any volunteer opportunities, please reach out to me and I will connect you to the right person. 


News and Notes

Group Photos - January 24
Group photos for the yearbook will take place on Tuesday, January 24. All Scouts should wear their uniforms and all students in choir should wear their choir t-shirts.

Strategic Planning Community Forums Scheduled
Beginning January 30, FCPS will host a series of community forums as part of our Strategic Plan development process. The schedule and locations for the sessions are posted on FCPS' Strategic Planning webpage.

SEL Screener Results
Parents of students in grades 3-6 should be receiving SEL Screener report letters via US mail sometime over the next week. For more information about how to read the report and/or talk to your student about it, you may access the family resources provided on the FCPS website here. Students who were opted out or were absent during the administration window will not receive scores.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday 
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.

FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. FCPS is excited to collaborate again with Volunteer Fairfax for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service, Saturday, January 14, to Monday, January 16. This service opportunity helps empower individuals and strengthens communities while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Volunteer Fairfax will host several ways for the community to get involved including volunteer activities for students and adults of all ages. To learn more about the MLK Jr. Weekend of Service and the specific service activities, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s website.

Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 23. Current pre-k students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2023-24 school year. 

Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Visit the DLI registration page for more information on where the programs are offered. 

Parents who are interested in the DLI programs in FCPS are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at their school site. Meetings will begin on January 11. Details regarding access to virtual meetings will be available on the Dual Language Immersion registration page by the meeting date. Get more information on DLI programs and registration.

Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Wednesday March 1, through Wednesday, April 12, 2023.  No late applications are accepted. To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Informational Nights:

  • Hunters Woods Elementary, February 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - In-person
    • Snow date: February 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
  • Bailey’s Upper, February 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - Virtual only
  • Bailey’s Primary, February 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - In person
    • Snow date: February 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

Winter Recess Guidelines
During typical winter days, students will go outside during the winter months.  Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately (coat, boots, gloves, and hats) for outdoor weather.  On PE days, students should have a pair of tennis shoes as well.  Students may go outside if it is snowing.

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors?

  • When the wind chill "feels like” temperature is 25 degrees or higher, teachers are advised to take their students outside for recess.  Teachers of younger grades may make adjustments to this temperature based on student attire and current weather conditions.
  • When the wind chill "feels like” temperature is between 20-25 degrees, teachers may use their professional judgment, based on students’ attire (jackets, snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats) and current weather conditions in determining if students will go outside for recess. 
  • When the wind chill "feels like” temperature is below 20 degrees, or there is any rain/sleet, teachers are advised to keep their students inside for recess. 

Resources

FCPS Student Safety and Wellness (SSAW) is providing the most up-to-date information on current substance abuse trends, prevention strategies, brief interventions, and support.  In person presentation will be offered on Monday, February 6 from 6 pm - 8 pm at West Springfield High School, Library 2000. This presentation provides parents and community members with information related to substance use trends amongst youth, supports for students, and strategies for engaging youth in discussions related to substance use. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:

  • Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid.
  • List what you can do as a caregiver.
  • How to identify and connect with community resources.

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.

Military Family Connections
FCPS honors its military community and believes connecting with one another is invaluable. Blue Star Families is committed to strengthening military-families by connecting them with their neighbors to create vibrant communities of mutual support. FCPS encourages our military connected families to consider joining Blue Star Families of the National Capital Region (NCR) to grow our network. You will find that the National Capital Region Chapter offers many opportunities for families to connect! To become a member, visit Blue Star Families and click on “Join Now” on the right-hand side of the page. You can also visit the National Capital Region Chapter page for information on events, and to read their monthly chapter newsletter. For more information, please contact Meredith Ayala, FCPS Family Partnerships Specialist, mlayala1@fcps.edu, or Julie Riggs, Blue Star Families NCR Chapter Director, dc@bluestarfam.org.

New to FCPS?
Are you new to FCPS or want to learn more about FCPS programs and resources? Each month Community Liaisons at FCPS Welcome Centers present a Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools orientation for parents to help ensure a smooth transition into the FCPS community. The presentations are offered in multiple languages and are available in-person and/or virtual.

Upcoming presentations:

English - Jan. 25 at 1:00 pm (virtual)

Korean - Jan. 26 at 10:30 am (virtual)

Spanish - Jan. 23 at 10:00 am (in-person) and Jan. 20 at 10:00am (in-person)

If you are interested in attending a Getting to Know FCPS presentation, please contact Karen Lathrop (WSES Family Liaison) at kllathrop@fcps.edu. 

TalkingPoints
FCPS has recently approved the use of TalkingPoints, a free two-way messaging app that families can use to communicate in their home language with their child’s teacher and school. WSES teachers and staff may use this platform to communicate with you about your child’s education and progress, as well as to share important classroom and school news.

How does TalkingPoints work?

  • TalkingPoints messages are sent directly to the parent/guardian’s mobile number that is listed in our system. Families will receive the message in the language they have listed as their correspondence language. Messages will come through either as a SMS text message or through the TalkingPoints Parent App (Please Note: the app is not required to receive messages).
  • Families can reply to the message (either by text or through the app) in any language and the message will be translated into English for the teacher/school. 

TalkingPoints supports 125 languages, making it easier and faster for FCPS families to connect with their schools. Families can opt out of receiving TalkingPoints messages at any time by replying to any message with “GOODBYE.” If you need to update your preferred correspondence language, please contact the front office. For more information about TalkPoints and how to download the app, visit FCPS TalkingPoints

Tutor.com ~ Still Available for Use
Students who have 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.

FCPS January Webinars
Mark your calendars and don’t miss these new FCPS webinars happening in January! All webinars are free and open to parents, educators, and community members. Interpreters are available by request.

  • Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse? - Thursday, January 12 at 6:30 pm and Friday, January 13 at 10:00 am
  • Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood - Friday, January 20 from 10:00 – 11:30 am
  • Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning - Tuesday, January 24 from 10:00-11:30 am

For more information about each webinar and to register, use this link: Webinar Information/Registration.


Save the Date

Monday, January 16 - MLK Jr. Birthday Holiday - School Closed

Tuesday, January 24 - School Pictures -Clubs and Candids

Wednesday, January 25 - End of Quarter Early Release @ 1:30 pm

Thursday, January 26 - Friday, January 27 - Student Holidays