 Our Region 3 Leadership team, staff, and students celebrated Principal Green this week as she was named FCPS Region 3's Outstanding New Principal of the Year!
Bucknell Families!
What a week we have had! Thank you to all the families, staff, and students who celebrated us this week for the Virginia School Principal Appreciation Week! It was great to see our students wearing a sea of green and yellow! I'm also very humbled by the FCPS Region 3 Outstanding New Principal Award! I'm grateful to the staff for their commitment to our students and to our families for your commitment to our school community!
This week we had an opportunity to welcome back the Salad Bar during lunch! Students were very excited to try fresh fruits and veggies! Thank you to all of our volunteers who supported students as they learned the new routine of going through the Salad Bar line!
As a reminder, next week is a short week and is also our Family Market! Please join us on Wednesday, January 25th at 11:00am - 12:30pm! Everyone is welcome to come for FREE and fresh food!
Sincerely,
Rashida Green, Principal
Gina Toler, Assistant Principal
Follow Bucknell ES on Twitter: @BucknellElem
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- FY 2024 Budget Highlights
- Draft School Year Calendar Options
- FAFSA Help
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Jan. 25 - 27 Quarter End, Early Release and Student Holiday/Staff Development/Teacher Work Day
 As a reminder, Wednesday, January 25, is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Thursday, January 26, for a staff development day and Friday, Jan. 27, for a teacher workday. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.FCPS Weekly Progress Reports will not be sent to parents Monday, January 23, through Monday, February 6, during second quarter grading and report card generation.
Additionally, the GradeBook and Report Card modules in ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed Wednesday, January 25, at 4 p.m. until Monday, February 6, at 6 a.m.
Jan 22 - Lunar New Year (Falls on a Weekend This Year!)
 The Lunar New Year is a holiday that marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is the calendar traditionally used in many east Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. In these and other Asian countries, it is one of the most important holidays of the year. The Lunar New Year is all about ushering in luck and prosperity with family.Read more about Lunar New Year and its animal symbols in National Geographic Kids.
FREE Family Food Market - Wednesday, January 25th at 11:00am- 12:30pm
Special Education Support Group - Friday, February 1st at 6pm
Join us on Wednesday, February 1, 6-7 PM in the Bucknell Library (or join us virtually) to hear speaker Ericka Deem share about the FCPS Parent Resource Center. This is also a great time to get to know other special education families. Light refreshments will be served. Spanish Translation will be provided.
 This week the salad bar returned and students enjoyed fresh fruit and veggies!
School Board Reviews Draft School Year Calendar Options
- Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to implementing a plan for COVID-19 compensatory education as part of its obligation to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. Please join us at an informational meeting for parents/guardians and other stakeholders:
Visit our website to see what language interpretation services will be available at each meeting and to learn more about the COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan.
At their January 17 work session, the School Board discussed draft calendars that were created for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years. Draft calendars were developed using the following criteria as a framework:
- Federal, state, and Virginia Department of Education guidance.
- Superintendent’s priorities.
- School Board input.
- Student absentee data.
- Staff absentee data.
- Surrounding jurisdictions’ calendars.
- Survey results.
- Calendar Feedback Committee input.
You may view the draft calendars and other related documents in Boarddocs. The calendars will be presented as new business during the School Board meeting on Thursday, January 26. The Board is scheduled to vote on the calendars during their meeting on Thursday, February 9.
Watch a recording of today’s Work Session. Get information on FCPS' calendar development process
FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget Highlights
 At the January 12 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid proposed a budget for FY 2024 that focuses on attracting and retaining teachers and staff, initiatives aimed at closing the achievement gap for all students, and gives our youngest learners a strong start, including investments for special education students impacted during the pandemic.
The FY 2024 Proposed Budget totals $3.5 billion—a net increase of $249.6 million or 7.6% over the FY 2023 Approved Budget. Nearly 86% of the budget is targeted at instruction. The Proposed Budget focuses on several key areas:
- Innovative investments that close the achievement gap for all students:
- Equitable access to literacy.
- Increased access to PreK programming.
- Supports for students with special education needs.
- Funding for students in Advanced Academic Programs.
- Changing student enrollment needs.
- Increase in student and family supports, including access to middle school athletic opportunities that support student well-being.
- Continuation of green investments.
- Increased security measures.
- Proposed increases in employee compensation.
Watch Dr. Reid’s presentation to the board. Access the presentation slides on Boarddocs.
Dual Language Immersion (DLI) 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.
Strategic Plan: Make Your Students' Voice Count
 Strategic Planning is in process and will incorporate feedback from school staff, families, students, and community partners and organizations. Please encourage your students to participate in this unique opportunity to share their voices.
FCPS is currently seeking secondary students in grades 7-12 who are interested in participating in a Strategic Plan focus group. This focus group provides an opportunity to share feedback in a small group with other FCPS students and a trained facilitator. FCPS is hosting four virtual focus groups for secondary students in February and March:
- February 9, 3:30-5 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m.
- March 16, 3:30-5 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m.
Interested students should check their email for a form to sign up for the focus groups. Students will be asked to provide their student ID, so their parents/caregivers can be identified and contacted to ask for consent to participate.
If you have any questions about the student focus groups or you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact strategicplan@fcps.edu.
Register Now to Attend a Community Forum!
Check out the schedule of Community Forums and register for the one that is most convenient for you. Community Forums will provide every resident an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ Strategic Plan, prior to its completion and formal adoption by the School Board. Learn more about our strategic planning process.
Does Your Child Refuse to Go to School?
Each year, nearly 5% of youth experience school refusal. This refers to a child refusing to go to school on a regular basis or remain in school throughout the day due to significant emotional distress. School refusal includes kindergarten students with relatively mild separation anxiety and more severe cases where a student misses weeks or months of school because of debilitating anxiety or depression. Read how to get your child back to school in the Healthy Minds Blog or learn more about attendance policies.
FCPS Cares - Recognize Bucknell Employees!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Bucknell Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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January 25: FREE Family Market 11:00am - 12:30pm
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January 25: Two Hour Early Release
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January 26: Staff Development Day - Student Holiday, No School
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January 27: Teacher Work Day - Student Holiday, No School
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February 1: Special Education Support Group Meeting
- See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
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