Thoreau Matters
February 3, 2023
Dear Thoreau Families,
The second semester is now underway and we had a busy week at Thoreau! Whether starting a new class or continuing with existing classes, the Thoreau Admin team thought it would be important to discuss schoolwide behavior expectations with all students. We conducted a live virtual meeting with all 5th period classes and focused on how we RISE at Thoreau: acting with respect, integrity, service and engagement! We encourage our students to think about and act upon how they will carry out RISE in the second half of the year.
Last night we welcomed students and families for our Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night and Open House. It was the first time we were in-person for this event in 3 years and it was a huge success thanks to our dedicated staff and our student volunteers! Yesterday and today we hosted all of our rising 7th graders for our Activities Fair. Students were able to learn about our after-school program, learn about Thoreau from current students and counselors, and meet the administrative team. We can’t wait to officially welcome our newest Golden Eagles in August!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Teresa Khuluki
Principal
School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions
Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades 7 and 8, classroom instructors and staff. The purpose of this survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.
The survey will be completed online between now and February 24th. The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers or administrators, will know how your child answered the survey. You will not have access to your child’s survey answers even as their parent or guardian. You may review the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey. The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Students will also be asked what kinds of bullying they may have observed during school and whether they have been bullied themselves.
The survey is voluntary and your child can decide not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify Chris Pinkerton at cpinkerton@fcps.edu by February 20.
Calling All Parent Readers!
The English department is seeking parents who would be willing to read middle school chapter books and participate in the book approval process. If you would be interested in supporting them, please email Lisa Grandizio at lmgrandizio@fcps.edu. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Scholastic Art Awards Names 337 FCPS Regional Winners
The 2023 Regional Scholastic Art Awards program has awarded 533 awards to 337 Fairfax County Public Schools students for outstanding artwork. Artworks were submitted and judged in categories including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, digital art, design, architecture, jewelry, fashion, film and animation, mixed media, and art portfolios. See the full list of winners. Thoreau student Victoria Pennington received both Silver Key and Honorable Mention. Congratulations Victoria!
February 6-10: National School Counseling Week
This week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and planning for a career. School counselors work with students in a variety of different capacities, whether it is through classroom lessons, group sessions, or individual counseling. Thoreau’s counselors are simply amazing and I know how much you appreciate their dedicated service. Thank you to Mr. Fishman, Ms. Gallagher, Ms. Lee and Ms. Turner!!!
College Partnership Program
Please click on this flyer or use the QR code to complete the online application. The application is due by March 10, 2022.
 If you have any questions, please email Kerrie Turner at kjturner@fcps.edu
For more information on the CPP, please review the website.
Deadline Extended for Feedback on Draft School Year Calendars
Approximately 27,000 families, staff, students, and community members completed FCPS' Calendar Feedback Form! The School Board discussed the feedback during their January 31 work session. If you haven't had a chance to share your thoughts about the draft school year calendar options, please participate today. The form will close on Monday, February 6, at noon. The School Board is scheduled to vote on a calendar on Thursday, February 9.
Curriculum Night and Advising
For your planning purposes, please make note of the following registration events in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year:
Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising and Course Registration Information: Upcoming Curriculum Events
Marshall High School Curriculum Night
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Snow date February 9, 2023
General Session: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Special Education Services Presentation: 5:30 PM
Throughout the months of January and February Thoreau counselors will meet with 8th grade students for 1-1 academic advising sessions to ensure they are registered for the 2023-2024 school year.
Rising 8th Grade Academic Advising and Course Registration Information
Thoreau counselors will conduct course presentations in mid-February and will continue to work with students and families through mid-March to complete this process.
Thoreau After-School Program
After-School has been amazing for our staff & students! Students & staff are coming up with some really creative clubs so far this year. After-School clubs & late buses occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between the hours of 2:25pm - 4:45pm.
NEW CLUB ALERT! There is no new club, but please pay attention to the adjusted club schedule for next week due to Crosstown Hoops practices beginning on Monday and Thursday!
After-School Schoology Folder: Students should check this folder weekly as this is where the weekly After-School clubs schedule will be posted as well as important announcements:
Schoology > Courses > All School Courses > After-School Program Folder
THOREAU WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS SCHEDULE:
Week of February 6th - 10th
 QUESTIONS/CONCERNS?
Email Ms. Colleen Taylor at cmtaylor1@fcps.edu or call 703.846.8089.
Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
With Tutor.com through Schoology, FCPS students are able to get learning help at any time, even from bilingual tutors! Students in FCPS meet with tutors thousands of times each week to practice reading, prepare for an upcoming math test, write computer programs, study for the SAT, or to get feedback on scholarship essays–all at no cost to their families! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take just a few minutes to connect with a tutor with your child. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here.
Cross Town Hoops
Cross Town Hoops T-Shirts and Tickets! Come support our four student teams take on Kilmer Middle School the evening of March 15th at Marshall High School! Purchase a Cross Town Hoops T-Shirt to fill the stands with Thoreau spirit! ($12 on MemberHub). To ensure delivery before the game, T-Shirt sales will run from January 30th through February 15th. Tickets to the game will only be available pre-sale through MemberHub for $5 each beginning on January 30th and will be available until we hit capacity. No tickets or t-shirts will be sold at the door. Don't miss this marquee event! Go Eagles! (thoreau.memberhub.com/store)
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