March 14/15 - Grade 5 Field Trip to Green Spring Gardens
March 20-24 Spring Book Fair
March 21 - Spring Book Fair - Evening Hours
March 27 - Woodson Pyramid Art Show - Cav Hall Woodson HS
March 27/29 - Grade 6 Field Trip to National Portrait Gallery
March 28 - Salad Bar Returns
March 31 - Last Day to Order Yearbooks
April 3-7 - Spring Break
|
Please be cautious when dropping off or picking up students at arrival and dismissal times. We have many walkers and bike riders in our student community and we want everyone to have a safe trip to school and home. Areas around kiss-n-ride and on Forest Avenue by the dens are "no phone" zones, so please help keep our students safe by not talking on the phone or texting while driving in these areas.
|
 |
|
On Monday, March 13, Wakefield Forest families will be contacted through email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers families an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include instructional leadership, school climate, management (human resources and organizational), communication and community relations, culturally responsive and equitable leadership, and professionalism.
The questionnaire will be collected online between March 13 and March 24. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Results will be provided to Ms. Prindle for her professional growth.
|
 |
|
WFES has had several bike racks on site. We have had at least one bike disappear from school property. Please ensure your student is locking their bike to the bike rack each day. |
We are looking for PTA members who would like to help shape the 2023-2024 PTA Board. The committee will be responsible for identifying members who would be interested in filling the key roles including, VP Fundraising, VP Treasurer, and President. The committee will convene and make a recommendation to the current board later this year.
If you are interested in being part of the nominating committee or for one of the open rolls please contact Lisa Verne at lwadors@yahoo.com.
We are collecting names for our rising Kindergarten for 2023-24. If you have a child who turns 5 by 9/30/23 please contact Sue Holmes, ksholmes@fcps.edu and let her know what your intentions are for Kindergarten next year. We will be doing a mailing in March with all the registration information.
|
The official first day of spring is right around the corner and our outdoor classroom is in need of a little TLC. If you and your children would like to get a little dirty, join me Wednesday, March 15th from 3:30-5:00pm. If you are interested, please go to door 1 and check in at the office. You will be directed to the outdoor classroom by the library. Please bring gloves, shovels, rakes and any other tools you think might be useful. Looking forward to making the outdoor classroom beautiful for teachers to use with kids.
|
Our WFES spring book fair will take place in the WFES library from Monday 3/20 through Friday 3/24. Students will be able to shop during school hours each day, or may visit the fair with their families on the evening of Tuesday 3/21 from 6pm to 8pm. More details regarding our shopping hours and procedures, as well as a shopping flyer, will be available in Thursday folders on 3/9 and 3/16. Book fair purchases may also be made online via our online book fair shopping site from 3/17 until 3/21 by visiting https://www.scholastic.com/bf/wfes23.
If you will be sending your child to school with shopping money, please remember that we are now required to charge sales tax on all book fair purchases, so please keep this in mind when determining how much to send.
If you are interested in signing up to help set up, pack up, or run the book fair, please visit our Sign Up Genius at https://bit.ly/wfes4011. We are especially in need of helpers for our evening event on Tuesday 3/21. We can’t wait to see you at the fair!
|
The salad bar is returning! Beginning March 28, we will have our salad bar back. This will be an adjustment for our students, and we are looking for a few parent volunteers to help the first couple of days. We will be sending out a sign up link soon.
SOL Testing dates are below. Please plan to have students in school on these days whenever possible.
|
Grade 3
Reading-May 9
Math- May 23
|
Grade 4
Reading- May 4
Math-May 18
|
Grade 5
Reading-May 3
Science-May 10
Math-May 17
|
Grade 6
Reading- May 2
Math-May 16
|
Dates are subject to change, as needed. Make-ups will happen through out the window, May 1-26. Retakes are scheduled for May 30-June 2.
 |
|
The new lobby/front office is taking shape!
Follow us on Twitter @wakefieldforest and @sbprindle
|
Need fun learning opportunities at home?
Click on the link for the March Daily Learning Planner: https://www.parent-institute-online.com/download3.php?3021-HCL1-X428072
Challenge your family to see how many you can do this month!
Want more ideas or have questions about FCPS resources? Please contact our Family Liaison, Hana Kim, hkim22@fcps.edu
Save the Date...PTA Bingo Night will be on April 27th!
On Thursday, April 27th at 6:30 pm, we will be having WFES' annual PTA BINGO night! We are very excited about this fun family event, which will be held in person this year. Mark your calendars!
Volunteers needed: If you can help with planning our Bingo night, please reach out to Katie Roessler and Jamie Petrik: kathryn.ann.roessler@gmail.com and jamie@teamdda.com. Thank you very much in advance.
|
There is an intersection between trauma, coping, and substance misuse. Studies show that about 61% of adults have had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) according to the CDC. Childhood trauma manifests in many ways and when carried into adulthood, it can create a cycle of adverse experiences that affect future generations.
Trauma prevention and intervention strategies are more important than ever post-COVID. During the height of the pandemic there were heightened feelings of unsafety, struggles with increased time spent in stressful family environments. Earlier ACEs studies highlighted traumatic events in the household as primary factors leading to future substance abuse, misuse, and lack of feeling safe and secure. Current ACEs studies have expanded the categories of traumatic events to include experiences such as exposure to racism, discrimination, and historical trauma. Effective coping skills or a brilliant strategy increases levels of resilience and feelings of wellbeing.
Coping strategies include:
- Developing healthy relationships (internal and external support)
- Teaching self-regulation skills
- Encouragement
- Increasing self-esteem
- Promoting independence and strength
- Modeling healthy behavior when dealing with difficult situations
- Early intervention and mental health care
Resources:
Why Historical Trauma is Critical to Understanding Black Mental Health
Addressing Childhood Trauma Starts with Family Support
Violence Prevention
ACEs and Minorities
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further Information & support:
De’Ja Ruffin, MSW
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
dsmcneil@fcps.edu
|
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.
|
Attendance Phone Line: 703-503-2323
Attendance Email: wakefieldforestelem.attendance@fcps.edu
Heath Room: 703-503-2310
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
Principal: Sharyn Prindle sbprindle@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Amy Williams alwilliams1@fcps.edu
Follow Wakefield Forest on Twitter
Follow Principal Prindle on Twitter
WFES PTA homepage
|
