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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
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Upcoming Events
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- March 14 - PTA Meeting via Zoom, 7 pm
- March 20 - Spring Picture Day
- March 22 - Ramadan Begins
- April 3-7 - Spring Break Holiday, No School
- April 21 - Ramadan Ends
- April 26 - Strings and Band Concert, 6:30pm
- April 28 - PTA, International Night
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Principals Corner
Dear Garfield Families,
A big THANK YOU to all our families for supporting the Garfield Book Fair this year! We appreciate your support as we continue to keep our Eagles engaged and motivated in reading.
We kick started after school clubs this week. Our soccer club is full of talent and the weather was perfect as they practiced drills outside. Around the building we had cooking, crafts, cross-stitch, drama, and robotics clubs. We are thrilled our Eagles are experiencing such enriching opportunities. Community members, Key MS, and Lewis HS students came to support clubs. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces that once walked our halls come back, and volunteer their time. Sign up for March is full, but if your student is interested, please return the interest form for April clubs as soon as possible.
Second graders tested their knowledge of matter by making ice cream. What a delicious science project! Fourth grade came dressed to impress on Thursday for their field trip to see the National Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Kennedy Center.
I’m still moving and grooving after our Dance Assembly. Thank you Mr. Geck and Mrs. Cooper for another successful event! It was wonderful seeing our families witness their students dance routines and have so much fun!
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
April L. Cage, NBCT, M.Ed.
Principal
Rachel Waters
Assistant Principal
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
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PTA Meeting, March 14th at 7:00 pm via ZOOM
Spring Break, April 3-7th, NO SCHOOL
Community Event - March 17th 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Provision Kitchen is inviting Garfield to attend community meal at Springfield United Methodist Church. Their chef-curated menu includes Guinness Beef Stew, Irish Soda Bread with Sweet Cream Butter, and Lemon Berry Fool.
Friday, March 17th from 6:30-8:00 pm
Opioid Community Meeting
Opioid Awareness Meeting: The Dangers of Fentanyl in Our Community
Substance abuse and related behavioral health problems can have a major impact on students, families, and communities. These impacts have become even more serious because of the increasing prevalence of fentanyl in drugs and other substances. Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful and dangerous opioid. Small amounts of fentanyl can easily lead to life-threatening overdoses. In 2021, fentanyl was identified in 77.14% of U.S. adolescent overdose deaths. There is nothing more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, and communities. Fairfax Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to join her for a community meeting on opioid awareness, Monday, March 13, 6:30-8 p.m., at Fairfax High School.
Dr. Reid will be joined by Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department, in welcoming the community to engage in this important conversation. Major Thea Pirnat of the Fairfax County Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau will share information about drug trends in Fairfax County.
The Overdose Prevention Initiative: Outreach on Invisible Dangers, led by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will present testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives.
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about how Fairfax County agencies are working together to address these opioid issues in our community.Watch the video and learn more on our website. Register for the March 13 event.
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Yearbooks for Sale!
Order your yearbook today online.
Garfield Yearbook ID Code: 14463723
$20.00
Cash accepted at school until April 14th.
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Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process outlined for parents looking to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process. Questions? Please contact our registrar, Sarah Rothman, 703-923-2900, sgrothman1@fcps.edu.
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PreK Registration at Garfield
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Our wonderful PreK program is registering new students! Click the link below for more information and how to apply online.
PreK Application
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Family Liaison Center
The Parent Center will be starting two parent classes in April.
- Study preparation for the US Citizenship Class
- Study preparation for the Virginia Drivers permit
If you are interested in taking one of these classes. Please contact Carol Melim, Garfield’s Family Liaison clmelim@fcps.edu or 703-923-2966.
Low-Cost Internet for Free and Reduced-Price Eligible Students
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to lower internet costs for families with children who have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals within the last 12 months. A qualifying household will receive $30 per month toward internet services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Families can check their eligibility and register at AffordableConnectivity.gov or by calling 877-384-2575.
Review Draft Goals for FCPS’ New Strategic Plan
Please take a moment to share your perspectives on the draft work-to-date related to the development of FCPS’ new Strategic Plan. Your input is important to this work and will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student.
FCPS emailed the survey link to all parents and caregivers on Monday, March 6. Please check your email, if you haven't had a chance to take the survey yet. If you are a community member who does not have a student enrolled in FCPS, please use this link to participate.
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Urdu, and Vietnamese. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Information from the survey will be shared with and analyzed by Performance Fact, Inc. (PFI), the company FCPS hired to help create our Strategic Plan. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for more details.
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Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts.
FCPS will be accepting applications for its elementary magnet school programs on Wednesday, March 1, through Wednesday, April 12, at 4 p.m. Get more information about parent information nights and the magnet school lottery, or on the schools, their programs, and locations.
Medicaid Policy Changes
A change in federal Medicaid policy could impact the health care coverage of millions of students. In order to avoid gaps in coverage, families need to know:
- Families, especially those who have moved residences during the pandemic, should contact their state Medicaid offices to ensure their contact information is up to date.
- Families should watch their mail for letters about Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, status.
- Recipients must submit any renewal forms they receive to maintain coverage, which states could mail at any point between March 2023 and February 2024.
- Families who no longer qualify for Medicaid after the review may qualify for coverage through their state’s health insurance exchange.
Learn more in this EducationWeek article.
Title I at Garfield ES
Title I is the nation’s largest assistance program for schools. It provides funding to supplement
educational opportunities for children who are most at risk and increasing student achievement
in schools selected on the basis of the economic level of families. The primary focus is to
ensure student access to provide all children significant opportunities to receive a fair,
equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
To learn more about the Title I program at Garfield ES, click here
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Want to Work for FCPS? Subs, Monitors, and Others needed!
FCPS is seeking those interested in positions as substitute teachers, substitute instructional assistants, student monitors, instructional assistants, public health attendants (PHAs), and public health training assistants (PHTAs) positions. View current job openings.
**Click this link for more information regarding Food & Nutrition Services Careers here at Garfield!**
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Please make sure your child is in school every day until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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School Safety and Security
We take the security of our students and our staff very seriously. All exterior doors are locked during the school day. Visitors are to ring the bell at Door 1 to gain access to the main office. Every visitor/adult who enters the building is monitored.
All visitors walking into Garfield ES must ring the doorbell, state their name and purpose of the visit, and come to the office with a valid driver’s license to sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building.
To maintain the momentum of instruction, items brought to the office during school hours (lunch, supplies, homework, etc.) will be held in the office for students to pick up.
National Women’s History Month
Equity in Education Month
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)—in conjunction with the Virginia School Boards Association—observes March as Equity in Education Month, a division-wide opportunity to deepen our commitment to creating a climate and curriculum where all students receive the resources they need to reach their fullest potential.
Disability Awareness Month
In March people throughout the United States will celebrate Women’s History Month and Disability Awareness Month. Both histories are foundational parts of American history. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the experiences and contributions of this history year-round, and the celebration of Women’s History Month and Disability Awareness month are opportunities to honor these diverse and important stories.
Resources for Women's History Month and Disability Awareness Month are available for teachers across content areas as part of the FCPS Multiple Perspectives Hub. Teachers and school leaders will find ideas for classroom learning experiences across content areas and grade levels. Resources curated specifically for the social studies curriculum are also available on the new Women's History 180 document and Disability Awareness 180 document.
School Hours and General Information
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Our school hours are from 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Monday through Friday. School doors open at 9:05 a.m. each day to begin receiving students.
Please call the attendance line at 703-923-2929 to report a tardy or absence.
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Garfield PTA
2022-23 School Calendar
View a printable version of the 2022-2023 calendar or find a list view of the calendar on the FCPS Calendar webpage.
 School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years at their February 9 meeting. Learn more about the approved calendar.
The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12.
Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one of those factors, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process.
Find us on Social Media!
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Visit the Garfield ES Website
• Report your Child's Absence
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Join the Garfield PTA
• Recognize a FCPS Employee at FCPS CARES . 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 Garfield Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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