Volume 2, Issue 10; March 10, 2023
Stronger Together
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Dear Clearview Families,
This week at Clearview, preK-6th grade students received lessons delivered by educators from Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services. The ChildHelp Speak Up Be Safe Curriculum, a researched-based prevention curriculum is designed to teach children how to identify abuse, identify and talk to safe adults, and provides five key safety rules children can follow to help adults keep them safe. The program also teaches students how to identify and build skills to resist all types of abuse including: physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, bullying, and cyberbullying.
 Thanks to the local fire department for making a visit this week.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or compliments you may have. If you have seen a Clearview staff member going above and beyond, fill out an FCPS Cares here.
Have a FABULOUS weekend!
Stephanie Almquist Joshua Redford Rachel Charlton
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
FCPS Early Childhood and PreK Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools offers programs for the youngest learners through several programs.
Kindergarten Registration
It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
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There’s an easy five-step process outlined for parents looking to register their child for kindergarten:
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.
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Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.
Natural High
Studies have shown that 13 is the average age of first-time drug and alcohol use. Nine out of ten addictions begin during the teenage years and approximately 90% of Americans with a substance use disorder began using substances before the age of 18.
Natural High is “a drug prevention nonprofit that inspires and empowers youth to find their natural high and develop the skills and courage to live life well.” The Natural High campaign highlights helping children and teens find healthy thrilling activities to fulfill the dopamine (feel good) levels in the brain.
Natural High
Fentanyl Is Now The Leading Cause of Death For Young People In the US (Video)
Live Your Life Naturally High
Knowing The Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Use (Video)
Adolescent Substance Use: America’s #1 Public Health Problem
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
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, contact Diana Vera, MSW, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Spirit Night Fundraiser
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You are invited to North Point Village Center Chick-fil-A on Friday, March 24, 7-9 PM! Support our PTA by placing a mobile pick-up, mobile drive-thru, mobile curbside, or mobile delivery order. Make sure to include “Clearview Elementary School Spirit Event” in the special instructions when ordering. |
If you don’t have the app, please mention the “Clearview Elementary School Spirit Event” when you place your order in the store or drive-thru.
An incredible 25% of sales will go to Clearview PTA in support of the 6th grade party!
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 Disability Awareness Month. On February 26, 1987 President Ronald Reagan officially declared the month of March as National Disabilities Awareness Month. We strive for all of us to provide understanding, encouragement and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives and recognize the significant accomplishments those with disabilities have made throughout the world .
Celebrating Arts in Our Schools
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The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety. |
The program provides a medium for recognizing skills developed through visual arts experiences unlike any other curriculum subjects, including:
March has also been designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Substitutes Needed at Clearview
Please contact Kerry Buss if you would like to serve as a substitute here at Clearview. We have two substitute Instructional Assistant vacancies in our Preschool Autism Classroom through the remainder of the school year and daily substitute teacher and Instructional Assistant vacancies, grades PreK-6. Serving as a substitute is a perfect opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children while giving back to the community.
Family-Facing Curriculum for Core Content Being Added to Public FCPS Website
On March 9, 2023, the curriculum overviews and unit standards from the planning and pacing guides were posted on the FCPS public web and shared with the School Board. Over 86 web pages are being developed to reflect the scope and sequence of core content areas across K-12. The goal is to provide families a comprehensive overview of what students are learning and when they are learning it.
An introductory paragraph on each grade level or course page includes the following statements: “The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.”
Information will be updated at the start of each school year to reflect curriculum updates. To access the grade level and/or course web pages directly, first search for the level within the Academics page, select grade level or content, and click on Year at a Glance.
Daylight Saving Time, March 12
Sunday, March 12, at 2am, 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. |
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Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run or dart into the street or cross between parked cars.
 Tutor.com for Test Prep
Did you know Tutor.com can help with more than just homework? This free, on-demand tutoring service also offers a comprehensive range of resources that include exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time, and if they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor through voice or chat options for help. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com website.
Family Media Agreement
A family media agreement is an agreed family plan about how you, as a family, will deal with computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, e-readers and any other digital devices that are in your family's life.
Here is a sample agreement for you to consider bringing into your family life:
Parenting in a digital age
Parenting in the digital age can present both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, technology and the internet provide access to vast amounts of information and resources, making it easier for parents to support their children's education and well-being. On the other hand, the constantly connected nature of digital devices can also raise concerns about screen time, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content. Balancing the benefits and risks of technology use is an ongoing challenge for many parents in the digital age, here are some video resources that may help.
March 12 Daylight Saving Time
March 15 PTA Meeting, 7pm
March 21 Parent Coffee, 9AM, Cafeteria
March 24 PTA Spirit Night, Chick-fil-A at North Point Village
April 3-8 No school (Spring Break)
April 13 Clearview Staff vs 6th Grade Basketball Game, Herndon MS
April 14 No school/Professional Workday (Orthodox Good Friday) &
Kindergarten Orientation, 10am- 12pm
April 18 PTA Meeting, 7pm
April 20 Family Science Night/Silent Auction
April 21 No school (Eid Al-Fitr)
April 27 SPRINGO (Spring BINGO)
May 4 Band & Strings Concert
May 17 PTA Meeting, 7pm
May 29 No school (Memorial Day)
June 6 Field Day
June 7 Field Day Rain Date
June 13 6th Grade Party
June 15 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 16 2-hour early dismissal, Last Day of School
June 17-August 20 No school (Summer Break)
August 21 First Day of School
See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
 Mark your calendars
- Wed. March 15: PTA Meeting at 7 p.m. in the library and on Zoom (link will be posted on PTBoard)
- Fri., March 24: Spirit Night at Northpoint Chick-Fil-A from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to raise funds for 6th grade celebration
- Thurs., April 27: Springo, our spring bingo event
This month’s PTA meeting
We hope to see you next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Clearview library for our March member meeting. If you can’t make it in person, connect via Zoom. Join us to hear from the administrators about what’s new at Clearview, get an update on PTA activities this spring, and learn more about what it means to be part of the PTA leadership team.
Supporting our 6th graders
It’s a Clearview tradition to have a 6th grade celebration at the end of the year as students say goodbye to elementary school and hello to middle school! Due to the pandemic, this year’s 6th graders missed out on some special rites-of-passage, including the 4th grade field trip to Jamestown and the 5th grade fieldtrip to zipline at Hemlock, so we want to make sure they have an extra-special celebration on June 13. The party is a self-funded event, which means you’ll start to see our sixth graders (and their families) raise money through spirit nights, bake sales, and other initiatives. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to the cause, you can use this online donation form or send in a check payable to Clearview Elementary PTA and a note that it’s for the 6th grade celebration. Thanks for your special support!
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Consider joining the PTA Board
We are now starting the process for electing the next PTA Board for the 2023-24 school year. We have six roles to fill and each one serves for a one-year term:
- President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Vice President of Fundraising
- Vice President of Programs
- President-Elect
Curious about the responsibilities for each role? Wondering about time commitments? You can read the descriptions in the nomination forms (link to English and Spanish versions). Or you can ask any current board member at the March member meeting. Or you can ask Amana Katora at ackatora@gmail.com.
Nominations are due by Friday, April 7. You can nominate yourself, a friend, or a family member by completing a form (link to English and Spanish versions). Email your completed form to Amana Katora at ackatora@gmail.com.
What happens next:
- We will be making nomination announcements at the April PTA meeting.
- The election of new officers will be conducted at the May PTA meeting.
- The current and new boards will transition in June before summer break.
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