Bee Hive, March 17, 2023
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 03/17/2023 05:00 PM EDT
Save the Date! All are invited to the Herndon ES Renovation Community Meeting on MARCH 20, HES cafeteria, 6:30 - 7:30pm. Learn more about the project, design process, & share your views. More information can be found here. PTA News... Herndon Elementary is lucky to have the support of Jenny Kimsey. Jenny goes above and beyond to make HES a place where staff and students feel welcomed and appreciated. From the Book Fair to Staff Luncheons to Revamping the Teacher’s Lounge to Career Day and always with a smile on her face. We thank this AMAZING parent, friend and HES supporter. From Our Fabulous PTA PresidentDear Herndon Elementary Family, I’m feeling nostalgic this week. I got my start with Herndon Elementary PTA as a kindergarten parent when our group needed a new Book Fair Chairperson. I had worked in schools early in my career and knew that parent volunteers get insight into a school and really get to know the teachers and staff when they spend time there. What else? Parent volunteers demonstrate to their kids that school and community are priorities in life. Next please consider how you can help next year! I had not had a board position prior to taking the president role. My greatest qualifications were being semi-organized and my desire to help kids and teachers in my community. The PTA at Herndon Elementary works hard to provide support to our outstanding staff and students to make Herndon Elementary a FUN place to work and learn. We coordinate assemblies, sponsor staff luncheons and treats throughout the year, and provide support for field trips and other things around the school to make working and learning a priority. Won’t you join the cause?! Please email me at HerndonPTAPresident@gmail.com so we can chat about where you’d like to fit in with our group! Best, Sara
Herndon ES is looking for Presenters to Share their CareerThe planning has begun for our 26th annual CAREER DAY! We are currently looking for presenters to share their careers. The date this year is Wednesday, April 19th and we have 2 sessions: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. This day is full of information and excitement for our school community – with special visitors and interactions with a variety of careers for our students. Please contact counselor, Tiffany Bryant, at tabryant@fcps.edu. Herndon ES Monitor Position AvailableHerndon Elementary has an opening for a monitor position. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who would like to work the same days as students at Herndon ES are in school. Monitors assist in supporting in the classrooms and other areas. Please contact Assistant Principal Elizabeth Baxter at eabaxter@fcps.edu.
Parent Volunteers Needed in CafeteriaHerndon ES would love to have parents in the cafeteria as volunteers! We did this before Covid and have opened it up again. Lunch is 11-2pm and the volunteers in the cafeteria assist with passing out utensils, helping open student's containers, and helping the dining room assistants out where needed. You may volunteer as much as you would like or even one day per week. Feel free to buddy up with other parents, too! Please contact Assistant Principal Elizabeth Baxter at eabaxter@fcps.edu. HES March Madness for Students Locura de marzo de HES
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Week of March 13-17, 2023OPM Identifying and Appreciating the Good in OthersWHAT DOES Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others mean? You master new topics on your own or in school. We will continue to be a Positivity Project Partner School. Learn more about it here. Click here for the full explanation of Love of Learning and what it means in terms of P2 in the classroom. |
FCPS News
Ramadan
This year, the first day of Ramadan is Wednesday, March 22. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
Ramadan begins with a half “O Day” on March 22, followed by an O Day on March 23. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive.
Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
Understanding Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) Reports
Grade 3-8 students across Virginia took VGA tests in fall and winter of 2022-23. FCPS mailed score reports to families earlier this month that combine Fall and Winter results. When viewing students’ scores, it is important to keep in mind that there is no “passing” or “failing” for VGA tests and that each vertical scaled score reflects performance on a single day. VGA results should be used alongside other available data for a more complete picture of students’ academic progress. Also keep in mind that the VGA asks questions from the entire curriculum, including some standards that will not be taught until later in the school year.
The FCPS VGA Score Reports webpage now includes a section on Understanding VGA Results, featuring Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This section will continue to be updated throughout the spring to address incoming questions and to reflect additional state guidance as it is released.
Spring Break and Teacher Work Day Camps
Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is offering camps during spring break (April 3-7) and FCPS teacher workdays (April 14 and April 21)! FCPA camps are held in recreation centers, parks, schools, and virtually. Categories include: Sports, performing arts, STEM, music, and others. Kids can explore a special interest or learn something new while making new friends. Register today.
Check out the Camps website for a complete list of options or browse the FCPA Spring and Summer Camp 2023 Guide (PDF).
School Board Approves Collective Bargaining Resolution
At their March 9 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board voted to approve the FCPS Collective Bargaining Resolution. Collective bargaining is a process by which an employer (such as FCPS) negotiates with a group of employees (a bargaining unit) that is represented by a bargaining agent (such as a union or association) over terms and conditions of employment. Visit the Collective Bargaining webpage to learn more.
Proposed Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Department of Special Services will be hosting two virtual meetings for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Regulation. Please join one of the meetings below via Zoom (click the date to register):
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well.
Beginning Monday, March 20, families and staff will also be able to provide feedback on proposed updates to the SR&R via a short survey. Please stay tuned for details. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.
Site-Based Substitutes Needed
FCPS is looking for talented individuals with strong academic backgrounds to become site-based substitutes. These substitutes will work primarily at one specific school and report to that school daily. Starting pay is $24.86, and health insurance benefits are available.
To learn more about the position and which schools have vacancies, visit the Site-Based Substitute webpage.
Virtual Strategic Planning Community Forums Coming Soon
We invite parents/caregivers, staff, students, and community members to join us for a virtual community forum to discuss the first draft of proposed goals for the new Strategic Plan. Forums are scheduled for Monday, April 10, at noon; Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (in Spanish); and Monday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Registration links will be available soon.
Strategic Planning Survey Closes March 20
If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to share your perspectives on the current draft of 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.
Parents and caregivers of current FCPS students, please check your email for a message from FCPS dated Tuesday, March 14. For Community members who do not currently have a student enrolled in FCPS, please use this link to participate.
All responses are anonymous. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for more details.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members. It provides access to information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
To join the PRC email list and receive notices of upcoming webinars, sign up for their News You Choose newsletter.
Community News
School-Aged Child Care Registration Begins March 9
Registration for Fairfax County’s School Aged Child Care (SACC) program—which offers before- and after-school care for children attending kindergarten through grade 6—will begin Wednesday, March 9. Enrollment dates are set alphabetically by the elementary school your student will attend. Visit the SACC School Year Program | Office for Children (fairfaxcounty.gov) for more information.
Community news is neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this school.
Herndon ES Amazon Wish ListThis wish list was created to help provide needed supplies and clothing for our students at Herndon ES. Please feel free to share this link with friends and family who may want to support our amazing bees! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/OUKGTCSOP7JM?ref_=wl_share |
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Glen McCarthy, a retired Guitar Teacher from FCPS, came to Ms. Chaapel's music class and gave our 4th graders a mini lesson on our new ukuleles! The kids were SO excited!
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Herndon ES Renovation ProgressHerndon Elementary is in the beginning stages of being renovated. The renovation progress can be located on the FCPS website. Here is the link: |
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FCPS Cares
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The vision of Herndon Elementary School is to provide students with a safe, nurturing learning environment where all students will work to their full potential.
The mission of Herndon Elementary is to develop children to their full potential by ensuring a high level of success for all students. Teachers will work to differentiate instruction, provide a safe environment, and develop goals with students. Parents and teachers will work together as a community to prepare students to become productive citizens.
Our vision for the 2022-2023 school year is…
- Strong relationships with each other and our bees will drive all that we do.
- We will know our bees as scholars.
- Every student will know #YouBeelonghere
Important Contact Information
Herndon Elementary Phone Numbers:
- Health Room 703-326-3110
- Cafeteria 703-326-3121
Administration e-mail addresses:
- Principal, Candace Hunstad: cjhunstad@fcps.edu
- Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Baxter eabaxter@fcps.edu
- Assistant Principal, Greg Brotemarkle gjbrotemarkl@fcps.edu
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630 Dranesville Rd. Herndon, VA 20170 | Main Office: 703-326-3100 |