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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.
ይህንን ዜና መፅሄት በሌሎች ቋንቋዎች ለማንበብ፤ እባክዎን ድረ ገፃችንን ይጎብኙ።
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
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Mr. Morris's Message
Dear Stratford Landing Families,
We appreciate your continued partnership and support as we prepare to enter the fourth quarter of the school year.
We have connected and collaborated with families frequently these past few months at Stratford Landing. We held a wonderfully successful Young Scholars Conference on Saturday, March 25th. About 75 students and families were in attendance, and it was a terrific celebration of opportunities and possibilities. Special shout out to Mrs. Tene McBee, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, as well as about 15 other SLES staff members for organizing and hosting our conference. Ms. Kimberly Myles, former special education teacher at Stratford Landing, now at Carl Sandburg Middle School, also helped organize this event. We also welcomed the West Potomac Academy and the George Mason Early Identification Program. These kinds of partnerships with Carl Sandburg, West Potomac, and our community at large are critical for the success of our students.
We hosted an evening of literacy education through our Families as Partners series. Our program helped families understand some of our new literacy shifts this school year, and we further analyzed the science of reading research and how we’ve implemented these new literacy shifts at Stratford Landing. Our Kindergarten teachers echoed the success of the shifts this year, and they are both proud and impressed by the literacy growth our kinders have demonstrated this school year. “We haven’t seen this kind of growth in years, “one teacher shared.
We also appreciated the collaboration with our sixth-grade families. We hosted a well-attended sixth-grade family meeting. We know our families are supporting their students at home and having important conversations. We see this impact on our students. Our sixth-grade team is doing a tremendous job balancing the social and academic needs of our soon-to-be middle schoolers. Working together, we are setting up our sixth graders for success in this final quarter of school.
We continue to focus on high-quality, engaging instruction for all our students, K-6. We have had so much to celebrate instructionally in recent weeks including exciting PBLs (project-based learning), Socratic Seminars, learning simulations, publishing coffee houses, poetry slams, and Book Creator projects. Our grade-level teams meet at least twice weekly to strategically plan for engaging, meaningful instruction. As our Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments approach in grades 3-6, our teachers will focus on reviewing important content and preparing students to be successful on the assessments. Teachers are working hard to balance joyful, engaging instruction with “SOL prep” instruction. If you have questions about this, you should contact your student’s teacher directly.
Special thanks to our Stratford Landing PTA for another successful D3 Dolphin Showcase! We have so many talented students at SLES, and it was a special performance at Sandburg this week. Also, the lovely “flower bar” for our staff as we head into Spring Break was appreciated by our staff.
I wish all our families a safe and restful Spring Break.
Kevin Morris, Principal
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Calendar Reminder
 🌷As a reminder, April 3-7 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break! Students will return to school on Monday, April 10, 2023. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
School-Based Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Referrals Due by April 25
If you are interested in having your child screened for the School-Based AAP Level II (Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6) or Level III (Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6), please submit your referral form to our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher Mrs. McBee or your child’s classroom teacher at Stratford Landing Elementary School by April 25, 2023. The form can be found here Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Referral for School Based Services (fcps.edu) or by visiting fcps.edu and searching “AAP forms”. A description of school-based services is below.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by:
- Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
- Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
- Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. They need part-time AAP services.
- Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through pull-out classes or co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
- Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be re-evaluated each year.
SLES 2022-2023 Yearbooks On SALE!
**If you have qualified to receive Free/Reduced School Lunch and belong to the Care & Share program, please know that your household will be receiving a free copy of the yearbook - thanks to anticipated donations from other SLES families that wish to ensure your copy is free.**
Online Sale! SLES 2022-2023 Yearbooks are $25. Order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com (School code: 13197823) from now until April 21st. No copies will be sold after April 21st. Order your copy today! If you have any questions, please contact us at yearbook4SLES@gmail.com
If you are interested in making a donation towards yearbooks to the SLES Care & Share for students that can't otherwise afford a copy, you will have the option to click on “Donation to School” when completing your order online.
Families as Partners Workshop at SLES
Click here to register!
Update Your Emergency Care Information Through weCare@school
Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closings and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email, text, and occasionally phone.
Learn more about updating your emergency care information.
Month of the Military Child Spirit Week (April 17-20)
Currently, over 14,000 military-connected youth call FCPS home. Each year our nation designates April as the Month of the Military Child to recognize and thank children from military families for the sacrifices they make living the military lifestyle and for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices, and continued resilience.
Show your support by dressing up each day! And don't forget to wear your PURPLE every Wednesday in April to support our military children!
Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families.
Proposed Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Department of Special Services will host a virtual meeting for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) regulation on Monday, April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m.
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. Please register online.
Does Your Child Qualify for PreK or Early Head Start?
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start Programs provide a quality preschool experience with no cost to qualifying families who live in Fairfax County. Your family may qualify for preK or Early Head Start if you:
- have a child who will be age 3 or 4 by September 30,
- receive free or reduced-price school meals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Income, and/or are considered homeless per definition of the McKinney Vento Act, or
- receive resources such as from a shelter and/or the FCPS homeless liaison office.
Though many families may qualify, spaces are limited. Selection is based on need, not “first come, first serve”, with pre-K priority given to 4 year olds. It is important for all families to apply as soon as possible.
Early Head Start is for children 2 years of age and younger, and pregnant women who live in the Reston, Herndon, and Springfield areas.
Visit the Pre-K and Early Head Start webpage for more information, or call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
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NEW DATE & TIME: Kindergarten Orientation
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
According to a recent study of elementary and middle schools, there’s a 5.8% difference between April and June attendance rates. Let's work together to end the school year with success. Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
View Updated Draft Goals for FCPS' New Strategic Plan
We are excited to show you the most recent version of proposed goals for the new Strategic Plan. Join us for a virtual community forum and see how your survey feedback has helped inform the latest draft of the plan. Community forums are open to parents/caregivers, staff, students, and community members. Please register by clicking on one of the following dates:
We appreciate your continued involvement throughout every step of this important process. Together, we will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage.
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Family Liaison Resources
by Andrea Howard
As your family liaison, my goal is to keep you informed about the valuable resources, events, and family engagement opportunities available through SLES, FCPS, and the community.
If you have questions about navigating the school, learning about FCPS resources, or getting your student set up for success, I'm here to help. Please email, or call 703-619-3690 to set up an appointment.
Visit the SLES Family Liaison homepage for additional information and resources.
Parent Resource Center Webinars and Events:
Navy League STEMEXPO at Gaylord National
Now in its sixth year, STEM Expo is a free event geared toward 5th- to 12th-grade students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers. It will take place Sunday, April 2, from noon to 4 p.m., at National Harbor.
Resources for Military-Connected Families
FCPS has a series of webinars and digital resources covering frequent challenges of military families and how to support your military-connected students at home through school transitions and more.
Webinars:
Digital resources:
Books/DVDs/Audio CDs:
18th Annual FCPS Special Education Conference
Save the date! The VIRTUAL 18th Annual Special Education Conference will be held Saturday, April 29, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions.
- Registration will begin in April 2023
- Parents and Community Members will be able to register online or by phone
- FCPS Educators, Administrators, and Preservice Teachers will be able to register online and earn recertification points for attending the conference
- Email SpecialEdConf@fcps.edu with questions.
Click here to learn more about this event.
Family Support Group Meeting at SLES
Click here to register!
April Observances
Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families.
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Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 44 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.
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National Arab American Heritage Month
FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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Mark Your Calendar!
April 3-7: Holiday (Spring Break) - NO SCHOOL
April 13: 2-hour Early Release (End of 3rd Quarter)
April 14: Student Holiday (Orthodox Good Friday) - NO SCHOOL
April 17-20: Month of the Military Child Spirit Week
April 20: Support Group Meeting for Parents/Guardians of Children with Special Needs (6 pm)
April 21: Holiday (Eid al Fitr) - NO SCHOOL
April 25: Families as Partners Workshop: Transitioning to K or Middle School for Families of Students with IEPs (6 pm)
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Quick Links
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