UPCOMING EVENTS
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Wednesday 4/29-Friday 3/31 - Music in Our Schools Spirit Week
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Monday 4/3-Friday 4/7- Spring Break, No School
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Wednesday, 4/12 - PEP Meeting, FES Library 6pm
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Thursday, 4/13 - End of Third Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
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Friday 4/14 - Student Holiday - Orthodox Good Friday
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Monday 4/17-Friday 4/21 - Purple Up Spirit Week
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Wednesday, 4/19 - Kindergarten Orientation 5:30pm-6:30pm
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Friday, 4/21 - Holiday - Eid al Fitr
Celebrating Music In Our Schools Month!
Music in Our Schools Month engages music educators, students and
communities from around the country in promoting the efforts of high
quality music education programs in our schools. Franconia Elementary
believes in the power of music and its positive effects on our children. By
giving our students an outlet for creativity, we give them an opportunity
to relate and share memorable experiences with their peers. Those
memories will carry them on their journey to adulthood and beyond.
Music is beneficial in so many ways and we are lucky to be able to expose
our community to all we have to offer!
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We are celebrating Music in Our Schools Month with a special spirit next week: March 27th - March 31st.
Thursday 3/30: Favorite Music Genre Day! Think: Country, Rock, Pop,
Reggae, Jazz, R&B, Techno, and more!
Friday3/31: Music ties us together! Wear a tie to celebrate how music
brings together people of all cultures and and backgrounds
(Please make sure all outfit choices are school appropriate)
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.
Franconia is proud to be a Purple Star School. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families.
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Purple Up Spirit Week!
Join in spirit week for an opportunity for our school to visibly show our support and thank our military children for their strength and sacrifice.
Monday, April 17- Hat Day (Hat's off to our Purple Penguin military connected students)
Tuesday, April 18 - Camo day (a salute to all service families)
Wednesday, April 19 - Purple UP day (wear Purple)
Thursday, April 20 - PJ Day to start the long weekend
Friday, April 21 - NO SCHOOL
Parents as Educational Partners
Join Us for the Last PEP Meeting April 12th.
Please join us for our LAST Parents as Educational Partners (PEP) meeting of the year on Wednesday, April 12th at 6 p.m. in Franconia's Library. We will discuss end-of-the year assessments and summer activities!
WHAT: PEP is a parent-teacher organization for parents of students from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade of any language or cultural background.
WHY: The mission of PEP is to increase the academic achievement of students by developing and maintaining strong school-home partnerships tied to improved student achievement.
HOW: During our meetings, we will create a safe, informed space through which we can empower families to seek information to best support their children's educational journeys.
WHEN: Our next session will take place Wednesday, April 12th at 6 p.m.
WHERE: We will meet in the library at Franconia Elementary School.
Questions? Please email FranconiaPEP@fcps.edu.
World Showcase Day Fun
Thank you so much to all of the families who joined us for Franconia's first annual World Showcase event! We hoped you enjoyed it as much as we did. We are already planning for next year's event, and we hope you will consider participating when the time comes!
Check out these videos of World Showcase activities that took place during the school day. Here are links to view the Lion King performers, the fashion show, and the door/hallway decorations.
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Two Franconia Students Earn All County Choral Festival Distinction
Ms. Lucius would like to recognize Sophia Lewis and Benjamin Wilson for representing Franconia at the 2023 All County Choral Festival! They worked so hard since November learning ten challenging pieces of music including Portuguese, French and Swahili! Saturday’s performance was nothing short of inspirational and heart-warming as it featured over 600 sixth graders from schools in Fairfax County! Way to represent our school Sophia and Benjamin! We are so proud of you!!
PE News
Field Day Shirts!
While we don’t yet have a specific date for field day, the PE team is well into planning the event! We have decided on a ‘Super Franconia World’ / video game theme! Below you can find the link to order shirts for field day! The order will not close until April 21st and the shirts will arrive around the end of April/beginning of May. Plan for field day in May or June and we’re excited to get out more details once we have them! https://www.customink.com/g/nsn0-00cq-kfst
-Miss Borsos and Mr. Harris
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How Do YOU Practice Wellness?
Sign up to share on the morning news
Penguins, we want to know how you practice wellness in your life. Use the link below to sign up for a Wednesday to share a video showing your wellness journey with your fellow Franconia Penguins. Videos should be 3 minutes or less. Be sure to include yourself talking about why the wellness practice is important to you, and how it helps you. (if you need to include 2 shorter videos, one showing the activity and one of the student discussing the activity, that is fine and I can combine them for you. They should be no more than 3 minutes when combined.)
You can show yourself practicing wellness by:
- a sport you play (for example soccer, gymnastics, martial arts training, etc)
- practicing a skill you're learning (for example dance, playing an instrument, or any other artistic/creative expessions)
- showing activities your family enjoys together (for example, taking walks together, cooking meals together, family game time, etc)
- showing activities you enjoy doing when enjoying alone time (for example reading or drawing)
Use this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AA4A928A6FB6-wellness
Ms. Octaviano will contact you the week before your video will air on the morning news with additional information about how to submit your video.
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Octaviano at: rloctaviano@fcps.edu
Counselor's Corner
Character Trait for the Month
April's character trait is Responsibility-doing what is expected and taking ownership of your actions/behavior.
March's Character Trait was Patience-to wait calmly without complaining. Check out this video with our student highlights for patience:
https://flip.com/s/6ESMsjxEyWH_
Forget to Order Your Yearbook?
Ordering deadline has been extended to Friday
Don’t miss out on the chance to get your child a yearbook. 2022-23 Yearbooks are $18.00 and the deadline to order has been extended to March 31st. This is the last opportunity to purchase yearbooks, so make plans to order yours today!
Yearbooks are only sold/purchased online. Start your purchase by going to: yearbookordercenter.com, typing in 21927 or searching for Franconia Elementary, Alexandria VA, will take you to our ordering site.
Project LIFT at Franconia Elementary School!
Project LIFT is a program for students to have access to 6 new books to read over the summer. The cost of the program is $34. Additionally, families will have the option to send in a donation to support other students in the school to also participate. Forms for Project LIFT are in this week’s Wednesday Folder. The deadline to send in money to participate is Friday, March 31st.
A Note From Our K Team
Do you have a child who will be 5 years of age by September 30, 2023, and do you plan on sending them to kindergarten at Franconia for the 2023-2024 school year?
We are in the process of preparing for our kindergarten registration and orientation. If your child is ready for kindergarten, call the school at 703-822-2200 so we may add you to our list of rising kindergarten students.
Please consider joining us at the school with your future kindergartener for our Kindergarten Orientation on Wednesday, April 19, from 5:30-6:30pm. During this presentation, we will provide information about the kindergarten program at Franconia Elementary, while the future kindergarteners get to explore the classroom, participate in fun kindergarten activities, and take a ride on a school bus around the neighborhood.
❤ Kindergarten Team
"Ducky Breathing" Storytime Family Yoga
At the HIstoric Sydenstricker Schoolhouse
Saturday, April 1st
9am to 9:45 am
$15 per family*
*up to 5 people per family
Presented in partnership with Breathe Body & Mind and the Sydenstricker Schoolhouse, and their continuing efforts to make the schoolhouse available to the community for events such as this.
Sign up via the QR code or at breathebodymind.com or to pay cash at the door, email info @sydenstrickerschoolhouse.org
Advance registration is required
Questions?
703-829-0167 or info@breathebodymind.com
Hayfield Craft Fair and Auction
Save the date!
On 15 April 2023, from 9am-3pm, the Hayfield All Night Grad Party will be hosting a Craft Fair at Hayfield Secondary School (7530 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315). There will be over 100 vendors selling goods, an amazing silent auction, Kidcreate studio, facepainting and more!
Proceeds go to help support the Hayfield Class of 2023 All Night Grad Party event.
There is no cost to attend the event. Please come out and support the local vendors and also the Hayfield class of 2023!
SoCo Summer Strings Camp
Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings (formally Stallion Summer Strings) is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 10th-21st from 8:30am-12:30pm, weekdays only.
Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.
You can find more information and registration for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Early registration is from March 1st-June 9th so sign up soon!
Help Needed in the Library
Do you have a spare moment in the day to lend Mrs. Vandersande a hand?
The library needs volunteers to help scan in returns and shelve books any time during the school day.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e4caead2faaf49-library1#/
Upcoming Calendar Reminders
See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Find Free COVID-19 Testing in Your Community
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a COVID-19 Testing Locator website, which can help families find no-cost COVID-19 testing sites. Testing is available at pharmacies and other locations and is provided at no cost to individuals with or without health insurance. Results are typically provided within 24-48 hours.
Please remember to notify the school office of any of the following changes that come up for your child.
Notification should be made by 9:00am on the day of the change.
- Absence
- Late arrival
- Planned early pick-up or mid-day appointment (pick-up and return)
- If your child needs to be picked up unexpectedly, please call the office (703-822-2200) in advance of your arrival
- This allows the office to contact your child’s teacher to prepare your child for their departure
- For early pick-ups after 3:00pm, please park on Kathmoor as the school buses start to arrive for dismissal at that time and the front parking lot will be off limits
- Changes in dismissal mode (https://franconiaes.fcps.edu/about/change-dismissal-form)
Below are the 3 options by which to notify the school office (choose one option):
Please do this IN ADDITION to contacting your child's teacher. There could be times when the teacher is absent and, by also contacting the office, the information will be properly noted.
To email your child’s teacher, click HERE.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
FCPS CARES
Recognize FCPS Employees
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care.
The start of the school year is a great time to acknowledge someone who has helped to make your child's return to school amazing.
Learn how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee for their great work.
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services
2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1, Room 105
Dunn Loring, VA
The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members.
PARENT RESOURCE CENTER CONTACT INFO:
Email: prc@fcps.edu
Phone: 703-204-3941
Web: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center
Twitter: @prc_fcps
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fcpsprc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCPSParentResourceCenter
FREE CONSULTATIONS:
- The PRC offers free, confidential in-person, videoconference, and phone consultations for families and FCPS staff.
- Appointments are highly encouraged.
- They can brainstorm strategies and possible solutions to help you address your concerns by drawing upon resources and support from FCPS, as well as community, state, and national centers.
TUTOR LIST:
- The PRC maintains a list of current FCPS employees who hold a valid and current teaching license in VA and want to tutor after their contracted school day.
- Contact the PRC at 703-204-3941 or prc@fcps.edu for more information.
FREE LENDING LIBRARY:
- Come explore the library for families and staff, 8:00am-4:00pm
- The library contains over 10,000 books, eBooks, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
- Check out up to 6 items and keep them for 3 weeks. Renewals are easy - just call or email us.
- Find library resources to support your child with help from the Parent Resource Center staff.
- Call us and we can have library materials ready for you to pick up.
- Return library materials to us 24/7 in our book return or use the FCPS inter-office mail. Contact us for details.
FREE WEBINARS:
- Register here - https://bit.ly/3hSRIZW
- Watch recorded webinars - https://bit.ly3rpPl3Q
- To turn videos into preferred languages, open a video - choose any video on YouTube and follow these directions to have closed-captioning in your preferred language:
- Click the CC button - make sure it is underlined in red.
- Click the settings button - it looks like a gear.
- Click subtitles.
- Click auto-translate.
- Choose a language.
Penguin Points
Click on a link for information
Franconia Elementary School website
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