šŸ¾ 3/24/23 Paw Print šŸ¾

You Can Count On Us

In this week's Paw Print:

1. Principal MessageĀ šŸ¾

2. Save the Date: Chantilly Pyramid Spotlight on Student LearningĀ šŸ’”

3. Little Free LibraryĀ šŸ“š

4. Testing InformationĀ šŸ“‹

5. Kindergarten OrientationĀ šŸ” 

6. Chantilly Pyramid Art ShowĀ šŸŽØ

7. Join Our Office Team!Ā šŸ“‹

8.Ā K.A. Holt Author VisitĀ šŸ“–

9. Chorus DonationsĀ šŸ„

10. Panther PraiseĀ šŸ™ŒšŸ¼

11. PTA InformationĀ šŸ¤²


Dear Poplar Tree Families,

We wanted to thank all our families for the shared responsibility we have in supporting our students being good digital citizens. At school, we do our best to encourage the students to make good choices when using their school devices and FCPS approved digital tools. We also wanted to make sure you were aware of a website called Common Sense Media, which gives ratings for video games, movies, tv shows, and books as well as shares tips for supporting your child at home. They even have a Family Media Agreement which is a document you can fill out as a family to discuss which types of media are okay to use and how often.

In addition, there is an onlineĀ service that is free to FCPS families who are interested in knowing more about their childā€™s internet activity on an FCPS device. Families can sign up to receive a weekly Parent Report from Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, which will provide a list of the top sites the child visited that week. To learn more and sign up, click HERE!

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Sue Andujar, Principal

Carol Larsen, Assistant Principal

Carol and Sue

Chantilly Pyramid Spotlight on Student Learning

šŸ’”Save the Date! šŸ’œ

Chantilly Pyramid Spotlight on Student Learning

The Chantilly Pyramid is excited to host a Spotlight on Student Learning on April 25 from 6:00-7:30 pm at Franklin Middle School. This event will feature students from all schools in the pyramid sharing their learning related to Portrait of a Graduate attributes. There will be a teacher and student panel as well as a showcase of learning. Weā€™ll also be giving away student-designed stickers! Families and students are welcome- see you there!


Little Free Library

Little Free Library

The Little Free Library is back up and running!! Mrs. Sniffin and the SCA would like to give a huge thank you to Mr. Geosits and his son Brady, in Ms. Francis' class, for volunteering their time to repair the door. We truly appreciate your work and the time you gave up to make it happen! The students and community are so excited to have it open for use again.

As a reminder, if you have any elementary appropriate books that you're looking to get rid of, feel free to add to our Little Free Library. If it's full, please reach out to Mrs. Sniffin at smsniffin@fcps.edu so that we can hold on to them to add at a later date when there's space. Thank you!


testing information

Testing Information

Spring SOL Testing Grades 3-6

Grade 3 Reading: May 10
Grade 3 Math: May 17

Grade 4 Reading: May 3
Grade 4 Math: May 16

Grade 5 Reading: May 4
Grade 5 Science: May 11
Grade 5 Math: May 18

Grade 6 Reading: May 9
Grade 6 Math: May 23


** Students in the AAP program in grades 5 & 6 will take their advanced grade level math tests on the date listed for their current school grade level (e.g. Grade 5 Math AAP students will take the Grade 6 Math SOL on May 18th).

Spring Assessment Information

Spring iReady Assessment Grades 1-6

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) adopted iReady assessments as an academic universal screener for all elementary school students in grades 1-6. In addition to the iReady assessment, all elementary school students in grades 1-6 complete the Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA).

The purpose of iReady assessments is to identify students who may have gaps in foundational literacy and mathematics skills. iReady tests are also used to measure student progress in reading and mathematics skills. The purpose of the DSA is to measure the development of spelling skills.

The iReady assessment includes a reading test and a mathematics test. In grades 1-3, teachers also assess studentsā€™ oral reading fluency to fulfill state testing requirements. Based on test results, some students may require additional assessments to further diagnose specific skills that may need support.

All students in grades 1-6 will complete iReady and DSA in the spring. iReady and DSA are delivered within the classroom instructional block. Additional information can be found at the iReady Universal Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/us). If you have further questions about these assessments, please contact your studentā€™s teacher or the school test coordinator (Carol Larsen calarsen@fcps.edu). These assessments will be given to all students in at Poplar Tree this spring within the following testing window: April 11-May 19 Grades 1 & 2 & DSA Grades 1-6 and April 11- June 9 iReady Grades 3-6. For the expected dates when your child will test, please contact your childā€™s teacher.

Kindergarten VKRP Spring Testing


The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) assessments provide actionable information that will assist teachers, school leaders, and parents/guardians in supporting student success in school and to better understand school readiness skills across the state of Virginia. This spring, all kindergarteners will participate in the three assessment components of the VKRP, which measure literacy, mathematics, self-regulation, and social skills. More information about the assessment can be found on the FCPS Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program Parent Notification webpage. Testing will be conducted between April 11 and May 19. If you have questions about the assessment or the specific assessment dates for your child, please contact your childā€™s teacher.


Kindergarten Orientation

Kindergarten Orientation

We are so excited to welcome our future Panther to Poplar Tree! We will be having an orientation on Thursday, April 13. You are welcome to drop off any registration forms and/or required documents starting at 2:00 on that day. You can access these forms HERE!

Our official program will begin at 2:30 in the cafeteria. All students will go to the classrooms with teacher and guardians will meet in the cafeteria for a presentation.

We can't wait to see you all there!


Chantilly Pyramid Art Show

Chantilly Pyramid Art Show

Our Chantilly Pyramid Art Show is back again and better than ever! Come to Chantilly High School on April 19 between 6-8 to enjoy student artwork from all over the community, enjoy fun crafts, and even more food trucks than last year! Help us support our student artists and have a great night out with the family!

You can also help support our programs by purchasing an awesome art show T-Shirt! The proceeds go towards future pyramid art shows and you will look great in CHS purple! Order your T-Shirt HERE!


Office Help Needed

Join Our Office Team!

The Poplar Tree ES office is seeking people-friendly helpers to grow its amazing team of office volunteers, providing customer service to visitors and callers when the office is short-staffed. Shifts are typically 8:15-10:15 am or 1:00-3:00 pm. Schedule is flexible and training is provided. Email Romney Short at rsshort@fpcs.edu to discuss upcoming opportunities.


K A Holt Author Visit

K.A. Holt Author Visit

K.A. Holt, author of the award-winning book House Arrest will be coming to Poplar Tree to present to fifth and sixth graders on Monday, April 24 and books are available to purchase for signing! Scrawl Books will deliver all book orders to Poplar Tree before the author visit free of charge!

To order, visit https://www.scrawlbooks.com/ka-holt. Enter your information in the delivery address field but make sure to select theĀ Poplar Tree Author VisitĀ  option under "Calculate Shipping Cost." Write your student's name, teacher, and how you would like your book personalized by the author in the Order Comments field.

Deadline to order is Sunday, April 16.

A huge thanks to the Poplar Tree PTA for making this visit possible!


chorus bucket donations

Buckets Needed!

PTES Chorus is seeking donations of new/un-used 10-gallon buckets! Contact Dani Stauber at dgstauber@fcps.edu if you can help out!


Poplar Tree Staff Panther Praise!

Panther Praise Image

We truly appreciate all our Poplar Tree staff and would like to give the community the opportunity to say thank you and/or show appreciation for all of the effort theĀ Poplar Tree StaffĀ is putting in day and night! We will share these praises with the staff members. To submit a Staff Panther Praise, please fill outĀ this form!

Thank you for helping to recognize our amazing staff!


pta announcements

Poplar Tree Elementary Talent Show

The Talent Show is for everyone! Sign-up to share your talent with the Poplar Tree community!

  • April 17 - sign-ups close at 4pm on Monday April 17
  • April 20 - Zoom parent meeting is April 20 - one parent from each act must attend.
  • May 10 - Mandatory Dress Rehearsal after school on May 10 in the cafeteria, all students in each act and at least one parent per act must attend.
  • May 12 - Talent Show!

Sign-up HERE!Ā 

Each member of an act must complete the sign-up form separately. Please agree on an act name before signing-up. Each child may only appear in one act. Acts can be no longer than one minute and 30 seconds. Questions? Email PoplarTreeESTalentShow@gmail.com

Talent Show Flyer

PTA Officer/Board/Committee Opportunities Zoom Q&A

Join us for a Zoom Q and A on March 28th at 7pm to learn about open officer and committee/board positions! To join the meeting, click HERE!


ā—Communications/Social Media
ā—Membership/Back to School Nights
ā—Assembly Coordinator
ā—Technology/Graphic Design
ā—Spirit Nights
ā—Spirit Wear
ā—Spelling Bee
ā—Before/After School Program Coordinator


Spring Fun Run

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šŸƒšŸ¼ Spring Color Fun Run šŸƒšŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø

We will be having a Spring Fun Color Run! Join us for a 1 mile run starting and ending at PTES! Registration is only $5! Register HERE!

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šŸ‘šŸ¼ Block Party VolunteersĀ šŸŽˆ

We are looking for some parents to help us plan and coordinate the Second Annual PTES Block Party on May 19th! Help us make this a fun event for the school community by signing up HERE!

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Family Game Night

Join us for Family Game Night - March 24 @ 6:30 pm

Join us for our second game night of the school year in the cafeteria! We will have board games and bingo for a night of family fun, with prizes for all!

RSVP HEREĀ so we can plan for bingo and help us the night of the event!

Family Game Night

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šŸ–šŸ¼ 2023-24 PTA Officer

& Board Positions ā¤ļø

Our nominating committee is hard at work recruiting for PTA Officers (President and Vice President 2) and many open Board/Committee Chair positions for next school year. If you are interested, please email jenmccabe08@gmail.com to be connected with the committee for more information!

We hope you will consider joining our dedicated and hard-working team - there are positions available with various levels of time committment and skills!

Thank you to all the PTA officers & board members for their service to our school, our students, and our teachers & staff!

Click HERE for the Nominating Form for Officers