- Monday, April 3rd- Friday, April 7th- Spring Break
- Thursday, April 13th- 2hr Early Release
- Friday, April 14th- Student Holiday
In FCPS, we value prioritizing the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. As you may recall from the Welcome Back to School teacher presentations, we do this by utilizing the framework of five main Portrait of a Graduate attributes, broken down into specific skills that we all use every day. In the recent weeks at Powell, we have been focusing on the attribute of Collaborator and teachers utilized morning meetings and content areas to highlight the skills of this attribute. To wrap up our students’ learning on each of the attribute, Ms. Luerssen, Ms. Cho, and Ms. Song once again held a PoG Grade-Level Team Meeting to discuss the attribute and recognized 2 students from each class from 1st, 3rd and 6th grade who best exhibited this particular PoG. Check out the students who were recognized from this week’s Grade-Level Team Meetings! To learn more about the FCPS’ PoG program and how you can support this learning at home, please visit this page of Portrait of a Graduate Family Resources: K-6.
  
Thank you for your diligence in helping to improve the safety of all during arrival to school each morning. While the flow of traffic on Leland Road and Kiss & Ride has improved, we have noticed an uptick in the number of students dropped off earlier than 8:50 am. Please remember that staff supervision of students during arrival begins at 8:50-8:55 am. To ensure student safety and supervision please follow the procedures listed below:
- Kiss and ride student remain in the vehicle with their parent/guardian until staff directs them to disembark, starting at 8:50 am
- Parents of students who walk to school or park in the upper deck should remain with their child, at the front door until 8:50 am
To do our best to ensure a safe school environment for all students and staff, we are tightening up our school procedures and use of our computerized visitor management system to account for all guests and students at school. Please see below for important updates.
The most important detail is that a driver’s license is required for all parents and guardians when at school because a driver’s license will be scanned to register visitors and volunteers.
Scholarchip Visitor Management System
- Our automated visitor management system has been relocated from the lobby to the office.
- We will continue to use this system to register all visitors and volunteers.
- Please remember a driver’s license is required and will be scanned in the management system.
Volunteers & Visitors
- To ensure that everyone is accounted for while at school, visitors and volunteers must sign in with a driver’s license using the Scholarchip Visitor Management System.
- Volunteers must report back to the office to sign out before leaving the building.
- To not disrupt teaching and learning, visitors and volunteers may not visit classrooms or locations that are not part of the intended visit or volunteer assignment.
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Late Arrival
- The doors open for arrival at 9:05 and the tardy bell rings at 9:15.
- Students arriving after 9:15 must be accompanied, into the office, by a parent or guardian.
- Parents must sign in the student through a google form that is located in the office next to Scholarchip or if you have a smartphone you can even scan the QR code and check in the student through the google form.
- The paper sign-in sheets will no longer be used.
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Early Dismissal
- Parents requesting early dismissal should email the teacher and the office in advance.
- Students leaving school early must be picked up by 3:30 to not interrupt school-wide dismissal procedures.
- Parents must sign the student out using the google form using the computer next to Scholarchip or scan the QR code to complete the google form.
- The paper sign-out sheets will no longer be used.
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 Attention! New to Kindergarten Parents!
Please Join Colin Powell ES and the Kindergarten team for a welcoming Kindergarten Orientation on
Thursday, April 13th at 3:00 pm
If you have not registered your child, please contact our Registrar Regina Johnson at 571-522-6008
All yearbooks will be ordered online with the following information needed
https://ybpay.com/
Yearbook ID Code: 14452123
Order Deadline: April 14, 2023
- If interested, parents/guardians may provide input to help with class placements for the 2023-24 school year through THIS FORM.
- Please complete a separate form for each child in your family that attends Powell ES.
- Please note, requests for specific teachers, by name, cannot be honored.
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The form will be open for family input until Friday, May 5th.
Please join us in congratulating the two teams that represented our school in the Odyssey of the Mind competition on Saturday, March 25!
Congratulations to Gautham (4th grade) and his teammates from surrounding schools for winning 1st place Division 1, Region 12 (Grades 3-5)! There were 3 teams that competed in this category, division, and region. Gautham and his team will compete in the State Championship on April 15th. They designed a balsa wood structure weighing 12 gms (5 pennies) that supported a whopping 59 pounds!
Congratulations to Anika (4th grade) and her teammates from surrounding schools for winning 2nd place in Division 1, Region 12! There were 4 teams that competed in this category, division and region. They presented a very humorous performance around a fictitious character named Ella and how her drama affected the day’s events and those around her!
2nd Place Problem 5 Team (Top left - Sanah, Top right - Naya, Bottom left - Raina, Bottom right - Anika (Colin Powell ES)
1st Place Problem 4 Team (Shriya, Harshika, Gautham (Colin Powell), Mila)
Screening for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
Students may be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. However, in the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year. Because all students are screened in the spring, it is not necessary to submit a referral form. Families will be notified of eligibility of newly identified services when we return for school for the 2023-24 school year.
Screening Process for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher or Principal.
Subject Specific and Part-Time Services Overview
Subject Specific and Part-Time Services in Elementary School
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services to students’ needs rather than labeling students.
Students have:
- Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
- A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to support student learning and growth. Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services at the elementary level:
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
- All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
- Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas 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 Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.
- Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly 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 evaluated each year.
Screening for Full-Time (Level IV) Services
Screening Timeline for Full-Time Services
Screening for full-time (level IV) AAP services happens at the district/central level rather than by local schools. For your planning for next school year, please know that screening for full-time (level IV) services occurs during two specific screening cycles:
- Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
ο Fall referrals are due October 15, annually.
- Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
ο the referral window is from the first day of school - December 15, annually.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students
Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:
- Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
- Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Please Note:
Every fall we hold AAP Parent Information Sessions to provide parents with information regarding levels of service and the level IV screening process. Look for information when we return to school.
Additionally, at Colin Powell ES, we have a Local Level IV Advanced Academic Program. As stated, we screen all students in grades 2-5 for level II, III and level IV services in June. No parent referral is required for your child to be considered for these services. We notify parents of eligibility for these services in June, prior to the start of a new school year.
If you have questions, please reach out to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Kathleen Bach, kmbach@fcps.edu .
Calling our Powell Community & Local Small Business Owners.
Please, will you donate to our Silent Auction?
Proceeds support our May 20th Community Celebration, teacher reimbursements, field trips, and so much more.
Additional details can be found here: https://www.cpespta.org/fundraisers
Volunteers Needed. Sign up here
Donate a Silent Auction item/basket HERE
Contribute a CPES Experience HERE
Questions? Jenn Balam & Mary Kim, auction@cpespta.org
Colin Powell PTA needs volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year!
Help make Colin Powell the best school possible for our students! If you are looking for a way to contribute to Colin Powell, this is a great opportunity. Elected positions include:
- President
- Vice President of Ways & Means - Fundraising
- Vice President of Programs - Clubs/Enrichment Programs
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Interested candidates should submit their names HERE. Chair/Committee positions can also be found on the same form.
Attend the April 12th General Meeting for additional information, including known vacancies.
Attend the May 10th General Meeting to self-nominate from the floor and voting for the 2023-2024 Executive Board. MUST be a PTA member for the 2022-2023 school year to self-nominate and vote. Everyone is invited to attend.
- 4/19 – Spirit Night - Chipotle
- Spring - Silent Auction
- 5/20 – 20th Anniversary Community Celebration
- 6/11 - End of the Year Ice Cream Social
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