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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.
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
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Upcoming Events
- April 14 - Teacher Workday - No School
- April 21 - Eid al-Fitr
- April 21 - Teacher Workday - No school
- April 26 - Strings and Band Concert, 6:30pm
- April 27 - Parent Coffee, 10 am
- April 28 - PTA, International Night/Dance Around the World
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 Principals Corner
Dear Garfield Families,
We were so excited to welcome back our Eagles on Monday after the Spring Break holiday. We hope you all had a restful break. While this week was a short one, our Eagles flew right back into their familiar routines and learning.
Visiting Kindergarten’s poetry café was an absolute treat. Our Kindergarten students showcased their creativity by reciting written poems. They were so proud to share their poems with their families.
The end of April will be eventful! Please be sure to check our calendar regularly as we add new events.
We are looking forward to Dance Around the World on April 28th, an international night spin-off, hosted by the PTA. Please use this link to sign up to volunteer, bring food, and supplies. We thank you in advance for your help in making this another successful night for our school community!
Our SCA has put together a spirit week to celebrate Month of the Military Child. We have eagles with family members serving our military and want to show them all our support.
Please take a moment and read the AAP Spring Newsletter Article. The newsletter goes over the screening process for subject specific and part time services by grade level.
Have a wonderful weekend!
April L. Cage, NBCT, M.Ed.
Principal
Rachel Waters
Assistant Principal
Therapy Dog Visits Garfield!
Garfield Elementary School has partnered with Alliance Therapy Dogs and will being having monthly visits with certified therapy dogs. The dogs will be accompanied by a trained handler. Students will be allowed to read to the dogs and pet them. Research suggests therapy dogs can help lower stress levels, thereby optimizing learning capacity.
This opportunity is completely optional. If your child does not want to participate for any reason, they do not need to attend. If you wish to not have your child participate, please click the link below and fill out a google form by April 14th. https://forms.gle/JJdaZ6cRzL8jHUmz9
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Yearbooks for Sale!
Order your yearbook today online.
Garfield Yearbook ID Code: 14463723
$20.00
Cash accepted at school until April 14th, online orders will still be accepted
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Community Event - Lewis HS, April 20th 4pm
ESSER Online Feedback Form
FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Funding in the fall of 2021. The funds are being used to support the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.
ESSER III focus areas include:
- ensuring continuity of learning services and addressing students’ academic needs.
- maintaining the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff.
- addressing student wellness including their social, emotional, mental health, and other needs.
FCPS would like your feedback on how well the school division is responding to the areas above. Please complete this Online Feedback Form, which will be open through Friday, May 5. Your input will inform the School Board and FCPS staff on the community’s view of our work.
The Fairfax County School Board will hear public comment on ESSER III in-person instruction and continuity of services plan on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m., at Jackson Middle School. Register to speak at the ESSER III public hearing. See how FCPS is using ESSER funds to impact student success
Parent Coffee - April 27th, 10 AM
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.
PTA - Dance Around the World
Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl
Dangers of Fentanyl
Last month, the division hosted a conversation on the dangers of fentanyl. During this impactful event, audience members heard testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic and learned facts from medical experts and law enforcement representatives.
The conversation will continue on Monday, April 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Woodson High School. Transportation will be available from select schools throughout the county. View the registration page for details.
Visit our Opioid Awareness webpage for more information. Visit the Fairfax County Government webpage on opioids for information on how you can take action and how to get help for yourself or loved ones.
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Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process outlined for parents looking to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process. Questions? Please contact our registrar, Sarah Rothman, 703-923-2900, sgrothman1@fcps.edu.
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Garfield's Bus Stop Blast!
We are coming again to a bus stop near you!
Garfield staff members will be visiting various bus stops in the morning and afternoon to meet and greet with parents and students.
Come hear how you can talk to your child about reading and receive a FREE book!
We can't wait to see everyone at their bus stop!
PreK Registration at Garfield
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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Family Liaison Center
The Parent Center will be starting two parent classes:
- Study preparation for the US Citizenship Class, begins March 29th
- Study preparation for the Virginia Drivers permit, begins April 13th
If you are interested in taking one of these classes. Please contact Carol Melim, Garfield’s Family Liaison clmelim@fcps.edu or 703-923-2966.
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.
Portrait of A Graduate at Garfield
Have you heard about Portrait of a Graduate(POG) at FCPS? POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future.
A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.
Forum on Draft Goals for FCPS’ New Strategic Plan
Proposed Updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Document
FCPS is in the process of updating the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document for the 2023-24 School Year. The SR&R provides clear expectations for student behavior, responses to that behavior, and support that may be needed. Parents/caregivers, please check your email for a link from FCPS regarding a brief survey on proposed changes to the SR&R. The survey will close at 8 p.m., on Friday, April 21.
All responses to the survey are anonymous. The information provided will be used to revise the SR&R document that is presented to the School Board for approval in June.
Medicaid Policy Changes
A change in federal Medicaid policy could impact the health care coverage of millions of students. In order to avoid gaps in coverage, families need to know:
- Families, especially those who have moved residences during the pandemic, should contact their state Medicaid offices to ensure their contact information is up to date.
- Families should watch their mail for letters about Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, status.
- Recipients must submit any renewal forms they receive to maintain coverage, which states could mail at any point between March 2023 and February 2024.
- Families who no longer qualify for Medicaid after the review may qualify for coverage through their state’s health insurance exchange.
Learn more in this EducationWeek article.
Title I at Garfield ES
Title I is the nation’s largest assistance program for schools. It provides funding to supplement
educational opportunities for children who are most at risk and increasing student achievement
in schools selected on the basis of the economic level of families. The primary focus is to
ensure student access to provide all children significant opportunities to receive a fair,
equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
To learn more about the Title I program at Garfield ES, click here
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Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Please make sure your child is in school every day until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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School Safety and Security
We take the security of our students and our staff very seriously. All exterior doors are locked during the school day. Visitors are to ring the bell at Door 1 to gain access to the main office. Every visitor/adult who enters the building is monitored.
All visitors walking into Garfield ES must ring the doorbell, state their name and purpose of the visit, and come to the office with a valid driver’s license to sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building.
To maintain the momentum of instruction, items brought to the office during school hours (lunch, supplies, homework, etc.) will be held in the office for students to pick up.
March 22- April 21 - 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.
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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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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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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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School Hours and General Information
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Our school hours are from 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Monday through Friday. School doors open at 9:05 a.m. each day to begin receiving students.
Please call the attendance line at 703-923-2929 to report a tardy or absence.
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Garfield PTA
2022-23 School Calendar
View a printable version of the 2022-2023 calendar or find a list view of the calendar on the FCPS Calendar webpage.
 School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar
The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years at their February 9 meeting. Learn more about the approved calendar.
The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12.
Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one of those factors, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process.
Find us on Social Media!
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Visit the Garfield ES Website
• Report your Child's Absence
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Join the Garfield PTA
• Recognize a FCPS Employee at FCPS CARES . The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Garfield Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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