Fairfax Villa Weekly Message 4/28/2023

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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.

لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

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Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.


Important Upcoming Date

4/28: Bingo Night 6:30pm - 8:30pm

4/28: Last day to donate sneakers

5/1: Kindergarten Orientation 4:30pm - 5:15pm

5/2: 3rd Grade Reading SOL 

5/3: 4th Grade Reading SOL

5/3: 1st/2nd Grade Music Performance 7:00pm - 8:00pm

5/4: 5th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: 6th Grade Reading SOL

5/ 9: 3rd Grade Math SOL

5/10: 4th Grade Math SOL

5/11: 5th Grade Math SOL 

5/12: 6th Grade Math SOL

5/17: MOD Pizza Fundraiser Night

5/18: 5th Grade Science SOL

5/19: Glow Party 6:30pm - 8:30pm

6/1: Strings Spring Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm

6/2: Woodson High School Graduation Senior Walk at Fairfax Villa ES 3pm

6/6: Woodson HS Graduation 7:30pm - 9:30pm

6/8: 6th Grade Showcase 7:00pm - 8:30pm

6/9: Field Day

6/13: Spring Band Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm

6/14: 6th Grade Luncheon 11:00am - 2:00pm

6/15: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony 10:15am - 11:30am 

6/16: Last day of school for FCPS Students-2 Hour Student Early Release

8/21: First day of school 2023-24


IN THIS ISSUE

  1. Upcoming PTA Events: PTA Free Bingo Night Tonight! 
  2. Attendance Concerns
  3. Staff Appreciation Week
  4. Parent Input Form For 2023-2024 School Year (Deadline 5/12)
  5. Celebrations of Lexia
  6. Kindergarten and New Student Registration
  7. Fairfax Villa Contacts
  8. Be Informed; Stay Involved!

1.Upcoming PTA Events

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Bingo Night returns to Fairfax Villa!

When: Friday, April 28, 6:30-8:30pm

Bingo games are FREE!!!!!  Prizes for all bingo games!

There will be snacks for sale – drinks, candy, popcorn, chips

There will be a raffle for various items, $1 a ticket.

Volunteer/Donation Sign-Up

Questions about volunteering/donations – contact Amy at amy.spradlin@outlook.com 

**Click Flyer to expand**

Back by popular demand…

Fairfax Villa Glow Party!

When: Friday, May 19th

What: Music, dancing, activities

Wear white or neon so that you GLOW!!!

More info coming soon!


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2.Attendance Concerns at Fairfax Villa ES

Chronic Absenteeism Based on 2022-23 Outcomes - State Board SOA Decision

In their April 20 business meeting, the Virginia Board of Education decided to not suspend chronic absenteeism as part of school accreditation determinations for 2023-24, based on 2022-23 student outcomes. The Board’s rationale was a desire to send a strong message to schools, families, and students about the importance of regular attendance for student success. The Board decision means that schools with Level 3 (red) in any indicator—including chronic absenteeism—based on end-of-year data will receive “Accredited with Conditions” designation. 

Currently, Fairfax Villa is the only school in the Woodson Pyramid that is ranked in the yellow chronic absenteeism rate of 16.1% for this school year.  The other 7 schools are currently in the green because their absenteeism rate is at an acceptable level.  As we finish out the remainder of the 2022-23 school year, we will continue to update this percentage with you in hopes that we can join our Woodson pyramid schools for having an acceptable chronic absenteeism rate.

Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, regardless of reason.  A student is determined to be chronically absent if the rate of their days absent divided by their total days in membership is greater than or equal to 10% and their average daily membership is 50% or greater in a given school year.

Fairfax Villa Elementary School is committed to providing our students with a high quality education.  Academic success relies upon excellent school attendance.  Children who come to school on time every day are building critical life skills they will use throughout the rest of their lives.  Like strengthening a muscle, building positive attendance habits early on make a difference for our children today and for our adults of tomorrow.  Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.  Fairfax Villa is teaming up with the other 7 schools in the Woodson Pyramid in an effort to make sure all of our students are in school, on time, each day.

Did you know?

  • Regular school attendance in grades preschool through grade 6 makes it more likely that your child will read on grade level. 
  • The 2023-24 school year calendar has been published and we highly recommend scheduling vacations around the school year calendar.  We have pasted the link below for your convenience:

https://www.fcps.edu/system/files/2023-2024-standard-school-year-calendar.pdf

  • Even excused absences interfere with learning.
  • A pattern of absences (whether unexcused or excused) is one of the main reasons children have lower academic achievement.  
  • Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
  • Absences can mask deeper struggles. For example; absences may be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, he or she may be struggling with school work or peer relationships, or possibly facing a medical or mental health concern.

Support is available:

All staff members at Fairfax Villa ES are committed to supporting attendance. Additional resources can be found online at http://www.fcps.edu/attendance. We know that parents are the experts on their own child and our school team is here to partner and help solve attendance-related concerns.  The school counselor, school social worker, and family liaison are available:

June Bloedorn JMBloedorn@fcps.edu

Virginia Kim VRKim@fcps.edu

Ursula Freitag ugfreitag@fcps.edu


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Parents and staff enjoyed our Ukulele Concert this week!


3.Staff Appreciation Week

Fairfax Villa PTA is Growing a Garden of Gratitude for Our Teachers and Staff

Monday, May 1st - Teacher and staff BBQ

  • In the garden area, teachers and staff will enjoy their freshly grilled lunch. 

Tuesday, May 2nd - Giving Tuesday

Wednesday, May 3rd - A sunny breakfast

  • The "garden" lounge will have a nutritious buffet to kick start the day

Thursday, May 4th - Grab some sun and a sweet treat

  • A surprise treat for our sweet, sweet teachers and staff

Friday, May 5th - Cinco de Mayo 

  • To close out the week of gratitude and appreciation, teachers will warm up to the weekend with spicy burritos from Anita's

THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU


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Thank you to everyone who celebrated our office staff this week!


4.Parent Input Form for 2022-23 Class Placement

If you feel there is pertinent information to support your child’s success for the upcoming school year, you may submit your input by clicking on this Parent Input Google Form . The parent input forms are due by May 12, 2023.  We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. 

While we look at class placements for the coming year, we want you to be aware of the process. We place students in classrooms based on numerous criteria. Students are grouped so that classrooms are heterogeneous, having a balance of boys and girls, a balance of academic performance and ability, and groups that will allow for the greatest support from our resource teachers.

Classroom teachers will have input into the recommendations for next year, as will our counselors and specialists. Our staff has been told that we will not take requests for particular teachers because we base our placement on instructional criteria and individual student strengths and needs. It is unfair to give special consideration to some parents when it would be impossible to grant requests from all parents. Please be aware that grade level assignments for staff sometimes change, due to late enrollments or other changes.  Staff assignments are determined at the end of the summer. Our staff has been directed not to give out information about placement prior to that time.


5.Celebrations of Lexia!

Lexia

1918= Lexia Certificates given this year!

79% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level! At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. 

Practice Lexia at home: 

  • Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
  • Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.
  • Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

 It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons


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Ms. Rivera’s students are practicing hands-on math!


6.Kindergarten and New Student Registration

Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

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7.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts


8.Be Informed; Stay Involved!