1.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 (5/12/23), Fairfax Villa is the only school in the Woodson Pyramid that is ranked in the yellow chronic absenteeism rate of 16.2% for this school year.  The other 7 schools, including Woodson High School, 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

29 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1995= Lexia Certificates given this year!

80% =  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

Learn more about the PTA. Get involved as little or as much as you’d like. Come vote for next year’s Board!

Please join us online!

Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85468096382?pwd=NDFSOFlzZEVsQy9qVUpzN1hQVS85QT09

Meeting ID: 854 6809 6382  Passcode: 452507

Free Admission!

Please help us make this event amazing!

Volunteer Sign-Up:  Fairfax Villa Elementary School Families: Glow Dance Party - Spring 2023 (signupgenius.com)