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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ebony Opie - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
Principals' Message
Happy May!
We can’t believe that we are halfway through the last quarter! Thank you for spoiling our staff last week as we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week. We have an extremely dedicated and amazing staff here and they truly felt appreciated. We look forward to an exciting end of the year filled with learning and activities! We continue to emphasize the importance of our Life, Work, and Citizenship Skills through our counseling lessons and morning meetings. Please discuss with your children that the expectations must be consistent throughout the entire day in order to earn a four in each category. For example, we consider if they are following directions on the bus and in the cafeteria or their actions when they have a substitute. Interim reports will be coming home next week, this is a great time to reflect with your students on their efforts and set goals for the remainder of the year.
Our students continue to work hard each day and are really taking their time to show all they have learned on their SOL and end of year assessments. Please make sure that you avoid scheduling appointments on days of testing if possible, so your child can remained focused on their work. You may have been hearing about schools needing to monitor the number of students listed as chronically absent for accreditation purposes. Please note that a student who misses 10% of the school year, excused or unexcused, is listed as chronically absent for the year according to the state of Virginia. Please let us know if you have any questions about notifications you may receive regarding attendance.
As most of you know, Mrs. Opie will soon be taking a leave of absence to spend time with her new bundle of joy over the next few weeks. We wish her the best as she takes time to be with her expanding family. We are fortunate that Dr. Zulei Culpepper, current assistant principal at Riverside Elementary, will be joining us for the remainder of the year. Dr. Culpepper will begin at Gunston on Monday, May 22nd and is excited for this opportunity. Let’s have an awesome second half of the quarter together! We appreciate your continued support and collaboration as we watch our eagles continue to soar!
Sincerely,
Ms. Rucinski and Mrs. Opie
SOL Testing Schedule
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May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. |
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month: May Day, May Day
“May Day” is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications. The new 9-8-8 number is a suicide and crisis lifeline, similar to 9-1-1 in a medical/safety emergency. One in six youth, aged 6-17, experience a mental health condition each year. Below are some activities to practice at home for mental wellness.
6 Mental Health Activities for Kids to Practice at Home
- Create a Journal
- Younger students are better able to communicate their feelings and emotions freely in a creative way.
- Practice Gratitude Exercises
- Have students write notes about what they are grateful for and place it a jar (label it thankful jar)
- Engage in breathing exercises
- A couple deep breaths can reset not only your child’s mind
- Deep breathing exercises and meditation can increase focus and compassion
- Try music therapy
- Music can be used to encourage movement and relaxation
- Use Stress Balls and other sensory toys
Kindergarten Registration
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 document.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
All registrations are done by appointment only. Appointments are open now and continue throughout the summer. Questions? Please contact our registrar, Alma Catin, 703-541-3600, ancatin@fcps.edu.
Information pertaining to registration, including eligibility and forms is outlined on our student registration page on our school website.
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Recognize Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
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 Gunston Elementary. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
Helpful Links
May 1 - May 26: SOL testing window (see schedule above)
May 18: Interims go home
May 18: Field Trip grade 2
May 18: PTA Meeting 6:00pm
May 29: No school - Memorial Day
June 7: Spring Concert
June 13: 6th Grade Promotion
June 14: Ernie Eagle Assembly
June 16: Last Day of School (2 hour early release)
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PTA News & Announcements |
Last PTA Meeting
May 18th at 6:00pm
Join us for our last PTA meeting of the year! We will be celebrating a successful year and asking for feedback to share with next year’s board, which will be elected that night! Dinner and dessert will be available, please come and make your voice heard! No virtual option will be available so please join us in person in the cafeteria.
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