A Message From Principal Clarke

Dear Parents and Guardians, I am delighted to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each of you as we prepare to begin another exciting academic year here at Beech Tree. It is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that we open our doors to both returning families and those joining our school community for the first time. At Beech Tree, we firmly believe that education is a collaborative journey, and parents are an integral part of student success. Your support and involvement play a vital role in fostering a nurturing and enriching environment for our students to thrive. We are excited to welcome new and returning educators who are committed to providing the highest quality of education while promoting creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. Our aim is to cultivate well-rounded individuals who are not only academically strong, but also empathetic, compassionate, and responsible global citizens. Throughout the year, we will strive to maintain open lines of communication with you. We encourage you to participate actively in school activities, parent-teacher conferences, and other events, as your engagement reinforces the strong bond between home and school. Please know that we are here to work together to address any questions or concerns you may have. Together, we can empower our students to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. As we progress through this academic journey, we assure you that your child's safety, happiness, and academic progress remain our top priorities. We have implemented robust measures to ensure a safe and secure learning environment, and we continuously seek ways to enhance our educational offerings to meet the needs of every student. In addition to academic excellence, we value the social and emotional growth of our students. We promote a positive school culture where kindness, respect, and inclusivity are celebrated, allowing our students to develop meaningful connections with their peers and teachers. Once again, I extend my warmest welcome to all of our families. Together, let us make this academic year at Beech Tree an exceptional experience for our students. Sincerely, Taiia Clarke Principal 703-531-2600 tyclarke@fcps.edu

Important Dates:

• Tuesday, August 15^th Kindergarten Play Date 3:00pm-4:00pm
• Friday, August 18^th Drop-In Open House 12:00pm – 2:00pm
• Monday, August 21^st First Day of School 9:05am
• Thursday, August 31^st Back to School Night 6:00pm
• Friday, September 1^st & Monday, September 4^th School Closed (Holiday)
• Monday, September 25^th School Closed (Holiday)

School Calendar:  2023-24

Important Information for the Beginning of the Year

Access to Student Information for Parents

The SIS (Student Information System) Parent Account is an online tool parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, class schedule and performance, discipline incidents, health information, and more. The secure account offers parents the ability to use one username and password login for both the SIS Parent Account. If you registered in the past, your account is still active. If you have not, please create an account Student Information System - SIS Parent Account Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools.  To obtain a new or replacement Activation Key for your SIS account please visit the Parent Support Request webpage.  If you require assistance please contact our registrar Sandra Merino or call 703-531-2600.

Information parents will be able to access includes:

• Attendance
• Health information
• Discipline incidents
• Name of 2023-24 Classroom Teacher
• Bus stop and approximate times 

In addition, parents will also be able to view school information, including teacher email addresses, the FCPS calendar, and emergency contact information. On August 18th, the morning of Open House, please check this site for the name of your child’s classroom teacher prior to arriving at school. At the Open House, we will have staff members assigned to telling families the assigned teachers. You will maximize your time at Open House by checking your SIS Parent Account the morning of the event for the name of your child’s teacher.

Home and School Communication

We have a variety of methods for communication. First and foremost, News You Choose a subscription based newsletter will be sent by email each Friday with weekly news and updates. Subscribe for News You Choose by visiting this link.  Enotify will be used for any emergency or timely messages and does not require a subscription. It will be very important for each family to enroll in a SIS Parent Account online tool. Occasionally, we may send papers home on Wednesdays. News and events will be posted on our school website. Teachers will often communicate via Talking Points and information is posted in Schoology and SIS. 

To follow us on Twitter, visit the Beech Tree ES website, scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on the “Follow” button. 

Arrival and Dismissal

It is important that students feel welcome and safe from the moment they arrive at school each day.  We will open doors for all students at 9:05am so that all staff members can be present to welcome and supervise arrival.  Patrols will be on duty and ready to welcome everyone into the building.  Families, we ask that you give hugs and kisses from the curb so that students can walk into the building with the support of our amazing staff and teachers.

Arrival:

Walkers- Door 1 and 2

Buses- Door 1 

Kiss and Ride- Door 2 

Dismissal:

All Walkers- Door 2 

Kiss and Ride- Door 2 

Buses- Door 1 

Bus Riders

During the first week, your child should arrive at the bus stop a few minutes early until the bus driver establishes a regular routine. I highly encourage you to have your child ride the bus to school on the first day to get in the routine of which bus to ride home daily. Bus riders will be provided with an identification label denoting their bus number.  You will receive a letter with your child’s bus number, stop location, and approximate arrival and drop-off times. 

Throughout the year, children are only permitted to ride their assigned bus.  If there is an emergency, you may request from the principal a one-time ride for your child on a different bus. The principal will approve the one-time request, if space is available and the request is due to a childcare emergency. The request will not be honored for a playdate.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for all Beech Tree Students

Beech Tree will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as implemented under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  All students enrolled will be provided a nutritious meal for breakfast and lunch each day at no charge.  Families will not be required to submit a meal application form for students to receive free meals.

Visitor Management System

We utilize the visitor management system to improve the security of our students while they are in the building.  The VMS requires that our visitors scan their government issued ID and obtain a photo label name tag before entering the building. Parents new to Beech Tree ES will need to register during their first visit. Please be patient. Office staff will be available to help parents use the system. Having a government issued ID makes the registration process faster. 

3401 Beechtree Lane, Falls Church, VA 22042  | Main Phone: 703.531.2600
Attendance: 703.531.2626 | Web | Twitter