In this Friday Message you will find:
- Principals' Message
- Attendance Matters
-
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
- Digital Resources
- FCPS Looking for Bus Drivers
- Back to School Nights
- Become a Buddy Family
- Safety Drills
- Labor Day
- Floris PTA Fun Events
- Join the Floris PTA
- Breakfast and Lunch Menus
- Upcoming Dates
Floris Families,
This week was wonderful as we welcomed our students back into the building for the 2023-2024 school year! The energy, smiles, and excitement radiated throughout the school.
We are so delighted to see students bringing healthy, nourishing lunches. We notice that some of our younger students have difficulty opening their lunch containers. Please have them practice at home to reduce the need for staff having to touch these containers. Please remember to include forks/spoons in lunch bags.
Community members have reached out to Floris to ask that we remind parents not to park on private property while attending school events or at arrival/dismissal. We ask if you are parking behind the school that you are not blocking anyone's driveway, you are at least 15 feet from the fire hydrant, and you are not on anyone's private property or on the sidewalk. Please be respectful of others' homes and property.
Our teachers are excited to see parents/guardians next week during Back to School Nights. Please note that Back to School Night is intended for parents and guardians only, and we are unable to provide child care at school. During this event, you’ll learn more about your child’s curriculum and classroom routines.
We are so excited for this fabulous school year.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Holly Walker, Principal, hjwalker@fcps.edu
Rob Gibbs, Assistant Principal, ragibbs@fcps.edu
#EveryEagleEveryDay
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success.
Visit FCPS’ Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available — a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2023-24 Opt-Out Booklets.
Digital Resources Consent
At Floris, we use a variety of digital tools to support meaningful student learning. Some of these tools require parental consent before they can be used.
This year, FCPS has compiled a central, district-wide list of these resources, all of which have been thoroughly researched and vetted. Please note that these digital resources are opt-in, meaning that the default response to the consent form is no. In order for your child to access all of these resources, a consent form is required.
🔗You can find the list of resources and provide consent here. 🔗
Your child will also be coming home with a paper copy of the digital expectations here at Floris. This is to reinforce positive behavior online, as well as taking responsibility for their device. Please sign and return the contract at your earliest convenience. At that point, your child will be issued their FCPS device to use in class.
Please reach out to our School Based Technology Specialist, Willa McGrath (wimcgrath@fcps.edu) or your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns. THANK YOU!
Back to School Nights are a time for parents/guardians to learn about the curriculum and expectations in the class and grade level for their children.
- Tuesday, August 29: Kindergarten, 4th (gym), and 6th grade (library), 6:30pm
- Wednesday, August 30: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade (gym), 6:30pm
Enter and exit via Door 6.
Back to School Night Schedule
⏰6:25: Door 6 (Cafeteria) will open for parents/guardians
- Staff will be available to assist you with directions as needed.
⏰6:30-7:00 and 7:05-7:35 PM: Presentations by Teachers
- Teachers will present to parents/guardians and share classroom expectations, curriculum overview, and opportunities for home/school connections.
- The sessions are identical presentations at 6:30 and 7:05. Having repeat sessions allows parents who have students in two different grade levels or classrooms to be able to attend. You should only attend one of the sessions for each class.
- Please exit via Door 6 (cafeteria).
⏰6:30-7:30: Opportunities in the cafeteria to Meet and Greet:
- Administrators
- Counselors
- Specialists
- PTA
Interested in Welcoming New Floris Families? Become a Buddy Family!
If you have a few extra minutes a month and are interested in meeting new Floris families, please consider signing up to become a “Welcome Buddy”. We are starting a new program to match new families with those of you who have been here for awhile to serve as a resource for all things Floris, Herndon and Northern Virginia. Time commitment is minimal, just an initial note or call to introduce yourself and exchange contact information. Our hope is that periodically buddies will check in with their assigned new family to help them engage in Floris and our surrounding community. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Sarah de Kramer at shdekramer@fcps.edu.
Each year our staff and students participate in a variety of safety drills. The required drills include:
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Fire Drills- two in the first 20 days of school and then one per month through June 2024
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Bus Evacuation Drills- one each semester
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Lockdown Drills- Our first one will be September 15, and the second required drill will be in January 2024.
-
Tornado Drill- one in March 2024
Labor Day
Friday, September 1, and Monday, September 4, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students.
Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day.
We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends.
Floris PTA Fun Events
If you have a child in Kindergarten or 1st grade, please join us for a welcome pizza party hosted by the PTA on Thursday September 7 at 6:00pm. Eat some pizza while mingling with other K and 1st grade families and find out more about what the PTA has in store for this year! Please plan to come to Door 6 (cafeteria).
Open to all Floris families:
Please join us on Wednesday September 20 at 6:30pm for the PTA Ice Cream Social and first official PTA meeting of the 23-24 school year. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the PTA and our plans for the upcoming year. We'll have ice cream, a spirit wear raffle and lots of Floris friends in attendance! Please enter via Door 6 (cafeteria).
You can join the PTA now at Floris PTA Membership.
Please remember you can find the breakfast and lunch menus and nutritional facts at FCPS Nutrislice- Floris
August 29: Back to School Night for Kindergarten, 4th and 6th grades, 6:30pm
August 30: Back to School Night for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades, 6:30pm
September 1-4: Holiday- Labor Day Break – All FCPS schools and offices closed
September 19: AAP Informational Session, café, 6:30pm
September 20: PTA Meeting, café, 6:30pm
September 22: Westfield High School Homecoming Parade and Football Game
September 25: Holiday, Yom Kippur – All FCPS schools and offices closed
September 29: South Lakes High School Homecoming Parade and Football Game
October 9: No School for Students, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Teacher Workday
November 3:
- End of First Quarter
- Two-Hour Early Release
- Floris Dismissal - 2:00pm
November 6-7: No School for Students, Teacher Workdays and Election Day
Find the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
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