August 18, 2023

August 18, 2023


Ms. Mirnaly Vega
Attendance Matters

 

Dear Parents,

Monday August 21st is the first day of SCHOOL ! 

Did you know that regular school attendance is critical for your child's success in school?  Let's start off the 2023 school year strong!  Please read the information below carefully and begin to make a plan with your family.  

 

Chronic Absenteeism: What is it, and why does it matter?  One of the new elements that the Virginia Department of Education is using to determine whether a school should be accredited is the percent of children in the school who miss 10% or more of the enrolled school year. For most students, who attend the same school for the entire school year, this would mean missing 18 days for any reason, to include family trips, illness, suspension, or truancy. 

While 18 days sounds like a lot, it means that a student who misses as few as two days a month is considered chronically absent.

Why is chronic absenteeism a problem? In addition to being a factor in school accreditation, as well as part of the School Quality Profile, missing more than 10% of the school year has been associated with significant problems for the children. For children as young as kindergarten and first grade age, it is associated with failure to read and do math on grade level in third grade. By middle and high school it is a leading warning sign that the student will fail to graduate with peers, or will drop out entirely. When many students are absent throughout the year, it slows down the rate of instruction for all students.

All students will likely be sick at some time during the year, and it is important to keep your child home at these times, but to have children attend at all other times. How can you help? Avoid vacations that require your child to miss school. Set a regular bedtime and morning routine, with clothes and needed materials laid out the night before, so your child does not miss the bus or arrive late at school. Make sure younger children get 9 to 11 hours of sleep a night. For older children, 8 to 9 hours of sleep are needed, as well as support to establish good nighttime routines. Pediatricians recommend a “screens down” time an hour before bedtime, when youth have no access to TV, cell phones, computers, or video games. It is a great time for reading. Be a model of these habits in your family. The benefits of a good night’s sleep and regular attendance are gifts that will help your child throughout their lifetime.

Let's work together this school year to ensure your child is present at school and learning!  Attend Today!  Achieve Tomorrow!

Fondly, 

Mirnaly Vega

Proud Principal 

 


Accede a las noticias que elijas en español

 

First Day of School, Attendance Matters English/Spanish

 


Sleepy Hollow PTA  

Sleepy Hollow PTA - join the Sleepy Hollow PTA. You will be supporting field trips, enrichment activities, cultural programs for all our students. Click HERE to join today!



School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.

  • Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays. 
  • Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked). 
  • Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the start of each month coincides with the birth of a new moon. The date of Eid a-Fitr is regionally decided, which can lead to unexpected date changes. Eid al-Fitr is currently slated to begin at sunset on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and last through sundown Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Tuesday is designated a half-O day, and Wednesday is a holiday, with all schools and offices being closed. If the day for Eid changes after the school year begins, the calendar may be adjusted. 



Student Monitor Positions Available 

Sleepy Hollow is in need of student monitors for the upcoming school year. It is an hourly position that helps support the students throughout the school day. If interested, please contact Mr. Tim Scesney at TScesney@fcps.edu. The link to apply and learn more is here. We love our community and appreciate the support! 

 


Family Resource Center:

  • Free Resources for Families

Did you know that caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities? 

Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).

Workshops for Families

The Family Resource Center is already scheduling a helpful series of webinars for the 2023-24 school year. Save the date for the following discussions in September. See the full list of workshops. Click on the title to register for each event: 

Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.


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