 An Amazing First Week at Forestdale
Forestdale Families,
What an amazing first week of school it was for our Falcon Family! The smiles, hugs, and laughter that poured into our hallways Monday morning and continued all week long just filled our hearts! Together we learned, we laughed, we read, and we made new friends. There has been an incredible amount of JOY that has filled our building this week as students have begun to settle into the 2023-2024 school year. We have seen warm and welcoming classroom communities growing and students excited to engage in learning opportunities around reading, writing, and math routines. Classrooms have already begun talking about their responsibilities as citizens and explored their roles as scientists. A lot of learning and fun has already happened this week!
We have started strong because of the hard work and preparation of our teachers and staff, the commitment of our students, and the partnership of our families. As we celebrate the success of our first week together, you might consider sending your child's teacher or a staff member a note or a Talking Points message letting them know your appreciation. Please know how much we appreciate each of YOU!
At Forestdale, we only have three rules, which embody our values for our Forestdale Family.
- Take care of yourself.
- Take care of each other.
- Take care of this place.
One of the most important ways our students take care of themselves and their learning needs is by attending school regularly and on time. This school year we are continuing to work on ensuring all of our Falcons are in their classrooms and ready to learn at 8:50 a.m. This means dropping off students by 8:40 a.m. so that they are in their rooms on time. We appreciate your partnership and the many steps you take to ensure your child attends school regularly and on time. Your support and partnership in your child's education is invaluable.
Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead. We cannot wait to welcome our Falcons back on Monday. It is going to be a FANTASTIC school year learning and growing together!
With great appreciation and love,
Mrs. Jenny Cunneen, Proud Principal
Dr. LaDonna Tate, Proud Assistant Principal
Labor Day Holidays: September 1 and 4
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.
See the complete 2023-24 school year calendar.
 Band & Orchestra Sign Up
Attention 4th, 5th, & 6th grade parents: Now is the time to sign your child up for band or strings!
This week our students were presented information about joining the Forestdale Band or Orchestra programs.
- Orchestra (strings) is open to all 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.
- Band is open to all 5th and 6th grade students.
If your child is interested in learning to play a band or strings instrument this year, please see your child’s classroom teacher for signup forms. Forms are due THURSDAY, Aug 31st.
Any questions can be directed to:
Mr. Nakamura (Band): gknakamura@fcps.edu
Mrs. Babb (Strings): mpbabb@fcps.edu
School Forms
It’s important for parents to complete all required school forms. Returning families in grades PreK-6 must complete the following forms yearly:
- Health Information
- Emergency Care Information
- Identification of Military Connected Students
New: Update Your Child's Forms Online!
FCPS is offering a new online option where guardians can easily update their child’s information! The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet will allow guardians to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations) for students in grades preschool- 12. Enrolling parents* can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account.
*The enrolling parent is the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian with whom the student lives the preponderance of the school week and who enrolled the student in school. Regulation 2240.
Parents must have an active SIS ParentVUE Account to access and complete the OVU packet.
Parents can obtain an activation key letter to activate their SIS ParentVUE account by contacting their child’s school or by submitting the Parent Support Request form (select Online Registration in the application dropdown menu) for assistance with this process.
Signed SR&R Form Due September 29
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In late June, the School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s teacher by Friday, September 29.
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission.
Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library.
Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
Please use this form to provide parental consent for each student in your family
 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
 Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year.
The following drills take are required in FCPS schools; all teachers and staff are trained on procedures for all drills at the start of the school year. You can find more information on the FCPS web about the county's commitment to emergency planning and crisis response.
Lockdown Drills
Lockdown drills must be conducted at least twice each school year, with one taking place during the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill. Families will receive notice at least 24 hours before the lockdown drill will take place.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
Fire Drills
Fire evacuation drills must be conducted twice during the first 20 days of school and then once per month for the remainder of the school year. The first fire drill is announced, and teachers practice with classes beforehand. Drills after that are unannounced.
Bus Evacuation Drills
Bus evacuation drills must be completed at least twice a year: one during the first 30 instructional days of the first semester and the other during the first 30 instructional days of the second semester.
Tornado Drill
A tornado drill must be completed once a year and is done in conjunction with the Statewide Tornado Drill in March.
 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. Watch this video with tips from Fairfax Pyramid principals and visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
 Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Important Dates
September 1-4
Labor Day Holiday, No School
September 25
Rosh Hashanah Holiday, No School
September 29
Signed SR&R Form due for all students, K-12
September 31
Band & Strings Registration Forms due (Grades 4-6)
See the complete FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar.
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