News from the Nest 9.08.23

Important Dates

• Monday, September 11, National Day of Service 
• Thursday, September 28 - Back to School Night - 6:00-7:30 pm
• Monday, October 9 - Staff Development Day, NO SCHOOL for students
• Thursday, October 12, Parent/Guardian AAP Overview Meeting 6-7 PM in the Crestwood library.

News from the Principal

Thank you for the warm welcome I have received since joining our school community. I am so impressed with our amazing students, staff and parent community, and I am excited to continue to get to know them. 

Thank you for your support as we implement our new kiss and ride procedures, and I appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we work to ensure the safety of our students.

I am also excited about Attendance Awareness Month. Regular school attendance is essential for student success, and I am committed to working with our families to ensure that all of our students are in school every day. Thank you again for your support in getting our kids to school on time!  I look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night on September 28. 

Gracias por la cálida bienvenida que he recibido desde que me uní a nuestra comunidad escolar. Estoy muy impresionada con nuestros increíbles estudiantes, personal y comunidad de padres, y estoy emocionada de seguir conociéndolos.

Gracias por su apoyo mientras implementamos nuestros nuevos procedimientos de beso y paseo, y aprecio su flexibilidad y comprensión mientras trabajamos para garantizar la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes.

También estoy entusiasmada con el Mes de Concientización sobre la Asistencia. La asistencia regular a la escuela es esencial para el éxito de los estudiantes y estoy comprometida a trabajar con nuestras familias para garantizar que todos nuestros estudiantes estén en la escuela todos los días.¡Gracias nuevamente por su apoyo para que nuestros niños lleguen a la escuela a tiempo! Espero verlos a todos en la Noche de Regreso a Clases el 28 de septiembre.

September is Attendance Awareness Month 

• Students Are Learning Every Day

As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during long breaks from school. 

Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.

Read more about how families can help form good attendance habits. 

News From the PTA 

Meet your Crestwood Elementary PTA Officers.

They would love to hear from you and are all very approachable. Say hello as you see them around the school campus.

• Wes is a Crestwood Elementary alum.

• Yessica grew up in Crestwood Neighborhood.

• Josh is a volunteer at the Springfield Youth Club (SYC).

• Royes is active at the Springfield American Legion and is a beekeeper.

• Wesly Mulhollem, President
• Yessica Menjivar, Vice President
• Josh Hudson, Treasurer
• Royes Gernandt, Secretary
• Join the PTA via the Crestwood PTA webpage and follow the PTA Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/crestwoodpta. We also have a Parents of Crestwood Students Facebook Page where parents can ask questions and share information.

Important Forms for Caregivers to Complete 

Newsletters:

• ✔️ Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms? 

During the first weeks of the year, caregivers receive many forms to complete. Several of the most important ones are below:

1. Digital Resources Consent: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission.
2. Student Rights and Responsibilities: This document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when they log in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage.
3. Opt-Outs: The Opt-Out Booklet is online or available from your child’s school. It contains information on: 
1. Parents’ rights to inspect and consent or opt out before their child participates in certain surveys.
2. Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials.
3. Rules regarding student records and disclosure of student information (including photo/video of students) and the right to opt out.
4. Parents’ rights to opt out of the Social Emotional Learning Screener, physical exams not required by state law, career or social emotional counseling, Library Equity Access Pass Project, and/or Tutor.com.
5. The process by which complaints may be filed if parents or students believe their rights have been violated.

Paper forms can be signed and returned to school.

September 11, National Day of Service

With the upcoming 22nd anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.

All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL. 

Get started this fall with two great opportunities: Public Lands Day (September 23) and Volunteer Fairfax’s VolunteerFest (October 21). Information on service projects can be found on the Volunteer Fairfax website.

Día Nacional de Servicio del 11 de Septiembre

Con el próximo 22 aniversario de la tragedia del 1Volunteer Fairfax se puede encontrar aquí1 de Septiembre, FCPS reconoce la pérdida de vidas, el heroísmo de nuestros primeros en responder, y la resistencia de nuestro país. El Día Nacional de Servicio y Conmemoración del 11 de Septiembre, también llamado Día del Patriota, es una oportunidad para reflexionar y actuar en servicio a otros como una manera de honrar a aquellos que fueron heridos o muertos en los ataques terroristas.

Se les anima a todos los estudiantes de FCPS a participar en el aprendizaje de servicio ya que también apoya los atributos del Retrato de un Graduado (POG) y las habilidades de aprendizaje social y emocional (SEL). Los estudiantes de escuela intermedia y secundaria pueden encontrar más información sobre aprendizaje de servicio entrando a su cuenta Naviance para acceder a x2VOL. Empieza este otoño con dos grandes oportunidades: Public Lands Day (23 de Septiembre) y Voluntarios de Fairfax VolunteerFest (21 de Octubre).  Información sobre proyectos de servicio específicos y lugares a través de Voluntarios de Fairfax se puede encontrar aquí