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Dear Mantua families,
At Mantua, we celebrate the importance of a healthy mind and body. We are excited to share the recent addition of sensory paths to our playground blacktop and perimeter. A tremendous thanks to our Girl Scout Troop #55094, PTA funding, and dedicated staff and volunteers who made these new activities possible. Check out the pictures below and join in the fun the next time you are at Mantua!
Last week’s PTA was full of active parent participation! We enjoyed sharing and discussing the most current topics with each of you. We look forward to next month’s virtual meeting on October 12th. In addition to our regular meeting, we will have a parent information session on Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) with guest speaker Katie Boxer, Region 5’s MTSS Behavior Resource Teacher.
We would love for your students to join us on the track for Movement Mondays! Formerly advertised as Fitness Fridays, we had to make calendar and schedule adjustments. Movement Mondays will begin at 8:30 a.m. You can drop your child off, and staff will see they get to their classroom when the school building opens. You can find out more about this event in the details that follow.
We are informing you about our semi-annual lockdown drill that will take place on the afternoon of September 12. This routine drill helps us be prepared should we need extra safety within the building. Teachers will be talking about lockdown procedures with their students in advance of the drill. You may also want to take the opportunity to reassure your students about this routine safety measure.
We hope you have a good rest of your week.
Take good care,
Linda Shannon, Principal
Rich Deixler, Assistant Principal
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal
September 15-October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15: Rosh Hashanah (observed, falls on a weekend this year)
September 20: Back to School Night, 6-8 p.m.
September 22: Woodson Feeder Night Football Game, Students assemble at the goal post at 6:30 p.m.
September 25: Yom Kippur, FCPS schools and offices closed
September 26: AAP Parent/Family Information Night, 6-8 p.m., Mantua Cafeteria
Movement Mondays
Come to the Mantua track on Monday mornings and start your week off right! Join some staff and students for Movement Mondays from 8:30 - 9:00 AM every Monday. This program will run from September 18 - through November 20. Students can be dropped off any time after 8:30 a.m. to walk with their friends and will be dismissed to class at 9:05. We will be walking or jogging around and eventually adding some fun fitness components and exercises to our laps. Exercise is a great way to boost your mood, improve focus, and improve your ability to do everyday activities. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
There is no sign-up. Just come when you can on Monday mornings.
AAP Updates
AAP Newsletter
The AAP Fall Newsletter linked here contains information related to the spectrum of AAP services and other time-sensitive information. Translations can be found on our website’s AAP page. Families of grades 3 – 6 students who wish their child to retake the CogAt should notify our Site Testing Coordinator, Assistant Principal Rich Deixler (radexiler@fcps.edu) no later than September 15. If you need additional time or information in making this determination, please contact Kathy Van Dyke (kkvandyke@fcps.edu).
Families who have moved into Fairfax County on or after January 1, 2023, with students in grades 3 – 6 may request screening for full-time AAP services by submitting a referral no later than October 15.
Families with students in grades 2 -6 may request screening for full-time AAP services by submitting a referral no later than December 15.
AAP Information Session
Our AAP Parent/Family Information Night will be held Tuesday, September 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Spanish language interpretation services will be available. Topics to be covered include –
- The different levels of AAP services offered
- How students are identified for AAP services
Please direct any questions to our Mantua Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), Kathy Van Dyke, at kkvandyke@fcps.edu
Back to School Night
Please join us for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 20. On this evening, our teachers will be presenting sessions within their classrooms. You will learn about instructional practices at Mantua, teachers will share a bit about themselves and their goals for our students, and we will share important FCPS information on what to expect this school year. Our specialists will pre-record informational videos available on our website on the day of the event to view at your convenience. Each classroom teacher will present at both sessions, allowing you to choose either or to attend both sessions if you have multiple children. *Childcare will not be available.
We have secured overflow parking at the Mantua Hills Swim Club parking lot, with school bus shuttles to and from the Mantua ES main entrance to support our parking needs. Those not attending the second session are asked to leave following the first session to make parking spaces available.
We look forward to seeing you!
5:30 - 8:30 PM - Shuttle service available.
6:00 - 6:30 PM - Classroom Session #1
6:30 - 7:00 PM - Parking Transition
Light refreshments are available in the cafeteria for those remaining for Session #2.
7:00 - 7:30 PM - Classroom Session #2
Woodson Feeder Night
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:
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Digital Resources Consent: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources that require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission.
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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 into that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage.
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Opt-Outs: The Opt-Out Booklet is online or available from your child’s school. It contains information on:
- Parents’ rights to inspect and consent or opt out before their child participates in certain surveys.
- Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials.
- Rules regarding student records and disclosure of student information (including photo/video of students) and the right to opt out.
- 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.
- 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.
Attendance
We will also continue using PUP for absence reporting. In the event of an absence or tardy, please log into PickUp Patrol or call 703-645-6363. Please specify a physician’s diagnosis, such as strep throat or pinkeye. If your child has not seen a physician, please be specific about the symptoms your child is having, such as fever, cough sore, throat headache, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. Our Public Health Nurse tracks this information.
Immunizations Information
Immunizations are required for public school entry and help keep students protected from serious diseases. While COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, many other immunizations are. Check with your students’ healthcare providers now to make sure they are up to date on their immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated online in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form. To access that form, click Online Packets in the top right of the screen after logging in to SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers can obtain an activation key letter to activate their SIS ParentVUE account by contacting Mergie Kakouris.
Statewide Outbreak of Meningococcal
One of the required immunizations for students entering 7th and 12th grade is the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY). The Virginia Department of Health is currently tracking a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease. MenACWY can provide protection against the bacteria responsible for this outbreak.
Visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of immunization clinics, or contact your family’s healthcare provider. Appointments are required for most clinics.
Remember to request documentation of your child’s immunizations to provide to their school. Get more information on immunization requirements and the necessary documentation.
Medication Forms & Drop Off
The Health Room continues to be open for drop-off of emergency and daily prescription medications. Medications may be dropped off after the start of school M-F, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. All visitors are required to check in at the Main Office. All medications are required to have a completed medication authorization.
A parent or designated adult must transport all prescription medications to school. Students are not allowed to bring in prescription medications. Prescription labels must include a description of the medication. If a parent needs to come to school to administer medication, it must be administered in the clinic/front office.
Quick Links
Quick Contacts
Linda Shannon, Principal lcshannon@fcps.edu
Rich Deixler, Assistant Principal radeixler@fcps.edu
Colleen Vaughan, Assistant Principal CAVaughan@fcps.edu
AnnMarie DelValle, Administrative Assistant, adelvalle@fcps.edu
Mergie Kakouris, Student Information Assistant, mbkakouris@fcps.edu
Fadwa Finaish, Office Assistant, ffinaish@fcps.edu
Susan Palomino, Office Assistant slpalomino@fcps.edu
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