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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ebony Opie - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fairfax Fiesta - Fairfax County's inaugural Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Fairfax Fiesta, is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 5 p.m., at the PARC at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike). The free event, presented by the Fairfax County Government and Celebrate Fairfax!, aims to provide an extraordinary experience for all ages and backgrounds. Learn more about Fairfax Fiesta.
Important Morning Arrival Safety Reminder
It has been brought to our attention that students are being released from cars rather than going through the Kiss & Ride line. Students are ONLY allowed to get out of the car if a parent is parking and walking them to the front door. This is a safety concern as students are not allowed to walk across the parking lot without an adult.
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Communication Reminder
When you have questions needing an immediate response please call the office (703-541-3600) rather than using Talking Points.
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TJHSST Invitational Science Fair 2024!
TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be hosting its 11th annual science fair on March 16, 2024 and would like to invite 5th-8th grade students from your school to participate. Admission to the science fair is completely free.
Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on March 16, 2024. They will help students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.
Our first interest/brainstorming session is Friday October 6th, 2023 at 6:00 pm. We will be holding this session in-person at TJHSST. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at this link:
AVID Google Form link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWpMpuv40BXz93KGBya5Bt0Lk2-iTqstMhdnLJauDQHSxL4A/viewform?usp=sf_link
Gunston Volunteer Training
Wanting to volunteer? Come to our volunteer training on Tuesday, September 19th, from 8:45 am to 9:45 am. We do ask that ALL volunteers attend the training. No sign-up is necessary, just show up!
Sign up to volunteer in the library on Sign-Up Genius here.
Gunston Community Day!
STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest Offers Hands-On Activities for Students
Students are invited to participate in STEM FEST on Saturday, October 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South County High School. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in robotics demonstrations, coding experiments, and more. High school students are invited to volunteer. Visit the STEAMOLOGY website for more information.
Library Volunteers Wanted!
Eagle Families, we need your help in the library - shelving books and helping students check out! Please review the available time slots at the SignUpGenius link below and sign up if you are able to help. This is a YEAR-LONG commitment for your chosen time/day. There will be a required volunteer training prior to beginning. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4CADA72AA02-library2
Advanced Academic (AAP) Parent Information Session
A parent information session will be held at Gunston Elementary School on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 6pm-7pm. An overview of the levels of AAP services and the identification & screening for Full-Time (previously Level IV) services will be shared.
Any questions? Please contact Kevin Fahy, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at kjfahy@fcps.edu.
When a Student Should Stay Home From School
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when you should keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher, so that assistance can be provided if needed. Please contact us as soon as you know your child will be absent.
Read more about how families can help form good attendance habits.
Tips to Stay Healthy
Flu season is quickly approaching and communicable diseases continue to be present in our schools. Families and staff are encouraged to follow the health practices below to prevent the spread of illnesses and help keep our schools safe:
- Make an appointment to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine (with rare exceptions). Flu vaccines are widely available at doctors’ and pediatricians’ offices, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you have not done so already. As of Tuesday, September 12, updated COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use among those aged 6 months or older for the 2023-24 season. Find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster in your community by visiting Vaccinate Virginia, or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA or 877-829-4682. Note: Flu vaccines and COVID vaccines can be provided in the same appointment.
- Check with your student’s healthcare provider to make sure they are up to date on their required school entrance immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form.
- Check for mild, cold-like symptoms each day, such as fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath. If a child is sick, please keep them home and get them tested for COVID-19 to stop further spread from occurring. Additional guidance on when to keep your child home due to symptoms and illness is available on the FCPS Attendance webpage. FCPS employees are also advised to stay home and get tested when feeling sick.
- Don’t forget to wash hands regularly, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands, cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing, and limit the time children spend in large group settings with contagious individuals whenever possible.
The most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 school health practices is available on the Health and Safety Guidance webpage.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe and healthy.
Dining Room Assistant Needed!
Join our eagle staff as our next Dining Room Assistant. We are looking for someone who enjoys working with children, is friendly and energetic, and can manage student behavior in the cafeteria. The Dining Room Assistant will work about three hours a day.
Dining Room Assistant Job Description:
- Assist students during lunch time.
- Supervise student clean up, keep order, and dismiss students to their teachers.
If interested, please contact, Cassandra Baltimore, 703-541-3600.
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Fall Picture Day
Wednesday, October 4
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Tuesday, September 19 - Volunteer Training
Monday, September 25 - Yom Kippur - No School
Wednesday, September 27 - AAP Parent Information Session
Saturday, September 30 - Gunston Community Day
Wednesday, October 4 - Fall Picture Day
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
- 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
- Visit the Gunston ES Website
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Report your Child's Absence
- Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
- Recognize a FCPS Employee at FCPS CARES . The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Garfield Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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