 A Beautiful Transformation
Forestdale Families,
Happy Fall! As the leaves begin to change color and the air gets cooler, we know that fall is a time of transition for many families. Children may be adjusting to a new grade level, new teachers, and new friends. Families may be juggling work, school, and extracurricular activities. We want to remind you that we are here to support you and your child during this time of change.
Our second graders have also been witnessing amazing transition during their monarch butterfly unit in science! Our second grade classes have nurtured caterpillars through the their life cycle...as they grew from eggs into strong caterpillars, into their chrysalises as they underwent metamorphosis, and then waiting patiently as they emerged as beautiful butterflies! Watch a recently emerged butterfly strengthen his wings in preparation of flight.
We look forward to seeing the continued transformation of our amazing Falcons this year! Thank you, families, for your ongoing partnership and for sharing your most precious gifts with us.
We have no school on Monday, and schools are closed in honor of Yom Kippur. For all those in our Forestdale Family who observe, we wish you an easy fast. We hope all families have a wonderful long weekend!
With much appreciation and love,
Mrs. Jennifer Cunneen, Proud Principal
Dr. LaDonna Tate, Proud Assistant Principal
No School on Monday
All FCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 25, for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. Learn more about Yom Kippur on Brittanica.com.
See the complete FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar.
Attendance Awareness Spirit Week
Did you know that September is School Attendance Awareness Month? Your child’s attendance today directly impacts their success in the future. To help celebrate and promote the importance of school attendance we will be having an Attendance Spirit Week next week!
Attendance Matters for Every Student, Every Day!
 
Student Rights and Responsibilities Acknowledgement Due
FCPS’ updated Student Rights and Responsibility (SR&R) booklet is available online and in SIS ParentVUE. The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents/caregivers to review and sign the SR&R. The SR&R will be visible upon logging in to SIS ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgment has been completed. A paper copy of the signature page also went home in the Thursday folder on the first day of school.
Signatures are due by Friday, September 29. Please contact our front office at (703)313-4300 if you are having difficulty accessing the booklet. Visit the SIS ParentVUE Account Overview webpage for help logging in to your account.
Fall Book Fair: October 3-10
Our Fall Book Fair is coming soon, October 3-10! This year, we will have a new vendor, Bedford Falls. Their books are less expensive than our previous vendor, and there is also no tax charged.
Your child will attend the book fair with their class two times: once to fill out their wish lists, and once to purchase books.
We will also have after-school shopping hours on October 4, 5, and 6 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Families can come to buy books then, too!
Students can pay during school hours with cash (no credit cards or checks please).
Families can use credit cards or pay with cash during after-school hours.
If you'd like to volunteer at our fair, helping kids make their wish lists and find books, you can sign up here.
Looking forward to seeing you at our book fair!
 Blue Star Welcome Week: September 25-29
Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to provide a warm welcome to the 600,000 active-duty and transitioning military families that move into new communities each year. It is the goal of Blue Star Families to proactively improve military families’ sense of belonging to their local communities by forging strong connections between our military family members and their local neighbors. If you are a new military family, welcome to Forestdale! Please check out the FCPS military families Welcome Page and the FCPS military families Resources Page.
 Recognize our Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, 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, specifically at Forestdale.
 October Events Hosted by the Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center offers 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. The FRC is hosting the following events in October:
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Building Family and School Partnerships for Twice Exceptional (2e) Students, Friday, October 6, at 10 a.m.
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Sibshops: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, October 9, 9 a.m. to noon, at Providence Community Center.
- What Your 11th and 12th Graders Are Learning in School About Drugs and How You Can Talk with Them
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Coping Strategies for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress: A Two-Part Series, Friday, October 27, at 10 a.m. and Friday, November 10, at 10 a.m.
Click the links above to register for the events. For more information, visit the Family Resource Center webpage.
 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Kick Off
Join Superintendent Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation at Hayfield Secondary School on Tuesday, September 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., or at Whitman Middle School on Wednesday, September 27, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions.
These events are part of a series of Community Conversations this fall and spring in each region. Days and times for the additional region events will be shared soon. Visit FCPS’ webpage to find out when and where you can engage with Dr. Reid.
Register to attend. Pre-registration is not required. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability.
Substitutes to Receive High-Volume Pay on High-Volume Days
The School Board has approved a list of 18 days for substitutes to receive high-volume pay. All teacher substitutes will receive their hourly pay plus an additional $80 for each high-volume day they work. See the list of high-volume days and more information.
A bonus program for substitutes who accept more than the 10 required days has also been approved. Substitutes working 50 days within a school year, will earn a $200 bonus. Substitutes working 100 days within a school year, will earn a $300 bonus. Substitutes working 150 days within a school year, will earn a $400 bonus. Get more information on this sub bonus program.
Make a SUBstantial Difference!
FCPS is always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers. Weekly virtual substitute teacher information sessions are held each Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. Register for an upcoming session on Wednesday, September 27, and Wednesday, October 4.
2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These five goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. Our equity commitment and a set of measures in each goal will monitor our progress toward these goals.
Under Goal 4, high-quality academics will be available to all students. They will have access to excellent resources that support their success. Visit the Strategic Plan webpage to learn more about how we will measure the success of Goal 4.
Important Dates
September 25
Yom Kippur Holiday, No School
September 26
Attendance Spirit Week: Pajama Day
September 27
Attendance Spirit Week: Movement Day
September 28
Attendance Spirit Week: Dress to Impress
September 29
Attendance Spirit Week: Forestdale Pride
Signed SR&R Form due for all students, K-12
September 25-29
Blue Star Welcome Week
October 3-10
Fall Book Fair
October 9
Indigenous Peoples' Day, Staff Development Day/Student Holiday (No school)
October 12
Family Night: Level IV Screening Process, 6:00-7:00 p.m., cafeteria
See the complete FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar.
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