Greetings McNair Students and Families,
It has been another fantastic week of our students learning and growing together! This school year, we hope that you will continue to check-in with your child and hear about all of the wonderful learning opportunities that they are participating in! A great way to have richer conversations with your child is to check-in with him/her by asking some of the questions listed below. This will support you learning a little bit more about your child's day while they are at school.
- What made you smile today?
- Can you tell me about an act of kindness you did or saw?
- What is something creative you did today?
- Who did you sit with at lunch today?
- Tell me something you learned today.
- What did you eat first at lunch?
- If you could change one thing about the day, what would it be?
- What made your teacher(s) smile today?
- What is your favorite thing to do at recess?
- What is the best thing that happened today?
- Did you help anyone today?
- What was your thorn, and what was your rose today?
- What are you looking forward to for tomorrow?
- Teach me something you learned.
- What kinds of things did you see people eating for snack?
- Did you learn any new words today?
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As always, thank you for your continuous partnership and support. We hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!
See you on Monday, Mustangs!
All the best,
Mrs. Watson and Mrs. O'Bryant
Please contact us with any questions!
Principal: Elizabeth Watson, evwatson@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Brandy O'Bryant, bmobryant@fcps.edu
Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.
When scheduling trips or family events, try to use weekends and school holidays, and refer to the FCPS Calendar when planning. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.
When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence to their school. Most schools have links to their attendance email or notification systems on their homepages. If you are unsure how to report an absence, please call your school’s front office.
Watch this video with tips on understanding our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
✨ Bring your smiles! ✨
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Hoof It Up, Mustangs!
FCPS and our McNair Community will participate in the International Walk and Roll to School Day to support with reducing traffic congestion and pollution near schools. We welcome you to join us in this event! There will be safety banners for students to sign for making healthy choices and to share the awareness in our community. There will be prizes for participation in this event as well! Students and staff are encouraged to bike or walk to school, where safe to do so, on October 4. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to accompany their children to school on this date.
More information can be found on the link below about this event:
Walk and Roll to School Day
Families, we need your help!
Please help us keep our staff lounges and teacher planning spaces stocked with individually wrapped healthy snack foods, beverages, and a few sweet treats for our awesome staff as a way to keep them energized as they educate and support our Mustangs!
Please sign-up for any of the items listed below and drop off any donations to the main office. The main office is open daily, Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm.
Thank you for your partnership and supporting our AMAZING McNair Staff!
Please click here to make a donation.
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Monday, October 2nd is
National Custodian Appreciation Day!
We appreciate our custodians so much as they work tirelessly to ensure that our building sparkles each and everyday in order to provide a clean and safe learning environment for all of our McNair Mustangs! We invite families to share their appreciation by having students write a thank you note, share a drawing, or even provide a treat. This will surely brighten their day!
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Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future: A Community Conversation. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to:
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability.
Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. Your voice matters!
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. All Fairfax County public schools have at least one school counselor, school psychologist, and school social worker.
Please reach out to one of these staff members to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Call your school or visit their website for staff members’ contact information. Find additional information to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
This information session will be hosted by Kaitlin Burg (McNair ES Advanced Academic Resource Teacher) and Mallory Janofsky (McNair Upper ES Advanced Academic Resource Teacher). We will provide detailed information about the Full Time/Level IV Screening Process, including how to make a referral and which documents families can submit. The deadline for families to submit the referral and supporting documents is December 15 and 11:59 p.m. Spanish translation will be available at this event.
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Tuesday, November 14 – 6:00-7:00PM in the cafeteria at McNair Elementary School (PreK-2 building)
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Friday, November 17th –9:00-10:00AM in the cafeteria at McNair Elementary School (PreK-2 building)
Click to view Ms. Burg's & Ms. Mallory's October AAP Community Newsletter
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Thanks to the support of Fairfax County citizens who approved the 2019 and 2021 bond referendums, projects have been funded at Armstrong, Bonnie Brae, Braddock, Bren Mar Park, Brookfield, Crossfield, Dranesville, Fox Mill, Herndon, Hybla Valley, Lees Corner, Louise Archer, Mosaic, Oak Hill, Wakefield Forest, Washington Mill, and Willow Springs, elementary schools; Cooper and Frost middle schools; and Centreville, Falls Church, Justice, Madison, and West Potomac high schools.
Not only do our facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, from both a technological and instructional standpoint. FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that students across the division have high quality, effective learning environments.
Watch some of the ribbon-cutting celebrations. Follow the status of FCPS capital projects for updates on renovation projects.
The 2023 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 7. Learn about registering to vote.
Every U.S. household can place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home.
Review health and safety guidance for schools to stay up to date on the best ways to prevent the spread of disease, and for information on when students should stay home from school.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
- Attend Superintendent Reid’s Community Conversation
- Free COVID-19 Tests
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
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.
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Happy Chuseok to our Korean community. Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a day to express gratitude to the ancestors for a bountiful harvest. #OurFCPS
PTA Board Open Positions for 2023-24
We have the following open positions for the school year:
- Secretary
- VP of Fundraising and Academic Support
- Technology Chair
Please contact board@mcnairespta.org if you want to know more about the roles, responsibilities and benefits of serving on the PTA Board and our school community.
If you want to volunteer for any specific competition or events, please contact: board@mcnairespta.org
Before and After School Clubs!
Registration is now open for after school clubs!
Registration closes 12:00pm (noon) on October 2nd.
Please visit the links below to register your child for the club(s) of their choice:
Yoga Club - Mondays (Grade 2 only)
Card Club - Tuesdays (Grades 3-6) *Before School*
Ukulele Club - Tuesdays (Grades 3-6)
Fiber Arts Weaving & Stitching Club - Tuesdays (Grades 3-6)
Beginners Chess Club - Wednesdays (Grades 1-6)
Intermediate/Advanced Chess Club - Wednesdays (Grades 1-6)
Japanese Language Club - Wednesdays (Grades 3-6)
Guitar Club - Wednesdays (Grades 3-6)
Girls Multisport Club - Wednesdays (Grades 3-6)
Young Minds of Money Club - Thursdays (Grades 4-6)
Healthy Eating & Cooking Club - Thursdays (Grades 3-6)
MUES Running Club - Thursdays (Grades 3-6)
Upcoming Fundraisers!
Chuck E. Cheese Spirit Night
Location: Chuck E. Cheese (Clock Tower), 2465 Centreville, Ste. J9, Herndon, VA 20171
Date: Friday Sep 29th, 2023
Time: 3 PM - 9 PM
Coupons/Discounts: English version | Spanish version
Harris Teeter - Fundraiser
Option 1: Please use the annual sign up form for the TIE program from Harris Teeter using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/mcnairharristeeter
Note: You need to re-register every year for this program.
Option 2: You can also sign up in-person at the counter using our school code: 5090
Shoe and Clothing Drive is on Now!
The McNair PTA is raising funds to support our school and all you have to do is clean out your closets! We are collecting gently used shoes, clothes, and soft goods. There are collection tables at each school -- simply drop off your donation of shoes, clothes, purses, backpacks, blankets, sheets, towels, and more!
*Drop off Dates: Tuesday September 5th to Tuesday October 31st
Upcoming Competitions!
We have a lot of upcoming competitions at McNair!
Fill out interest forms below for more information!
Virginia Science Olympiad Division A (Grades 3-5)
Virginia Science Olympiad Division B (Grade 6)
First Lego League (All Grades)
American Computer Science League (All Grades)
Odyssey of the Mind (All Grades)
McNair Chess is Back!
The first tournament of the school year will be held on Saturday October 7th at 9:00am in the McNair ES Gym. More details to follow very soon!
Get Involved with the PTA!
The PTA supports our schools through help from our community. One way we do that is through the help of our wonderful volunteers! Whether you're available for an hour a year or an hour a week to pitch in - we have opportunities that meet everyone's busy schedule!
If you join before October 1st, you get a discount on the membership price and you are entered to win a raffle of Amazon gift cards, spirit wear, and more!
Support PTA: Become a Member or Volunteer
Please contact president@mcnairespta.org if you want to know more information about our PTA and opportunities to get involved within our school community!
👍❤️ Follow Our School on Social Media!
Want to see more photos and videos of what’s going on at McNair Elementary School? Follow us on social media!
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Please stay in touch with us by...
Mark your calendars!
As we navigate through our school year together, please mark the upcoming important dates on your calendar.
September 29: McNair PTA Fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese 3:00-9:00pm
October 2:Custodian Appreciation Day
October 3: Fall Picture Day! Bring your smile!
October 4: Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day
October 6: AAP Elementary Services Parent Overview 9:00-10:00am at McNair Upper Elementary School
October 9: Staff Development Day (No School For Students)
October 14: STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest 11:30-3:00pm at South County HS
October 18: PTA Meeting 6:30pm at McNair Upper Elementary School
October 31: Storybook Character Parade (More information coming soon!)
November 3: Quarter 1 Ends (2 hours Early Release For Students)
November 6 & 7: School Planning and Teacher Workdays (No School For Students)
November 13-17: Fall Book Fair at McNair ES
- November 16: Family Night at the Fall Book Fair
- November 17: Daytime Family Shopping at the Fall Book Fair
November 17: Thanksgiving Luncheon at McNair ES (Parents/Guardians invited. More information to come next month!)
November 22, 23, 24: Thanksgiving Holiday (No School For Staff/Students)
2023-2024 Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival begins at 8:35am. The school day begins at 8:45am.
Dismissal begins at 3:30 pm.
Thank you for your partnership and galloping together with us this school year!
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