Oak View Review

Oak View Celebrates Custodian Appreciation THIS WEEK

Oak View looks forward to celebrating our 5 outstanding custodians throughout this week. We appreciate our team for all they do each day and evening to get the school ready for use by students, staff and the community! Did you know Mrs. Cuenca opens the building at 6:30 a.m. and Mrs. Guzman and the evening team work until 11:00 p.m. each night. It takes every moment to ready our building for the next day and keep it open for all the community events that happen every afternoon and evening. If you are by Oak View this week, please share a thank you to our amazing team: Building Supervisor - Mrs. Guzman, Assistant Building Supervisor, Mrs. Cuenca, Evening Custodians - Mrs. Perez, Mrs. DeLeon and Mr. Tran!

AAP Information Night - TUESDAY

Oak View invites all families to join Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Mrs. Moreno-Dunk, at our Fall Parent/Guardian Information Night. Attendees will learn about the continuum of Advanced Academic Programs available within FCPS and at Oak View specifically. We will gather together on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Oak View cafeteria. See you there!

Smile! Oak View Picture Day October 11

Oak View invites families to pre-order pictures for our upcoming Picture Day on Wednesday, October 11. We will partner with Victor O'Neill studios again this year to capture this special day for our students!

School Picture Day is coming Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day. Save time and Pre-order online here: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001028998#login

For questions about ordering school pictures please email underclass@vosphoto.com 

OV PTA Meeting Tuesday, October 10

Oak View PTA will host the first PTA meeting of the school year on Tuesday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please set aside some time to join this wonderful and supportive 100% volunteer parent organization who partner with the school and parent community to make amazing things happen for our students! Did you know the PTA budget includes line items for teacher purchases and grade level purchases to help offset the cost to the school and benefit our students! The PTA also prioritizes hosting free events to our families and this is only possible through donations from our families and community. Please keep an eye out for annual fundraising information coming home later this month! Every dollar counts and our OV PTA can stretch them to maximize impact for our students. Learn more about OV PTA here!

Green & Gold Fridays

Oak View reminds all families that every Friday is an Oak View Spirit Day when we ask all students and staff to wear Oak View Spirit Wear and/or school colors of Green and Gold! 

Robinson Homecoming Parade - Friday, October 13

Oak View looks forward to homecoming season every year and we LOVE the opportunity for our students and community to share in the fun! All Oak View families are invited to line the Robinson Parade route along Wheatstone and Gainsborough Drive on Friday, October 13 at 4:45 p.m. Our very own Oak View Eagle Mascot, Ernest, will be walking in the parade and will be on the lookout for the green and gold in the crowd! In addition the principals for all feeder schools will also be leading the parade in the Ram cart, sharing treats along the way! Look forward to seeing you there!

Woodson Homecoming Parade - Friday, October 20

Oak View looks forward to homecoming season every year and we LOVE the opportunity for our students and community to share in the fun! All Oak View families are invited to line the Woodson parade route (more info on route next week) on Friday, October 20 at 4:30 p.m. Woodson Homecoming theme is Clue the boardgame. Come dressed in your favorite Clue character and celebrate with us!

Upcoming Student Birthday? Consider a Birthday Book Donation to OV Library

Does your child have an upcoming birthday? We invite you to donate a book to our school library in your child’s honor during their birthday month! The book you purchase will receive a bookplate inside indicating the book was purchased in honor of your child’s birthday. Please see current wish list and book purchasing guidelines listed in Friday Folder Flyer linked here. 

You are also welcome to purchase the book from any local bookstore. Bard’s Alley, Scrawl Books, and One More Page Books would all be willing to order and ship books. 

If you wish to purchase something not on this list, please email our school librarian, Mrs. Atkins first (mfatkins@fcps.edu). All books in the library must follow the acquisitions guidelines from FCPS. 

This is a completely optional activity and one we thank you for considering. All student birthdays are recognized at Oak View through their name on the morning announcements and a post card and birthday pencil from administration. Oak View does not permit food celebrations due to severe and life-threatening food allergies. 

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Offered in October

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener.  

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in February or March. It addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. 

The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. Key updates to the screener this year include:

• Different versions for students in grades 3-5 and 6-12. 
• Fewer topics with more questions to provide schools and families with more data to support planning. 
• Additional questions aligned with FCPS’ commitment to educational equity.  

SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in SIS ParentVUE. 

For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact your child’s school. 

Please note that the SEL Screener differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey. 

Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Kick Off 

🎤Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future: A Community Conversation. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to:

• Glasgow Middle School on Tuesday, October 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Kilmer Middle School on Thursday, October 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Madison High School on Tuesday, October 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Location TBD on Wednesday, October 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

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! 

🗓️ Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events

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!

Seeking Monday & Friday Monitors!

Oak View has been very excited to welcome new monitors and is now seeking interested community members for support on Mondays and Fridays.  The hiring of monitors will promote additional valuable planning time for the teachers on a consistent basis and is required per county regulations. Monitors will be trained to cover recess for a classroom teacher a time or two a week and support in the cafeteria. Again, these are hourly paid positions and required at all schools. We look forward to welcoming Oak View community members to express interest via email to our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Hanson, at rnhanson@fcps.edu. The monitor position is needed between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM most days. There is flexibility within this time and days of the week. Thank you for considering joining our Oak View team!

School Bonds on Ballot November 7

🏗️ Projects Funded by Recent School Bonds

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.

Meet the FCPS Family Resource Center

The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families/caregivers, educators, and community members. Visit us at the Dunn Loring Center for Family Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1, Room 105. Contact us at 703-204-3941 frc@fcps.edu. 

We provide access to information and resources to support the success of all students,

including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Those services include free consultations and resources, free webinars and workshops, a free lending library, and we maintain the FCPS tutor list. Contact us to get the list of FCPS employees who are available to tutor. 

The Family Resource Center offers free, confidential in-person, videoconference, and phone consultations for families and FCPS staff. We can brainstorm strategies and possible solutions to help you address your concerns by drawing upon resources and support from FCPS, as well as community, state, and national centers. Contact us to set up an appointment. 

The Family Resource Center Lending Library contains more than 10,000 books, eBooks, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children. We can send any materials to your child’s school or FCPS office.

Sub and Save the Day! Make a SUBstantial Difference!

Oak View has a strong group of substitute teachers and we are always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants to add to our pool! Substitutes ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers and instructional assistants need to be out of the classroom. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for future teachers, stay-at-home parents, retirees, college students, part-time employees, and anyone who wants to make a difference!

We provide substitutes with a flexible work schedule that a substitute teacher or substitute instructional assistant can tailor to their needs. This includes choosing the grade level(s) and subjects a substitute would like to teach, schools they would like to work at, and more!

• 💲 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. 

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, October 4. 

Read here for more information.

Free COVID-19 Tests

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. 

How to Access Free Resources from Tutor.com

All FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/caregivers can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Get more information on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu. 

Lightspeed Report on Child's Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.

Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

Good News Around FCPS

Oak View is glad to share the good news happening around FCPS in this section. Each week check back for happenings around FCPS!

• 9/29/23 NBC Washington - Recognizing custodial workers for their hard work

Monday is National Custodial Worker Day, which is a time to recognize custodians for all the work they do, often while we’re asleep. News4’s Molette Green reports on two custodians for Fairfax County Public Schools.

• 9/22/23 Northern Virginia Magazine - Welcome to Northern Virginia Magazine’s 2023 Teacher of the Year Awards

A P.E. teacher who travels around Fairfax County to cheer on his students in their sports games. A STEAM teacher whose elementary school students call her Ms. Awesome. And a high school math teacher who’s helped at-risk students learn algebra and pass an exam required to graduate. Below, meet our 10 Teacher of the Year finalists, including the 2023 winner.