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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
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TLES Community,
The horrifying images of violence in the Middle East continue to play out on the news, on our social media feeds, and deeply in our hearts and minds. Our community is hurting.
Our deepest strength in Fairfax County Public Schools is our diversity. We bring together the beauty of cultures and traditions that span the globe. When there is violence in other parts of the world, it is felt deeply in our school. Our students have family members who have died and who are missing because of violent acts that are causing pain and suffering to innocent Israelis and Palestinians.
Our schools must be safe spaces for every student. This starts by collectively committing to denounce all acts of antisemitism, islamophobia, and hatred in any form. Let me be clear: We will not tolerate such acts here in FCPS. Instead, we must hold on to shared values of empathy, compassion, and respect for all people.
We recognize that students must be empowered to share their thoughts and feelings about what is happening in our nation and the world, and how it impacts their lives. Our administration continues to provide students safe space to share feelings and dialogue, and provide resources from our mental health professionals.
We will continue to ensure that Timber Lane Elementary School is a place of belonging where every student’s identity matters as much as their safety. We are prepared to respond in support of any who need it.
Sincerely,
Ben Chiet, Principal
Well it's been a busy week at TLES! We celebrated Digital Citizenship Week with spirit days and activities that supported students building healthy habits with tech & media.
First, third, & 4th grade students took field trips to Cox Farm, National Museum of History, & the Kennedy Center respectively. 5th graders participated in a question and answer session about careers in mechanical engineering with Jabari Wilson.
Everyday at TLES is amazing. Check out our website, & follow us on Instagram & Facebook to for daily updates!
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 Dig Cit Week Unity Day, Superheros, Sports, Day, 5th grade careers talk, 3rd grade pbl
October 27 PTA Movie Night
October 31 SCA Book Character Dress Up Day
November 1-2 Día de los Muertos and All Saints Day
November 6 Student Holiday - Schoolwide Planning
November 7 Student Holiday - Teacher Workday
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We are excited to inform you of an upcoming Bike Safety Unit your student will be participating in during the month of November (11/1 - 11/30). Regardless of experience or ability, all students in grades K-6 will have the opportunity to ride bicycles during Physical Education (PE) class. We take all precautions to promote safety, so please help us by ensuring your student is prepared for PE class in the following ways:
Footwear: sneakers are required for this unit (no Crocs, sandals, or other unsafe footwear)
Clothing: no long dresses or excessively baggy clothing that could get caught in the chain of the bike
Helmets & hair/headwear: Helmets will be worn at all times while riding bicycles. Students are encouraged to bring their own helmet. Hair must be worn in a way that the helmet fits properly (for example, a low ponytail instead of a high ponytail, no hard/bulky clips underneath the helmets, etc.).
ZipLock bags & Hairnets: Please send your student to school with a ZipLock bag prior to Oct. 30. On the bag, please write the student’s NAME, GRADE, and TEACHER. Each student will be provided ONE hairnet for the entirety of the bike safety unit. That hairnet will be stored in a ZipLock bag and brought to/from PE class (to be worn underneath the provided helmet).
In summary, during the month of November, please have your student: 1) bring in a ZipLock bag (that will house the school-provided hairnet), 2) bring a personal helmet from home if desired, and 3) dress appropriately for riding bicycles.
Thank you for helping your student to have the most success possible!
A note on this unit from Ms. Rieger & Ms. Germaine
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Nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Timber Lane ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google form link below: note that each category has a different google link in the name. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.) All nominations are due by November 10, 2023.
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district);
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 10,2023.
If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Davis at atdavis@fcps.edu
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Virginia’s three-day sales tax holiday starts Friday, October 20, and ends Sunday, October 22. During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax. View the Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines
The Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.
March 5 will be a school holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day. Central offices and school offices will remain open. SACC will remain open, as it does on other professional work days.
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. To make it easier, the form is now available online in SIS ParentVUE.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Once logged in to SIS ParentVUE, click “Online Packets” in the top right corner. Then, select “Federal Impact Aid Survey.” Get more information.
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We are excited to share the return of Thanksgiving Lunch. Save the date, Nov. 15, & plan to enjoy Thanksgiving Lunch with your student at the TLES Cafe. Grade level lunch times will be shared next week. |
Did you know that the Office of Family and School Partnerships sends a monthly newsletter for military-connected families? Subscribe today.
Does your child enjoy writing stories or poems?
Do they like expressing themselves through art or music?
We have just the thing to let their artistic & activist spirit shine! Encourage them to enter this year’s PTA Reflections Art Showcase! Students are invited to submit a drawing, painting, story, poem, original song, photograph or collage based on the theme “I am Hopeful Because…”. All participants will be recognized at a special Awards Ceremony & Art Showcase in November to celebrate their artistic skills and expression.
Submit entries by Wednesday, November 8 to the school office (please include the student’s name, grade & teacher on the submission)
Questions?? contact Megan Dho at megandho@gmail.com
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- Head Start Awareness Month
- National School Principals Month
- National Dyslexia Awareness Month
- LGBTQIA+ Month
- Disability History and Awareness Month
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- Teentober
- National Bullying Prevention Month.
National Bullying Prevention Month: To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition.
Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student.
FCPS will host a Dyslexia Open House on Thursday, October 26, 4-6 p.m., at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, Virginia. This event is open to families and staff members who would like to learn more about dyslexia and how FCPS supports students with dyslexia.
For the first hour, participants will have the opportunity to visit tables set up with information from a variety of FCPS offices including the Office of the Ombuds, Office of School Psychology, and the Office of Special Education Instruction. During the second hour, speakers will address the importance of dyslexia awareness and how you can support your student with dyslexia. Please register in advance.
Sometimes kids need a change of clothes at school. A quick change of clothes can get them back to class and help them not miss out on valuable instruction time by needing to go home to change. Thank you, to everyone who has already donated in support of this cause! We are in need of pants. Check out this link for ideas:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/OJBYKY1KUCWQ?ref_=wl_share
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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!
Good evening TLES, for parents interested in supporting our weekend food pick up at Trader Joe's and distribution at TLES, please find this sign-up form:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4AA9A628A1FE3-tles#/
These weekend events only take approximately 30 minutes of your time in between pick up and distribution at TLES. Thank you for helping us help our community!
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 which 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 in to 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.
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