|
10/31 Book Character Day/ Cougar Pride Bash (2:15pmm)
11/01 Gr. 1 field trip to Green Spring Garden (3 Classes)
11/02 Gr. 1 field trip to Green Spring Garden (2 Classes)
11/02 Picture Day Retake Day
11/03 Parent Coffee (9:00 -10:30am, Cafeteria)
Topic: ATES AAP Full Time Program Information Session
11/03 Walk to School Event/ End of 1st Quarter
2-Hr Early Student Release - Dismissal time 1:20 pm
11/06 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
11/07 Parent Teacher Conferences - No school
11/13 Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
11/15 Reports Sent Home
11/16 Thanksgiving Luncheon
11/17 Turkey Trot Day
11/28 Family Science Night (6:00-7:30pm, ATES Gym)
11/30 Gr. 4 field trip to Jamestown / Williamsburg
12/13 Gr. 5 field trip to Adventure Theatre
It is field trip season! Look at these kindergarteners having the best day ever at Miller’s Farm!
During our parent coffee last Friday, October 20, 2023, we invited our parents to learn how literacy is taught at Annandale Terrace. Ms. Lynch, one of our Amazing literacy resource teachers, facilitated the learning and parents had the opportunity to visit two classrooms and see our wonderful Ms. Dang and Ms. Brogan teach their students literacy. The teachers did an Amazing job!
 |
|
Be The Good project installed our Little Food Pantry last week in front of the school. We are lucky to be part of this initiative and be able to offer immediate food to anyone in our community that may need it. |
Here we have Ms. Whiteford, EAC and CAT B lead, with Mr. Harris and one of their friends taking a selfie break. |
|
 |
 |
|
Here we have Ms. Mutiso supporting some students in our EAC program. Thank you for being so Amazing, Ms. Mutiso! |
Here we have two friends being recognized for demonstrating their Cougar Pride! Thank you for being Amazing role models to your classmates by being respectful, responsible, and safe. |
|
 |
At Annandale Terrace Elementary School we follow the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program to encourage schoolwide positive behaviors. This is an evidence-based framework that supports students’ behavior to improve social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It is a way to create positive, predictable, and safe learning environments where every student can thrive. Our students know this program as “Cougar Pride,” in honor of our school mascot.
Classes earn “Paw Praise Tickets” throughout the day for demonstrating positive behavior. At the end of each quarter, if classes earn a certain number of “Paw Praise Tickets,” they earn a schoolwide reward. For the first quarter, the schoolwide reward is a “Cougar Pride Bash.” Students will have an additional recess at the end of the day on October 31, 2023, and a small bag of popcorn as a treat. All our teachers, including specialists, instructional leaders, and instructional assistants will be supervising this event.
If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to our new family liaison, Maria Mateus, at 703-658-5600 or email her at mdmateus@fcps.edu.
If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to reach out to Principal Ingrid Badia at icbadia@fcps.edu or call 703-658-5600.
|
When: Friday November 3rd
Time: 9:00 - 10:30am
Where: Annandale Terrace ES cafeteria
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fxn-riir-xwi
|
|
 |
Next Friday, 11/3, we will host a walk to school day as part of the Safe Routes to School Program. All students will receive a paw print reflector tag that they can put on their jackets or backpacks to help keep them visible in the dark. We encourage students to walk or bike to school if possible.
Nominate amazing ATES staff members!
FCPS has a special awards program to honor outstanding staff members. This can include classroom teachers, ESOL teachers, SPED teachers, Specialists (PE, Music, Art, etc…), Instructional Assistants and Instructional Leaders for each school. It’s a perfect way to celebrate any of our staff members to be recognized for all the amazing work they do each day. If you would like to nominate anyone from ATES, please fill out this form no later than by November 17, 2023.
If you have any questions, send them to Essel Linton, Awards Liaison at elinton@fcps.edu
The nomination forms may be accessed through https://forms.gle/5QbK3pfgZAn3SXTXA
I am delighted to join ATES community and would like to briefly share my background. I was born in Ecuador and moved to the U.S. in 2000 with my husband and two children. In Ecuador, I earned a degree in education and worked part-time as a teacher at the American School of Quito, which holds a special place in our family’s history; my mother, mother-in-law, husband and children are also alumni.
My husband and I started a business together and operated it for 17 years, importing wines from Chile and Argentina. Due to unforeseen social, economic, and political challenges led to the loss of our business, we made the decision to move to US.
We’ve embraced Fairfax County as our home, and our children graduated from Fairfax HS and have started their own careers and families. As empty nesters, we’ve settled here and have enjoyed becoming grandparents to three wonderful children.
I have been working for 21 years in FCPS and 17 of them as a Family Liaison. I am excited to be a part of the ATES Community. I look forward to serving and collaborating with this fantastic community.
Sincerely,
Maria del Carmen Mateus
|
 For the school year 2023-24, ATES is hosting a free event for our students and families courtesy of The Children’s Science Center www.thechildrenssciencecenter.org. The Mobile Science Lab will bring fun experiments and activities designed to excite our students about science! It is completely free because we are a Title 1 school, however 30 volunteers are needed to run the activities. Please consider volunteering your time and/or pass this on to someone who’d like to volunteer. Children’s Science Center brings all the materials, displays and activities. Volunteers just set up, read their volunteer packet (you receive this a week in advance), run the activity table, and go home when finished.
Volunteer Requirements: Adults (teachers, spouses, friends, community members, etc.) or high school students in grades 11 and 12 (Community service hours given for high school students).
When: Tuesday, November 28th
Place: Gym @ Annandale Terrace Elementary School
Time: 5:15-7:45 p.m. (This time includes set up/clean up. The actual family program is from 6:00-7:30 p.m.) RSVP by Friday, November 3rd by completing this Volunteer Sign-up Form. For any questions, please email Cindy Rogers via cindy.rogers@fcps.edu.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) reminds parents and caregivers that it’s important to talk to your children about safety topics including:
- What parents should know about their children’s plans.
- Having a meeting spot in case of getting separated.
- Establishing safe areas.
- What to do if you are followed.
Visit the FCPD website for more details on how to discuss safety topics.
Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources for the 2024-2025 school year. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers met in August to review the state-approved Cycle I materials. The committee will re-convene in January to review the state-approved Cycle II instructional materials under consideration. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources. Please share the information included in this communication with school staff and community by November 13, 2023.
Elementary English Language Arts basal instructional resources may be accessed in person and online from November 15, 2023, until noon on December 15, 2023. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review website. Those reviewing instructional materials may complete an electronic comment sheet that will be available on the website during the review period.
Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at:
Pimmit Hills Center, Room 207 7510 Lisle Avenue Falls Church, VA 22043
Materials may be reviewed at Pimmit Hills Center Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors should enter through door #4 and check in at the main office or with the building coordinator on duty.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
 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.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. Find out how to get technical support for ParentVUE.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey provides insights into the behaviors and attitudes that affect the health and well-being of Fairfax County youth.
Most Fairfax County students reported they feel safe at their school. Overall, the percentage of students who reported risky behaviors continued to decrease in many areas including substance use, sexual activity, and aggressive and delinquent behavior.
Mental health indicators including feelings of sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts also improved noticeably compared to 2021. Students who reported the recommended amount of physical activity increased compared to the prior year as well.
Read more about the report’s findings, and find the full report on the county’s website.
Results from the Fairfax County Youth Survey highlight the importance of students having three or more “protective factors.” Protective factors are individual, family-based, school-based, and community-based assets (such as participating in extracurricular activities, having parents available for help, or having teachers recognize good work) that support healthy habits and positive choices. Learn more about promoting positive outcomes.
Survey data shows that students with at least three protective factors have a lower likelihood of reporting mental health challenges and engaging in a variety of risky behaviors, including substance and opioid abuse. These findings led to the development of the Three to Succeed program, which is being implemented divisionwide to educate FCPS students, families, and staff on the importance of protective factors and increasing the number of high school students with three or more of them.
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.
The Family Resource Center (FRC) 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 November:
-
Sibshops: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
-
SibTeen: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 1-4 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
-
Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair, Thursday, November 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School (Cafeteria).
-
Coping Strategies for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress: Part Two (virtual), Friday, November 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
-
Funcionamiento Ejecutivo - Ayudando a tus hijos con la organización, la regulación emocional , y la flexibilidad (presentado en español), Friday, November 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
Click the links above to register for the events. For more information, visit the Family Resource Center webpage.
Information was recently posted to the Healthy Minds Blog on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and other resources for suicide prevention.
The Healthy Minds Blog shares information related to youth mental health and wellness. Articles include tips and strategies for increasing wellness and resiliency, as well as fostering success at home, at school, and in the community.
The Healthy Minds Blog is a collaborative project between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Prevention Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Subscribe to Healthy Minds and receive a quarterly digest of articles.
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.
Immunizations are required for public school entry and help keep students protected from serious diseases. While COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, many other immunizations are. Check with your students’ healthcare providers now to make sure they are up to date on their immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated online in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form. To access that form, click Online Packets in the top right of the screen after logging in to SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers can obtain an activation key letter to activate their SIS ParentVUE account by contacting the main office 703-658-5600.
Although the COVID-19 hospital transmission level (previously the COVID-19 Community Transmission level) for Fairfax County is currently low, COVID-19 cases have risen in Virginia during the last few weeks, and flu season will soon be upon us. Be sure to review FCPS Health and Safety Guidance for the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and to find out when students should stay home from school.
 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.
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.
It’s hourly paid position. Please see the job description /qualification and apply via Food Services Worker | Fairfax County Public Schools (brassring.com) if you are interested. For any questions regarding this position, please email Ingrid.Badia@fcps.edu.
 In addition to our students and teachers, we estimate millions of visits by students and community members to Fairfax County public schools. Most of the public meeting and recreational facilities available in the county are FCPS facilities. FCPS works with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and with the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that school facilities and athletic fields are available to the public after school hours.
The 2023 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 7. Learn more about registering to vote.
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission.
Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library.
Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
|
