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🌟 Principal's Message
🌟 Shrevewood Fall Book Fair! November 20-December 1
🌟 Change in Transportation Protocol
🌟 Thanksgiving Lunch
🌟 2023-24 Shrevewood Employee Awards
🌟 Picture Retakes – November 13th
🌟 AAP Information & Referrals
🌟 Calling Veterans and Active Duty Military Members
🌟 National Family Engagement Month
🌟 Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
🌟 Shrevewood Spirit - New Student T-Shirts
🌟 Procedures when you come to join your children for lunch
🌟 Armchair Fundraiser Extension to 11/8
🌟 Impact Aid
🌟 Marshall Pyramid Fall Candy Drive
🌟 Conversing with Teens about Substance Use
🌟 🤒 When a Student Should Stay Home From School
🌟 Want to help spruce up where your student plays outside every day?
🌟 The Positivity Project
🌟 Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
🌟 FCPS News
🌟 Save the Date
Dear Shrevewood Families,
The Thanksgiving lunch schedule had to be shifted, and all grade levels are now scheduled to eat 30 minutes earlier than what was originally scheduled. The fully updated schedule can be found below within the newsletter.
Don’t forget that November 6 and 7 are student holidays, and there will be no school for students. Also, tomorrow is an early release day. Shrevewood dismissal is at 2:05 p.m. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday!
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Katie Vandawalker, Assistant Principal
 The Fall Book Fair is coming! November 20 and 21 are browsing days for students only, and we will begin sales after the Thanksgiving Break from November 27-December 1. Volunteers will be needed, and the link to sign up is here: https://bit.ly/2023bfvolunteer. E-Wallets are the preferred method of payment. More details will be coming home in students’ folders next week.
Contact Mrs. Adams in the library for more information: kmadams@fcps.edu
If playdates are planned, the Shrevewood office team must receive notifications from the parents of all students involved. Playdate notifications may be made via the online Change in Transportation Form or via an email sent to SWESOffice@fcps.edu.
 The Thanksgiving lunch schedule had to be shifted, and all grade levels are now scheduled to eat 30 minutes earlier than what was originally scheduled.
Student meals are $3.25, additional meals for any family members attending can be purchased for $4.75.
Student meals will be charged to student accounts. Please make sure your child has money on their MySchoolBucks lunch account. Families can pay for their meal ($4.75) with cash or check. We are not able to charge guest meals to the student account.
If you would like to volunteer, please sign up using this link.
Volunteers will be helping with visitor check-in and meal serving. Do not sign up during your child’s lunch block.
 Each year FCPS strives to recognize outstanding staff throughout the county. This is an opportunity to recognize staff in any and all capacities. Both staff and community members can nominate Shrevewood Staff. You do not need to nominate for all categories. To submit a nomination for a Shrevewood Outstanding Employee please complete your nomination through this Google Form by November 17. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. 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 listed in the form.
If you have any questions, contact Kimberly Adams (kmadams@fcps.edu) or Coreen Pinkerton (ckpinkerton@fcps.edu).
If your student was absent or if you purchased an original photo day package and want a retake, your student can retake their photo on Monday, November 13th. Students will need to return their package to the photographer during their session. Legacy will automatically order a package with their retake image.
Thank you to the families who joined us for the AAP Parent Information Sessions on October 18. If you were unable to come to one of the sessions, you may access the information presented in the slides linked here. Slides in Spanish are available in two parts. Spanish part 1 and Spanish part 2.
You may use this link to locate all AAP Forms, including translated referrals for Spanish, Farci, Korean, Chinese, Urdu, and Vietnamese. We have the English forms linked below for easy access.
Here is the AAP Full Time Services Referral Form. The Parent Questionnaire is only necessary when referring for Full Time Services. Only students in 2nd-7th grade may be referred for full time services. AAP Full Time Services referrals are due to April Done no later than December 15th.
Students in K-6th may be referred for Subject Specific Differentiated Services and Part Time Services designated referral form.
Finally, you will also find the AAP Program of Services Chart. This chart provides an overview of the services provided.
If you have further questions about any of this information, please contact April Done at ardone@fcps.edu.
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Veterans Day is right around the corner, and we would love to welcome and celebrate our veterans that are connected to Shrevewood. If you have a veteran or active service member in your family, we want to welcome you to come and read to your child's classroom on Friday, November 10th. Extended family veteran or active service members are also welcome! If you are interested in participating, please sign up using this Google Form no later than Friday, November 3. Thank you for your service.
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November is National Family Engagement Month! This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Over 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children's education. Family engagement is a shared responsibility between home, school, and the community. The importance of family engagement will be highlighted during the month of November as we celebrate and strengthen family-school partnerships together.
The Family and School Partnerships Office has provided suggested activities and resources for the Family Engagement Month for schools and families to celebrate this month together. Consider providing this calendar of ideas with families to try during November. Contact our office to learn how we can support your work in strengthening family and community engagement in your school.
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.
A message from the PTA:
We hope all of your students have received their new Shrevewood t-shirts. If not, please email your student's teacher. This year for the first time ever our PTA had the privilege of providing every Wise Owl with their own Shrevewood t-shirt for the duration of their Shrevewood tenure. For the younger students, the sizes are much bigger than their current size, because they will need to use them for a few years. Unfortunately, the PTA likely will not be able to provide new t-shirts each year. We hope your student(s) enjoy wearing their new gear with Owl Pride.
- Enter at Door 1 and report to the Main Office.
- Using a government issued photo ID, you must sign-in and receive a visitor sticker.
- Please ensure you are wearing the visitor sticker at all times.
- Report directly to the cafeteria.
- Enjoy lunch with your children.
- Return to the main office to check-out using your sticker.
- Lunch visitors should not go to the classroom or recess, so our daily schedule and routines can continue for our students.
- We ask that you not bring fast food for lunch.
- Please do NOT bring any food to share with other children, due to safety protocols and allergies.
The PTA is feeling the post-Halloween blues, so we're going to lose the blues by giving ourselves another week to reach our goal and see Mr. DeSmyter with blue hair! This means more raffle prizes for students too! There will be another drawing this Friday and our final one next week once we've wrapped up the fundraiser. Check out our current stats and donate here.
The Impact Aid programs and grants are designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally connected students.
The survey will be made available to FCPS families online through Parent Vue beginning October 16, 2023.
After that, families who have not completed the survey will have a printed copy sent home with each child after October 31st and due back by November 17, 2023.
If you are in need of a Parent Vue account, please reach out to Sebastian Brennan, snbrennan@fcps.edu.
Within this society’s culture sometimes we avoid talking about topics that make us uncomfortable but can be both lifesaving and changing, such as finances and drugs. Are there things that would have really made a difference in some of your experiences if known when younger, that can be shared with your teenager now? Here’s a few tips for talking about substance use and misuse with your teenager.
Avoid:
- Overgeneralizations/horror stories
- Ex: “People who use drugs go to jail and end up homeless.” -That is not true for most people.
- Sharing about how you used to do drugs
- Ex: “I smoked in high school, so I understand wanting to experiment.” - The THC content in marijuana is much higher than when you may have used.
- Having loose boundaries
- Ex: “It’s okay if you do it at home, but not anywhere else.” -This creates a gray area and demonstrates an acceptance for not following rules and established boundaries.
Tips:
- Have a united front or if alone be consistent.
- Both parents need to communicate the same message. No good cop, bad cop.
- Recognize addiction in your family.
- Speak the unspoken. Share information that could help your teen make an informed decision about “playing with fire” since they’re genetically predisposed.
- Set a desired outcome for the conversation.
- What do you want your teen to understand before you start the conversation?
- Focus on their health as important and a concern versus behavior.
- Avoid finger pointing literally and figuratively.
- Set firm expectations & boundaries
- Clearly explain what is and isn’t acceptable for your household and the associated consequences.
- Keep a “cool head”
- Withhold judgment
- Be direct
- Be prepared for your teen’s reaction.
Resources:
Helpful Info to Quit Vaping: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/free-e-cigarette-quit-program
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: https://dl.ebmcdn.net/fcps/courses/ATODParentPresentationRequired103119b/story_html5.html
Knowing the signs of Substance Abuse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VWGxTZrpCU
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further information & support:
Ally Jacobi, MSW
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Ajacobi1@fcps.edu
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when you should keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, please notify his/her teacher, so assistance can be provided if needed. Please contact us as soon as you know your child will be absent.
Read more about how families can help form good attendance habits.
We are excited to be ready to paint the Blacktop near the playground with some new and exciting games and activities for all kids to enjoy! We have the stencils and paint---now we need YOU! Put on your painting clothes and come over to spend a couple hours painting with us on November 6 or 7. Middle and High school volunteers are welcome but we ask that they be accompanied by a parent (1 adult for no more than 3 volunteers) to help guide their work.
Head to this Sign Up Genius and spread the word! Please note that we will communicate any weather related challenges via email to any volunteers registered via the Sign Up Genius.
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary.
Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgement; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting. According to Socrates and Plato, forethought separates acts of valor from acts of rashness. This means that bravery isn’t simply fearlessness, but instead the overcoming of fear.
Overcoming fears is critically important in individual development, as it allows the person to do more and become more. A person can be brave every single day. For example, some people with social anxiety are brave just by leaving their house and talking with people. On a physical level, bravery allows us to overcome fears, such as swimming or playing a sport. And, on a moral level, doing what we know to be right, despite the risks, gives us the sense that we are acting on behalf of a larger purpose.
To practice and encourage the character strength of bravery with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.
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Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast will be $1.75. Lunch will be $3.25, milk $0.60. Money can be added to your child(ren)’s accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com. You can also write a check to Shrevewood Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager. During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch at https://fcps.nutrislice.com/menu/shrevewood-elementary
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Free and Reduced-Price Status
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September. A new application must be filled out each new school year. Forms are available online now: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals. Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 813-4800 if you need help. This must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
- Provide Feedback on FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
- National Family Engagement Month
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
⭐End of Quarter and 2 Hour Early Release⭐
Friday, November 3
⭐School Planning Day & Teacher Work Day⭐
Monday, November 6 & 7 (No school for students)
⭐Picture Retakes⭐
Monday, November 13
⭐PTA Meeting⭐
Tuesday, November 14
⭐Thanksgiving Lunch⭐
Wednesday, November 15
⭐Mad Science Fall Assembly⭐
Friday, November 17
⭐Thanksgiving Break (No School)⭐
Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24
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