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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.
Calendar Reminder, Nov 3, 6, 7 and Update for March 5, 2024
All FCPS schools have a 2 Hour Early Release Day Friday, November 3rd for the End of 1st Quarter progress report work. Dismissal is at 11:50am for students. On Monday, November 6, schools are closed for students as staff engage in a school planning day and Tuesday, November 7, schools are closed for students due to the teacher workday.
Calendar Update for March 5 Presidential PrimaryThe Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.
IMPORTANT -
Federal Impact Aid Survey - check your student’s backpack
Your student will receive the Federal Impact Aid Survey from school in their backpacks on November 1st.
This is a mandatory survey that gets filled each year to help the county collect additional tax monies due to military presence in our area. For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school by November 14th.
If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3 and sign/date at the bottom of the form. Please return the form in your child’s backpack. All results are confidential.
Returning this survey 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.
Remember that families can complete the Impact Aid Survey online using their ParentVue accounts. Learn more about creating a ParentVue account.
National Family Engagement Month
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.
If you would like to come in and participate in a classroom activity, please let your child’s teacher know.
Come and enjoy Thanksgiving lunch with your child on November 16th!
Key Center invites you to come to school to enjoy the FCPS Thanksgiving school lunch on November 16th, 2023. If you would like to purchase a Thanksgiving meal from the cafeteria you must pre-order by November 10th. Please see the flier in your student’s backpack today.
The cost of a meal is $4.75. Payment with cash is required and change may be limited so exact change is preferred. Classroom mealtimes may be slightly adjusted on the 16th, to accommodate this special lunch event. Your student’s actual mealtime will be shared by your classroom teacher once the schedule is finalized.
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Nominate an Outstanding Key Center Employee
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Key Center School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories, please complete the nomination through Google link for each category found below. You may nominate one or more employees at Key Center (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
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 Teacher nomination form.
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category. Outstanding New Teacher nomination form
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district). Outstanding Principal nomination form
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 Leader nomination form
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 Professional Employee nomination form
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. Outstanding Operational Employee nomination form
**The deadline to submit a nomination is November 6, 2023**
If you have any questions about the process or what category your exceptional employee is in, please contact Ann, Emily or Helly Ahmadyar at hahmadyar@fcps.edu
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
This Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
First Responder Practice Emergency Interactions
When: Saturday, November 4, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Kenmore Middle School, 200 S Carlin Springs Road, Arlington VA 22204
Years of data tell us that people with disabilities are more likely to encounter law enforcement than typically developing peers, and more likely to struggle to navigate that interaction. The Arc of Northern Virginia is partnering with Arlington County public safety agencies to hold another Emergency Responders Event for people with disabilities to practice interacting with first responders and learn about other available safety resources.
Participants will be able to:
• Practice police encounters
• Practice talking with and using fire, rescue, and EMS services
• Learn about free, tech-based safety resources available from our Tech for Independent Living program
• Receive a personalized DD identification card to hand to first responders in the event of an emergency
This event is open to anyone with any disability or general anxiety about police interactions, regardless of where they live. The person with a disability can be the driver (licensed or unlicensed and getting ready to drive), or a passenger or bystander.
This session is free, but pre registration is required. Please connect to the Arc of Northern Virginia’s website to register.
Trash or Treasure- Save Those Candy Wrappers!
You don’t have to trash those candy wrappers and doom them for an eternity in a landfill- or, even worse, our oceans. By putting your wrappers in a custom candy wrapper recycling box, you can keep our planet clean and contribute to the circular economy.
Key Center is participating in the Trash or Treasure recycling program. Staff and families are invited to send in candy wrappers to school. Students from our vocational program will collect the wrappers from classrooms and add them to the collection box for recycling. Please check your student’s backpack for a collection bag. Simply add candy wrappers over the next couple of weeks and return the bag to school. Wrappers returned to Key Center by November 10, 2023 will be sent to Trash or Treasure for recycling. Thank you for helping to make Halloween sweet and sustainable!
Learn more about this program on the Trash or Treasure website.
Join Us for the Polar Plunge!
The Key Center community is invited to join our team in GOING FOR THE COLD to benefit Virginia Special Olympics and Key Center School. Our team will be participating in the Mosaic Polar Plunge on January 20th, 2024. We are inviting Key Center staff, families, and community partners to join the Key Center Rockets Polar Plunge Team!
Got cold feet? If you don’t want to join in the fun with our team, please consider sponsoring one of our team members at the team link above- thanks!❄️🧊🚀
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABS) Family Training Opportunity
The focus for the November family training is- Steps for Systematically Teaching New Behaviors
This workshop is intended for parents of students with Autism served in preschool autism classrooms (PAC),EnhancedAutismClassrooms(EAC) and CAT secondary classrooms. Topics covered will Include:
▪ How are behaviors taught?
▪What are the “learning to learn”behaviors?
▪ How do I select a behavior teach?
Date of Session- November 15, 2023
Choose one virtual session:
10:00am - 11:30am or 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Join using this meeting link: https://meet.google.com/cgn-udci-kbh
Reminder - Lifetouch Picture Day is on November 8th
 Picture Day is on Wednesday November 8th!
Key Center Celebrates Homecoming
Key Center students and staff celebrated our 2023 Homecoming last week. We had lots of fun dressing up in special clothing daily, as part of our spirit week. The week also included our pep rally on Thursday, and our Homecoming Dance on Friday. So much school spirit-- GO ROCKETS!🚀📣
Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair
Thursday, November 9, 2023, Annandale High School -- 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
This event is designed for students with more significant disabilities and their families to meet with adult agency and vendor representatives to gather information about available services for adults in need of ongoing support once they transition from FCPS. Agency and vendor representatives will be available to share information on adult service providers, employment and training programs, residential options, leisure activities, and self-advocacy during this exhibitor fair.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsGrotohv8ULiD_XV2g3DMD8CbBNuuQDE5Y7-PgoG5mykvbA/viewform
Key Center PTA
Not yet a member of our PTA? We would love to have you join!
Key Center PTA Membership
Key Center PTA Donations
Key Center PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Any questions regarding involvement, please contact PTA President, Cecilia Allen, at KeyCtrPTA@gmail.com or (301) 646-7447.
Upcoming Dates
November 3 End of 1st Quarter - 2 hour Early Release - 11:50am
November 6 School Planning Day - Student Holiday
November 7 Teacher Work Day - Student Holiday
November 22-24 Thanksgiving Break - Holiday
2023-24 FCPS School Calendar
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