Upcoming Events
Nov 5th – Daylight Saving Time Ends, turn clock back 1 hour
Nov 6th & 7th – Student Holidays, Teacher Workdays
Nov 9th – Curriculum Night, 6:00 – 7:30 pm.
Nov 10th – Bravery Breakfast, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Cafeteria
Nov 13th – PTA Meeting, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Virtual (more info to follow)
Nov 13th – Family Life Education (FLE) Parent Information Meeting, 5:45 – 6:45 pm in Ravensworth Library
Nov 16th – Run for Ravensworth, more details to follow
Nov 21st – PTA Spirit Night, McDonald’s, Kings Park
Nov 22nd – School Closed, SACC Open
Nov 22nd, 23rd & 24th – Thanksgiving Holiday, No School
Link to 2023-2024 School Year Calendar 2023-24 FCPS School Year Calendar
Because of technical difficulties, if any link does not work, please copy, and paste it into your browser.
Message from Ms. Aspuria
Hello Ravensworth Families,
Today is the end of the first quarter and the start of a long weekend for our students. We look forward to seeing many of you over the next few days for family/teacher conferences. We appreciate your partnership and support of your children. We also hope that you and your child will attend our Family Curriculum Night on Thursday, November 9th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Come learn games and fun ways to support your child’s learning at home. Students who attend with their family have a chance to win a math or word game. We can’t wait to see you!
Sincerely,
Erika Aspuria
Principal
Family Life Education
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. (Parent/Guardian Access to FLE Materials in Schoology)
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s beginning of the year folder or you may access the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify Mrs. Heiman assistant principal, in writing before instruction begins.
You are invited to learn more about the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Monday, November 13th at 5:45 p.m. in the Ravensworth Library. Program materials and media will be available for your review at this time. Please rsvp at https://forms.gle/yN4vFS9Ym4udYEdU8 by Friday, November 10th if you plan to attend.
Outstanding Employee Awards
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Ravensworth Outstanding Employee please use this Google link https://forms.gle/g7G7xRikvsnyXFsj7. 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 two or more 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.
The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Keller, mlkeller@fcps.edu
Outstanding Teacher: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); Specialists (Librarians, music, art, and PE teachers) are included in this category.
Outstanding New Teacher: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); Specialists (Librarians, music, art, and PE teachers) are included in this category.
Outstanding Principal: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district).
Outstanding Operational Employee: At least one year of experience in their current position as a 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, Parent Liaisons, monitors, hourly employees.
Outstanding Professional Employee: 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, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, and Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.
Friendly Reminders
Labeling Student Items
Now that the weather is getting colder, please make sure student names are in jackets, sweatshirts, coats, hats, mittens, etc. When they inevitably get lost or forgotten somewhere, if we can find a name, we will return the item to the student. Labeling these items helps to keep our Lost and Found collection to a minimum. Thanks for your help!
Lost and Found
Speaking of the Lost and Found - All lost and found items will be outside the school from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, November 3rd - November 7th. Please stop by and find your student’s missing items. Any items not picked up by November 7th will be collected and donated.
Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
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.
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.
Bravery Breakfast
Veterans and Military Families,
We're throwing a special event to celebrate your bravery and dedication, and we'd love for you to be there:
Bravery Breakfast at Ravensworth Elementary
Date: November 10th
Time: 8:00 - 8:30 am
Location: Ravensworth Cafeteria
At Ravensworth, we believe in showing our gratitude in a fun and friendly way. Our Bravery Breakfast is all about coming together, sharing stories, and showing appreciation for our veterans and current service members.
In addition to the breakfast, we are looking for Veterans to come speak in our morning meetings after the breakfast. If you are interested, please fill out the following link: https://forms.gle/hE73ULtX8cjpiNtZ9
Thank you for your service and for inspiring our school community. We're excited to have you join us on November 10th. Let's celebrate your bravery and enjoy some good company.
Military-Connected Families
Did you know that the Office of Family and School Partnerships publishes a monthly newsletter for military-connected families? Take a moment to subscribe today.
Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid
Each year, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible to apply for Federal Impact Aid grant funds. Impact Aid is a federal formula grant program designed to assist local school districts that enroll Federally connected students. This year, FCPS is pleased to announce that the Federal Impact Aid Survey will be available electronically through your ParentVUE account.
Ravensworth need your assistance to complete the Federal forms by October 31, 2023. Please see attached instructions Parentvue Impact Aid Instructions on how to complete the survey online in ParentVUE.
For those parents/guardians that do not have a Parentvue account, an activation Key is being sent home next week.
If you should need assistance please contact the Impact Aid Coordinator, Teresa Dunbar in the office at 703-426-3600
Positivity Project
This week our school community will be focusing on 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 judgment; 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.
When a Student Should Stay Home from School
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, make sure to notify their teacher, so that 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.
Cuándo un Estudiante Debe Quedarse en Casa y No Ir a la Escuela
Tanto si los estudiantes faltan a clase por enfermedad como por cualquier otro motivo, faltar a clase conlleva una pérdida de aprendizaje.
Ayude a su estudiante a tener éxito animándolo a asistir todos los días posibles, pero asegúrese de que su estudiante se quede en casa si está enfermo. Visite el sitio web de FCPS para obtener información sobre cuándo debe mantener a su hijo en casa.
Si su hijo tiene una enfermedad crónica, asegúrese de notificar a su maestro, para que se le pueda proporcionar asistencia si es necesario. Por favor contáctenos tan pronto sepa que su hijo estará ausente.
Lea más sobre cómo las familias pueden ayudar a formar buenos hábitos de asistencia.
Substitutes Needed at Ravensworth for 2023-24
We are always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants to 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 family members, retirees, college students, part-time employees, and anyone who wants to make a difference! Substitute instructional assistant pay will be $17.08 per hour and substitute teacher pay will be $19.05 per hour for the 2023-24 school year.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email Erika Aspuria, Principal and apply on-line. Also, you can sign up for a virtual, one hour substitute information session here.
Library support needed!
Our librarian, Mrs. Sloan, is looking for a couple of parents who can provide consistent weekly support in the library. Days and times include Mondays from 9:00 -12:00 and Wednesdays from 9:00 -10:15. The highest priorities for support include checking out books to students as well as shelving books. Additional needs include delivering holds to teacher mailboxes, book repair, processing new books, creating book displays, and cutting paper for student bookmarks. Library experience is preferred.
If you’re interested or have questions, you can contact Mrs. Sloan at jasloan@fcps.edu
Thank you for your consideration!
PTA
Teacher Work Day Hospitality
Show your support! Donate treats and snacks to power our teachers during the teacher work days. Please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AEAF2AAAFBC16-45414285-teacher#/
Please deliver all treats and snacks to the office by Friday, November 3rd. (Exception - fresh fruit and vegetables should be delivered on Monday, November 6th at 8:00 am.)
PTA Bookfair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming back to Ravensworth Elementary on November 21 (In-Person dates begin November 27). Children, parents, and staff will all get the opportunity to shop for the best new books and other great items during and after school. Parents can set-up an e-wallet for their kids starting today, so cashless transactions can be made.
Volunteers are needed to assist with set-up in the library and day-to-day function of the store for the week it is open in-person. Sign-up dates are available for anyone who can help out.
Sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050544AFAB29A6FD0-scholastic1#/
Open an e-wallet: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/how-ewallet-works.html?fairId=5429981
Browse Books: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/ravensworth
PTA is Seeking a New Treasurer
The PTA is looking for someone willing to assume the role of Treasurer for the 2023-2024 school year. Unfortunately, our current Treasurer, Lane, is unable to continue in the position. While we will miss her in that role, it opens a wonderful opportunity for someone looking to get involved. The position includes:
- Tracking and inputting incomes and expenses to QuickBooks
- Creating Monthly Budget Reports and presenting them at Meetings
- Writing checks and depositing payments received
- Attending monthly meetings
The position demands anywhere between 2-5 hours of work per month. While an accounting background and QuickBooks experience is helpful, it is not necessary.
Anyone interested in the role can send an email to president@ravensworthpta.org. Further questions about the role may be sent to selemefamilia@gmail.org
Chess Club
Chess Club will be held every Monday in the Cafeteria, starting September 18th from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, except for days where school is closed or there is early release. We are able to offer this program through partnership with the U.S. Chess Center. Chess club is $130 per semester and includes a club t-shirt and snacks during the meet-ups. Registration can be done through the following link: https://chessctr.org/ravensworth/
For more information contact Ravensworth club parent coordinators Michael Alt, alt_michael@hotmail.com or Alexandra Parresol, alexandraparresol@yahoo.com or the U.S. Chess Center, admin@chessctr.org
Get Your School Spirit Wear Today!
Show your school spirit and support the Ravensworth PTA—purchase your spirit wear in the MemberHub store anytime: https://ravensworth.memberhub.com/store; youth and adult sizes available. Contact spiritwear@ravensworthpta.org if you have any questions. Show your pride for the Ravensworth Ravens all year long!
Follow Ravensworth on Social Media
Are you connected to Ravensworth Elementary School and the Ravensworth PTA on social media? The PTA’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ravensworthelementarypta and the school’s accounts are https://www.facebook.com/RavensworthElementary and https://twitter.com/RavensworthES
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