In this Friday Message you will find:
Floris Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break last week. Thank you to our PTA for the fabulous Spirit Ball on November 17. Smiles and spirit were everywhere.
Our 4th-6th grade students will be participating in the Walk in My Shoes Program next week as part of Inclusive Schools Week. The Walk In My Shoes program fosters inclusion by providing empathy-building activities designed to teach elementary school-aged children how to be respectful and inclusive of all children, especially those with medical conditions, developmental challenges, or learning differences. Want to see more about this Herndon based non-profit check our their website.
Our counseling team is absolutely amazing. They helped create the One Floris Day, planned the Walk in My Shoes Program, supported families as needed with food for Thanksgiving, and are the lead in the Floris Annual Giving Tree. We are grateful for our school counselors, Sarah de Kramer and James Duffield, and our School Social Worker, Maggie Seneca. They support our students as well as our entire community.
Save the Date: The Floris Winter Music Showcase is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 7:00pm, in the Rachel Carson Middle School gym. The 5th-6th grade choral, band, and strings students are sharing their musical talent. You don't have to have a student in 5th or 6th grade to attend. It is always a fabulous evening of music, and no tickets are required.
We hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Holly Walker, Principal, hjwalker@fcps.edu
Rob Gibbs, Assistant Principal, ragibbs@fcps.edu
#EveryEagleEveryDay
Chanukah
Chanukah, an 8-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for 8 days. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Thursday, December 7. That day will be a half-O day, and major events cannot be scheduled that evening. Learn more about Chanukah in National Geographic Kids. See the complete school year calendar.
Floris’ Annual Giving Tree
Happy December! As we get closer to winter break, please consider participating in Floris' Annual Giving Tree! As a school community there is a need to support families throughout the year and especially during breaks from school, such as winter break. Please consider donating gift cards to help families in need by signing up for a slot here.
We ask that all gift cards be mailed or dropped off to the office by Wednesday, December 13. The school address for mailing cards is 2708 Centreville Road Herndon, 20171, Attn: Sarah de Kramer.
If you know of a family in need, encourage them to email shdekramer@fcps.edu. As always, thank you Floris community, for your continued generosity!!
National Special Education Day
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on December 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students!
Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
FCPS Special Education Resources
Inclusive Schools Week
Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.
Full-Time Advanced Academics Referral Process (students in grades 2-6)
For parents interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services, the following documents need to be submitted to Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu (Grades 2, 4, 6) or Katie Pickett kmpickett@fcps.edu (Grades 3, 5) - on or before Dec. 15, 2023. Late submissions cannot be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu or Katie Pickett kmpickett@fcps.edu
Referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific AAP or part-time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for full-time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS provides information about closings and delays in many ways including:
- Posted to www.fcps.edu.
- Posted to the FCPS Twitter and FCPS Facebook pages.
- Email and text messages sent to parents (using the parent contact information listed in the SIS parent record).
- Email sent to employees (using the employee's FCPS email address).
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Email sent to News You Choose subscribers of Delayed Openings and School Closings.
- Posted on FCPS cable Channel 21 (Cox Communications, Reston Comcast, and Verizon (channel 11) cable customers only).
- Area radio and television stations.
Please be aware, due to the large volume of emails sent there will likely be a lag between the website, social media and news station updates and the receipt of an email in your inbox.
Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Parents and students should have a well-communicated plan in place in the event of these emergency situations. Children need to know where to go or what to do if a parent will not be home.
Please remember you can find the breakfast and lunch menus and nutritional facts at FCPS Nutrislice- Floris
December 5-7: Walk in My Shoes Program for 4th, 5th and 6th grade
December 8: Observance Day: Bodhi Day
December 11-15: 4th, 5th and 6th grade FLE/Human Growth and Development Lessons
December 12: 5th and 6th grade Strings, Band, and Chorus Concert, Rachel Carson MS, 7:00pm (6:30pm student arrival at RCMS)
December 18-January 1:
- Winter Break
- No school for students
- Floris Main Office Closed
January 2, 2024: School Resumes
Find the 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
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