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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.
Để đọc bản tin này bằng ngôn ngữ khác, xin quý vị truy cập vào trang mạng của chúng tôi.
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 Thank you to all of the Veterans from the Olde Creek community who came to speak to our students this monring! We loved the opportunity to honor you and your service.
Important Upcoming Dates
November 13: Woodson Pyramid FLE Parent Preview Night
November 14: PTA Family Dinner Night
November 15: Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 16: Final Day for OC Outstanding Employee Nominations
November 17: Federal Impact Aid Survey Due Date
November 22-24: No School for Students - Thanksgiving
December 1: SCA Spirit Day - Wear a Kind Message
December 4-8: Book Fair
December 6: Book Fair Family Night - 5:30-7:30PM
December 6: PTA Meeting - 6:30PM
December 8: Religious/Cultural Observance: Bodhi Day
December 15: AAP Full-time Referrals Due
December 18-January 1: Winter Break
6th graders visited the National Gallery of Art this week and created their own works of art!
Overview of this Issue
New This Week
1. Message from Mrs. Miller
2. Diwali
3. American Education Week
4. Woodson Pyramid FLE Parent Preview Night
5. PTA Family Dinner Night
6. Thanksgiving Luncheon
7. National School Psychology Week
8. Equity Book Club & C.U.B Club
9. 2023-24 Olde Creek Outstanding Employee Awards
10. Snack Sign-up for Olde Creek Staff
11. Calendar Reminder: Thanksgiving Holiday
12. Bears Care Outreach
13. School Board Approves New Name for W.T. Woodson
Reminders
14. AAP Full-time (Level IV) Service Referrals
15. Bears in the Spotlight
16. OC Staff Spotlights
17. Winter Break STEM Kits
18. National Family Engagement Month
19. November is Native American Heritage Month
20. National Career Development Month
21. Contacts
22. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
Updates
1. Message from Mrs. Miller
Dear Olde Creek Families and Friends,
This morning, Olde Creek had the opportunity to honor and express our gratitude to our veterans for their brave service. We are very thankful to our veterans who joined us and shared their stories and experiences with our Bears. Students were able to reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day and honor all those who have served. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of our veterans and their families.
As we celebrate Family Engagement Month in November, we recognize that our families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Family engagement is a shared responsibility between home, school, and the community. We appreciate the partnership that we have with our families and our PTA.Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our PTA meeting this week. We are grateful that our School Board representative for the Braddock district, Megan McLaughlin, was able to join us. Thank you to our equity leads, Ms. Ly and Ms. Pecha, for presenting during the meeting as well.
We are looking forward to seeing many families at our Thanksgiving Luncheon and PTA Family Dinner Night next week. It is the season of gratitude and we want to thank our supportive community!
With much gratitude,
Melissa Miller, Principal
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal
Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal
2. Diwali
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate this day and the victory of light over darkness. This year's Diwali artwork was created by Chantilly High School student Rijuta D. as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students.
3. American Education Week - November 13-17
For American Education Week we celebrate ALL who work in our Olde Creek community: our bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, support staff, teachers, leadership and more! Learn more from the National Education Association.
Want to recognize someone from our school who goes above and beyond? Submit a nomination to FCPS Cares.
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4. Woodson Pyramid FLE Parent Preview Night
The materials used for Family Life Education (FLE) are available for families to access on the All Parents/Guardians: Olde Creek Elementary School Schoology Course. Directions to access can be found liked here.
The Woodson Pyramid will be hosting a Woodson Pyramid Parent Preview event where staff will be available to answer questions and help families access the materials virtually. This will take place on Monday, November 13th from 6:00 – 6:30PM using the following zoom link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/91865337786
We invite you also to learn more about Fairfax County's elementary FLE program on the FCPS website.
Please reach out to Alison Butler (ajbutler@fcps.edu) with any questions
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5. PTA Family Dinner Night - November 14
Join Olde Creek for the next PTA Family Dinner Night at Taco Bamba! Please see the flyer linked below for more information.
English | Spanish
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6. Reminder: Thanksgiving Luncheon
We are so excited to welcome families into Olde Creek for the Thanksgiving Luncheon. There will be a special Thanksgiving menu on November 15th! This is an opportunity for families to join their child(ren) for a Thanksgiving meal! See the flyer for your child's adjusted lunch time and more information.
Please note: We ask that all adults and children who do not attend Olde Creek and intend to buy the school Thanksgiving lunch, prepay for lunch by Friday, November 10th. The cost is $4.75 per lunch for adults and children (not enrolled in FCPS). Lunch tickets purchased in advance will be put in an envelope with your family’s name on it and will be available for pick up in the front lobby when you sign in at the luncheon. Additional lunch tickets can be purchased at this time. Students that attend Olde Creek may use their lunch cards on the day of the luncheon to purchase lunch for $3.25.
We need your help! If you are available to volunteer on November 15 for any portion of the luncheon (between 10:00-1:00), please email Sandy McCulloch (slmcculloch@fcps.edu).We need volunteers to help with crowd flow, and lunch tickets! Any time you can spare would be greatly appreciated!
7. National School Psychology Week
This week we celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive. Thank you to Dr. Emily Zaic and Dr. Samantha Sommer for their collaboration with colleagues at Olde Creek and the connections they are making within our community.
School psychologists work to positively impact the academic and social-emotional development of all students by providing mental health services that build resilience, life competencies, and good citizenship. Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists
8. Equity Book Club & C.U.B Club
Olde Creek is excited for our FIRST Equity Book Club & C.U.B. Club of the school year! Families who register by 11/24 will receive one copy of the book per family. Registration closes on 12/8.
- WHO: Equity Book Club for grades K-2 & C.U.B. Club for grades 3-6.
- WHAT: Reading "Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion." Considering "How can we appreciate Deaf Culture and music?”
- WHEN: Tuesday, December 12th from 3:15-4:15
Please complete this Google Form to indicate if your student(s) will be participating. A paper copy of this information is going home with your child in their Friday Folder.
9. 2023-2024 Olde Creek Outstanding Employee Awards
As you may know, every year Fairfax County Public Schools recognizes outstanding employees at all levels. Once again this year, all schools in FCPS are encouraged to nominate Outstanding Employees. 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.
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Outstanding Teacher – a teacher, librarian or specialist with 3 or more years of experience.
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Outstanding New Teacher – a teacher or specialist with up to 3 years of experience
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Outstanding Principal
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Outstanding Leader – Assistant Principals, Special Education Lead
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Outstanding Professional Employee - At least one year of experience in current position - these positions could include School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Reading Specialist, and Math Resource Teacher.
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Outstanding Operational Employee – a school-based employee with at least one year of experience in the position – these positions could include administrative and office staff, custodial staff, food service staff, Instructional Assistants, Public Health Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants, Parent Liaisons.
We are asking you, the Olde Creek community, to help us gather names for this process. Thank you for participating and helping us recognize the outstanding qualities of our staff members. To submit a nomination for Olde Creek Outstanding Employee in one or more of the categories, please complete the nomination using this google form link.
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 16. After that, a selection committee will meet to discuss each nominee and determine a winner. The discussion in this process will be confidential. If the person you nominated wins, you will be asked to complete a nomination form. These completed forms will be sent to the Woodson Pyramid Lead. The pyramid selection committee will meet, read packets and determine a winner for the pyramid in each category. The winners of the pyramid move on to the region.
Thank you in advance for your input! If you have any questions, please contact Julie Wilson at jmwilson1@fcps.edu.
10. Snack Sign-up for Olde Creek Staff
We would love your help as we give thanks to our staff by stocking our staff lounge and teacher planning spaces with individually wrapped snack foods, beverages, and sweet treats. Join us in showing our gratitude to our outstanding staff along with keeping them energized as they educate and support our Bears.
Please sign-up for any of the items at this link and drop off donations to the main office. The main office is open daily, Monday through Friday from 8:00AM-4:00PM. Please note on the item that it is for staff. Thank you for supporting our exceptional staff.
11. Calendar Reminder: Thanksgiving Holiday
 Schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, November 22, through Friday, November 24. Classes will resume on Monday, November 27. Learn more about the first Thanksgiving. See the complete school year calendar.
12. Bears Care Outreach
The Bears Care food pantry is now collecting holiday gift cards for students in our program to purchase turkeys or other perishable food items of their choice. Please use this sign up for Safeway, Walmart, and Target gift cards that can either be dropped off at the front office of the school or shipped. (Email Lisa Goodwin at lisamarm@gmail.com for any questions.)
Girl Scouts Supporting our Bears Care Program
Girl Scout Troop 55067 is collecting snacks (individually wrapped, non-perishable, with several month shelf life) for the OCES Bears Care Program. Donations can be dropped off in the front office through Friday, December 8. Please note on the item that it is for Bears Care.
13. School Board Approves New Name for W.T. Woodson
The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a new name for W.T. Woodson High School on November 9. Starting school year 2024-25, the school will be known as Carter G. Woodson High School.
The School Board and FCPS staff thank the students, families, past and present employees, community members, and alumni for participating in the more than two month process. There is a depth of pride and caring within the Woodson Community that was evident throughout the ongoing discussions.
Fairfax County Public Schools staff will now proceed with the logistical planning needed to initiate a name change. The school will officially become Carter G. Woodson High School at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Visit the Woodson High School Renaming web page to read the complete news story and for more information.
14. AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Service Referrals - Due 12/15
Parents/guardians interested in having their student (grades 2 – 6) screened for AAP full-time (level IV) services, must submit a referral to our AART, Wendy Stobbe (wmstobbe@fcps.edu) no later than December 15, 2023. More information regarding the program and screening process can be found here .
15. Bears in the Spotlight
We are excited to announce that we will be continuing to feature students on the OC News Show in our Bears in the Spotlight segment! This is a way for students to share their hobbies and after school activities with the school community. We want to highlight all the amazing things that our students are passionate about!
To submit your student's information, please fill out the Bears in the Spotlight Google Form. You can find the form here.
The information that you submit will be used to create a slide that will be shared on the News Show. The slide will include any photos or videos that you include as well as a description of your student's hobby/activity.
We appreciate your help in spotlighting the awesome talents and interests of our OC Bears!
16. OC Staff Spotlights
We're excited to highlight our incredible staff members in our Staff Spotlights! In these features, our staff shares their love of working at OC and their hobbies and interests. To browse more staff spotlights, visit the Features section of our Olde Creek website!
17. Winter Break STEM Kits
 Order now!
18. National Family Engagement Month
This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.
FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
Additionally, every school has a family liaison who welcomes and orients families and helps them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit FCPS’ website for a list of region representatives.
19. November is 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 an opportunity to raise awareness about historical challenges they have faced and how tribal citizens have worked to conquer them.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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20. National Career Development Month
By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every FCPS middle and high school. Each school's course options are based on the needs of the populations served. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs.
21. Contacts
Olde Creek Main Office: 703-426-3100
Olde Creek Attendance Phone Line: 703-426-3192
Olde Creek Attendance mailbox: OldeCreekElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
Melissa Miller, Principal, mhmiller@fcps.edu
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal, ajbutler@fcps.edu
Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal, sjkaminsky@fcps.edu
Sylvia Alverson, Administrative Assistant, sjalverson@fcps.edu
Lizardo Santos, Student Information Assistant, LISantos@fcps.edu
Sandy McCulloch, Office Assistant, slmcculloch@fcps.edu
22. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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