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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ebony Opie - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
In This Issue
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Thanksgiving Holiday
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Impact Aid Survey
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Family Life Education Instruction
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Language Arts Basal Instructional Resource
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Special Education Resources for Families
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Student Attendance and Engagement
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Missing School Over the Holidays
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Social and Emotional Screener Results
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Immunizations
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School Bond Referendum
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Native American History Month
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Friendly Reminders
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Lost & Found
Thanksgiving Holiday
November 22 - November 24
Please Complete - Impact Aid Survey
Federal Impact Aid Survey: Now Online
This year the Student-Parent Federal Impact Aid Survey is available online. Please log into your ParentVue from October 16 to November 2. Once logged in, please select the “Online Packets” tab at the top, then select “Federal Impact Aid Survey” from the drop down menu.
We are tasked with having a completed, signed and dated form for every student in our school, regardless of whether families work or reside on federal property.
Have questions or need a ParentVue account? Contact Alma Catin, Student Information Assistant/Registrar by email to: ANCatin@fcps.edu
Have a ParentVue account, but need assistance? Complete this Help Request Form: https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/parent/
Any surveys not completed online by October 30 were sent home. Please be sure to complete and sign the survey and have your child return the original (fax or email copies may not be sent) to their teacher no later than Thursday, November 16th.
Family Life Education (FLE) Instruction
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit.
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 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.
- Your child’s Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on November 28th at 6:00pm at Gunston Elementary. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
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 orientation packet at the beginning of the school year 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 your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction of the instructional units occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
FCPS will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources for the 2024-25 school year. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources.
You may access the resources in person and online from Wednesday, November 15, until Friday, December 15, at noon. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review webpage. Those reviewing instructional materials may complete an electronic comment sheet that will be available on the webpage during the review period.
Visit FCPS' website for instructions on how to view hard copies of the instructional materials at Pimmit Hills Center. The Elementary Language Arts team will be there to answer questions Friday, December 1, 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, December 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and School Board.
Special Education Resources for Families
Fairfax County Public Schools has the following resources available to assist families of students with special needs:
- The Office of Special Education Procedural Support helps staff, families, and students with the implementation of and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
- Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, provides information and support to caregivers and students regarding special education and Section 504 services. Contact the Ombuds Office by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing ombuds@fcps.edu.
Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has updated the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. This state guide was developed to help those involved in special education including families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students.
Student Attendance and Engagement
During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.
Data shows that:
- Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
- Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
- Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
- By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance is critical for academic success!
Missing School Over the Holidays
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. If it is an extended period of time, the specific assignments may not be available this far in advance. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener.
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions.
The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful.
Beginning in early December, individual student SEL Screener results will be available to families in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For more information about the screener please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or contact your student’s school.
Immunizations
Thank You Voters! 2023 School Bond Referendum Passed
Thank you to the Fairfax citizens who supported the 2023 Bond Referendum. Roughly 67% of those voting in the 2023 election supported the $435 million bond referendum, continuing a long history of school bond approvals in Fairfax County.
Stay engaged as we build our future. Keep up-to-date on construction and capital improvements across FCPS by visiting our Capital Improvement Project webpage.
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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.
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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!
Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season
Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and follow recommendations for when to keep them home due to illness. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.
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Our Lost & Found is overflowing!
Parents and students are encouraged to stop by the workroom across from the office to check for lost items.
Unclaimed clothing will be donated before Thanksgiving break.
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Tuesday - November 21 Turkey Trot
Wednesday - November 22 - Friday, November 24 Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday - November 28 FLE Family Night 6:00pm
Wednesday - November 29 Ernie Eagle Assembly
Tuesday - December 5 Grade 3 Field Trip
Tuesday - December 12 Winter Concert
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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