 Thank you to our OES PTA and the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation for a wonderful night of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math!
At a time set aside for expressing gratitude for all that we have, we are especially appreciative of our staff and faculty who continually strive to bring the best instructional program to our students each day; our students who continue to grow in their knowledge, effort, and character; and our parents who support our school and community. Thank you!
On behalf of the staff at OES, we hope your Thanksgiving is filled with family, good food, and many reasons to be thankful.
Sincerely,
Chris Kelley, Keith Eck & Abby Holzinger
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 Bravo! Mrs. Campbell's 3rd grade class performed "Plays of Imagination" for parents. Their creativity and enthusiasm brought a smile to our faces.
 Hats off to Mrs. Strzemienski! We see you;) She makes learning fun for her kindergarten students.
 Lost and Found
Do you recognize any of your child’s items in these pictures?
Please remind your children to collect their belongings or parents, come on in to get it as soon as you can!
Any items remaining on Friday, December 15, will be donated over Winter Break.
Attendance
As we enter the holiday season, we want to remind parents about the importance of children attending school every day.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. 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!
Reminder: Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2023
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to <<fill in the name and email address of the AART or principal>> no later than December 15, 2023.
The window for families to submit a referral for full-time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will 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 Ellen Donnelly ejdonnelly@fcps.edu or Christine Neubauer cmplagataneu@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.
It is time to start thinking about the OES 2024 Variety Show! The 2024 Olympics themed show will be held March 7 and 8, with mandatory full rehearsals after school on February 29, March 4 & 6. Weekly rehearsals for acts will begin in January, with auditions December 5 & 6. Please read the Sign-Up Genius carefully for more information about independent acts for all ages and emcee and tech crew opportunities for 6th graders: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A49ADA72AA75-46088428-variety#/
Sign-ups for group acts, including dance, singing, and bucket drumming are coming soon!
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Family Life Education (FLE)
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in K-3 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 accordance with the Code of Virginia, all FLE lessons (grades K-12 and modified) are available for parent/guardian review:
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Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for.
- Parents/guardians log onto Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
- A folder, Parent Preview - FLE Instruction within the Parent Course in Schoology contains links to the lessons, slide presentations, and media for which FCPS has purchased streaming rights. Some media titles may only be available for parents to view at the school.
You are invited to virtually attend an evening opportunity to hear an overview of Family Life Education and how to access the lessons through Schoology. The virtual meeting will be held on Monday, November 20 at 6:00 p.m. using the following link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97120481138?from=addon
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. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s teacher 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 occurs at various times for the instructional units during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction.
Parents & Students! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!
Come to the Free Children’s Safety Awareness and Self-Defense workshop at Oakton Elementary School on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:30PM.
As a way of giving back to his previous elementary school, and to help OES students and families learn positive ways to be safer, BSA Troop 987 Eagle Scout candidate Benjamin (Ben) Miller will be offering a Children’s Safety Awareness and Self-Defense workshop for OES students and their parents.
This fun, age-appropriate workshop will cover key elements of the NCMEC “Kid Smartz” and “Netsmartz” safety programs on how kids can stay safe, will offer easy quick-release techniques to get out of a difficult situation, and address online safety and recognizing/managing cyberbullying. Local Law Enforcement Child-ID service will be present as well!
Most appropriate for students in grade 4-6.
The free workshop at OES will run from 6:30PM to 7:30PM the evening of Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
We will even have a pizza and juice break afterward!
Please email Ben with questions at benamsemail@gmail.com We really hope to see you there.
Important upcoming dates for OES:
November 20 - FLE Parent Information Session - 6:00PM, Virtual
November 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break - School & Office Closed
November 29 - Children's Safety Awareness and Self-Defense Workshop (presented by Eagle Scout Candidate, Ben Miller) - 6:30PM, OES Library
December 1 - Guys Night Out (Grade 5 & 6 Boys) - 6:00PM, OES
December 4-8 - Inclusive Schools Week
December 13 - Band/Chorus Concert - 6:30PM, OES Gym
December 15 - PTA Meeting - 8:30AM, OES Library
December 15 - Full-time AAP Referral Deadline
December 18-January 1 - Winter Break - School & Office Closed
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