Upcoming Events
Nov 21st – PTA Spirit Night, McDonald’s, Kings Park
Nov 22nd – School Closed, SACC Open
Nov 22nd, 23rd & 24th – Thanksgiving Holiday, No School
Nov 27th – 30th – Book Fair, Library, Open after school from 3:30 – 5:30 pm each day
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.
Thanksgiving Message from Mrs. Aspuria
Dear Ravensworth Families and Community,
I want to take a moment to wish all of you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Personally, I continue to be very grateful to be a part of such a supportive and caring school community. I feel confident saying that your children truly bring joy to the staff and me every day! This year my husband and I are looking forward to spending time with our daughters and savoring these family moments as they continue to grow and get older. Quality time focusing on family is important during the holidays and I have asked all Ravensworth staff members to keep this in mind over the break as well. Please know that our staff will not be answering emails during the Thanksgiving break so that they can use this time to relax and recharge. We will be ready and eager to assist you once we return. Whatever your plans are, home or away, please have a peaceful yet festive respite and make the time to focus on your family!
Sincerely,
Erika Aspuria
Principal
Kiss and Ride Reminders
We recently have noticed more families dropping off their children in the Kiss and Ride loop. To ensure the safety of your child and others, please drop your child off between 8:20- 8:35 am. Those students who arrive after 8:35 am must be walked into the building by the adult bringing them. Thank you for your cooperation.
Reminder: Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15th
Mrs. Trumbull is offering an optional mini- conference via Zoom for families who would like to touch base before submitting their referral. These 15 minute conferences are to look over and answer questions about Full-Time AAP Referrals. She cannot comment on what to include, but can confirm everything is included and formatted correctly. You can sign up here.
General information about Full-Time Referrals:
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 Mrs. Trumbull, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at astrumbull@fcps.edu 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 Mrs. Trumbull at astrumbull@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.
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Winter Break Enrichment Opportunity
We have an exciting Winter break learning opportunity for FCPS students. ACE has launched a new STEM kit program for students (grades 3-5) focused on extending learning when students are out of school. ACE is offering a comprehensive STEM kit that includes five exciting projects and fifteen learning activities. And better yet, all materials are included! ACE STEM Kits will surely stimulate curiosity and engage students in the rapidly growing area of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Order now at: https://bit.ly/FCPSACE_STEM_Kits
Students 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. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Asistencia y Participación Estudiantil
Durante el segmento de Asuntos Académicos de la reunión de la Junta Escolar del 9 de noviembre, la Superintendente Dra. Michelle Reid habló sobre la asistencia y el compromiso de los estudiantes. Las tasas de asistencia y absentismo son una medida del Objetivo 2 de nuestro Plan Estratégico 2023-30.
Absentismo crónico - que se define como un estudiante que falta 10% o más de la escuela por cualquier razón - es una preocupación en todos los distritos escolares de Virginia. Aunque FCPS sigue superando el promedio del estado en tasas de asistencia, estamos siguiendo el ausentismo crónico de cerca.
Los datos muestran que:
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Faltar solo 10% de la escuela - solo dos días al mes - afecta negativamente el rendimiento académico de un estudiante.
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Sólo el 17% de los estudiantes que estuvieron crónicamente ausentes tanto en el kindergarten como en el primer grado estaban leyendo de manera competente en el tercer grado, en comparación con el 64% de los que tenían buena asistencia.
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Los estudiantes que no logran leer al nivel de su grado al final del tercer grado tienen cuatro veces más probabilidades de abandonar la escuela secundaria que los estudiantes que logran la competencia.
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Para el sexto grado, el ausentismo crónico se convierte en un indicador principal de que un estudiante abandonará la escuela secundaria.
¡La asistencia es fundamental para el éxito académico! Faltando a la Escuela Durante los Días Festivos Si no puede evitar faltar a clase durante los días festivos, hable por adelantado con los maestros de su hijo para crear un plan para recuperar el trabajo perdido. Sin embargo, un paquete de tareas no puede compensar la interacción y el aprendizaje que ocurre en el salón de clases.
Visite el sitio web de FCPS para más recursos sobre la asistencia.
How Can Families Support Student Attendance?
● Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
● Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
● Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up.
● Monitor your child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
● Encourage your teen to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
● If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to their teacher, school counselor, and other parents for guidance and support.
Positivity Project
This week our school community will continue to focus on the character strength of Gratitude. Gratitude means you are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
Gratitude is the quality of feelings and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world and that we have received that goodness. People with the strength of gratitude have a readiness to show appreciation for kindness and also to return kindness. A leading expert, Robert Emmons, calls gratitude a “relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
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.
PTA
PTA Bookfair
Dear Families!
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way – Yay! When our kids choose their own books, it empowers them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers! AND – as always – every purchase at the Book Fair benefits Ravensworth and our Ravens!
Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from November 27-30, 2023 in the Ravensworth ES Library. Your child will have the opportunity to preview and shop with their class during the day, with the Book Fair open to the General Public from 3:30 – 5:30 pm, November 27-30, 2023.
Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet – your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, be sure to set-up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy!
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online starting November 21 until December 4, 2023. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is FREE for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school, earning us 25% in Scholastic Dollars to use towards our school library!
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/ravensworth.
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Happy Reading Ravens,
Erika Aspuria
Principal
Ravensworth Elementary School
Volunteers Needed for PTA Bookfair
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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