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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.
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
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Upcoming Events
- Nov. 21 - Parent Coffee, 10am
- Nov. 22-24 Thanksgiving Break
- Dec. 18 - Jan 1 - Winter Break
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Principal's Corner
Dear Garfield Eagles,
We had wonderful week at Garfield!
Our 5th graders, in coordination with Casey Trees, planted 29 trees in our courtyard and playground area. Students learned how to identify different trees based on the characteristics of some leaves and seeds.
Mrs. Dodge and Ms. Pooja collaborated as a group with their Kindergarten students to show what they learned about squirrels! They used the critical creative thinking (CCT) strategy called MindMapping. Mindmaps use lots of color, pictures and are centered around a main idea!
Mark you calendars! Please make plans to join us at our next parent coffee on Tuesday, Nov. 21st at 10AM in the cafeteria. We will see a performance from our 2nd grade and Kindergarten students. You will not want to miss important updates from our School Counselor, Ms. Dougherty and our AART, Ms. Jenkins.
This will also be a wonderful time to meet our new Family Liaison, Ms. Melody Wheatley. Ms. Wheatley has supported FCPS for many years in a variety of roles. We welcome her wealth knowledge to support and connect our families to Garfield and the community! You may have already seen her at Kiss and Ride welcoming your Eagles to school.
Our 60th day of school will be on Monday, November 20th! We are participating with a spirit day! We are dressing up like it's the 1960s! Encourage your child to embrace the 60's style - think tie-dye, bell bottoms, and flower power! Students can also choose to wear a colorful t-shirt or Garfield spirit wear! Let's make memories together!
Next week, we will only have school on Monday and Tuesday as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. Please review the FCPS calendar linked at the bottom of this newsletter for more information.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
All the best,
April L. Cage, NBCT, M.Ed.
Principal
Mr. Larry Jones
Interim Assistant Principal
Parent Coffee, Tuesday Nov. 21 at 10AM
Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 22-24th
Federal Impact Aid Forms Due Now - Online!
Impact Aid Forms have also been sent home in your student's Friday Folder. It is very important that a form is filled out for each student here at Garfield. If you have questions, please reach out to Darlene Deese djdeese@fcps.edu, our Impact Aid Coordinator.
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, we have provided a paper copy in your child's backpack. Please be sure to return paper forms by Friday, November 17. The electronic form will continue to be available in SIS ParentVUE until January 2024.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Once logged in to SIS ParentVUE, click “Online Packets” in the top right corner. Then, select “Federal Impact Aid Survey.” Get more information.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. Find out how to get technical support for ParentVUE.
Spanish:Encuesta Sobre el Impacto de las Ayudas Federales: Disponible En Línea Este AñoFCPS está pidiendo a todas las familias que llenen una Encuesta de Ayuda de Impacto Federal. Para hacerlo más fácil, el formulario ahora está disponible en línea en SIS ParentVUE.
Completar este formulario para cada niño en edad escolar en cada hogar es importante porque la información de esta encuesta resulta en $3 millones adicionales en subvenciones cada año del Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos. Estos fondos se utilizan para apoyar a todas las escuelas y centros públicos del condado de Fairfax.
Una vez que haya iniciado sesión en SIS ParentVUE, haga clic en "Paquetes en línea" en la esquina superior derecha. A continuación, seleccione "Federal Impact Aid Survey" (Encuesta de Ayuda de Impacto Federal). Obtenga más información.
¿Necesita Registrarse para ParentVUE?
Aprenda cómo activar su cuenta SISParentVUE, para que pueda enviar fácilmente su encuesta. Averigüe cómo obtener asistencia técnica para ParentVUE.
Outstanding Employee Awards!
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Garfield Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination form through this Google form link:
https://forms.gle/aVfs9G5xV1PanCgy8
The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 14, 2023!
If you have any questions, please contact Michele Neville at mlneville@fcps.edu
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. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below:
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are including in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal); Common positions in this category include Assistant or Associate Principals Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership; Common positions in this category include School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as a Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee; Common positions in this category include Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHTA, PHA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category).
The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 14, 2023!
If you have any questions, please contact Michele Neville at mlneville@fcps.edu
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Thank You Voters!
2023 School Bond Referendum Passed
Thank you to the Fairfax citizens who supported the 2023 Bond Referendum. Some of the money from the bond vote is expected to fund the next phase of our school’s construction project.
Roughly 67% of those voting in the 2023 election supported the $435 million bond referendum, continuing a long history of support 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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🙋 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. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
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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
Garfield School Safety and Security
We take the security of our students and our staff very seriously. All exterior doors are locked during the school day as well as the gates allowing access to the playground and blacktop. Visitors are required to ring the bell at Door #1 to gain access to the main office. Every visitor/adult who enters the building is monitored.
If you plan on entering the school building, you must bring with you a valid Driver’s License OR Photo ID/Passport to sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building. Visitors will need to check-out at the main office upon leaving and discard the sticker. We will not be able to allow visitors into the building without proper ID. FCPS Office of Safety and Security requires this procedure to keep all students and staff safe.
Additionally, to maintain the momentum of instruction, items brought to the office during school hours (lunch, supplies, homework, etc.) will be held in the office for students to pick up during instructional breaks.
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What is ParentVue and How You Can Sign Up
If you do not already have a ParentVUE SIS account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to monitor your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessments score reports.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. SIS ParentVUE can be accessed using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks you through the steps on how to do so. You can also find out more about SIS ParentVUE on our website.
✨ 2023-30 Strategic Plan — 📖 Students Reading by the Third Grade
Successfully Completing Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade
Helping students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade is part of our Strategic Plan (Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence). Algebra Access Network Improvement Community (AANIC) is working to increase the diverse representation of students who take advanced math classes and succeed in them. This video shares more about the AANIC cohorts at Kilmer and Key middle schools and lets students explain why Algebra matters to them.
Passing Algebra 1 earlier allows for students to take more advanced classes like Dual Enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These advanced courses help students succeed in college. A recent study from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that completing Algebra 1 by grade eight led to 30% more ninth graders and 16% more 11th graders taking advanced courses.
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Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
Title I at Garfield ES
Title I is the nation’s largest assistance program for schools. It provides funding to supplement
educational opportunities for children who are most at risk and increasing student achievement
in schools selected on the basis of the economic level of families. The primary focus is to
ensure student access to provide all children significant opportunities to receive a fair,
equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
To learn more about the Title I program at Garfield ES, click here
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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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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 will welcome and orient families, and help 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.
School Hours and General Information
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Our school hours are from 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Monday through Friday. School doors open at 9:05 a.m. each day to begin receiving students.
Please call the attendance line at 703-923-2929 to report a tardy or absence.
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Garfield PTA
2022-23 School Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
- Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays.
- Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked).
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the start of each month coincides with the birth of a new moon. The date of Eid a- Fitr is regionally decided, which can lead to unexpected date changes. Eid al-Fitr is currently slated to begin at sunset on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and last through sundown Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Tuesday is designated a half-O day, and Wednesday is a holiday, with all schools and offices being closed. If the day for Eid changes after the school year begins, the calendar may be adjusted
Find us on Social Media!
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
• 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
• Visit the Garfield ES Website
• Report your Child's Absence
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Join the Garfield PTA
• Recognize a FCPS Employee at FCPS CARES . The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Garfield Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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