Oak View Review

Bookworm Central Book Fair - THIS WEEK

Oak View is excited for the return of our annual Bookworm Central Book Fair! Our Book Fair will run from December 4 - December 8 and students will attend with their classes. Volunteers are always needed for this week-long event and check here for signup!

Principal Coffee - Wednesday

Oak View invites all parent and guardians to join us Wednesday, December 6 at 9:30 a.m. Our presentation topic will include Social Emotional Learning (SEL) of our students and how we foster growth of SEL throughout the school day.

Please join us to:

• Participate in a Morning Meeting
• Learn about social wellness supports at Oak View
• Meet members of the Oak View Student Support Team

See you Wednesday in the cafeteria at 9:30 a.m.!

Food Drive Continues This Week

Oak View's Student Leadership Team has partnered with Food for Others and will continue to collect non-perishable food items again this week through December 14. Students can drop off items in boxes located in the front lobby. Please do not sent glass containers to school. 

After only one week, the boxes are already overflowing and we welcome even more!

Thank you for your help donating to the needs of families within our community. 

Join us Wednesday Evening for an introduction to Loving Solutions to Challenging Behaviors

Oak View has partnered with other Robinson Pyramid schools to bring an impactful parent/guardian workshop to our community titled Loving Solutions.

Join us on Wednesday, December 6 at 5 p.m. in the Terra Centre Elementary Cafeteria to learn more about this exciting 10-week, mostly virtual, family workshop coming to the Robinson pyramid this winter. Would you like to improve communication and create a space of harmony at home?  If so, you need some Loving Solutions! This program is designed especially for families with strong-willed 5- to 10-year-olds, and, as parents know, this age can be challenging. The creators of Loving Solutions call the program’s workbook “The Manual the Hospital Forgot to Give You,” and it’s packed with effective strategies and tools to support parenting in a positive and loving way. This information evening is free and if you elect to participate in the 10-week learning series, there will be a nominal workbook fee.

We hope to see you on December 6 at 5:00 p.m. in the Terra Centre Elementary Cafeteria.

Peter Pan Jr. Sign Up - DEADLINE WEDNESDAY!

Oak View reminds all 6th grade students that the deadline to sign up for Peter Pan Jr is Wednesday, December 6.  Complete the Google Form today! This includes stage roles and behind-the-scenes roles.  Depending on the role, students who want to work on stage crew can still be on stage. Encourage your child to audition!

**Students will not be accepted after December 6, so sign up soon!

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 keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.

Winter Student Birthday? Consider a Birthday Book Donation to OV Library

Does your child have an upcoming winter birthday? We invite you to donate a book to our school library in your child’s honor during their birthday month! The book you purchase will receive a bookplate inside indicating the book was purchased in honor of your child’s birthday. Please see current wish list and book purchasing guidelines listed in Friday Folder Flyer linked here. 

You are also welcome to purchase the book from any local bookstore. Bard’s Alley, Scrawl Books, and One More Page Books would all be willing to order and ship books. 

If you wish to purchase something not on this list, please email our school librarian, Mrs. Atkins first (mfatkins@fcps.edu). All books in the library must follow the acquisitions guidelines from FCPS. 

This is a completely optional activity and one we thank you for considering. All student birthdays are recognized at Oak View through their name on the morning announcements and a post card and birthday pencil from administration. Oak View does not permit food celebrations due to severe and life-threatening food allergies. 

Elementary English Language Arts Basal Resources

📚 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.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices. 

The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.

In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.

Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school. 

Weather Closures in FCPS

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and plan for childcare if needed.

World Languages Survey - DUE Dec. 8

🌏 World Languages Offerings in Elementary Schools Survey

Fairfax County Public Schools is considering expansion of our Dual Language Immersion programs to include new languages and school sites, as well as an expansion of new languages for our Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools program.

Parents/caregivers, please share your thoughts about expanding World Languages elementary program offerings. An FCPS survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Urdu, and Vietnamese. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey is optional and will close on Friday, December 8.

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!

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

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. 

• The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Sign up for their newsletter. Contact the FRC at frc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-2941.

• 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.

Good News Around FCPS

Oak View is glad to share the good news happening around FCPS in this section. Each week check back for happenings around FCPS!

• 11/30/23 Fairfax Times - Local high school enters the Metallica Marching Band Competition

The vote is on until the end of December for fan-favorite marching band renditions of some of Metallica’s hardest-hitting classics in a contest called “For Whom The Band Tolls.” The Oakton High School Marching Cougars entered the contest under the category of high school bands with less than 75 members. Fans can vote online, but ultimately, Metallica band members will select the winning performance.

• 11/28/23 WTOP - Oakton High School students launch high-powered rocket to 34,195 feet — higher than many airplanes

Students at Oakton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, have reached soaring heights through a student rocketry program, launching a high-powered rocket 34,195 feet into the sky.

• 11/27/23 WTOP - Why burpees, laps and aerobic bowling start the day at this Fairfax Co. elementary school

For 12 years, dozens of kids at Chesterbrook Elementary School in McLean, Virginia, have hit the gym an hour before class to get their energy up and learn lifelong fitness habits and skills.

• 11/27/23 NBC Washington - Fairfax County teacher encourages students to be fitness warriors

A teacher in McLean, Virginia, has students so excited about fitness that they’re willing to come an hour early to do their exercises.