Monday, December 18, to
Monday, January 1, 2024,
Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 2
The Coates ES Office will be closed during winter break.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
🎄 A very Merry Christmas to those in our community who celebrate! Christmas is an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the person who stands at the heart of the Christian tradition. It is celebrated in many unique ways across the U.S. and the world, most commonly by the joyous giving of gifts. Learn more about Christmas.
 
Visitor Check-in - It is best practice for all visitors to state the reason for the visit and to show a photo ID before being provided access to the school building during school hours. This additional layer of security will be strictly enforced when we return from the holiday break on January 2nd.
Please know that you will not be allowed access to the school building without a photo ID. We appreciate the cooperation of our entire school community as we hold this expectation for the safety of our students.
 During arrival, all walkers should go through Door 1 to gain access to the building. If students are in trailers, they can go directly to their class if they are arriving from the back field. Only students are permitted to walk to the trailers. In order to ensure safety, we require all other people accompanying students to check in the main office to gain access to the school, including the trailers. Please do not approach the trailers with your child.
Walker dismissal will continue to be at Door 3 by the playground. Parents/siblings who pick up walkers must be at the walker door in the designated area (shown on the map above) and not waiting by the trailers or other doors. If your child's classroom is in a trailer, please wait in the designated area for your child to dismiss from their classroom. These procedures will allow staff to continue to supervise non-student visitors during arrival and dismissal times.
Invitations may be distributed at school only if your child is inviting the entire class. If your child is inviting only some students, they will not be permitted to hand out invitations at school. The office is not permitted to give out addresses or phone numbers of students.
Birthday treats need to be individually wrapped, in a sealed package, with no nuts and enough for the whole class. We encourage healthy snacks instead of traditional sugar filled treats.
Plans to send birthday treats should be made in advance with the classroom teacher. Treats will be eaten during lunch. No balloons or goody bags are allowed.
When we return from the holiday break, we will institute a daily “Study Hall” opportunity for students in grade 3-6. The Study Hall will be supervised by grade level teachers and will occur during the regularly scheduled lunch as an opportunity for students to get additional help from teachers, re-take assessments, complete outstanding work, and also as a logical consequence for misbehaviors in the lunch room. Given the anticipated frequency of this support, parents will not receive notification when their students attend unless there are patterns of behavior that need to be communicated. We are looking forward to providing this additional structure to support the success of our students. Feel free to contact grade level teachers directly with any follow-up questions you might have.
Residential households are eligible to receive free at-home COVID-19 test kits. If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, you may place two orders now.
Get ready for Virtual Math Week from Monday, January 8, through Friday, January 12. Save the date for a week filled with stories, games, and math activities, in English and Spanish, for families with students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
This is a free experience designed to make math fun for the whole family. Learn more about FCPS Math Week.
⛄Student and Family Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit our winter resources webpage for links to academic support; mental health support; and food, clothing, housing, and other county resources.
School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue!
FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures.
Promoting Mental Wellness During Winter BreakAlthough mental health indicators have improved over the past year, Fairfax County Youth Survey (FCYS) data suggest that more than 25% of students in 8th to 12th grade feel sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more in a row. The holidays can be a time to reduce stress, but they can also contribute to it. Here are some tips for making winter break a positive time for the young people in your life.
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18th-Jan.1st- Winter Break
25th- Christmas Day (holiday)
1st- New Years Day- No School
3rd & 4th- VGA Math Test- Gr. 3rd-6th
10th- PTA Meeting- 6-6:30pm & New Family Orientation 6:30-7:30pm
15th- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day- No School
25th- End of 2nd Quarter- 2 hour early release
26th- Teacher Work Day- No school for students
*The full FCPS 2023-2024 calendar can be accessed here.
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