Clearview Community Connect

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

ይህንን ዜና መፅሄት በሌሎች ቋንቋዎች ለማንበብ፤ እባክዎን ድረ ገፃችንን ይጎብኙ

اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔


The Clearview Community Connect

Stronger together

Dear Clearview Families,  

Happy New Year!! We hope winter break was all you hoped it would be. Thank you for keeping morning and bedtime routines as consistent as possible. Access to consistent routines have been especially helpful as students adjusted back to Clearview this week from our winter break. It’s hard to believe it’s Friday already!

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or compliments you may have. If you have seen a Clearview staff member going above and beyond, fill out an FCPS Cares here.

Have a wonderful weekend and think snow!

Stephanie Almquist        Joshua Redford         Rachel Charlton  

Principal                         Assistant Principal     Assistant Principal

This week at Clearview


Conversation to Raise Awareness of Fentanyl and Other Drugs

Screenshot from Opioid Video

 

In this video, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid interviews the Fosters, a family who tragically lost their son Cayden to a half pill of fentanyl mistaken for Percocet. This heart-wrenching yet eye-opening video of their experience is essential to raise awareness among parents/caregivers and students about the dangers of fake painkillers.

Please join Dr. Reid on Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Edison High School for a community conversation about opioid awareness. You may register to attend. However, registration is not required; it is simply for space considerations. 

The evening’s program is appropriate for parents/caregivers and students in grades 6-12. All attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.   

FCPS’ website also has resources to help you to start the conversation and additional support for families struggling with substance misuse. 



Dual Language Immersion Program Registration

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. 

Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16

A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.

Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.



Safe Students, Safe Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools believes that academic success is built on the foundation of a safe learning environment. This includes physical safety, and mental health and wellness. 

FCPS has a comprehensive approach to safety that involves physical security measures, online monitoring by security staff, and crisis intervention support. The division has created the Safe Students, Safe Schools Brochure (PDF) to enhance your awareness of potential hazards and to equip you with practical tips for how you can help. Visit the FCPS website for more information.



Math Week: Help FCPS Reach 1 Million Minutes of Math

FCPS Family Math Week starts on Monday, January 8! Participate in games and stories online. FCPS is working toward a total of 1 million minutes logged by families. The event is free, with activities from ST Math geared toward students in grades K-6 and their families. 

Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a fun and positive way. All content will be available for families in English and Spanish beginning Monday, January 8. Visit the Math Week website



Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begins This Month!

Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.

A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.

Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.

***If you have a child in grade 5 or 6, this is the optimal time to learn about these programs.



Three Kings Day/Epiphany, January 6

Happy Three Kings Day to those in our community who celebrate! This year's Three Kings Day artwork was created by Oakton High School student Roan V.  Also known as the Epiphany, Three Kings Day commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn Jesus. This marks the official 12th day of Christmas. Learn more at National Geographic Kids.

3 kings day

This artwork was designed as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students. Learn more about the challenge: https://bit.ly/47oHw2j



Orthodox Christmas

Orthodox Christmas

Many Orthodox Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the son of God. Learn more facts about Christmas from National Geographic Kids.



Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday

As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete school year calendar.

MLK Day


Orthodox Epiphany

In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi. It is believed that Christ's baptism by John the Forerunner (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan began Christ's ministry on earth and revealed the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to mankind. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.



Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week is January 15-21

Each year, the Governor of Virginia makes a proclamation naming this week as Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week. See the 2023 proclamation as an example.



Quarter End, Early Release, and Student Holiday

Thursday, January 25, is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Friday, January 26, for a teacher work day. See the complete school year calendar.



January is National Mentoring Month

National Mentoring Month

Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month

Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.

All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.

FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu



Tech Talk

 

Digital Learning Resources on Clearview's Public Webpage

Clearview's website is now home to a treasure trove of digital learning resources meticulously curated to enrich your child's educational journey. Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of education, we understand the importance of providing dynamic tools that engage and inspire our young learners. Our website proudly boasts a diverse array of interactive platforms, educational games, and supplemental materials designed to reinforce classroom lessons and foster independent learning. We invite you to explore this virtual learning hub, accessible from the comfort of your own home, and discover the wealth of resources tailored to meet the unique needs of our Clearview students. Your partnership in fostering a love for learning is invaluable, and we are confident that these digital resources will serve as valuable companions in your child's academic exploration.

Click here to be directed to our Student Technology page. 

Click here to be directed to our Digital Learning Tools page.

🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.

Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

 



Save the date

Important Dates

1/11 School Dance-Additional information below

1/15 School is closed! (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday)

1/17 PTA Meeting, 7pm, Library and Virtual

1/25 Two-hour early dismissal

1/26 School is closed! (Teacher Workday)

2/8 Family Coffee, 9am, Cafeteria



PTA

Mark your calendars 

Tues., Jan. 9: Spirit Night at MOD Pizza, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Thurs., Jan. 11: Winter Dance from 6-8 p.m. in the Clearview gym

Wed., Jan. 17: PTA Member Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Clearview library

 

Enjoy some pizza on Tuesday and support the 6th grade celebration

Our next spirit night is just a few weeks away. Join us on Tues., Jan. 9 anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. at MOD Pizza (494 Elden Street, Suite 200 in the Sprouts/LA Fitness shopping center). 

 

You should have received a flyer in this week’s Tuesday folders. In case you missed it (or already recycled it!), we’ll post it on our PTA website and our Facebook Group: The Buzz: Clearview Elementary PTA (Herndon, VA). Show the digital “flyer” (or use code MODGIVES20 for online orders) and we’ll receive 20% of your bill to apply towards the 6th grade end-of-year celebration. 

 

See you at the Winter Dance on Thursday

Shake off the winter weather and put on your dancing shoes! Join your classmates in the gym this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. for dancing and fun. Buses will depart from the Berkdale apartments at 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. and will depart from Clearview at 8:00 and 8:15 p.m.

 

Be sure to bring: (1) non-perishable food items or winter gear (coats, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves) as your dance entry and (2) cash if you’d like to purchase drinks and snacks. The dance entry donations will be delivered to a local non-profit and the snack sale proceeds will go towards the 6th grade year-end celebration. Not sure what food items are most needed? Canned fruits and veggies, peanut butter, jelly, beans, and brown rice are always appreciated!

 

Come to the next PTA meeting

Our January meeting is on Wed. the 17th at 7 p.m. in the library—come join us! Our special guest is Kari Kain who will give us a tour of the library and talk to us about how our children select books to check out. Thank you to Carla Falconi who will be again interpreting for our Spanish-speaking families.

 

Our February meeting on the 21st at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria will include a “summer camp fair” where you’ll have the opportunity to meet with local providers. Registrations often start in Jan./Feb. so it’s not too early to start planning for your child’s summer activities. We’ve got a great line-up so far—Herndon Parks & Recreation, Claude Moore Recreation & Community Center, Reston YMCA, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Skatequest—and we’re continuing to reach out to more places. If you have a favorite camp that you’d like us to contact, let us know at ClearviewElementaryPTA@gmail.com.

 

Hope your new year is off to a great start!

Your Clearview PTA Board: Christine Graham (president), Nakisha Dixon (treasurer), Ryan Herb (secretary), Amana Katora (head of programs), and Brian Kelley (head of fundraising).



Quick Links