Greetings McNair Students and Families,
It has been a pleasure to witness the enthusiasm and engagement of our students in their learning journey this week! Throughout the week, our students actively participated in various learning opportunities and demonstrated a genuine eagerness to explore new concepts. It's inspiring to see our students embracing the challenges and embracing the joy of learning. Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work, creativity, and dedication.
In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to you, as families, for your continuous support and encouragement. Your partnership plays a vital role in fostering a love for learning among our students, and together, we contribute to their overall growth and development.
Looking ahead, please be sure to mark your calendars as we are excited about our upcoming events throughout the month of January! Please see more information in this edition of our newsletter in regards to our McNair Family Literacy Night, our January PTA Meeting, and Coffee with Principal Watson and Principal Goddin.. We hope you will be able to join us!
Thank you once again for being active participants on your child's journey in education. Enjoy the long weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday, Mustangs!
All the best,
Mrs. Watson and Mrs. O'Bryant
Please contact us with any questions!
Principal: Elizabeth Watson, evwatson@fcps.edu
Assistant Principal: Brandy O'Bryant, bmobryant@fcps.edu
🙋♂️ Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.
 .
|
Ms. Watson, Principal of McNair ES and Ms.Goddin, Principal of McNair Upper ES,cordially invite you to join us for our next Family Coffee Talk on Wednesday, January 31st at 9:00 AM at McNair Upper ES.
This month's topic is about "The Importance of Attending School, School Attendance Best Practices, and SEL Resources for Students & Families." These topics will be presented by our wonderful school counselors, Ms. Ford, Ms. Coe, Ms. Bradner, and Ms. Johnson. Special guests will be Ms. Neverdon, Social Worker, and Mr. Khanh Tran, Truancy Officer for the Westfield Pyramid.
We hope you are able to join us!
|
.
SNOW Better Time To Read!
Please join us for our Family Literacy Night, “SNOW Better Time To Read!” on Wednesday, January 31st from 4:30pm-6pm at McNair Elementary School. Students can wear pajamas or comfy clothing to school on the 31st and to the event.
Children, along with their parents or guardians, are invited to participate in activities featuring both reading and writing, with a focus on Science of Reading techniques and strategies. There will be a room where teachers are reading aloud to students, modeling the new read aloud structure that parents can use at home as they read to their child, as well as interactive activity stations and ideas for reinforcing reading, writing and phonics learning at home. In addition, please be sure to RSVP to this event here at this link. This will support our school team with knowing how many participants plan on attending so we can adequately prepare with supplies for the event. We hope that you will join us!
*All children must be accompanied by an adult to participate in this event.*
.
 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.
FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. The school division is excited to collaborate with Volunteer Fairfax for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Students and families can volunteer on Monday, January 15, at Volunteer Fairfax’s Give Together event. It is designed to engage families with children (ages 5-12) in service learning. Projects will include a food drive, assembling caring kits for community members who need support, making no-tie fleece blankets for veterans, environmental stewardship, and support for animal welfare.
Students ages 13 to 18 are welcome to serve as teen event volunteers. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Tutor.com offers more than help with homework! This on-demand tutoring service also provides a comprehensive range of resources including exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests at no cost to families.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time. If they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor for help through voice or chat options. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com webpage.
The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families/caregivers, educators, and community members. Visit us at the Dunn Loring Center for Family Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1, Room 105. Contact us at 703-204-3941 frc@fcps.edu.
We provide access to information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Those services include free consultations and resources, free webinars and workshops, a free lending library, and we maintain the FCPS tutor list. Contact us to get the list of FCPS employees who are available to tutor.
The Family Resource Center offers free, confidential in-person, videoconference, and phone consultations for families and FCPS staff. We can brainstorm strategies and possible solutions to help you address your concerns by drawing upon resources and support from FCPS, as well as community, state, and national centers. Contact us to set up an appointment.
The Family Resource Center Lending Library contains more than 10,000 books, eBooks, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children. We can send any materials to your child’s school or FCPS office.
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.
Click to view Ms. Burg's & Ms. Mallory's AAP January Newsletter.
In addition, check out the video created by Mrs. Burg, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, as she shares with you a few of the tools she hopes to use with your students in Thinking Lab! Please be sure to sign the Digital Resource Parent Consent so that your Mustang has access to these wonderful resources.
If you have any questions about Advanced Academics Programming at McNair, please email Ms. Burg at kmburg@fcps.edu.
.
 .
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
Please see below for opportunities to make donations to support McNair Elementary School! We greatly appreciate any contributions!
Please help us keep our staff lounges and teacher planning spaces stocked with individually wrapped healthy snack foods, beverages, and a few sweet treats for our awesome staff as a way to keep them energized as they educate and support our Mustangs!
Please sign-up for any of the items listed below and drop off any donations to the main office. The main office is open daily, Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm. Thank you for your partnership and supporting our AMAZING McNair Staff! Please click here to make a donation.
|
We are eager to begin some exciting learning opportunities with your students here at school and we need you help before we can start! We need you to complete the digital resource consent form to use FCPS approved online tools. All the tools and applications have been vetted and are approved for students to use. Check out the video created by Mrs. Burg, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, as she shares with you a few of the tools she hopes to use with your students in Thinking Lab!
Get Involved with the PTA!
The PTA supports our schools through help from our community. One way we do that is through the help of our wonderful volunteers! Whether you're available for an hour a year or an hour a week to pitch in - we have opportunities that meet everyone's busy schedule!
Support PTA: Become a Member or Volunteer
Please contact Miranda Butzlaff, our PTA President at president@mcnairespta.org if you want to know more information about our PTA and opportunities to get involved within our school community!
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.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Tutor.com Helps with More Than Homework
- Gap Year Fair
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
👍❤️ Follow Our School on Social Media!
Want to see more photos and videos of what’s going on at McNair Elementary School? Follow us on social media!
 Twitter Facebook Instagram
Please stay in touch with us by...
Mark your calendars!
As we navigate through our school year together, please mark the upcoming important dates on your calendar.
January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday (All Schools & Offices Closed)
January 15: Volunteer Opportunity At Fairfax’s Give Together Event
January 17: PTA Meeting 6:30-7:30 PM at McNair Upper ES
January 25: Quarter 2 Ends: (2 Hour Early Release For Students)
January 26: Teacher Workday (No School For Students)
January 31: Family Coffee Talk: Social Emotional Learning & Attendance Matters 9:00-10:00am at McNair Upper ES
January 31: "Snow Better Time to Read" Family Literacy Night 4:30-6:00pm at McNair Elementary School (Please RSVP!)
2023-2024 Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival begins at 8:35am. The school day begins at 8:45am.
Dismissal begins at 3:30 pm.
Thank you for your partnership and galloping together with us this school year!
|
