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 100 days wiser and twice as cute! Kindergarteners rockin' the 100th day of school style for their big celebration!
February 13: PTA Family Science Night - 6:00-7:30PM
February 17: Woodson Pyramid Stringapalooza - Woodson High School - 2:15PM
February 19: No School - Presidents Day
February 20: Equity Book Club & C.U.B. Club - 3:15PM
February 26: Frost MS Special Services Parent Information Session - Lecture Hall - 6:00PM-7:00PM (Overview of Special Education Services)
February 27: PTA Family Dinner Night - Wendy’s
March 1: SCA Spirit Day: Bright Colors
March 5: Student Holiday - Staff Planning Day
March 6: PTA Meeting - 6:30PM
March 22: End of 3rd Quarter
March 25-29: Spring Break
April 1-2: Student Holidays
 Today, Ms. Ly, 3rd grade teacher, brought Lunar New Year tranditions to life in her classroom! Ms. Ly shared red envelopes filled with lucky money with her students. They learned about the tradition of wishing good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead! Happy New Year to everyone celebrating!
Overview of this Issue
New This Week
1. Message from Mrs. Miller
2. PTA Family Science Night - February 13
3. Bike Riding Unit for Grades K-2
4. Green Team Update: Trash or Treasure
5. PTA Family Dinner Night at Wendy’s
6. FCPS Lexia Parent Night
7. Tutor.com Teacher Referred Tutoring
8. Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
9. Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps
Reminders
10. Black History Month
11. Equity Book Club & C.U.B. Club
12. OC Staff Shout-outs
13. Bears in the Spotlight
14. OC Staff Spotlights
15. Olde Creek Opportunities
16. The Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser Continues!
17. Contacts
18. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
 Our first graders celebrated the 101st day of school today decked out in black and white! They got to reflect on their learning for the last 101 days!
Updates
1. Message from Mrs. Miller
Dear Olde Creek Families and Friends,
We had an exciting week at Olde Creek as we celebrated the 100th day of school! Our students had a variety of activities across our grade levels and were able to complete challenges related to the number 100. Students and staff were able to sign a banner in our main lobby once they completed a challenge. It was a fun day celebrating our 100th day!
Thank you to our families who joined us for our PTA Bingo Night! It was a thrilling night of bingo, prizes, and community fun! We appreciate our volunteers who made it a great success! We hope to see many of our families at our PTA Family Science Night on Tuesday evening. Please come out and join us for engaging science activities, we know it will be a night filled with curiosity, adventure, and excitement!
This week is National School Counseling Week which highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and planning for a career. Our school counselor, Cameron Boster, supports students in a variety of ways throughout the school day. You will see him teaching classroom lessons, doing small group counseling, or individual counseling. We are thankful for the support that Mr. Boster provides to our Bears, staff, and families! Thank you, Mr. Boster!
There has been an increase in unsafe driving practices on Old Creek Drive. Our priority is the safety of students, staff, and parents during arrival and dismissal. Traffic patterns must be followed, no U-turns on Old Creek Drive, and if you are driving your child to school, use Kiss and Ride only. We continue to receive concerns about driveways being blocked and illegal U-turns occuring. As a reminder, parking is not allowed within 10 feet of driveways. Please contact our main office if you have questions about arrival and dismissal procedures.
This week, we welcomed Ms. Maureen Boland, a FCPS retired administrator, to Olde Creek to help support as I start to transition to my new school. We appreciate Ms. Boland joining our team during this transition.
We look forward to seeing our Bears back on Monday! We hope you will be able to join us on Tuesday evening for our PTA Family Science Night!
With much gratitude,
Melissa Miller, Principal
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal
Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal
2. PTA Family Science Night - February 13
The Children’s Science Center Lab is bringing their Family Science Night Program to Olde Creek Elementary School! Family Science Night offers a variety of engaging, hands-on science activities such as: Finding Fossils: A Classification Mystery, Magnets at Work: Everyday Uses, Slippery Slopes: Exploring Water Pollution, among many others. These experiments are specially designed to help encourage students to take interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, as well as to encourage students to develop curiosity in everyday life situations.
Exhibits are open from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This is a drop-in event, so food will not be provided. We anticipate families will come by for 30-45 minutes to go through the exhibits, so please plan to eat before or after the event.
Please note: this is not a drop off event, parents/guardians must be present.
Volunteers are needed from 5:15 – 7:45 p.m. to set up, assist students with activities, and clean up. Sign up here to volunteer. We hope to see you there!
3. Bike Riding Unit for Grades K-2
Our bike riding unit in PE for Kinder- 2nd grade students will start on the week of February 12th and end March 1st. We take all the precautions to make sure that our students will be safe the entire time they ride, including wearing hairnets, helmets, and teaching students proper bike safety. Since having a properly fitted helmet is so important in keeping people safe, we do ask that all students with longer hair wear it in a way that a helmet can still fit over it properly (for example, a low ponytail instead of a high ponytail, etc). Also, students are allowed to bring their own helmet. Lastly, we ask that students don’t wear long dresses or excessively baggy clothing, as we don’t want it to get caught in the chain of the bike. Thanks for helping your student to have the most success possible!
Mrs. Alonso and Ms. Capri
OCES PE Teachers
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4. Green Team Update: Trash or Treasure
We are excited to announce the Trash to Treasure program that is starting at Olde Creek on Monday! Students can help reduce waste by putting their candy wrappers, gum wrappers, snack and chip bags, granola bar wrappers, and foil based packing into the special trash to treasure box that will be located in our school lobby.
Please save these items at home and send them to school with your child. All of these items will be used to make new products. Thank you for supporting our students as they learn to be ethical and global citizens! For more information check out the flier.
5. Family Dinner Night at Wendy’s - February 27
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Grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Main Street Wendy's on February 27th to raise money for the PTA! When purchasing your meal, mention your with OCES PTA to receive 20% of your meal’s price donated back to the PTA. Click here for more information.
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6. FCPS Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read
FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools to use as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support, and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.Attend an information night on Monday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m., at Thoreau Middle School. Parents/caregivers will learn more about Lexia, and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom and supporting student growth in reading. Attendees will also get tips for supporting their students at home.
Register to attend or submit a question in advance. Unable to attend in person? Join on Zoom.
Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade.
7. Tutor.com Teacher-Referred Tutoring
Through Schoology®, all FCPS students have 24/7 access to no-cost, year-round, on-demand, 1-to-1 tutoring services through Tutor.com.
A new Teacher-Referred Tutoring program feature provides targeted support and extends student learning. Teachers can now refer students for tutoring, with their specific needs already identified. Students can get extra support — on their own schedule — and reinforce their in-class learning.
Caregivers can guide students to access expert tutoring, homework help, and writing support by clicking on the Tutor.com icon in their Schoology portal—anytime, anywhere.
Plus, look for teachers’ tutoring session referrals on the Tutor.com homepage.
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8. Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts.
If you are interested in sending your student to an elementary magnet school program, consider attending a school-based information night at Hunters Woods Elementary School, Bailey’s Primary Elementary School, or Bailey’s Upper Elementary School.
Information nights will provide an opportunity to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and transportation.
Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12. Get more information about the schools, their programs, and locations.
9. Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps
Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools.
Tech Adventure Camp is available for current grade K-5 students to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.
11. Equity Book Club & C.U.B. Club
Register by 2/9 to receive one copy of the book for your family. Registration closes on 2/16.
- WHO: Equity Book Club for grades K-2 & C.U.B. Club for grades 3-6.
- WHAT: Reading "Ablaze with Color " by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Considering the questions, “How can we celebrate Alma’s Thomas’ perseverance in overcoming racial injustice to find her passion and inspire her community?" and "How can we be like Alma Thomas?"
- WHEN: Tuesday, February 20th from 3:15-4:15
Please complete this Google Form to indicate if your student(s) will be participating. A paper copy of this information is going home with your child in their Friday Folder.
12. OC Staff Shout-outs
Spread the Sparkle: Tell Us About an OC Gem!
Attention, all students and families! Do you know a teacher or staff member who has gone above and beyond this school year? Are you bursting with gratitude for their extra help, infectious enthusiasm, or unwavering dedication? Now's your chance to make their day (and ours!) with a Teacher and Staff Shout-Out!
We're re-launching our special celebration campaign to recognize the extraordinary efforts that make our school community thrive. Whether it's a teacher who sparked your passion for science, a custodian who greets you with a smile every morning, or a librarian who always recommends the perfect book, take this opportunity to express your appreciation. Simply submit a message through this survey and share what this special person means to you. We'll compile the shout-outs and surprise our amazing staff with a heartwarming dose of recognition throughout the coming weeks. Let's shower our school with gratitude and show everyone how much their contributions matter!
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13. Bears in the Spotlight
We are excited to announce that we will be continuing to feature students on the OC News Show in our Bears in the Spotlight segment! This is a way for students to share their hobbies and after school activities with the school community. We want to highlight all the amazing things that our students are passionate about!
To submit your student's information, please fill out the Bears in the Spotlight Google Form. You can find the form here.
The information that you submit will be used to create a slide that will be shared on the News Show. The slide will include any photos or videos that you include as well as a description of your student's hobby/activity.
We appreciate your help in spotlighting the awesome talents and interests of our OC Bears!
14. OC Staff Spotlights
We're excited to highlight our incredible staff members in our Staff Spotlights! In these features, our staff shares their love of working at OC and their hobbies and interests. To browse more staff spotlights, visit the Features section of our Olde Creek website!
15. Olde Creek Opportunities
Olde Creek is looking for energetic family members, friends, grandparents, or adult siblings, who may be looking for an opportunity to join our Olde Creek Elementary staff. Olde Creek is a positive work environment, and we are ready to fill the following opportunities with members of our community. Applicants must be 18 or older.
Dining Room Assistant
Hourly - Daily - 10:45AM-1:45PM, $12.39 per Hour
Description: Assists students during lunch time. Supervises student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers.
Qualifications: Friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.
Please pass this information along to anyone you may know. Interested applicants should contact Mrs. Butler, ajbutler@fcps.edu or at 703-426-3100.
Student Monitor
Hourly 8:00AM - 3:30PM, Monday-Friday, $16.36 per Hour
Description
Provides supervision of students throughout the school day, including but not limited to the classroom, hallways, lunch, recess, specials, and at arrival/dismissal; helps maintain order and discipline and assists in managing the behavior of students; operates technology; performs administrative and non-instructional duties; ensures all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; works with individual and small groups of students.
Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience is equivalent to graduation from high school. Must be comfortable managing student behaviors in large and small groups, ensuring all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed, and have general familiarity/skills with basic office technology in support of teachers, students, and the classroom.
Please pass this information along to anyone you may know. Interested applicants should contact Mrs. Butler, ajbutler@fcps.edu or at 703-426-3100.
16. The Papa John’s Pizza Fundraiser Continues!
Every Thursday from now until the end of this school year the OCES community can order pizza from Papa John's at a 40% discount and OCES gets 10% back on all orders. The promo code is OCES4010. The promotion is valid all day from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. for delivery or carryout (carryout until 10:00 p.m.) at the Fairfax location.
This is an online promotion only, but, if for some reason, users experience any issue with the code or the website, customers can still place an order simply by calling the store. They will honor the code by phone. Click here for the flyer.
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17. Contacts
Olde Creek Main Office: 703-426-3100
Olde Creek Attendance Phone Line: 703-426-3192
Olde Creek Attendance mailbox: OldeCreekElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
Melissa Miller, Principal, mhmiller@fcps.edu
Alison Butler, Assistant Principal, ajbutler@fcps.edu
Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal, sjkaminsky@fcps.edu
Sylvia Alverson, Administrative Assistant, sjalverson@fcps.edu
Christie Armstrong, Administrative Assistant, cparmstrong1@fcps.edu
Lizardo Santos, Student Information Assistant, LISantos@fcps.edu
Sandy McCulloch, Office Assistant, slmcculloch@fcps.edu
18. Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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