PUMA PRESS: February 16, 2024

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PUMA PRESS: February 16, 2024


Important Dates

  • February 19th - President's Day

Calendar Update for March 5 Presidential Primary

The Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.

March 5 will be a school holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day. Central offices and school offices will remain open. SACC will remain open, as it does on other professional work days.


2024 Kindergarten Registration

KG

We're looking forward to welcoming our new kindergarten students in the 2024-25 school year! Registration for new kindergartners is now open!

WHO: Parents or guardians of rising kindergartnerschildren who will be five years old on or before September 30, 2024.       

WHAT: Register your child for the 2024-25 school year in an easy, two-step process.       

WHY: Completing registration early will help us be ready to welcome your new kindergartner and make sure your child is eligible for summer enrichment activities.

HOW: Much of the registration process, including the uploading of documents needed for registration, can be completed online.

WHERE: Registration is on the FCPS website. Go to https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration.

Residency Attestation form is mandatory and can be found here https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/se304.pdf


CELL PHONES, SMART WATCHES & TECHNOLOGY USE AT SCHOOL

Please talk with your child(ren) about the policy for phones, smart watches, and technology use while at school.

  • Phones for elementary school students must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day.
  • Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. 
  • Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency. 
  • Teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities when appropriate.
  • Cell phones may be used on campus before and after school only.

When a device is used in a manner that is not aligned with these expectations it may be taken by the teacher or staff member and submitted to an administrator to be safely stored until a parent or guardian can pick it up. Please make sure your child(ren) are aware of this policy so we can work together to ensure devices are used appropriately at school.


Eating Disorder Parent Information

In 2013, Virginia passed a law requiring every school system to provide information to parents annually about eating disorders with parents/guardians of students in the fifth through twelfth grades. 

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023),

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources about eating disorders.  To find out more, please visit the FCPS Eating Disorders website.

In addition to the information on the FCPS website, the National Eating Disorders Association has a toll free, confidential Helpline, 1-800-931-2237.


Read Across America Week

We will celebrate Read Across America Week Friday, March 1st through Friday, March 8th with a spirit week. We hope students enjoy participating in the following theme days: Friday (3/1) Pajama Day, Monday (3/4) Powell gear, Wednesday (3/6) Dress for your future career, Thursday (3/7) Read your shirt day, Friday (3/8) Fancy Friday.

 

Read across america

SEL Screener

Hello families,

The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-6 between February 26 and March 15. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: 

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener  

If you have any questions please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Carsen Leeder, at cbleeder@fcps.edu.


Lightspeed Parent Report Request

FCPS has tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.


News From the PTA


YEARBOOK!

Order your yearbook before APRIL 5TH!  Use this link to order: https://www.barksdalestorefront.com/shop/  and access code: 0036793YB

Year Book

Photo Request for ALL 6th Graders for the Yearbook!

https://barksdale.pixami.com/36793/home3/PhotoPost.jsp?ID=B0LTRJ5A5DKE

6th grade

PTA Meeting

This week’s  PTA meeting was postponed to Monday, February 26th at 7PM.  

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88131762788?pwd=JBCaz3jkLZjmcV2qY5sURYye1zRnc8.1

Meeting ID: 881 3176 2788

Passcode: 604789

PTA