Upcoming Events
Feb 19th – President’s Day Holiday
Feb 28th – March 24th – Ravensworth Online Read-A-Thon
March 5th - No school, Teacher Workday
March 25th - 29th - No School, Spring Break
April 1st -2nd - No school, Teacher Workday/Professional Development Day
Link to 2023-2024 School Year Calendar 2023-24 FCPS School Year Calendar
Because of technical difficulties, if any link does not work, please copy, and paste it into your browser.
Message from the Principal
Dear Ravensworth Families,
Student safety is a top priority at Ravensworth ES. We have become aware of safety concerns that are occurring during arrival and dismissal. To ensure the safety of all students, please follow these procedures.
If students are arriving at school by car, they must be dropped off at Kiss and Ride for their safety. Please do not park across Nutting Drive and cross where there is not a crosswalk. We have observed several instances of students almost being struck by a bus or car while crossing the street in front of the school.
Please do not park in front of driveways. We have received complaints from residents in the neighborhood that they are unable to access their homes.
Thank you for your help in making arrival and dismissal safe for all students.
Sincerely,
Erika Aspuria
Principal
Military and Family Support Centers
Military and Family Support Centers provide information, education, and support programs to help balance the demands of military life. Offerings include:
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Deployment support to assist you and your family during all phases of the deployment cycle. Learn more about deployment support.
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Relocation assistance to help you prepare for an upcoming move and get settled into your new location.
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Confidential non-medical clinical counseling provides support for a wide range of issues from marital conflicts and stress management to coping with grief and deployment adjustments Learn more about confidential non-medical counseling.
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Personal and family life education assists with developing knowledge and skills to help you navigate your mobile military life.
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Personal financial readiness assists you and your family in building and maintaining your financial readiness.
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Employment assistance supports career exploration, education, training and licensing, career connections and employment readiness for military spouses, transitioning service members, and other family members. Learn more about the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, or SECO.
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Information and referral can assist you in identifying and clarifying needs and locating and connecting to services and programs available both on and off your installation.
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Morale, Welfare and Recreation, or MWR services provide lots of ways for you to connect with friends and others for entertainment, rest and relaxation — all at reduced or no cost.
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The Transition Assistance Program provides the information, skills, and knowledge necessary for a successful transition from military to civilian life. Learn more about transition assistance programs and resources.
Military and Family Support Centers may provide other programs such as the following:
New Parent Support Program
Check-ins and Attendance
Please remember, if your child arrives after 8:35 AM, you must escort them into the main office and sign them in.
We want you to keep your child home when they are sick, however, we ask that you please refrain from scheduling trips and other non-essential travel during the school week.
Kindergarten Registration is Open and It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process outlined for parents looking to register your child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process.
Inscripción para el Kindergarten: Es tan fácil como 1-2-3...
Los padres que deseen matricular a sus hijos al Kindergarten deben seguir un sencillo proceso de cinco pasos:
- Determinar la elegibilidad.
- Identifique su escuela local.
- Reunir documentos.
- Rellenar los formularios.
- Programar una cita.
Después de la cita en la escuela (el estudiante y uno de los tutores deben estar presentes), el estudiante estará listo para la orientación, Bridge to Kindergarten, o cualquier otro evento introductorio que cada escuela pueda organizar. Más información sobre el proceso de inscripción.
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.
Author Visiting our Ravens
We’re excited to announce that award-winning author Wendy Wan-Long Shang will be visiting our Ravens on Wednesday, March 20th! Wendy has written a variety of books many of which are available for checkout in our library.
“As a child, books meant freedom. If you could read in my kindergarten class, you were allowed to go to the library by yourself, and libraries were the loveliest freedom I could imagine. If I had a book, I had a companion for a long dinner with grown-ups. I could learn about anything, go anywhere, pretend to be anyone.” (Wendy Wan-Long Shang)
Wendy lives in northern Virginia with her husband, children, a cat and a dog.
To learn more about Wendy Wan-Long Shang and her books, you can visit her webpage here. There will be signed copies of Wendy’s books available ahead of her visit. A link with ordering details will be coming soon!
FCPS Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The FCPS Magnet Program registration window will be open from Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12, 2024. No late applications are accepted.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights and visit the FCPS Elementary Magnet School Lottery page for more information:
- Bailey’s Upper, February 6, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual only)
- Hunters Woods Elementary, February 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. (In-person)
- Snow date: February 26, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
- Bailey’s Primary, February 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
- Snow date: February 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Ramadan
This year, Ramadan begins on Sunday, March 10th. Ramadan is marked by personal and community prayer as well as fasting from dawn to sunset. If your child will be fasting, please let your child’s teacher know. We will be offering a space for students to go instead of the cafeteria if they plan to fast and want to be prepared. Thank you!
Celebrating Achievements of African Americans
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. FCPS Social Studies provides information and suggested activities and resources to support teaching and learning Black and African American history. This Black History 180 document supports the celebration of Black History Month in February, as well as every other school day.
Black history is American history. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the experiences and contributions of Black and African American people year-round, and Black History Month is one opportunity to honor these diverse and important stories.
Learn more about Black History Month. Get information about other heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Family Resource Center
Free Resources for Families
Did you know that caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities?
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).
Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.
Recursos Gratuitos para las Familias
¿Sabía usted que las familias pueden tener acceso a seminarios en línea gratuitos, consultas confidenciales, una biblioteca de préstamos y recursos para ayudar a los adultos a apoyar el éxito de todos los estudiantes, incluyendo aquellos con problemas de aprendizaje, necesidades especiales y discapacidades?
¡Aprenda más sobre el Centro de Recursos Familiares (FRC) de FCPS!
Sea el primero en enterarse de los nuevos talleres inscribiéndose en el boletín del FRC.
Positivity Project
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Humility. Humility means you do not seek the spotlight. You let your actions speak for themselves.
Humble people have an accurate (not underestimated) sense of their abilities and achievements. They hold the capacity to acknowledge their mistakes and limitations, and are open to advice and new ideas. They do not show off their possessions or accomplishments.
Developing humility is associated with positive developmental outcomes in individuals. It allows a person to honestly reflect on their abilities and acknowledge how and where they can improve. Humility opens them up to new ideas, advice, and (consequently) abilities that pride, arrogance, or pretentiousness often block. Therefore, humility makes them desired members of a team.
Substitutes Needed at Ravensworth for 2023-24
We are always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers and instructional assistants need to be out of the classroom. Substitute teaching is a great opportunity for future teachers, stay-at-home family members, retirees, college students, part-time employees, and anyone who wants to make a difference! Substitute instructional assistant pay will be $17.08 per hour and substitute teacher pay will be $19.05 per hour for the 2023-24 school year.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email Erika Aspuria, Principal and apply on-line. Also, you can sign up for a virtual, one hour substitute information session here.
PTA
PTA Open Board Position
The PTA is looking for someone willing to assume the role of Treasurer for the 2023-2024 school year. Unfortunately, our current Treasurer, Lane, is unable to continue in the position. While we will miss her in that role, it opens a wonderful opportunity for someone looking to get involved. The position includes:
- Tracking and inputting incomes and expenses to QuickBooks
- Creating Monthly Budget Reports and presenting them at Meetings
- Writing checks and depositing payments received
- Attending monthly meetings
The position demands anywhere between 2-5 hours of work per month. While an accounting background and QuickBooks experience is helpful, it is not necessary.
Anyone interested in the role can send an email to president@ravensworthpta.org. Further questions about the role may be sent to selemefamilia@gmail.org
Online Read-A-Thon
 Read for Ravensworth is like a jog-a-thon, except your child will be reading books instead of running laps, and earning pledges based on how much they read. Everything is tracked online, which makes inviting sponsors and logging reading much easier!
You can find out more about Readafun by visiting: ReadaFun Long Explainer (youtube.com)
You will receive written instructions on how to access and authorize your child's private account on Wednesday, February 28th. Participation in the fundraising portion of this event is optional and we hope that every student will participate by READING!
https://www.readafun.com/
Ravensworth Yearbooks!
Want to have all the memories the school year brings? The time has come to order your Ravensworth Elementary School Yearbooks. The price of the yearbook is $18.50. Take advantage of the savings and order your yearbook today!
Order site: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob
Yearbook ID Code: 4882624
School Name: Ravensworth Elementary School
Don't delay and order your yearbook today!
Order deadline: April 19, 2024
Chess Club
Chess Club will be held every Monday in the Cafeteria, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, except for days where school is closed or there is early release. We can offer this program through partnership with the U.S. Chess Center. Chess club is $130 per semester and includes a club t-shirt and snacks during the meet-ups. Registration can be done through the following link: https://chessctr.org/ravensworth/
For more information contact Ravensworth club parent coordinators Michael Alt, alt_michael@hotmail.com or Alexandra Parresol, alexandraparresol@yahoo.com or the U.S. Chess Center, admin@chessctr.org
Get Your School Spirit Wear Today!
Show your school spirit and support the Ravensworth PTA—purchase your spirit wear in the MemberHub store anytime: https://ravensworth.memberhub.com/store; youth and adult sizes available. Contact spiritwear@ravensworthpta.org if you have any questions. Show your pride for the Ravensworth Ravens all year long!
Follow Ravensworth on Social Media
Are you connected to Ravensworth Elementary School and the Ravensworth PTA on social media? The PTA’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ravensworthelementarypta and the school’s accounts are https://www.facebook.com/RavensworthElementary and https://twitter.com/RavensworthES
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