|
To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
如果您想以其他语言阅读此新闻时讯请访问我们的网站。
Để đọc bản tin này bằng ngôn ngữ khác, xin quý vị truy cập vào trang mạng của chúng tôi.
3/19: Restaurant Night at &Pizza 4:00-8:00 PM-use the code CWPTA
3/22: End of 3rd Quarter
3/25-3/29: Spring Break-School and Offices Closed
4/1, 4/2: Student Holidays
4/4: Rising Kindergarten Orientation 5:00 Library
This week we hosted not one, but two amazing author visits with Laura Murray and Ellen Oh! Their presence filled the room with inspiration and passion for storytelling, leaving us all buzzing with creative energy. A huge thank you to our PTA for sponsoring these events, the students and staff really enjoyed themselves!
Dear CWES Families,
Thank you to the many families who joined us for our Power Of Words Family Night last night. We're excited to continue the conversation with our students and community. This week March 3-9 we celebrated National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.
We are so grateful for our social workers at CWES Ms. Laura Dailey and Ms. JaQuese Hawkins. They play a vital role in nurturing the well-being and success of our students. They are compassionate listeners, trusted advocates, and tireless champions for those in need.
This week, our attention is directed towards recess. Here are a few questions you might want to consider asking your child about their experience with PAWS during recess.
- Can you think of a time during recess when you had to compromise with your friends about which game to play or how to play it?
- How do you feel when everyone in the group works together during recess activities? What are the benefits of playing cooperatively?
- Have you ever experienced a situation where someone didn't follow the rules during recess? How did it affect the game or the group dynamic?
- What are some ways you and your friends can show pride in your outdoor recess area?
Have a wonderful weekend,
Leslie Malkowski, Mindy Milliron, and Kristi McGeehan
CWES Administrative Team
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
 This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. In Islam, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During this month Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day while striving to increase their spirituality, through prayers, charity and good deeds. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.
March 11 is an O day. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact Leslie Malkowski lamalkowski@fcps.edu or the front office staff regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
This Spring, our third through fifth graders will take the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment. See below for the specific test dates and do your best to avoid scheduling appointments for your student on those days. If you have questions, reach out to Mindy Milliron and Kristi McGeehan, School Testing Coordinators.
Spring 24 SOL Dates
FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open. Survey partner K12 Insight emailed a link to families on March 3 and again on March 6. Please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS practices to best support our students.
The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by the front office to fill out a paper survey or complete the survey online. Please check your email for the survey invitation or use this survey link. Get more information on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
 This year, spring break is March 25-29. We will be eager to welcome your children back to school on Wednesday, April 3, after two teacher work days. Student attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.
Have you made summer plans for your child yet? Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs?
The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military.
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment. Please contact Amy Decatur, our Student Information Assistant, by email at aldecatur@fcps.edu or by phone at 703-764-5600 to set up 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.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) values the unique experiences and perspectives of our military-connected families and students.
Family and School Partnerships invites military-connected parents and guardians to attend a special virtual gathering to connect directly with FCPS staff and community members, learn about valuable resources, and share their experiences within FCPS.
This interactive session will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, from 7-8 p.m. Please register for this event to receive the Zoom link and meeting invitation.
For more information about the gathering and/or military-connected resources, please email Meredith Ayala, Family Partnerships Specialist, Military-Connected Youth & Families, at mlayala1@fcps.edu or militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
The Virginia Department of Education is excited to celebrate Family Reading Month in March. Join the Virginia Department of Education & Virginia PTA for a Reading Together. A webinar designed for families to learn about best practices in reading instruction, the event also covers how families can support their student through all stages of learning to read and improving reading comprehension. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 13th from 7-8pm.Registration is requiredto participate and is open to the public. The Virginia PTA has generously provided Family Reading Night Activities to use during this month of celebration:
Additional resources such as printable materials, infographics, videos and more can be found within the Virginia PTA Reading Toolkit.
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m.
Because the timing overlaps with dismissal, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
 |
|
|
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees, specifically at Canterbury Woods ES.
|
|
|
