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اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔

UPCOMING EVENTS

• March 15- FES Career Day
• March 20- World Showcase Day Fashion Show, 2:00 pm
• March 20- World Showcase Day, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• March 22- End of Third Quarter
• March 25-29- Holiday (Spring Break)
• April 1,2- School Planning Day/Teacher Work Day

Women’s History Month Spirit Week

Just two more days to participate

Thursday, March 14, Powerful Purple

Purple has been used to represent the women’s movement for centuries. The National Woman’s Party published "Purple is the colour of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause." in 1913. Today, purple is the color of international women’s day.

Wear purple to honor those who fought for women’s rights!

Friday, March 15, Career Day

Throughout history, women were denied education and banned from certain careers. Let’s celebrate access to education and promote career equality!

Dress as your future career or wear college gear!

Career Day is Coming!

“Oh The Places You’ll Go” Career day is March 15^th from 9:10-10:40

Students will have the opportunity to hear first hand  from Franconia community members about their careers and the importance Our younger Penguins will have a "careers on wheels" experience.

Students can dress in their future careers or represent a college or university.

Penguins Perform at the Area Band Concert

Last night 13 Franconia students performed on the stage of John Lewis High School as members of the 106 member-strong 2024 Greater Springfield-Franconia Area Honor Band!  These students had been preparing this concert with other schools in the Lewis and Edison pyramid since early January.  We are extremely proud of their excellent musical performance and representation of Franconia!

World Showcase Spirit Week

March 18^th to 22^nd

We are excited to celebrate our rich cultural diversity at Franconia during World Showcase Week, March 18^th to 22^nd! 

Our students and staff will participate in activities, games, and learning experiences throughout the week. See below for our daily themes of the week. Please offer your penguin the opportunity to participate in any or all of our World Showcase Spirit Days!

Monday, 3/18

Name Game!

*Ask your family to tell you the story of how they chose your name. 

Share the story with your class.

Tuesday, 3/19 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

*Represent your favorite national or international sports team by wearing a jersey, gear, or the team's colors.

Wednesday, 3/20

Worldwide Wear!

*Dress in your heritage clothing or wear a t-shirt representing a country of your choice. 

The fashion show and evening program are today!

Thursday, 3/21

Meeting & Greeting!

*Teach your classmates how to say hello or another greeting in a new language.

Friday, 3/22

Penguin Power! 

*Celebrate our amazing Penguin Culture here at Franconia! 

Wear your Penguin spirit gear or dress in green or yellow clothing.

Our own Strings Teacher, Mr. Johnson, organized an elementary orchestra concert for the Edison Pyramid last night. 100 students participated, including several from Franconia! 

 World Down Syndrome Day is March 21^st! 

Since 2012, March 21st has signified a day the world comes together to celebrate, advocate, and educate about Down Syndrome. As a school community we plan to CELEBRATE this special day!  The National Down Syndrome Society celebrates this day by MOVING for 3.21.  During specials on this day, FES students will be able to run, walk, dance, cartwheel, MOVE for 3.21 minutes, miles, reps, etc.!   On Thursday, 3/21, students can show their support by:

Wearing Blue and Yellow: Down Syndrome Awareness Colors Wear sneakers. Rock your Socks!: wear mismatched socks (as socks look like the shape of chromosomes) to show their celebration of the Down Syndrome Community.

Last Call for Yearbooks 

Yearbook sales have been extended! 2023-24 Yearbooks are $20.00 and can be ordered now through March 22nd. No yearbook orders will be taken after that date. So order yours today!

Yearbooks are only sold/purchased online. Start your purchase by going  to: yearbookordercenter.com, typing in 21927 or searching for Franconia Elementary, Alexandria VA, will take you to our ordering site.

Attendance Matters!

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.

Music Notes from Mrs. Lucius

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Go Fish - the Musical Attention all Kindergarten and 1st Grade Families: Your child will be in a mini-musical Go Fish! Ms. Lucius is auditioning students this week and next week and will send home scripts for those who have lines. The musical involves ALL students and rehearsals are during their music classes. During this process, students will learn to become “triple threats” by singing, dancing and acting all at the same time! All friends and families are encourage to save the dates: 1st Grade performance: May 21 from 9:10 – 10:10 in the Franconia Gym/Stage Kindergarten performance: May 22 from 11:10 – 12:10 in the Franconia Gym/Stage Stay tuned for volunteer information coming soon!   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Save the Date!  Save the date for Franconia’s 3rd musical: Beauty and the Beast, Jr. When: May 1 and May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Where: Franconia Gym/Stage Ticket information still to come.

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Mrs. Haffner's class took part in fort and flashlight reading in celebration of Read Across America week!

Kindergarten Orientation

Do you have a child who will be 5 years of age by September 30, 2024, and do you plan on sending them to kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year?

We are in the process of preparing for our kindergarten registration and orientation.  If your child is ready for kindergarten, call the school so we may add you to our list of rising kindergarten students.

Please consider joining us at school with your future kindergartener for our Kindergarten Orientation on Friday, April 26. 2024.  During this presentation, we will provide information about the Kindergarten program at Franconia Elementary; while the future kindergarteners get to explore the classroom and participate in fun kindergarten activities. 

❤ Kindergarten Team

Kindergarten Registration Is Now Open For SY 24-25

We look forward to welcoming our newest Penguins to Franconia Elementary for the 2024-25 School Year. Registration packets are available in the Franconia ES Main Office, or you may download the forms using the links below.

The registration requirements are as follows:

For incoming Kindergarten students – please visit https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration

It is important that you have filled out all the paperwork, and bring with you the following:

1. Photo ID
2. Original Birth Certificate
3. Proof of Residency (Deed or Lease to your home)
4. Virginia Physical and Immunization Record (due prior to school starting in August)

When you are ready, and have gathered most of your documentation, please contact me to set up your registration appointment. All registrations are done by appointment only.

I look forward to meeting with you!  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Patrick Pacak, Registrar/SIA

Franconia Elementary School

PHONE 703-822-2200     FAX 703-822-2297     EMAIL pmpacak@fcps.edu

Library volunteers needed!

Mrs. Vandersande could reallllllly use some extra hands to help shelve books! Volunteers are welcome anytime during the school day, and are welcome to come regularly or to just drop-in when available.

Email the librarian at dmvandersand@fcps.edu or stop by the library for more information!

Counselor Corner 

Character Trait of the Month

The character trait for March is Patience- to wait calmly without complaining

In February, we highlighted the character trait of Empathy- A feeling or understanding of what someone else is feeling.

Here’s the student video for student’s who showed Empathy last month:https://youtu.be/6hnScbGfumo

We are so proud of our Empathy award winners!

Franconia Elementary PTA

Support the Edison Annual Mulch Sale

Benefitting the Class of 2024 ANGP

The Edison High School PTSA is holding their annual Mulch Sale. Order now for pick up or delivery on Saturday, April 6th!  

Proceeds go to help fund the Class of 2024 All Night Grad Party. This party is held every year from 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. at the Franconia Rec Center to give Edison grads a safe place to celebrate the night of their graduation. 

https://www.edisonangp.com/mulch-sale 

Thank you for supporting Edison’s Class of 2024!

Hayfield Craft Fair & Silent Auction

Hayfield Secondary School

Class of 2024

Indoor Craft Fair & Silent Auction

Saturday, March 16th - 9:00AM-3:00PM

• Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road Alexandria, VA
• FREE ADMISSION!!!
• OVER 125 vendors
• A HUGE silent auction display filled with our vendor’s craft items, gift certificates, sporting event tickets, experiences and much more!
• Lots of tables filled with edible goodies!
• We will ALSO have KidCreate Studio and face painting for our younger visitors!!!!!
• NEW this year…a room full of young entrepreneurs offering their creative items!
• COME HUNGRY!!! A wide variety of lunch choices for YOU!

All proceeds raised will go towards Hayfield’s Class of 2024 All Night Grad Party (ANGP) celebration on Friday, June 7th at The St. James. The event is sponsored through the Hayfield SS PTSA and provides our 2024 graduates with a FUN and SAFE alcohol/drug/smoke-free celebration.

Calendar Reminders

March

• National Women’s History Month - Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids. 

• Equity in Education Month - FCPS — in conjunction with the Virginia School Boards Association — observes March as Equity in Education Month, a division-wide opportunity to deepen our commitment to creating a climate and curriculum where all students receive the resources they need to reach their fullest potential.  

•  March 22 - Quarter End

• March 25- 29 Spring Break🌷

March 25-29 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break! 

• March 29 - Good Friday (Falls during spring break) 

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is a day of mourning. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith. Read more at Britannica.com. 

• March 31 - Easter (Falls during weekend/spring break) 

Learn more about Easter in NatGeo Kids.

April

• April 1,2 - School Planning Day/Teacher Work Day

There will be no school for students on April 1 and 2 for school planning/teacher work days.

See the complete school year calendar.

Reporting an Absence or Change to Dismissal

Please remember to notify the school office of any of the following changes that come up for your child.

Notification should be made by 9:00am on the day of the change.

• Absence
• Late arrival
• Planned early pick-up or mid-day appointment (pick-up and return)
  • If your child needs to be picked up unexpectedly, please call the office (703-822-2200) in advance of your arrival
  • This allows the office to contact your child’s teacher to prepare your child for their departure
  • For early pick-ups after 3:00pm, please park on Kathmoor as the school buses start to arrive for dismissal at that time and the front parking lot will be off limits
• Changes in dismissal mode (https://franconiaes.fcps.edu/about/change-dismissal-form)

Below are the 3 options by which to notify the school office (choose one option):

• FranconiaESAttendance@fcps.edu
• 703-822-2222
• Online attendance form - https://franconiaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Please do this IN ADDITION to contacting your child's teacher.  There could be times when the teacher is absent and, by also contacting the office, the information will be properly noted.

To email your child’s teacher, click HERE.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Penguin Points

Click on a link for information

Franconia Elementary School website

• Attendance
• Health Room
• Parent Resources (registration, SIS Parent Vue, Cafeteria, and BYOD)
• Safety
• Transportation
• PTA
• Inclement Weather
• Schoology
• SIS Parent Vue
• School Menus
• FCPS School Calendar

6301 Beulah Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22310 | Office: 703-822-2200

Attendance: 703-822-2222 |  | Web | Twitter