Principal's Note
 Families you are invited to attend the PTA meeting on Tuesday, March 12th at 7pm in the cafeteria to hear the State of Cameron. You will have the opportunity to see some data that shows areas of success and growth. After a year of working with all stakeholders, we look forward to sharing our new vision, mission and core values.
🎇 Celebration of Cultures
 Thank you to all of the Cameron families and staff who attended Cameron's Celebration of Cultures event. We got to taste LOTS of delicious foods from around the world and enjoyed an evening of performances including cultural music and dancing. Many of our Cheetahs and their family members showed pride in their cultures by wearing traditional clothing or the colors of their country's flag, ending the night with a student parade! We are so proud of all the cultures and countries represented by our Cameron community.
See a full collection of photos from the night!
🔠🐝 School-Wide Spelling Bee
Thank you to the PTA and our administrators for making our first spelling bee at Cameron possible. Congratulations to all of the spellers! You should be proud of yourself for signing up and challenging yourself! Our last two spellers were strong contenders and went back and forth for the last few rounds! Our first place winner is 6th grader Kemet Tutt and runner up is 4th grader Amanuel Addis. Way to go Cameron Spellers! We can't wait until next year.
📖 First 10 Friday
 Students and staff participated in our first First 10 Friday of Read Across America! On Dress Like a Famous Person Day, everyone grabbed a book and headed to the hallway for a relaxing 10 minutes of protected reading time. Spot Mrs. Beggs as Taylor Swift ❤️️
✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey!
Cameron families! Have 10 minutes before March 22? Now is your chance to give feedback on your school's welcoming environment, communication, volunteer opportunities, and more. Take the Family Engagement Survey before it closes next Friday.
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.
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🖍️ It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
We are so excited to welcome our newest Cheetahs to Cameron Elementary School! We are now accepting Kindergarten Registrations for the 2024-2025 school year. In order to register for Kindergarten, your child(ren) must be age five on or before September 30, 2024. Please call our office at (703) 329-2100 to schedule a registration appointment.
Please view our website for additional information about registration. https://camerones.fcps.edu/student-services/student-registration
We would also like to invite you to our Kindergarten Orientation being held at our school on May 2, 2024, from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
Bipartisan Study Finds Virginia Public School Divisions Receive Less Funding per Student Than Other States
The School Board recently adopted FCPS’ FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Meeting budget needs becomes more of a challenge with underfunding by the state, using staffing formulas that continue to result in school districts not receiving the actual support needed for excellent public education. A staffing formula is the method for calculating the number of positions that need to be assigned to meet program needs.
Did You Know?
In July 2023, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study of Virginia’s K-12 funding formulas. The report found that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and many of Virginia’s neighboring states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Learn more about the JLARC study. View FCPS’ budget development timeline.
Contact your state officials to provide feedback on funding for K-12 education.
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New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces
FCPS has developed Regulation 1502 to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. The regulation provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time, and for students to leave school for religious activities.
These spaces are designated areas within a school or on school premises for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students requesting to miss instructional time on a regular basis. Families are encouraged to contact Mr. Johnson or Ms. Trupo regarding accommodations. View Regulation 1502. Visit FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage for more information.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
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.
🥁 Summer Camps and Learning Programs
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.
☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
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.
💻 Lightspeed Classroom Management
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and focused learning environment for our students, our school is using a classroom management tool that will help teachers better connect with student devices during classes. We are continuing to expand our use over the coming weeks. This tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:
- Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
- Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
- Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.
We believe this classroom management tool will allow us to maximize class time to support your student’s learning while at school. Please note that student devices will not be monitored outside of school hours. The regular filters remain in place on school devices, but once they are home, teachers cannot monitor students. As parents, we would like to encourage you to sign up for your own Lightspeed reports, which will allow you to see how your child is spending time on the computer during and after school hours.
March 10 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.
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March 11 First Full Day of Ramadan
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 their student’s principal regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
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🌷 Office Hours During Spring Break
During spring break March 25, 26 and 27 the front office will be closed. On Thursday and Friday March 28 &29 the office will be open from 9am-1pm.
Adult English (ESOL) Classes Intake Testing and Registration Information
All classes offered by FCPS Adult ESOL are in-person. Please call at 703-658-2777 to find out the times and cost or visit the website. All new students must take an intake test before registering for a class.
For New Student Intake testing
1. Find the location where you want to study from the chart below.
2. Choose the class schedule that is convenient for you.
3. Go to the testing for that location and class time. No appointment is necessary. You must attend testing at the location and time you want classes.
Note: Because of high demand and limited space, it’s essential to attend testing at the location and time you want classes.
Adult English (ESOL) Classes begin April 8, 2024, and run for nine weeks.
Family Resource Center April Webinars
Registration is now open for the April free webinars hosted by the Family Resource Center.
Topics include but are not limited to:
- Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs
- Creating a Relationship with My Child Where They Feel Safe and Protected
- Mathspace Mastery
- Meet the Author Series
- Behavior Solution Series
Important Dates
March 10 - Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward!)
March 11 - First Full Day of Ramadan (Observance)
March 25-29 - No School, Spring Break
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