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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔
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Upcoming Events
- March 25-29 - Spring Break, No School
- April 1-2 - No School, Teacher Workday(s)
- April 10 - Eid al Fitr, No School
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Principal's Corner
Dear Garfield Families,
This week was filled with heartfelt expressions of gratitude and appreciation for Principal Cage's leadership. Students and staff organized a surprise assembly to honor her contributions, featuring touching poems, musical performances, and heartfelt message from the school community. We wore our 'Red Carpet Best' on Friday to honor Principal Cage's professionalism and fashionable style as she walked the halls of Garfield lined with cheering students and staff!
Beginning on April 1st, Linda Ferguson will be working closely with staff, students, and parents to ensure a smooth transition and uphold the high standards of excellence that define Garfield.
Thank you to all our families for joining us this past Wednesday at our Parent Coffee. We hope you enjoyed engaging in meaningful conversation with Principal Cage, meeting our Interim Principal Linda Ferguson, and learning more about our STEAM program. We hope you and your students enjoy the STEAM kits over Spring Break. Send us a talking points with pictures of your experiments!
4th graders attended a special performance by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in DC. Students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of classical music and witness the talent of world-class musicians firsthand.
Our Young Scholars Lego Robotics Club started this week. Our Young Scholars became tech-savvy innovators! This club ignites curiosity and fosters collaboration as students dive into hands-on projects, mastering the art of LEGO robotics.
6th grade showcased their Wax Museum on Friday. It was a creative display! We learned a lot about well-known, distinguished individuals and their contributions to society.
As a reminder, March 25-29 is Spring Break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and staff a happy and restful Spring Break!
All the best,
April L. Cage, NBCT, M.Ed.
Principal
Mr. Larry Jones
Interim Assistant Principal
March 25-29, Spring Break
March 29 - Good Friday (Falls during spring break)
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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)
A joyful Easter to all in our community who celebrate! The springtime celebration of Easter is the most important Christian holiday. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, who sacrificed so that Christians may have life with God after death. Learn more about Easter in NatGeo Kids. |
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🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
- Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
- Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
- Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
- Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
- Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
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🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
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.
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.
💻 Try Online Registration
Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in.
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Pre-Order Yearbook Today!!
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Garfield ES Yearbook Preorder Online
Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/ and type in Yearbook ID Code: 14463724
Cost $20.00
We will have a limited amount of Yearbooks for sale at the end of the school year. Order ahead now to ensure your student receives their Yearbook for 2023-24!
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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.
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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.
AAP Newsletter
Please click the link below to access the AAP Spring Newsletter. It lists the different levels of AAP Services and highlights how parents can initiate an AAP referral for Spring 2024 (AAP Levels 2 and 3 only). If you need the newsletter in another language, please contact our AART, Heather Jenkins hkjenkins@fcps.edu.
☀️ 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.
Garfield Family/Parent Liaison Corner
Ms. Melody Wheatley, our Family Liaison, will use this space to post updates relevant to all families at Garfield Elementary School.
She can be reached via email at mdwheatley@fcps.edu
✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey Today!
⏰ LAST CHANCE: The Family Engagement Survey closes this Friday, March 22! This is your chance to provide feedback about your school's welcoming environment, communication, volunteer opportunities, and more: https://bit.ly/FESURVEY2024
New Regulation on Meditation and Silent 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 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 Melody Wheatley regarding accommodations. View Regulation 1502. Visit FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage for more information.
⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule:
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Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
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Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
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Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
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Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
📖 Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read
FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize. Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9, to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth. Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade.
⛱️ Summer Camp for Middle Schoolers
All rising middle schoolers are invited to attend a summer of fun and leisure with VIP Camp. VIP Camp — which takes place Monday, July 1, to Thursday, August 1 — is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs.
Registration is open. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend. Reach out to your school's after-school specialist for scholarship availability due to financial hardship. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
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.
Garfield School Safety and Security
We take the security of our students and our staff very seriously. All exterior doors are locked during the school day as well as the gates allowing access to the playground and blacktop. Visitors are required to ring the bell at Door #1 to gain access to the main office. Every visitor/adult who enters the building is monitored.
If you plan on entering the school building, you must bring with you a valid Driver’s License OR Photo ID/Passport to sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building. Visitors will need to check-out at the main office upon leaving and discard the sticker. We will not be able to allow visitors into the building without proper ID. FCPS Office of Safety and Security requires this procedure to keep all students and staff safe.
Additionally, to maintain the momentum of instruction, items brought to the office during school hours (lunch, supplies, homework, etc.) will be held in the office for students to pick up during instructional breaks.
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National Women’s History Month
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.
National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.
Title I at Garfield ES
Title I is the nation’s largest assistance program for schools. It provides funding to supplement
educational opportunities for children who are most at risk and increasing student achievement
in schools selected on the basis of the economic level of families. The primary focus is to
ensure student access to provide all children significant opportunities to receive a fair,
equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
To learn more about the Title I program at Garfield ES, click here
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School Hours and General Information
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Our school hours are from 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. Monday through Friday. School doors open at 9:05 a.m. each day to begin receiving students.
Please call the attendance line at 703-923-2929 to report a tardy or absence.
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Garfield PTA
Help us build a stronger future together!
The PTA is an integral part of our school. Your involvement in our PTA is not just a commitment to your child's education, but an investment in the future success of our school as a whole.
The PTA is a vital link between parents and the school. By joining, you'll have the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making processes, share valuable insight, and contribute to the overall improvement of the school experience for our students.
Joining the board, and attending meetings allows you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Your perspective is vital in shaping the direction of our school.
We are small but mighty and need your support to continue enhancing extracurricular activities, school-wide events like Movie Nights or the Fall Festival, field trip opportunities, improving facilities, and updating technology.
If you would like to become a member and help by volunteering at events, please join/renew by clicking here.
2023-24 School Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
- Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays.
- Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked).
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the start of each month coincides with the birth of a new moon. The date of Eid a- Fitr is regionally decided, which can lead to unexpected date changes. Eid al-Fitr is currently slated to begin at sunset on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and last through sundown Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Tuesday is designated a half-O day, and Wednesday is a holiday, with all schools and offices being closed. If the day for Eid changes after the school year begins, the calendar may be adjusted
Find us on Social Media!
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
• 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
• Visit the Garfield ES Website
• Report your Child's Absence
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Join the Garfield PTA
• Recognize a FCPS Employee at FCPS CARES . The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, 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 at Garfield Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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