4/5/24 News From the Nest: Family Edition

If you need this message in another language, please visit this link: https://glenforestes.fcps.edu/aggregator/sources/1

Si necesita este mensaje en otro idioma, visite el sitio web de nuestra escuela en este enlace: https://glenforestes.fcps.edu/aggregator/sources/1

اذا كننتم بحاجة ان تستلموا هذه الرسالة بلغة اخرى  فنرجوا زيارة موقع ا مدرستنا  على هذا الرابط.                  

https://glenforestes.fcps.edu/aggregator/sources/1     

4/5/24

Greetings, Glen Forest Families!

Chronic Absenteeism Update 

As of today, our CA (Chronic Absenteeism) rate is 17.8%. We are headed in the right direction! Our goal in our SIIP (School Innovation & Improvement Plan) is 15%. You are urged to prioritize attendance and encourage your child to attend school consistently. Of course, we understand that occasional absences may be unavoidable due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. In such cases, please ensure to communicate with us in accordance with our attendance policies.

Solar Eclipse - Monday, April 8th

Viewing glasses have been purchased for all students! The eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m., peaks at 3:20 p.m., and ends around 4:32 p.m. This is an exciting time for students to learn about and experience a rare and exciting astronomical phenomenon. Please visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse site at this link for more information. Kindergarten students will be staying inside, but grades 1st - 5th will be going outside.  Please let your child's teacher know if you would like your child to stay inside. 

No School Wednesday, April 10th

School is session every day except for Wednesday next week.  Wednesday, April 10th is a school holiday in observance of Eid al-Fitr.  We look forward to seeing your children Monday morning!

Muslim American Heritage Month is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, culture, and an enhanced understanding of the diverse population of Muslim Americans. View the Fairfax County School Board resolution honoring Muslim American Heritage Month.

Free Online Tutoring

FCPS students have unlimited access to 24/7, on-demand, online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Students can connect online any time, any place, and in most K-12 subjects for however long they need. Tutoring may be on-demand and/or scheduled at a time convenient for the student and/or family.  Visit this link to find out more information! 

Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

Attend a virtual information night to learn about Lexia on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will discover how FCPS is integrating this program into the classroom to support student literacy growth. Tips for supporting students at home will also be shared. 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. 

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

***Screening for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.
• Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or Assistant Principal by April 15, annually.
• The AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form may be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms or by searching “AAP Forms” at https://www.fcps.edu/.
• Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.
Screening Process for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher or Assistant Principal.

Subject Specific and Part-Time Services Overview

***Subject Specific and Part-Time Services in Elementary School

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services to students’ needs rather than labeling students. Students have:
• Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to support student learning and growth.
Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services at the elementary level:
Updated 3/13/2023
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
• All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
• Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.
• Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Screening for Full-Time (Level IV) Services

***Screening Timeline for Full-Time Services

Screening for full-time (level IV) AAP services happens at the district/central level rather than by local schools. For your planning for next school year, please know that screening for full-time (level IV) services occurs during two specific screening cycles:
• Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
ο Fall referrals are due October 15, annually.
• Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
ο The referral window is from the first day of school - December 15, annually.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:
• Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
• Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.