Garfield ES - Talon Tales

• April 8 - Solar Eclipse 
• April 10 - No School ~ Eid al-Fitr, Islamic festival ~ 
• April 12 - Grade 2 Field Trip to National Zoo
• April 15 - 17 - Scholastic Book Fair
• April 19 - Pre-K Field Trip to Clemyjontri Park

Dear Garfield Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health. Thank you for your warm and heart-felt welcome. I am happy to be back and feel right at home at Garfield.  I am happy to be a part of such a caring, and dedicated school community. It’s a pleasure to partner with Mr. Larry Jones to lead Garfield through the 4^th quarter. His experience is unmatched and joy for leading and learning are contagious. This past week, I had a wonderful time visiting classrooms, celebrating with our students as they displayed their engineering skills with their Lego Robotics, and visiting with students during lunch.

This month is the Month of the Military Child!  Thank you to those families for your service and support.  We are so happy to have you as a part of our Garfield community. April 17^th is Purple Up! Day, please join us in wearing purple to honor our military families.  

This coming week will be eventful. We have the Solar Eclipse on Monday. No school on Wednesday for Eid al-Fitr. Our second grades go to the National Zoo on Friday. I wish you a joyful and productive week.

All the best, 

Linda Ferguson     &      Larry Jones
Interim Principal             Interim Assistant Principal

A solar eclipse is happening on April 8, 2024. It's a rare and exciting astronomical phenomenon and one that requires important safety reminders. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes. 

Here's what you need to know:

• Don't look at the sun without approved eyewear. This applies to students and staff, and we encourage you to reinforce this at home.
• Regular sunglasses are not good enough. The NASA website has more information about eye safety.  
• Eclipse timing: The eclipse starts around 2:04 p.m., peaks at 3:20 p.m. (which coincides with dismissal for some students), and ends around 4:32 p.m. Please remind your child to be especially vigilant about eye safety during dismissal. If you have concerns about your child walking or riding the bus home, please arrange for alternative transportation.

For more details, visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse webpage.

In Islam, Eid-al-Fitr is a three day festival to mark the end of Ramadan. Muslims dress in new clothes, give charity, and pray in congregation. Eid is celebrated with the exchange of presents and delicious food with family and friends. Read more at Britannica.com.

Tuesday, April 9, has been designated as a half-O day. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. Wednesday, April 10, is an FCPS holiday and all schools and offices will be closed.

April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families. 

Purple Up is the campaign that propels activities throughout the Month of the Military Child. The activities honor, acknowledge, and support Military Purple for Connected Youth in our schools and communities.  Mrs. Wheatley, Garfield's Family Liaision, will guide the school throught the acitivities.  We will celebrate Thoughtful Thankful Thursdays every week as Military Recognition Day.

• Week 1- April 4, 2024 - We will create a wall of purple hearts and thank you notes to our military families
• Week 2 - April 11, 2024 - We will create a world map and pinpoint where students and staff have lived because of their military lifestyle.
• Week 3 – April 17, 2024 - The entire school wears purple for Purple Up! Day.
• April 18, 2024 - We read a story about any of the following experiences: military children’s experience, the military lifestyle, being the new student in school, or appreciating differences in one another.
• Week 4 - April 25, 2024 -We read Military Student Bio-Poems.

It's going to be an exciting Month of the Military Child at Garfield ES.

National Arab American Heritage Month

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.

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey. 

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.

Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage. Click to edit this placeholder text.

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.

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.