Fairfax Villa Weekly Message 5/24/2024

 

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IN THIS ISSUE

  1. Principal’s Message
  2. Medication Pick-Up Reminder
  3. FCPS Summer Extravaganza
  4. Calling All FCPS Alumni and Friends
  5. Lunch Balances
  6. Parent Input Form for 2024-2025 Class Placement
  7. Student Intention Form for SY 2024-2025
  8. Resources for Newly Registered Families 
  9. Student Test Results Coming Soon
  10. New SOL Growth Reports for Grade 3-8 Tests
  11. Support Your Child’s Success in SIS ParentVUE 
  12. Let’s Finish the Year Strong- Attendance Information
  13. Yearbooks For Sale
  14. FLE Materials Available for Review
  15. Important Upcoming Dates

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1.Principal’s Message  

Greetings families!

Following up from last Friday, I had the great pleasure of enjoying books and breakfast with the winner of the PTA’s BINGO night raffle. I relaxed and listened as she opted to read Green Eggs and Ham to me! It was such an impressive and delightful treat!

Continuing with the festive theme of Teacher Appreciation Week, on Monday Ms. Larsen and I were pleasantly surprised with an office filled with bright colored and glimmering decorations starting at the threshold of our doors. Shortly after the entire kindergarten grade level of students met us in the lobby to present a colorful banner displaying every child’s handprint. An abundance of gratitude was shown to us in recognition of Admin Appreciation Week! The highlight of my weekend will be to sit down and read all the heartfelt letters and poems from our second grade students.  

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to accompany some of our students on their field trip to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Students from both schools enjoyed meeting one another face to face after meeting virtually throughout the year as members and participants of the Assistive Technology Club!  Hats off to FCPS’s husband and wife team,  Eric and MaryBeth Fleming for bringing our schools and these students together. We also want to thank our Intellectual Disabilities Team for all their efforts and commitments to the program. 

Ms. Erin Reilly stays true to our FVES family culture as her mother accompanied the strings students yesterday during their school assemblies and evening performance for families and friends. I was impressed with the immense talent of our strings students as I attended their rehearsal earlier in the week.  It is evident these students discipline themselves to practice their instruments. 

The Villa Vibe is in the home-stretch of celebrating student academic progress as summative assessment results become available. I can only imagine how much stronger the vibe will be next month as we gear up for our end of the year celebrations, projects, performances, and events. 

Lastly, as a reminder there is no school this Monday on Memorial Day. I ask as a military wife and mother of a son who is an active duty United States Army officer to set aside a moment to honor all the American men and women who have sacrificed and lost their lives to maintain our freedoms while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  

Sincerely, 

Shelia Sobeski

Interim Principal


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2.Medication Pick-up Reminder

The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 2:00 pm, student dismissal time, on the last day of school, June 12. Medications left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student.

Medication authorization forms for next school year may be obtained from the school or online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/school-health-services. A medication authorization form is required for any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, to be kept at school.


3.☀️ FCPS’ Summer Extravaganza

Don’t miss a day of family fun and learning at the FCPS Summer Extravaganza! 

Stop by Woodson High School on Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., where students will be able to take part in engaging educational activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire growth. 

Representatives from local businesses, Fairfax County Public Library, and the Fairfax County Park Authority are participating in the Summer Extravaganza. Community organizations, such as Neighborhood Community Services, will be at the event as well. All will have learning activities, tips, and helpful information for families. Enjoy face painting, food, music, a moon bounce, a petting zoo, storytime, and student performances — all at no cost!

Visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage for more details and register to attend. Registration is not required, but it's helpful for planning purposes.


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3rd grade recess fun!


4.🎓 Calling All FCPS Alumni and Friends!

Educate Fairfax is proud to introduce FCPS Alumni & Friends, an online network of alumni, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members with ties to Fairfax County Public Schools. Whether you are a recent FCPS graduate or you’ve returned to Fairfax to work or raise your own family, this network will celebrate our alumni and friends of FCPS through stories, news and events, reunions, homecoming, and other activities. It’s also a great way to rekindle old friendships and build new ones. Join FCPS Alumni & Friends today!


5.🥗 Don’t Forget to Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance! 

It’s a busy time of year, and we know there are many priorities on families’ plates. As we approach the end of the school year, it is important to remember to check your students’ MySchoolBucks account and pay any remaining school meal balance. 

Families that earn less than 185% of poverty level qualify for free and reduced-price meals. However, an application must be completed and submitted each school year to receive that benefit. The application for the 2024-25 school year will be available this summer. 

If families have a current balance and think they may be eligible for free and reduced-price meals, please fill out the FRM application for the 2022-23 school year. Get more information about free and reduced-price lunch.


6.Parent Input Form for 2024-2025 Class Placement

With the end of the year quickly approaching, we are already looking ahead to next year. While we look at class placements for the coming year, we want you to be aware of the process. We place students in classrooms based on numerous criteria. Students are grouped so that classrooms are heterogeneous, having a balance of boys and girls, a balance of academic performance and ability, and groups that will allow for the greatest support from our resource teachers.

Classroom teachers will have input into the recommendations for next year, as will our counselors and specialists. Our staff has been told that we will not take requests for particular teachers because we base our placement on instructional criteria and individual student strengths and needs. It is unfair to give special consideration to some parents when it would be impossible to grant requests from all parents. Please be aware also that grade level assignments for staff sometimes change, due to late enrollments or other changes.  Staff assignments are determined at the end of the summer. Our staff has been directed not to give out information about placement prior to that time. Children and parents are disappointed when changes must be made due to staffing issues.

In addition, we also value parent input.  If you feel there is pertinent information to support your child’s success for the upcoming school year, you may submit your input by clicking on this Parent Input Google Form . The parent input forms are due by May 26, 2023.  We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Taken together with teacher input, your feedback informs class placements.


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7.Student Intention Form for SY 2024-2025

We need your help in projecting our total enrollment for next school year. Please fill out the Student Intention form for next school year (2024-2025). Hard copies of the form can be made available and picked up in the Fairfax Villa main office.

If you have any questions, please call 703-267-2800 or email smdossmann@fcps.edu.


8.Resources for Newly Registered Families

Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:

There’s an easy to follow five-step process outlined for parents registering their children for kindergarten. Be sure to register your child as soon as possible! 

Register Your Children Online

Online registration is available for new and returning (re-enrolling) FCPS families! Apply today to help us plan for the 2024-25 school year.

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If you have an unregistered child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next school year, please complete the online intake form to plan accurate class sizes/staffing for next year.

📢Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.📢

If you have any questions, please contact Silvia Dossmann at smdossmann@fcps.edu.


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Fun office decoration for Administrator appreciation week!


9.📝 Student Testing Results Coming Soon

Later this month, you will begin receiving your child’s spring assessment results. If you aren’t sure what assessments your child took this year, view this list of tests by grade level on FCPS’ website. 

How the results are delivered depends on the test. Scores will be posted in SIS ParentVUE, or sent by mail or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student assessments, including what each assessment is testing for and how to interpret the test results. Caregivers should contact their children’s teacher with any testing questions.


10.📈 New SOL Growth Reports for Grade 3-8 Tests

Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) test results, along with other student data, help demonstrate in which subjects or topics students may need additional academic support.

In order to help interpret SOL results for parents, the Virginia Department of Education has released new Standards of Learning Growth Parent Reports for families of students who took grade 3-8 SOL math and reading tests this spring. 

The Growth Parent Report ties together scores from fall and winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) with the student’s current spring SOL results to show their trend in academic progress this year. 

Learn how to understand your student’s grade 3-8 SOL results and find resources to support their ongoing learning.


11.Support Your Child’s Success in SIS ParentVUE

Signing up for a SIS ParentVUE account helps you to support your child’s academic success. Caregivers can view important information in ParentVUE such as attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores. 

Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. A SIS ParentVUE app is available for Apple and Android devices. 

Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video explains the steps. Find out more. To create a new account, please contact [school registrar’s name and email] for an activation letter. 

If you already have an account, be sure your contact information is up-to-date. Parents/guardians can update their phone numbers or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section. View more information.


12.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!

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In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at the school—a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.


13.Yearbooks are still available!

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Yearbooks are still available for purchase. They are $13.00 per book, cash (exact change only) or check to “Fairfax Villa Elementary '' only. Order forms are available in the main office.  Yearbooks are no longer available for purchase online. 

There is a limited supply, please get your order in as soon as possible.  When they are gone, they are gone.


14.Family Life Education Materials Available for Review

The recommended Family Life Education instructional materials are available for community review through Monday, June 10, at 4:30 p.m. View details and a feedback form


15.Important Upcoming Dates

5/27: Student Holiday

5/29: Springs Band Concert at 7pm

6/1: FCPS Summer Extravaganza at Woodson HS

6/3: Grad Walk 2:30pm

6/5: Sixth Grade Showcase Evening Performance at 7pm

6/7: Field Day

6/11: 6th Grade Luncheon

6/12: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony (10:30-11:30am) 

6/12: End of Year Progress Reports Go Home

6/12: Last Day of School - 2hr Early Release


Frequently Visited Links and Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Contacts Page 

2023-2024 School Year 

Sign up for News You Choose 

Join the Fairfax Villa PTA

Report Your Child’s Absence 

Visit the Fairfax Villa Website

Substitute Teaching Opportunities

Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Pare+nt Account

Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares

Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

Parent Handbook

Fairfax Villa Contacts Page 

2023-2024 School Year 

Sign up for News You Choose 

Join the Fairfax Villa PTA

Report Your Child’s Absence 

Visit the Fairfax Villa Website

Substitute Teaching Opportunities

Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Pare+nt Account

Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares

Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

Parent Handbook