To read our newsletter in other languages, please view it on the Centre Ridge website. 

Para leer nuestro boletín en otros idiomas, visite la página web de Centre Ridge.

لقراءة النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى الاطلاع عليها على الموقع الإلكتروني   

영어가 아닌 다른 언어로 뉴스레터를 보시기 원하시면 이 웹사이트를 클릭하여 주십시오.

اس نیوزلیٹر کو دوسری زبانوں میں پڑھنے کیلئے ، براہ مہربانی ہماری ویب سائیٹ ملاحظہ کیجیئے۔

Volume 3, Issue 3; August 9, 2024

Special Summer Edition!

Centre Ridge All-Stars

Welcome back to school, CRES community!

Dear CRES Community,

As we step up to the plate for another exciting school year, we want to remind you of the importance of staying connected with us through our various communication channels. Our monthly newsletter and social media platforms are your playbook for our latest updates, events, and key information. By staying connected, you will always be in the know about what is happening at our school! Please follow us on Twitter and InstagRAM.

Starting August 15th, we’ll be back in the game with TalkingPoints for communication. This tool is like your catcher’s mitt, helping you stay in touch with your child's teachers by fostering two-way communication. Next week, you will also receive introductory letters from your child's teacher(s) where they will share their preferred communication tools, including their weekly TelegRAM. The TelegRAM will provide you with an overview of what your child is learning in school, as well as other important information. 

Just like in baseball, teamwork is essential. Keeping open lines of communication with the school throughout the year is key to hitting a home run when it comes to your child’s success! We encourage you to engage with our various communication methods and reach out whenever you need assistance.

Thank you for being part of our all-star team! We look forward to a fantastic year together!

Please Purchase: School Supplies Every player needs the right equipment to succeed on the field and in their education! Due to the demands placed on our school budget this year, we kindly request that parents and caregivers purchase the school supplies listed for their child's grade level. We will continue to purchase many additional supplies for all students, as well. If possible, please bring these supplies when you meet the teacher on August 16th. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

All-Star Back-to-School Picnic!

Event Details: Friday, August 16th
Time: 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: CRES Blacktop and Fields

We will be serving hot dogs, nachos, popsicles, and other treats. Each parent/caregiver and CRES student will be provided a ticket, and we will continue to serve food while supplies last. We anticipate a large turnout, so we encourage everyone to carpool and arrive early to secure a parking spot. 

Our All-Star Picnic will feature music and activities that are sure to be a grand slam! It's going to be a fun-filled event, and we want every family to join in the celebration. Bring your "A-game" and get ready to have a ball! The picnic is scheduled in between our grade level "Meet the Teacher" events; see our calendar below for specific grade level times for Open House. 

Back to School Festival

6600 Old Centreville Road, 11:00 am-3:00 pm 

Register here to participate! To receive a backpack, students must be enrolled in grades Pre-K-12 during the 2024-25 school year. Each child will receive a complimentary meal, and adults may purchase food. We hope many of our families are able to join in the festivities!

Liberty Middle School Pencils and Popsicles!

Rising 7th graders, please visit Centre Ridge for pencils and popsicles before you head off to Liberty! 

Tuesday, August 13th, 3:00-3:30 pm

We Are Eager to Welcome You Back to School!

As summer winds down, our school and staff are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Before the first day of school, make sure you have completed the following: 

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar [add contact info] if you need a code. 

Once you have activated a SIS 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 SIS ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. 

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. 

Update Your Contact Information

To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.

Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:

• Days marked with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
• Days marked with an orange “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days. 
• Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.

Note: Some holidays and observances, such as Eid al-Fitr, may shift and the calendar may be adjusted.

Update Immunizations and Records

As we look ahead to the new school year, we would like to remind caregivers that immunizations are required for all students in order to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy.

Starting Monday, September 30th, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization compliance by accessing SIS ParentVUE. 

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine to complete their records, you may make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. 

Remember to request your child’s immunization record and bring that to your school’s front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible.

Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please search your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• September 23
• October 28
• November 25
• February 24
• March 17
• April 28
• May 19

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

New Feature in ParentVUE: Report Full-Day Absences 

Starting on the first day of school, Monday, August 19, parents/caregivers can submit full-day absences through FCPS’ SIS ParentVUE platform. This will make reporting and tracking absences easier for our school.

Parents/caregivers may report absences by using ParentVUE or by contacting the front office. Please find important details below:

• How to Use ParentVUE: Log in to your ParentVUE account and select “Report Absence.” 
• More Ways to Report: Use our [attendance phone line and/or email] for absences longer than two days, late arrivals, and early dismissals.
• Where to Get Help: Visit FCPS Attendance Reporting webpage for step-by-step instructions. 

If you need to set up a ParentVUE account or have questions, please contact our front office at [phone and/or email]. They will provide you with an “activation key” and instructions to create a ParentVUE account. We are excited to see your student on August 19!

CRES is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) School

Centre Ridge Elementary is a Community Eligibility provision (CEP) School. CEP allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students, regardless of need, without collecting household applications for free and reduced-price meals. 

To receive additional benefits beyond meals, please consider completing this form which is used by FCPS staff to collect family household information and to determine consent to share with other FCPS programs for schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Free Workshops for Families

Parents and 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 the Family Resource Center (FRC).

In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.

Strategic Plan

Successfully Completing Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade

Helping students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade is part of our FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence. 

Passing Algebra 1 earlier allows for students to take more advanced classes like Dual Enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These advanced courses help students succeed in college. A recent study from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that completing Algebra 1 by grade eight led to 30% more ninth graders and 16% more 11th graders taking advanced courses.

Students Reading on Level by the Third Grade FCPS has continued to improve its approach to reading over the last several years through our Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) plan. Reading by third grade is also one of the measures of Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

By focusing on foundational skills for our young readers and literacy intervention for upper grades, FCPS has made significant progress toward narrowing the achievement gaps in this critical skill. Visit the Strategic Plan webpage for more information.

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

Please Mark Your Calendars!

Great news! Centre Ridge Elementary School's events are now easily added to your own personal calendar. To find out how to download our calendar feed, please go here.

Friday, August 16th: All-Stars Open House and Picnic!

• 9:15 am: "All-Star Welcome: Kickoff to a Winning School Year!" (*This is an opportunity to learn about what is new and exciting at Centre Ridge, as well as how to support your child with their learning throughout the year! All families are welcome!)

• 10:00-10:30 am: Sensory friendly start (Students who may need a quieter atmosphere to meet their teacher may arrive at this time. This includes any student with an IEP. All grades are welcome.)
• 10:30-11:30 am: Pre-K-2 Open House
• 11:30 am: Picnic 
• 12:30-1:30 pm: Grades 3-6 Open House

Monday, August 19th: First Day of School! Please meet your pre-K and Kindergarten student at the bus per FCPS policy.

Friday, August 30th & Monday, September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday

Thursday, September 5th: Back-to-School Night (UPDATED!)

Please plan on arriving early to secure a parking spot. We encourage carpooling. We have planned for interpreters for Spanish, Arabic, and Korean for each grade level presentation.

See the complete 2024-2025 school year calendar.

FCPS Cares Program Recognizing employees who go above and beyond FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS, and more specifically, Centre Ridge employees.

Ram Reflection To provide feedback directly to Dr. Hertzberg, please use the QR code, or click on this link. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your thinking!

14400 New Braddock Road Centreville, Va 20121 | Main Office: 703.227.2600
Attendance: 703.227.2648 | Web | Twitter | Facebook