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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.
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.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
Dear Great Falls ES Families,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I know this email is long and packed full of information. Please take time to note these dates on your calendar to ensure you have all of the information needed for a smooth transition and start to the school year.
⭐New Family Playdate⭐
Wednesday, August 14th at 10:00 am on the GFES playground
⭐GFES Open House⭐
Thursday, August 15, at Great Falls Elementary
9:00 - 9:45: Families with last names A – L
10:00 - 10:45: Families with last names M – Z
⭐First Day of School⭐
August 19, 2024
⭐Back to School Night⭐
(For Parents/CareGivers Only)
Tuesday, August 27, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades k, 1, 2, 3)
Wednesday, August 28, from 5:30-6:45 pm (grades 4, 5 & 6)
** JIP classrooms will have different times sent by JIP teacher **
⭐Labor Day Break⭐
Friday, August 30 - Tuesday, September 2 No School
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2024-2025
📚School Supplies
School supply lists can be found here for families who did not purchase a school supply kit through our PTA this year. Please bring supplies to classrooms during Open House or on the first day of school.
💻SIS ParentVue
The first step to ensuring your child’s information is up to date is to ensure you can access your ParentVue account. ParentVue provides you access to your student’s bus routes, class placements, attendance records, grades, and assignments.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. The same ParentVUE account can also access information about students in the same family. You can access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
🍎 Class placement
Class placement assignments will be official and available in SIS (ParentVue) on Wednesday, August 14. We continue to place students in classes. Please do not call our front office or email our staff members for this information prior to Wednesday.
👩🏽🏫New Teaching and Learning Resources and Structures
As part of our Equitable Access to Literacy plan, FCPS is changing the way we teach reading to our K-6 students. Starting this school year, we will have a new Language Arts curriculum. Because of this new curriculum, all FCPS teachers who help our students learn how to read will have the same high-quality materials and lesson plans.
🌎Advanced Academic Curriculum Options (grades 3-6)
Beginning this school year, all students in grades 3-6 will receive advanced academic curriculum instruction and resources in social studies and science. Please keep this in mind as class placements are sent out as teachers and homeroom classes may be mixed. Much more information about how this will look and work coming in the future.
📧Paperless Opt-Outs Available!
As a part of our ongoing efforts to streamline paper processes, parents can now select a number of opt-out’s electronically via ParentVUE. Once you have signed into your ParentVUE account, simply select the “Student Info” tab and click on “Edit Information.” You will find opt-out’s listed there. Parents that do not yet have a ParentVUE account will still be able to use paper forms for notification. If you need to set up your ParentVUE account, you can create one online via the FCPS ParentVUE Registration page.
🏥 School Clinic Update
Our clinic will be open to drop off medications during the following dates and times:
Tuesday, 8/13: 9am - 3pm
Thursday, 8/15: 9am - 3pm
Friday, 8/16: 9am - 3pm
Parents can submit updates/changes to Emergency Care and Health Information forms if needed. Parents can also use SIS ParentVUE to verify and update their student’s emergency contacts, phone numbers, and health conditions.
📑Parent Handbook
Please take some time to review our Great Falls Family Handbook before the first day of school. We will also have paper copies at Open House as well. We want to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information regarding the 2023-2024 school year.
🚌Transportation Communication
Communication was sent last Friday to families eligible to receive school bus services to and from school. If you still need to do so, please respond to this email to assist our transportation department in developing the most efficient bus routes.
🥗Food and Nutrition Services
Food and Nutrition Services will email student PINs via e-notify before the first day of school. Information about meal prices, setting up lunch accounts and payment options (MySchoolBucks, cash or check) for cafeteria meals can be found here. Lunch Menus are also available here.
🍜Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Families that are earning less than 185% of the poverty level can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost.
Families must complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Look for the application in August. View criteria and up-to-date information on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
📅Early Release Mondays
FCPS will implement early releases at the elementary level on seven Mondays during the 2024-25 school year. The primary purpose is to provide dedicated time for teachers to complete required professional development for the new Virginia Literacy Act. We value your child's education and continue to support good attendance practices, so these early dismissal days are a convenient option for scheduling appointments to avoid early checkout or absences on other school days.
Great Falls ES will release students at 12:35 pm on the following days:
September 23
October 28
November 25
February 24
March 17
April 28
May 19
While these are designated as early release days—where necessary—we will ensure that every student has supervised enrichment activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if that is what works best for families. More information on this will be provided soon.
🌎Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners Summit
All multilingual learners and their families are invited to a summit on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Annandale High School. The summit will be primarily geared toward secondary multilingual learners, but all are welcome to attend. The goal of the summit is to foster an environment of empowerment where multilingual students and their families can establish meaningful connections, engage in active listening, and openly share their experiences, cultivating mutual support and a deeper understanding of educational pathways within FCPS.
This event will begin with a table fair showcasing many opportunities available within FCPS and the wider community that support students' paths to graduation and future careers. Additionally, Dr. Jose Luis Zelaya will present a keynote, sharing a message about the power of community and resilience. Following the keynote, a student panel will dialogue with Dr. Zelaya.
Refreshments and light food will be served. Language and childcare services will be available. FCPS has emailed all secondary-level multilingual learners a central invitation. Registration is open for students, families, or staff planning to attend.
Flyer links: English-Spanish | Arabic | Urdu | Korean | Vietnamese | Chinese
Back-to-School Volunteers Needed
On Wednesday, August 14th, the PTA needs parent volunteers to help GFES teachers and staff prepare for the start of the year. As they say "many hands make light work" and this is a great opportunity to meet your PTA leaders and other parents before school even begins! Come as you are for as little or as long as you can!
School Supplies: school supply kits have been delivered to the school, so we now need parents to help distribute them to classrooms. The elevator and carts will be available!
Welcome Packet Stuffing: each year, the PTA stuffs the first Tuesday folder of the year. Get a jump start on the year by getting a first look at all the key information you and your family need!
Sign up HERE
Thank you so much!!
Teacher Welcome Back Breakfast & Lunch
Each year, the PTA hosts a Welcome Back Breakfast and Lunch for our amazing Teachers and Staff. We will be hosting this wonderful event on Monday, August 12th in the school Cafeteria. Breakfast and lunch will be catered but we are asking for donations of drinks, plates/napkins, and some grab and go snacks to stock the teacher's lounge!
Please see details and sign up HERE so we can warmly welcome our teachers and staff back to school!
If you would prefer to purchase items through our Amazon wish list, you can access it HERE
Thank you so much for your continued support!
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