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To read this newsletter in other languages, please click on the link below.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, haga clic en el enlace a continuación y elija su idioma.
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English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | Français | Русский
 It was great to see familiar faces as well as new friends at the Open House on Thursday. We can't wait to see you on Monday when doors open at 8:35am. All parents/guardians are welcome to join the annual "Kleenex & Coffee" in the courtyard at arrival.
News from the Fox Den
August 16, 2024
Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year!
The start of a new school year is always exciting. As principal of Fort Hunt, my hope is that each family feels welcomed and up-to-date with important information. This weekly newsletter will hopefully serve as just one of the many ways we can stay connected. Thank you for taking a moment to read about important updates to our procedures, upcoming events and resources that may help your family. As always, don't hesitate to reach out with questions. My contact information will always be at the bottom of this newsletter.
Rest up this weekend. We'll see everyone on Monday!
--Jean Consolla, Principal
Kiss & Ride Has Changed! Please Read
If you are family that drives your child to and from school, we need you to use the Kiss & Ride to drop off your child and pick them up in the afternoon. Our Kiss & Ride lane is now the big loop at the front of the school. It's the safest method for everyone at Fort Hunt. This helps keeps our streets clear so that buses can pass and eliminates the need to cross the street.
How should cars approach the school?
Our school is on Linton Lane. Plan to access Linton Lane from Elkin Street. This will set you up to make a seamless right turn into the school driveway. If you are coming from the GW Parkway, take Vernon View Drive all the way to Elkin. We can only have cars making a right turn into the driveway from Linton.
Can't I just park at the curb on Linton and drop/pick up my child there?
NO. This is unsafe and blocks the flow of traffic. Our Kiss & Ride lane is the fastest and safest way to drop off/pick up your child.
Which side of the car should my child exit/enter the car?
All students must exit on the passenger side of the car. All students in Grades 1-6 will enter Door 1. All kindergarten students will enter at Door 3 which is just past Door 1 via a ramp. A sign will be there indicating where kindergarten students enter.
What can parents do to make Kiss & Ride safe for everyone?
Follow the procedures and directions from staff. Respect the cones. Be kind to staff and one another. Stay calm. Expect that this new procedure will be busy and might not go as smoothly as you like. Allow for extra time to get to your next destination.
Please study the map below. Thank you for sharing this information with family members and care providers that use Kiss & Ride.
Early Release Mondays: What are you plans?
FCPS will have seven (7) early release Mondays throughout the year where students will be dismissed three hours early at 12:40pm. We need to know what you anticipate your plans for childcare will be for the first two times we have the early release (Mon, Sept 16 and Mon, Oct. 21)
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/trLCkVgfkuiKaY2g8 for each of your children enrolled at Fort Hunt Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 16, 2024 and October 21, 2024. Again, Fort Hunt will dismiss at 12:40pm on the Early Release Monday. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Our staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student.
Thank you to the families of the 244 students who have already responded.
Start of the Year Forms and more!
We've created a page with links to all the forms that need to be completed at the start of school. Also included are optional forms and links. Check it out here: https://forthuntes.fcps.edu/start-school-forms
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Can I Walk My Child to Class?
Absolutely! All parents can walk their child to their classroom door everyday. This is our community school, and we want all families to feel welcome. Kindergarten families will enter/exit Door 3. Grades 1-6 will enter Door 1 and exit Door 11.
The morning drop off is just that: a drop off. It's a quick moment to greet the teacher at the door and wish your child a great day as you say good-bye. It is not a visit inside the classroom or a time for a conference. If you do have a concern or question that requires more than a few seconds, your child's teacher will be happy to schedule a time to connect with you when they can give you their full attention.
Update to Immersion Instruction: Social Studies
All schools in FCPS are now mandated by Virginia law to provide a specific language arts curriculum and will be using the Benchmark curriculum for all students K-6. This implementation requires more instructional minutes than the traditional language arts time has been allotted in years past. For students who are in immersion, there are no longer instructional minutes for social studies in the English half of the day. This means that the social studies instruction is moving to the Spanish half of the day. Teachers will be alternating science & social studies instruction in 2-3 week chunks. All math & science will continue to be instructed in Spanish. However, the social studies instruction will mostly be in English. As we create more teacher resources in Spanish, the amount of instruction in Spanish will increase. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and support for our teachers as we navigate this transition.
Important Dates
Monday, August 19
- First Day of School. Plan to arrive to by 8:30am.
Friday, August 30 & Monday, September 2
- School Closed for all students & staff
Monday, September 16
- Early Dismissal at 12:40pm
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Get Involved with your PTA
Consider becoming a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Fort Hunt. It's a great way to connect with other parents, learn about how to support your child and to have fun! There are many ways where you can share your voice, talents and time. Check out the PTA website for more information.
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Parent/Guardian Handbook
Do you have questions about attendance or food/drink at school or what students can wear? If so, please check out our Parent/Guardian Handbook on our Fort Hunt website. It's available with translations. Click here to access it. Of course, if you have a question about a situation that is not listed, reach out to your child's teacher or an administrator.
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Your Partners in Education
We are honored to work with your family this year and will work everyday to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us when there is a question or concern, especially related to bullying. As a parent, you will often hear about something before staff might. Thank you for all your support.
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Patty Settel, Assistant Principal
pasettel@fcps.edu
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