LCES Updates 8/23/24 This Week's Updates

1st Day of School

A Smooth Start: Our Successful First Week of School

Lees Corner ES is thrilled to report a fantastic start to the new school year! The first week has been filled with excitement, energy, and a strong foundation for a successful academic year.

A key to our successful start was our focus on building a strong classroom community. Teachers prioritized getting to know their students on a personal level, creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Icebreakers, team-building activities, and open communication channels helped foster a sense of belonging among students.

Establishing clear expectations and routines was another crucial element. Students quickly learned what was expected of them, both academically and behaviorally. This structure provided a sense of security and allowed students to focus on learning.

We are excited to see what the rest of the year will bring!

VaRonica Sloan, Principal

Jennifer Hutchinson, Assistant Principal


Labor Day

Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends.


calendar reminder graphic

Important Dates

  • Labor Day Holiday - August 30th through September 2nd 
  • September 10th - Back to School Night from 6pm-7:30pm (Grades 4-6)
  • September 12th - Back to School Night from 6pm-7:30pm (Grades K-3)
  • September 23 - Early Release Monday/Dismissal at 12:35pm - Find more information on early release Mondays at this LINK.

See the full school year calendar at this link.


strings

Register for Strings!

Strings signup

The String Orchestra Program at Lees Corner Elementary welcomes all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students to participate in learning an instrument in the orchestral string family (violin, viola, cello or string bass) regardless of experience.  The program is a yearlong commitment as classes begin in September and continue through June to the end of the school year. For more information follow the registration link or email Mrs. Ellis egellis@fcps.edu

Registration Link here


band

5th and 6th Graders! Join the Lees Corner Band!

Band Information and Sign Up Link

Friday August 23rd , your child saw an instrument demonstration assembly during school.  Talk with your child which band instrument they liked best that they’d like to learn this year.  Sign up using the link above by August 28th.

Mrs. Hill will visit your child during their music classes to confirm their instrument choice and help those who need help deciding which instrument would suit them best.  Information on where and how to rent and instrument can be found in the sign-up link, and Mrs. Hill will send home a packet with flyers to local stores.  There are some school owned instruments available for rent, and rental assistance for those in need.

Band is a 60-minute class once a week built into their specials.  Band is a year-long commitment and will be a fun, rewarding experience for your student! 

We have two performances: Spring Concert on May 1st and at the annual school basketball game!

Questions?

Click the link and read the information and/or contact our Band Director, Mrs. Hill NPHill@fcps.edu


dance

Chantilly Dance Team

Chantilly Dance Team is offering a Dance Workshop on Sunday, September 15th from 1-4 pm at Chantilly High school for grades K-8.  $60 per dancer, $10 discount for siblings.  Fee includes, a snack, craft and a t-shirt.  Contact Coach Katherine at Chantillydancers@gmail.com with any questions.  Register here.


kiss and ride

Kiss and Ride: Helpful Tips

Many families will use Kiss and Ride for both arrival and dismissal and the line can get long. Please be patient and kind with one another and our staff on duty! It will take time for us to establish these routines and procedures with our students. Here are a few more helpful tips:

  • morning drop-off starts at 8:35 a.m.
  • plan on being in line early
  • drivers should remain in the car
  • school staff will be on duty to assist students in unloading and loading
  • children should unload from the car on the passenger side only
  • cars should remain in a single file line. Passing other cars is NOT allowed in order to ensure the safety of all students.
  • afternoon pick-up starts at 3:35 p.m.
  • for afternoon pick-up, please display your assigned number in the right corner of your front windshield. Make sure your child knows what your number is (ie. 352). We will use the numbers to call the students out to your car.
  • Kiss and Ride ends before 4:00 p.m. Any students who have not been picked up by that time will be taken to the office. Parents will be contacted and must come to the office to sign their child out.

Need to Report an Absence?

Report full day absences through your ParentVUE account.

Late arrivals, changes in dismissal, early dismissals and absences of 2 days or more must be emailed to the attendance email at LeesCornerESAttendance@fcps.edu


Asha Jyothi

Asha-Jyothi 5K Run/Walk

Asha-Jyothi 5K Run/Walk is a fun-filled family event with foot tapping music, delicious food and a friendly course. It is a volunteer based non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the underprivileged by providing access to education and health care. Asha-Jyothi partners with schools by donating 100% of all registration money from each school back to the school for its STEM needs. 

Please join us in supporting this wonderful organization.

Race Date: Sunday, September 15 Location: 4250 Fairfax Corner Avenue; Fairfax, VA 22030 Race Time: Fun Run starts at 8:00 AM and 5K starts at 8:30 AM Price: $30 / Coupon Code "AJ4Schools" for $10 off the 5K

Register Here - Fairfax 5K, hope to see you there!


PTA

PTA Memberships Available for Purchase

PTA memberships are now avialable for purchase. People who register will be able to pick up their swag gift at Open House. 

https://leescornerpta.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true


Early Release Mondays

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. 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

To help plan for our school’s child care needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/Xw7XjSFMHEeErBUm7  for each of your children who are enrolled at Lees Corner Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student. This form was sent to your email address we have on file. If at all possible, please complete the form(s) by Monday, August 26, 2024.  It is important that we hear from all families. 

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays.


Emergency Care Form Updates- Student Online Verification

You should have received a copy of your child's Emergency Care Form at Open House.  Please verify your child's information.  If everything is correct, please sign and return.  If changes need to be made, please make those changes online through ParentVUE. The Online Verification system allows the enrolling parent to electronically update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and new immunizations dates for their students via ParentVUE.  For detailed information on how to use the OVU system, please click here.  Please verify your child’s information no later than August 26th.

If you have questions, please contact Jill Boddie, Registrar, at 703-227-3500 or jwboddie@fcps.edu


Greetings from the Health Room

Welcome back to another exciting school year at Lees Corner Elementary! The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) partner to offer each student access to a Health Room. Our goal is to ensure a safe and healthy school environment for all students throughout the school year. To help us achieve our goal, please take a moment to review the following information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the health room at 703-227-3510.


Spirit Wear!

This year the PTA is offering t-shirts, sweatshirts, pajama pants, sweatpants and shorts to display our LCES pride!  The active link to the ordering site is: https://designer-t-s-371a5b.printavo.com/merch/lees-corner-es-spiritwear/

Please see this flyer for more information. 


Parental Consent Forms

Please review and complete the required Digital Resource Consent Form, and any other required and optional forms, for each of your children by logging into the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). 

Teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. View Fairfax County Public Schools' list of Elementary Digital Resources to learn more.

Families can log into the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC) using their ParentVue credentials.

Need Help?  View Digital Consent Parent Directions.

Forms available include:

School Counseling Opt-out

Digital Resources Consent 

SEL Screener Opt-Out

Family Life Education Opt-out

SOL Retest Permission

Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public

Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations


Free and Reduced Meals

Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications for School Year 24-25

Families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Interested families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application linked here prior to the start of school on August 19th.

La Solicitud de Comidas Gratuitas y a Precio Rebajado Aplique en Linea

Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. Schools also benefit from funding opportunities based on Free and Reduced-Price Meal application numbers. 

Learn more about the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program online. If you have questions or need assistance with the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application, please contact the office at 703-322-3100.


Stay Connected to LCES

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Follow us on X @Lees_Corner_ES to see posts with information and resources.

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Join the Lees Corner Elementary School group on Facebook. This is a private group available only to LCES families and staff. The group is managed by the PTA but membership and dues are NOT required to join this group.