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Dear Bush Hill Families,
I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the incredible success of our first week of school! The excitement and enthusiasm from both our students and staff were truly heartwarming.
I am so grateful to our amazing staff for their tireless work in preparing for the start of the school year. Their dedication and commitment to our students are truly inspiring.
I also want to thank you, our wonderful families, for your support in ensuring that the school year gets off to a great start. Your patience and understanding during the dismissal process, especially on the first few days, is greatly appreciated.
Please remember that during the initial days, Kiss-and-Ride may take a bit longer than usual, and buses may also experience some delays. To help us streamline the dismissal process, we ask you to ensure that your child knows their kiss-and-ride number or bus route number.
If you haven't already obtained a kiss-and-ride number, please reach out to the main office. Having a number will help us expedite the dismissal process.
Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to a fantastic school year at Bush Hill!
Sincerely,
Mary E. Duffy
Principal
✨ Our Commitment to Excellence, Equity, and Opportunity for Each and Every Student
As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which guides us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students. Watch Dr. Reid’s message.
SPANISH:✨ Nuestro compromiso con la excelencia, equidad y oportunidad para todos y cada uno de los estudiantes
Al empezar un nuevo año escolar, la Superintendente Dra. Michelle Reid nos recuerda las metas del Plan Estratégico 2023-30 de FCPS, que nos guía en entregar excelencia, equidad, y oportunidad para todos y cada uno de nuestros estudiantes. Vea el mensaje de la Dra. Reid.
Marcia St.John-Cunning
Learn about the Fairfax County School Board
The 12 School Board members are elected for four-year terms; one member represents each of the County’s nine magisterial districts, and three members serve at large. The current School Board term began January 1, 2024 and ends December 31, 2027. A student representative, selected for a one-year term by the Student Advisory Council, sits with the Board at all public meetings and participates in discussions, but does not vote.
Learning about your local school board is important. They make decisions that directly affect the quality of education and resources available to students and staff in Fairfax County. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. And they want to heard from you. To find out who your local school board members are, you can visit the county's website.
Volunteers Needed!
We are gearing up for a great school year but need YOUR help to make it happen!
Consider serving on the PTA board (we are still looking for a Treasurer) or participating in our various committees. Whether you can contribute a few hours a month or take on a leadership role, your involvement makes a significant difference. Please reach out to us to learn more about how you can get involved.
Enrichment Programs are coming this Fall! The PTA has set up various enrichment programs to offer to Bush Hill students/families. We have something for everyone in the mornings and afternoons. More information will be coming out soon and registration will be set up through the vendors. Here is the list of offerings so you can start thinking/planning! Let Me Run - boys running club (grades 3-6) Your Best Chess - chess club (all grades) Kidcreate Alexandria - art club (K-3) STEM ExCel - (grades 1-6) iCook - cooking club (grades K-3) STEAM - science (grades 4-6) Odyssey of the Mind (all grades, split into teams) Learn Music Now - music club (all grades) We need parent/teacher volunteers to be coaches for Let Me Run and to be coaches for the Odyssey of the Mind teams. If interested email the PTA at ptabushhillelementary@gmail.com.
We are also working with the school for some activities to be offered for the early release Mondays. Stay tuned for more information!
Ice Cream Social
Save the date for our annual ice cream social Friday, 9/13 from 6:00-7:30pm in the Bush Hill cafeteria.
Follow us on Facebook
Want to stay up to date on all PTA events and opportunities? Make sure you are following us on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/BushHillES/
Become a PTA Member Today!
It's easy! Click here: Join_PTA
Why join? Membership helps support our students and staff! The PTA helps plan fun activities for our school community (for staff and students), plans fundraisers, and supports the purchase of new materials and items for school improvements.
Ideas, thoughts, questions; want to volunteer or assist? We take donations via Givebacks and always need help from volunteers!
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2150 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Want to get ahead of the back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find forms and updates.
If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact your child's school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form needed for updates and submit it to their child’s school.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences
Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in to the platform and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to your school’s front office.
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/subject-area/family-life-education-fle/fle-opt-out-request-forms
Opt-out forms for students in general education classes are available in the Parent Digital Consent (PDC). A paper opt-out form is being used for students in special education and using the modified FLE lessons for the 2024-25 school year)
https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent/directions
Back-to-School Toolkit: Proven Systems for Solving Disorganization, Procrastination, and Missed Deadlines with Ann Dolin
Unrelenting patterns of disorganization, procrastination, and late assignments wear down and discourage many parents of students (especially those with ADHD and other learning differences) as the school year grinds on. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
In this webinar, Ann will discuss:
- What a system is and why sustainable systems are game changers for kids
- Uncover which type of procrastinator your child is, from crisis-maker to dreamer, and get personalized solutions for each procrastination style
- How your child can effectively use a calendar system to combat procrastination and meet deadlines head-on
- Strategies to help your student maintain order with easy-to-implement organizational routines, like the Clean Sweep and Launching Pad
- Communication starters to develop a relationship of trust at the start of the school year and how to nurture it for a smooth academic journey
Join Educational Connections Founder and President Ann Dolin, M.Ed., an experienced author, educator, and advocate for this important webinar.
September 13, 2024 10-11 a.m.
Register online
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to the Bush Hill Main Office or emailed to Ms. Elizabeth DePalma, Registrar efdepalma@fcps.edu
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
 Consider making your student or loved one’s legacy permanent at Bush Hill Elementary School by purchasing a brick to be placed on our brick path between Door 3 and Door 5. The bricks will be placed there among the other legacy bricks. We have two brick options to choose from. Bricks purchased now will be laid by Spring of 2025. All profits raised will be used to support student events, materials, and supplies for Bush Hill ES. Please click on the link below and be sure to fill out the entire order form in MySchoolBucks as well as the Google Form on the left hand bottom of the page.
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/checkout/getproduct?clientKey=ZZI5ZQWBKS04NJ8&buttonID=c23ad13d-4c15-4405-b98c-8ad89e89817c
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: 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. See the complete school year calendar.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 6-8 PM
For more Bush Hill ES Events - please visit https://bushhilles.fcps.edu/events
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