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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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Dear Panther Families,
We had an amazing first week at The Woods! The smiles and laughter filled our hallways and classrooms. We are looking forward to next week as we continue to set expectations and routines for our students. Please read the important reminders and updates below to ensure you are following our procedures.
Sincerely,
Gina O'Neal, Principal
Kristen Robinson, Assistant Principal
Christine Berry, Assistant Principal
August 30- No School (Labor Day Break)
September 2- No School (Labor Day Break)
September 16- Early Dismissal (12:15pm)
September 17- Back to School Night (6:00pm- 7:30pm)
September 27- Fall Picture Day
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Watch this video with tips from Fairfax Pyramid principals and visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
¡Asistir hoy, lograr mañana!
El comienzo del año escolar es el mejor momento para desarrollar fuertes hábitos de asistencia. Los estudiantes que asisten a la escuela con regularidad tienen más probabilidades de rendir bien en lectura y matemáticas, desarrollar fuertes habilidades sociales y emocionales, y graduarse de la escuela secundaria a tiempo. Ayude a posicionar a su hijo para el éxito futuro.Vea este video con consejos de los directores de la Pirámide de Fairfax y visite la página web de Asistencia de FCPS para obtener consejos y estrategias.
When Should My Child Stay Home?
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit our site for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and your school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify Mt Vernon Woods Attendance at MountVernonWoodsElem.Attendance@fcps.edu or call the office at 703-619-2828 so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school public health nurse, and call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long. Attend today, Achieve Tomorrow!
¿Cuándo debe quedarse mi hijo en casa?
Ya sea que los estudiantes falten a la escuela por enfermedad como por cualquier otra razón, faltar a la escuela conlleva una pérdida de aprendizaje.
Ayude a su hijo a tener éxito animándole a faltar el menor número de días posible. Sin embargo, asegúrese de que su hijo se quede en casa si está enfermo. ¿Cuándo debe su hijo quedarse en casa? Visite nuestra página web para obtener ideas útiles sobre las ausencias y sobre cómo colaborar con su hijo y con el colegio.
Si su hijo tiene una enfermedad crónica, asegúrese de notificar a MountVernonWoodsElem.Attendance@fcps.edu or call the office at 703-619-2828 para que se le pueda proporcionar asistencia si la necesita. Mantenga una línea de comunicación abierta con la enfermera de salud pública de su escuela, y llame a la escuela tan pronto como sepa que su hijo va a estar ausente e informe al personal de la escuela por qué y por cuánto tiempo. ¡Asista hoy, logre mañana!
Virginia Literacy Training and Limited 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.
A Steering Committee of school leaders, teachers, and families is working to support both families and teachers in this effort. See the list of early release dates and other information.
Early Release Mondays- Dismissal at 12:15pm
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
 Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
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Preschool and PreK Drop Off
We are excited to welcome back our preschool and PreK students on Monday. If you are dropping off your preschooler, please note that students will be dropped off at 8:30am to avoid the K-6 morning rush and ensure a safe and orderly arrival for all students.
Same Day Dismissal Changes
Same day dismissal changes, including planned early pick-ups of students, must be communicated to the front office prior to 2:30 pm.
- A note to the classroom teacher is also appreciated BUT, as classroom teachers may not have an opportunity to check their email before the end of the day, all dismissal changes MUST be communicated to the front office.
- If your child is being picked up during their Specials time (music, PE, art, etc.), please allow additional time for them to return to their classroom to pack up their belongings.
- If your child attends SACC, be sure to also let the SACC staff know of a dismissal change as SACC operates separately from FCPS.
100% ID Check
For security purposes, you are required to present a government-issued photo ID if you are: Visiting a classroom or cafeteria or if you are picking up a student. Access to the building will be DENIED if you do not have a photo ID. Thank you for supporting us by following these procedures and helping ensure all MVWES students and staff are safe at school!
Parent VUE
FCPS will be sending communication to parents who do not have an active Parent VUE account. However, you can also request assistance by using the Parent Support Request Form (select “SIS Parent” in the Application dropdown and “Account Activation” from the Inquiry dropdown) for help with this process.
Breakfast & Lunch
All students at Mt Vernon Woods are eligible for one no-cost breakfast and one no-cost lunch per school day. Students also have the option to bring lunch from home if they prefer. Visit FCPS Meal Menus to view FCPS breakfast and lunch options.
Student Online Verification/Update (OVU)
The OVU packet allows parents to electronically update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and add new immunizations dates for their students via ParentVUE. Important: Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school. Contact the current school directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.
Prescription Medications
Children who need to take medication during school hours must have a signed Medication Authorization Form. Many prescription medications require signatures from both the parent and the physician. Authorization forms are also required for inhalers and EpiPens.
Medication Authorization Form
Epinephrine (EpiPen) Authorization Form
Inhaler Authorization Form
Make Sure Your Students Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations
In preparation for the new school year, please make sure your student has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
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 immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your family's healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs a vaccine to complete their records, 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. Be wise and immunize!
Cell Phone Policy
In June 2022, the FCPS 2022-23 Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) were updated to include new expectations for cell phone use that are specific to each school level: elementary, middle, high, and secondary (see below or visit the FCPS cell phone policy webpage). The new cell phone expectations were established to help foster a learning environment that is conducive to learning.
Feedback can be submitted on the cell phone usage policy webpage.
In Grades K-6:
- Phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day. Cell phones may be used on campus before and after school only.
- Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
- Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency.
- With the approval of the principal or their designee, teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool; however, one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs.
New Benchmark Curriculum
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 curriculum for Language Arts which will help our students become better readers. Because of this new curriculum, all of our FCPS teachers who help our students learn how to read will have the same high-quality materials and lesson plans. When a student can read well, they do better in all of their classes and are more likely to graduate high school.
💝FCPS Cares!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Mt Vernon Woods ES. We love our MVWES staff members, let's tell them how we feel!
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