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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.
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
Dear Great Falls ES Families,
We are thrilled to share that our first week of school has been so very successful! As we embarked on this new academic year, it is truly inspiring to witness the excitement and enthusiasm of our students as they take their first steps towards a year filled with learning, growth, and discovery.
We are looking forward to welcoming our parents in for back to school night next week (see specific dates and times below). We will also be hosting a Principal/AP Meet and Greet during our first PTA Meeting on Tuesday, September 10 @ 4:30 in our cafeteria - a virtual option will also be available. Together, we will discuss the new and exciting curriculum changes changes this year from the VA Dept. of Education, FCPS and Great Falls ES. An opportunity to register to attend and submit questions prior to the meeting will follow soon.
We look forward to a fantastic year ahead filled with countless opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and reach new heights.
Thank you,
Sara Harper
Principal
⭐Back to School Night Events⭐
Learn from our teachers about our goals for the year, school policies, and classroom procedures followed by time in your child’s classroom to see where their learning will take place this year! Each session will run from 5:30 - 6:00 and then repeated again from 6:15 - 6:45.
Tuesday, August 27 (grades k, 1, 2, 3)
Wednesday, August 28 (grades 4, 5 & 6)
*** 6th grade families will begin at 5:15 with a grade level preview**
** JIP classrooms will have slightly adjusted times sent by JIP teacher **
Calendar Updates:
Aug 30 - No School (Labor Day Holiday)
Sept 2 - No School (Labor Day Holiday)
Sept 3 -Change of Transportation (COT) program begins
Sept 10 - Principal Coffee and PTA Meeting @ 4:30 GFES Cafe
Sept 20 - PTA Under the Stars Movie
Sept 23 - Early Release Monday #1
Oct 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
Oct. 4 -No School (Teacher Work Day)
🔖 Bookmark the School Year Calendar: Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays and breaks.
Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-757-2100.
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Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
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Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from our school and FCPS by adding your cell phone number and email to 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.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give 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. You can easily opt your child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. You may also change how your student’s 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/caregivers can submit up to two full-day absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Absences longer than two days, partial day absences, and changes of transportation should still be reported to our front office.
Update Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine, please 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.
Remember to request your child’s immunization record and bring that to the school’s front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?
Contact our front office for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
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Don't Delay, JOIN THE PTA TODAY!
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP REMINDER
If you joined last year, you'll need to renew/join each year to receive the great benefits year after year, along with supporting the amazing programs we provide our students and staff.
Membership is only $20 and supports PTA operations, gives you voting rights at all PTA general meetings and entry into raffles for tickets and parking for PTA events!
Join Now >> https://www.gfespta.com/membership
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Roadrunner Giving Campaign!
The PTA is asking our Roadrunner families to please consider donating to our ANNUAL Roadrunner Giving Campaign! We hope to have many generous families donate and need the continued support to continue assisting our school with the many programs, activities the PTA supports.
We have some wonderful incentives this year to encourage our wonderful families to donate! New this year: donate at least $250 to the RGC by October 31st and you will be entered into our raffle to be PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY!! Other incentives include:
40% of families join/donate - School-Wide Pajama Day
50% of families join/donate - Popsicles for all students
60% of families join/donate - School-Wide Dance Party!
At our first general PTA meeting of the year, we will share what the PTA’s goals are and how we will actively assist our students, teachers and families. More information on the time and location of the meeting will be shared shortly.
Lastly, if anyone - person, family, company - is interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor, please click HERE to learn more information on how our school can benefit from your sponsorship as well as promoting your business through out the school year! Please click HERE to become a Corporate Sponsor!
We already have generous families and businesses that have donated and will be featured on our website and Facebook Page!
To view our Roadrunner Giving Campaign flyer, please click HERE!
Principal's Coffee - Tuesday September 10th
Please join us on Tuesday, September 10th for the opportunity to "meet" our wonderful principal, Sara Harper! She will talk about the year ahead and the curriculum. We will be meeting in person but parents unable to attend, can still log in and participate virtually! More information as well as the time will be shared in the coming weeks!
Become a Room Parent!
Room Parents serve an important role in helping support the classroom teacher, organize classroom events and facilitate communication between the school and parents. If interested in serving in this role, please sign up HERE!
To view the room parent flyer, please click HERE!
Seeking Art Enrichment Classroom Lead Parent Volunteers!
Use the form in the link below to express interest in being the Art Enrichment lead for your child’s class. The AE Committee will then select the lead for each class and notify you directly if you have been chosen. There are six sessions (six artists) that are presented each school year. The Lead is responsible for coordinating art enrichment parent volunteers for your child’s homeroom teacher. Minimal prep required, besides a one-hour orientation (generally held at 9:15 AM on Wednesdays) and 1-2 hours on the day of the session. No Art Experience Necessary! Being the AE lead is a fun way to be involved in your child’s classroom.
https://forms.gle/gzMFYixmCcNba2e78
New Family Buddy Program
Are you new to Great Falls Elementary and want a friendly & trusted resource to ask questions and learn more about our community? Are you a veteran GFES family that wants to lend a helping hand to new families so they can learn more about Great Falls Elementary and our community?
Please sign up HERE to be matched with another family to kick off this school year on a positive note!
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Sign Your Daughters Up for Girls on the Run!
REGISTER FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN
Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a running program for girls grades 3rd through 6th, which teaches girls to be strong, healthy and confident. The GOTR season begins on September 23rd and goes through November 19th. Practice will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the GFES track from 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM.
Registration opens August 19th. Register before September 17th at this link:
https://www.gotrnova.org/
Interested in coaching? Please complete this Google form and we will be in touch
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQPS4festQJ57tGykMe1rHsZmfMYPl-PSQqj5K4kzpaZUy0Q/viewform?usp=sf_link
To view the Girls on the Run Flyer, please click HERE
Become a Let Me Run Athlete!
REGISTER FOR LET ME RUN
Let Me Run inspires boys through the power or running to be courageous enough to be themselves, to build healthy relationships, and to live an active lifestyle.
Let Me Run registration opens on August 19th, 2024!
The season runs from September 22nd through November 6th
Practice dates and times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 - 8:30am
Please contact Anna Caputo at ccaras6@gmail.com with any questions!
Click HERE to register!
To view the Let Me Run Flyer, please click HERE!
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Before School Spanish Immersion Program is Back!
The Children’s Center for Language and Culture, Inc. (ChiCeLaCu!) in partnership with the GFES PTA is pleased to offer the Spanish Program for its 12th consecutive year. ChiCeLaCu’s goal is to cement a strong language foundation, ultimately enabling students to become proficient Spanish speakers.
The program combines the arts with dynamic and interactive teaching approaches to make this a truly fun and effective experience. As a long-term program, children are expected to achieve language proficiency in 4-5 years of participation in the program. Students begin at Beginner Levels 1 and 2 and move to the intermediate and advanced levels as they progress through their school years.
The class is held from 7:45 AM to 8:35 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning on September 16th, 2024 and ending on May 7th, 2025. ChiCeLaCu! follows the FCPS calendar with respect to teacher workdays, holidays, and school cancellations.
To register, please click HERE.
Fall 2024 After School Enrichment!
The PTA has once again partnered with Baroody Camps, Inc. (www.baroodycamps.com) to provide a wide variety of after school enrichment classes for students across all grade levels. Registration for all of the 2024 After School Enrichment classes opens on Monday August 26th at 8:00am and closes on Friday September 8th at 11:59pm!
Please click HERE to learn about the classes being offered this fall!
To view the Fall 2024 School Enrichment Flyer, please click HERE!
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