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Hello, Scottie families!
It has been a wonderful first few weeks of school! Our students are building classroom communities, developing skills in reading and writing, having rich conversations about math, learning about FCPS' Portrait of a Graduate attributes, and strengthening relationships through The Positivity Project's "Other People Mindset." We are excited for all that is to come!
We had another great Back-to-School Night on Wednesday. Thank you, parents, for attending and partnering with us in your child's education!
Be sure to check out the PTO section below for information on joining the PTO, volunteering, spiritwear, our upcoming movie night, and more! Contact the PTO with any questions.
Finally, as we plan for our first early release Monday on September 23, if you haven't already, be sure to submit the form right away. Thank you to those who have already submitted a preference for their child, you do not need to resubmit. If you have submitted a “I don’t know” or “Haven’t made a decision” please resubmit with a decision so your child is accounted for and to help us plan for any needed supervision.
Enjoy the weekend with your friends and family!
Morgan Birge, Principal
Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal
Melissa Johnson, Assistant Principal
Family. Relationships. Success.
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September 1-September 30 - Attendance Awareness Month
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September 11 - Commemoration/Patriot Day
Positivity Project
Upcoming Weekly Focus: Open-Mindedness
Character Strengths: You like to consider new ideas and try new things. You examine things from all sides and don’t jump to conclusions.
Quote of the Week: “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
-ALBERT EINSTEIN
Positivity Project for Families
Families can find resources to help continue the discussion of character strengths at home by visiting the Positivity Project for Families webpage.
A few amazing highlights that happened this week...
Students and staff are learning, practicing routines, and having fun!
Celebrating a student who was caught helping someone!
Make Every Day Count! The Importance of Attendance
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.
Early Release Mondays
To help us plan, please complete this Early Release Mondays survey for each of your children who are enrolled at Bonnie Brae 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.
Learn more about Early Release Mondays.
Fall Picture Day-Ordering Information
Fall Picture Day is on Thursday, September 26. Families can pre-order pictures online. Online ordering should be completed by Thursday, September 26. If you need a paper order form, please let your child's classroom teacher know and they will send one home.
All students who pre-purchase pictures will receive their picture packages at school approximately two weeks after our Fall Picture date.
For more details, please visit our Fall Picture Day webpage.
Arrival & Dismissal Safety
The safety of our students, parents, and staff continues to be our top priority. Please see below for reminders of important safety procedures implemented here at Bonnie Brae during arrival and dismissal.
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BUS LOOP
- In order for our buses to arrive and exit in a timely manner (to service the entire county), the bus loop needs to be clear of all personal vehicles at the following times:
- 8:10-8:45 am
- 3:00-3:45 pm
KISS & RIDE
- Speed Limit: <5 MPH
- Any students arriving by car must utilize the Kiss & Ride loop (or park in a designated parking space along Sideburn Road, with an adult walking their child to the front entrance)
- Yield to all pedestrians in the Kiss & Ride/parking lot entrance and be on the lookout for staff members helping students / parents cross the entry way
- When waiting to turn into Kiss & Ride, keep the entry and exit lanes clear of vehicles so students can cross safely with staff assistance
- When departing the Kiss & Ride loop, please only turn right onto Sideburn Road
- Only utilize parking along Sideburn Road that is designated for parking. “Double parking” is not permitted by Fairfax County and is a safety hazard to arriving/departing students and families.
- U-Turns on Sideburn Road are prohibited by Fairfax County
WALKERS
- Please continue to use the sidewalks to ensure safety of staff, students, community, and bus drivers
- Students and families should cross Sideburn Road at the designated crosswalk by Nellie White Ln.
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Advanced Academic Program (AAP) News
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We are excited for a wonderful year of learning and fun! Our AAP Fall Newsletter is now available on the Bonnie Brae Advanced Academic (AAP) webpage. Please take a moment to review the important news relating to testing retakes and informational meetings.
Please mark your calendar with these important dates:
October 18 (8:30-9:15 AM): Family Information Meeting 1
October 30 (5-6 PM): Family Information Meeting 2
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What: Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process.
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Who: This meeting is open to all K-6 families but will focus on full time academics and screening process for students in grades 2-6.
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Where: Bonnie Brae Cafeteria
We hope to see you at our Family Information Meetings. If you plan to attend one or both meetings and need a translator or interpreter, please contact our AART Larissa Sheehan (ltsheehan@fcps.edu) no later than September 30. Thank you!
Bonnie Brae Renovation
Bonnie Brae’s renovation and addition project is moving right along. FCPS Office of Design and Construction maintains the Bonnie Brae renovation website, and the estimated projected completion date remains summer of 2026. Be sure to bookmark the renovation website for updates and more information.
September 11 National Day of Service
With the upcoming 23rd anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
Blue Star Welcome Week & Parent Coffee
Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21 - September 29, 2024, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS
Please join us on Friday, September 27, 8:30-9:15 AM in our BBES cafeteria, for our Blue Star Welcome Week Parent Coffee.
Got Plastic? We'll Take It!
Bonnie Brae has risen to the NexTrex Recycling Challenge and has 1 year to collect 1,000 lbs. of soft film plastic to earn a new Trex furniture bench! Think Amazon packaging, grocery bags, cereal bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, you get the gist. What won’t we take? Hard plastics, like water bottles and laminate scraps, or anything with food on it. The question is not if we will meet this challenge, but how soon?
For more information about NexTrex or Bonnie Brae’s Get2Green initiative, please reach out to Michele Shirey, moshirey@fcps.edu, or Cheryl Clark, crclark1@fcps.edu. We welcome parent volunteers to join our efforts and consider signing up to help take a load to a local drop off. Thank you!
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.
The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they're joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.
See how Goal 1 is being put into practice.
Immunization Requirements
Please check with your health care 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 may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:
- A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
- A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.
Find more information on immunizations.
PTO President Needed for 2024-2025!!!
Our PTO President positions are designed to have overlap, so the new President can be trained and has a direct line to get help from the Outgoing President. Our current PTO President is in her "outgoing" year, which is the training year for the new President. We are looking to fill the new President position ASAP!!!
Help ensure continuity with this role so we can keep doing all the wonderful things for our amazing Scotties! Things like Movie Nights, Festivals, Carnivals, Room Parent Coordination, Staff Basketball Game, School Assemblies... all the incredible activities that enhance our Scottie experience!
Please contact president@bonniebraepto.org if you are interested, have any questions about the role, or know someone we should start asking! Just kidding on the last one, but seriously, we need to fill this position ASAP!
Amazing Volunteers Needed!
Are you looking for a way to feel connected with your school community and want to help make so many wonderful memories for your Scottie? We make it SO easy to help! Pick and choose volunteer opportunities from a menu of options! Fill out the google form today and we will contact you as we get close to the event to help: https://forms.gle/F7SHrig2fqSJ1kmr6
Join the PTO
Get involved, stay connected, and learn what's happening with our Scottie community! We're an organization of parents, school staff, and community members supporting our Scotties and school community. Join the PTO today: https://www.bonniebraepto.org/ptomembership
Mark your calendar for the FIRST in-person PTO meeting of the year: September 18th from 6-7PM
Also be sure to check out the "Bonnie Brae Parent Connection" group on Facebook for updates, reminders, and opportunities to get involved!
Spiritwear Portal OPEN NOW!
Get ready to show your Scottie pride! Our Spiritwear Committee has been hard at work on awesome designs for our ONLINE PORTAL! Summer isn't over yet, so check out the FUN TIE DYE designs! The portal will be open for 2 WEEKS ONLY, then orders will be delivered to your home (for a fee) or available for free pickup directly at ABBA in Burke.
Visit the portal at: https://abbacustom.com/bonniebraees/shop/home
Movie Night VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Our first big event of the year is coming up on Friday, September 20th! Doors open at 6:30PM and the movie will start at 7PM. But we need AMAZING VOLUNTEERS like YOU to help make it happen! Let's keep the popcorn and candy flowing and the lines moving quickly, as many hands make light work. Volunteer to help make this a magical evening for our Scotties: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DACA72BA7F85-51039588-movie
Blackbelt Academy Fundraiser COMING SOON!
Parents, get ready for a kid-free night out! We're partnering with Blackbelt Academy for a fun night of pizza, prizes, goodie bags, and a movie for your kiddos at our first drop-off fundraiser of the year! A portion of the proceeds will come back to support the Bonnie Brae PTO.
When: Saturday, September 21st from 6-9PM
Where: Blackbelt Academy: 10635 Braddock Road, Fairfax
Cost: $40 per child
Registration Information will open soon, so mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more details!
Charleston Wrap COMING SOON!
The Charleston Wrap fundraiser will go LIVE on September 17th! Check off your holiday supply and shopping list with this great fundraiser while supporting your school's PTO! More information will come home shortly in your Tuesday Folders.
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September 18 - PTO Meeting (in-person), 6-7:30 PM
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September 20 - Parent Coffee (ESOL Information), 8:35-9:15 AM
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September 20 - PTO Movie Night, 6:30-9 PM
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September 21 - Black Belt Academy Fundraiser (Drop-off event)
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September 21-September 29 - Blue Star Welcome Week
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September 23 - Three Hour Early Release Monday
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September 26 - Fall Picture Day
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September 27 - Blue Star Welcome Week Parent Coffee, 8:30-9:15 AM
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October 3 - Rosh Hashanah Holiday (no school for students & staff)
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October 4 - Teacher Workday (no school for students)
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October 9 - National Walk & Roll to School Day
Stay up to date on all things BBES! Subscribe to our School Calendar.
FCPS Standard School Year Calendar
Printable FCPS 2024-25 School Calendar (PDF)
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