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September 6, 2024
From the Principal’s Pen
Dear Laurel Hill Families,
Janice Dalton, Principal
Addison Smith, Assistant Principal
Thmeaka Traylor, Assistant Principal
 Save the Date:
September 10: PTA Meeting, 7pm School Library
September 13: Field Day! (during school hours)
September 16: 3-Hour Early Release
September 18: Back to School Night, 6-8 pm
September 21-29: Blue Star Welcome Week
September 27: Screen on the Green (Outdoor Movie Night) PTA event
Cafeteria protocols
Laurel Hill serves many meals on a daily basis at Laurel Hill. If you would like to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits you may do so at www.myschoolapps.com. In the state menu, select Virginia and clock search. On the next page, select Fairfax County Public Schools from the choose your district dropdown menu. You need to reapply yearly and for each of your children. Students that qualify for this program receive a free sweet treat once a month. If your child wants additional items such as cookies or popcorn, parents/guardians will need to add additional money to their account. Our cafeteria manager, Tina Posey, is happy to assist with any questions. You may easily reach her by calling the school at 703-551-5300.
No Dogs on Campus
Thank you for keeping your dogs off campus. While it's nice to take your dog for a walk to and from school, they are NOT allowed on campus at anytime. This includes after dismissal. No pets are allowed on FCPS school grounds, and this is clearly marked at the driveway entrance. It is a safety issue. We have students who have allergies and fear of animals, and this rule helps ensure they can be safe at school.
Cell Phones off, Learning On
Please review the following rules for elementary students K-6 around cell phones, smart watches & tablet:
- 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.
Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, contact our front office so that we can then pass along the information to your child.
Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current cell phone policy.
Safety Drills
Our hearts are with all those affected by the tragedy in Georgia this week. FCPS has cancelled all drills for today and will be giving additional guidance on proceeding with scheduled safety drills next week. Keeping students and staff safe is our priority. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools must also notify parents and caregivers at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. We will conduct a lockdown drill and a fire drill in the next couple of weeks. By law, the first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students do not participate in the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with them about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your student before and after school lockdown drills.
3-Hour Early Release- The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/hg4Hgha2HJb4DDor8 for each of your children who are enrolled at Laurel Hill Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 16, 2024 and October 21, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1svujKMsbHvrNtL8VpPZFw0YGuVfM74hvdyK7_zdAHVs/edit#heading=h.i319qv1gdzza
Blue Star Welcome Week (September 21-29, 2024) was created to recognize the 600,000 military families that move to new communities each year. This special week raises awareness and builds support for military families across the country. During Blue Star Welcome Week, it is our goal to proactively improve military families’ sense of belonging to their local communities by forging strong connections between our military family members and their local neighbors.
🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School
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Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
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Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
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Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
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Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
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Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
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 a school’s front office.
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. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
SIS ParentVUE -Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar, Sarah Orlick (SCOrlick@fcps.edu) if you need a code.
Once you have activated a SIS ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same SIS ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.
What Is a School Board?
The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for running the public schools in Fairfax County. Twelve School Board members are elected by county voters every four years.
A student representative serves on the board as a non-voting member. They are chosen by their peers each year.
The School Board makes general rules and sets guidelines to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools runs properly. They follow the laws of Virginia and the rules set by the Virginia Board of Education.
Learning about your local School Board is important. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. There are many ways to get involved.
Learn more about the School Board, how to participate in their meetings, and where to watch their meetings.
PTA-Everyone is invited to our 1st PTA meeting of the new school year, Sept 10 at 7pm in the Library. Do you have any ideas or suggestions to make Laurel Hill Elementary even better? We want to hear them and discuss all the fun events we are planning this year!
PTA Newsletter- Please click on the link here to access the PTA newsletter.
The South County Substance Prevention Specialist has invited the Fairfax County Police Department to come and present Hidden In Plain Sight (HIPS), a presentation with the most current products on the market for hiding substance related paraphernalia, common hiding places in teen bedrooms, and information regarding youth substance use trends in our area. The event will occur on Monday, September 30th from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at South County high school in the Silverbox Theatre. Here is the link for the sign-up genie: https://bit.ly/schships24
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Girls on the Run is coming to Laurel Hill this fall! GOTR has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire girls in 3rd-8th grade to build their confidence, kindness, and decision making skills. Dynamic lessons instill valuable life skills including the important connection between physical and emotional health. Starting the week of September 23, the team will meet every Monday and Wednesday from 4:15pm - 5:15pm. The program culminates in a celebratory 5K at the end of the season! The standard program fee is $210 and includes weekly lessons/practices, a t-shirt, a GOTR giveaway, entry into the 5K, a 5K medal, and more. Financial assistance is available for anyone who needs it, with the lowest program registration cost being $22 for the season.
Registration is now open. Click here to register your student.
Late Registration: September 19 - September 27
Fall Season Begins: September 23
We will keep you informed and share all pertinent information as we receive it regarding the celebratory 5K.
PTA Membership
Please join the PTA for the 24-25 school year!
Congrats to our new PTA board!
President: Vickie Gogo
Treasurer: Kendra Bacchus-Beatty
Secretary: Jennifer Dickinson
We are still looking for a VP of Programs and Fundraising. Please reach out via the website if interested.
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