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.
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Picture Day, TOMORROW, Thursday, September 12th
A flier was sent home from Lifetouch about how to order pictures. Money can be sent in on picture day with the envelope provided or pictures can be ordered online with the website and code that is on the flyer. SMILE!
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Message From the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)
- A flier is coming home today about Fall Club Sign-Up, which begins next Wednesday, September 18th.
- Don't forget to purchase your Glen Forest shirt or sweatshirt here, and support the PTO! You can buy your Spirit wear through 9/22.
- Our PTO membership drive is in full swing! The class with the most sign-ups by September 27th gets a popsicle party! You can become a member here.
- Our first PTO meeting will be on Monday, September 16th at 7:30pm on zoom and is open to all. Join us to discuss upcoming events, hear updates from the principal, share ideas, and get involved. Spanish and Arabic interpreters will be available. Please note, this is also an early release Monday: school will dismiss at 1:05pm.
Stay up-to-date with PTO news by visiting www.ptaglenforest.org or checking our social media: Facebook: Glen Forest Elementary School PTO X (formerly Twitter)/Instagram: @glenforetspto
Kathleen Donovan
PTO President, 2024-2025
glenforestpta@gmail.com
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Mark Your Calendars!
Early Release Monday, September 16th - 1:05pm dismissal
1st PTO Meeting, Monday, September 16th - 7:30pm via Zoom (link above)
Back To School Night, Thursday, September 19th, K-2 from 6:00-7:00, 3rd-5th from 7:15-8:15
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Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services
- Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs and focuses on matching services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have:
Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.
Teachers, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs), and school administrators work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level:
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons.
Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor is for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject-Specific Services, Grades K-6
Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by:
Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for Subject-Specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6
Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. They need Part-Time AAP services.
Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-Time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Full-Time Services, Grades 3-8
Some advanced learners need a Full-Time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science).
Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services are cluster grouped on a Full-Time basis and receive:
Full-Time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-Time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
Screening for Advanced Academic Program Services
Multiple data points are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom. No pieces of the data are weighted in the holistic screening process.
Eligibility decisions for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services are made by a committee at the local school, and screening is ongoing throughout the school year. To refer for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services, submit the AAP School-Based Referral Form to the AART, Patricia Edwards at pwedwards1@fcps.edu
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Eligibility decisions for Full-Time services are made by the countywide central selection committee.
Screening for Full-Time services occurs during specific screening cycles:
Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
The fall screening referral window is from the first day of school - October 15.
Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.
The spring screening referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.
Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7. Referrals submitted after the Full-Time services referral windows noted above will not be accepted.
Referral forms for all advanced academic program services are found at https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Ability Testing
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration of the holistic screening process for advanced academic services. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized in the holistic screening process.
All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT).
All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).
NNAT and/or CogAT may be administered to students in Grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.
Parents or guardians may request a one-time retest of either the CogAT or the NNAT in grades 3-6. Requests must be made during the fall testing windows. Please contact the school testing coordinator Heather Carroll at hgcarroll@fcps.edu or the AART, Patricia Edwards at pwedwards1@fcps.edu
no later than September 15 to request the CogAT retest or October 15 for the NNAT retest.
Elementary Parent Information Meeting
A parent information meeting will be held at Glen Forest Elementary School on September 24, 2024 from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM in the Cafeteria. The AART will provide information about the continuum of AAP services, explain the screening processes, and answer questions about advanced academic services.
Young Scholars
The FCPS Young Scholars model seeks to identify and affirm, from an early age, students with high academic potential from groups historically underrepresented in advanced academic programming. The goal of the model is to eliminate barriers for Young Scholars’ access to and success in advanced academic opportunities in elementary, middle, and high school.
Twice-Exceptional (2e)
Some gifted students with advanced learning needs may also have a learning disability. Twice-exceptional (or “2e”) students need strengths-based instruction while receiving advanced programming. The FCPS continuum of AAP services provides multiple entry points to meet student needs while also supporting their learning challenges. FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students. You can find these resources by going to www.fcps.edu and searching “2e.”
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Glen Forest ES Administrative Team
Pictured from left to right:
Jessica Green, Assistant Principal for Pre-K, 1st Grade and Special Education, jgreen@fcps.edu
Alexandra Bowman, Assistant Principal for 2nd and 3rd Grade, akbowman@fcps.edu
Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Principal, dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu
Chris Musgnug, Assistant Principal for Kindergarten, 4th Grade, and 5th Grade, ccmusgnug@fcps.edu
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If you have any comments, concerns, questions, or compliments, please email me at dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu. Thank you for sharing your children with us and for your continued partnership in their education.
From Many, We are ONE! Team Glen Forest! #GFeaglessoar
Warmly,
Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Your Proud Principal
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