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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
Next Monday, September 23rd, is our first Early Release Monday this school year. These Monday afternoons are essential to allow our staff time for professional development outlined by VDOE. Students going home will be dismissed at 12:35 pm; approximately 125 students will remain with us at school due to childcare hardship.
Those staying with us should have received an email this week confirming your decision so we know which students will stay until 3:35 pm and how students will be transported home at that time. Here is some additional information to help Monday run smoothly:
- It is vitally important that you remain with the dismissal plan that has been communicated to school. We want to ensure all of our students get home safely, as planned, on Monday and your cooperation is needed so your family's plan is clear.
- If you plan on picking up your child between early and regular dismissal times, please know that due to high demand, this may take longer than usual.
- If your child is staying until regular dismissal time, please include an afternoon snack, if possible.
There will be six additional times throughout the school year for early release days. As a reminder, students are only staying if there is a childcare hardship. The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- October 28
- December 9 (FCPS Date Change)
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
Have a lovely weekend,
Sara Harper
Calendar Updates:
Sept. 20 - PTA Under the Stars Movie
Sept. 23 - Early Release Monday #1 - Release at 12:35
Sept. 27 - SCA Spirit Week (wear Blue)
Oct. 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
Oct. 4 -No School (Teacher Work Day)
Oct. 9 - Fall Picture Day
Oct 10-13 - Vision/Hearing Screening
Oct. 14 - No School (Indigenous Peoples' Day - Staff Development Day)
Oct. 28 - Early Release Monday
Click here to read GFES PTA newsletter updates.
Click here for the FCPS school year calendar.
📸 Fall Picture Day
We are excited to partner with Strawbridge Studios for our school portraits and yearbooks!
This year, our Fall Picture Day will be on Wednesday, October 9th! Go to www.strawbridge.net and enter the code: FM453631 to purchase your picture package now!
You can also click here to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child’s school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures after picture day. When entering your student’s information, please be sure to enter it exactly as it is on file with GFES.
Blue Star Welcome Week
September 21 - September 29, 2024
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. 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 the GFES community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
Throughout the week, GFES will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Our Student Ambassadors and Student Council have been busy making posters, decorating the school and planning a Spirit Day. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21 - September 29, 2024, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS
At GFES, we strive to make sure our military-connected families have a smooth transition to our school. Please fill out this survey in order for us to better understand your needs and how to improve your experience at GFES. Military Family Survey:- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1prbvc180xmWpRhNnNfV1FAxIiL-od9BpvAkR1V0XlL4/edit
Mrs. Sue Kim (sykim1@fcps.edu) is our family liaison and military POC. Feel free to reach out for additional information so we can help support our military-connected Roadrunners.
Hispanic Heritage Month
We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15. You may be thinking to yourself, "Why does Hispanic Heritage Month start on September 15th and not Sept. 1st?"
The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
If you are looking for some fun resources to use with your kids, here is a good website: https://www.pbs.org/parents/hispanic-heritage-month
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🐶️Exciting News for Our Schools: Therapy Dog Visits!
We’re thrilled that Heeling House will be back this year! Therapy dog visits bring joy and comfort to our students and staff. Each month, a specially trained therapy dog will be visiting our school to offer support and companionship. These visits aim to enhance students' emotional well-being, reduce stress, and create a welcoming environment for learning.
Therapy dogs are known for their calming presence and ability to brighten anyone’s day.
This initiative will help foster a positive and supportive school atmosphere. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the program, please feel free to reach out. Let’s give a warm welcome to our furry friend and make our school community even more special!
Stay tuned for more updates and visit times. We can’t wait to see the smiles our therapy dog will bring! 🐾✨
If you do not want your student to participate, please complete this opt-out form.
For more information about Heeling House, please click here.
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👀Vision and Hearing Screening👂🏻
Vision and hearing screening will be held on October 10th for all Kindergarteners and October 10th and 11th for all 3rd graders. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day. Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.
If you would like to assist as a volunteer with the screening process, please contact the School Health Aide at 703-757-2110.
🤒 When a Student Should Stay Home From School
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when to keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that support can be provided if needed. Also, keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff. Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
🍽️Fueling Student Success: New Food Options Cooked up at FCPS
Students will have more than a dozen new options for lunch and breakfast in school cafeterias starting this week. New menu items were either favorites at last year’s food show — including Korean BBQ wings, sweet Thai chili wings, chicken tikka masala, and barbacoa street tacos — or were tested with student focus groups and tastings.
View our school menu to see all the new options and when they will become available.
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions.
The next event is scheduled for Monday, September 23, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Newington Forest Elementary School. Click on the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Community Flyer Distribution
In accordance with Fairfax County Public Schools Regulation 1367.1, Great Falls Elementary allows non-profit organizations to distribute information to school families electronically. Materials will be sent via FCPS News You Choose twice yearly — fall and spring.
All flyers and proof of 501(c)(3) must be submitted to GFES Administrative Assistant, Colleen Murphy, at cpmurphy@fcps.edu for prior approval. All non-profit flyers must include the following disclaimer: “These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this school.”
All flyers must be received by Friday, October 4, 2024 to be included in the Fall Distribution and by Friday, April 4, 2025 to be included in the Spring Distribution.
SCA Spirit Day
GFES Families Invited!
Student Ambassador Program
We are so excited to announce our new Student Ambassador Program here at GFES!
GFES Student Ambassadors is a school-based, student-led leadership program that brings together military and civilian peers to support all student’s transition and connection to the school. It also helps to create a welcoming environment and accepting school culture for our newest Roadrunners.
Do you believe your child would be a good fit to be a student ambassador? Please contact our Family Liaison Sue Kim for information about the Student Ambassador Program.
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