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Dear Great Falls Families,
Thank you for your support and patience during our first early release on Monday last week. Please know that as we begin planning for our next Early Release Monday on October 28, we will adhere to the following protocols:
- We are asking everyone to please complete this updated form to indicate selections for your family. This is a new form created by Great Falls ES, so you only need to complete one form per family now unless your children will not be going home the same way or at the same time. You also have the opportunity to indicate if you would like them to go home with a friend that day or by a different means of transportation.
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New! SACC will be open starting at 12:30 p.m. for those students who attend after-school SACC. All students participating in after-school SACC will be dismissed directly to SACC at 12:30 p.m.
- No changes to your child's dismissal procedures will be allowed after Wednesday, October 23. This is strictly for student safety, as there were many same-day changes requested this past early-release Monday, which made it difficult to ensure that all students got home safely and correctly.
- Many of you have asked that we publish/share what students who stay with us for the early release will be doing. Unfortunately, these specifics depend on how many students are staying with us until the 3:35 dismissal, and this is part of the reason last-minute changes are difficult to handle. We can tell you that students will continue to be supervised by a Great Falls ES staff member, likely one of our specialist teachers. The activities and groupings will need to be completed when we determine the specifics of who will be staying.
Thank you for understanding, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation in advance to make next month's Early Release Monday a success.
As always, Mr. Diaz and I are here to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your support, and have a fantastic weekend!
Sara Harper
Calendar Updates:
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 - 2nd 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.
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💗 Custodian Appreciation Day!
Tuesday, October 2nd was Custodian Appreciation Day! We celebrate the Great Falls ES custodial team for their commitment to our students, staff, and community. Not only do they support the maintenance of the school and grounds but they also work outside of school hours to open the building to the community for practices, meetings and events. GFES has the best custodial staff around and we are so thankful for all they do! 🎉🥳
STEAM Updates🧪
Welcome back to STEAM Lab!!! We have already been very busy in STEAM this year. Read below to find out more about what we are doing.
Kindergarten has been exploring STEAM subjects with activities related to each letter of the alphabet. Activities have varied from using air cannons to move pom poms, building bridges, and an introduction to coding. This week, they explored the concept of friction and what can create more or less.
First Grade started with Teambuilder STEM bins. These bins provided students with different challenges and allowed them to practice and reflect on essential character traits. We will also be exploring STEM subjects with activities related to each letter of the alphabet. So far they have explored static electricity and Forensic Scientists. Next week, they will learn about different geometric shapes.
Second-grade built color spinners to “mix” colors and then created a container to hold them. They have also learned about the Upstairs and Downstairs brain. Next week, the students will work on Fall STEM Bins Teambuilders. They will work with partners and rotate through stations to complete eight different challenges.
Third grade has embarked on a Mission to Mars. These missions are designed to engage in hands-on activities that integrate standards-based science concepts with the engineering design process. Each mission will focus on a different topic related to STEM, such as robotics, space, and chemistry, and include a real-world career connection. Last week, we completed Mission 2: Astronaut Training. Students learned basic facts about Mars. Apply the engineering design process to create an astronaut boot. Mission 3: Get to Mars; students will practice using the engineering design process to design, build, and test a straw rocket.
Fourth grade used the engineering design process to create a balloon-powered car that could travel 5 feet in a straight line. Next week, students will learn about bird beaks, bird-eating, and bird home preferences. Then students will research local birds and brainstorm how to create a bird feeder for local birds.
Fifth grade is embarking on a Mission to the Moon through Space Club. The main goal of Space Club is to connect academic subjects to a real-world engineering problem through engaging, hands-on learning. We have wrapped up Mission 1: Meet the Crew. In Mission 2: Astronaut Training, students will use the engineering design process to create a roller coaster. It will connect to Mission to Moon with the vomit comet that uses changes in acceleration to prepare humans for space travel.
The sixth graders just finished their Zipline challenge. Students used the engineering design process to design a zipline to transport groceries from a store to a customer while maintaining appropriate social distance during a pandemic. Now, they are also learning about the Upstairs and Downstairs brain. However, they will take it a step further than second grade. They will design and build a paper circuit “brain house” paper circuit house that has lights to light up which floor is being used.
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✅Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Yearbook Cover Contest🎨📚
Our annual Yearbook Cover Contest kicked off on Tuesday, October 1st! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their artistic talents and design a unique cover for this year’s yearbook, which our staff will vote on.
Each entry must be created on an 8½” x 11” piece of paper. Entries must also include the school name and year prominently featured, as well as the student’s and their teacher’s name written lightly on the back.
Feel free to use any coloring medium you like — markers, colored pencils, paints, watercolors, or crayons. Remember, the brighter and bolder the design, the better! Keep in mind that only student artwork will be accepted. Once artwork is complete, please submit it to Mrs. Mizell by Friday, October 25th.
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🗓️ Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events
Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.
When planning trips or family events, refer to the FCPS calendar and try to use weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.
When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence.
Watch this video with tips on understanding the FCPS school year calendar and visit the Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
📚 Social Studies Basal Resources Review
FCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary resources used to support instruction in a given subject. Public review of the instructional materials under consideration — which is part of the process for selecting new resources — is underway. Visit the Community Review webpage for more information on how to view the materials online or in person.
All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
Events take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
🧠Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
FCPS Trust Policy Supports Caring Culture
Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Government's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
Gun Safety and Safe Gun Storage
Providing students and staff with a safe educational environment remains our priority. Sadly, gun violence continues to impact schools and communities across our nation.
In FCPS, lessons on gun safety are built into our curriculum. It is critical that parents and guardians talk to their children about the importance of gun safety and safe gun storage in their homes, and in any home they may visit.
The FCPS website has gun safety resources as well as information about safety and security practices at schools. See Dr. Reid’s recent letter to the community for more resources.
Safely Store Firearms and Medications
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board has a limited supply of free locking medication boxes and trigger locks that fit a wide variety of firearms. Visit the Lock and Talk website to learn more.
Theater Workshop for 6th Grade Students 🎭
We are excited to announce a special opportunity for our 6th grade students! The Cooper Middle School Theatre Department will be hosting a one-day workshop on Saturday, October 26th, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. This engaging workshop will not only teach students the fundamentals of stage combat but also provide a chance to meet and interact with fellow cast members from our upcoming fall show, Elsewhere, as well as students from Langley High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
To register, please complete the Google form. Once registered, you will receive an email with additional details and payment information. Participation is limited to 30 students so sign up soon!
Workshop Details:
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Instructor: Arlen Hancock (Learn more about him here)
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Date and Time: Saturday, October 26th, from 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
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Eligibility: 6th grade students (Limited to 30 participants)
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Cost: $10 (Payable via MySchoolBucks once registered)
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Lunch: A pizza lunch will be provided!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Baber, Cooper Middle School’s Theater Arts Teacher, at mababer@fcps.edu.
 ✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our final goal is Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation. We are preparing our students for a future that has yet to be imagined. We must give them the skills they will need to succeed. Watch this video to see students exploring and preparing for careers through Career and Technical Experience programs. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.
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