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Kristen Rucinski - Principal Ebony Opie - Assistant Principal
Gunston Gazette
Principals' Message
Dear Gunston Family,
We are more than halfway through the first quarter, and time is certainly flying by! On Wednesday, interims were sent home. It is important to take some time to review these reports with your child, celebrate their accomplishments, and identify areas for growth. Your encouragement and feedback can make a huge difference. Please be sure to sign and return the interims to your child's teacher by Monday.
At Gunston, we remain focused on our expectations that all of our Eagles are consistently safe, respectful, and responsible in every area of the school day, including on the bus. Following these expectations is key for earning a 4 in Citizenship Skills. Please take a moment to talk with your child about how they can show kindness to their peers and contribute positively to our school community.
Additionally, teachers will be reaching out soon to schedule first-quarter parent conferences. Please keep an eye on Talking Points and your emails for communication regarding these meetings. We greatly value our parent partnerships and know that by working together, we can support the success and well-being of all students.
A special thank you goes out to our wonderful PTA for their hard work in organizing a successful 5K this past Sunday! It was amazing to see our community come together to support each other and raise funds for an after-school program. We appreciate everyone who participated.
Finally, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we are reminded of the importance of diversity and how it enriches our school culture. Let’s continue to embrace the many unique backgrounds and traditions within our Gunston family.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Warm regards,
Ms. Rucinski and Mrs. Opie
Message from Fairfax County Police Department
I’m sure if you’ve waited in the Kiss and Ride line, especially toward the end, you may have been witness to some reckless driving when, at times, people decide to pass over the double yellow line. The Fairfax County Police have received these complaints and continue to collaborate with our staff on the best way to safely queue for and rotate through the Kiss and Ride area. An officer observed our process on Wednesday afternoon with administration and asked we share a few important reminders.
Through recent observations, the police would like to remind everyone that motorists stopping on Gunston Road in such a manner as to impede the use of the roadway are doing so in violation of state code and are subject to citation. Minutes Matter! Officers have said that parents blocking Gunston Road prior to drop off time of 8:25 AM or pick up time of 3:20 PM could be cited. After those times, during the normal pick-up times, a simple, brief, back-up in traffic is not a violation. Please be aware of the time you arrive and it is not too early so we don’t impede traffic on Gunston Road.
Thank you for your continued attention to this matter and please remember to inch-up closely to the car in front of you. A couple extra feet in front of your car, multiplied by everyone in line, adds up fast. Please refrain from being on your cell phone while in the Kiss and Ride lane as it is a safety concern and delays traffic. If you are picking up or dropping of your child to the main office and/or SACC, you MUST park your car and not park near the sidewalk. It is illegal to park next to the sidewalk with yellow lines and signs indicating no standing or waiting. The police will be spot checking the surrounding areas for continued compliance so please follow these reminders and, as always, buckle up everyone in the car and use car seats when necessary!
Upcoming Events & Reminders
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October 14: Staff Development Day. School is closed for students.
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October 21: Three Hour Early Release Monday. Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm
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October 31: End of First Quarter - 2 hour early release
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November 1: Diwali Holiday. School is closed for staff & students.
Outstanding Employee Nominations
The nomination window for the Outstanding Employee Awards approaches! Nominations open on October 14, 2024 and must be submitted by October 28, 2024. To submit a nomination for a Gunston Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link (form will accept responses beginning 10/14).
You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.) All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district);
librarians are included in this category.
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district);
librarians are included in this category.
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services.
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-
instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership.
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support
Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social
Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee. Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is October 28, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Fahy at kjfahy@fcps.edu
Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students
Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on:
- Tuesday, October 8, 3-7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.
Elementary School Clinics
The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.
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 our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
Emergency Care Forms to be sent home next week for review
Be on the look-out for a copy of your student's Emergency Care Form in their Thursday folder next week. Please take a moment to ensure that the school has the most recent information.
Changes/additions may be made directly on the form and returned to your student's teacher. Thank you!
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.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
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