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Important Dates:

Oct 14          Staff Development Day- Student Holiday

Oct 14 –18   Digital Citizenship Week

Oct 16 –18   CogAT Testing

Oct 21          3-Hour Early Release Monday

Oct 23          Virtual FLE Parent Info Night 5:30 – 6:30 pm

Oct 24          Rock N Run Pep Rally 

Oct 25          Rock N Run Event 

Oct 26          SLES Trunk or Treat


Digital Citizenship Week

Next week is Digital Citizenship week throughout the county and we will be having Spirit Week SLES Style! 

Below are some helpful family tips in how we can be good digital citizens!

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Make Screen Time Safe and Positive

Digital Citizenship Spirit Week

Stratford Landing Family Pets Challenge!

SLES Pet Challenge

Stratford Landing Parents,

  Our School Business Boosters are sponsoring a Parents Connect challenge in October called "Family Petsapalooza" where parents can celebrate their furry friends by submitting pet photos.  (One lucky parent/pet from the participating schools will win a $100 Amazon gift card at the end of the month!)

 

 Visit https://www.KidBizInc.com?familyPets=3629 to nominate your pet and meet other Stratford Landing pets.

 

 And help us win the School Business Boosters Fall Parents Connect Challenge by nominating your pet and adding yourself to the "Meet the Parents" directory.  

 

 Every connected parent and/or pet helps us win the prize for having the most engaged Elementary parents, $250 for our Teacher Appreciation fund!


Family Life Education:

Information and Preview Meeting

Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.

You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on October 23rd from 5:30 – 6:30pm via https://meet.google.com/och-bghe-zuj All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.

Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.


Lexia Parent Night Information

Lexia will be offering Parent Nights throughout the 24-25 school year. More information regarding the Lexia Parent Nights can be found on Family Academy Site or on the translated fliers below.

Please contact Theresa Lieteau if you have any questions.


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.

 

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. Please contact [name], our [school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker] at [phone/email], to discuss your concerns and identify resources. 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.

 

🎤 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 will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

 

🎤 Nuestras Escuelas, Nuestro Futuro: ¡Inscríbete hoy para asistir a una Conversación Comunitaria! 

La Superintendente, Dra. Michelle Reid, tendra una serie de Conversaciones Comunitarias este otoño. Ella le invita a compartir sus pensamientos y hacer preguntas. Haga clic en las fechas a continuación para inscribirse en cualquiera de las siguientes conversaciones:

Los eventos serán de 6:30 a 7:30 p.m. Habrá servicio de cuidado de niños e interpretación de idiomas.

 

We All Belong at School

Each one of us is unique, and every student matters. If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please speak with a trusted adult at school. 

Watch this video to see how everyone belongs at school. Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

 

Strategic Plan

  • ✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 4: Equitable Access to Opportunities

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. 

The fourth goal ensures all students have the same access to opportunities, no matter what school they attend. This includes academics and other programs that inspire and engage students and allow them to explore their passions and talents. See how Goal 4 is being put into practice.

  • SPANISH:✨ El Plan Estratégico 2023-30 - Meta 4: Acceso Equitativo a Oportunidades.El Plan Estratégico 2023-30 de FCPS establece cinco metas principales para crear un cambio positivo en la división. Estas metas muestran dónde debemos enfocar nuestra atención y nos ayudarán a alinear nuestros esfuerzos. 

La cuarta meta asegura que todos los estudiantes tengan el mismo acceso a oportunidades, sin importar a qué escuela asistan. Esto incluye programas académicos y de otro tipo que inspiren e involucren a los estudiantes y les permitan explorar sus pasiones y talentos. Vea cómo se está poniendo en práctica el Objetivo 4.

 

🗓️ 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 our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

  • SPANISH:🗓️ Consejo para la asistencia: Programar viajes o eventos familiares

La buena asistencia es una habilidad importante para la vida que ayudará a los estudiantes a tener éxito en la escuela y más allá.

Cuando planee viajes o eventos familiares, refiérase al calendario de FCPS y trate de usar los fines de semana y días festivos de la escuela. Cada día de aprendizaje es un día hacia el éxito. Tenga en cuenta que las ausencias se suman rápidamente. Los estudiantes que faltan el 10% del año escolar (o sólo dos días al mes) se consideran ausentes crónicos.

Cuando sea posible, programe citas para su hijo fuera del horario escolar. Si su hijo tiene que faltar a clase por enfermedad u otro motivo, debe reportar la ausencia. 

Vea este vídeo con consejos para entender nuestro calendario escolar y visite nuestra página web de Asistencia para obtener información adicional. ¡Asista hoy, para tener exito mañana!

 

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 detailed 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.


Programs Available in FCPS

HIPPY Classes

Two NEW Early Literacy sites in the Mt. Vernon area are at Fort Belvoir Primary School and Sequoyah Community Center (both Wed./Fri. 10am-12pm).  Families can learn more about these and other opportunities through the brand new FCPS Family Academy

Fort Belvoir Classes

Sequoyah African Heritage Early Learning


Family Events in the Community

Fall Harvest Festival

Celebrate Fall at Mount Vernon- Join us for a fall celebration featuring 18th century farming demonstrations. Special event showing: October 19th from 9:00am to 5:00pm and October 20th from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Explore the farm and more; please click on the link for more information Fall Harvest Festival | George Washington's Mount Vernon


Trunk or Treat 2024 

Any military families affiliated with Fort Belvoir are welcome to join!

Trunk or Treat for Military Families