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Early Release Monday is Monday, October 21
As a reminder, Monday, October 21st is a 3-Hour Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm or stay for supervision. A confirmation communication was sent to families during the week. SACC will be open at 1:00 pm for students who are enrolled in that program.
 Federal Impact Aid Survey - October 21st
Please be sure to sign in your SIS ParentVUE account to complete this important survey.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $4,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.
FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. On October 21st, the survey will be made available to FCPS families. All families need to fill out this form. The survey is available online through ParentVue. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality. Any family who has not completed the survey online will receive a paper copy after November 12th. PLEASE complete the survey online to help us save the paper!!!
Click here to view the video on the Federal Impact Aid Survey.
Red Ribbon Spirit Week
 Tues 10/29- “Movie Star Day” (dress like a fancy movie star; bring appropriate shoes for recess & gym)
Wed 10/30- “Inside Out Day” (wear your favorite color from head to toe like the emotions from Inside Out 1&2)
Thrs 10/31- “Book Character Day” (no masks or play weapons)
SEL Screener
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Keene Mill students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in the Fall and Spring. The fall window at our school will be the week of October 21st.
Family Liaison Resource Highlights
Tutoring
Do you have a child that could benefit from additional academic support? Check out the following tutoring options:
Fuel Assistance
Need assistance heating your household? The application period for Fuel Assistance 2025 began October 8th and will end on November 8th. Eligible households can receive assistance to help with the costs of heating. Heating Crisis Assistance is also available starting November 1st. Details and applications available at: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/.
Winter Camps
It’s never too early to start thinking about camp! Fairfax County Park Authority Winter Camp Registration Opens on October 22nd. To check out offerings and register click HERE.
FREE Workshops for Families
Build new skills & connect with resources through the workshops and webinars from the Family Resource Center.
- Upcoming Workshops – Click HERE for details and registration
- SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs! - November 5th 9am-noon
- 5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown & Stop the Shame Cycle: A Webinar for Families - November 8th 10-11:30am
- Starting The Conversation About Drugs: A Webinar for Families - November 22nd 10-11:30am
- Recorded Workshops and Webinars in YouTube – Click HERE for details and access
Questions? Need support? Reach out to KMES’s Family Liaison, Alexandra Santana at 703-644-4773 or masantanacam@fcps.edu.
Outstanding Employee Awards
Help us recognize the outstanding employees at Keene Mill!
Outstanding Employee Awards nominations will be open beginning October 18th and end on November 12st. Nominations are accepted for the following roles:
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 one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. 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) at their current location.
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 at their current location.
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades.
Outstanding Operational Employee Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location.
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaisons
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 12th, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Colter at egcolter@fcps.edu
PTA News
 BINGO BUNDLES NOW ON SALE FOR COSTUME BINGO
Keene Mill’s annual spooktacular Costume Bingo is Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6:30-8:00 PM in the KMES cafeteria and gymnasium.
Order your Bingo Bundles now to pick up the night of Costume Bingo! Each bundle includes a bingo card packet for six (6) games, a stamp for marking the card, a ticket for a slice of pizza, a ticket for a drink, and a ticket for an item from the snack/treat table. Cost per pre-ordered bundle is $5.75, with a $0.75 surcharge to cover the cost of processing fees.
Pre-ordered Bingo Bundles will be available for pick up by last name at the reserved table at the entrance of Costume Bingo. Beat the rush that night and order yours today! https://tinyurl.com/KMESBingoBundles
Bundles will also be available to purchase at the event that night, along with extra cards and tickets.
VOLUNTEER AT COSTUME BINGO
Costume Bingo is a large event and we need your help to make it a success!
Volunteers will help set up areas, manage the purchase of Bingo Bundles and extra tickets, help with food, drink and prize distribution, and clean up. Shifts are generally only 30 minutes in length for plenty of time for bingo fun!
Teenagers are welcome to volunteer at Costume Bingo and can earn community service hours. They are eligible to work any station that does not directly handle money (no bundle or ticket/card sales). Please put "teen" in the notes when signing up.
Check out available shifts at https://tinyurl.com/CostumeBingoVols
 REFLECTIONS ART CONTEST ENTRIES DUE OCT. 30
Keene Mill students of all grades are invited to participate in the annual National PTA led art contest called Reflections. Categories include Visual Arts, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, Literature, Photography, and Film Productions. Winners by grade and category will advance to compete within all of Fairfax County.
Students submit an original piece of artwork in response to this year’s theme: “Accepting Imperfection.” Submissions can be turned into the KMES front office, and the deadline for Keene Mill entries is Oct. 30. For more information, please visit the “Reflections” page on the PTA website: keenemillpta.ptboard.com.
Mark Your Calendar
Monday, October 21-Early Release Monday @1:00 pm
Thursday, October 24-Costume Bingo @ 6:30 pm cafeteria/gym
Thursday, October 31-End of first quarter/Two hour Early Release for students @ 2:00 pm
Friday, November 1-Diwali-NO SCHOOL
Monday, November 4 & Tuesday, November 5-Teacher Workday/Election Day-NO SCHOOL for students
Saturday, November 16-Pyramid Challenge, Irving Middle School
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