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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
Hello families! October is in full swing, and we’re excited to share the latest news, events, and highlights from our school community.
Our next three-hour early release Monday is October 28th at 12:25 pm, and we need your help. We currently need dismissal information for 268 students. Please take a second to complete this form to let us know your child's after-school plans. Please also note that all students must have a completed form even if they go to SACC.
Additionally, we kindly ask that you refrain from submitting any early release Monday Change of Transportation requests. We want to ensure all our students get home safely, as planned, on Monday. Your cooperation is needed so your family's plan is clear and consistent.
Thank you for your support,
Sara Harper
Principal
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 21 - Oct. 25: PTA winter coat drive
Oct. 25: Purchase your child's yearbook!
Oct. 28: Early Release Monday
Oct 31: Character Spirit Day (no scary costumes, masks or weapons)
Oct. 31: Quarter 1 Ends and 2 hour release (1:35)
Nov. 1: No School - Diwali
Nov. 4 & 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Nov. 6: Last day to nominate a staff member for FCPS Awards
Nov. 11: No School - Veterans' Day
Nov. 27 - 29: No School - Thanksgiving Break
🎓Language Arts Grading and Curriculum Updates
With the introduction of the new language arts curriculum, progress reports this year might look different than in the past.
With our new Benchmark curriculum, rather than teach discreet skills each quarter, every skill is taught every quarter and continually reinforced and built upon. Students are not expected to have mastered any skill by the end of first quarter. Because it is the first quarter and most skills have just been introduced, you will likely not see any 4s on a first quarter report card in language arts. This does not necessarily mean your child needs extra support in that area, just that we have only begun to practice the skill.
Likewise, please also remember that a "progress report" is different than a traditional report card and progress is what students know at a point in time rather than an average of performance over an entire period.
You can read more on the FCPS website.
📢Students on their M.A.R.K.
We've started a new recognition program for students who model one or more of the four core tenets of M.A.R.K.: Mindful, Accountable, Responsible, and Kind. When we receive a nomination from a staff member, we send home a certificate and recognize students on the school news every other Friday. The following students have been nominated for their positive contributions to our school community:
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Zeina L.P. was recognized for being kind and responsible. She's always ready to work hard and help her classmates!
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Olivia S was recognized for being responsible and kind by helping a younger student who lost a tooth in the kiss and ride line.
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Livinia U. was recognized for being kind and always polite to her classmates.
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Ella J. was recognized for being consistently on her M.A.R.K.! Her teachers report using her as a model for classroom expectations.
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Michael H. was recognized for being kind and lending a helping hand whenever it is needed!
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Ava L. is consistently on her M.A.R.K., holding herself to high standards and always showing respect to her teachers and classmates.
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Fiona C. was recognized for modeling kindness by always showing gratitude to staff and students.
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Sullivan R. was recognized for being responsible and showing ownership of his learning.
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Quinn R. was recognized for sharing her big heart by checking on a kindergartener having a tough day at recess and extending an open-ended invitation to come by and play with her.
We are so proud of these Roadrunners and cannot wait to spotlight more students in the next newsletter!
Storybook Character Day
🏆FCPS Excellence Awards🏆
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond at our school?
Now’s your chance to celebrate them! Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, staff member, or part of our community, you can nominate an outstanding candidate. Just fill out the Google form linked HERE and recognize their incredible contributions!
You can nominate one exceptional employee per category or recognize multiple individuals across categories! We only need a paragraph or two explaining how the nominee exemplifies outstanding work based on the award criteria. The form provides more details about each award.
Award Categories & Eligibility
Outstanding Teacher
Has 3+ years of experience as a teacher (any school/district). Librarians are also eligible.
Outstanding New Teacher
Has up to 3 years of experience as a teacher (any school/district). Librarians are included.
Outstanding Principal
Has 3+ years of experience as a building principal (any school/district).
Outstanding Leader
At least 1 year of experience as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (excluding the principal). Examples: Assistant/Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities/Services.
Outstanding Professional Employee
At least 1 year of experience as a Schedule-B or non-instructional employee supporting school leadership. Examples: School-Based Technology Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor.
Outstanding Operational Employee
At least 1 year of experience as a Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee. Examples: Administrative/Office Staff, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, Instructional Assistants.
🗓️ Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, November 6th, 2024.
If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Roberts,
jmroberts@fcps.edu for more information.
Let’s show some love for the incredible people who make Great Falls Elementary School shine! 🌟
🎨📚Yearbook Cover Contest
Just a reminder - 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.
📸📚Yearbook & Picture Purchasing
Our 2024-2025 yearbook is now available for purchase! Don’t miss out on this opportunity — click here to buy your yearbook today and capture this year’s special moments for just $20! The deadline for ordering is March 21st, 2025, so be sure to secure your copy!
And if you haven’t ordered your Fall Pictures yet, there’s still time! Head to www.strawbridge.net and enter the code: FM453631 to purchase your photo package.
📖Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) Reports
This fall, all students in grades K-2 and some students in grade 3 were assessed using a new screener, VALLSS. Be on the lookout for a report detailing information about the screener and your child’s score.
- For families with SIS Parentvue accounts, this will be available October 25 in the documents section.
- If you have not yet set up your ParentVue, we will send home a paper copy of the score report the following week. If you need assistance setting up your account, please email Jen Roberts.
If you have questions about the contents of these reports, please reach out to your child’s teacher for further insight.
🧥🧤🧣 PTA Sponsored Winter Coat Drive:
October 21 – 25, 2024
The GFES Winter Coat Drive starts next week! We are collecting new and gently used clean coats, as well as new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves in all sizes for children and adults. The greatest need this year is for children’s coats, newborn – teen sizes, and very large women’s and men’s coats 2XL+. All donations will be distributed at the Embry Rucker Shelter and the Hunter Mill District Coat Closet. Donations will be collected from Monday, October 21 – Friday, October 25. The collection boxes will be located outside the main entrance to the school and in the main lobby. Help those in need this winter by giving the gift of warmth. Every donation makes a difference! Thank you for your generous support.
💻Digital Citizenship Week
This week, we celebrated Digital Citizenship Week! Each morning on the news, we talked about ways to be safe and responsible when going online. Consider continuing the conversation at home using resources on our FCPS website or from Common Sense Media.
👀Lost and Found
We have an overwhelming amount of lost and found items accumulating in our school! From jackets and lunchboxes to water bottles and hats, many belongings are waiting to be claimed.
From Monday, October 21st until Friday, October 25th, all the lost and found items will be in our school vestibule. Parents are welcome to come and browse the items to pick up anything that belongs to their child. Any unclaimed items on Friday, October 25th, will be donated to Embry Rucker with the items from our Winter Coat Drive or to The Closet in Herndon, so don’t miss your chance to recover lost treasures!
🍴Food Reminders at Lunch
As we continue to foster a safe and inclusive environment at our school, we’d like to remind everyone of our policy regarding food sharing during lunch visits. While we love the spirit of celebration, especially for birthdays, we kindly ask that parents refrain from sharing any food items with students who are not their own.
This policy helps us maintain food safety standards and ensures that we respect all dietary restrictions and allergies. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in making lunchtime enjoyable and safe for all our students!
Celebrating Hindu Heritage Month
October marks Hindu Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the rich cultural, spiritual, and historical contributions of Hindu communities around the world. This month is an opportunity for education, reflection, and appreciation of the diverse traditions that have shaped the lives of millions.
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions, with roots tracing back over 4,000 years. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and philosophies. Core concepts include Dharma (duty/righteousness), Karma (action and consequence), and Moksha (liberation). Festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Navratri showcase the vibrant traditions, celebrations, and community spirit within Hindu culture. Hindu heritage has significantly influenced art, music, dance, and literature.
Hindu Heritage Month promotes inclusivity and understanding. To learn more, please visit this resource! It is a reminder of the importance of cultural diversity and the shared values that unite us. Let’s celebrate together, appreciating the beauty of Hindu traditions and the contributions of Hindu communities to our society.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey
The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people
Great Falls Elementary School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey to the 6th grade students on November 14, 2024 at 10:00am.
While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.
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