Bonnie Brae ES: Family Newsletter

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Principal's Message

Hello, Scottie families!  

Tonight is the night!  We are looking forward to the PTO Fall Festival this evening, from 6-8 PM.  We hope you can make it!

A reminder that this upcoming Monday, October 28, is our next 3-hour early release.  Thank you, parents and guardians, for sharing with your child’s teacher when (and how) they will be going home on Monday.  Dismissal is at 12:15 PM, and for those families that need childcare supervision, dismissal will take place at 3:15 PM.

Next week we have our October SCA Spirit Day - Costume Day on October 31!  See below for costume guidelines.  As always, we encourage all students, staff (and parents!) to participate, either by dressing up, or by wearing Bonnie Brae colors of blue and white.

Thursday, October 31 is also the end of the first quarter, and is a two-hour early release for students (unlike the Early Release Mondays, all students will be dismissed 2-hours early on October 31).  Friday, November 1 is a student holiday and schools are closed.

Have a fantastic weekend with your family and friends!

Morgan Birge, Principal

Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal

Melissa Johnson, Assistant Principal


Family.  Relationships.  Success.


Week at a Glance

  • October 26 - PTO & Cardinal Gymnastics Parents' Night Out Fundraiser
  • October 28 - Three Hour Early Release Monday, 12:15 PM    
  • October 30 - AAP Family Information Night, 5-6 PM (Cafeteria)
  • October 31 - SCA Spirit Day: Costume Day
  • October 31 - Two Hour Early Release Day (End of 1st Quarter)
  • November 1 - Diwali Holiday (no school for students and staff)

Positivity Project logo

Positivity Project 

Upcoming Weekly Focus:  Other People Mindset Words and Action

Character Strengths:  Everything you say and do can affect others — and your relationships with them.

Quote of the Week:  “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their
echoes are truly endless.”

-MOTHER TERESA


Positivity Project logo and outline of a house

Positivity Project for Families

Families can find resources to help continue the discussion of character strengths at home by visiting the Positivity Project for Families webpage.


Scottie Feature

A few amazing highlights that happened this week...


6th Grade Socratic Seminar

Sixth grade students participated in a Socratic Seminar.


Updates

Early Release Monday, October 28

Monday, October 28 is our second Early Release Monday.  Students will be dismissed at 12:15 PM. 

Students whose families let us know in advance about needing school-provided childcare will be dismissed at 3:15 PM.


October SCA Spirit Day - Costume Day

We are excited that once again this year our SCA spirit day on October 31 will be…Costume Day!   As students begin to prepare for Costume Day, please keep the following guidelines in mind.

Costumes must:

  • Be appropriate for school.
  • Be respectful to all cultures.
  • Refrain from themes of violence.
  • Not have any weapons.
  • Have faces visible (health related face coverings are acceptable).
  • Allow for full participation in the day.
  • Not be bulky so that it would interfere with learning (self or others).

Calendar Reminder

Quarter End, Early Release, Diwali/Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day, Student Holidays

Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students (unlike the Early Release Mondays, all students will be dismissed 2-hours early on October 31). Friday, November 1, is a holiday this year for Diwali and Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.


Picture Make-Up Day

Fall Pictures & Picture Make-Up Day

Fall Pictures

If you pre-ordered a fall picture package, it should have been sent home with your student this week.  If you ordered after picture day, the fall picture package will be mailed to the home.  If you ordered a digital download, you should have received an email from Victor O'Neill with the download link.

If a picture package was not ordered, a proof with ordering information was sent home.

If you have any questions about picture orders, please email underclass@vosphoto.com.

Fall Picture Make-Up Day

Picture Make-Up Day is Thursday, November 7 for students who were absent on our September picture day, are new to Bonnie Brae, and for students who need a retake. 

  • Students wanting a retake need to bring their original order to the photographer on Thursday, November 7.
  • If a student is new to Bonnie Brae or was absent on our September picture day, they should also plan on having their picture taken on November 7.
  • If you would like to pre-order make-up photos, please visit the Victor O'Neill Ordering site.

There will also be an opportunity to order pictures once the picture proofs are available online.  If you have any questions, please email underclass@vosphoto.com.


Veterans Day Breakfast & Classroom Visits

Bonnie Brae is excited to be able to host the Veteran's Day Breakfast and Read Aloud event on Friday, November 8th beginning at 8:30 AM in the cafeteria for Bonnie Brae families and staff who currently serve or have served in the armed forces. We extend a warm invitation to our honored veterans to start their day with a delicious meal, followed by a special opportunity to read a book and share their stories with our students. It's a chance for our students to learn, connect, and express their gratitude. If you can submit a photo, join us for breakfast, or visit a classroom, please complete this google form. We will use photos submitted from the community to create a slideshow both for the event and for our Bonnie Brae Bark News Show to share with students.  

Donations/Volunteers Needed for Veterans Day Breakfast

To make this event truly special, we kindly request breakfast donations from our generous community. Let's come together to celebrate our heroes and the values they embody. Please consider signing up by Tuesday, November 5th to help make this event a success. Thank you!


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/data/youth-survey/, 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.

Bonnie Brae will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey to our 6th graders on Wednesday, November 13th.

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 Mrs. Lonnett (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 Mrs. Lonnett.


Math & Literacy Night

Math & Literacy Night - November 13, 6-7:30 PM

Hey Scotties, let’s go camping! Join us on Wednesday, November 13 from 6-7:30 PM for our camping themed Math and Literacy Night! At this event you will participate in fun and engaging math and literacy games and activities with other students and teachers. There will be a scavenger hunt, a photo booth, and food all while wearing your favorite camping and/or cozy clothes! More details to come but mark your calendars now!


Outstanding Employee Nominations

Each fall, Fairfax County Public Schools acknowledge Outstanding Employees. The recognition of outstanding employees begins at individual schools and then employees may be further recognized in their region and in the entire county. Nominations are now open for the Bonnie Brae community to recognize outstanding Scottie Staff. Bonnie Brae families are invited, along with school staff, to nominate outstanding employees in the categories listed below. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. Please review the list below to see categories and criteria for nominations. More information can be found on our Bonnie Brae Outstanding Employee Nominations flyer.  Nominations should be submitted using this Google form. Thank you for helping us to acknowledge great work at our school!

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: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Principal

Eligibility: Has up to 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 (that is not the building principal). Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals

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).

***Note: Deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 1.***


Flashlight Reading

Second grade students enjoying some flashlight reading time!


Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students 

Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3 to 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 age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic

Students age 19 and older may access free immunizations at their middle/high school immunization clinic, the Fairfax County Health Department or through other community resources.

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.


Impact Aid

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, we will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).


Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation! 

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions at the final community conversation this fall. It will be held Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School. Click the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.


Bonnie Brae ES PTO

PTO PRESIDENT NEEDED!!!

Want to get involved in our school community, work with an AMAZING team of dedicated parents and teachers, and make a huge impact for your child's school? WE NEED YOU!!! The Bonnie Brae PTO needs to fill this position by NOVEMBER so we can ensure a smooth transition next year... train this year and work with the past-president next year as an advisor! You won't be alone! You'll have help and a GREAT team!

Some key roles of the President include:

- Preside over monthly PTO and board meetings

- Serve as the primary contact for the Principal and Assistant Principal

- Participate in and coordinate across PTO committees

Email president@bonniebraepto.org if you're interested or have questions!


Join the PTO

Get involved, stay connected, and learn what's happening with our Scottie community! We're an organization of parents, school staff, and community members supporting our Scotties and school community. Join the PTO today: https://www.bonniebraepto.org/ptomembership


Fall Festival Flyer

Fall Festival VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to make this a successful event! We need amazing volunteers LIKE YOU to help make this a success! Sign up to help with the event! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DACA72BA7F85-51893422-2024

All Scotties are invited to join us for an evening of fun and celebrating the season! There will be games, costume contests, a live DJ, and concessions for sale. 

When: Friday, October 25th from 6-8PM

Where: BBES (indoors)

Cost: $5 per student 

Save time at the door and get your tickets online now: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/439fd8ff-d406-44e1-9711-8ca152e13629


ICode

iCode Parents Night Out Fundraiser - COMING SOON!

Drop off the kids for a fun night of gaming and pizza while parents enjoy a night out! 

When: Sat, Nov 16th from 6-9PM

Where: iCode in Burke

Cost: $30/student (grades K-6)


Wendy's Fundraiser

Wendy's Restaurant Night - COMING SOON!

Plan ahead and mark your calendar for our next restaurant night in November! Grab a quick and delicious dinner and support the PTO!

When: Tues, Nov 12th 

Where: Wendy's in Burke, 6056 Burke Commons Rd

Show the flier or mention Bonnie Brae Restaurant Night and we'll get back a portion of the proceeds!


Upcoming Events

  • November 4 - School Planning Day (no school for students)
  • November 5 - Teacher Workday/Election Day (no school for students)
  • November 6 - 2nd Quarter Begins
  • November 7 - Fall Picture Make-Up Day
  • November 8 - Veterans Day Breakfast, 8:30-9:15 AM (Cafeteria)
  • November 11- Veterans Day Holiday (no school for students and staff)
  • November 13 - Math & Literacy Night, 6-7:30 PM (Cafeteria & Gym)
  • November 20 - PTO Meeting, 6-7:30 PM (Cafeteria)
  • November 22 - Parent Coffee, 8:30-9:20 AM
  • November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (no school for students and staff)

Subscribe to our Calendar

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FCPS Standard School Year Calendar

Printable FCPS 2024-25 School Calendar (PDF)


Bonnie Brae Hours - Office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Instructional 8:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.