Weekly Update for October 25, 2024
Dear Columbia friends and families:
We are so excited for tonight's Bingo-ween event and tomorrow's Annandale Parade! We hope to see you all there for the marquee events of the year.
As a reminder for tonight, Bingo-ween pre-sales start at 5:30pm and the bingo games begin at 6pm on the dot.
For tomorrow's Parade, remember to wear something red and meet in the Annandale United Methodist Church parking lot at 9:30am.
This truly is a special school community and it's because of the families, staff, and students that make this a such a great small school, with a big heart.
Take care,
Mike Astudillo
Proud Principal
Columbia Elementary School
 We are thrilled to announce that Columbia Elementary School received the Purple Star Designation Award, which recognizes schools for being a welcoming and supportive place, especially for our military connected students. Congratulations to CES!
Advanced Academics Programs
Dear Columbia Families,
If you are interested in the Advanced Academic Full-Time Level IV screening process for your child, below are some important reminders. Please feel free to reach out to Michelle Sansone anytime with questions. mfsansone@fcps.edu
Full Time AAP Referral Information
Required
- Submit full-time referrals no later than December 15th.
- Make sure to complete the form marked Full-Time Referral.
- It is very helpful to fill out the form even if the student has a Grade 2 Universal Screener Referral.
- Do not exceed the space provided.
Optional
- Parents may submit two pages of work samples.
- It must be single-sided and on 8½ by 11 No 3D, video, or audio.
- Consider work samples that provide evidence of the student’s ability to think critically and creatively, reason, and problem solve.
- Parents may write a note on the work sample to show what you want the committee to see in the child’s work.
-
Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
- This is an important form to provide specific examples to showcase the student’s strengths that may not be visible in a work sample.
- If your child has an IEP or 504, you may provide one additional page providing more information.
-
Additional Testing
- A parent/guardian may seek private testing through a state-licensed clinical psychologist or through George Mason University (GMU). If testing was not done at GMU, the clinical psychologist’s license number must be included with the full report.
You may submit hard copies in an envelope addressed to Michelle Sansone in the school office or digital copies. mfsansone@fcps.edu
PDF and Image (jpg) files are accepted.
All forms can be found on https://www.fcps.edu/academics/advanced-academic-programs-aap/forms-advanced-academic-program-aap
Mark Your Calendars for the Fall Book Fair!
Our Book Fair will be open from November 18 to November 22. I hope to see you there!
Check out our Book Fair Page HERE for all the details:
- Dates
- Special Family Times
Our Book Fair will be cash free this year. Please use the following links to learn how to set up an eWallet or eGift Card for your child.
- eWallet, a cash-free way for your child to shop at the book fair https://www.bookwormcentral.com/ewallet.php
- eGift Card, the perfect gift for students, teachers or friends, redeemable at the book fair or our online bookstore
https://www.bookwormcentral.com/gift_card/
Thank you for supporting our school and encouraging your child's love of reading!
Happy Reading,
Maura Papas, Librarian
Specials Spotlight
Art with Mrs. McKenna
Hello CES Families! It has been an amazing 1st quarter in Art class. Kindergarten students have been introduced to multiple media- drawing, collage, sculpture, and ceramic clay. First graders have been creating art about their families and deciduous trees. Second graders have been creating seasonal artworks--paintings and weavings. Ask your 1st or 2nd grader which season they chose to represent in their artwork? Third graders have been working hard on their cultural self-portraits and learning the proportions of the face. In Fourth grade, we have been learning the proportion of the human figure through gesture drawings and wire sculptures and are starting our ceramic coil pots. Fifth graders have been using their imaginations to create a painting of a landscape of their own video game world design. I am so proud of your young artists and the bravery they show to share about themselves and their world through their artmaking!
Second quarter will be beginning our artworks for our Art to Remember fundraiser this Spring and each grade level will be experiencing more 2-D and 3-D art media. Thank you as always, for your continued support of our Art program and a special thank you to those of you who have been sending in yogurt cups for our paint stations and bubble wrap envelopes. Donations are always appreciated!
Nominations are Now Open! Outstanding Employee Awards Program
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards!
To submit a nomination for a Columbia Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: https://forms.gle/sh97qgg7iDo8JCEg9. 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 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, All Parent Liaisons
- 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 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 New Principal
- Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district
- 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
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 8, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Dumont at sldumont@fcps.edu.
Author visits Columbia ES!
Early this week we were pleased to host John Gallagher, the author of the Max Meow graphic novel series. Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades came together to learn and hear from this popular author in our library. Topics included a historical overview of comics and graphic novels, along with integrating hieroglyphics and the origin of storytelling through the ages. Different types of characters and styles were covered using simple shapes to create characters, both funny and heroic. Students got to learn how to draw characters themselves and really enjoyed this interactive event!
Federal Impact Aid forms
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).
🐾Save the Date 🐾
PTA Event: Bingo-ween
October 25
March with CES in the Annandale Parade!
October 26
2 Hour Early Release - 2:05 p.m. Dismissal
October 31
Student Holiday - Diwali
November 1
Student Holiday
November 4
Student Holiday
November 5
Holiday - Veterans Day
November 11
3 Hour Early Release - 1:05 p.m. Dismissal
November 18
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting
November 19
Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 21
|
