Weekly update for Nov. 15, 2024
Dear Columbia friends and families,
It has been another great week here at CES and it's hard to believe we are half-way through the month of November. Please remember that this upcoming Monday is 3-hour early release day and we will have dismissal at 1:05pm.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Mike Astudillo
Proud Principal
Columbia Elementary School
PTA News & Notes
Holiday Sweet Shop
Please join us in thanking our wonderful Columbia teachers by donating to the upcoming “Holiday Sweet Shoppe” the Monday we are back from Thanksgiving (December 2nd). You can sign up to bake or bring a treat HERE.
PTA Meetings
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 19h at 7 PM and it will ONLY be held virtually through Zoom (info below). All participants will be entered into a raffle for a book fair gift card which will be drawn at the end of the meeting.
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/91903873132
Meeting ID: 919 0387 3132
Upcoming Events
- PTA meeting (11/19)
- Family night out – Five Guys (11/27)
The Book Fair Starts Monday!
Our Book Fair will be open from November 18 to November 22. I hope to see you there!
If you are able to volunteer to help at our Book Fair please see the Sign Up Genius for available days and times. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA9A623A7FBC25-53030194-book
Check out our Book Fair Page HERE for all the details:
- Dates
- Special Family Times, including after school hours on Monday and Thursday!
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
FLE (Family Life Education) Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians of Columbia Students:
Students in grades K-5 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade 3 receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. Students in grades 4-5 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/subject-area/family-life-education-fle#:~:text=Instruction%20promotes%20parental%20involvement%2C%20fosters,at%20a%20particular%20grade%20level.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS).
- Your child’s school. Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
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 November 19 at 6:30 pm on Zoom. 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, opt-out forms for students in general education classes are available in the Parent Digital Consent (PDC). A paper opt-out form is being used for students in special education and using the modified FLE lessons for the 2024-25 school year. Modified opt-out forms can be found at, https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/subject-area/family-life-education-fle/fle-opt-out-request-forms Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal or assistant principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for students who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges, he/she will be facing in the next few years.
Donuts with Grown-Ups returns to CES
It’s almost time for Donuts with Grown-Ups! Families are invited to come enjoy donuts, coffee, and conversation with their children. The event will be held on Thursday, December 12th at 8:30am-9:00am for children with last names starting with A-L and Friday, December 13th at 8:30am-9:00am for children with last names starting with M-Z. Please RSVP by Tuesday, December 10th by returning the Donuts with Grown-Ups sign up form to your child's teacher or emailing your child’s teacher. We are asking for donations by grade level.
- Suggested donations
- K-3rd: Donuts
- 4th & 5th: individually packaged drinks (i.e., juice boxes, small bottles of water).
Boundary Review Community Meeting
Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Monday, November 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School Cafeteria. You can also attend Thursday, December 12, 6:45-8:15 p.m., at Annandale High School Cafeteria.
Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available.
If you are unable to attend on this date, view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.
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Spanish: Reunión Comunitaria de Revisión de Límites
Las reuniones comunitarias sobre la Revisión de Límites de FCPS se llevarán a cabo en cada una de las seis regiones de la división. Le animamos a asistir a la reunión en nuestra región, que tendrá lugar el Lunes, 18 de noviembre, 6:30-8 p.m., en la cafetería de la Escuela Intermedia de Glasgow. Tambien puedes ir Jueves, 12 de diciembre, 6:45-8:15 p.m., en la Cafetería de la Escuela Secundaria de Annandale.
Por favor, inscríbase con antelación haciendo clic en la fecha. Habrá servicio de interpretación.
Si no puede asistir en esta fecha, consulte la lista completa de reuniones en el sitio web de la Revisión integral de límites escolares.
Professional Development for Teachers
Annandale Community:
We are excited to share the success of our recent math professional development sessions, held across the Annandale Pyramid of teachers. This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to aligning and enhancing math instruction from kindergarten through 12th grade, ensuring every student benefits from innovative, inclusive approaches to learning.
The sessions were made even more memorable by a visit from Superintendent Reid, who observed one of the workshops at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. She highlighted the visit in her "Weekly Reflections" newsletter, sharing her appreciation for our teachers’ dedication: "It was inspiring to see second grade teachers from across the pyramid collaborating on the upcoming math unit, sharing strategies, and adapting resources specifically to support our multilingual learners." Her words energize us to continue this vital work in supporting our diverse learners.
Here’s a look at the event highlights and outcomes:
Annandale Pyramid Elementary Schools: The recent Annandale Pyramid Elementary Math Professional Development session, held across various schools, brought together K-5 teachers for focused workshops tailored to each grade level. The sessions began with an overview of goals and shared resources, emphasizing adaptations for multilingual learners. Teachers then practiced effective scaffolding techniques in small groups and rehearsed lesson plans, with peer feedback to refine their approaches. These collaborative efforts aimed to enhance support for multilingual students and foster consistent instructional strategies across schools.
Annandale Pyramid Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12): Teachers from Annandale High School, Poe Middle School, and Holmes Middle School worked closely to share best practices to support our diverse group of students. They explored ways to address students’ needs through teacher-led small groups and used pictorial anchor charts to strengthen students' mathematical language. Content teams identified specific upcoming lessons where they plan to apply these strategies. This collaborative work highlights our commitment to building community across our schools and supporting our unified vision:
In the Annandale Pyramid, mathematics teaching and learning focuses on developing an understanding of concepts and procedures through problem-solving, reasoning, and discourse.
Thank you for your continued support as we foster a collaborative learning community in the Annandale Pyramid. Together, we are making strides toward a brighter future for all our students.
The Annandale Pyramid Principals:
Ingrid Badia (Annandale Terrace ES), Keesha Jackson-Muir (Braddock ES), Elizabeth Williams (Bren Mar Park ES), Michael Astudillo (Columbia ES), Felicia Usher (Weyanoke ES), Chad McRae (North Springfield ES), Serena Giron (Holmes MS), Jason Pannutti (Poe MS), and Shawn DeRose (Annandale HS)
CES Thanksgiving Luncheon
We hope to see you at Columbia’s Thanksgiving Luncheon on Thursday, November 21st!
The price is $4.75 for any adults and non-school aged children. To pay for an adult or child’s meal, please add additional funds to your child's mySchoolBucks lunch account.
On the day of the luncheon, you must bring a valid ID with you to sign in at the office. Parents will have the option to shop at the book fair during their child’s lunch block!
Thanksgiving Luncheon Schedule
10:45 - 11:15: Kindergarten & EAC Lunch
11:30 - 12:00: 1st Grade Lunch
12:00 - 12:30: 2nd Grade Lunch
12:10 - 12:40: 4th Grade Lunch
12:40 - 1:10: 5th Grade Lunch
12:45 - 1:15: 3rd Grade Lunch
🐾Save the Date 🐾
3 Hour Early Release - 1:05 p.m. Dismissal
November 18
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting - Virtual on Zoom
November 19
Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 21
Holidays - Thanksgiving Break
November 27 - November 29
Donuts with Grownups - Last Names A-L
December 12
Donuts with Grownups - Last Names M-Z
December 13
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting
November 17
Holidays - Winter Break
December 23 - January 5
Columbia SCA representatives celebrating World Kindness Day!
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