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Great Falls ES Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful Veterans’ Day on Monday. To all the Veterans who have served, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your service and the sacrifices you have made to keep us safe. To commemorate the day, we showcased this beautiful slideshow featuring community and family Veteran submissions on our morning news and in the front lobby.
Our students also read America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven, and we set up a white table in the foyer as a solemn tribute. This symbolic table honors the courage and sacrifice of our Veterans, representing the absence of fallen heroes and our enduring hope for the safe return of those still missing.
Boundary Review Info:
As a reminder, FCPS has started reviewing school boundaries across the division. This vital work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is essential to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will host a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Ms. Merna's New Adventure:
Today is Merna Shenouda's last day with us in our front office. Ms. Merna has been a part of our office staff since 2022. During her time, she has been a familiar and supportive staff member for our students, helping out our community in so many ways from support in the classroom to helping our kiddos in the nurse's office. This past May, Merna graduated from GMU with a degree in social work, and it's time for her to start her career of choice🎉 We will miss her greatly we also want to congratulate her on her new role as a Fairfax County Government Employee in which she will be performing duties tied to her areas of study.
Have a lovely weekend,
Sara
📅Upcoming Dates
Nov. 27 - 29: No School - Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 4: Federal Impact Aid Surveys Due submit via SIS ParentVUE
Dec. 5 - Diversity Showcase from 6-8pm, "Celebrating the World: A Tapestry of Holidays and Traditions"
Dec 9: 3-hour Early Release Monday
Dec 20 - Jan 6: Winter Break
Click here to read GFES PTA newsletter updates.
Click here for the FCPS school year calendar.
⏲Early Release Monday on December 9
Our next 3-hour early release will take place on December 9. We are asking one final time this school year for you to please complete a survey to let us know if your child will dismiss at 12:30 the way they would normally leave (bus, kiss and ride/walker, or SACC) or if you have a need for childcare and they will remain with us until 3:30.
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NEW THIS TIME: To help ease the process of collecting and verifying this information, we have developed a new form and accompanying website where you can check your child’s information. Please complete one form per child–you will need your child’s student ID. We will message these out to make sure you have them at hand. Then, use this URL to check that your submission recorded properly: https://tinyurl.com/GFESEarlyMondays.
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MOVING FORWARD: For future early release dates, you will only need to submit a form if you need to make a change. We will send out a reminder to check your submission and make changes as needed.
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CLOSING DATE: As with last time, the last day to make changes will be the Wednesday before the early release (December 4). This allows us time to make staffing and scheduling plans. If there is an emergency that necessitates a change, please call the front office.
🌟M.A.R.K. Model Students
We are proud to share that the following students were nominated for recognition by staff members for being on their M.A.R.K.:
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Race H. is consistently on his M.A.R.K., following directions, working hard, and helping his peers!
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Rustam H was responsible when he cleaned up the classroom and helped his friends.
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Nathan L is consistently kind, working to make his MARK each day!
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Gus G was mindful and kind when he took the time to check in on another student, despite not feeling well himself.
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Sebastian G was responsible and kind when helped younger members of his Roadrunner Family formulate goals and engaged them in polite conversation
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Annie B was also responsible and kind during Roadrunner Families, engaging a nervous kindergarten student and helping them feel comfortable!
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Isaac L is a responsible student, being a great listener and active participant in his Roadrunner Family
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Abby H was also responsible and kind, helping a kindergartener in her Roadrunner Family think about a good goal to become a better communicator.
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Anika A is a mindful and kind student; she’s always positive, shares her ideas, and helps younger students when they need it!
❗Community Reminder
For the safety and security of Great Falls Elementary School students, we ask that community members refrain from accessing school grounds during the school day for recreational use. Additionally, pets are never permitted on school property. This includes areas such as playgrounds, sports fields, and parking lots. All visitors must check in at the front office and follow proper sign-in procedures. We also ask that you remind your neighbors of this policy to help ensure a secure environment for everyone.
School security or local law enforcement may be called if there are any concerns or non-compliance with this policy. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and secure campus for our students and staff. Thank you for your understanding and support!
🎭Cooper MS Elsewhere Performance
Our local middle school is excited to present a special matinee performance of Elsewhere on Saturday, November 23rd from 2 PM - 4PM! This captivating production is perfect for the whole family, and elementary school students can attend for free with a pass! After the show, there’s a fun opportunity for students to join the cast and crew for a pizza party! It’s a great chance to meet the performers and celebrate the show together. If interested in attending, simply complete the Google Form by clicking here to claim your free pass.
Don’t miss out on this exciting event and the chance to support our talented middle school performers!
📍IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair
Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
🎧Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require specialized services and support to access instruction that is typically presented visually and auditorily (by means of hearing). FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Visit the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website for Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
👨🏫Tutoring Resources for Families
Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence, reminds us of our commitment to supporting each and every student and helping them meet or exceed high academic standards.
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