Sangster News From The Nest 11-14-24

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/14/2024 08:00 PM EST

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Upcoming Events

November 18 - 3 Hour Early Release

November 19-20 - Math Nights

November 27-29 Thanksgiving Break

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

A big 🎉THANK YOU🎉 to all families who have already filled out and submitted their form through ParentVue!!

Sangster currently has 41% submitted!

We are missing 546 surveys.

If you got a paper survey in your student's Thursday Folder, please fill out and return to the classroom teacher ASAP.

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.

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.

The Sangster Book Fair will take place on the following days/times: Tuesday, November 19^th – Thursday, November 21^st from 9:30AM – 3:30PM and on Friday, November 22^nd from 9:30AM – 1:00PM. The Book Fair will also be open during Math Nights on Tuesday November 19^th and Wednesday, November 20^th from 6:00PM – 7:30PM so families can attend with their children.

This year, we will be using E-Wallet for your Book Fair payments, relieving the stress of sending students to school with cash or checks. Cash and checks will not be accepted. You can preload your student’s E-Wallet account with a limit, and your credit card will only be charged the amount they use, up to that limit. It’s easy to use, and easy to set up. Please click the following link for more details and to set up your E-Wallet: E-Wallet Link/Registration

$math night$

Join us for our 5^th annual Family Math Night Tuesday, November 19 (A-L Families) and Wednesday, November 20 (M-Z Families) from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Families will engage in hands-on activities throughout the building, take home family math games, guess on estimation jars, and have opportunities to win prizes.

📈 Fall Student Testing Results

Screening Assessment Reports Available in SIS ParentVUE

Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.

iReady reports in grades 1-8 and Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) reports in grades 1-3 are available in ParentVUE now.
VALLSS and Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) reports for kindergarteners will be available by Friday, November 15, and for pre-K students by Friday, December 6.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reports for grades 6-12 will be available by Friday, December 13, following an extension to the fall testing window.

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.

Vision and Hearing Screening

Vision and Hearing Screenings will be held for all Kindergarten and 3^rd Grade students next week on:

Tues. Nov. 19
Wed. Nov. 20
Thurs. Nov. 21
Fri. Nov. 22

The purpose of the screenings is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears eyeglasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on these screening days and that lenses are clean.

Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.

If you can assist with screenings, sign up on this Vision and Hearing Screening Sign-Up Genius. Volunteers are much appreciated, and no prior experience is needed. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4BA9AC2CAAFA7-53050995-hearing#/

If you have any questions, please contact the School Health Aide, Amy Friedman, at 703-644-8210 or afriedman@fcps.edu

Friendly Reminders!

🚌 Change of Plans at Dismissal

We have noticed an increase in last minute change of dismissal plans over the last several weeks. Please know, while we want to accommodate everyone, it is difficult to do so when less than 24 hours notice is given. Please make change of dismissal plans directly with the teacher and only contact the office in an emergency situation.

🛑 No U-Turns & Slow Down!

U-Turns on Reservation Dr. are both illegal and very, very dangerous. We continue to get reports of cars making these illegal U-Turns. The safety of our school community is compromised every time someone does this. Please take the time to use Kiss-n-Ride and/or find another route to get back up to the Parkway.

Follow all posted Speed Limit signs. Going slowly by the school helps to ensure student, staff, and parent safety as everyone is coming and going. The crossing guard is there to help with the flow of traffic and guarantee all can cross safely. Follow all directions given by the police officer posted at the intersection.

Thank you!

📅 Attendance

Please remember to email or call the attendance line with any messages regarding your student's attendance. Absences and late arrivals should be reported to avoid getting a robo-call from FCPS. If you email the teacher to let them know about your student's attendance, please copy SangsterElem.Attendance@fcps.edu to ensure your message reaches our attendance staff. You can also call, 703-644-8282 to report any attendance messages.

📍 Boundary Review Community Meetings

Community meetings regarding FCPS' divisionwide boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. We encourage you to attend the meeting in your region, but you may attend another if it is more convenient. Please click on a date to register:

Language interpretation will be available. Visit the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage for more information.

♻️ Fairfax Recycles Day and Touch-a-Truck Event

Fairfax County Solid Waste Sustainability Team is hosting a Drop-Off and Touch-a-Truck event on Saturday, November 16, at the Gerry Hyland Government Center parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your hard-to-recycle items, check out some cool trucks, and enjoy a warm beverage and donut.

All Fairfax County residents are invited to attend and learn more about recycling and efforts to achieve Zero Waste by 2040. Visit the event website for a list of acceptable materials to drop off.

🗓️ Upcoming Events with the Family Academy

You are an important part of your child's education! The Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings.

🖥️ Free Webinars for Families

In November, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

Supporting siblings of children with disabilities for middle school siblings (in-person event).
5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown and Stop the Shame Cycle.
Language Arts and Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities.
Executive Functioning Skills (presented in Arabic).
Helping Teens Develop Coping Skills and Emotional Intelligence.
Starting the Conversation About Drugs.

Military Families

Our Military Kids

Our Military Kids® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering extracurricular activity grants to children and teens of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or post-9/11 combat wounded, ill, or injured Veterans in treatment. OMK activity grants build the children's self-confidence, enhance family wellness, and strengthen a shared sense of community.

Military Child Care

Access to childcare directly affects mission readiness, morale, and retention of defense personnel worldwide. For this reason, the Department of Defense is committed to connecting military and DoD-affiliated families to quality, affordable childcare programs. For an overview of MCC and how you can request childcare for your family, watch this short video and/or select Learn More.

National Museum of the United States Army (Fort Belvoir)

Free general admission ticket reservations are encouraged. Walk-up tickets are available.  Up to 9 tickets per request. See Group Tickets for 10 tickets or more.

Military Family & Life Counselors

The Military and Family Life Counseling Program provides free, confidential non-medical counseling to service members, their families and survivors on or near installations. Trained to work with the military community, military and family life counselors deliver valuable counseling services, briefings and presentations to the military community.

Facebook groups for local military families

GAMS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/greateralexandriamilitaryspouses/

PCS to DC - https://www.facebook.com/groups/PCSMilitaryMovetoVirginia

Fairfax County Spouses - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2053938148258566/

Other Resources

School Liaison Office – Fort Belvoir

EFMP Military One Source

EFMP – Fort Belvoir

MWR – Fort Belvoir

News from the Sangster PTA

Quick Links

7420 Reservation Dr, Springfield, VA 22153 | Main Office: 703-644-8200

Attendance: 703-644-8282 | Web | Twitter

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