SCHOOLHOUSE NEWS - November 22


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Table of Contents

  • Calendar
  • Weekly Reminders
  • Winter Weather
  • SCA Warming Tree Donations
  • Gift Card Donation Drive
  • Federal Impact Aid Forms
  • Full-Time Advanced Academics Referrals (students in grades 2-6)
  • News from the Family Liaison
  • For Our Military Families:  Military Matters
  • PTA News
  • Celebrations and Traditions
  • Useful Links


mark your calendar

 

  • November 26 -  Flannel Spirit Day
  • November 27-29 Thanksgiving Break (No School)
    School Office is closed
  • December 4 - Federal Impact Aid Forms Due
  • December 6 - PTA Holiday Market and Spirit Wear Sale
  • December 18 - Last Day for Gift Card Donation Drive
  • December 19 - Last Day for Hayfield Warming Tree Donations
  • December 23 - January 3 Winter Break (No School)


Weekly Reminders

  • Dismissal changes should be submitted to the office by 2:30 p.m.
  • No student may be checked-out after 3:00 p.m.  Pease arrive early.
  • The school does not accept food deliveries for students.
  • Lunch visitors are now welcome. Seating is limited at some tables.
  • Bring your ID when coming to the building.


Winter Weather

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather is here! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.


Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please reach out to Marily Grotz, Family Liaison, at mgrotz@fcps.edu.  You may also contact Koinonia which is a non-profit organization that supports families in our community.  For families outside Franconia/Springfield area, you may contact Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.



Warming Tree


Gift Card Donation Drive

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the holiday season already! We know that this time is exciting for many but can also be very challenging and stressful for some families within our community. In the past, we have been able to support many of our Hayfield families during this time due to the kind donations from our community! On November 18th, we will begin collecting donations for gift cards to big box stores/grocery stores (ex: Walmart, Target, Aldi, Giant, Amazon) until December 18th. Please send in any donations with your student in an envelope marked “Holiday Donations” to be given to your student’s teacher or dropped at the front office. We will ensure these donations go to support our direct community and support our families in having a very happy holiday season!

We appreciate you all so much as you help us make this a memorable season for all of our Hayfield community.

Thank you,
Hayfield Elementary School Counselors



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, paper forms were sent home in Thursday Folders this week. 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).



Full-Time Advanced Academics Referrals (students in grades 2-6)

Full-Time Services Checklist for Families

For parents interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services, the following documents need to be submitted to AART Avery Rothman (agrothman@fcps.edu) on or before December 15, 2024.
Late submissions cannot be accepted.

  • Full Time Referral Form - REQUIRED (Translated Versions Available)
  • Parent Questionnaire – Optional, but Recommended (Translated Versions Available)
  • A Maximum of 2 pages of work samples (digital scans) - Optional
  • Additional testing information – Optional

Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of trained professionals will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted, after they have been turned in for central selection, by emailing Avery Rothman (agrothman@fcps.edu).   

Please see the Full-Time Services Checklist for Families for further guidance, and contact Avery Rothman (agrothman@fcps.edu) with any questions.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.



News from the Family Liaison

November 22, 10-11:30 a.m. - Starting the Conversation About Drugs.

December 6, 2024 10-11:30 a.m.Stress Less, Enjoy More. Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness: A Webinar for Families

December 13, 2024 10-11:30 a.m.Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation: Keeping Kids Safe Online

December 20, 2024, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. - Youth Mental Health First Aid (in-person course) 

Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpageIf you register you will receive a recording of the presentation even if you cannot participate in the live webinar!

Crisis Assistance — Applies to Heating Emergencies

When to Submit an Application

  • Equipment-related assistance & security deposits - November 1 through March 15
  • Heating fuel & utility bills (primary heat expense) - First workday in January through March 15

Assistance Available

  • Heating equipment - repair or replacement
  • Heating equipment - supplemental (example: fuel tanks)
  • Security deposit - primary heat expense
  • Heating fuel/utility - primary heat expense

Eligibility Requirements - There must be a heating emergency, such as:

  • Lack of heat
  • Imminent utility cut-off
  • Inoperable or unsafe heating equipment

How to Apply

Marily Grotz, Family Liaison
Phone: 703-924-4553  Cell: 571-296-6011
Email: mgrotz@fcps.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 8:30am-3:30pm



For Our Military Families: Military Matters

Upcoming Events – Mark Your Calendar

23 Nov. –  Holiday Food Distribution

          11am-1pm, Fort Belvoir ACS Bldg.

Army Community Service is offering a one-stop-shop for all your holiday meal needs with pre-packaged meal kits & frozen turkey to feed your family!  No registration required. Simply present your valid Military ID card. Happy Thanksgiving from the family & MWR team.

9 Dec. - Family Photos with Santa 

            6pm-8pm, 24010 Montezuma Ave. Quantico, VA

Join us for family photos with Santa. Registration Required.

13 Dec. - Teatime with Mrs. Claus 

            6pm-8pm, 24010 Montezuma Ave. Quantico, VA

Bring the little ones to hear stories read by Ms. Claus while sipping on hot chocolate & tea and munching on cookies. Registration Required.

17 Dec. - North Pole Market 

            6pm-8pm, 24010 Montezuma Ave. Quantico, VA

Children ages 6-12 will receive USO Bucks for each of their family members who are military dependents. They can use their USO Bucks to pick out gifts for family members and even wrap them on-site. Registration Required.

18 Dec. - Santa Paws Photo

            6pm-8pm, 3049 Bordelon Street Quantico, VA

Bring your beloved pet for a photo-op with Santa and let them enjoy a special treat. Registration required.

Shelly Oberst, LCSW
Military & Family Life Counselor
Hayfield Elementary School
Cell: 571-386-7884
obersts@magellanfederal.com



PTA News

Holiday Market

The winter holidays are coming! Mark your calendars for our 2024 Holiday Market which will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024 from 5:30-7:30pm. Students will have the opportunity to shop for gifts for friends and family in the cafeteria. There will be live music, food trucks, and the Craft Market in the library for adults to browse and shop! Traditionally only Hayfield faculty and staff have been vendors at the market in the library, but this year we are excited to open up the opportunity for additional community members to rent a table for a $50 donation to the PTA. This provides a broader opportunity for small businesses in our Hayfield community to sell their goods or services! A flyer with the volunteer sign up and shopper sign up was sent home in Thursday folders yesterday.  You can sign up on the Hayfield PTA website. To reserve a table, please email Amy at holidaymarket@hespta.com.

Spirit Wear

New spirit wear will be available for purchase at the Holiday Market on December 6th.  We have new designs this year; 3 styles of t-shirts, a hoodie, pajamas pants, and baseball hats. Limited quantities are available, so shop early for best availability.  

The online store will open with the remaining items following the Holiday Market. Questions? Email: spiritwear@hespta.com



Celebrations and Traditions

Native American

Check out these websites for more learning opportunities.

Native American Heritage Month Resources and Guidance

Resources from the Library of Congress



Community Events

Budgeting Strategieshelpful links