|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Cardinal Families,
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I would like to wish all of you a wonderful break. To that end, I have communicated to the Cunningham Park staff the need to give our students (and themselves) a respite from the daily grind of schoolwork during the Thanksgiving holiday. While teachers may have long-term assignments that span over the course of a break, I have shared with staff to not assign homework, projects, essays, etc. to be specifically done over the break.
We all need the opportunity to spend time with our families and friends during Thanksgiving. We want our students to have the opportunity to catch a breath from schoolwork and to enjoy time with friends and family. We also want our teachers to decompress and put their lesson plan books and laptops away for a few days to enjoy time with their friends and family. Our goal is to have students and teachers return to school anxiety-free without the pressure of looming deadlines. This is a unified message that Madison pyramid principals send out three times during the year: Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Again, we wish you a happy and restful Thanksgiving holiday.
Warmly,
Allison Hoak, Principal
Jon Kemmerer, Assistant Principal
Lost and Found
Have you seen my sweatshirt? Where is my water bottle?
If you hear this from your child, please have your child check our Lost and Found for missing items. Our Lost and Found is located near the restrooms in the lobby. We have many water bottles, coats, and sweatshirts. To prevent lost items, please write your child's last name on all personal belongings. All items will be donated on December 17, 2024. Thank you for encouraging your child to look for their lost items!
|
Handwashing
As we transition from fall to winter, it's important to remind our children about the importance of practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. These simple practices can significantly reduce the spread of germs, particularly during the upcoming holiday season when gatherings and travel increase.
Key Reminders:
-
Wash Hands Frequently: Encourage your child to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
-
Use Hand Sanitizer: When soap and water are not readily available, provide access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
-
Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Remind students to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly in a wastebasket and wash their hands.
-
Avoid Touching Face: Discourage students from touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Gift Card Collection
We will be collecting gift cards to help families within our community again this holiday season. Gift cards can be of any amount and are most helpful from stores such as Target and Walmart. We also collect gift cards from Giant for groceries for our families over winter break. Donations can be dropped off in the front office and will directly support families here at Cunningham Park. Please make sure all gift cards are here by December 10th, 2024. Questions can be directed to Lisa Lujan at lklujan@fcps.edu or 703-255-5616. Thank you for your help!
|
Please Donate New or Gently Used Coats
We are excited to announce that one of our fifth graders, Katy, has taken the initiative to organize a schoolwide coat drive! Inspired by an article in a magazine, Katy was moved to help those in need by collecting warm winter coats.
The coat drive will run until December 17th. We encourage all students, staff, and families to donate gently used coats of all sizes. A collection box will be placed in the main lobby.
By participating in this coat drive, we are teaching our students the importance of giving back to our community. We are grateful for Katy's leadership and enthusiasm, and we hope you will join us in supporting this worthwhile cause.
|
 |
|
Winter Concert
Save the date! We will be hosting our Winter Concert on Thursday, December 12 at 5:30 pm in the Cunningham Park gym. We ask that all performers arrive at 5:00 pm.
|
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.
Advanced Academic Full-Time Referral Deadline
The winter referral deadline for full-time advanced academic referral forms is December 15, 2024. More information and referral forms can be found here. Please contact Jenna Murgia, AART, at jlmurgia@fcps.edu with any questions.
Pyramid Information
Madison SGA Food Drive
Collection from November 25 - December 13
The James Madison SGA is looking for your help again this year with their annual canned food drive. Last year was a great success and we received contributions from all of our pyramid schools. We are looking to build on last year's success and our goal is for Cunningham Park to collect 500 donations. Once this goal is reached, each student and faculty member will receive a One Kind Act bracelet as a thank you for their support. The Madison canned food drive supports Food For Others, a local food bank helping to provide food to families in need across Fairfax County. Please drop off your canned food in the lobby.
|
FCPS Information
Student Feedback Opportunity for FCPS Cell Phone Policy and SR&R
FCPS is working with K12 Insight to host a community forum for families, staff members, and students to provide feedback on the school division’s cell phone policies and practices, and the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document. FCPS is looking for more student participants (grades 3-12) to help ensure diverse perspectives from our community.
The community forum will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center. If your student is interested in providing feedback, please visit the Cell Phone Policy Forum registration page to learn more. Families must register their child by Monday, November 25.
Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
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 Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison 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.
Quick Links
|
