ATES Updates_11/26/2024

Upcoming Dates:

11/27-29        Student Holiday-Thanksgiving Break-No School
12/02             Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
12/02-06        ATES Annual Book Fair
12/03             Family Science/ Math Night / Book Fair Family Night
                       (5:30-7:30pm, Gym, Cafeteria & Library)
12/11             Interim Reports Sent Home
12/23-01/03   Winter Holiday-No School
01/06/25        School Resumes


Together!!
Donation

A huge thank you to our friends from Immanuel Christian School for their donations! We truly appreciate their support!


Just some of our amazing teachers spending time together after school. They are all truly amazing teachers!

 

Amazing teachers_02

1st grade teachers

First grade teachers did some learning together in math. Here is Ms. McCall and Ms. Arnold co teaching a lesson while her teammates looked on. Way to go team! What an amazing way to learn together!


Look at these amazing students learning phonics with Ms. Mousa! Way to go kids!

Ms. Mousa

Ms. Mousa

Look at these amazing students learning phonics with Ms. Mousa! Way to go kids!


Thanksgiving Luncheon

Last Thursday, we had our Thanksgiving luncheon! Thank you to all the parents that joined their students for this wonderful event. It is always so joyful to see students enjoying the company of their families at school.


Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The paper form was sent home with your students on Thursday, November 14. Please be sure to return them as soon as possible

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important, because 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.

Please watch this video and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page for more information.  

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Questions? Please call or email Ms. Sherry Hamzehloo, our Parent Liaison@ 703-658-5693 or shamzehloo@fcps.edu  or Mr. Jose Vega, our Registrar @ 703-658-5602 or jlvega@fcps.edu


Volunteers are needed for ATES Book Fair!

Book Fair

The ATES Book Fair is scheduled on Dec. 2-6.  We would love to see your family at FAMILY night on Tuesday, 12/3 from 5:30-7pm.  The science of reading development shows that letting kids choose books they are excited about makes a huge difference in their motivation for reading, so please give them the gift of reading by buying books for them at the book fair.  Please bring your family Tuesday night on 12/03, and if you would be willing to volunteer to help out during the book fair, please complete the Volunteer Survey form: https://forms.gle/N7FDcTewzZcuv2Np8. Please contact the Librarian Assistant, Ms. Becky Powers at  BLPowers@fcps.edu or call 703-658-5600 if you have any questions about it. Thank you!

P.S. Reference ATES Book Fair_Sneak Peek.pdf  when you are helping with your child to make the book wish list. Also you can order via https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/annandaleterrace if the books you want are not available at the book fair. 


Family science and math night

Please join us on December 3rd at 5:30-7:30pm for a fun and educational night brought to you by The Children’s Science Center and ATES math team. The dinner will be served in the cafeteria at 5:30pm and the program starts at 6:00pm in the gym /cafeteria. All students are welcome to attend and must be accompanied by an adult! Thank you!


Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to: Michelle Carr- Hogan, mccarrhogan@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2024

The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

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 six trained professionals from various schools and roles 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 Michelle Carr- Hogan, mccarrhogan@fcps.edu

Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall. 

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


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.


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.


❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter

Winter weather will be here before you know it! 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 call 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.


Boundary Review Community Meeting

Boundary graphic for newsletters

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 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.


Parklawn Elementary School Boundary Study Community Meeting - in person December 11

The public is invited to provide input on the scope of a boundary study to address capacity challenges at Parklawn Elementary School. The in-person community meeting will be held during the next few weeks: 

  • Wednesday, December 11, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.In person - Parklawn Elementary School - Cafeteria, Door 1

Each meeting will include the same presentation and feedback opportunities. Language interpretation will be available at both meetings.

Additional information and a link to sign up for the Parklawn project email list are available on the Parklawn Boundary Study webpage. Communication about this ongoing work will also be shared by the school and your School Board representative, Dr. Ricardy Anderson.

Fairfax County Public Schools is also conducting a divisionwide review of school boundaries. The first set of community meetings for this larger effort will take place between mid-November and mid-December. The meetings for Parklawn Elementary School are separate from the divisionwide review.  


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.


📚 Social Studies Basal Resources Review

FCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary resources used to support instruction in a given subject. Public review of the instructional materials under consideration — which is part of the process for selecting new resources — is underway. Visit the Community Review webpage for more information on how to view the materials online or in person. 

All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.


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.


Falls Church HS

Yearbook Pre-Order is Open!

Don't miss out! The Annandale Terrace 2024-2025 Yearbook is now available for early bird pricing at just $16! Pre-order yours before prices go up after April 11th. Secure those memories today! Visit https://www.strawbridge.net/ and enter code YB30242.  The yearbooks will be passed out in June. 

Yearbook
Order Yearbook

Eileen Garnett Civic Space - Winter Festival

Winter wonderland

Let's Celebrate the Season!

Join us for a winter festival at The Eileen Garnett Civic Space. Experience the season's joy with tree lighting, winter crafts, and delicious treats.

When: December 7th from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm Where: 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA

What to Expect:

  • Winter Coat and Clothing Collection: Help keep our neighbors warm and donate to our winter coat and clothing drive.
  • Tree Decorating and Lighting: Help us decorate our Christmas Tree.
  • Hot Cocoa and Treats: Enjoy a food truck with delicious hot cocoa and festive snacks.
  • Live Music: Enjoy songs from Annandale Terrace Elementary School 5th Grade Chorus.
  • Children's Activities: Let the little ones have fun with winter-themed crafts.

 

Don't miss this opportunity to create lasting winter memories with your loved ones.

We can't wait to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1082230242789?aff=oddtdtcreator


Free Eye clinic

library

Calendar
Calendar 2

Young Children

FCPS News

  • In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
  • Preparing for Winter Weather
  • SEL Screener Results
  • Varsity Girls Wrestling Is New Winter Sport

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today


Free Workshops for Families

Parents and caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).

The FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.

Family Resource Center