A Message from our Administrators
Dear Hunt Valley Community,
We hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday last week and had time to relax and reconnect with family and friends. We have made it to the last month of 2024 and December has brought with it some frigid temperatures. Please make sure that students dress in layers and have appropriate winter gear for recess outside. We have an abundance of jackets, sweatshirts and water bottles that are currently in our Lost and Found. Please remind your child(ren) to check the Lost and Found over the next few weeks for their belongings. Any unclaimed items will be donated on Friday, December 20th.
We want to give a huge thank you to the PTA and parent volunteers for providing a delicious lunch to our staff on Thursday! It was fabulous. Our 15 Days of Cheer for staff continues next week! There is a lot of information in this week's News You Choose.
In this week's News You Choose you will find:
- Picture Retake/Makeup Information
- Federal Impact Aid Survey Reminder
- SEL Screener Information
- Food Drive
- Toy Drive
- Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder
- Multicultural Night Information
- Yearbook Ordering Information
- Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
- Preparing for Winter Weather
- Winter Resources from Fairfax County Government Agencies
We hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend!
Sincerely,
Keieownna Hightower, Principal
Chrissy Gibbs, Assistant Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
 |
|
Mark Your Calendar
December 9--Picutre Makeups
December 15--Full-Time AAP Referral Form DUE
December 23-January 3--Winter Break
|
Picture Retakes/Make ups will be Monday, December 9
If you want your child’s picture re-taken, you will need to bring back the original picture packet to give to the photographer.
We will be sending home order envelopes with students who were not in attendance on our original picture day.
Federal Impact Aid Survey Reminder
You can still fill out the Federal Impact Aid survey for each of your students online via your parent SIS account:
- Log into your ParentVue Account.
- look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets’.
- Click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page:
- If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please make sure to fill out a form for each of your children. You will know you have completed all the forms when you see a green check next to each of their names on the final screen.
SEL Screener Information
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Parents
Parents/guardians who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic services may submit the Full-Time Referral Form (translations linked below) to the local school Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) no later than December 15, 2024. No late forms will be accepted. Point of Contact: Ashley Huntley, arhuntley@fcps.edu
Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)
 
Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.
Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather
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.
Winter Resources from Fairfax County Government Agencies
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource GuideFood insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Learn how to help these families and the many resources available to support those who need food assistance on Fairfax County’s website or view the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
📚 Bundle Up With Books Over Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered. Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
⛄ Get Outdoors for Winter Fun!
The Fairfax County Park Authority has rounded up its seasonal fun into a handy list of events happening across the county.
Learn more about the Winter Wonderland and the Holiday Train at Burke Lake Park, Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, and many more fun events.
 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2EA6FECF8-51211530-cafeteria
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2EA6FECF8-51771041-lunch
|
