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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
As we embark on the most wonderful time of the year, we are excited to share all the festivities and learning opportunities that await our students.
December is in full swing, and our calendar is packed with activities to celebrate the season and make lasting memories. From joyful choral concerts to spirited dress-up days during our SCA Spirit Week, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Classrooms are buzzing with excitement as students prepare for holiday-themed activities and parties, and we are busy celebrating our staff members nominated for FCPS Excellence awards. With so much to look forward to, we’re cherishing every moment as we count down to a well-deserved holiday break.
Last week, our PTA Diversity Showcase was an incredible celebration of our school community's rich cultures and traditions. Our families created vibrant booths highlighting their homes' and cultures' unique celebrations and customs. From traditional foods and music performances to colorful displays and interactive activities (the hot chocolate bar was also pretty amazing), the event offered an excellent opportunity for students and families to learn from one another and embrace the beauty of diversity.
We look forward to a joyous and productive December filled with holiday cheer, academic growth, and community spirit.
Warmly,
Sara Harper, Principal
Upcoming Dates
December 11 - Make Up Picture Day
December 12 - Winter Choral Concert
December 15 - Deadline to apply for full-time advanced academic services
December 16 - SCA Spirit Week
December 23 - Jan 3: Winter Break
Jan 6: School Resumes
Jan 20: School Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
Jan 28: End of Second Quarter
Jan 29: No School - Teacher Work Day
Click here for the FCPS school year calendar.
📅Great Falls ES Office Closed
The front office will be closed from December 23rd - January 3rd. Students and staff will return on January 6, 2024.
🎉GFES Employee Honors Nominees
We are grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate our staff members for FCPS Honors awards. We shared the wonderful comments left with our staff, who were so appreciative! Please help us in congratulating those listed below for being recognized:
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Alexis Baloy—"Ms. Alexis Baloy is an extraordinary educator whose unparalleled dedication transforms the lives of her students in profound ways.”
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Eileen Donohue—"My daughter told me, ‘Ms. Donohue is going over our work to see if we did mistakes and she doesn’t mind explaining it again, no matter how many times she has to, I’m not afraid to tell her that I did not understand; I never had a teacher like her.’”
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Colleen Murphy—” Colleen has the kindest soul and always has a smile on her face! She goes above and beyond in her role as the administrative assistant!”
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Allison Battaglia—"She truly goes above and beyond to help support not only my kids but all of the kids at the school! She is so welcoming and says I can always stop by her room or reach out to her and I know she truly means it and isn’t just saying it!”
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Ayaka Monheim—"She differentiates for students depending on their needs, she checks in on students during rotations/activities to make sure they are doing well, and so much more! She uses so many different means to teach the students not only Japanese but also math, science and health!”
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Laura Lee Couch—"She understands the individual needs of students, encourages their talents, and fosters their self-esteem by supporting each child on their unique path of development.”
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Sean Farnum—"He has an amazing way of making his students feel valued, no matter their differences, and gives each a way to 'shine' through projects, choices, and creativity.”
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Julia Day—"Julia is in her first year as a classroom teacher and has shown a remarkable level of poise. Her calm demeanor permeates the classroom.”
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Anne Poliquin—"Anne truly cares about her students and wants them all to succeed, working hard to collaborate with colleagues and parents to figure out the best way to support each child.”
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Kelly Schulman—"Kelly is always open to ideas and collaboration. No matter the challenges thrown at her, she figures out a way to make things work for her students.”
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Catherine Heflin—"Mrs Heflin strikes a perfect balance of seriousness and silliness, making learning fun for Kindergarten students, setting them up for long-term educational success.”
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Jen Roberts—"Jen consistently treats everyone with respect and always assumes the best.”
We are excited to put forth the following staff members to the region to represent Great Falls:
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Professional Employee: Allison Battaglia, Speech Language Pathologist
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Operational Employee: Colleen Murphy, School Finance Assistant
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Teacher of the Year: Alexis Baloy, 3rd grade teacher
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New Teacher of the Year: Julia Day, 3rd grade teacher
🚗Parking at GFES
We kindly ask for your cooperation in making the most of our limited parking spaces. Please ensure you park within the marked lines to avoid taking up more than one space and refrain from blocking other vehicles or designated areas. If possible, consider carpooling whenever possible to help ease congestion.
Your attentiveness helps ensure everyone can find a spot, especially during this busy time of year. Thank you for your understanding and support in creating a considerate parking environment!
SCA Winter Spirit Week
📸Make Up Picture Day
Make Up Picture Day will be on Wednesday, December 11th! As a reminder, Make Up Picture Day is for students new to GFES since fall Picture Day on October 9th, students that were absent on Picture Day, or students that purchased a package and are returning the package for a retake. Students that are returning packages for retakes, must bring the full contents of the package to the camera.
If you still need to purchase a photo package, it’s not too late! Go to www.strawbridge.net and enter the code: FM453628. You can also click here to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child’s school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures after picture day. When entering your student’s information, please be sure to enter it exactly as it is on file with GFES.
🍞2024 Sister School Food Drive Thank You!
THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the 2024 Sister School Food Drive! Your generous donations helped make a positive difference for local families. We delivered ~2 carloads of non-perishable food to local food-insecure families from Glen Forest Elementary. Thank you for your support!
Special thanks to volunteers Lauren Vogel, Alice Lee, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Mizell, and the SCA students for helping support the food drive.
🤝🏻Boundary Review Community Meeting
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). If you are unable to attend on this date, please view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.
Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available.
📆Reminder: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
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 Amy Keefer (amkeefer@fcps.edu) no later than December 15, 2024. 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 Amy Keefer (amkeefer@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.
❄️ 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.
⏰ 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.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food 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.
🤝Handwashing
As we transition into the fall and winter seasons, we must remind our students, staff, and families 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:
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Wash Hands Frequently: Encourage students 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.
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Use Hand Sanitizer: When soap and water are not readily available, provide access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
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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.
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Avoid Touching Face: Discourage students from touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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