ATES Updates_12/06/2024

Upcoming Dates:

12/11             Interim Reports Sent Home
12/20             5th Grade Field Trip – Poe MS
                      Parent Coffee (9:00am, Cafeteria)
                      Topic: Holiday Celebration
12/23-01/03   Winter Holiday-No School
01/06/25        School Resumes
                      Family Food Market (3:45pm, Cafeteria)
01/16             Student Parent Lunch (Lunch Time, Cafeteria)
01/22             Candid & Club Pictures

Together!!
Cougar

Congratulations to Ms. Purdy’s class for earning 30 paw praise tickets. For their reward, the Cougar dropped by for some high-fives and a class picture with the Cougar.


Every week we celebrate students who have been referred to the office by their teachers for demonstrating Cougar Pride! These students know how to show respectful, responsible, and safe behaviors all the time! We are very proud of them.

 

Cougar Pride

Turkey Trot Fun! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Turkey Trot and a special thank you to Ms. Farbstein and Ms. Larson for organizing this amazing event. So much fun was had by all!

Turkey Trot

Our staff members enjoyed this amazing pie bar! Thank you for the PTA for their support and to Ms. Hamzehloo, Ms. Lovo, Ms. Powers, Ms. Hosseini, and Ms. Ogum for setting up the pie bar. Everything looked and tasted amazing!

Pie bar

When the ATES 2nd graders finished their science unit on Monarch butterflies, they wrote letters to Fairfax Mayor Read asking her to sign the Mayors Monarch Pledge. The last time the Fairfax Mayor signed the pledge was in 2012. Our 2nd grade classes took what they learned through their science unit and explained to Mayor Read why it is important to protect them in their letters.

Butterfly letters

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!

Eileen Garnett Civic Space Winter Festival Tickets, Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 3:30 PM | Eventbrite

 


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 by Monday, December 9th

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.  

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

barcode

📝Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation Webinar

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

Join us for this important webinar presented jointly by Fairfax County Schools, the Fairfax County Police Department, the Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

 

Webinar Highlights:

  • What is Sextortion?
  • What are FCPS and FCPD seeing in relation to sextortion?
  • How can families help prevent their kids from becoming victims?
  • How should families respond if their child was victimized?

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.


Wee Play Parent-Child Playgroups

WeePlay

Parents, caregivers, and their young children birth – 5 years old are invited to enroll in Annandale Terrace Elementary School's free, 90-minute weekly playgroups on Thursdays at 9:30 - 11:00 AM or 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM.  This program is for families with children who are not already enrolled in a preschool program or another early education program. The Wee Play program, led by a Fairfax County Public School facilitator, is based on the belief that parents and other caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers. In a welcoming and friendly space at Annandale Terrace Elementary, Wee Play provides the opportunity for caregivers and their children to learn together and to develop the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.  

Activities include exploring toys and materials, singing songs, hearing stories, playing games, and parent discussions.  

Join us beginning Thursday, January 9 and every Thursday through the end of May.  Enrollment is required. Registration forms are available in the school office and should be returned to ATES Main Office.


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.


🍲 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.


❄️ 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.


📚 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.


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

⛄ 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.


Free Eye clinic

Young Children

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

  • Family Academy Orientation
  • Literacy Resources
  • Winter Programs and Activities

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