Weekly update for February 14, 2025
Dear CES friends and families,
Even with some weather related interruptions, we had another great week at Columbia! Our Kindergarten students celebrated the 100th day of school in style and they look and sound 100 days wiser!
I hope that everyone enjoys the three-day holiday weekend this weekend and is looking forward to the annual Columbia STEAM NIGHT next week, which is being held on Thursday, February 20th.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Mike Astudillo
Proud Principal
Columbia Elementary School
PTA News & Notes
PTA Meeting
Please join us for the PTA’s February meeting, Tuesday at 7 PM, in the library. For those who would like to join virtually the zoom link is below.
Zoom: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/91903873132 ; Meeting ID: 919 0387 3132
PTA Wishlist
We have a spring full of events ahead of us. Please see our wishlist that includes things such as concession stand supplies, bookmarks for Read-a-thon, paper bags for school use, and items to stock the teachers lounge. Items do not have to be purchased from Amazon. Feel free to purchase elsewhere and drop it off in the front office. Thank you! tOffice.
Online Spiritwear Store is Live
Students, family and staff can now order spiritwear all year long. Here is the link to the spirit shop: ONLINE SPIRITWEAR
2025 Read-a-Thon
We are excited for the upcoming Read-a-thon that will take place February 24 - 28. Our goal is to get students reading everyday for at least 30 minutes. Prizes will include gift certificates to the spring book fair and pizza party for the class that reads the most minutes.
What Parents and Guardians can do to help:
- Please encourage your child/children to read independently for AT LEAST 30 MINUTES each day or more! Families reading aloud to younger children will count toward their goal. Older siblings can read aloud to younger ones and both can record the minutes. Students can call grandparents and read aloud to them.
- Contact your teacher and ask if you can come in to be a guest reader.
- Remind your child to enter his/her minutes into the reading log AND to bring it to school on March 11th. Paper logs will be distributed next week.
Upcoming Dates
2/20 STEAM Night
2/26 Family Night Out Dominos Pizza
Protect Yourself & Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
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Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.
¡Es el Momento de Inscribirse para el Kindergarten!
Asistir al kindergarten ofrece a los niños la oportunidad de aprender y practicar las habilidades sociales, emocionales, de resolución de problemas y de autorregulación esenciales que usarán durante toda su vida. Las escuelas públicas del Condado de Fairfax normalmente llevan a cabo eventos de inscripción para kindergarten-incluyendo orientación-en la primavera durante Lunes o Abril. Los niños elegibles también pueden inscribirse durante el verano, pero inscribir a su hijo temprano ayuda a las escuelas a prepararse y asegurarse de que tengan a mano los maestros y recursos que necesitan el primer día de clases.
Después de determinar a qué escuela asistirá su hijo, las familias deben prepararse para la inscripción reuniendo documentos y completando formularios, los detalles se pueden encontrar en la página web de inscripción de kindergarten de FCPS. FCPS ofrece apoyo y recursos para todas las familias para ayudar con la inscripción y la transición al kindergarten. Para apoyo en otros idiomas, visite la página web de inscripción de kindergarten.
Specialist Spotlight
P.E. with Mr. Kain
The third quarter will include lessons on nutrition, biomechanics, volleyball, and dance. For the nutrition unit, grades 3-5 will learn about macronutrients and calculating Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Grades K-2 will learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy choices within each food group. For the biomechanics unit, grades 3-5 students will learn about bones and muscles. Students in grades K-2 will participate in relays to help them locate the brain, heart, and lungs. For the volleyball unit, students in grades 3-5 will learn how to forearm pass/bump, set, serve, and will play modified games. Grades K-2 will practice keeping a balloon in the air and will practice volleyball moves with the balloon. For the dance unit, students in grades 3-5 will design their own dances and students in grades K-2 will learn basic moves to a beat.
See you on Thursday, February 20th at STEAM Night!
Get ready for an evening of exploration and discovery at our annual STEAM Night! Join us on Thursday, February 20th, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Exciting Activities Await:
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Interactive Exhibits: Explore booths featuring hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The exhibit hall will be open 5:30 - 7 p.m.
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Mad Science Shows: Don't miss the exciting demonstrations by Mad Science!
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Show 1 (5:45 PM - 6:20 PM): Families with last names A-J
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Show 2 (6:30 PM - 7:10 PM): Families with last names K-Z
🐾Save the Date 🐾
STEAM Night
February 20
PTA Sponsored Read-a-Thon
February 24 - 28
Family Night Out Dominos Pizza
February 26
3 Hour Early Release - 1:05 p.m. Dismissal
March 10
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