In This Message:
Principals' Message
Dear Floris Community,
As we head into Spring Break, we want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued partnership and support throughout this school year. Your encouragement at home, involvement in our school community, and dedication to your child’s growth make a world of difference and we are so grateful for you!
Next week is a chance for everyone, students, staff, and families alike to take a breath, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved rest. Whether you're traveling, staying local, or just enjoying a slower pace, I hope your Spring Break is filled with laughter, relaxation, and time with those you love. Our students have worked incredibly hard this year, and this break is a wonderful opportunity to pause and celebrate all the progress they’ve made.
In addition to welcoming Spring Break, this week also marks Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, and we are so lucky to have one of the best, Mr. Rob Gibbs!
Mr. Gibbs is a steady, supportive, and positive presence in our school each and every day. He works tirelessly to ensure our students feel safe and supported, our staff feels empowered, and our school runs smoothly. From helping navigate tricky situations to cheering students on and collaborating with families and teachers, Mr. Gibbs brings heart, humor, and dedication to everything he does.
Please join me in celebrating Mr. Gibbs and all he does to make Floris Elementary such a special place to learn and grow. We truly appreciate him this week and every week!
Wishing you all a joyful and restful Spring Break!
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
Upcoming Student Dates:
🏫Schoolwide assembly on April 11 (students only, during school hours)
🌎International Night is April 30. Learn more and sign-up here!
Upcoming Staff Appreciation Dates:
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Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, April 7 - 11
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Bus Driver Appreciation Day, April 22
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Administrative Professionals Day, April 23
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Principal Appreciation Day, May 1
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Lunch Hero Appreciation Day, May 2
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Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9
- School Nurse Appreciation Day, May 7
👉Interested in joining the PTA Board for the '25-'26 school year? Please reach out to Florispta.pres@gmail.com
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunity for K-2 Field Day!
Are you Interested in being a part of your child’s Field Day? Field Day is less than a month away currently scheduled for Friday, May 2nd and we need volunteers to help run the stations! If you are interested in participating in field day by running a station, then be on the lookout for an email tomorrow morning for the signup genius👀. We have limited volunteer spots, and they will be based on first come, first served! More information about Field Day will be sent after we return from spring break. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Mr. Barber (Rcbarber@fcps.edu).
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Westfield High School Theatre Presents
The Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein
May 1, 2 at 7pm and May 3, 4 at 1pm
Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student.
All seats reserved.
All info found at: www.westfieldtheatre.com
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Safety Patrol Interest Form
Calling all 4th and 5th parents! Is your student interested in being a Safety Patrol next school year? Ask them! We had an interest meeting with all 4th and 5th grade students last Friday to discuss what a Safety Patrol is and how to apply. If interested, students with their parents/guardians need to fill out this application by Friday, April 11th . If you would like more information about the program, feel free to reach out to Mr. Barber (rcbarber@fcps.edu) or Mr. Gibbs (ragibbs@fcps.edu).
Military-Connected Family Support
FCPS welcomes all of our new and returning military-connected families throughout the year! Whether your family is moving permanently to the school district or living here for a short time, our schools and support staff welcome you and will be able to assist with your transition into and/or out of our district.
Visit the FCPS Military Families webpage and sign up to receive the Military Families newsletter. Follow FCPS Military Families accounts on Facebook and Instagram for support and resources throughout the year. If you have any questions, please email the FCPS Family and School Partnerships team.
 Spring has sprung, and our fabulous Green Team has been working on various activities to support Earth Week here at Floris. Save the date for our theme days to keep with the Get2Green focus on environmental stewardship.
At Floris, Earth Week will also be culminating in a the Ultimate Earth Day Pledge for the weekend of April 25-27. Hard copies of the pledge will be available at school during Earth Week.
In conjunction with Earth Week, The SCA is sponsoring a food drive to benefit LINK against Hunger. LINK is a Herndon based food assistance program that serves families in Herndon and Sterling. The SCA is making this a friendly competition amongst grades. See your student’s requested donations below!
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Kindergarten – Cereal, granola bars and oatmeal, pancake mix
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1st grade – PB, jelly and canned chicken or tuna
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2nd grade – Applesauce, canned fruit, canned vegetables
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3rd grade – crackers, pretzels, goldfish, cheez-its
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4th grade – beans (canned and dried) and rice
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5th & 6th grade – pasta, spaghetti sauce and mac-n-cheese
Attendance
Let's get your child to class when the bell rings. Every school day is a unique opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow. The life skills children need to get ready for school are the same life skills that will help them reach graduation and beyond!
A big thank you to:
- 🌟 Students and families who show up every day, even when it's busy.
- 👩🏫 Teachers who create a welcoming and safe haven for learning.
- 👨💼 Administrators who provide a safe and engaging learning environment.
- 👏 Bus drivers, support staff, and volunteers who lend a helping hand to our students.
If your child is not feeling well, please view the Can My Child Go to School? webpage.
Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school — and themselves. See these tips on how to encourage positive school attendance in elementary school: https://bit.ly/3TP2gdB.
Daily school attendance is required by law in the state of Virginia. Watch this short video that helps explain attendance policies.
👉Visit Attendance Resources and Support for more attendance insights and support – because every day is a step toward a brighter tomorrow!
Excellence Is at a Crossroads
Fairfax County residents believe in the value of a strong public school system. Residents live here because of the excellence of Fairfax County Public Schools, even our community members with grown children. Excellence in FCPS comes from its people — dedicated teachers and support staff who make sure that our students are ready to learn. Today, that excellence is at a crossroads.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will finalize the budget on Tuesday, May 6, and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million.
Now is the time. Do we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS?
Do you believe in the power and promise of public education? Go to fcps.edu/crossroads.
📕Yearbooks on Sale Now! 📕
- Cost: $20
- Order Deadline: April 11, 2025
- In order to ensure everything is tracked appropriately and efficiently, we will only be conducting online orders.
👉👉You can order the Floris Yearbook from 🔗this direct link 🔗👈👈
- You will need to enter your student's first name, last name, grade level, and provide online payment.
- If you are ordering more than one yearbook, you'll need to complete the above process for each student (separate transactions).
We can expect our yearbooks to arrive from Walsworth at the end of May and they will be distributed to students in June! Thank you!
AAP Information
If you are interested in having your child screened for subject specific AAP services or Part-Time AAP services for the 25-26 School Year:
- Subject Specific Differentiation (Level 2) – students grades K-5
- Part - Time Services (Level 3) – students currently in grades 2-5
Please submit the Subject Specific and Part-Time AAP Services Referral Form to Katie Pickett kmpickett@fcps.edu (Grades K, 2, 4) or Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu (Grades 1, 3, 5) by no later than April 15, 2025.
***If you submitted a full-time referral for your child and they are found ineligible for full-time services, we will automatically screen them for part-time services. You do not need to submit additional information to have them screened.
For more information about the different levels of service, please refer to the AAP spring newsletter article - AAP Spring Newsletter ES. Please do not hesitate to reach out to either Katie or Amy with any AAP related questions.
⏰ Share Your Thoughts on School Start Times
FCPS would like to hear from all families on the possibility of adjusting school start times across the division. Please check your email for a survey link from Fairfax County Public Schools. It was also sent to staff as well as to students in grades 5-12. The confidential survey will be open through Saturday, April 12.
🏫 Helping Your Child Prepare for Kindergarten
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Explore the resources on FCPS’ School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage for ways to help ensure your child starts kindergarten with confidence.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
FCPS News: In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- FCPS Budget
- School Start Times Survey
- Month of the Military Child
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year
April 14-18: Spring Break
May 2: K-2 Field Day
May 8: 5th Grade Science SOL
May 12: 5th and 6th Grade Reading SOL
May 13: 3rd and 4th Grade Reading SOL
May 15: 5th and 6th Grade Math SOL
May 16: 3rd and 4th Grade Math SOL
Find the 2024-2025 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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