May 13, 2025
Greetings, Glen Forest Families!
As we move through another wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your continued support. Our school thrives because of the strong partnership between parents, students, and staff.
When families and educators work together, we create a learning environment that is not only academically enriching but also nurturing and inclusive. Your involvement—whether through volunteering, attending events, or supporting learning at home—makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.
Thank you for all you do to help make Glen Forest ES a truly special place. Go Eagles!!
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SOL Testing
Thank you for your support in helping your student prepare for their SOL tests. We are in week 2 of administration and things are running smoothly. There will be a letter coming home to ask for you permission for your child to retake if he/she does not pass. Not passing does not prevent your child from moving on to the next grade, although it allows Glen Forest to gain credit toward state accreditation. Please contact Ms. Alexandra Bowman at akbowman@fcps.edu if you have questions or concerns about retakes. Thank you!!!
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PTO 5K Fun Run ~ This Saturday, May 17th!
Please join us for the 5K Fun Run/Walk this Saturday! A flier has been sent home where you can sign up to participate. Registration begins at 10am and the run starts at 11am. Food trucks, music, and lots of fun! ALL are welcome! See you there!
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Attendance is Critical!
Currently, we have a chronic absenteeism (CA) rate of 18%. CA means a student has missed 10% or more of school days. If your child has missed 14 or more days of school so far, they are considered chronically absent, which significantly disrupts their learning.
Did you know that missing just 2 days of school each month causes a student to miss 30 hours of math instruction and 60 hours of reading and writing instruction. Attendance is critical to student success. Remember...its' cool to be in school!
If your child is not feeling well, please refer to the When Should I Keep My Child Home? webpage for guidance.
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Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year. Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or Assistant Principal by May 15, annually.
The AAP School-Based Services Referral Form may be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms or by searching “AAP Forms” at https://www.fcps.edu/.
Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.
Screening Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher or Assistant Principal.
Subject Specific and Part-Time Services in Elementary School
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services to students’ needs rather than labeling students. Students have:
~Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
~A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to support student learning and growth.
Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services at the elementary level:
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
• All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
• Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a
minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one
specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation
beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.
• Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes
or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in
Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-Time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Wednesday, 5/14 - Family Food Market 5:00pm-6:30pm
Saturday, 5/17 - PTO 5K Fun Run/Walk - 11:00am
Thursday, 5/22 - Multicultural Night - "This is Us!" 6:00pm
Monday, 5/26 - No School - Memorial Day
Wednesday, 6/4 - Field Day (rain date 6/5)
Wednesday, 6/4 - Family Food Market 5:00pm-6:30pm
Monday, 6/9 - 5th Grade Promotion at Justice High School 6:30pm
Tuesday, 6/10 - 2nd grade (10:30am) & 3rd grade (2:00pm) Musicals
Wednesday, 6/11 - Last Day of School - 2 Hour Early Dismissal - 2:05pm
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Phase 2 Community Boundary Review Meetings
Families, staff, and community members will soon be able to explore and visualize potential boundary scenarios using a customized Boundary Explorer Tool. The tool will be accessible from the FCPS website. You are also invited to participate in another series of community meetings in order to review and reflect on the initial draft scenarios before the start of summer break:
- Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8 p.m., Oakton High School
- Friday, May 16, 6:30-8 p.m., Robinson Secondary School
- Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., Herndon High School
- Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Lewis High School
- Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Annandale High School
- Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Whitman Middle School
- Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m., Chantilly High School
- Friday, June 6, 6:30–8 p.m., Glasgow Middle School
Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. Registration links will be shared soon. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.
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Glen Forest ES Administrative Team
Pictured from left to right:
Jessica Green, Assistant Principal for K and 1st Grade, jgreen@fcps.edu
Alexandra Bowman, Assistant Principal for 2nd, 3rd Grade, and Special Education, akbowman@fcps.edu
Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Principal, dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu
Chris Musgnug, Assistant Principal for Pre-Kindergarten, 4th Grade, and 5th Grade, ccmusgnug@fcps.edu
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If you have any comments, concerns, questions, or compliments, please email me at dlherndonwi1@fcps.edu. Thank you for sharing your children with us and for your continued partnership in their education.
From Many, We are ONE! Team Glen Forest! #GFeaglessoar
Warmly,
Dee Dee Herndon-Wilson, Your Proud Principal
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