In This Message:
Principals' Message
Dear Floris Community,
As this school year comes to a close, I just want to say what a joy it has been to share so many wonderful, fun, and memorable moments with all of you here at Floris. From the classroom to the playground, and all the special events in between, this year has truly been something special!
I can’t thank our families enough for your incredible support and partnership. Your involvement and encouragement have made such a difference for our students, we really couldn’t have done it without you.
To all our amazing students, we’re going to miss you this summer! Keep having fun, stay curious, and enjoy all the adventures summer brings. We’re already looking forward to seeing your smiling faces back at school next year for more learning, creativity, and good times.
Wishing you all a safe, happy, and relaxing summer. See you in 2025-26, ready for whatever comes next!
Sincerely,
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
A Fond Farewell to Some Floris Staff Members
As we approach the end of the school year, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate several members of our Floris family who will be moving on to new adventures. While we are sad to see them go, we are incredibly grateful for their dedication and contributions to our students, staff, and community.
Dee Donato, one of our incredible Special Education teachers, will be moving on to a new opportunity next school year at another elementary school. Dee has been a dedicated and compassionate advocate for her students, and her calm presence and thoughtful collaboration have made a lasting impact here at Floris. While we will miss her deeply, we are excited for this new chapter and know her new school community will be lucky to have her.
Nickie Johnson, one of our wonderful Instructional Assistants, will be taking a leave of absence next year to pursue her dream of becoming a school librarian. Nickie’s enthusiasm, kindness, and support for both students and staff have made her a true asset to our school. We are so proud of her for taking this next step and look forward to cheering her on as she works toward her degree!
Please join me in wishing both Dee and Nickie the very best in their next adventures. Once a Floris Eagle, always an Eagle!
Welcoming our New Floris Staff Members
Welcome Bob Timke to the 3rd Grade Team!
Please join me in giving a warm Floris welcome to Bob Timke, who will be joining our 3rd grade team next school year!
Bob brings a wealth of experience to Floris, having taught multiple grade levels—including 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th—across both Arlington and Fairfax County Public Schools. Most recently, he has been teaching 3rd grade at Discovery Elementary in Arlington, where he was also recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2019. Bob is known for fostering inclusive classrooms, engaging students through creative and differentiated instruction, and building strong relationships with families.
Welcome Cristina Kang to the 4th Grade Team!
We’re excited to welcome Cristina Kang as the newest member of our 4th grade team at Floris!
Cristina comes to us with a rich and diverse background in both general education and music instruction, holding a Master’s in Education and teaching certifications across multiple states. Most recently, she served as a K-5 music teacher at Mill Run Elementary, where she successfully launched both a choir and a musical theatre program—bringing creativity, leadership, and innovation to her school community.
Over the years, Cristina has taught a wide range of grade levels and developed engaging, interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates subjects like history, ELA, music, and the arts. She's also contributed to curriculum development projects with FCPS, worked as a freelance educational content writer for national platforms, and served on the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council. Her passion for student-centered learning and collaboration will be a tremendous asset to our team.
Welcome Jessica Albright to the 6th Grade Team!
We are thrilled to welcome Jessica Albright to Floris Elementary and our 6th grade team!
Jessica brings a wealth of experience in upper elementary education, having taught both 5th and 6th grade in Fairfax County and beyond since 2010. She’s a seasoned educator with a deep commitment to student success, equity, and curriculum innovation. From mentoring student teachers to designing culturally responsive science and social studies units, Jessica has been a leader in instructional design and professional development.
She’s also served on numerous curriculum writing teams across subject areas and grade levels, and is known for her collaborative spirit and passion for engaging, inclusive learning. Her global travel experiences, love for reading, and enthusiasm for project-based learning bring a unique and dynamic perspective to her classroom.
Welcome Maura Papa – Our New School Librarian!
We’re excited to welcome Maura Papas to Floris Elementary as our new school librarian!
Maura comes to us from Columbia Elementary, where she led a vibrant and engaging library program. With a strong background in both school librarianship and early childhood special education, Maura brings a unique blend of instructional expertise, creativity, and a deep commitment to student-centered learning.
In her previous role, she taught weekly library lessons across all grade levels, promoted reading through engaging events like Book Madness and author visits, and collaborated closely with teachers to support classroom learning. She also led Portrait of a Graduate presentations and successfully managed large book fairs and a 12,000+ book collection.
Maura’s passion for literacy, her welcoming approach, and her dedication to supporting all learners make her a fantastic addition to our Floris community.
Please join me in giving Bob, Cristina, Jessica and Maura a warm Floris welcome—we’re so excited to have them join our Floris community!
Floris Elementary: Meet our 2025-2026 Team!
Dear Floris Families and Community,
As we prepare for an exciting new school year, we’re delighted to share with you the full team dynamics for the 2025-26 school year! Our dedicated educators and staff are eager to continue fostering a positive, engaging, and supportive learning environment for every student.
Here’s a look at our team lineup:
Kindergarten Team:
-
Kat Clifford
-
Emily McDonald
-
Gail Heidt
-
Nancy Baker
First Grade Team:
-
Putul Daftari
-
Maddie Moore
-
Melissa Randolph
Second Grade Team:
-
Kaitlin Fick
-
Madison Lee
-
Susan Yang
-
Kathie Wilson
Third Grade Team:
-
Robert Timke
- Mary Euerle
- Kelly Elson
- Alex Cole
Fourth Grade Team:
-
Christina Kang
- Jacqueline Cheung
- Barb Terino
- Tracie Rankin
Fifth Grade Team:
-
Norie Noll
-
Kristen Hollen
-
Dennis Racke
Sixth Grade Team:
-
Jessica Albright
- Sarah Tisinger
- Christina Molitor
- Heiner Berrick
Art Teacher: Heather Hubert and Michelle Alongi
Librarian: Maura Papa
Music Teacher: Steven Field and Danielle McLellan
PE Teacher: Ryan Barber and Everangel Morales
Counselor: Sarah Dekramer and James Duffield
We want to thank all of you for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, with this incredible team, we look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, creativity, and community spirit.
Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the new school year!
Updating our School Mural
We are thrilled to share something special with our Floris community! Our amazing art teacher, Heather Hubert, recently proposed an inspiring idea to reimagine and upgrade the mural at our front entrance—a space that welcomes every student, family, and staff member into our building.
Heather shared her creative vision with our staff, and after a thoughtful and enthusiastic vote, the decision was made to move forward with a brand-new mural design—created by Heather herself! The colors of the design below will be our school colors.
 While we’re excited about this fresh new look, we also want to honor the legacy of our current mural. It holds a special place in our school’s history and many cherished memories. To preserve that legacy, we will proudly display a framed photo of the original mural in our school library for students and families to continue enjoying for years to come.
We can't wait to unveil the new mural at the start of the 2025–26 school year! Stay tuned for a reveal that celebrates the creativity, community, and spirit of Floris Elementary!
Supply Lists for Next School Year are Available
This school year may have just ended, but if you want to knock things out ahead of time for next school year, you might want to take a peek at our supply lists.
👉👉You can check out supply lists for the 2025-2026 school year here, on the Floris webpage!
Once again, we've partnered with Campus Survival Kits if you prefer the one- stop-shop method of ordering. Online orders are due by July 15th to ensure delivery to Floris in August.
Order with a few clicks and then head outside for some summer fun!
👉www.campussurvivalkits.com/floris 👈
If your family needs help purchasing school supplies, please contact our counselor, Sarah de Kramer at shdekramer@fcps.edu.
🌞 Summer Resources Help Students Stay Curious, Healthy, and Busy
FCPS’ Summer Resource Guide has activities and tips on a variety of subjects and interests from camps to health and safety resources.
Be sure to check back over the summer, as more resources may be added.
🌻 Learning Doesn’t Take a Vacation — and Neither Does Fun!
FCPS’ Summer Learning webpage offers ideas and strategies for families to keep students curious until August. Summer is the perfect time to help your student explore new interests, reinforce concepts, and stay engaged!
Language Arts Summer Learning: Magazines, Weekly Plans, Activities, and More
We will be sending students home with two Benchmark magazines to help them practice their reading and writing skills during the summer. You will also receive a letter from our school with weekly learning plans and activities.
Find more ways to support your child's literacy skills on FCPS’ Summer Learning Resources webpage. All of these activities are optional, but we encourage families to help their students practice reading and writing during summer break, so that they can start strong next school year.
🍽️ Summer Meals for Students: Details Coming Soon
FCPS’ Summer Meal Service Program provides breakfast and lunch free of charge to all children aged 18 and younger. Check FCPS’ Food and Nutrition Services webpage and the USDA Meals Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder in mid-June for specific dates, times, and locations.
Please note that no meals will be served on the June 19 and July 4 holidays. If you have any questions regarding the Summer 2025 meal service, please contact us at SummerMeals@fcps.edu or at 703-813-4800.
💚 Free Virtual Mental Health Consultations for Parents and Secondary Students
This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer free virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from June 23 through August 1. Any FCPS parent, or middle or high school student, will have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. Learn more in the latest Healthy Minds blog.
🩹 Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Additional immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades:
- All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations before the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age seven or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide not to have your child receive the HPV vaccination. If that is the case, the school does not require documentation.
- All students entering 12th grade are to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) before the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older.
Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and health care providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the Fairfax County Health Department.
Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Limited Early Release Days Continue Next Year
During a report to the School Board this month, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced plans to continue limited early release days in elementary schools and shift them to Wednesdays for the 2025-26 school year. This plan is based on recommendations from the Early Release Steering Committee. The committee includes parents, caregivers, school-based staff, and central office personnel. Read more about the reasons for early release and the proposed early release dates.
End of Year/Summer Special Education and 504 Newsletter
The latest issue of the FCPS Special Education and 504 Newsletter is available online. Topics in this issue include:
- COVID-19 Compensatory Education: Summer Academy
- Extended School Year (ESY)
- Be a Special Education Teacher
- Planning for Life after High School
- Fun Ways to Get Your Kids Moving this Summer
- Exploring Summer Fun Without Leaving Your Home
- Social Emotional Learning in the Summer
- Self-Care Resources for Parents, Family Members, and Caregivers
- Self, Health, and Relationship Education (SHaRE)
- Preparing Your Student with Disabilities for College Board Exams
- Fairfax County SEPTA News
- Accessibility on the FCPS Website
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:
- End-of-Year Reminders
- New Speed Cameras
- SAT Accommodations Deadline
|
