Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- PTA News
- Early Release Wednesday Planning
- No-Cost Meals on September 9
- Digital Consent System
- Curiosity Corner
- AAP Information
- MAP Tests
- SEL Screener
- Family Academy
- Upcoming Opportunity: Asha- Jyothi 5K
- Weather Safety
- Upcoming Dates
Hello Floris Families,
I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and had a chance to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. It’s hard to believe we are already finishing up our third week of school, and it has been such a joy to see students settling into routines, building connections, and diving into their learning.
This evening, we invite you to join us for our first PTA meeting of the year at 6:30 p.m. in the library. We’ll be sharing updates about our Floris Focus for the school year, reviewing the PTA budget, and highlighting some exciting new initiatives. We hope you’ll come be part of the conversation and collaboration that makes our school community so strong.
Looking ahead, please mark your calendars that next Tuesday is a teacher workday, there will be no school for students that day.
Thank you, as always, for your support and partnership. We look forward to a wonderful week ahead!
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
👉Join the Floris PTA👈
Joining the PTA is a simple and impactful way to support our school community. There’s no pressure to attend meetings or volunteer - unless you choose to! Your membership directly helps fund valuable programs and events for our students.
📅Our first PTA meeting will be held on Thursday, September 4 at 6:30pm in the Floris Library.
👕Spirit wear is on sale now until Friday, September 5. Order your Floris spirit wear today and get ready to show your school pride during the Fun Run, spirit weeks, and beyond!
🏃♀️➡️Registration for Girls on the Run is open now through September 16 (Grades 3-6).
🍦Popsicle Social on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30pm on the Floris blacktop and playground. Meet other families and enjoy a sweet treat!
Early Release Wednesday Planning
Our first Early Release Wednesday of the school year will be on September 17. On this day, we will have two full dismissals, at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. All bus routes will run for both dismissals, and SACC will begin at 1:00pm.
To help us plan for a smooth and efficient dismissal, please share your child’s dismissal preference by completing this quick form:
For your reference, the Early Release Wednesdays for the 2025–2026 school year are:
- September 17
- October 15
- November 19
- December 17
- February 25
- March 25
- April 29
- May 20
If there are any changes to your child’s dismissal plan for an Early Release Day, please notify both your child’s teacher and the front office as soon as possible. If no changes are communicated, we will follow the plan you have submitted.
No-Cost Meals Available for Students on September 9
As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students and school staff on September 9 due to a special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. FCPS will provide student meals at a select number of schools at no cost. Please keep in mind that:
- Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
- Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
- Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
- Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.
View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on September 9. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
✅ Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Opt your child in or out of a variety of online educational tools and choose how student information is managed. Parents/caregivers of elementary students should opt in/out of after-school care on early release Wednesdays.
Please visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage today to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
Introducing... Monthly Maker Missions! Each month, we will provide optional STEAM challenges that can be completed at home. The goal is to promote creative and critical thinking and engage in the engineering and design process. Submissions are due in the Curiosity Lab at the end of the month and will be highlighted within the school building and on the student news show. Let's get curious!
AAP Information
Interested in learning more about Advanced Academic Programs? Please join us for a parent/guardian information session on Monday, September 29 at 5:30 in the cafeteria. During this parent session, we will discuss an overview of AAP services as well as highlight screening deadlines and a brief overview of the screening process for Advanced Academics. All parents are invited to attend.
If you are interested in having your child screened for full-time AAP services (Grades 2 – 6 only) you will need to submit an AAP Full-Time referral form to Amy Albanese by no later than Dec 15, 2025, for possible eligibility for the 26-27 School year. Families who are new to FCPS as of January 2025 can be screened earlier during the fall screening cycle (grades 3-6 only) for possible eligibility starting second semester of this school year. In addition to the Referral form, parents are encourage to submit the Optional Parent Questionnaire and up two pages of work samples. Submission can be submitted digitally to Amy Albanese on or before the deadline. No late submissions can be accepted.
If you should have any questions regarding AAP services, please reach out to Amy Albanese our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher here at Floris ES. She works Mon – Thurs from 8:45AM – 4:15PM and is most easily reachable via email: abalbanese@fcps.edu
Learn more about AAP on our Floris webpage.
New Math Screening and Growth Assessment for Elementary Students
Starting in September, FCPS elementary schools will use the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math assessment to assess grade level mathematics skills in grades 1-6. The MAP Math test along with the iReady Reading test fulfill a state requirement to measure academic growth in grades 3-6 throughout the school year.
MAP Math tests are administered in the fall, winter, and spring. They help teachers identify students' strengths and areas where they may need more support.
Families can learn more about MAP Growth assessments by visiting the MAP Test Information webpage.
SEL Screener Parent Notification and Updates
The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October.
Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit FCPS’ Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
We know that as a parent or caregiver, you play a critical role in your child’s education. The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by the school division to help you support your child’s needs and learning at home.
The Family Academy also includes information about resources to help ensure your child has what they need to succeed. Check out some of the upcoming Family Academy sessions:
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (available in English and Spanish)
- Loving Solutions
- Military-Connected Youth Family Advisory Council
- Parent Project
- Family Resource Center Webinars on topics including: How to Prepare for School; Building Collaborative Relationships Between Caregivers and Educators; Worried Parents, Anxious Kids; and What Families Need to Know About Drugs for Their Students with Disabilities.
Visit the Family Academy catalog for more information on these sessions and to register to attend.
Asha-Jyothi 5K Run/ Walk on September 21st
Let's raise money for Floris while also having fun and getting fit in the process! Asha-Jyothi is a local nonprofit that gives back to schools in the area through race registration of a 5K. The more registrants that identify Floris as our school, the more money Floris will receive to use towards student-centered projects in our STEAM Lab!
Register to race here, and check out more details in the flyer below:
🌩️ Weather Happens, FCPS is Ready
Virginia is no stranger to inclement weather. From severe thunderstorms to high winds to flooding, there are many different types of weather events that can (and sometimes do) impact our schools. But FCPS has a plan for each of these scenarios that prioritizes the safety of all our students and staff. What does FCPS do during a flood? What about a severe thunderstorm?
Answers to those questions along with resources you can use to prepare for different weather events are now available on the new FCPS weather safety webpage.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
September 9: No School for Students, Special Election Polling Place
September 16: Back to School Night (Grades 1,2,3,&5 only) 6:30pm-8:00pm
September 17: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
Back to School Night (Grades K, 4, 6 only) 6:30pm-8:00pm
September 23: Holiday- Rosh Hashanah- all FCPS Schools and Offices Closed
October 2: Holiday- Yom Kippur
October 13: No School for Students, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Staff Development Day
October 15: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
October 20: Holiday- Diwali
October 31: End of First Quarter and Two-Hour Early Release
November 3-4: No School for Students, Teacher Workdays and Election Day
November 11: Holiday- Veterans' Day
November 19: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
|
