Forestville Focus
Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/09/2025 03:00 PM EDT
Tuesday FoldersForestville uses Schoology for all Tuesday Folder contents. All flyers are posted to Schoology Course: Forestville All Parents and contents are listed below.
Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPSAt Forestville, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students. Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe. These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care. We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit [Volunteer FCPS], click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application. Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check. We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school. As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.  ✅ Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School ResourcesFamilies 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 New Math Screening and Growth Assessment for Elementary StudentsStarting 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 UpdatesThe 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. Updated Special Education and 504 HandbooksThe Department of Special Services has updated and translated key resources to help our families of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or Section 504 Plan.
These resources help family and staff understand procedures, rights, and processes. Find additional information on Special Education Instruction and the Family Academy: Resources to Support Special Education and 504 Plans pages. Cell Phones Off, Learning OnThank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact our school’s front office to reach your child during class time. Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current cell phone policy. Every Day Counts: Setting Your Child Up for SuccessSeptember is Attendance Awareness Month. There are many ways parents and caregivers can help their children create healthy routines and make a habit of getting to school on time every day. Some examples include:
Visit the FCPS website for more attendance tips and resources. Attend today, achieve tomorrow! Safety Drills During the School YearKeeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Forestville completed our lockdown drill on Monday and students did an excellent job. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill. Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills. ⚠️ Know Our Security TermsFCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations. Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned. If students, staff, or families have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1. Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to FamiliesWe 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:
Visit the Family Academy catalog for more information on these sessions and to register to attend. 🌩️ Weather Happens, FCPS is ReadyVirginia 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.  ✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress. The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they’re joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success. See how Goal 1 is being put into practice. Learn more about or enroll in FCPS Pre-K or Early Head Start.  Join the PTAThis is a great way to support our school, invest in the PTA's plan to transform the outdoor atrium into an inspiring, multifunctional space for learning, creativity, and connection. We hope that you will consider making joining the PTA by making contribution to the 2025-2026 Cardinal Fund and support our Forestville community! Visit our Cardinal Fund store NOW!!  Sports Club Registration OpenRegistration is now open for Overtime Sports' fall Sports Spectacular program this fall at Forestville. The program meets on Tuesdays from September 16 to December 16, from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. For more information about this program, see the full flyer here or reach out to Overtime Sports at Doyle@otathletics.com for more information. Chi Ce La Cu Registration OpenChiCeLaCu!‘s Spanish Program has been offered at Forestville Elementary since 2010. The schedule is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 am to 8:50 am. Trained instructors teach classes of 15-19 pupils. The program is open to all ages. Registration is open now for 2025-2026, and is only open until the end of the summer. Registrants sign up for the year. Cost in 2025-2026 is $1996 for the year. For more information about this program, see the full flyer here or reach out to Monica Marini at admin@chicelacu.com for more information. Forestville Chess Registration OpenRegistration is now open for Silver Knights Chess Academy for Fall Semester. Chess Club will meet at Forestville on Fridays 9/26-12/19 after school from 4:10-5:10 pm. Each week, students of all levels do a fun but challenging lesson a great coach followed by practice games against other students in the class. For more information about this program, reach out to Silver Knights at info@chessacademy.com or call 703.574.2070. Last Day to Save - Forestville Spirit WearStock up on your new favorite Forestville gear during the upcoming back-to-school sale with our official spirit wear provider. The sale starts on August 4th and runs through September 9th.
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