|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Great Falls ES Families,
As autumn begins to settle in, it's hard to believe we're already six weeks into the school year and just past the halfway mark of the first quarter! Our days have been filled with amazing learning experiences, and our students have been working hard to make this a fantastic start to the school year.
Next week, we are excited to celebrate our military-connected students and families during Blue Star Welcome Week, which takes place from September 27th to October 5th, recognizing the unique challenges military families face when relocating. To show our support, we'll be holding special activities throughout the week. Please join us in celebrating by wearing something that represents your family's military branch on Monday, September 29th, and wearing camo on Friday, October 3rd. We will also be recognizing the contributions of our military families on our morning TV news show.
We are grateful for the service and sacrifices of all our military families and are honored to have you as part of our Great Falls community. We look forward to more military family celebrations and learning as we approach Veterans Day.
Sincerely,
Sara Harper
📅Calendar Updates📅
September 29: Blue Star Spirit Day - Wear your branch of service clothes✨
October 2: Yom Kippur - No School
October 3: Blue Star Spirit Day - Wear Camo ✨
October 6-10: Fall Book Fair
October 8: PTA Spirit Event with Shake Shack in Reston
October 13: Staff Development Day - No School For Students
October 20: Diwali - No School
October 29: 3 Hour Early Release - Students dismiss at 12:35 pm
October 31: First Quarter Ends
November 3: School Planning Day - No School for Students
November 4: Teacher Work Day - No School for Students
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2025-2026
Click HERE to catch up on the helpful and important information sent by the PTA on September 12th!
PTA Diversity Committee
This school year, our PTA is partnering with our school to introduce a new Cultural and Diversity Committee, which will celebrate and raise awareness of the diverse backgrounds represented in our school. The committee's goal is to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment by promoting understanding and appreciation of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, ensuring that all individuals feel valued and respected.
We would love to learn more about the cultures and diverse backgrounds of the GFES community. Please click HERE to share more about your family and to volunteer to help the committee. Thank you so much!
|
⏲Take the K-12 School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. To minimize costs for this project, the start times of elementary and high schools would also need to shift.
Providing opportunities for feedback to the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. That feedback helped in developing two options for adjusting school start times. The options are designed to support student well-being, align with research, and balance transportation logistics.
We invite you to provide input on the two options by taking a short survey. This voluntary survey will close on Tuesday, September 30. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.
🖐🏻Volunteer Update
There have been some updates to the Volunteer Fairfax system. We have been informed that Level 3 volunteers awaiting background checks may receive provisional approval to meet schools’ time-sensitive needs. While you must be fingerprinted before starting Level 3 activities, provisional approval may be used when delays occur due to the backlog. Additionally, all volunteers must still sign in at the school’s visitor kiosk before each volunteer activity.
Many of our community members have requested a fingerprint mobile unit to make the process easier and more efficient. As a result, we have been instructed to direct all community members to Fieldprint. This allows volunteers to complete their fingerprinting at nearby locations, eliminating the need to travel to Gatehouse or schedule virtual appointments.
🎤 Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6 to 8 p.m.:
- Monday, September 29, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at McNair Upper Elementary School
- Friday, October 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Annandale Terrace Elementary School
- Friday, December 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Churchill Road Elementary School
- Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School
- Thursday, December 11, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Bull Run Elementary School
Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
📚 Discovering Character in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about characters who are faced with difficult choices. Sixth-grade students will learn about characters who are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Have you ever disagreed with a friend? How did you see things differently?
- Activity: Have your child write a diary entry from the perspective of a book character.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan —
Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
FCPS’ 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.
Goal 5 focuses on preparing every student for life after graduation with the skills they need to thrive. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.
|
