Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- PTA News
- Parents' Night Out Opportunity
- Employee Awards
- Book Fair
- Harvest Parade
- Curiosity Corner
- Immunization Clinics
- Attendance
- Grades in Language Arts
- AI Conversation
- Bond Referendum
- Ombuds
- AAP Information
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
We are quickly approaching the end of the quarter, and we hope you have finalized your conference schedules for your children.
Next week, we are excited to share two special events! On Thursday, we will celebrate with our Harvest Parade. Please take a moment to review the information below if you would like to attend this fun event.
We are also thrilled to host our very first schoolwide quarterly assembly! This will be an engaging and exciting experience for all students, featuring our very own Floris Eagle. During the assembly, we’ll focus on schoolwide behavior solutions and celebrate our community’s positive efforts this quarter.
Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to an exciting week ahead!
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
🎃 Floris Elementary Trunk or Treat – October 30th! 🎃
It’s almost time for one of our favorite fall traditions—Trunk or Treat! On Thursday, October 30, families are invited to join us in the school parking lot for an evening of costumes, candy, and community fun.
👻 There’s still time to join in the fun:
- Bring your trick-or-treaters – Kids (and adults) can dress up and collect candy from decorated trunks.
- Volunteer your car (and creativity!) – Families are encouraged to decorate their trunks and help create a festive atmosphere.
- Treat donations – We welcome NEW, unopened, unexpired candy (nut-free please) and non-food treats. There is a monster collection bin in the front office.
We can’t wait to see you and your families there. Costumes, candy, and community spirit—what more could we ask for? Please contact florispta.sso@gmail.com with any questions / concerns. Don’t forget to RSVP by October 22.
Got questions about the PTA? We’ve got all the answers on our website - CLICK IT!
Floris Parents' Night Out!
Parents Night Out at Black Dragon Martial Arts
Date: Saturday, Oct 25, 2025Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PMLocation: Black Dragon Martial Arts, 13914 Metrotech Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151
Registration Link: https://cp.mystudio.io/e/?=PFyPFH/16231/752681//1759963904
Fee: $30.00 per childSibling Discount: $20.00 (Use code Sibling215)Friends Discount: $20.00 (Use code Friends85)
This event is for kids only.Fees are non-refundable and cannot be canceled after registration.To register more than two children and receive the sibling discount, please register each child separately.
For Ages 4 & UpGet ready for a spook-tacular night packed with exciting Halloween activities designed just for kids:
-
Trick or Treat Stations – Collect candy and spooky surprises!
-
Costume Contest – Show off your best costume for a chance to win awesome prizes!
-
Black Light Dodgeball – Play an epic game under glowing black lights!
-
Spooky Cookie Decorating – Create and decorate your own delicious treats!
Movie & Popcorn – End the night with a fun Halloween movie and surprises!
🌟 Help Us Celebrate Our Outstanding Staff 🌟
Awards season is here — and while we’re not handing out Oscars or Emmys, we are celebrating something just as special: our FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards!
Each year, FCPS recognizes staff members who go above and beyond to make a difference in their schools and communities. We invite you to join us in celebrating the incredible people who make Floris such a wonderful place for students to learn and grow.
If you’d like to nominate a Floris staff member for recognition, please use the link below:
👉 Submit a Nomination Here 👈
Nominations are open through November 11.
Thank you for helping us honor the dedication, care, and excellence of our Floris team!
📚 The Scholastic Book Fair continues through Friday! 🎉
The Scholastic Book Fair runs through October 24th (tomorrow)! Students have been excited to preview the fair with their classes and are ready to shop!
Remember that an eWallet is the simplest way to let them choose their favorite books. Visit the Floris Elementary School Book Fair website for full details and to create your child’s eWallet.
Couldn’t find a book on your child’s wish list? Check out the Floris on-line book fair which will be open until October 30 at this link.
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who have helped out at the book fair, you have made this a success!
THANK YOU to all of the parents and grown-ups who have supported their students and made the fair so much fun for them!
Any questions? Please contact Ms. Papas at mopapas@fcps.edu.
The Harvest Parade is Back!
When: Thursday, October 30, 9:45am-10:30am
Where: Floris Field
What: Students have the option to dress in a school appropriate costume for this seasonal parade. Accessories that would be carried should stay at home to prevent the chance of losing them. Look alike weapons (ex. toy gun with police costume, sword with pirate, etc.), masks, and blood are not allowed.
How: Students and parents will be outside, and students will parade by grade level. Please see map below. Since we will not be using the visitor sign-in station, family members are welcome to spectate from the field space indicated on the map. The arrows show the parade direction. Kindergarten will start the parade.
Parents: You should report directly to the field. Parents should not enter the building for the parade. This will also save you the step of signing in!
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
Monthly Maker Missions
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!
🩹 Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
- Thursday, November 6
- Tuesday, November 18
- Wednesday, November 19
- Thursday, November 20
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
Participation is voluntary. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student. Learn more about immunization resources.
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit the FCPS website for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school and your child’s teacher(s) so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long.
Elementary Language Arts Grades
You might notice that your student's progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) look a little different. This is happening because we've brought in a new curriculum and new ways to check on learning (assessments), and there are new state guidelines called the VDOE Standards of Learning.
FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the big skills they need by the very end of the school year. Think of it like going on a journey. It’s challenging at first, but on your journey, you learn your way — and maybe even a few shortcuts!
First quarter grades may seem lower than usual as students work hard to reach grade-level mastery.
Please know that this is a positive, expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they grow and achieve. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards!
Learn more about this change in ELA grading and reporting.
How AI Is Shaping Teaching and Learning
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
- Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
- Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.
Bond Referendums Support Communities
The building and renovation of Fairfax County public schools is not funded through the division’s annual operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. A $460 million bond referendum is on the November ballot. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.
FCPS Ombuds Office: Your Go-To Guide for the School System
Do you have a question or concern about Fairfax County Public Schools, but you don’t know where to find the answer? Dawn Clements wants you to know you can ask her! Dawn’s mission as the FCPS Ombuds is to make it easier to understand the school system and help build trust within the community. In honor of Ombuds Day, learn more about Dawn Clements and the Ombuds Office.
AAP Information
If you weren’t able to attend our AAP Parent Information Session on September 29, you can still review the information that was shared. The presentation slides are available here. We hope this helps you learn more about the AAP program and the opportunities it offers our students.
Interested in learning more about Advanced Academic Programs? There will be a parent information session focused on the AAP Screening Process on November 5 at 5:30 in the Floris ES Library. Please plan to enter through door 4 (from the blacktop). This meeting will be geared towards parents with students currently in grades 2 – 6 who are interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services for the 26-27 school year. The meeting will focus on the screening process and how you can initiate screening for full-time services. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Albanese, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher abalbanese@fcps.edu
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.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
October 30: Harvest Parade; Trunk or Treat
October 31: End of First Quarter and Two-Hour Early Release
November 3-4: No School for Students, Teacher Workdays and Election Day
November 5: Parent Info Session About AAP Screening Process
November 10: Fall Picture Day
November 11: Holiday- Veterans' Day
November 19: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
November 20: Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 26-28: Holiday- Thanksgiving
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
|
