Floris Family Message
In This Message:
- Principals' Message
- PTA News
- Picture Day is Coming
- Spirit Week Next Week
- Thanksgiving Lunch
- Employee Awards
- Curiosity Corner
- AAP Information
- Message from the Library
- FCPS App
- SIS End of Quarter Closure
- Family Academy
- Resources for Furloughed Families
- Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
- Upcoming Dates
Hello Floris Families,
As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year, we want to take a moment to celebrate what we have accomplish this quarter as a school community. Your support, teamwork, and positivity have made these first few months truly special. Together, we’ve accomplished so much, and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Here are just a few highlights from our first quarter:
💡 Learning and Growth: Every classroom has kicked off interventions and enrichment activities to make sure every child gets just what they need to learn, grow, and shine.
🎉 Celebrating Success: We came together for our Quarter 1 Assembly to celebrate our students for great attendance and for showing kindness, respect, and responsibility every day.
💰 Fundraiser Fun: With your incredible support, we raised over $30,000 during our school fundraiser! These funds will go right back into programs and experiences that benefit our students.
💬 Staying Connected: We’re using TalkingPoints to keep families in the loop and strengthen our home-school partnerships, it’s been wonderful hearing from so many of you!
🔬 Curiosity Lab Adventures: Our Curiosity Lab is officially up and running! Students are exploring exciting STEAM projects that spark imagination and hands-on learning.
🐟 Trout Tank Update: Our Trout Tank is now filled with trout eggs, and students are diving into lessons about life cycles and ecosystems, such a fun and authentic learning experience!
We’re so proud of everything our students and staff have achieved so far. Thank you, families, for being such an important part of our school community. Your encouragement and involvement make all the difference!
As we head into Quarter 2, let’s keep the momentum going, continuing to learn, grow, and celebrate together. Here’s to more curiosity, connection, and joy ahead!
Joshua DeSmyter, Principal
Robert Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
 When: Friday, November 14
Time: 6:30-8 PM
Where: Floris Elementary Cafeteria and Gym (Enter via Door 6)
Cost: $5 per Student, $10 per 2+ Students (All parents are free)
Join us for a night of Floris FUN! There will be a DJ, Dancing, Pizza, Bakesale, Photo Booth, Glow Merch Sale, Class Poster Contest, Silent Raffle, and much more!
Space is limited so you MUST REGISTER HERE. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
This is a family activity and not a drop and go event.
Got questions about the PTA? We’ve got all the answers on our website - CLICK IT!
📷School Picture Day is Coming!📷
📅 Date: Monday, November 10, 2025
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001271138
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
Parent Volunteers for Picture Day
Floris is looking for 2-3 parents willing to volunteer on Picture Day, Monday, November 10th from 9:30am to 3:35pm. The front office would prefer 2-3 volunteers for the whole day (15 min break at 11:30am and lunch break at 12:25pm). If you can attend the whole day, please sign up for all the slots. Otherwise, the slots are broken into grade levels. If you sign-up you need to stay for BOTH grade levels (Multi-Age and K, 1st and 6th, etc).
Please sign up HERE!
Get Ready to Show Some Floris Spirit Next Week!
🦃Thanksgiving Lunch 🦃
We’re excited to share that our annual Thanksgiving Lunch will take place on Thursday, November 20th! Families are invited to join their child(ren) for this special meal in the cafeteria.
To help our fabulous cafeteria team plan for the increased numbers, we’ll be sending home a hard copy lunch order form in Friday Folders this week (Friday, November 7th).
If you plan to join your child and purchase a Thanksgiving lunch, please complete and return the order form so we can prepare accordingly.
🍽️ Please note: We will not be able to accommodate extra lunch purchases on the day of the event.
We can’t wait to celebrate this favorite Floris tradition together!
Please see the grade level lunch schedule below. Please plan to arrive at Floris at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the lunchtime to ensure you have enough time to check in.
🌟 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!
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
Check out these awesome submissions for October's monthly maker mission to design and build a storage unit for squirrels to prepare for winter!
Monthly Maker Missions
Within the walls of Floris, there are many cultures, characteristics, and systems that make our community unique. This month, students are taking on a creative challenge — to design a monument or statue that represents Floris Elementary! They’ll consider all aspects of our school — our people, procedures, traditions, and values — as they create a design that captures what makes Floris such a special place to learn and grow.
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
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. In addition to the Referral form, parents are encouraged 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 will 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.
Overdue Book Notices
The library will be sending out overdue book notices this week. Kindergarten through second grade students will receive paper notices, while third through sixth grade students will find their notices in their school email accounts.
Please encourage your children to return library books so others can enjoy them. If you're having trouble finding a book or have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Papas at mopapas@fcps.edu.
📱 Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from our school and FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians
The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:
- ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School
- Moving on to Life in the Community
Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources.
Resources for Furloughed Families
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need
Through partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need
View the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require special services and support to access instruction that is typically presented auditorily (by means of hearing) and visually. FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school site or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The Virginia Department of Education also provides information about Additional Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
November 10: Fall Picture Day
November 10-14: Spirit Week
November 11: Holiday- Veterans' Day
November 14: Spirit Ball
November 19: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
November 20: Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 26-28: Holiday- Thanksgiving
December 3-5: Walk in My Shoes for 4th-6th Grades
December 17: 3-Hour Early Release for Students
December 18: 5th/6th Winter Music Concerts, 7:00 at Rachel Carson MS
December 22- January 2: Holiday- Winter Break
January 15: 4th Grade Winter Concert, 7:00 in Cafeteria
January 16: PTA Bingo Night, 6:15
January 19: Holiday- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 28: End of 2nd Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release
January 29-30: Staff Development Days, No School for Students
Find the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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