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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
I hope you are enjoying the wonderful fall weather! As a reminder, there is no school this Monday and Tuesday as our staff are engaged in professional development and family conferences. Keep in mind that you can request a teacher conference at any time of the year. Teachers have been busy scheduling conferences for families to review fall assessments and classroom data. If you have not heard from your child's/children’s teacher, please reach out to schedule a time.
In a related note, fall family screening score reports are available to you via ParentVUE. Score reports for grade 1-6 fall screening and growth assessments are centrally distributed to families via the "documents" tab in SIS ParentVUE (PVUE). Families will receive up to three (3) reports based on the assessments their student took this fall:
Information on the timing and format of grade K family reports will be shared once decisions are finalized on possible fall testing window extensions for these grade levels.
Happy Halloween,
Sara Harper
Calendar Updates
November 3rd-4th: No School: Teacher Workdays
November 10th: Veterans’ Day Assembly
November 11th: No School - Veterans Day
November 12th: Early Release Wednesday
November 13th: General PTA Meeting - Guest Speaker: Ms. Keefer
November 17th-21st: PTA Food Drive
November 18th: PTA Spirit Event with BRX Oven
November 21st: Principal & PTA Pop-Up Chat
November 26th - 28th: No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 4th: PTA Diversity Showcase
December 5th: PTA Parents Night Out Fundraiser with Overtime Athletics
December 10: Early Release Wednesday
December 9th and 11th: PTA - Two-Day Spirit Event with Moby Dick
December 22 - Jan 5: Winter Break
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2025-2026
Click HERE to catch up on the helpful and important information sent by the school on Oct 24.
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🗣️Join our Pop-Up Chat!
Ditch the work calls, grab a quick snack, and join our next "Principal & PTA Pop-Up Chat"! This isn't your average formal meeting; think of it as a casual, welcoming conversation club where you can grab a few minutes with the Mrs. Harper and PTA leaders to ask questions and share ideas. Mark your calendar for Friday, November 22nd, from 2:30 – 3:30 PM. All families are encouraged and absolutely welcome - whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned Roadrunner. It's the perfect chance to meet with other, discuss the upcoming Diversity Showcase and the mission of the PTA Diversity Committee, and brainstorm creative ways our school can genuinely heighten awareness of all the wonderful cultures and various interest groups that make our community cohesive and special. Come connect, collaborate, and help us make Great Falls Elementary shine! ✨
🚍 Bus Changes of Transportation (CoTs)
To help us maintain safe and manageable bus capacities, we kindly ask that bus Changes of Transportation (CoTs) be limited to no more than 4 additional students per bus. This helps ensure that all students have a seat and that our dismissal process runs smoothly. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
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.
🆘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, and other 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.
✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
📱 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.
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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.
📅 National Family Engagement Month
This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.
FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.Additionally, every school has a family liaison who will welcome and orient families, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development
If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit FCPS’ website for a list of region representatives.
🎀 Red Ribbon Open House: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Substance Abuse
The Family Resource Center (FRC) and Office of Student Safety and Wellness will host a Red Ribbon Awareness Open House on Friday, October 24, from noon to 2 p.m.
This event aims to equip attendees with essential resources and confidence to discuss substance use with their children. Narcan training will be offered. After the presentation, participants can tour the FRC library and browse through pre-selected resources.
Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given each fall to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It provides information about a variety of topics related to our students that influence their physical and mental well-being, from sleep, physical activity, and nutritional habits to protective factors, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of depression.
The 2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be taken by students between Monday, November 10, and Friday, November 21. Parents and caregivers can opt their student out of participating in the survey if they so choose.
Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage for more information and to review the opt-out forms.
✨ Providing students with access to the necessary emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health services to support their successful engagement in school is part of the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
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