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November 11th: No School - Veterans Day
November 12th: Early Release Wednesday - 3-hour early release (12:35pm)
November 13th: General PTA Meeting - Guest Speaker: Ms. Keefer
November 17th-21st: PTA Food Drive
November 18th: Spirit Event with BRX Oven
November 21st: Principal & PTA Pop-Up Chat
November 26th - 28th: No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 4th: Diversity Showcase - Holidays From Around the World
December 5th: Parents Night Out Fundraiser
December 9th and 11th: Two Day Spirit Event with Moby Dick
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2025-2026
Click HERE to catch up on the helpful and important information sent by the school on October 31st!
Join the PTA Today!
Joining the PTA isn’t just about meetings, it's about making a difference. Your membership and donations directly support classroom supplies, enrichment programs, teacher appreciation efforts, and the little things that make a big impact. PTA memberships only last for one year! So, even if you joined last year, you need to renew/join again this year!
Every dollar helps. Every voice matters. Every hand makes the load lighter.
Let’s show our kids—and our incredible staff—that we’re in this together. Please consider joining the PTA and donating to our Roadrunner Giving Campaign today. Together, we can fill the gaps and lift our school higher.
Join Now >> https://www.gfespta.com/membership
If we reach our first goal of 40%, students will get to have a pajama day at school! Right now 38% of families have joined! Let's get to the finish line together!
Roadrunner Giving Campaign
The Roadrunner Giving Campaign is our annual no-fuss direct donation fundraiser! 100% of RGC donations are reinvested into our school to benefit students and staff! ANY amount helps our school (and donations are fully tax-deductible)! Roadrunner Giving Campaign donations help with:
- Software Licenses to Support Learning
- STEAM Lab
- Art Enrichment
- Cultural Arts Assemblies
- Before and After School Programs
- Professional Development for Staff
Plus, so much more!!
General PTA Meeting - November 13th at 10:30am!
Our next General PTA Meeting is next Thursday, November 13th at 10:30am! We will be meeting in person in room 192. Our guest speaker will be Amy Keefer, our Advanced Academic Resource teacher! She will be talking about the Advanced Academic Program (AAP), the different levels of AAP, how students qualify, and what AAP looks like at Great Falls. Come ready with any questions you might have! We can't wait to see you there!
2025-2026 Reflections Contest - ENDS TODAY!
Calling student artists of all kinds! The Reflections contest is accepting submissions for the 2025-2026 competition in the categories of Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. This year’s theme is “I Belong!” and all GFES students are invited to create an original piece to submit through this 50+ year-old program that promotes creativity and artistic literacy.
More information, including submission requirements and the entry form, can be found here. The deadline to submit all entries to the GFES PTA is TODAY Friday November 7, 2025. See the website for program requirements, including entry format and the required entry form. If you have any questions, please contact our Reflections chair at reflections@gfespta.com. We look forward to seeing what our Roadrunners create!
Annual Sister School Food Drive
November 17 – 21, 2025
Help feed families in need from our sister school – Glen Forest Elementary. Donate non- perishable canned or boxed food to the annual food drive. The items in greatest demand are:
- Rice
- Pasta/ Mac n’ Cheese
- Masa Flour
- Cooking Oil
- Canned Beans
- Canned Vegetables/Fruit
- Canned soup
- Cereal
- Peanut butter
Please check the expiration dates on your donations. No expired food will be accepted.
The collection boxes for food donations will be located outside the main entrance of GFES and inside the main lobby from November 17 – 21. All donations will be delivered to Glen Forest on November 21.
The need for donations is very high this year. Many families at Glen Forest Elementary are struggling with food insecurity. Every donation makes a difference! Thank you for your generous support.
BRX Oven Spirit Event - November 18th!
We are so excited for our next spirit event with BRX Oven on Tuesday November 18th! Mention Great Falls Elementary or GFES when you order lunch or dinner for take out or dine in and we will receive 10% back on all orders! We can't wait to see you there!
Whenever the PTA hosts a community spirit event with a local restaurant, we like to provide lunch for our wonderful GFES staff! It always puts a smile on the faces of our staff and it helps give money back to the PTA and school since we get a percentage of the meal back! If you are interesting in helping pay for these staff lunches, please click HERE! All money donated here will go directly to paying for the staff lunches! Thank you so much for your support!
Principal & PTA 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 Mrs. Harper and PTA leaders to ask questions and share ideas. Mark your calendar for Friday, November 21st, 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 others, 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!
Cultural and Diversity Committee
Some current and upcoming events members of our diverse community celebrate include:
- National Adoption Awareness Month (All of November)
- National Adoption Day (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
- Native American Heritage Month (All of November)
Interested in learning more about these events and holidays? Please visit the NEW Cultural and Diversity Committee page on the PTA website! The page will be updated throughout the year with information about important events and holidays as well as book recommendations related to each event and holiday!
NEW - Lending Library!
📚 Help Us Build a Library That Reflects Us All!
We're creating a new lending library and need your help! We're seeking donations of culturally rich and diverse books that celebrate different backgrounds, voices, and experiences. Whether it's a beloved folktale, a story in another language, or a book that reflects your family's heritage—your contribution can help every person see themselves in the pages.
Drop off your books on the shelf in the school vestibule and help us grow a library as vibrant and inclusive as our community! Thank you so much!
Diversity Showcase - Holidays Around the World!
This holiday season, we invite you to embark on a vibrant journey through the rich tapestry of global celebrations, showcasing the unique customs, traditions, and festive spirit that span cultures, continents, and communities. "Holidays From Around the World" is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our wonderfully diverse community and to explore how different cultures honor the season of giving, reflection, and renewal.
Please join us on Thursday, December 4th from 6:00 - 8:00pm as we come together to share traditions, stories, music, dance, and food from our community's holidays and traditions.
This year’s theme emphasizes how these diverse practices—whether through food, music, dance, storytelling, or ritual—serve as bridges to connection, building understanding across cultures. We are looking for families to share their traditions by showcasing them in one of the available booths or through a presentation (performance, storytelling, reading a book, etc.). The sky’s the limit! Please click HERE to sign up to host a booth or performance and please click HERE to RSVP! Thank you so much!!
Parents Night Out!
On Friday, December 5th the PTA will be offering its first Parents Night Out! Drop off the kids for a night of fun while you have an evening off. Parents Night out will be from 6-9pm at Great Falls Elementary. $44 for the first child, $34 for each additional child. Register for the event HERE!
THANK YOU for an awesome Fall Festival!!
THANK YOU to everyone who joined in on the fun at this year's Fall Festival! From the giant slide to the dunk tank, cake walk, face painting, and more, your energy and smiles made it a day to remember!
Special THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers! We truly couldn't have done it without you! An extra special THANK YOU to all of our DUNK TANK volunteers: St. John Hill, Lee Ashlock, Riaan Jordaan, Nate Morello, Dianne Lee, and our awesome AAP teacher - Ms. Keefer!!
We also want to thank our wonderful vendors: Smokin' Kow, Addie's Pan Pizzeria, and Captain Cookie! The food was delicious! And we want to thank all of the businesses that provided us with donations or wholesale prices: Rossen Landscaping and Meadows Farms, Chez Francois, BRX Oven, Deli Italiano, Blue Chicken Bakery, Oliver's Corner Butcher Shop, and Moby Dick House of Kabob! We are so grateful for the generous donations!
Finally THANK YOU SO MUCH to Jodi Piepkorn and Dianne Lee! This event would not have been possible without all of your hard work and effort. THANK YOU!!!
Girls on the Run
The season is quickly flying by! GOTR is having their practice 5k next Thursday, November 13th at 7:30am if you can come cheer the girls on! They are building toward their 5K celebration on November 22nd at Dulles Town Center.
Thank you to our volunteer coaches for leading this amazing program!
Help Stock The Teacher’s Lounge!
Thank you so much to all of the families who purchased items off our Amazon Wishlist! These items help keep the teacher’s lounge stocked with yummy treats for the teachers and staff!
If you are interested in helping provide snacks for the staff, please click HERE!
Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support of the school! The snacks always put a smile on the faces of our wonderful teachers and staff!
Community Offering: Ravel Dance Company Presents: The Nutcracker
Experience the Magic of the Season with Ravel Dance Company
This Thanksgiving weekend, ring in the holiday season and step into a world of wonder as Ravel Dance Company proudly presents its annual Nutcracker Ballet—a treasured tradition for families of all ages. Several GFES students are among the cast members!
Performance at Capital One Hall Main Stage (Tysons, Virginia)
Saturday, November 29th, 2025, at 2:00 pm
For Nutcracker tickets, visit:
https://www.capitalonehall.com/events/detail/ravel-dance-company-pres-the-nutcracker
Journey with Clara as she meets sparkling angels, swirling snowflakes, and the radiant Sugar Plum Fairy, who leads her to the enchanting Kingdom of Sweets. With exquisite costumes, elaborate sets, and the artistry of Ravel’s beautifully trained dancers, this timeless ballet will capture hearts and create memories to last a lifetime.
And the magic doesn’t end when the curtain falls! Join us for an elegant Nutcracker Tea, in the Capital One Hall Gallery at 4:30 pm (following the 2:00 pm performance). For Tea tickets, click here. Thank you for supporting your GFES classmates, and we look forward to seeing you at Capital One!
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Become a Corporate Sponsor!
If anyone - person, family, company - is interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor, please click HERE to learn more on how our school can benefit from your sponsorship as well as promoting your business throughout the school year!
Questions about the Roadrunner Giving Campaign or becoming a Corporate Sponsor? Please reach out to fundraisingvp@gfespta.com and/or president@gfespta.com. Thank you so much!
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2025-2026 Corporate Sponsors!
Thank you so much for your support!!
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Follow the PTA on Instagram account, please follow and share! We will duplicate what is shared on our Facebook page. |
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Follow the PTA on Facebook! Share with friends and new GFES families.
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