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Hello Forestdale Families!
We are so excited to have reached December of this amazing school year! As we head into the final two weeks before Winter Break, we have a busy schedule full of important events, opportunities, and information shared below—please take a look!
Please continue to encourage your child to come to school every day ready to do their best. Every day matters as we finish up the first semester in January!
A few notes on the weather:
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The winter weather is truly upon us! Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately, as we still go outside daily.
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Help us by labeling coats, hats, and gloves. Our Lost and Found is growing rapidly!
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If you need any winter materials (coats, hats, etc.) for your child, please email our amazing Family Liaison, Ms. Torres, at cctorres@fcps.edu.
We deeply appreciate your partnership and wish you wonderful holidays and a happy New Year!
Together for OUR Students,
Nikki Steptoe-Coleman, Principal
Mary-Elizabeth Hagaman, Assistant Principal
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal
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Forestdale Calendar Reminders
FCPS Annual Calendar (Click Here)
December 2025
12/8: FLE Parent Preview Night (Virtual)
12/17: Early Release @ 12:35pm
12/18: Winter Concert @ 6:30pm
12/22-31: Winter Break (No School)
January 2026
1/1-2: Winter Break (No School)
1/8: PTA Family Meeting @ 7pm
1/16: Basketball Game @ Lewis HS
1/19: Martin Luther King Jr Holiday (No School)
1/23: Pajama's & Books Night @ 6:30pm
1/28: Early Release @ 12:35pm
1/29-30: Teacher Workday (Student Holiday)
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🥞 Breakfast Menu 🧃 🥪 Lunch Menu 🍎
Volunteer Screening Required! If you plan to volunteer at Forestdale or join us on any field trips this year, please complete the necessary screening using this link: Volunteer FCPS
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🚒 Ready for Action! Our 1st graders loved meeting their local Fire Fighter community helpers. They learned all about fire safety and saw the truck up close! |
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Thank you to all the wonderful families who joined us for our annual Thanksgiving Family Luncheon! We loved celebrating with you and can't wait to see you again next year! 🦃 |
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🚀 Blast Off! Our 3rd through 6th graders loved learning all about space and had a fantastic time designing and creating a Space Bus with the incredible Astronaut George Nield! |
Soaring Beyond Limits, we are expanding horizons through every medium, especially books! In this segment of the Falcon Press, we're diving into "What are Students Reading" to bring you a curated collection of must-read recommendations directly from our students to your family's library. Let's see what's captivating the next generation of readers!
We want to send a massive thank you to our incredible PTA for their outstanding work so far this year!
Your dedication has led to incredibly successful family events and inspiring fundraising efforts. We truly appreciate the new spin and fun ways you have found to engage the entire Forestdale community.
Thank you for everything you do to support our students and staff! 💙
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At our last meeting, the PTA voted to launch a quick and easy Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser to help cover the cost of field trip transportation for our students!
This fundraiser has a short timeline, but you can set up your child's store today!
🗓️ Fundraiser Details
When: Thursday, December 4th at 6:00 PM – Monday, December 8th at 6:00 PM
Goal: Raise funds for Falcon Field Trip transportation!
🚀 Get Started Now (Quick Steps!)
Follow these simple steps to set up your child's Pop-Up Store before Thursday:
1. Download the free Double Good App.
2. Enter the Event Code: NUCOJO
3. Create your child’s Pop-Up Store.
For a demo, check out their helpful video within the app!
4. Starting Thursday at 6 PM, share their Pop-Up Store link with friends, family, and colleagues.
5. Don't forget to buy some delicious popcorn for yourself!
The PTA will dedicate all profits from the popcorn sales to funding field trips. Plus, any Falcon who reaches $500 in sales will earn a special accomplishment prize!
Thank you for helping our students travel and learn!
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Students in grades K–6 will soon participate in Family Life Education (FLE), which includes human growth and development, and emotional and social health units.
Key Information for Parents:
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Curriculum Review: You can preview the grade-level lessons and media online in Schoology (using your SIS account) or by scheduling a time to review materials at the school library.
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Parent Preview Meeting: Join us to review all program materials and media on Monday, December 6th at 6:30 PM via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/kym-kikv-kbz.
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Opt-Out Option: If you do not wish for your child to participate in any or all FLE lessons, you may choose to opt them out.
Please contact your child’s teacher for the specific dates FLE instruction will occur.
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We appreciate your partnership in keeping all of our students safe during arrival and dismissal!
To ensure a smooth and secure process for everyone, please remember these important safety rules:
Use the Designated Areas: Always use the official car rider line or park in designated spaces if you are walking your child up to the school.
Rideshares Must Use the Line: If your child is using a rideshare service (like Uber or Lyft), the driver must use the official car rider line.
No Illegal Parking or U-Turns: For the safety of our students who walk to school, we cannot have rideshare drivers (or any other vehicles) waiting in illegal parking areas or making dangerous U-turns.
Thank you for helping us keep our students safe every day!
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Need a night off? Lewis High School Girls Volleyball is hosting a Parents Night Out!
Drop the kids off for a fun-filled evening of games, crafts, and activities.
Click or scan the QR code in the original flyer for more information!
Restorative Justice Practices focus on repairing harm and building strong relationships within our school community.
We are partnering with the FCPS Family Engagement Office to offer an informative webinar series on Restorative Justice Practices!
Join us to learn how Restorative Justice supports students and families in schools and how you can use simple practices at home to build connection. We will be covering Tier 3 Restorative Justice in this session.
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Topic: The Power of Restorative Justice Practices to Support Students and Families in Schools and at Home: Part 2
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When: Friday, December 19th
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Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
➡️ Register here: Click HERE
For general information on the webinar series, please visit: Webinar Info Page
FCPS is participating in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5). VQB5 is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of the curriculum. Refer to “VQB5 for Families English/Spanish” for more information.
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We are looking for Parent Representatives to participate in our Title I Parent Advisory Committee (TPAC)!
The Title I Parent Advisory Committee works with FCPS to review program plans, provide input on family engagement policies, and strengthen the partnership between home and school. We have great sessions, like our recent one focusing on the elementary reading program across FCPS.
TPAC members provide feedback, ask questions, and share ideas to improve services for our students.
If you are interested in being a part of this important work, please reach out to Principal Steptoe-Coleman at nksteptoecol@fcps.edu.
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If you are looking for extra academic support for your child, FCPS offers two great resources:
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FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) Tutor List: The FRC maintains a list of FCPS employees with valid Virginia teaching credentials who are available to hire as private tutors. This list is a resource only; families are responsible for contacting and making arrangements directly with the tutors.
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Varsity Tutors (Free for All FCPS Students!): FCPS partners with Varsity Tutors to provide free, 24/7 online support for every student. Services include:
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Weekly live online classes.
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On-demand 24/7 chat tutoring.
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Essay editing and study resources.
Good attendance is a crucial life skill that helps your child succeed now and in the future. Building this habit helps them with time management and ensures they stay on track for graduation.
How Families Can Help:
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Check the Calendar: Please review the FCPS calendar and schedule trips, appointments, and family events on weekends or school holidays whenever possible.
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Absences Add Up: Missing just two days a month means your child is considered "chronically absent" (missing 10% of the school year). Every day counts!
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Report Absences: If your child must miss school due to illness or an appointment, please report the absence to our school office right away.
Thank you for helping us build excellent attendance habits!
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