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Dear Great Falls ES Families,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s hard to believe that we have arrived in 2026. I hope that your families had a restful and warm winter break. We are back at school working diligently to complete the second quarter; we only have a few more weeks before we will be ½ way through the school year.
Important Update:The safety of every student and staff member remains our very highest priority at Great Falls ES. I am writing to address some very unsafe practices we are seeing in our kiss and ride line - particularly as we have entered inclement weather season. In 2026, we encourage you to commit to partnering with us by following these guidelines:.
- Whenever possible use the bus 🚌
- Stay focused and phone-free on school property.
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Use designated drop-off areas only. Pull all the way forward to the back, designated kiss and ride zone before allowing students to exit the vehicle. This keeps traffic moving safely and prevents congestion.
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Follow traffic patterns and merge respectfully. When two lanes merge into one, please take turns and follow posted directions. Aggressive merging or cutting in creates unsafe conditions for everyone.
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Remain in the kiss and ride line. Do not drive through the parking lot to cut ahead of the car line or drop off students. This area has increased pedestrian traffic and is not supervised for drop-off.
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Be prepared for weather conditions. Inclement weather can reduce visibility and stopping distance, making adherence to these procedures even more critical.
We Are Here to Help: If you are finding morning routines challenging and are struggling with timely drop-offs, please know that we are here to support you, if needed. We have clinical staff members (counselors, social worker, school psychologist) who would be happy to confidentially discuss strategies to help structure your mornings and create consistent routines.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the majority of our families who consistently remain safe and patient with our pick up and drop-off procedures.
Take care,Sara Harper, Principal
📅 Important Dates
January 12: Begin Rise Against Hunger contribution collection
January 16: PTA Bingo Night
January 19: Student Holiday - MLK Jr Day
January 20: Principal and PTA Pop Up Meeting - 2:00pm.
January 21: Japanese Immersion Information Night
January 28: End of Quarter Two - 2-hour Early Release
January 29 - 30: Student Holiday - Teacher Work Days
February 7: Rise Against Hunger Food Packing Event
FCPS School Year Calendar for 2025-2026
Click HERE to catch up on the helpful and important information sent by the PTA on Dec. 20
🌸Rising first graders: Interested in Japanese Immersion?
Great Falls Elementary School offers a Japanese Dual Language Immersion Program that provides students with a unique opportunity to develop strong academic skills while becoming proficient in Japanese. Open to all Fairfax County residents, the program integrates language learning with core content instruction, fostering bilingualism, cultural understanding, and global competence from an early age. Families interested in learning more about the Japanese Immersion program, its structure, and what to expect are encouraged to attend the upcoming Information Night on January 21 at 5:30pm in the Great Falls Elementary School library. The snow date for the meeting will be January 22.
📱Smart Watches and Cell Phones:
Some students returned from break with lovely watches and phones. Please remember to review the SRR guidelines with students. In elementary schools, phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (e.g., smart watch) may be worn; however, phone features (e.g., texting, Internet, calls, etc.) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. No phone usage is EVER permitted in our FCPS bathrooms. If your child is feeling sick, students should go to our clinic; for safety and security, students should not contact parents directly, via phones or watches and request that parents pick them up from school. The office or clinic will reach out to parents via our office phones, with such information. Please reach out to the administrative team if you have any questions.
❄️How Cold Is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors?
Schools do not rely on a single temperature to determine whether students will go outside. Decisions regarding outdoor recess are based on multiple factors, including wind chill or “feels like” temperature, current weather and ground conditions, student attire, the type of activity, and the length of time students would be outdoors.
Absent a National Weather Service (NWS) Extreme Cold Weather or Wind Chill Advisory, Watch, or Warning, it is generally the intention of the school to hold outdoor recess. School administration may make adjustments based on current conditions and student safety.
When weather or safety conditions create unsafe circumstances, including but not limited to extreme cold, rain, sleet, or icy conditions, school administration may determine that students will remain indoors for recess.
When a National Weather Service (NWS) Extreme Cold or Wind Chill Advisory, Watch, or Warning is issued, outdoor activities must not occur. These advisories are defined as:
- Wind Chill Advisory: –5°F to –20°F
- Wind Chill Warning: –20°F or colder
In such cases, students will remain indoors for recess and other outdoor activities, in accordance with division guidance.
☎️Reporting Student Absences
We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Any day that your child is unable to attend school, parents should report the absence. By reporting absences, families are partnering with our staff so that everyone can make sure students are supported and have access to resources.
Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Parents can also report absences by calling our school attendance line at [phone number] or emailing [attendance email address]. School staff will call parents if students are absent, and our school has not been notified in advance.
Parents can monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.
Attendance Codes in SIS ParentVUE Explained
Attendance codes in SIS ParentVUE are assigned by school staff to better identify the reasons behind student absences. This allows us to respond thoughtfully and provide appropriate support. Visit the FCPS Attendance Policy webpage to learn more about the codes.
When Your Child Is Sick
It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home.
For instance, as long as they are feeling like they can participate in school activities, a child should attend school if they have cold symptoms. However, if they have severe, uncontrolled, or rapid coughing; wheezing; or difficulty breathing, definitely keep them home and contact your health care provider.
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
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