Forestville Focus

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Calendar Reminders

January 23: PTA BINGO Night Session 1: 6-7:30 p.m.: SOLD OUT Session 2: 7-8:30 p.m.: Session 2 Tickets January 28: Quarter 2 Ends 2-Hour Early Dismissal (Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.) January 29-30: Student Holidays/Teacher Workdays February 3: Save the Date - Picture Day! February 13: Save the Date - PTA K-3 PJ Night and Magic Show (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)

Exploring the Future: Career Fair Success

Last Friday, our 6th graders spent the day looking into the future. Professionals from many different fields visited our school to talk about their jobs and how they got there. Students learned what it takes to work in aerospace, law, therapy, technology, and more.

We want to give a big thank you to the family and friends who volunteered their time to speak with our students. We also thank our counselor, Ms. Schnaue, for organizing this wonderful annual event.

Read more about this event on our website.

Rise Against Hunger Campaign Continues Forestville thanks all families who have donated to our Rise Against Hunger campaign. We will continue the campaign through next Wednesday, January 28 and may extend into the following week based on school closure. Please make plans to sign up for a slot at our Food Packing event on Saturday, February 7! This is an incredible day of service with other Langley Pyramid Schools. Remember, every bit helps and $0.42 covers the cost of a meal and a meal feeds 5-6 people. We are glad to support this project again this year. Read more information and/or donate online here!

Langley Pyramid Chorus Night Forestville 5th and 6th grade chorus students shined at our recent Langley Pyramid Chorus Evening. Special thanks to Mrs. Baber and her long-term substitute teacher, Ms. Claros for their preparation and support of our amazingly talented students. They sang their Snow song again and each time they have performed this year, we have been treated to a snow delay or pending snow day - that is some snow magic for sure!

❄️ Weather Prep: Student Devices Devices came home today due to the weather forecast! To access learning apps like ST Math, Lexia, Typing Club, and MyOn, you have two options: Option 1: Student Resources Page Go to https://forestvillees.fcps.edu/studentresources.html Click the Clever icon. Option 2: Schoology Log in to Schoology (lms.fcps.edu): Head to the Schoology login page using your student’s credentials.   Find the Clever Icon in the waffle: Once inside Schoology, look for the Clever tile (it looks like a blue "C"). Clicking this will automatically sign your student into their Clever portal. Login Info for Clever: Use your child's Google account: Username: studentid@fcpsschools.net Password: Their school password Click the Forestville Cardinal inside of Clever to see even more!

Picture Day - February 3 Forestville Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3! Smile big and pick out your favorite outfit to celebrate the 25-26 school year.

Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Forestville Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements. All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose. The electronic opt-out form can also be accessed at this link. We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather has arrived! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS. 

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Winter Weather Recess Reminders Forestville asks all families to send their students to school with jackets, gloves/mittens and hats labeled with the child's name. These items are essential to supporting safe recess outside and the names help as the students shed their layers through play. Forestville will go outside each day the weather allows. We follow FCPS and National Weather Service guidelines. At times, outdoor recess times may be shorter than 30 minutes and we will still go outside for the time period it is safe to do so. More information can be found here. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather. If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

🎉 Save the Date! 🎉 Cooper MS Core and Elective Curriculum Night

• Who: Rising 7th and 8th-grade Students and Guardians zoned to attend Cooper MS 🧑‍🎓
• What: Cooper MS Core and Elective Curriculum Night 🍎📚
• Where: Cooper Middle School 🏫
• When: Tuesday, January 27th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM 📅
• (Snow Date: February 3rd) ❄️
• Why: Discover all the exciting Core Classes and Elective Options for next year! ✨

Can't attend? No problem! Materials will be available to review online starting the following day on the Cooper MS website. 💻

Want to see what learning, laughter, and life at Forestville really look like? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for a front-row seat to the amazing moments happening in our classrooms and around our school. From special events and student highlights to spirit days and everyday fun—you won’t want to miss a thing!

📸 Facebook: ForestvilleFCPS
📸 Instagram: @forestvillefcps

Tuesday Folder

Forestville uses Schoology for all Tuesday Folder contents. All flyers are posted to Schoology Course: Forestville All Parents and contents are listed below.

• PTA PJ Night - Coming Soon
• Tuesday Folder Content Disclaimer
• Optimist Club Talent Show 
• Traveling Players
• Winter Rack Card
• Rugby Flyer

📱 More News and Updates — on the go — With the FCPS App 

Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here is how it makes life easier:

•     Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) different schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events specific to your family.
•     No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly — no password to remember, no login required.
•     Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates — including weather announcements! — ensuring you never miss an important announcement from the district or your school.
•     Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.

To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app, or download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Click to edit this placeholder text.

🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

1. Determine eligibility. 
2. Identify your local school. 
3. Gather documents. 
4. Fill out forms. 
5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, call our student information assistant/registrar, Amani Kirk, at 703-404-6000. 

💻 Try Online Registration

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. 

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 weather. 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 snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year. 

Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.

When Should Your Child Stay Home?

Help your student succeed in school by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit the FCPS website for helpful insights regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school to minimize impacts on learning.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to let us know so we can provide assistance, if needed. 

Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs

Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.

Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs. 

Meal Accommodations Provide Safe, Nutritious Meals

FCPS’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to school meals that are safe, nutritious, and meet their individual dietary needs.

FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school. To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.

Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a menu for your child.

Did Your Student Get a New Phone or Device? 

For a distraction-free start to the New Year, please remind your student about FCPS' policy for cell phones and personal devices. This policy helps students focus, interact more with their peers and teachers, and build independent problem-solving skills.

Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including:

• Exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.

• Cell phone use on buses and field trips.

• Consequences for cell phone policy violations.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our main office.

Access Schoology to Support Your Child

Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology. 

Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.

Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.

Enhancing Safety and Security for Staff and Students

School safety and security are being enhanced across FCPS with a new emergency management system. The system includes sensors installed in schools and a wearable emergency response button (ERB) for staff. 

The button allows staff to quickly and discreetly request help and, once pressed, they provide location information within the school. The ERB will only work on school grounds and does not rely on cellular service. It is not meant to replace calling 911, but is an additional safety tool that can be used if calling 911 may not be safe or practical. 

Learn more about the emergency management system. You may submit questions to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.

Strategies for Better Sleep

Sleep is essential to good health, and getting enough sleep has big benefits to your physical and mental health and well-being. Sleep is restorative, allowing your body time to recover and repair. 

This is true for your child, too. In fact, adequate sleep in children supports healthy brain development, learning, and memory consolidation, as well as their mood. And it is important for a strong immune system and the prevention of infections. Read about how much sleep a person needs and get some sleep strategies you can use with your family.

📰FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• 📱 More News and Updates — on the go — With the FCPS App
• Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed
• Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.  

Bingo Night - January 23

BINGO Night is BACK, and it's a month earlier this year! Thanks to our amazing volunteers and Forestville staff for your help with the evening!

Session 1: 6-7:30 p.m.: SOLD OUT

Session 2: 7-8:30 p.m.: Session 2 Tickets

K-3rd Grade Pajama Night - Feb. 13

Forestville PTA will again host a family favorite, Pajama Night and Magician visit. Save the date and make plans to join us on Friday, February 13 at 6:30.

Forestville Elementary Talent Show: Save the Date!

It's time to Save the Date for the Forestville Elementary Talent Show!

Here is the schedule by grade level:

• March 9 and 10: Rehearsal and Show for Grades 4 through 6

• March 11 and 12: Rehearsal and Show for Grades K through 3

More information about the event, including details on how to participate and attend, will be coming soon!

1085 Utterback Store Road | Great Falls, VA 22066 | 703.404.6000 
Attendance: submit online or call 703.404.6098 | Web | Twitter
Administration: Sarah Brooker | Afton Carlson