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From the Principals’ Desk
As we move through January, our Eagles continue to build strong routines and grow as learners each day. With a potential snowstorm expected this weekend, we want to share a few simple ways families can support learning at home if we experience snow days next week.
One meaningful way to support literacy is by reading together and talking about books. After reading, families can help strengthen comprehension and retelling skills by asking WH questions, such as:
- Who are the main characters?
- What happened in the story?
- Where did the story take place?
- Why did events happen the way they did?
- How was the problem solved?
Families can also support writing by encouraging students to write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) about a topic of their choice. Adding details and complete sentences helps students organize their thinking and clearly express ideas.
If we have snow days, Snow Day Extension Activities provided by the county will be available to reinforce learning in a manageable and meaningful way. Families can also visit the FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health resources, and assistance related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
As we approach the end of Quarter 2 on January 28, teachers are carefully reviewing student work and evidence of learning to determine end-of-quarter marks that accurately reflect each student’s progress.
WIDA testing will also be taking place soon for eligible students. This assessment helps us understand how students are developing English language skills so we can better support their learning. Families can help by talking with students about the purpose of the assessment, encouraging confidence and best effort, and ensuring students get enough rest and arrive on time. You might ask your child, “Your WIDA test is coming up. Do you have any questions or anything you need to feel ready?” To learn more about the WIDA assessment, visit: What Is WIDA ACCESS for ELLs?
We value our partnership with you and are always here to support your family. Thank you for working with us to support learning at SEES and at home!
With appreciation,
April Martin, Proud Principal & Kassandra Flading, Assistant Principal
🦅 SOAR Shout-Outs
Shout out to our Eagles for showing Responsibility and Optimism as they stay focused on learning and continue to give their best effort each day. We are also proud of the many students who are being Supportive by helping classmates during reading and writing activities and Accepting by respecting different ideas and learning styles.
Thank you to our staff for modeling SOAR every day and creating classrooms where students feel encouraged, challenged, and supported.
✨ Literacy Spotlight
What’s happened in Second Grade Reading this week?
FCPS Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence: Benchmark
 Second Grade Unit 4 Essential Question
How can a story change depending on who tells it?
In this unit, second graders are reading classic folktales from a variety of cultures along with a modern retelling set in a contemporary urban setting. They explore how stories can change depending on who tells them and the point of view used. Through these stories, students learn that folktales often teach important lessons and reflect cultural traditions. The unit helps students build understanding about working together, solving problems, and appreciating different perspectives.
📚 Benchmark- Finishing Up Different Perspectives in Language Arts 📚
Benchmark Unit 4 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the perspectives of characters, authors, and readers.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If your pet (or a stuffed animal) could talk, what do you think it would say about its day?
- Activity: Ask your child to retell a familiar story from another character’s point of view.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
➕ Math Spotlight
What’s happened in Fifth Grade Math this week?
FCPS Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence -
Student Centered Engagement
 Fifth Grade Focus for This Week:
This week in fifth grade, learning came to life as students tackled real-world challenges and explored new concepts in exciting ways. In Math 5, students used estimation to check the reasonableness of their answers while adding decimals through interactive stations like Close to a Whole, shopping in a toy shop and ice cream parlor, and a Book Fair Shopping challenge with a $100 budget. In Math 6, students embraced SEES SOAR principles by supporting one another and taking on challenges as they reviewed fraction skills, including simplifying, identifying equivalent fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators, before jumping into multiplying fractions using models and real-world examples. Overall, it was a week full of problem-solving, teamwork, and growing confidence in math!
🏡 Community Corner: Preparing for Winter Weather
As winter weather approaches, we want families to be prepared and informed. FCPS’ website is typically the first place to share information about weather-related schedule changes, followed by email, text messages, social media, the FCPS mobile app, and local news stations. Families can also view a short FCPS video explaining how weather closure decisions are made and learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
To help prepare for the winter season, please:
- Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE
- Bookmark the FCPS website
- Arrange emergency child care plans, if needed
⛄ Keeping Students Warm During Outdoor Activities
We closely monitor temperatures, wind chill advisories, and weather warnings when determining outdoor recess. When conditions are safe, students will go outside. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately with a warm coat and cold-weather clothing so they can comfortably enjoy outdoor time.
If your family needs assistance obtaining cold-weather clothing, support is available. Please contact Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can help connect families with resources related to clothing, food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health services.
In Search of a Math Tutor
SEES is looking for a qualified math tutor to provide instruction to students on an hourly basis. More details are available here. If interested, please email Kassandra Flading, Assistant Principal, at kkflading@fcps.edu.
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:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- 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 our school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, please call our [student information assistant/registrar] at [phone number].
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.
Dates & Reminders
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January 28: Two-hour early release/End of 2nd quarter. All students will be release at 2:05 p.m.
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January 29 and 30: Teacher Workdays. School is closed for students. Our office hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..
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February 6: SCA Spirit Day - Spring vs. Winter (despite the groundhog's choice).
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February 11: Coffee & Conversation for Parents/Guardians. 9:30 a.m., SEES Cafeteria. Topic: Sleep Habits. This session explains how sleep works, why it often breaks down, and which habits make the biggest difference in sleep quality. You will leave with practical, science-based strategies to improve rest for themselves and their families.
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February 12: PTA's We Love Bingo! Details in tomorrow's Friday Folder.
- February 13: SCA Spirit Day - Hearts and Ribbons
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February 16: Holiday - Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day. School is closed for staff and students.
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February 17: Teacher Workday. School is closed for students.
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February 20: SCA Spirit Day - Jersey Day (in honor of the Winter Olympics)
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February 25: Three Hour Early Release. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m. unless we have already received notification from their families that they should stay until 4:05 p.m.
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February 26: Coffee & Conversation for Parents/Guardians. 9:30 a.m., SEES Cafeteria. Topic: Summer camps, programs, and activities.
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February 27: SCA Spirit Day - Dress Like a SOARing Eagle (more details to come).
Click here to see the full 2025-2026 FCPS calendar.
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