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Kristen Rucinski - Principal        Ashley Nelson - Assistant Principal     

Gunston Gazette

Upcoming Dates & Reminders:      

• January 28th: End of Quarter 2-Hour Early Release - 1:20 p.m.
• January 29th: Staff Development (No School)
• January 30th: Teacher Workday (No School)
• February 9th-13th: Love for Reading Week

Gunston Lost and Found Our lost and found is overflowing with hats, coats, water bottles, etc.  All items will be donated in one week.

Casting Call: 🎬 Calling all Heroes! 🦅

Gunston Elementary is rolling out the red carpet for "Love of Reading Week," and we need YOU to be the star of the show!

🌟 We are looking for our local celebrities—police, firefighters, nurses, military members, chefs, and tradespeople—to visit our classrooms in uniform/work gear to show our kids that reading is a "superpower" in every career. Help us inspire the next generation of Gunston Eagles!

📖When: Feb 12, 2026

🎬Read a story and share a bit about your career.

🌟 Sign up here: https://evite.me/5bRQmtNu3d

Weekly Attendance Report

January 19th – January 23, 2026

This week’s attendance percentages, which include both excused and unexcused absences, are listed below by grade level.

The goal is to see which grade achieved the highest attendance rate for the week.

Congratulations to Grade 4!

We will celebrate the grade level with the best attendance at the end of each week and again at the end of each quarter.

Kindergarten: 83%

Kindergarten: 83 %

Grade 1:   72 %

Grade 2:   76 %

Grade 3:   87 %

Grade 4:  91 %

Grade 5:   87 %

Grade 6:   84 %

2-Hour Early Release at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2026

No school for students due to teacher workdays.  Thursday, January 29, 2026, and Friday, January 30, 2026

Gunston's After School Program

Do You Have a Rising Kindergartner

for 2026-2027?

PTA News!

The PTA Spirit Night for January 26th, will be rescheduled at a later time.

Coming soon... PTA Read-a-Thon! Stay tuned for dates, more details, and how you can get involved." 

Please consider joining the PTA and attending one meeting during the year if possible. They work hard to raise money to support our programs/students and to create opportunities for our families to connect with the community.

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 and any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, call our student information assistant/registrar at 703-541-3600. 

💻 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.

🧸 La Inscripción en Kindergarten: Tan Fácil como 1-2-3…

Existe un sencillo proceso de cinco pasos para los padres que quieren inscribir a su niño en kindergarten:

1. Determine su elegibilidad. 
2. Identifique su escuela local. 
3. Reúna los documentos. 
4. Complete las planillas. 
5. Programe una cita.

Luego de realizada la cita en la escuela (el estudiante y un representante deben estar presentes), el estudiante estará listo para recibir la orientación, o participar en el Puente hacia Kindergarten, o cualquier otro evento introductorio que cada escuela pueda realizar. Lea más acerca del proceso de inscripción.

💻 Pruebe la Inscripción Online

Los padres pueden inscribir online a sus niños en cualquier grado entre kindergarten y 12vo grado. Conozca cómo comenzar el proceso de inscripción online. 

Cuando hagan la inscripción, los padres crearán (o entrarán a una ya existente) una cuenta en SIS ParentVUE. Por favor, recuerde que las claves deben tener más de 12 caracteres. Si usted ya tiene una cuenta y su clave tiene menos de 12 caracteres, por favor cámbiela cuando entre a ella.

Attendance and Illness

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. 

Weather Closings

❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! 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.

Spanish:❄️ Preparativos para el InviernoEl tiempo de invierno llegará pronto. El tiempo de invierno llegará pronto. Mire este video para ver cómo deciden cuándo hay que cerrar las escuelas debido al clima. 

El sitio web de FCPS es generalmente el primer lugar donde publicaremos cuando haya un cierre de emergencia por el clima. Otros canales de comunicación serán usados lo más pronto posible incluyendo correo electrónico, texto, medios sociales, y estaciones de noticias. Aprenda más sobre cómo se comunican los cambios de horario. 

Asegúrese de planificar para la temporada de invierno. Asegúrese de que su información de contacto esté actualizada en SIS ParentVUE, marque el sitio web de FCPS, y planifique para el cuidado de niños si es apropiado.

Mantenga a Su Hijo Bien Abrigado Durante las Actividades al Aire LibreEstaremos atentos a las bajas temperaturas, los avisos y advertencias de viento helado y los avisos meteorológicos que pueden impedir que los niños estén al aire libre. Sin embargo, asegúrese de que su hijo esté vestido apropiadamente con un abrigo y otra ropa de clima frío para que pueda disfrutar cómodamente de su tiempo al aire libre. El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional ofrece algunos consejos para mantenerse seguro durante el tiempo frío.

Si necesita ayuda para proveer a su hijo de ropa para el clima frío, por favor llame a la Planificación de Servicios Coordinados del Condado de Fairfax al 703-222-0880. El personal multilingüe puede ayudarle con cualquier dificultad que se le presente, como la alimentación, el alojamiento, el empleo, la asistencia financiera, la atención sanitaria y otras necesidades.

Winter Resources for Families

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.

FCPS App 📱 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.

Social Media Stay in the know! Get those important FCPS alerts about winter weather and school closures by downloading the new FCPS Mobile App. No account or sign-in required. Just download and go! Plus, get everything one place: - Get FCPS news - Check calendars for events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals - See what’s for lunch and breakfast - Quickly call or email school staff - Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and our school website Download by searching “FCPS” in the App Store or Google Play. Find out more at www.fcps.edu/app.

Cell Phone Policy

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.

Emergency Response Buttons

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.

10100 Gunston Road, Lorton VA 22079 | Main Phone: 703.541.3600
Clinic: 703.541.3610 | Email Attendance | Web | Twitter