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In this Message:
- Principals' Message
- PTA News and Announcements
- Harvest Parade
- Outstanding Staff Nominations
- Book Fair Coming in December
- Curiosity Corner
- AAP Information
- Immunizations
- Attendance
- ParentVUE App
- Impact Aid
- Upcoming Dates
Dear Floris Families,
We’ve had an amazing week with our students! To get everyone ready for tomorrow’s Harvest Parade, our staff has been celebrating a fun, secret spirit week by dressing up in a different crazy outfit each day. We hope your child has come home sharing what they’ve seen. This week has been so much fun for everyone!
We’re looking forward to seeing all the creative costumes at the Harvest Parade tomorrow from 9:45–10:30 a.m. on the Floris field. Families are welcome to come watch their children walk in the parade outdoors.
Tomorrow evening, join us in the parking lot at 6:30 p.m. for the PTA’s Trunk or Treat! This popular event is back for its third year, and we can’t wait to see our community come together to admire the decorated trunks and enjoy some candy.
Also, please look for information about our Thanksgiving Day Luncheon on November 19 in tomorrow’s Friday Folders. We’ll send the lunch schedule next Thursday so you can see when your child’s class will be eating and plan to join us.
These joyful fall traditions make Floris such a wonderful place to learn and grow. We hope you have a fun and festive weekend!
A final reminder: Tomorrow is a two-hour early release day. We are dismissing at 2pm.
Josh DeSmyter, Principal
Rob Gibbs, Assistant Principal
PTA News and Announcements
MathCounts is back for 2026–2027!
With the goal of making math fun, MathCounts is a national program for students in 6th–8th grade that helps build problem-solving skills, mathematical reasoning, teamwork, and confidence. At Floris, the 2026–2027 MathCounts program is open to 6th-grade students only. Sessions will be held Tuesdays from 4:00–5:00 PM at Floris, starting October 13th. The competition is planned for February 6, 2027. Space is limited to the first 20 students who register, so sign up early!
Register here: https://forms.gle/Gr7s9dkT8DJqkn1M9
🎃 Floris Elementary Trunk or Treat – October 30! 🎃
It’s almost time for one of our favorite fall traditions—Trunk or Treat! On Friday, October 30, families are invited to join us in the school parking lot for an evening of costumes, candy, and community fun.
👻 Here’s how you can join in the fun:
- Bring your trick-or-treaters – Kids (and adults) can dress up and collect candy from decorated trunks.
- Volunteer your car (and creativity!) – Families are encouraged to decorate their trunks and help create a festive atmosphere.
- Treat donations – We welcome NEW, unopened, unexpired candy (nut-free preferred) and non-food treats. There is a monster collection bin in the front office.
And because no Trunk or Treat announcement is complete without a little humor:
- Why don’t mummies take vacations? … They’re afraid they’ll relax and unwind!
- Why did the vampire read the newspaper? … He heard it had great circulation!
We can’t wait to see you and your families there. Costumes, candy, and community spirit—what more could we ask for? Please contact florispta.sso@gmail.com with any questions / concerns. Don’t forget to RSVP by October 23.
The Harvest Parade is Back!
When: Friday, October 30, 9:45am-10:30am
Where: Floris Field
What: Students have the option to dress in a school appropriate costume for this seasonal parade. Accessories that would be carried should stay at home to prevent the chance of losing them. Look alike weapons (ex. toy gun with police costume, sword with pirate, etc.), masks, and blood are not allowed.
How: Students and parents will be outside, and students will parade by grade level. Since we will not be using the visitor sign-in station, family members are welcome to spectate from the field space indicated on the map. The arrows show the parade direction. Kindergarten will start the parade.
Parents: You should report directly to the field. Parents should not enter the building for the parade. This will also save you the step of signing in!
✨Do You Know An Amazing Employee? ✨
Each year, FCPS recognizes staff members who go above and beyond to make a difference in their schools and communities. We invite you to join us in celebrating the incredible people who make Floris such a wonderful place for students to learn and grow.
🏆 NOMINATIONS FOR...
- Outstanding Professional Staff Leader
- Outstanding Educational Services Employee
- Outstanding Operational Services Employee
- Outstanding Principal
Learn about the criteria for each category here, on the FCPS webpage.
👉 Submit a Nomination Here 👈
🗓️DEADLINE: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 13, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Willa McGrath at wimcgrath@fcps.edu
🦅Thank you for supporting our outstanding Floris Staff!🦅
Library Book Return Reminder
As the end of the quarter approaches, the library will be preparing overdue book notices. Please help your student locate any borrowed library books and return them as soon as possible so the books remain available for all students.
How Notices Will Be Sent
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Kindergarten – 2nd Grade: Paper notices will be sent home in student folders.
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3rd – 6th Grade: Notices will be sent directly to students' school Gmail accounts.
Thank you for your support in keeping our library collection available for everyone!
📚 Exciting News: The Fall Book Fair is Coming! 🎉
Get ready to discover your next favorite book! The Fall Book Fair is taking over the Floris ES Library from December 7–11. Mark your calendars for special Afterschool Family Shopping on Wednesday, December 9!
We are excited to partner with a fantastic local vendor this year: Bookworm Central from Manassas! They will be bringing an incredible selection of exciting books, hands-on educational games, and fun activities.
💳 Important Update: This Year's Book Fair is 100% CASH FREE!
Shopping is easier and safer than ever using Bookworm Central's digital options:
- Set up a secure Bookworm Central eWallet for a simple, cash-free way for your child to shop independently!
- Send an eGift Card—the perfect gift for students, teachers, or friends, redeemable both in-person and online!
More exciting details will be coming soon! We will also need wonderful volunteers to help make this event a huge success, so be sure to mark your calendars for Book Fair Week, December 7–11!
🧠Curiosity Corner🧠
Each month, we will provide optional STEAM challenges that can be completed at home. The goal is to promote creative and critical thinking and engage in the engineering and design process. Submissions are due in the Curiosity Lab at the end of the month and will be highlighted within the school building and on the student news show. Let's get curious!
Our challenge is to build a durable spider web for Charlotte (get it--Charlotte's Web?) that can withstand the winds of the changing season. You can use any materials to make a strong spider web, and turn it in by October 31st.
We can't wait to see what you design and build!
Interested in supporting the Curiosity Lab?
👉Check out our Curiosity Lab Wish List!
AAP Information
Interested in learning more about Advanced Academics at Floris ES?
Interested in Full-Time AAP Services for the 27-28 School Year?
- To learn more about the screening process for full-time AAP services, please join Mrs. Albanese for a parent information session about full-time screening on Wednesday, November 11 at 5:30PM in the Floris Library. This session will discuss the full-time screening process and will feature a question and answer session to address any questions you may have. No RSVP needed, please enter through door 4 from the back of the school via the blacktop.
- Students in Grades 2-7 can be screened for full-time services this year for possible services starting in the 27-28 school year.
- Eligibility decisions are made by central office this March and shared with families in early April.
- If you’d like your 2-7th grader screened, please submit the full-time AAP Referral Form and the Optional Parent Questionnaire found on the AAP Forms website and submit to Amy Albanese abalbanese@fcps.edu by December 15, 2026. This deadline is firm. Forms be accepted anytime between now and COB on Dec. 15th.
- Once referrals are received, the AART (Amy Albanese) will put together a portfolio of information which will be submitted to central office for screening.
Any lingering questions?
Please feel free to reach out to Amy Albanese, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher at abalbanese@fcps.edu with any questions. She is available Mondays -Thursdays 8:45 – 4:15PM.
The Importance of the Flu Vaccination
- The annual flu vaccine is the most effective way to protect your child from getting sick and to prevent the spread of illness within our classrooms. Staying up-to-date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
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Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
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Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
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Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will be taking place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
Encouraging Regular Attendance
Regular attendance is a good habit to establish in childhood. It can lead to greater success in high school, college, and careers. Teachers and students miss your child when they can’t make it to school. If you or your family need support, please reach out to your school's front office. We are here for you!
If students miss too much school, school staff may reach out to the family to partner with them on addressing barriers to regular attendance. Visit the FCPS website for attendance resources.
Maintain Access to Your Child’s Grades and Assignments: Download the New ParentVUE App
New ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile apps launched in July. Be sure to download the new app before winter break. After that time, you will need to use the new mobile app or a web browser to access ParentVUE or StudentVUE.
For instructions on installing the new apps and learning more about the updated login process, visit ParentVUE and StudentVUE mobile app resources. If you need assistance, please submit a Parent Support Request.
Please Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is how we ensure we receive all the resources available to us from the federal government. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Dates for the 2026-2027 School Year
October 30:
- Harvest Parade
- End of First Quarter and Two-Hour Early Release
- PTA Trunk or Treat
November 2-3: No School for Students, Teacher Workdays and Election Day
November 11: Veteran's Day Concert
November 19: Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 25-27: Holiday- Thanksgiving
December 1: Fall Picture Make Ups
December 2: 3-Hour Early Release
December 7-11: Fall Book Fair
December 9-11: Walk in My Shoes Events for Grades 4-6
December 17: Band/ Strings/ Chorus Winter Concert, Carson MS at 7PM
December 21-January 1: Winter Break
Find the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar: https://www.fcps.edu/calendars/standard-school-year-calendar
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