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Dear Mighty Red Bird Families,
What a delight it was to experience the 1st Grade Showcase on Tuesday night! Hearing the students’ voices and seeing their enthusiasm was truly heartwarming. A huge thank you to Mr. Vance and Ms. Cave for their outstanding leadership and dedication in making the evening so special. Moments like these remind us of the incredible talent and spirit in our school community.
As the weather continues to shift and colder temperatures set in, we want to remind everyone to dress accordingly. Students love their outdoor recess time, and having coats, hats, and gloves labeled will ensure everyone is prepared for the season while keeping track of belongings.
Thank you for your continued support and care. Let’s keep this warm sense of community glowing as we head into the cooler days ahead!
With warm regards and gratitude,
Ms. Drake, Mrs. Agner, and Mrs. Long
Upcoming Dates 📆
December 15 - Full-Time AAP Referral Deadline (contact [email protected] with questions)
December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
January 20 -NO SCHOOL-Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday; Inauguration Day
January 29 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
Reminder: Fulltime Advanced Academics Referral Deadline
Reminder: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Karen Mitchell, AART ([email protected]) no later than December 15, 2024.
The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Karen Mitchell, AART ([email protected])
Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Federal Impact Aid Survey
Please be sure to sign in your SIS ParentVUE account to complete this important survey.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $3,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.
FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. On October 18th, the survey will be made available to FCPS families. The survey is available online through ParentVue. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact us.
Register for ParentVUELearn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.
Preparing For Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
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, 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 for childcare 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 which 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. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Family Life Education
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through classroom teachers. Students in Grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary/family-life-education
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review.
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Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. (Parent/Guardian Access to FLE Materials in Schoology)
- Materials are found in the All Parents/Guardians Cardinal Forest Elementary Course in Schoology in the Family Life Education Folder.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. Opting out can be indicated on the form sent home earlier this year or through the FCPS Digital Consent Portal or through ParentVue. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the link in Parent Vue, you do not need to contact anyone.
Should you have questions regarding accessing the materials and/or the curriculum you can come to the Cardinal Forest Library on Wednesday, December 4 between 5-5:45. Contact Cindy Agner, AP, with any questions: [email protected]
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
If you prefer to have an abbreviated way to share district news, consider sharing the language below in your newsletter. Please edit the list of topics to best fit the needs of your community.
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FCPS In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Veterans Day Recognitions
- Resources on IEPs, Financial Aid, Literacy, and Community Leadership
- Teacher Hiring Event
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
PTA Updates!
Check out PTBoard for news and upcoming events!
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