FCPS

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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

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لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.

Important Upcoming Dates

3/24: Heritage Night at FVES 6:00pm - 8:00pm

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

3/27: Club and 6th Grade Panoramic Pictures

3/29: Spring Chorus Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

4/12: Teacher Workday & Student Holiday 

4/28: Bingo Night 6:00pm - 8:00pm

5/1: Kindergarten Orientation 4:30pm - 5:15pm

5/2: 3rd Grade Reading SOL 

5/3: 4th Grade Reading SOL

5/3: 1st/2nd Grade Music Performance 7:00pm - 8:00pm

5/4: 5th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: 6th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: PTA Cinco de May and Glow Party 6:30pm - 8:30pm

5/ 9: 3rd Grade Math SOL

5/10: 4th Grade Math SOL

5/11: 5th Grade Math SOL 

5/12: 6th Grade Math SOL

5/18: 5th Grade Science SOL

6/1: Strings Spring Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm

6/6: Woodson HS Graduation 7:30pm - 9:30pm

6/8: 6th Grade Showcase 7:00pm - 8:30pm

6/9: Field Day

6/13: Spring Band Concert 7:00pm - 8:00pm

6/14: 6th  Grade Luncheon 11:00am - 2:00pm

6/15: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony 10:15am - 11:30am 

6/16: Last day of school for FCPS Students-2 Hour Student Early Release

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Heritage Night
2. Parent Input Form For 2023-2024 School Year
3. Read Across America Bingo Challenge
4. Celebrations of Lexia
5. Kindergarten and New Student Registration
6. Portrait of a Graduate Update
7. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
8. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
9. Fairfax Villa Contacts
10. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
11. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Heritage Night Tonight at Fairfax Villa!

-Click Image to Expand-

FVES PTA families and communities,

We are so excited to bring back our beloved Heritage Night and we have an incredible slate of presentations, fashion and talent!

When: Friday, March 24th, 2023 6pm - 8pm 

Where: FVES Gym

Here's a sneak peek of what countries will be represented:

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Antarctica, Italy, Scotland, Eritrea ... and more!

If you signed up to host a country but have not discussed your needs with the event coordinator, please do so asap! Email [email protected]

We look forward to an exciting event, honoring our communities and sharing our knowledge. Please help make our diversity shine!

2.Parent Input Form for 2022-23 Class Placement

While we look at class placements for the coming year, we want you to be aware of the process. We place students in classrooms based on numerous criteria. Students are grouped so that classrooms are heterogeneous, having a balance of boys and girls, a balance of academic performance and ability, and groups that will allow for the greatest support from our resource teachers.

Classroom teachers will have input into the recommendations for next year, as will our counselors and specialists. Our staff has been told that we will not take requests for particular teachers because we base our placement on instructional criteria and individual student strengths and needs. It is unfair to give special consideration to some parents when it would be impossible to grant requests from all parents. Please be aware that grade level assignments for staff sometimes change, due to late enrollments or other changes.  Staff assignments are determined at the end of the summer. Our staff has been directed not to give out information about placement prior to that time. 

In addition, we also value parent input.  If you feel there is pertinent information to support your child’s success for the upcoming school year, you may submit your input by clicking on this Parent Input Google Form . The parent input forms are due by May 26, 2023.  We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. 

3.Read Across America Bingo Challenge!   

A Read Across America Bingo Board went home in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day began on March 2nd and ends April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

46 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1805= Lexia Certificates given this year!

77% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need a true picture of what they have learned so that teachers can best support. Assisting students will alter weekly learning results.

Practice Lexia at home: 

• Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
• Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.
• Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

Ms. D’Alessandro’s class is working hard on their multiplication practice!  5.Kindergarten and New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

• Completing the online intake form
• Emailing [email protected]
• Calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

6.POG Updates

Students have been working on their POG Communicator Skills in art classes over the past several weeks. First and second graders learned how to participate in art critiques! They learned the importance of sharing their artwork with the class and practiced giving kind suggestions and compliments. The upper grades wrote about their artworks upon finishing them and reflected on successes and areas for improvement.

Special thanks to our amazing ESOL Team for hosting Mrs. A’s Mercantile, which helped our students determine between needs and wants! They got a chance to interact with many staff to “sell their goods” and practice conversational skills! 7.Tutor.com - Free Extra Help for Students 

FCPS students are able to get free bilingual tutoring help at any time using your Schoology account. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Find out more about Tutor.com here. Potential tutoring possibilities include:

• Reading and math practice/support
• Write computer programs
• Study for the SAT
• Receive feedback on scholarship essays

8.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If you’d like to purchase new spirit wear, please reach out to our PTA. 

9.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

• Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800
• Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828
• Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form
• Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
• Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
• Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
• FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050
• Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]
• Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]
• Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]
• Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
• Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]
• Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]
• Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

10.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

11.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.

Important Upcoming Dates

3/24: Heritage Night at FVES

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

3/27: Club and 6th Grade Panoramic Pictures

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

4/12: Teacher Workday & Student Holiday 

5/1: Kindergarten Orientation 4:30pm - 5:15pm

5/2: 3rd Grade Reading SOL 

5/3: 4th Grade Reading SOL

5/4: 5th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: 6th Grade Reading SOL

5/ 9: 3rd Grade Math SOL

5/10: 4th Grade Math SOL

5/11: 5th Grade Math SOL 

5/12: 6th Grade Math SOL

5/18: 5th Grade Science SOL

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Heritage Night
2. Read Across America Bingo Challenge
3. SOL Dates

4. Celebrations of Lexia

5. Kindergarten and New Student Registration

6. Joint Braddock and Springfield District School Board Town Hall 

7. Portrait of a Graduate Update

8. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families

9. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

10. Fairfax Villa Contacts

11. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
12. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Heritage Night at Fairfax Villa!

We are so excited to bring back our beloved Heritage Night! The first step in making this event amazing is YOU! Share your knowledge of countries or cultures with our community by hosting a table at our event, and or participating in a fashion or talent show. Participant details will be sent to you after you sign up as a culture host. 

Don’t miss out, we’d love to see you there! Click Here To Sign Up For Heritage Night. 

When: Friday, March 24th, 2023. 6pm - 8pm

Where: FVES Gym

This is a free event for our FVES students, their families and school staff!

2.Read Across America Bingo Challenge!   

A Read Across America Bingo Board went home in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day began on March 2nd and ends April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

3.Upcoming SOL Dates:

Below you will find our upcoming Fairfax Villa grades 3-6 SOL dates. Please ensure your child is present for testing and on time and arrives at school by 9:15 AM.  This year we ask all students to bring in their laptop chargers and laptops a few days prior to testing for setup. Please keep this on your radar as we partner together for a successful SOL season. 

3rd Grade: 

• Tuesday, May 2 Reading SOL 
• Tuesday, May 9 Math SOL

4th Grade:

• Wednesday, May 3 Reading SOL
• Wednesday, May 10 Math SOL

5th Grade:

• Thursday, May 4 Reading SOL
• Thursday, May 11 Math SOL 
• Thursday, May 18 Science SOL

6th Grade:

• Friday, May 5 Reading SOL
• Friday, May 12 Math SOL 

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

38 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1771= Lexia Certificates given this year!

76% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need a true picture of what they have learned so that teachers can best support. Assisting students will alter weekly learning results.

Practice Lexia at home: 

• Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
• Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.

Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

 

Ms. Wright’s class celebrated their realistic fiction writing unit! 5th graders practicing for their concert on March 29th!  5.Kindergarten and New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

• Completing the online intake form
• Emailing [email protected]
• Calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

6.Joint Braddock and Springfield District School Board Town Hall 7.POG Updates

Students have been working on their POG Communicator Skills in art classes over the past several weeks. First and second graders learned how to participate in art critiques! They learned the importance of sharing their artwork with the class and practiced giving kind suggestions and compliments. The upper grades wrote about their artworks upon finishing them and reflected on successes and areas for improvement.

Mrs. Atkinson hosted the first Little Dragon’s Club after school for a few of our ELL students! Thanks to the ESOL Department for all you do! 8.Tutor.com - Free Extra Help for Students 

FCPS students are able to get free bilingual tutoring help at any time using your Schoology account. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Find out more about Tutor.com here. Potential tutoring possibilities include:

• Reading and math practice/support
• Write computer programs
• Study for the SAT
• Receive feedback on scholarship essays

9.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If you’d like to purchase new spirit wear, please reach out to our PTA. 

10.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

• Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800
• Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828
• Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form
• Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
• Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
• Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
• FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050
• Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]
• Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]
• Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]
• Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]
• Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]
• Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]
• Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

11.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

12.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Spring Picture Day is Friday, March 10th

Barksdale Group will be taking Spring Pictures on Friday, March 10, 2023. This will include individual and class pictures. There will be no retake days.

This is a prepay event. Students were given take home order forms. You may also pre-order online at www.barksdalephoto.com.

Proofs will be sent home to students who do not purchase in advance. Extra fees may apply if ordering after Picture day.

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Spirit Night at Chipotle! No need to cook tonight!!!  No dishes to wash!  Head to Chipotle (11062 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA  22030) between 4-8pm today! You can order online for pick up using code L8WNZRN  Click image to enlarge flyer.  Come on out! 

Click Image to Enlarge

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

PTA Message: Spring After School Activities - Registration closes March 12th! FVES Families, We're excited to provide our students another opportunity to take after-school enrichment classes! Registration is open this week only. Don’t delay, register today!

CLICK HERE for Registration Site

Click Image to Expand Flyer

Registration Site

 

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang mang của chúng tôi.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter | Contact Us

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates 3/2: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

3/7: Fairfax Villa ES Spirit Night at Chipotle! 

3/10: Student Pictures 

3/24: Heritage Night at FVES

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

4/16: PTA Meeting

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

5/2: 3rd Grade Reading SOL 

5/3: 4th Grade Reading SOL

5/4: 5th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: 6th Grade Reading SOL

5/ 9: 3rd Grade Math SOL

5/10: 4th Grade Math SOL

5/11: 5th Grade Math SOL 

5/12: 6th Grade Math SOL

5/18: 5th Grade Science SOL

IN THIS ISSUE

1. SOL Dates
2. Celebrations of Lexia
3. Read Across America Bingo Challenge and Pajama Day!
4. Fairfax Villa ES Spirit Night at Chipotle! 

5. Heritage Night

6. Score Reporting To Families

7. Kindergarten and New Student Registration

8. Joint Braddock and Springfield District School Board Town Hall 
9. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
10. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
11. Fairfax Villa Contacts
12. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
13. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Upcoming SOL Dates:

Below you will find our upcoming Fairfax Villa grades 3-6 SOL dates. Please ensure your child is present for testing and on time. This year we ask all students to bring in their laptop chargers and laptops a few days prior to testing for setup. Please keep this on your radar as we partner together for a successful SOL season. 

3rd Grade: 

• Tuesday, May 2 Reading SOL 
• Tuesday, May 9 Math SOL

4th Grade:

• Wednesday, May 3 Reading SOL
• Wednesday, May 10 Math SOL

5th Grade:

• Thursday, May 4 Reading SOL
• Thursday, May 11 Math SOL 
• Thursday, May 18 Science SOL

6th Grade:

• Friday, May 5 Reading SOL
• Friday, May 12 Math SOL 

2.Celebrations of Lexia!

57 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1682= Lexia Certificates given this year!

75% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need a true picture of what they have learned so that teachers can best support. Assisting students will alter weekly learning results.

Practice Lexia at home: 

• Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
• Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.
• Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

3.Read Across America Bingo Challenge!   

A Read Across America Bingo Board went home in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day began on March 2nd and ends April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

4.Spirit Night at Chipotle!

Click Image to Enlarge

Chipotle Fundraiser for 6th Grade Graduation - Tuesday, March 7th | 4-8PM

Chipotle - Kamp Washington | 11062 Lee Hwy | Fairfax, VA 22030

Online Code:L8WNZRN

5.Heritage Night at Fairfax Villa!

We are so excited to bring back our beloved Heritage Night! The first step in making this event amazing is YOU! Share your knowledge of countries or cultures with our community by hosting a table at our event, and or participating in a fashion or talent show. Participant details will be sent to you after you sign up as a culture host. Click Here To Sign Up For Heritage Night. 

When: Friday, March 24th, 2023 6pm - 8pm

Where: FVES Gym

This is a free event for our FVES students, their families and school staff!

6.Score Reporting To Families

Results from completed academic screenings will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Hachwi [email protected]. 

• Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent by the end of March.

We would like to thank Mary Gaskins and Kelly Hood for an amazing 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night.  The students and parents enjoyed the experience of dancing together and laughter filled the air and warmed our hearts!

7.Kindergarten and New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

• Completing the online intake form
• Emailing [email protected]
• Calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

8.Joint Braddock and Springfield District School Board Town Hall 9.Tutor.com - Free Extra Help for Students 

FCPS students are able to get free bilingual tutoring help at any time using your Schoology account. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Find out more about Tutor.com here. Potential tutoring possibilities include:

• Reading and math practice/support
• Write computer programs
• Study for the SAT
• Receive feedback on scholarship essays

10.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If you’d like to purchase new spirit wear, please reach out to our PTA.

Our 6th graders enjoyed a day out at the National Portrait Gallery in DC!

11.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

12.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

13.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى ، يرجى زيارة موقعنا على الإنترنت. انقر هنا!

이 뉴스레터를 다른 언어로 읽으려면 저희 웹사이트를 방문하십시오. 여기를 클릭하세요!

Để đọc bản tin này bằng các ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng truy cập trang web của chúng tôi.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Pajama Day: Kickoff on Read Across America Day is Thursday, March 2nd   Wear your favorite pajamas and bring in a stuffed animal (that can fit into a backpack) Read Across America Bingo Challenge   Read Across America Bingo Board will be in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day begins on March 2nd until April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

2/24: Woodson HS International Night

2/27: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

3/2: Read Across America Day

3/2: 2 Hour Early Student Release, 2PM

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

3/7: Fairfax Villa ES Spirit Night at Chipotle! 

3/10: Student Pictures 

3/24: Heritage Night at FVES

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

5/2: 3rd Grade Reading SOL 

5/3: 4th Grade Reading SOL

5/4: 5th Grade Reading SOL

5/5: 6th Grade Reading SOL

5/ 9: 3rd Grade Math SOL

5/10: 4th Grade Math SOL

5/11: 5th Grade Math SOL 

5/12: 6th Grade Math SOL

5/18: 5th Grade Science SOL

IN THIS ISSUE

1. SOL Dates
2. Celebrations of Lexia

3. Read Across America Bingo Challenge and Pajama Day!

4. Heritage Night
5. Score Reporting To Families
6. Kindergarten and New Student Registration
7. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
8. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
9. Fairfax Villa Contacts
10. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
11. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Upcoming SOL Dates:

Below you will find our upcoming SOL dates. Please ensure your student is present for testing and on time. This year we ask all students to bring in their laptop chargers and laptops a few days prior to testing for setup. Please keep this on your radar as we partner together for a successful SOL season. 

3rd Grade: 

• Tuesday, May 2 Reading SOL 
• Tuesday, May 9 Math SOL

4th Grade:

• Wednesday, May 3 Reading SOL
• Wednesday, May 10 Math SOL

5th Grade:

• Thursday, May 4 Reading SOL
• Thursday, May 11 Math SOL 
• Thursday, May 18 Science SOL

6th Grade:

• Friday, May 5 Reading SOL
• Friday, May 12 Math SOL 

2.Celebrations of Lexia!

42 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1611= Lexia Certificates given this year!

73% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need a true picture of what they have learned so that teachers can best support. Assisting students will alter weekly learning results.

Practice Lexia at home: 

• Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
• Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.
• Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

3.Read Across America Bingo Challenge and Pajama Day!   

Read Across America Bingo Board will be in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day begins on March 2nd until April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

• Pajama Day: Kickoff on Read Across America Day is Thursday, March 2nd  

• Wear your favorite pajamas and bring in a stuffed animal (that can fit into a backpack)

4.Heritage Night at Fairfax Villa!

We are so excited to bring back our beloved Heritage Night! The first step in making this event amazing is YOU! Share your knowledge of countries or cultures with our community by hosting a table at our event, and or participating in a fashion or talent show. Participant details will be sent to you after you sign up as a culture host. Click Here To Sign Up For Heritage Night. 

When: Friday, March 24th, 2023 6pm - 8pm

Where: FVES Gym

This is a free event for our FVES students, their families and school staff!

5.Score Reporting To Families

Results from completed academic screenings will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Hachwi [email protected]. 

Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent by the end of March.

5.Score Reporting To Families

Results from completed academic screenings will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Hachwi [email protected]. 

Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent by the end of March.

Mrs. VonAncken’s class is working hard on their algebra individually and in small groups!

6.Kindergarten and New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

• Completing the online intake form
• Emailing [email protected]
• Calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

7.Tutor.com - Free Extra Help for Students 

FCPS students are able to get free bilingual tutoring help at any time using your Schoology account. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Find out more about Tutor.com here. Potential tutoring possibilities include:

• Reading and math practice/support
• Write computer programs
• Study for the SAT
• Receive feedback on scholarship essays

8.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If you’d like to purchase new spirit wear, please reach out to our PTA.

Ms. Sheridan’s class is working on root words during their language arts time!

9.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

10.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

11.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

2/20: George Washington’s Birthday (Holiday For Staff and Students)

2/23:  PTA Garden Club: Viewing of “Hometown Habitat”

2/24: Woodson HS International Night

2/27: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

3/2: Read Across America Day

3/2: 2 Hour Early Student Release, 2PM

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

3/7: Fairfax Villa ES Spirit Night at Chipotle! 

3/10: Student Pictures 

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Celebrations of Lexia

2. Read Across America Bingo Challenge

3. Score Reporting To Families

4. Kindergarten and New Student Registration

5. Woodson HS International Night
6. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
7.  PTA Garden Club: Viewing of “Hometown Habitat”
8. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
9. Fairfax Villa Contacts
10. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
11. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

  1.Celebrations of Lexia!

65 = Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1560= Lexia Certificates given this year!

71% =  Students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need a true picture of what they have learned so that teachers can best support. Assisting students will alter weekly learning results.

Practice Lexia at home: 

• Log onto https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal using their FCPS Google account.
• Click on the Lexia icon. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia.
• Students can also login to Lexia through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then Lexia.

Ms. Wright’s 1st graders are practicing their coding skills!

2.Read Across America Bingo Challenge:   

Read Across America Bingo Board will be in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st. 

• Read Across America Day begins on March 2nd until April 12th. 
• Your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!  Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  
• Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

Ms. Eib’s class, among many others, were dressed and ready for the 100th day of school!

3.Score Reporting To Families

Results from completed academic screenings will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Hachwi [email protected]. 

• Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent by the end of March.

4.Kindergarten and New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann to allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!

Register your child by May 31, 2023:

• Completing the online intake form
• Emailing [email protected]
• Calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023

Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Fairfax Villa ES.

5.Woodson HS International Night

Click image to expand - https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/VAEDUFCPS/2023/02/02/file_attachments/2399141/3.jpg?

Join Woodson in celebrating cultures with food, performances, and more!

February 24th from 5-9pm | Questions? Contact: [email protected]

6.Tutor.com - Free Extra Help for Students 

FCPS students are able to get free bilingual tutoring help at any time using your Schoology account. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Find out more about Tutor.com here. Potential tutoring possibilities include:

• Reading and math practice/support
• Write computer programs
• Study for the SAT
• Receive feedback on scholarship essays

7. PTA Garden Club: Viewing of “Hometown Habitat” Wondering what you can do to help save the earth?

You are invited to attend a free showing of Hometown Habitat - Stories of Bringing Nature Home on Thursday February 23 at 7pm in the Fairfax Villa Library.  Through its profile of 7 hometown habitat heroes, this film will help to inspire you to become a habitat hero and your efforts can add up! Hosted by the Fairfax Villa PTA, parents--this is not a drop off event.  *light refreshments provided​*

8.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If you’d like to purchase new spirit wear, please reach out to our PTA. 

9.Important Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

10.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

11. Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Woodson Pyramid Virtual Parent Substance Use Education Night

February 15, 2023 at 7pm

• Meet the substance Abuse Prevention Specialists (SAPS) for the Woodson Pyramind
• Learn about risk factors for adolescent substance misuse, various drugs, prevention strategies and resources

For questions, contact [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Woodson Pyramid Virtual Parent Substance Use Education Night

February 15, 2023 at 7pm

• Meet the substance Abuse Prevention Specialists (SAPS) for the Woodson Pyramind
• Learn about risk factors for adolescent substance misuse, various drugs, prevention strategies and resources

For questions, contact [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

2/9: Frost Family Festival 5:30 PM

2/13: 100th Day of School 

2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

2/16: PTA Meeting

2/20: George Washington’s Birthday (Holiday For Staff and Students)

2/24: Woodson HS International Night

2/27: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

3/2: Read Across America Day

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

3/7: Fairfax Villa ES Spirit Night at Chipotle! 

3/27: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Cup of Cheer 
2. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
3. Updated POG Communication News
4. Kindness / Color Spirit Week
5. Read Across America Bingo Challenge
6. The Science of Reading
7. Score Reporting To Families
8. Drug Education Information Night For Parents
9. Woodson HS International Night
10. Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families
11. Kindergarten Registration
12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
13. Fairfax Villa Contacts
14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/VAEDUFCPS/2023/02/02/file_attachments/2399117/unnamed.png?

1.Cup of Cheer 

Send some love and help support the 6th grade!

Purchase a Cup of Cheer and send it to anyone at the Villa (students or staff members).  Each Cup of Cheer includes a heart lollipop, hot cocoa mix and your personalized message.  

The cost is 3 for $10 or $4 each.  

All proceeds go towards the 6th grade graduation luncheon.

Pink order forms/tags went home in last week’s Wednesday Folder.  Return the personalized message tags to the office with your cash or check payment (checks made out to Fairfax Villa PTA, with 6th grade in the memo).

DEADLINE TO PLACE ORDERS IS MONDAY, FEB. 13

Cups of Cheer will be delivered the week of Valentine’s Day.  

On the tags, please put the receiver’s name and teacher so that we can deliver your cheer to the correct person.

If you need more tags, please contact Julie Scoville in the office at 703/267-2800.

2.Celebrations of Lexia!

57 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1481= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

69% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 69% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 31% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar. 

3.Updated Portrait Of a Graduate (POG) Communication News

Students have been working on their POG Communicator Skills in music classes over the past several weeks.  In Mrs. Hood’s 6th grade classes, students were given the choice to create a soundscape to a poem or write a story based on a selected piece of music.  Students used their communicator skills of using technology to find and share ideas by using WeVideo to create a video presentation of their work.  They also demonstrated the skill of writing to share ideas when writing their stories and making connections to what they heard when choosing instruments to accompany the poem that they chose.

Ms. Rivera’s 3rd graders are learning about Egyptian contributions such as the pyramids, jewelry, and poetry!

4.Kindness / Color Spirit Week

February 13th-17th is Kindness Week! To celebrate, the Fairfax Villa SCA is sponsoring a Color Spirit Week. On each day, we encourage our students to wear the following colors and practice putting kindness into action!

 

Monday - GREEN for GRATITUDE: Say thank you to three people today!

Tuesday - RED FOR SELF LOVE: Think of something that makes you special, unique, or talented!

Wednesday - YELLOW FOR POSITIVITY: Keep a positive attitude even when it might be hard!

Thursday - ORANGE FOR HELPFULNESS: Find a way to be helpful today!

Friday - FAVORITE COLOR DAY: Celebrate the fact that we are all different, and that is what makes the world beautiful!

5.Read Across America Bingo Challenge: 

Please be on the lookout for the Read Across America Bingo Board in your child’s Wednesday folder on March 1st.   From Read Across America Day on March 2nd until April 12th, your child can complete squares on the reading bingo board for cool magnetic bookmarks!   Rows, columns, diagonals all win!  Please see Mrs. Case in the Library when you have BINGO to claim your bookmark!  Your child can find an electronic copy here:  Read Across America 2023 Bingo Challenge

Ms. Luecke’s small groups are working on decodable text during their Dragon Time!

6.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

Ms. D’Alessandro’s class is eager to practice phonics with the vowel team “are”.

7.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Noor Hachwi [email protected]. 

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

• Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent to parents by FCPS by the end of March.

8.Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Click Image to RSVP - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUWKpGkn_a2-_HzzpZM3nhRRqSqJ-ZHIPXTvPiqxklUu9Fzg/viewform?usp=sf_link?

9.Woodson HS International Night

Join Woodson in celebrating cultures with food, performances, and more!

February 24th, 5-9pm

Enter through Door 4

Ticket: Potluck $5 | Main Show $5

Questions? Contact: [email protected]

Click image to expand - https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/VAEDUFCPS/2023/02/02/file_attachments/2399141/3.jpg?

10. Kindergarten/New Student Registration Calling All New Dragons!

Virginia law requires that all children who will reach their 5th birthday on or before September 30, 2023, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year, unless the parent or guardian notifies the school in writing that they do not wish the child to attend school until the following year. 

If you have a child who will attend Fairfax Villa Elementary next year, and you have not already registered them, please contact Silvia Dossmann, by completing the online intake form, emailing [email protected], or calling 703-267-2801 by May 31, 2023 to allow accurate numbers for staffing or classes next year!

Please spread the word to your neighbors who don’t already have a child at Fairfax Villa ES.

11.Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families 

With Tutor.com through Schoology, FCPS students are able to get learning help at any time, even from bilingual tutors! Students in FCPS meet with tutors thousands of times each week to practice reading, prepare for an upcoming math test, write computer programs, study for the SAT, or to get feedback on scholarship essays–all at no cost to their families! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take just a few minutes to connect with a tutor with your child. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here.

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• There’s not much we can do about the winter weather, but there are two key steps every parent can take to help avoid absences this year: Make back-up plans for bad weather and keep your children healthy.
• Absences, even if they are excused, can add up to academic trouble. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
• Children who miss too much school in kindergarten are less likely to read well by third grade. By middle school, absenteeism can predict who will graduate from high school.
• A study of weather-related absences in Massachusetts found that each missed day affected a student’s test scores and grades. This was especially true on snowy days when school stayed open but some students missed class.
• Please remember, Monday, February 20 is a school holiday.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on Tuesday, February 21.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

 

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

2/8: Winter Band Concert

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

2/13: 100th Day of School (Projected)

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

2/16: PTA Meeting

2/20: George Washington’s Birthday (Holiday For Staff and Students)

*2/24: Woodson HS International Night

2/27: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

*3/2: Read Across America Day

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW:Farewell and Thank You!
2. Upcoming Event for 6th Grade Families
3. Cup of Cheer 
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. Updated POG Communication News
6. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. Score Reporting To Families
10. Drug Education Information Night For Parents
11. Woodson HS International Night
12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
13. Fairfax Villa Contacts
14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Farewell and Thank You!

From Barbara Schmidt, our School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS) and School Testing Coordinator:

As I retire from education, FCPS, and Fairfax Villa this week, I want to thank the Villa families with whom I have had the pleasure of working with for the past 14 years! Your children have made this job such fun and I have enjoyed getting to know them and so many of our wonderful families. Working with each of you has given me great pleasure. As I leave Fairfax Villa, I know I will always have a special place in my own heart for the “Small School With a Big Heart!” I wish you all the very best.

Coming in as our next SBTS is Noor Hachwi. Although Ms. Hachwi  is new to the SBTS world, she has lots of tech experience and innovative ideas. She most recently worked as a Student Programs Recruiting Coordinator for Amazon;  before that, she was a Health/PE teacher at Bull Run ES and Liberty MS where she infused technology into all of her lessons and mentored other teachers on technology. With a BA in Communication from George Mason University and a M.Ed in Teacher Leadership from the American College of Education, she  is excited  to join the Villa staff and support your children  with their technology and testing.

Having lived in this area her whole life, Ms. Hachwi attended FCPS schools and graduated from South Lakes HS.  Coming from a large family of 8 children, she has 11 nieces and nephews and enjoys getting together for big family dinners on the weekends. She loves sports, games,  and working out! Please join us in welcoming Ms. Hachwi to the Villa family!

2. Upcoming Event for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year took place virtually on January 26th. During this event, students and families heard from administration and school counselors who provided an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  A recording of the event is on the Frost Student Services website here.

3.Cup of Cheer    

Send some love and help support the 6th grade!

Purchase a Cup of Cheer and send it to anyone at the Villa (students or staff members).  Each Cup of Cheer includes a heart lollipop, hot cocoa mix and your personalized message.  

The cost is 3 for $10 or $4 each.  

All proceeds go towards the 6th grade graduation luncheon.

Pink order forms/tags went home in last week’s Wednesday Folder.  Return the personalized message tags to the office with your cash or check payment (checks made out to Fairfax Villa PTA, with 6th grade in the memo).

Cups of Cheer will be delivered the week of Valentine’s Day.  

On the tags, please put the receiver’s name and teacher so that we can deliver your cheer to the correct person.

If you need more tags, please contact Julie Scoville in the office at 703/267-2800.

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/VAEDUFCPS/2023/02/02/file_attachments/2399117/unnamed.png?

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

60 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1398= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

68% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 68% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 32% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar.

5.Updated Portrait Of a Graduate (POG) Communication News

Students have been working on their POG Communicator Skills in music classes over the past several weeks.  In Mrs. Hood’s 6th grade classes, students were given the choice to create a soundscape to a poem or write a story based on a selected piece of music.  Students used their communicator skills of using technology to find and share ideas by using WeVideo to create a video presentation of their work.  They also demonstrated the skill of writing to share ideas when writing their stories and making connections to what they heard when choosing instruments to accompany the poem that they chose.

Ms. Rivera’s 3rd graders are learning about math by BEING math - can you find the point, angle, and line?

6.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 
• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.
• Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent to parents by FCPS by the end of March.

10.Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Click Image to RSVP - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUWKpGkn_a2-_HzzpZM3nhRRqSqJ-ZHIPXTvPiqxklUu9Fzg/viewform?usp=sf_link?

11.Woodson HS International Night

Join Woodson in celebrating cultures with food, performances, and more!

February 24th, 5-9pm

Enter through Door 4

Ticket: Potluck $5 | Main Show $5

Questions? Contact: [email protected] 

Click image to expand - https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/VAEDUFCPS/2023/02/02/file_attachments/2399141/3.jpg?

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Noor Hachwi, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected] 

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• There’s not much we can do about the winter weather, but there are two key steps every parent can take to help avoid absences this year: Make back-up plans for bad weather and keep your children healthy.
• Absences, even if they are excused, can add up to academic trouble. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
• Children who miss too much school in kindergarten are less likely to read well by third grade. By middle school, absenteeism can predict who will graduate from high school.
• A study of weather-related absences in Massachusetts found that each missed day affected a student’s test scores and grades. This was especially true on snowy days when school stayed open but some students missed class.
• Please remember, Monday, February 20 is a school holiday.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on Tuesday, February 21.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

1/25: Two-hour early release at 2:00 PM

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/26: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation

*1/31: Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive Deadline 

2/8: Winter Band Concert

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

2/13: 100th Day of School (Projected)

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

2/16: PTA Meeting

2/20: George Washington’s Birthday (Holiday For Staff and Students)

2/22: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

*3/2: Read Across America Day

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW:Two-hour early release tomorrow
2. NEW:Read Across America!
3. Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. NEW: Updated POG Communication News
6. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. Score Reporting To Families
10. Drug Education Information Nights For Parents
11. Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive
12. Woodson HS Dessert on Broadway 
13. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
14. Fairfax Villa Contacts
15. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
16. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Two-hour early release tomorrow

This will be a short week for students.  Wednesday, January 25th, will be a two-hour early release for students, with school dismissal being at 2:00 PM.  Thursday, January 26th, and Friday, January 27th, are staff development and teacher workdays, and there will be no school for students on those days.

2.Read Across America

Students and staff will kick-off our month-long love of literacy on Read Across America Day (Thursday, March 2nd)!   On March 2nd, students will have a schoolwide Read-In and can wear their PJs and bring a stuffed animal (that can fit into their backpack) to read with at school.   Throughout March, classes will participate in read-alouds of books that reflect diverse readers and have opportunities to engage in Reading Bingo (boards will be sent on March 1st)  to win bookmarks and be a part of a raffle to win class books.   

Kaitlyn McGrath, Meteorologist for WUSA9, spoke to our 6th graders about weather and how she prepares for her broadcasts.

3.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

17 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1312= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

67% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 67% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 33% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar.

Kaitlyn McGrath, Meteorologist for WUSA9, spoke to our 2nd graders about weather. They had great questions for her!

5.Updated Portrait Of a Graduate (POG) Communication News

Students have been working on their POG Communicator Skills in music classes over the past several weeks.  In Mrs. Hood’s 6th grade classes, students were given the choice to create a soundscape to a poem or write a story based on a selected piece of music.  Students used their communicator skills of using technology to find and share ideas by using WeVideo to create a video presentation of their work.  They also demonstrated the skill of writing to share ideas when writing their stories and making connections to what they heard when choosing instruments to accompany the poem that they chose.

6.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

Kaitlyn McGrath, Meteorologist for WUSA9, shared the features of the eco-hybrid ECO9 car with our 6th graders.

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 
• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent to parents by FCPS by the end of March.

10.Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Click Image to RSVP

11.Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive

The deadline for donations to this has been extended to January 31st! Please check your closets and send in your worn out shoes!

WUSA9’s eco-hybrid car ECO9 was a big hit with both our 6th graders and 2nd graders. Thanks to meteorologist Kaitlyn McGrath for sharing the exciting features of it with our students.

12.Woodson HS Dessert on Broadway

Click image to purchase tickets

13.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

14.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

15.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

16.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. However, it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

• If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor for guidance. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.

• Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.

• Help your child learn to persevere. Today, they learn to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, they will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to their dreams.

• Please remember, schools are closed on January 26 and 27.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on the following day.  Teachers will be teaching and students will be learning.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

1/25: Two Hour Early Release for Students; End of Quarter Two 

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/26: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation

*1/31: Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive Deadline 

2/8: Winter Band Concert

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

2/13: 100th Day of School (Projected)

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

2/16: PTA Meeting

2/20: George Washington’s Birthday (Holiday For Staff and Students)

2/22: 3rd Grade Family Folk Dance Night

3/3: School Planning Day (Student Holiday)

3/24: International Night Time TBD

4/3 - 4/7: Spring Break

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

4/28: Bingo Night 6:30PM - 8:30PM Cafe

5/5: Glow Party 6:30PM - 8:30PM Cafe 

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Outdoor Learning Classroom
2. Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families
3. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction 
6. Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. UPDATED: Score Reporting To Families
10. Drug Education Information Nights For Parents
11. Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive
12. NEW: Woodson HS Dessert on Broadway 
13. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
14. Fairfax Villa Contacts
15. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
16. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Outdoor Learning Classroom

We have great news!! 

Construction that began on Monday, December 12th on our Outdoor Learning Classroom is now complete!  This is in the courtyard between the K/1st wing and 5th grade classrooms. This week, our  courtyard reopened except for the area where they have planted new grass. We have also placed all 4 picnic tables underneath the outdoor classroom space so that classes can use this space as a learning area.  

This has been a long awaited project and we are so excited for this new space!! At all of the PTA or music events for families to attend in the Spring, the Outdoor Learning Classroom will be open for you to visit.

Kindergartners enjoying their snack in our new Outdoor Learning Classroom!

  2.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

3.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

Our students love working with their teachers!

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

52 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1265= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

66% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 66% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 34% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar.

Look at these kindergartners using their iPads for their Lexia work!

5.Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

6.Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

This year Fairfax Villa will be focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be a good communicator.  One of our School Innovation and Improvement goals states, “By the end of SY 2022-23, 100% of students will demonstrate growth in the POG skill and attribute of a Communicator.” The growth of our students will be measured through POG self-reflections given at the beginning and end of the year scored using the FCPS teacher rubric.

What is POG? In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. 

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

To learn more about the Communicator skill, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/AS7jWbDpdt0

How can parents support POG at home?

7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

• Fall and Winter VGA Scores for reading and math will be sent to parents by FCPS by the end of March.

10.Drug Education Information Night For Parents

Click Image to RSVP

11.Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive

The deadline for donations to this has been extended to January 31st! Please check your closets and send in your worn out shoes!

12.Woodson HS Dessert on Broadway

Click image to purchase tickets

13.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

14.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

15.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

16.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. However, it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

• If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor for guidance. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.

• Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.

• Help your child learn to persevere. Today, they learn to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, they will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to their dreams.

• Please remember, schools are closed on January 16 and January 26 and 27.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on the following day.  Teachers will be teaching and students will be learning.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Holiday for Students and Staff)

*1/17: FCPS Drug Education Information Night for Parents

1/19: PTA Virtual Meeting 7-8:30pm

1/20: Spirit Day: Pajama Day

1/25: Two Hour Early Release for Students; End of Quarter Two 

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/26: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation *Corrected date*

*1/31: Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive Deadline 

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW: Outdoor Learning Classroom
2. Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families
3. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction 
6. Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. Score Reporting To Families
10. Drug Education Information Nights For Parents
11. Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive
12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
13. Fairfax Villa Contacts
14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Outdoor Learning Classroom

We have great news!! 

Construction that began on Monday, December 12th on our Outdoor Learning Classroom is now complete!  This is in the courtyard between the K/1st wing and 5th grade classrooms.  For this week, the courtyard will be closed the entire week for the ground to continue to settle around the paver and mulch projects. Beginning next week (1/17/2023), the courtyard will reopen except for the area where they have planted new grass. We have also placed all 4 picnic tables underneath the outdoor classroom space so that classes can use this space as a learning area.  

This has been a long awaited project and we are so excited for this new space!! At all of the PTA or music events for families to attend in the Spring, the Outdoor Learning Classroom will be open for you to visit.

  2.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

3.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

43 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1181= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

64% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 64% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 36% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar. 

Ms. Miller from Republic Recycling taught our classes more about recycling!

5.Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

6.Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

This year Fairfax Villa will be focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be a good communicator.  One of our School Innovation and Improvement goals states, “By the end of SY 2022-23, 100% of students will demonstrate growth in the POG skill and attribute of a Communicator.” The growth of our students will be measured through POG self-reflections given at the beginning and end of the year scored using the FCPS teacher rubric.

What is POG? In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. 

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

To learn more about the Communicator skill, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/AS7jWbDpdt0

How can parents support POG at home?

 7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

10.Drug Education Information Nights For Parents

___

11.Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive

The deadline for donations to this has been extended to January 31st! Please check your closets and send in your worn out shoes!

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. However, it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

• If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor for guidance. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.

• Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.

• Help your child learn to persevere. Today, they learn to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, they will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to their dreams.

• Please remember, schools are closed on January 16 and January 26 and 27.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on the following day.  Teachers will be teaching and students will be learning.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Holiday for Students and Staff)

*1/17: FCPS Drug Education Information Night for Parents

1/19: PTA Virtual Meeting 7-8:30pm

1/20: Spirit Day: Pajama Day

1/25: Two Hour Early Release for Students; End of Quarter Two 

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/27: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation

*1/31: Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive Deadline 

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW: Outdoor Learning Classroom
2. Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families
3. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction 
6. Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. Score Reporting To Families
10. Drug Education Information Nights For Parents
11. Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive
12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
13. Fairfax Villa Contacts
14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Outdoor Learning Classroom

We have great news!! 

Construction that began on Monday, December 12th on our Outdoor Learning Classroom is now complete!  This is in the courtyard between the K/1st wing and 5th grade classrooms.  For this week, the courtyard will be closed the entire week for the ground to continue to settle around the paver and mulch projects. Beginning next week (1/17/2023), the courtyard will reopen except for the area where they have planted new grass. We have also placed all 4 picnic tables underneath the outdoor classroom space so that classes can use this space as a learning area.  

This has been a long awaited project and we are so excited for this new space!! At all of the PTA or music events for families to attend in the Spring, the Outdoor Learning Classroom will be open for you to visit.

  2.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

3.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

43 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1181= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

64% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 64% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 36% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar. 

Ms. Miller from Republic Recycling taught our classes more about recycling!

5.Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

6.Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

This year Fairfax Villa will be focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be a good communicator.  One of our School Innovation and Improvement goals states, “By the end of SY 2022-23, 100% of students will demonstrate growth in the POG skill and attribute of a Communicator.” The growth of our students will be measured through POG self-reflections given at the beginning and end of the year scored using the FCPS teacher rubric.

What is POG? In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. 

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

To learn more about the Communicator skill, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/AS7jWbDpdt0

How can parents support POG at home?

 7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

10.Drug Education Information Nights For Parents

___

11.Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive

The deadline for donations to this has been extended to January 31st! Please check your closets and send in your worn out shoes!

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. However, it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

• If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor for guidance. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.

• Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.

• Help your child learn to persevere. Today, they learn to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, they will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to their dreams.

• Please remember, schools are closed on January 16 and January 26 and 27.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on the following day.  Teachers will be teaching and students will be learning.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Holiday for Students and Staff)

*1/17: FCPS Drug Education Information Night for Parents

1/20: Spirit Day: Pajama Day

1/25: Two Hour Early Release for Students; End of Quarter Two 

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/27: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation

*1/31: Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive Deadline 

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

*2/15: Woodson  Pyramid  Drug Education Information Night For Parents

4/17: Woodson Pyramid Spring Art Show

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW: Recycling Lesson for Students
2. Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families
3. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan
4. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia
5. Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction 
6. Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa
7. The Science of Reading
8. Tutor.com Free Resources
9. Score Reporting To Families
10. NEW:Drug Education Information Nights For Parents
11. UPDATED:Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive
12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing
13. Fairfax Villa Contacts
14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!
15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.Recycling Lesson for Students

We are excited to let you know that your child will be participating in a recycling mini lesson during their lunch time on Tuesday, January 10th.  Jessica Miller, Recycling Coordinator from FCPS partner Republic Services, will be with your students to share the importance of recycling.

2.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

3.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

4.Celebrations of Lexia!

30 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1114= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

63% = The percentage of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 63% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 37% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar. 

Ms. Choi and her students are working on sounds and writing!

5.Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

6.Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

This year Fairfax Villa will be focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be a good communicator.  One of our School Innovation and Improvement goals states, “By the end of SY 2022-23, 100% of students will demonstrate growth in the POG skill and attribute of a Communicator.” The growth of our students will be measured through POG self-reflections given at the beginning and end of the year scored using the FCPS teacher rubric.

What is POG? In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. 

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

To learn more about the Communicator skill, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/AS7jWbDpdt0

How can parents support POG at home?

 7.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

8.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

9.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

• Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

10.Drug Education Information Nights For Parents

___

11.Fairfax Villa Junior Troop 54072 Shoe Drive

The deadline for donations to this has been extended to January 31st! Please check your closets and send in your worn out shoes!

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. However, it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

• If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor for guidance. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.

• Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.

• Help your child learn to persevere. Today, they learn to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, they will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to their dreams.

• Please remember, schools are closed on January 16 and January 26 and 27.  We are eager to welcome your children back in school on the following day.  Teachers will be teaching and students will be learning.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

 باستخدام كروم (جوجل) ، يمكن ترجمة هذه النشرة بعدة لغات. انقر هنا وسيأخذك إلى صفحة أخرى. في الجزء العلوي من الصفحة ، انقر فوق اللغة التي تفضلها.

이 게시판은 크롬(구글)을 사용하여 여러 언어로 번역될 수 있습니다. 여기를 클릭하시면 다른 페이지로 이동합니다. 페이지 상단에서 원하는 언어를 클릭합니다.

Sử dụng Chrome (google), bản tin này có thể được dịch sang nhiều ngôn ngữ. Nhấn vào đây và nó sẽ đưa bạn đến một trang web khác. Trên đầu trang, hãy nhấp vào ngôn ngữ bạn thích.

10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Important Upcoming Dates

* See information below.

12/19 - 1/2: Winter Break - No School

1/3: School Resumes After Winter Break

1/16: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Holiday for Students and Staff)

1/20: Spirit Day: Pajama Day

1/25: Two Hour Early Release for Students; End of Quarter Two 

1/26 and 1/27: Teacher Workdays (Student Holidays)

*1/26: Rising 7th Grade Virtual Orientation

*2/9: Frost Family Festival

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NEW: Happy Holidays Message

2. NEW: Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

3. Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

4. Laptops and iPads Coming Home Over Winter Break

5. Congratulations to Our Outstanding Staff Members

6. UPDATED: Celebrations of Lexia

7. Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction 

8. Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

9. The Science of Reading

10. Tutor.com Free Resources

11. UPDATED: Score Reporting To Families

12. Monday and Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

13. Fairfax Villa Contacts

14. Be Informed; Stay Involved!

15. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

1.FVES Happy Holidays Message

Greetings Fairfax Villa Families,

December is upon us and with it comes all the excitement that the season brings.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank our students, staff, and  families for their continued support. Our school is truly a small school with a big heart and it is at this time of year when the closeness of friendship shines in everyone's faces.

Similar to last school year, we are so proud of all of our students and staff members for their resilience and their ability to adapt to difficult circumstances. We are happy each day to see our students and staff in our school building.

School is important but so is your health. Please remember to take care of yourself and each other during your winter break. We  wish you all peace, joy, hope, and happiness during this holiday season and throughout the New Year.

Our warmest wishes,

Dave Gerstner, Principal

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist

2.Upcoming Events for 6th Grade Families

Frost Middle School is  eager to begin the upcoming transition activities with their future Frost Falcons!  Please mark your calendars for the  Rising 7th Grade Orientation on January 26th and the Frost Family Festival on February 9th. 

The Rising 7th Grade Orientation is for current 6th grade students who will be attending Frost in the 23-24 school year -  and their parents.  This will take place virtually on January 26th at 6:30 PM. During this event, students and families will hear from administration and school counselors who will provide an overview of Frost Middle School, course selection opportunities, and the selection process.  The link for this event will be sent in January.  A recording of the event will be available for those who cannot attend on the Frost Student Services website here.

Please submit questions you may have about transitioning to 7th Grade at Frost Middle School.   They will do their best to incorporate as many answers to your questions during the orientation. Please use this link to submit questions.

FMS will also be having the Frost Family Festival (in-person) on February 9th beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great opportunity to get a school tour and visit elective classes to help confirm desired course selections.  More information to come!

3.Fairfax Villa/FCPS Inclement Weather Plan

As you have read from the FCPS announcements, the inclement weather procedures for FCPS will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction.

On those days, teachers will have students access a Zoom link from their class Schoology site. We will be starting the day at 10:30 and ending at 2:45 to give a “Family Recess” at the end of the day. There will also be a 45 minute lunch built in from 12:15 - 1:00. All students will have had a practice with their teachers so that all students know how to access the Zoom and what behaviors are expected as to attendance and working.

Please consider bookmarking FCPS' Weather Cancellation Procedures to stay informed in case of winter weather or other emergency situations.

4.Laptops and iPads Coming Home Over Winter Break

In order for students to be able to access Lexia over the Winter Break if they choose to continue learning AND to plan ahead  in case of a repeat of last year’s multi-day snow event, ALL students in grades kindergarten through 6th grade will be bringing their laptops or iPads (for kindergartners) home on Friday, December 16. If you know that your student will NOT be in school on December 16, please be sure to let their teacher know ahead of time. Please make sure that the devices, bags, and any chargers given to students at that time are returned on the first day back to school after the break. 

If you are traveling out of the country, please do not take the FCPS devices with you. 

Need tech help over the Winter Break or anytime? Use the information here. 

5.Congratulations to Our Outstanding Staff Members

We are excited to announce that the following staff members were chosen as being outstanding in their categories in the FCPS Awards Program:

Outstanding New Teacher: Morgan Crain

Outstanding Teacher: Heather Atkinson

Outstanding Professional: Therese Payne

Outstanding Operational Employee: Rodrigo Jackson

Outstanding Leader: Shelia Sobeski

As we work to move them forward in the Woodson Pyramid and then to Region 5, we will be working on nomination packets. If you have any comments or specific examples about these nominations, please send them to our Awards Liaison, Barbara Schmidt, at [email protected].

Ms. Case and this amazing News Team have started broadcasting our daily news show with brand new high-tech equipment. Great job!

6.Celebrations of Lexia!

59 = The number of  Lexia Certificates given this past week!

1017= The number of  Lexia Certificates given this year!

62% = The number of students working at or above grade level!

Parents - ask your child to show you their Lexia Superstar Certificates for the completion of each level!

Congratulations to all of our students who are working hard on their Lexia lessons and making so much progress. At the beginning of the school year, 32% of our students in grades K-6 were working on grade level material in Lexia. We now have 62% of our students working on grade level.  For the other 38% of students, we are also proud of them for working toward their end of the year goal. 

It is VERY important that families do NOT help students with the Lexia lessons. We need for students to do their own learning so that we get a true picture of what they have learned and what teachers need to support them with here at school. Each week, teachers get a report of the areas of growth and lessons that each student needs and, if families assist with Lexia, this will change the learning results. We need students to do the Lexia work themselves so that they will be most successful in their learning. 

Look for a weekly update on our continued Lexia successes!

If your child wants to practice their reading skills with Lexia at home, they can go to https://clever.com/in/fairfax/student/portal

to log into Clever using their FCPS google accounts. They then click on the Lexia icon to get started. It is strongly recommended that our K-6 graders spend 15-30 minutes each night learning with this Lexia program.  Please be aware that they will also be using this program during the school day in one of their language arts blocks.

Another way to get to Lexia is through their Schoology account. After they go to https://lms.fcps.edu/ and log into Schoology, they click on the waffle in the upper right corner, click on Clever, and then they will see their Lexia.

If your child does not have a school issued laptop to use at home, he/she may access Schoology via the FCPS website. Schoology is the first option available in the dark blue toolbar. 

7.Mental Health, Coping, and Addiction

One in four Americans suffer from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

8.Portrait of a Graduate (POG) at Fairfax Villa

This year Fairfax Villa will be focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be a good communicator.  One of our School Innovation and Improvement goals states, “By the end of SY 2022-23, 100% of students will demonstrate growth in the POG skill and attribute of a Communicator.” The growth of our students will be measured through POG self-reflections given at the beginning and end of the year scored using the FCPS teacher rubric.

What is POG? In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. 

A goal of FCPS is to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in more authentic ways. Teachers in FCPS are enhancing learning opportunities to include the attributes of Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical and Global Citizen, Creative and Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.

To learn more about the Communicator skill, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/AS7jWbDpdt0

How can parents support POG at home?

Ms. Atkinson and her students are having a great time learning about the weather!

 

9.The Science of Reading

What is the Science of Reading?  Maybe you’ve heard the term or about Equitable Access to Literacy.  What does this mean for your child’s instruction?  These slides below from FCPS can help support your understanding about our transformation in reading and writing instruction and access to effective literacy practices that are aligned with what we now know about how the brain learns.  When we know better,we do better!  As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions about this shift in our instruction.

To access the slides, please log into your parent Schoology account and look at our Fairfax Villa parent course for the Science of Reading folder. https://lms.fcps.edu/course/6049662884/materials

If you are looking for ways to support your children at home with literacy skills, the Virginia Literacy Partnership (VLP) has a variety of free resources to support families here: https://literacy.virginia.edu/resources-families

Another great family resource from the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and the Atlanta Speech School will help develop literacy skills. This is free but does require signing up. https://www.coxcampus.org/families/

10.Tutor.com Free Resources

Fairfax Villa students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works. 

11.Score Reporting To Families

For the academic screenings that students complete in the fall, score report letters will be generated by FCPS, not each individual school. Most reports can be found in ParentVUE/SIS. If you do not yet have a ParentVUE/SIS account, please contact Ms. Schmidt at [email protected]

• VRKP grades PreK-K will be sent via U.S. Mail before winter break
• iReady grades 1-3 will be sent via U.S. Mail before Thanksgiving
• iReady grades 4-6 will be posted via SIS ParentVUE before winter break 
• Fall VGA scores will be mailed by FCPS to parents the week of December 5 
• Fall CogAT scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on November 30.
• Fall SEL Screener reports are scheduled to be mailed by FCPS in early January. 

NEW: Fall NNAT3 scores were sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 14.

Construction has started on our new Outdoor Classroom! Stay tuned for more updates!

12.Monday & Friday Fairfax Villa Clothing

Students and staff will be wearing the same clothing to kick off and end each week during the 2022-23 school year!

• On Mondays, we will be wearing our Positivity shirts to highlight our character strengths and virtues that we will be learning throughout the school year.  The Boosterthon team distributed these green shirts during the fun run for the past 2 years. The shirts highlight our Villa dragon and Positivity logos on the front of the shirts. 
• On Fridays, we will be showing off our favorite Fairfax Villa spirit wear.  If your son or daughter has outgrown their Fairfax Villa spirit wear clothing, our PTA has some new ones.

13.Fairfax Villa Contacts

Fairfax Villa Main Phone Line: 703-267-2800

Fairfax Villa Attendance Phone Line: 703-267-2828

Fairfax Villa Attendance Link: https://fairfaxvillaes.fcps.edu/attendance-form

Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277

Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines

Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal

FCPS Transportation Phone Line:703-446-2050

Candace Davis, Transportation Supervisor, 703-446-2050, [email protected]

Dave Gerstner, Principal, [email protected]

Shelia Sobeski, Assistant Principal, [email protected]

Karen Wells, Administrative Assistant, [email protected]

Julie Scoville, Office Staff, [email protected]

Silvia Dossmann, Student Information Assistant, [email protected]

Barbara Schmidt, School Based Technology Specialist, [email protected]

14.Be Informed; Stay Involved!

• 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
• Sign up for News You Choose 
• Join the Fairfax Villa PTA
• Report Your Child’s Absence 
• Visit the Fairfax Villa  Website
• Substitute Teaching Opportunities
• Follow Fairfax Villa on Social Media Twitter
• Monitor your student's academics with a SIS Parent Account
• Recognize an FCPS Employee at FCPS Cares
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

15.Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

• Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. It’s time to break that cycle.  Give your child the gift of attendance and help build a habit of attendance.

• We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away and exposing your children to your home and language, whether you grew up in another part of the United States or a different country. The price of plane tickets often influences when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school.

• Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts.  Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning.  But it’s harder to teach and it’s harder to learn when too many students are absent.

• This year, Winter Break is from Monday, December 19 to Monday, January 2.  We hope to see all our students in school through Friday, December 16 and returning to school on Tuesday, January 3.

Would you like a Translated Version of this Bulletin?

Using Chrome (google), this bulletin can be translated in many languages.  Click here and it will take you to another web page.  At the top of the page, click the language you prefer.

Con Chrome (google), este boletín se puede traducir a muchos idiomas. Haga clic aquí y lo llevará a otra página. En la parte arriba, haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

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10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030  |  Main Office: 703-267-2800
Attendance: 703-267-2828 | Web | Twitter