GFES Updates--May 17
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.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
Dear GFES Families,On behalf of the entire staff at Great Falls ES, I want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible Teacher Appreciation Week last week. We know the planning, preparation, and effort that goes into making a week like this so special, and we are incredibly touched by your dedication. Knowing that parents went to such lengths to make us feel valued and supported was incredibly heartwarming. It's a powerful reminder of the strong partnership we have with our school community, and the positive impact it has on our students' learning environment.
Thank you again for making Teacher Appreciation Week so memorable. Your generosity and thoughtfulness will fuel our passion for educating our students for weeks to come!
Sincerely,
Sara Harper
May 17 - SCA Spirit Day
May 27 - No School: Memorial Day
May 28 - Great Falls Public Library - Librarian Visit
May 30 - Strings & Chorus Concert, 6:15 pm
May 31 - Field Day
June 3 - Field Day Rain Date
June 4 - Band Concert, 7:00 pm
June 11 - Roadrunner Recognition Ceremony
June 12 - 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 12 - All student medicine must be picked up from clinic
June 12 - Last Day of School, dismissal at 1:35 pm
Click here to read GFES PTA newsletter updates.
Click here to view the 2023-2024 school year calendar.
Click here to view the 2024-2025 school year calendar
For the week ending on May 3, 2024, our overall Chronic Absenteeism rate is 8.3% which is a DECREASE from our 19.1% rate on May 17th of last year. We sincerely appreciate all you're doing to support our ability to keep this rate down.
Please don't hesitate to check ParentVue or call the school should you be interested in knowing your child's absentee data as we end the school year strong!
Message from our ClinicThe school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school June 12th, 2024 at 1 pm. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. However, with parent or guardian permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the school health room. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
Your cooperation will ensure that we can safely give your student, their medication. If you have any questions, please contact your school health room aide, Kerry Franks, at 703-757-2110, or your school public health nurse, Rebecca Postol, at 571-595-6411.
🍧Field DayField day this year will be on Thursday, May 31st. In the event of inclement weather, the rain date will be Monday, June 3rd.
Schedule:
Kindergarten: Staggered start - Couch/Gould @ 9:15, Ambrosini @ 9:45
Grades 1 - 3: 9:00 - 10:45
Grades 4 - 6: 1:00 - 2:45
* We are excited to have Capital Snow snow cone truck join us!
*If you would like to volunteer please click here.
All students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
ACTION REQUESTED: Please provide one of the following immunization documents to the Student Information Assistant (SIA) or Registrar at your child’s school as soon as possible:
- An immunization record showing that the child has received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations listed above.
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the vaccine(s) was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
A notarized Religious Exemption Form, which is available online at: https://bit.ly/VDOEReligiousExemptionForm
😎Register Today for FCPS Summer CampsRegistration for FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA/E-IFTA) camps closes on Friday, June 7. Tuition is waived for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Bus transportation is available from select FCPS high schools and middle schools. Learn more about Summer Learning and Fun for Students.
FCPS 2025 Budget — What’s Happening NextThe next steps in FCPS’ budget process are:
- Tuesday, May 14: School Board holds a public hearing on the budget. Register to speak by 6:30 p.m., on Monday, May 13.
- Wednesday, May 15: Second day of School Board public hearings, if needed.
- Tuesday, May 21: School Board budget work session.
- Thursday, May 23: School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.
For more details on our budget, view FCPS budget documents.
⏰ Share Your Thoughts on Middle School Start TimesAttend a forum to hear about adolescent sleep research from an expert, learn about FCPS’ ongoing middle school start times study, and participate in small group discussions. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Breakout sessions will be held for middle school students to share their voices. Students are encouraged to attend!
Register by clicking on one of the following dates:
- Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
- Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
Dr. Reid's Community ConversationsDr. Michelle Reid has been hosting Community Conversations and Employee Conversations throughout the division since the fall of this school year. She is committed to getting to know our school communities.
The dates for the final two Community Conversations are below. These events provide a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to connect with Dr. Reid, share concerns and ideas. She is there to listen and answer your questions. Your voice is important.
We invite you to register for one of the last two community conversations of the school year. Please register for a time and place that is convenient for you. Pre-registration is not required, but does help us plan.
Upcoming Community Conversations:
May 28, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Katherine Johnson Middle School, 3801 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 - REGISTER HERE
Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.For more information please visit our website.
🎓 Calling All Alumni and Friends!Educate Fairfax is proud to introduce FCPS Alumni & Friends, an online network of alumni, teachers, parents/caregivers, and community members with ties to Fairfax County Public Schools. Whether you are a recent FCPS graduate or you’ve returned to Fairfax to work or raise your own family, this network will celebrate our alumni and friends of FCPS through stories, news and events, reunions, homecoming, and other activities. It’s also a great way to rekindle old friendships and build new ones. Join FCPS Alumni & Friends today!
701 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066 | Phone: 703.757.2100
Attendance: 703.757.2111 or [email protected]