 Field Trip Fun
Falcon Family,
It's hard to believe that we have one week left of the first quarter! The beginning of the year has been full of amazing learning opportunities for our Falcons. During the month of October, our fourth, fifth, and sixth graders have all had an incredible time venturing out of the classroom and into the world of hands-on learning through exciting field trips. Fourth graders were attended a FCPS-wide field trip to the Kennedy Center for a National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) concert. Our sixth graders participated in an FCPS field trip to the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery. Our fifth graders went to Riverbend Park. In addition to representing Forestdale well with their exemplary behavior in these formal settings (they received compliments from division personnel!), our students were actively engaged, asking questions and learning in a fun, interactive way. Field trips have proven to be a fantastic way to complement classroom learning, and we look forward to more exciting adventures for other grade levels in the months to come!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. As always, we are grateful for your continued support and partnership.
Your partners in education,
Mrs. Jennifer Cunneen, Proud Principal
Dr. LaDonna Tate, Proud Assistant Principal
Calendar Reminders
Please note the upcoming calendar reminders:
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Friday, November 3 is the end of the first quarter and a 2 hr. early release (1:35 p.m.). (Ms. Annie's AM ECCB preschool class dismisses at 11:10 a.m. Ms. Sanela's PM ECCB class does not come to school.)
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Monday, November 6 is a school planning day and student holiday (no school) for the end of the first quarter.
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Tuesday, November 7 is a teacher workday and student holiday (no school) for Election Day.
Please make sure you have made arrangements for the early release on Friday, especially for kindergartners and PreK students who must be met at the bus stop in the afternoon.
 Storybook Character Spirit Day: October 31
The Student Council Association will be hosting a Storybook Character Day on Tuesday, October 31 (this is a date change from the originally published date of October 27). Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite book character.
To support students’ feelings of safety and security in our building, violent or frightening character outfits are not acceptable. No masks, weapons, or dangerous-looking items will be permitted to accompany an outfit.
Please talk with your child about how he or she would like to participate in this event, and mark your calendars! This is a great opportunity to read a book together and to talk about characters in the book and their role in the story. Having this discussion at home will support your student sharing about their character with their class. Please do not buy a book character outfit! Just do your best to gather an assortment of hats, clothing, or other props to create a simple homemade character outfit.
We look forward to seeing our favorite book characters at school!
*DATE CHANGE* Virtual Title I Annual Meeting
*Please note the new date!*
The FCPS Title I Team is hosting a virtual meeting on Monday, October 30 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. During this meeting you have the opportunity to learn more about Title I in FCPS and at Forestdale. Join via this Zoom Link, which can also be found on the flyer below.
Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Next Friday is the the end of the quarter! At the end of the quarter and into November, parents and guardians will be participating in parent-teacher conferences. This is a valuable time to connect with your child’s teacher and to learn about how he or she is progressing. To prepare for this conference, we recommend:
- Talk with your child before the conference. Ask them what they think the teacher will say. Talk about any likes, dislikes, problems, and successes.
- Think about what you want to learn from the conference. Make a few notes. They help all of us stay focused!
- Ask the teacher to explain anything you don’t understand. We are in a profession of acronyms—SOLs, PPG, IEP, CORE, DSA. No question is a foolish one.
- Be prepared to talk and listen. Tell the teacher what you see at home. Talk about your child’s interests. Tactfully talk about any concerns. Let us know about anything that might affect your child’s learning at school. Sometimes the smallest changes at home have an impact on your child at school.
- Follow up. Stay in touch. If you think of a question you didn’t ask, write a note to the teacher. Remember that the teacher is also anxious to please. Try to mention a bright spot in your child’s program. If there are issues, listen carefully to the concerns and ask probing questions. Sharing issues can be difficult for both teachers to convey and parents to hear.
If you have not scheduled a conference with your child’s teacher, now is the time to do so. We hope you find the end-of-the-quarter conferences informative and an important step to your child’s continued success in school!
Nominate an Outstanding Forestdale Employee
Nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! What better way to celebrate a Forestdale staff member then to recognize their "heart work." To submit a nomination for a Forestdale Falcon Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 17.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Jeanne Igo at jligo@fcps.edu.
 Join us for our Veterans Day Assembly on November 10
Come join us on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. to celebrate and honor veterans. The Veteran’s Day Assembly will start at 9:15 a.m. This morning of celebration will include learning about the reason Veterans Day is celebrated and the annual tradition of placing flags in our front lawn!
Are you a veteran? Are you an active member of the military? We would welcome an opportunity to listen to your story about what Veterans Day means to you. Please contact us at (703)313-4300 or by completing this form (completando este formulario) by Wednesday, November 8 to let us know if you would like to be introduced to our Forestdale Falcons and if you would like to share a few words with them.
 Impact Aid Surveys Due November 16
The Impact Aid Program is a federal grant program designed to directly compensate local school districts that have been financially impacted by federal activities. The program's mission is to reimburse local school districts for local revenues lost due to the presence of federally owned and therefore tax-exempt property. Your support in identifying students with federal connections will ensure that FCPS can obtain its fair share of grant funds from this program.
For the first time, surveys will be available online this year. Please log into ParentVue from October 16 - 30, 2023. Once logged in, please select the “Online Packets” tab at the top, then select “2023-2024 Federal Impact Aid Survey” from the dropdown menu. Click the ‘Begin Registration’ Button.
Any surveys not completed by October 30 will be sent home in Wednesday folders. Please be sure to complete and sign the survey, then have your child return the original (fax or email copies may not be sent) to their teacher no later than Thursday, November 16th.
For questions regarding the Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid, please call 703-329-7750 or email ImpactAid@fcps.edu or visit https://www.fcps.edu/impact. Additional information about Impact Aid programs and grants is available on the U.S. Department of Education's website at DoED Impact Aid Programs.
Have questions or need a ParentVue account? Please contact the Ms. Blanca Barrios, registrar, or the school office at (703)313-4300 for assistance.
Have a ParentVue account, but need assistance? Complete this Help Request Form: https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/parent/.
Grade 6 After-School Robotics Club
Sixth grade students are invited to join our free after-school robotics club. The club is held after school on Fridays starting in November. Families must provide their own transportation home. Click here or scan the QR code in the flyer below to sign up. For more information or questions, contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Claudia Flores, at (571)205-6292 or at clflores1@fcps.edu.
Tips to Help Keep Children Safe
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) reminds parents and caregivers that it’s important to talk to your children about safety topics including:
- What parents should know about their children’s plans.
- Having a meeting spot in case of getting separated.
- Establishing safe areas.
- What to do if you are followed.
Visit the FCPD website for more details on how to discuss safety topics.
 Conversing with Teens about Substance Use
Within this society’s culture sometimes we avoid talking about topics that make us uncomfortable but can be both lifesaving and changing, such as finances and drugs. Are there things that would have really made a difference in some of your experiences if known when younger, that can be shared with your teenager now? Here’s a few tips for talking about substance use and misuse with your teenager.
Avoid:
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Overgeneralizations/horror stories
- Ex: “People who use drugs go to jail and end up homeless.” -That is not true for most people.
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Sharing about how you used to do drugs
- Ex: “I smoked in high school, so I understand wanting to experiment.” - The THC content in marijuana is much higher than when you may have used.
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Having loose boundaries
- Ex: “It’s okay if you do it at home, but not anywhere else.” -This creates a gray area and demonstrates an acceptance for not following rules and established boundaries.
Tips:
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Have a united front or if alone be consistent. Both parents need to communicate the same message. No good cop, bad cop.
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Recognize addiction in your family. Speak the unspoken. Share information that could help your teen make an informed decision about “playing with fire” since they’re genetically predisposed.
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Set a desired outcome for the conversation. What do you want your teen to understand before you start the conversation?
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Focus on their health as important and a concern versus behavior. Avoid finger pointing literally and figuratively.
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Set firm expectations & boundaries. Clearly explain what is and isn’t acceptable for your household and the associated consequences.
- Keep a “cool head.”
- Withhold judgment.
- Be direct.
- Be prepared for your teen’s reaction.
Resources:
Helpful Info to Quit Vaping
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Knowing the signs of Substance Abuse
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at (571) 423-4270.
For further information & support:
Kori Joseph, MA, CSAC
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
KTJoseph@fcps.edu
 Calendar Reminders: Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day
Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2, are observance days this year. Watch this video to learn more about Día de los Muertos.
The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.
See the complete school year calendar.
Important Dates
October 29
Volunteer Opportunity: Marine Corp Marathon Clean-Up, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
October 30 (DATE CHANGE)
Virtual Title I Annual Meeting, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
October 31
Storybook Character Spirit Day
November 2
End of the First Quarter, 2 hr. Early Release (1:35 p.m.)
November 5
Daylight Savings Time Ends (Set clocks back one hour)
November 6 & 7
Staff Development Day & Teacher Workday, no school
Election Day
November 10
Veterans Day Assembly, 9:00 a.m.
November 15
Family Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 16
Impact Aid Surveys due for all students
Progress Reports go home
November 17
Outstanding Employee Award Nominations due
November 22-24
Thanksgiving Break, No School
See the complete FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar.
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