 Storybook Character Day
Falcon Family,
Wow! Today is the end of the first quarter, and it was full of learning, relationship building, and fun! We had a wonderful time celebrating our collective love of literacy on Tuesday for our Storybook Character Day! Our classrooms and hallways were bursting with characters from our beloved fiction stories as well as real-life famous heroes from favorite biographies.
As a reminder, today is an early release (1:35 p.m. dismissal) and there is no school on Monday or Tuesday. We hope you have a lovely long weekend as a family.
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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Today, 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 today, especially for kindergartners and PreK students who must be met at the bus stop in the afternoon.
November Monthly Grade-Level Newsletters
The November monthly grade level newsletters can now be found on our Forestdale website on the Features page. Moving newsletters to our website allows for equitable access to the information for all families in any language. Translate to any language by selecting your native language at the top of the page. (See image below.)
 Daylight Saving Time Ends
Daylight saving time will end Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to "fall back" and move your clocks back one hour!
Family Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 15
FCPS has brought back a special pre-COVID tradition... the family Thanksgiving Luncheon! All schools in FCPS will be hosting this luncheon on Wednesday, November 15. Families are invited to attend.
To accommodate space for family members, class lunch times have been adjusted slightly. Click here to see your child's lunch time that day.
Lunch is free for all Forestdale students. Family members must purchase a ticket for $4.75. Families may pay by adding money to their student's account via MySchoolBucks or purchase a ticket on site the day of the luncheon (cash only).
So that our cafeteria staff may order the right amount of food, we encourage families to RSVP in advance via this link or using the QR code on the flyer below. Thank you!
We look fellowship and community building at our Thanksgiving Luncheon!
 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.
 Action Needed: Federal Impact Aid Survey
On Monday, October 16, the Federal Impact Aid Survey was released electronically to all families through their SIS ParentVUE account. A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household. Survey results help fund our schools. If you do not have a SIS ParentVue account, see directions below. More information about the Federal Impact Aid Survey can be found on the FCPS web here.
ParentVue (SIS)
Still need to activate your SIS/Schoology Parent Account. SIS ParentVue account provides access to view your child’s student information, including attendance, report cards, class schedules, grade book (for Middle and High School students), course history, discipline, health, and school information
Directions to create/activate your Parent Accounts
SIS (ParentVue) Login
To receive your activation code, please contact Ms. Blanca Barrios, registrar, at bibarrios@fcps.edu.
Full Time (Level IV) AAP Referrals Due December 15
Parents or guardians of students in grades 2-6 may initiate the Full-Time AAP (Level IV) screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Program Full-Time Level IV Referral Form to the local school on or before December 15, 2023.
If you missed our Full-Time AAP Screening and Identification Meeting and are interested in learning about the process, please contact Katelyn Spengler at kcspengler@fcps.edu.
For parents/guardians of 2nd grade students:
- 2nd grade students who receive test scores at or above the school benchmark score will be automatically screened for possible placement in the Full-time (Level IV) program. You will be notified by the school if your child will be automatically screened.
- Students whose scores do not place them in the universal screening will not receive notification.
- Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral as there will be no referrals for Full-time (Level IV) screening accepted past the December 15 deadline. No late referrals will be accepted.
- More information and forms are available on the AAP website.
- Referrals are accepted any time before December 15 and you will be notified that your referral has been received.
 Family Resource Center November Events
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The FRC is hosting the following events in November:
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Sibshops: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
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SibTeen: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 1-4 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
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Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair, Thursday, November 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School (Cafeteria).
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Coping Strategies for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress: Part Two (virtual), Friday, November 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
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Funcionamiento Ejecutivo - Ayudando a tus hijos con la organización, la regulación emocional , y la flexibilidad (presentado en español), Friday, November 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
Click the links above to register for the events. For more information, visit the Family Resource Center webpage.
National School Psychology Week
National School Psychology Week is just around the corner! November 6 - 10 celebrates the invaluable contributions of our school psychologists who work tirelessly to support the well-being and success of our students. Thank you to our own Ms. Ukindra Johnson for all of the work she does to support our students! Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists.
 How Can You Help Your Child Have Good Attendance?
Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe at school. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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.
 Forestdale Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Important Dates
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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