Notes from the Nest

From the Principals’ Desk

This quarter, our SOAR value focus is Accepting. At SEES, being Accepting means creating a school climate where every student feels seen, respected, and like they truly belong.

As part of this work, both staff and students are learning and practicing four simple strategies for speaking up when words or actions may be hurtful or unkind:

Interrupt – Calmly say that the words or actions are not okay.
Question – Ask, “What did you mean by that?” to better understand.
Educate – Explain why certain language or behavior can be hurtful.
Echo – Support others who speak up. There is strength in standing together.

Our staff are learning and modeling these strategies alongside our students. Adults continue to guide conversations, support students through challenges, and ensure that everyone feels safe and cared for. We want students to build confidence in speaking up, while always knowing they have trusted adults ready to help.

We encourage families to talk at home about what it means to be Accepting and how we can all contribute to a school where everyone feels valued.

Together, we continue building a community where all Eagles belong.

With appreciation,

April Martin, Proud Principal & Kassandra Flading, Assistant Principal

Dates & Reminders

March 2 to 6: Read Across America Spirit Week. See flyer below for details. Note: All SEES students will be participating in a schoolwide reading event on Friday, March 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Families who may be picking their students up early on this day are encouraged to do so prior to 3:00 p.m. to avoid delays.
March 5: Spring Picture Day.
March 17: Family Math Night. See flyer below for details!
March 18: PTA Restaurant Night at Silver Diner. Details coming soon.
March 20: Eid al-Fitr Holiday. School is closed for staff and students.
March 25: Three Hour Early Release. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m. unless we have already received notification from their families that they should stay until 4:05 p.m.
March 27: Two-hour early release/End of 2nd quarter. All students will be released at 2:05 p.m.
March 30 to April 3: Spring Break Holiday. School is closed for staff and students.
April 6: Teacher Workday. School is closed for students.
April 10: School Planning Day. School is closed for students.

Click here to see the full 2025-2026 FCPS calendar.

✨ Literacy Spotlight

What’s happened in Fourth Grade Reading this week?

FCPS Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence: Benchmark

Fourth Grade Unit 5 Essential Question

How do we make decisions about developing new technology?

This week, our fourth graders are reading informational texts about how new technologies change society. They are exploring how technology can be both helpful and challenging, and why it can sometimes be controversial. Students are learning how robots are designed to do certain jobs efficiently and how automation continues to affect the way people live and work. They are also discussing what drives new inventions—especially how society’s needs (and other motivations) influence the technologies that are developed and how we decide whether to use them.

➕ Math Spotlight

What’s happened in Third Grade Math this week?

FCPS Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence - Student Centered Engagement

Third Grade Focus for This Week:

In third grade math, students have been working hard solving two-step word problems using addition and subtraction. They’ve been strengthening their problem-solving strategies by carefully reading, identifying key information, and showing their thinking. A special focus has been on mastering subtraction across zeros, and we are so proud of the persistence and growth they’ve shown! As they wrap up this unit, students are excited to jump into unit 8, where they will explore measurement, area, and perimeter—continuing to SOAR by being supportive classmates, optimistic learners, accepting of challenges, and responsible mathematicians each day.