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Dear Weyanoke Families,

Thank you for your continued support and advocacy for our school. Last night, the Fairfax County School Board did not vote on the proposal to pilot the new start times at Poe Middle School, Weyanoke Elementary and Annandale Terrace Elementary this fall. The School Board plans to revisit the proposal at a later date. If you would like to learn more information about the work around changing school start times, please visit the Considering a Change to Middle School Start Times website. As always, families are able to reach out to their School Board representative to engage in dialogue around any topics of interest. Weyanoke is part of the Mason District and you can submit a question to our School Board representative, Dr. Ricardy Anderson.

Sincerely,

Felicia Usher

Principal

Weyanoke Elementary School

On early release Mondays, we have a monthly attendance celebration! Every student with perfect attendance for the month earns a certificate. This time, we also honored the students with most improved attendance! Remember that children should come to school every day unless they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting.

SOL Testing Dates

Students in grades 3-5 will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests between April 30 and May 22. It is important that your child attend school on these days. If possible, please avoid scheduling trips or appointments that would take your child out of school during this time period.   If you anticipate that your child will miss school during this window due to observed religious holidays, let your child’s teacher know and we will schedule your child’s tests accordingly. 

It will help your child to perform at their best if they have had a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and come to school with a positive attitude.

Testing Schedule:

• Wednesday, April 30 - Fifth Grade Reading SOL
• Thursday, May 1 - Fourth Grade Reading SOL
• Friday, May 2 - Third Grade Reading SOL
• Friday, May 16 - Fifth Grade Science SOL
• Tuesday, May 20 - Fifth Grade Math SOL
• Wednesday, May 21 - Third Grade Math SOL
• Thursday, May 22 - Fourth Grade Math SOL

April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 44 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.

Free Theater Tickets Theatre 4 Kids Foundation has partnered with Annandale High School to provide an exciting opportunity for elementary students interested in the performing arts! We are offering 20 free tickets to Annandale High School's performance of Little Shop of Horrors on May 3 at 7:00 PM. Additional tickets are also available for purchase on the AnnandaleTheatre website  https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15475/annandale-high-school-theatre .  Not only is this a great way for the students to get more acquainted with their future school, it is also a perfect introduction to the theatre program at Annandale High School inspiring students to take a theatre class or be a part of productions in their future school years.  This offer is sponsored by the non-profit organization, Theatre 4 Kids Foundation, run by FCPS high school students with a mission to inspire the next generation of performers, artists, and technicians by providing unforgettable performing arts experiences for students and their families. More information can be found at our website: theatre4kids.org, or email us at theatre4kidsfoundation@gmail.com! If you are interested, please click to complete the Google Form  https://forms.gle/LtKoDP5JhbMzJy2x7 to apply for tickets! Tickets are limited and run out fast!

Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the SEL Screener Results Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.

Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day. Thank you to our front office staff! These wonderful women work hard every day answering calls, welcoming visitors, helping substitute teachers, registering new students, doing our bookkeeping, keeping our staff informed, and much more. We simply could not function without their tireless work! Thank you to Alyssa Nair (Student Information Assistant), Renae Mills (Office Assistant), Dorothy Walsh (Office Assistant), Kim Alverson (Administrative Assistant to the Principal), Stephany Schepers (Family Liaison), Maxi Alfaro (Office Assistant) and Kathy Hood (School Health Aide) who are pictured above.

Protect Your Child from Measles: What You Need to Know

Measles cases continue to rise in the U.S. About 1 in 5 people who get measles end up in the hospital. Measles can cause severe complications like a lung infection (pneumonia), brain inflammation (encephalitis), and possibly death, even with medical care. Symptoms of measles typically include:

• High fever (may spike up to 104°F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• A rash that appears around 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. The rash typically starts on the face and spreads down the body.

The best way to protect a child from measles is by getting two doses of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. 

If you are unsure of your child's vaccination status or your personal vaccination status, talk to your health care provider. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources.

Sleepy Hollow Preschool Now Enrolling

Since 1949, children have been learning through play at Sleepy Hollow Preschool! Come see our exceptional teachers and cooperative preschool community in action!

• Affordable tuition
• Low teacher-child ratios
• Huge, natural playground

Tour Today

703-941-9791

info@sleepyhollowpreschool.org

✅ Share Feedback With County Health Department on School Health Services

The Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite parents/caregivers of FCPS students to participate in a survey on satisfaction with school health room services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, May 5.

School health rooms (clinics) are managed by public health nurses and school health aides. Those staff provide care for students who become sick or injured during the school day, who require medications during the school day, and/or who have a chronic health condition that requires management during the school day.

Additionally, the school health room staff:

• Provide health education, communicable disease prevention, and health screenings.
• Work with schools to help address the root causes of population health disparities so that all students have equitable access to educational and health opportunities.
• Ensure that students have care for minor injuries and illnesses, and chronic health conditions, thus helping to minimize health barriers to learning. 

Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health room services as well as inform future planning for schools. 

Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.  

This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 19. Visit the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage to access the nomination information form. 

Increasing Access to Middle School Algebra 1 

FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence places a focus on successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade. To increase access to Algebra 1 for middle school students, the school division has decided to streamline the criteria for taking Algebra 1 Honors in seventh grade. 

With the simplified criteria, Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) scores are no longer a prerequisite when selecting either Mathematics 7 Honors or Algebra 1 Honors. Although it is not a requirement for advanced math, families may still use the test scores to help decide which level of mathematics their child signs up for. 

Families of students who took the IAAT this winter will receive their score report by the end of this month. Students who were scheduled for the IAAT but did not get to complete the test will have the chance to opt-in for a makeup test at the end of the year. Parents/caregivers will receive information about this makeup testing opportunity. 

Additional information and copies of upcoming family communication can be found on the IAAT webpage.

It’s Time to Talk About Fentanyl: Become Unskippable 

National Fentanyl Awareness Day is Tuesday, April 29. Learn fentanyl facts and how to have short, impactful conversations in a way that teens are more likely to listen. Get everything you need to prepare by visiting the Fentanyl Awareness webpage. Supporting Resources are on the bottom of the page.