It's been another great week of learning at Bonnie Brae. This week parents and caregivers had an opportunity to hear about FCPS’ advanced academics continuum of services on Wednesday morning. Thank you to those who were able to attend, and to Ms. Sheehan, Ms. Sorenson, and Ms. Sloane for presenting.
Great information below on Bonnie Brae's outstanding employee nominations, and the upcoming PTO Fall Festival, which takes place next Friday, October 24. Please take a look at the PTO section, and consider signing up to support this fun community event!
A reminder there is no school on Monday, October 20 in observance of Diwali.
Enjoy the weekend with your family and friends.
Morgan Birge, Principal
Rose Stephens, Assistant Principal
Natalie Vershaw, Assistant Principal
Family. Relationships. Success.
October 20 - Diwali Holiday (no school for students and staff)
October 24 - PTO Fall Festival/Dance, 6-8 PM
A few amazing highlights that happened this week...
Our Scotties are all smiles arriving at school for a day of learning!
During this week's three-hour early release day, students worked together to create structures using Legos.
Picture Make-Up Day is Thursday, October 30 for students who were absent on our September picture day, are new to Bonnie Brae, and for students who need a retake. Please visit our Bonnie Brae Make-Up Picture Day webpage for more details.
Students wanting a retake need to bring their original order to the photographer on Thursday, October 30.
If a student is new to Bonnie Brae or was absent on our September picture day, they should also plan on having their picture taken on October 30.
There will also be an opportunity to order pictures once the picture proofs are available online. If you have any questions, please email underclass@vosphoto.com.
October SCA Spirit Day - Costume Day
We are excited that once again this year our SCA spirit day on October 31 will be…Costume Day! As students begin to prepare for Costume Day, please keep the following guidelines in mind.
Costumes must:
Be appropriate for school.
Be respectful to all cultures.
Refrain from themes of violence.
Not have any weapons.
Have faces visible (health related face coverings are acceptable).
Allow for full participation in the day.
Not be bulky so that it would interfere with learning (self or others).
Veterans Day Breakfast & Classroom Visits
Bonnie Brae is excited to be able to host the Veteran's Day Breakfast and Read Aloud event on Friday, November 7th beginning at 8:40 AM in the cafeteria for Bonnie Brae families and staff who currently serve or have served in the armed forces. We extend a warm invitation to our honored veterans to start their day with a delicious meal, followed by a special opportunity to read a book and share their stories with our students. It's a chance for our students to learn, connect, and express their gratitude. If you can submit a photo, join us for breakfast, or visit a classroom, please complete this google form. We will use photos submitted from the community to create a slideshow both for the event and for our Bonnie Brae Bark News Show to share with students.
Donations/Volunteers Needed for Veterans Day Breakfast
To make this event truly special, we kindly request breakfast donations from our generous community. Let's come together to celebrate our heroes and the values they embody. Please consider signing up by Tuesday, November 4th to help make this event a success. Thank you!
Outstanding Employee Nominations
Each fall, Fairfax County Public Schools acknowledge Outstanding Employees. The recognition of outstanding employees begins at individual schools and then employees may be further recognized in their region and in the entire county. Nominations are now open for the Bonnie Brae community to recognize outstanding Scottie Staff. Bonnie Brae families are invited, along with school staff, to nominate outstanding employees in the categories listed below. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. Please review the list below to see categories and criteria for nominations. Nominations should be submitted using this Google form. Thank you for helping us to acknowledge great work at our school!
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: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has up to 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 (that is not the building principal). Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals.
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).
***Deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 3.***
Dropping Off or Picking Up Your Children - Parking Guidelines
All families need to park in designated parking spots when dropping off or picking up their children from school (during school hours, from after school clubs, or at SACC).
Cars cannot be parked in the bus loop/fire lane. Parking in the bus loop/fire lane obstructs the path of buses and poses a significant safety hazard.
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit the FCPS website for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school and your child’s [teacher or teachers] so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long.
Uncovering Characters in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about why characters matter. Students in K-5 will be learning about different characters, and how they shape stories and face challenges. Grade six students will learn about how characters are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
Question: How does the way you act change the way people think about you?
Activity: Pretend you are a talk show host and interview your child as if they are the main character of their favorite book.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website. Click to edit this placeholder text.
Elementary Language Arts Grades
You might notice that your student's progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) look a little different. This is happening because we've brought in a new curriculum and new ways to check on learning (assessments), and there are new state guidelines called the VDOE Standards of Learning.
FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the big skills they need by the very end of the school year. Think of it like going on a journey. It’s challenging at first, but on your journey, you learn your way — and maybe even a few shortcuts!
First quarter grades may seem lower than usual as students work hard to reach grade-level mastery.
Please know that this is a positive, expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they grow and achieve. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards!
Federal Impact Aid Survey Available Online Starting October 21
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible. Even though all parents who have access to ParentVue can see the Impact Aid Form, only the enrolling parent can fill it out.
We will send home paper forms starting November 12 to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE,
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Red Ribbon Awareness Open House for Families!
Fairfax County Public Schools is hosting a special Red Ribbon Awareness Open House. Families will learn about the tools and information they need to talk to their kids about drugs and substance use.
When and Where?
Date: Tuesday, October 24
Time: Noon–2 PM
Location: The Family Resource Center, Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library (2334 Gallows Road, Room 100, Dunn Loring, VA 22027)
What Information And Tools Will Be Shared?
Practical communication strategiesso families can talk openly and confidently with children about drugs.
Up-to-date, age-appropriate information on common substances of abuse.
NARCAN training will also be offered.
No registration is needed!
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
Thursday, November 6
Tuesday, November 18
Wednesday, November 19
Thursday, November 20
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
This week is National School Lunch Week, which promotes the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom. View menus for your child’s school to help you plan for the week ahead.
Did you know that families can apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits anytime during the school year?
If a family’s income changes at any point, they may become newly eligible according to federal income guidelines and can apply immediately. This includes income interruptions caused by furloughs, layoffs, or job losses. Once ap