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January 17, 2023

Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,

I hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits. I also hope that you all enjoyed a peaceful, safe, and joyous three-day weekend with family and friends. Yesterday marked the national holiday for Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Many years ago, President Reagan said, “Martin Luther King, Jr. loved unconditionally. He was in constant pursuit of truth, and when he discovered it, he embraced it. His nonviolent campaigns brought about redemption, reconciliation, and justice. He taught us that only peaceful means can bring about peaceful ends, that our goal was to create a loving community.” Thank you, Sleepy Hollow Family, for exemplifying a welcoming, loving, and peaceful community. 

Wishing each of you an amazing and peaceful week filled with unconditional love!

~It isn’t enough to talk about peace.  One must believe in it.  And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal

Library News

Mark your calendars now – the date for our spring in-school book fair has been set!  Our Bookworm Central book fair will be held in the library the week of April 24-28!  Students will browse the fair with their class early in the week and then have an opportunity to make purchases later in the week.  We’ll have a late night on Tuesday 4/25 to welcome families in to the fair as we begin sales.  It’s always an exciting event at our school, so watch for more news as the date gets closer.  Happy reading!

Our Salad Bar is Coming Back!

FCPS salad bars are making a comeback in our elementary schools as part of lunch service in just a few weeks! Elementary schools that had a salad bar prior to the onset of the pandemic and have Title I designation will be prioritized. Sleepy Hollow’s salad bar will be re-introduced on Wednesday, January 25, 2023!

Resources Available for Possible Virtual Learning

In the event of a virtual learning day, the resources below would be helpful to communicate to your school community.

• iPad Resources
• Laptop Resources
• Call the Parent Technology Help Desk: 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS)

Understanding the SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Screener Results

Recently, results from the SEL Screener were sent home. The screener is used to gather information about your student’s perceptions of their skills, relationships, mood, and the school environment. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions (CASEL, 2021). If you would like to understand your child's SEL Screener outcomes, click here for additional information.

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) ,. FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or [email protected].

Tech Adventure Camp Summer 2023

This weekly summer program gives students the opportunity to explore the exciting pathways in Career and Technical Education including STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science.

SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:

• Meet other siblings in a relaxed setting.
• Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
• Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
• Play games and have fun!

Thursday, January 26, 2023  9 a.m.- noon at Providence Community Center

Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services. There is only an in-person option.

Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

Register for January Webinars Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Join us for this important webinar to learn about the social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood.

Webinar Highlights:

• Identify social-emotional skills that develop in early childhood
• Discuss strategies to support children in their social-emotional development
• Explore concepts of attachment, temperament, and self-regulation and their impact on social-emotional development

Presented by Naomi H. Grinney, LCSW, Infant Mental Health Specialist, IMH-E® Clinical Supervisor/Behavioral Health Senior Clinician Infant-Toddler Connection of Fairfax – Falls Church

January 20, 2023 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

Join us to hear about how teachers and school staff are building positive schoolwide and classroom communities through social and emotional learning. 

During this session, families will:

• Learn about the evidence-based Responsive Classroom practices of Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting. 
• Understand how teachers are using these practices to engage students in learning that is challenging, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of the whole child.
• Learn new tips so you can continue these responsive practices at home.

The presenter is Ivette Robles,  FCPS Curriculum Resource Teacher, Office of School Improvement and Supports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Register Now for February Webinars Meet the Author Series: All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann

Cats take a playful look at the world of autism, and these fun feline friends will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with children on the Autism Spectrum.

Join Kathy Hoopmann as she celebrates the diversity within this neurodiverse community by reading from her book and answering audience questions.

Thursday, February 9, 2023, 7 - 8 p.m.

Register for Meet the Author Series All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Neurodiversity at Elementary Schools

How can families partner with schools?

• Strategies to set your child up for success
• How to advocate for your child
• Tools for collaborating with your child's school

February 10, 2023, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist

Register for Neurdoversity at Elementary Schools

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education: An In-Person Workshop

For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.

Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!

It’s never too early or too late to prepare for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult.

• Ensuring the postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.
• You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, short- and long-term postsecondary supports, employment, and postsecondary education considerations, and Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post-school success.
• This event also includes a student/parent panel where members describe their firsthand experiences as they navigated Fairfax County Public Schools and planning for their child’s future. A questions/answer session will follow.
• FCPS Educators register in MyPDE to receive 2 recertification points for attending the entire event

February 15, 2023 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Snow Date: February 22, 2023

Register for Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Supporting Mental Health Through Play

Join us for a 2-part interactive session designed for parents, caregivers, and educators to discover how incorporating more unstructured play & sensory foundational activities to support all young children’s development, including children with special needs and mental health concerns. 

Session #1 Highlights: View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

• The power of unstructured play in creating opportunities to build executive functioning skills
• Differences in play experiences over the past 30-40 years
• Benefits and Ways of incorporating  unstructured play into a child’s day

Session #2 Highlights: View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

• Angie Voss’ “power sensations” (movement & touch) 
• Reflecting on our own temperaments, including sensory preferences, in order to provide a “goodness of fit” for our child or student
• Creating an environment where all young children can thrive

This webinar is presented by Early Childhood Special Education Assistant Director, Amber Gant, with George Mason’s Training and Technical Assistance Center. 

Session 1: February 17, 2023, 10-11:30 a.m.

Session 2: February 24, 2023, 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Supporting Mental Health Through Play

• Sleepy Hollow Website
• Inscribete en  News You Choose
• Siguenos en  Sleepy Hollow on Twitter

Monitorea a tu estudiante y su desarrollo academico en  SIS Parent Account

FCPS Calendars

3333 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044 | Main Office: 703.237.7000
Attendance: 703.237.7097 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

January 9, 2023

Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,

I hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits. We had a pretty amazing first week—2023! It was great being back home with our Dolphin staff and students. We kicked this week off with an assembly. Ms. Jenan A. Mahmood, Educational Program Officer, Sultan Oman-Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, Washington, DC, introduced our 4th and 5th Grade students to the Omani culture through a variety of Arabic games. A special thanks to Mrs. Salih Zienab, Arabic Resource Teacher, for coordinating this learning opportunity for our students. 

As we move forward this week, we cordially invite you to attend our virtual PTA meeting on Thursday, January 12th, at 7:00 p.m. A Zoom link will be sent via eNotify prior to the meeting.

Wishing you a week filled with Amazing Grace, peace, and JOY!

~A joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together.~ Brene Brown

All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal

Library News

Our school library has books in different genres, different languages, and different lengths.  Did you know we also have different formats?  The book’s format is the way the story or information is being presented.  An example is graphic or cartoon format – books in this format can be fact or fiction, long or short, in English or in Spanish . . . but the way it is presented is with panels and speech bubbles.  Another example of format is Verse Novel, which is a fiction chapter book told through poetry.  Stories told in Verse move quickly because of the sparse text, but still tell a fully-rounded story.  One last format to share with you is Choose Your Own Adventure.  These books can be in any genre such as Historical Fiction or Mystery, as well as have factual information, but the book’s format is set up to allow the reader to make a choice about which part of the book will be read next.  Talk with your student to see if they have a preference on the format of their books, and feel free to reach out to our librarian at [email protected] if you want to learn more – happy reading!

Our Salad Bar is Coming Back!

FCPS salad bars are making a comeback in our elementary schools as part of lunch service in just a few weeks! Elementary schools that had a salad bar prior to the onset of the pandemic and have Title I designation will be prioritized. Sleepy Hollow’s salad bar will be re-introduced on Wednesday, January 25, 2023!

Understanding the SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Screener Results

Recently, results from the SEL Screener were sent home. The screener is used to gather information about your student’s perceptions of their skills, relationships, mood, and the school environment. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions (CASEL, 2021). If you would like to understand your child's SEL Screener outcomes, click here for additional information.

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) ,. FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or [email protected].

Tech Adventure Camp Summer 2023

This weekly summer program gives students the opportunity to explore the exciting pathways in Career and Technical Education including STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science.

Virtual Math Week Coming Soon

Come together as a community for students in K-8 for 5 nights the week of January 9, 2023, with delightful math games and stories - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish. 

Through rich story-based mathematics experiences, math week offers families  an opportunity to experience  math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China. 

All content will be available completely free on the website starting January 9, 2023. To access the games, families will be able to simply click on the day of the week and find their child's grade and language. View the website at anytime for explanations and videos.

Families can play for as little as 15 minutes or replay over and over lasting more than an hour on any given night. For families that want to reduce screen time, we will have physical print options for access to the content and games as well.

Use the games and stories on our website or dust off your favorite math game and play it as a family.

Any and ALL math experiences outside of a normal week count. Our goal is for FCPS to experience 1,000,000 minutes of math outside of the school day. Join us!

SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:

• Meet other siblings in a relaxed setting.
• Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
• Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
• Play games and have fun!

Thursday, January 26, 2023  9 a.m.- noon at Providence Community Center

Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services. There is only an in-person option.

Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!

Register for January Webinars Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

All human beings are neurodiverse. There is infinite variation of thinking and experiencing the world due to our identities, experiences, and brain wiring that is a valuable form of human diversity (Büdy, 2021; Singer, 2019). This webinar examines the brilliance and advantages of neurodiversity and the different ways brains may function as it relates to neurodivergence or neurotypicality.

• What is the relationship between neurodiversity and student relationships and engagement? 
• How can we use asset-based language?
• How can we reflect on individual mindsets towards inclusion for all students?

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist.

January 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others. January 13, 2023 at 10 a.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Register online for Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Join us for this important webinar to learn about the social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood.

Webinar Highlights:

• Identify social-emotional skills that develop in early childhood
• Discuss strategies to support children in their social-emotional development
• Explore concepts of attachment, temperament, and self-regulation and their impact on social-emotional development

Presented by Naomi H. Grinney, LCSW, Infant Mental Health Specialist, IMH-E® Clinical Supervisor/Behavioral Health Senior Clinician Infant-Toddler Connection of Fairfax – Falls Church

January 20, 2023 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

Join us to hear about how teachers and school staff are building positive schoolwide and classroom communities through social and emotional learning. 

During this session, families will:

• Learn about the evidence-based Responsive Classroom practices of Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting. 
• Understand how teachers are using these practices to engage students in learning that is challenging, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of the whole child.
• Learn new tips so you can continue these responsive practices at home.

The presenter is Ivette Robles,  FCPS Curriculum Resource Teacher, Office of School Improvement and Supports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

• Sleepy Hollow Website
• Inscribete en  News You Choose
• Siguenos en  Sleepy Hollow on Twitter

Monitorea a tu estudiante y su desarrollo academico en  SIS Parent Account

FCPS Calendars

3333 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044 | Main Office: 703.237.7000
Attendance: 703.237.7097 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

January 3, 2023

Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,

I hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits. As we leave 2022 behind and embark on a new year and chapter in our lives, I hope that 2023 provides us many opportunities to work, learn, build, explore, and create new and wonderful things together. Happy New Year!

Wishing you a week filled with Amazing Grace, peace, joy and happiness!

~Joy is not in things; it’s in us.~ Unknown

~Make joy your compass today.~ Unknown

All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal

A special thanks to all staff members for being that Champion for Children. Please join me in congratulating and recognizing our Sleepy Hollow Outstanding Employees for 2022-2023!

Library News

Did you know our school library carries books in languages other than English?  In addition to some titles in Vietnamese and a few in Arabic, we have over 600 print books in Spanish (and more in eBook form)!  We have Spanish Non-fiction, Biography, Everybody, I Can Read, Fiction, and Graphic Novel.  Many of our English Language Learners also enjoy our Wordless books, in which the whole story is told through pictures and can be read and understood by readers of any language or level.  If you want to talk about what might be a good-fit book for your child, please reach out to our librarian, Mrs. Oswalt, who always welcomes discussions about books!  She can be reached at: [email protected].  Happy reading!

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) ,. FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or [email protected].

Virtual Math Week Coming Soon

Come together as a community for students in K-8 for 5 nights the week of January 9, 2023, with delightful math games and stories - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish. 

Through rich story-based mathematics experiences, math week offers families  an opportunity to experience  math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China. 

All content will be available completely free on the website starting January 9, 2023. To access the games, families will be able to simply click on the day of the week and find their child's grade and language. View the website at anytime for explanations and videos.

Families can play for as little as 15 minutes or replay over and over lasting more than an hour on any given night. For families that want to reduce screen time, we will have physical print options for access to the content and games as well.

Use the games and stories on our website or dust off your favorite math game and play it as a family.

Any and ALL math experiences outside of a normal week count. Our goal is for FCPS to experience 1,000,000 minutes of math outside of the school day. Join us!

Register Now for January Webinars Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

All human beings are neurodiverse. There is infinite variation of thinking and experiencing the world due to our identities, experiences, and brain wiring that is a valuable form of human diversity (Büdy, 2021; Singer, 2019). This webinar examines the brilliance and advantages of neurodiversity and the different ways brains may function as it relates to neurodivergence or neurotypicality.

• What is the relationship between neurodiversity and student relationships and engagement? 
• How can we use asset-based language?
• How can we reflect on individual mindsets towards inclusion for all students?

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist.

January 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others. January 13, 2023 at 10 a.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Register online for Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Join us for this important webinar to learn about the social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood.

Webinar Highlights:

• Identify social-emotional skills that develop in early childhood
• Discuss strategies to support children in their social-emotional development
• Explore concepts of attachment, temperament, and self-regulation and their impact on social-emotional development

Presented by Naomi H. Grinney, LCSW, Infant Mental Health Specialist, IMH-E® Clinical Supervisor/Behavioral Health Senior Clinician Infant-Toddler Connection of Fairfax – Falls Church

January 20, 2023 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

Join us to hear about how teachers and school staff are building positive schoolwide and classroom communities through social and emotional learning. 

During this session, families will:

• Learn about the evidence-based Responsive Classroom practices of Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting. 
• Understand how teachers are using these practices to engage students in learning that is challenging, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of the whole child.
• Learn new tips so you can continue these responsive practices at home.

The presenter is Ivette Robles,  FCPS Curriculum Resource Teacher, Office of School Improvement and Supports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

• Sleepy Hollow Website
• Inscribete en  News You Choose
• Siguenos en  Sleepy Hollow on Twitter

Monitorea a tu estudiante y su desarrollo academico en  SIS Parent Account

FCPS Calendars

3333 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044 | Main Office: 703.237.7000
Attendance: 703.237.7097 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

December 12, 2022

Dearest Sleepy Hollow Family,

We hope this newsletter finds you in the best of health and in great spirits.  A special thank you to our parents, staff, and community members who so graciously supported our Annual Holiday Shop. It was a huge success!

The end of 2022 is rapidly approaching us. As we round out the first half of this fruitful school year, we wish you an amazing and heartfelt holiday season!  We encourage each of you to take time to reflect on the small things and all the goodness in life. Yes, life is filled with ups and downs, disappointments, and challenges—many beyond our control.  Yet, let us embrace each day as a blessing—as a gift. Make lifelong memories together with your friends and family. Throughout this holiday season and every day of the coming year, we wish you peace, love, HOPE and JOY! 

~Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. ~ Desmond Tutu

~Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future. ~ Robert Schuller

~Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~ Nhat Hanh

All the best,
Mattie Fallen, Principal

Library News

Wow, thanks SO MUCH to all who were able to pass along some gently-used books for our book give-away!  Students will be coming home Tuesday 12/13 with a book to keep forever.  Reading together as a family or one-on-one with your child is an amazing way to build a love of reading for all.  Hopefully the winter break will provide your family with opportunities for some special reading moments to treasure – happy reading!

Reminder:  Window for AAP Full-Time (level IV) Referrals Ends December 15, 2022

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs (level IV AAP services) may submit the AAP Level IV Referral Form to [email protected] no later than December 15. 

The window to submit an AAP Level IV Referral Form is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Level IV services can be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Diane Overton at [email protected]. 

Referrals for AAP Levels II-III (part-time services) are screened at the local school. 

For more information, there are parent presentations available on the FCPS AAP website (under “Presentations”) that contain information similar to our fall parent information meetings at Sleepy Hollow Elementary.

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) ,. FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or [email protected].

Register Now for January Webinars Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

All human beings are neurodiverse. There is infinite variation of thinking and experiencing the world due to our identities, experiences, and brain wiring that is a valuable form of human diversity (Büdy, 2021; Singer, 2019). This webinar examines the brilliance and advantages of neurodiversity and the different ways brains may function as it relates to neurodivergence or neurotypicality.

• What is the relationship between neurodiversity and student relationships and engagement? 
• How can we use asset-based language?
• How can we reflect on individual mindsets towards inclusion for all students?

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist.

January 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others. January 13, 2023 at 10 a.m:  View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Register online for Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We are All Neurodiverse?

Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Join us for this important webinar to learn about the social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood.

Webinar Highlights:

• Identify social-emotional skills that develop in early childhood
• Discuss strategies to support children in their social-emotional development
• Explore concepts of attachment, temperament, and self-regulation and their impact on social-emotional development

Presented by Naomi H. Grinney, LCSW, Infant Mental Health Specialist, IMH-E® Clinical Supervisor/Behavioral Health Senior Clinician Infant-Toddler Connection of Fairfax – Falls Church

January 20, 2023 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

Join us to hear about how teachers and school staff are building positive schoolwide and classroom communities through social and emotional learning. 

During this session, families will:

• Learn about the evidence-based Responsive Classroom practices of Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting. 
• Understand how teachers are using these practices to engage students in learning that is challenging, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of the whole child.
• Learn new tips so you can continue these responsive practices at home.

The presenter is Ivette Robles,  FCPS Curriculum Resource Teacher, Office of School Improvement and Supports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 10-11:30 a.m.

Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

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