News You Choose | Saratoga Elementary School

Saratoga Connection

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

Saratoga Connection

PRINCIPALS’ CORNER

On Monday, our teachers used the afternoon to learn more about the importance of social emotional learning and the Virginia Literacy Act. It was an afternoon filled with increasing our knowledge to better support our students. This coming week, we will be celebrating Blue Star Welcome Week! We hope your child is able to participate in our spirit week to show support for our military-connected families.

Be the Change,

Abby Ragan Abby Lower Jordan Perry

Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal

Popcorn and Page Turners

Grab your popcorn and tune in this Friday, September 20 to learn more about the Virginia Literacy Act. The video will be shared out through News You Choose and on our social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook.

Arrival

We begin to welcome students into the building at 9:05 AM and begin class at 9:20 AM. We know you make every effort for your child to arrive before 9:20 AM and there are some occasions when your child might be late. If your child arrives after 9:20 AM, walk them into the office to check them in. This ensures that students arriving late are accounted for and get to their class as quickly as possible.

Blue Star Welcome Week

Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21 - September 29, 2024, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS

TJ Investigative Science Outreach

TJ Investigative Science Outreach will be hosting their 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025 for 5th - 8th grade students. Admission to the science fair is completely free.

Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. Students receive help preparing for this fair by attending multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

The first interest/brainstorming session is October 11th, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The session will be both in-person at TJHSST and virtually through zoom. During this session the goals and guidelines of this fair will be shared and students will be introduced to a variety of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0Y0oodU11TzBUfWFnU5lsxoWaqixuX50fxVNv5A5DxcmRvw/viewform?usp=sf_link

✔️ Parent/Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms?

We understand that the multiple school forms caregivers receive during the first weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but each one helps set your child up for a successful school year! If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.

🩹 Immunization Requirements

Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office.

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:

A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations.

📋 Permission Forms

Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.

Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Friday, September 30.

🤒 When a Student Should Stay Home From School

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss. Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit our website for information on when to keep your child at home. If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.

Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

REMINDERS

September 27: Saratoga Carnival

Stay Connected

School Phone Number

703-440-2600

Abby Ragan, Principal