Dear Stallion Families,

Happy Winter! The winter weather has certainly arrived and we can expect it to stay for the next couple of months. During the cold weather, it is important to send students to school with coats, long pants, hats, gloves, and closed toed shoes. Students will need to have appropriate clothing so they can enjoy outdoor recess. If you need assistance with cold weather clothing, please contact our school social worker Karen Spradlin.

We wish every Saratoga family a wonderful and restful winter break! Please note that the school office will be closed during the winter holiday.

Sincerely,

Saratoga Admin. Team

Counselor’s Corner: Throughout this season, your Saratoga School Counselors are working with classes to teach and support Growth Mindset through building resiliency. Our classroom lessons provide opportunities to work through new challenging tasks such as knitting and peer buddy teaching tasks. We support classroom teachers as they are setting up Conflict Resolution Corners in their classrooms. Students in grades 4- 6 are provided Peer Mediation Stations, set up by our trained Peer Mediators and their homeroom teachers. Peer Mediation provides a structure to help students talk things through and learn to solve their own problems using research proven methods. If you would like to learn more about Peer Mediation and other conflict resolution strategies supported at Saratoga, please contact one of our counselors, Starr Arnett (@email) or Katie Sharpe (@email).

Time to prepare: This is a good time to make childcare preparations for the possibility of inclement weather. Decisions on schedule changes are made by our superintendent after careful study of the best information available from many sources, including the National Weather Service, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Fairfax County Police and FCPS transportation staff. FCPS uses several communication systems to reach parents with accurate and timely information (social media, www.fcps.edu, eNotify, Red Apple Channel 21, and Local radio and television stations).

Important to Know: January 10, 2019 is the deadline for submitting an AAP Level IV referral. Exceptions to the deadline are not made. Additional information and the appropriate forms can be found on the Advanced Academic Programs website under Full-Time Level IV Services and Screening Procedures.  For additional information, parents may contact Saratoga’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher Arlene Rosenbusch (@email) or the Advanced Academic Programs Office.

Office of the Student and Family Ombudsman:  The Family and Student Ombudsman is a new position and will provide an independent, confidential resource for students, families, and community members, offering informal help to resolve concerns, problems, complaints, and other student-related issues. For more information please visit: https://www.fcps.edu/department/office-family-student-ombudsman

Two Hour Delays:  When there is a two-hour delay our school doors will open at 11:00 AM, and school will officially begin at 11:20 AM. Breakfast will not be served on two-hour delay days.

THE STALLION SCHEDULE

December 10 – Winter Band Concert 7:00 PM

December 12 – PTA Meeting 7:00 PM

December 13 – Winter Strings Concert  7:00 PM

December 14 – 3 hour early dismissal

December 24 -January 4, 2019 – Winter Break

January 9 – PTA Meeting 7:00 PM

January 18 – Three Hour Early Release – Dismissal at 1:05 PM

January 21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Student Holiday

January 24 – Last Day of Second Quarter

January 25 – Student Holiday