As a reminder, Wednesday, November 11, is a two-hour early release day in honor of Veterans Day and will be a virtual (synchronous) learning day for all students. 

In This Week's Issue 

• Celebrate World Kindness Day on November 13
• Return to School In-Person/Hybrid Schedule Updates
• Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals is December 1
• Multicultural Reading Looking for Parent Volunteers
• Nominate a CRS Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award
• NEW! Employment Opportunities with FCPS/Churchill Road
• CRS  Book Fair Underway
• Important Dates
• CRS PTA News -- Trivia Night on November 13
• Quick Links

Celebrate World Kindness Day on November 13

• Complete a row in Kindness Bingo
• Post a picture, video or write about something kind you did on Padlet: https://padlet.com/tsberick1/8n4c8wynsk38biop

Return to School
In-Person/Hybrid Schedule Updates

Below are specific dates and information for our phase-in plan by grade level. Once each group below begins in-person learning, both Preparation Days and Mondays will switch to asynchronous learning with teacher assigned tasks posted on Schoology. 

Group 5: Kindergarten - 11/16/2020

Preparation Days: All Kindergarten Teachers - Nov 9, 12 & 13

• K students will be asynchronous on these days.  There will be no morning meeting.

• Specials will still take place as previously scheduled. 
• Starting November 16th, Monday specials will no longer be offered to K students

Group 6: 1st and 2nd Grade - 11/30/2020

Preparation Days: All Grade 1 & 2 Teachers - Nov 16, 20, 23, and 24 

• Grade 1 & 2 students will be asynchronous on these days. There will be no morning meeting or specials.
•  Starting November 16th, Monday specials will no longer be offered to Grades 1 & 2.

Group 7: 3rd-6th Grade - 1/4/2021

Preparation Days: All Grade 3-6 Teachers - Dec 7, 14, 17 and 18 (may change based on start date)

• Grade 3 -6 students will be asynchronous on these days. There will be no morning meeting.
• Monday specials will be offered through December 14th to Grades 3-6
• There will be no specials on December 17th & 18th

Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals - 12/1

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for referring students in Grades 2-7 for AAP full-time Level IV consideration is due no later than December 1, 2020.  Parents are welcome to submit early, but no late referrals will be accepted. 

If you would like more information about Level IV AAP services or the screening process, please visit:  Identification and Placement for Level IV.  Please email, AART, Esther Lee ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Remember:  Please submit all referral materials in ONE email (parent referral form, up to 4 work samples from home, optional parent questionnaire, other materials) to [email protected].   Please submit documents in PDF or jpg format.

Multicultural Reading Program (MRP) Back

Looking for Parent Volunteers!

Some photos from last year's MRP lessons

We are excited to announce that the MRP will be held again in the spring of 2021. The culturally, linguistically responsive literacy development lessons were popular among CRS K-3 students and teachers. Each grade learned Indian, Spanish, Korean, Russian cultural values and more through reading children’s books from those countries. The program even won a Northern Virginia PTA award and was nominated for a Virginia PTA award last year.

This time it will be virtual for all CRS K-6 students because only students are allowed in the school building due to the pandemic. We are looking for parents whose home country cultures and languages are more than American/American English. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the program designer Michelle Cho, a PTA Diversity & Inclusion Committee member: @email

Nominate a CRS Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award

Through Tuesday, November 24, please nominate CRS staff for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To learn more about the categories or to submit a nomination for Churchill Road Elementary Outstanding Employee, please go to: https://churchillroades.fcps.edu/nominations

 You may nominate an employee in any of the following categories:

• Outstanding Teacher
• Outstanding New Teacher
• Outstanding New Principal
• Outstanding Leader
• Outstanding Operational Employee
• Outstanding Professional Employee

Churchill Road staff that are nominated will be recognized later this year and will have a chance to be acknowledged on a county level.

Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 24th. If you have any questions, please contact Sara DeLuca (6th Grade Teacher/@email) or Molly Gift (PE Teacher/@email). 

New! Employment Opportunities with FCPS Classroom Monitors FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual.  If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested. Substitute Teachers Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session visit our substitute information page here.  Say Yes 2 FCPS!  Cafeteria Hostess Churchill Road is looking for a friendly, energetic, individual who loves working with children to assist with lunch duties/activities. Please contact Assistant Principal Jennifer Niccolls, @email, if interested.

The CRS Book Fair is Underway!

THE CRS BOOK FAIR IS BACK! Our online Book Fair is underway and continues through November 23!  Click on the CRS Online Bookstore to see this year’s offerings!  

Although it will be different, we are excited to be working with Bookworm Central again this year for a wonderful selection of books.  A few searching hints:

• This link will take you straight to the CRS online store.  On the landing page, you will see Mrs. Warren’s recommendations and the Bookworm Bestsellers!
•  If you are looking for a particular title, you may find it if you use the search bar! Not all books available are currently pictured.
•  Books will be shipped to your home.  Free shipping on orders over $30.
•  Teacher wish lists will be added over the next week..  If you buy for a teacher, the books will be shipped directly to CRS.
•  If you have questions about the site, email @email
•  If you have general book fair questions, email Mrs. Stute (@email) or Mrs. Warren (@email)

A special event to celebrate reading and the book fair is being planned for next week.  Stay tuned for details.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, November 11, 2-Hour Early Release, 1:20 p.m.
• Week of November 16 (Tentative), Kindergarteners Return to School
• Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Week of November 30 (Tentative), Grades 1 and 2 Return to School

CRS Trivia Night

Does your family love to play Trivial Pursuit or watch Jeopardy? If so, you’re going to LOVE our first-ever virtual Churchill Road Trivia Night. We’re planning on lots of fun trivia categories, including:

• Books— Celebrate the CRS Book Fair!
• Number 13 - Since this is happening on Friday the 13^th!
• Star Wars!
• And more!

Join us on Friday, November 13, 2020, at 7 p.m. for this fun (and FREE) family event. To attend, you must register and reserve your family's spot - up to 100 families can attend.

To reserve your family’s place for this event, go to http://www.churchillroadpta.org/trivia.

Prizes: 

Families who register will be entered into a Book Fair prize raffle. We will raffle off FIVE winners throughout the event; winners will get a chance to choose a book from our Book Fair—up to $20 value.

How it Works:

All you need to play is a computer to log into the event (hosted on Zoom by our vendor Trivia Brothers) PLUS a tablet or smartphone to play the game. You will NOT need to load any new apps. On the day of the event, you will receive a Zoom link. We will also continue to update the PTA website with more guidance on how to enjoy this fun trivia night, but in the meantime, start studying up on your random facts!

Calendar Reminder:  Teacher Workdays November 2, 3 

Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, are student holidays. Teachers will not be available for office hours and students are not expected to complete new asynchronous assignments. Please note that  the Churchill Road front office will be closed on Tuesday, November 3.

Regularly-scheduled classes will resume on Wednesday, November 4. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar. 

The CRS Book Fair is Back!

THE CRS BOOK FAIR IS BACK! Our online Book Fair will run  from November 5 - November 23!  Click on the CRS Online Bookstore to see this year’s offerings!  

Although it will be different, we are excited to be working with Bookworm Central again this year for a wonderful selection of books.  A few searching hints:

• This link will take you straight to the CRS online store.  On the landing page, you will see Mrs. Warren’s recommendations and the Bookworm Bestsellers!
•  If you are looking for a particular title, you may find it if you use the search bar! Not all books available are currently pictured.
•  Books will be shipped to your home.  Free shipping on orders over $30.
•  Teacher wish lists will be added over the next week..  If you buy for a teacher, the books will be shipped directly to CRS.
•  If you have questions about the site, email @email
•  If you have general book fair questions, email Mrs. Stute (@email) or Mrs. Warren (@email)

A special event to celebrate reading and the book fair is being planned for next week.  Stay tuned for details.

New: Family Guide for Return to School

Fairfax County Public Schools has published a Family Guide for Return to School.  The information in this guide will help families know what to expect as your children return to school. The guide includes steps families will need to take at home in preparation for the return to school. Please take time to review the information.

Action Item:  Emergency Care Form

Update Emergency Care Forms via We Care
Even though we are virtual at the moment, the Emergency Care Form is mandatory for all students for SY 20-21 and may be completed electronically in FCPS 24/7 Blackboard (weCare). This form must be completed before your student returns to school.

Please CLICK HERE for instructions on accessing and updating your child's Emergency Care information online.

Happy Halloween from Churchill Road

Teachers and students alike got into character for our final spirit day of the week!

Meal Pick-up Change for Week of November 2

Because of Election Day, there will be no meal pick-up on Tuesday, November 3. Instead, there will be additional meals provided at the Monday pick-up. Daily meal pickup will resume on Wednesday. 

Please use this link for other grab and go meals locations and times.  https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/return-school/food.

Important Dates

• Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, Student Holidays
• Tuesday, November 3, Front Office Closed
• Wednesday, November 11, 2-Hour Early Release, 1:20 p.m.
• Week of November 16 (Tentative), Kindergarteners Return to School
• Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Week of November 30 (Tentative), Grades 1 and 2 Return to School

Pumpkin Carving Contest Winners!

Congratulations, Bobcats, on your amazing pumpkin carving skills! The judges had a VERY hard time deciding on winners because ALL the pumpkins were very clever and well done. We had 171 entries--so much talent! BIG thanks to ALL of you for being part of the first ever Epic Churchill Road Pumpkin Carving Contest. A special shout out to Ms. Finger's class for having the most contest participants of any class! Here are some pictures of our winners.

Best Bobcat Spirit	Best Creative Design
Gentry Bushman, Grade 2	Elijah Bondo, Grade 3
Sven Simonson, Grade 4	Rahniya Siddiqui, Grade 5

K Winner	Family Winner	Staff Winners
Ari Sloane	The Kim Family (Brandon, Christian & Daniel)	Ms. Gift & Sra. Hwang

Best Funny	Best Painted
Claire Foster, Grade 3	Finley Sheers, Grade 3
Alia Abbud, Grade 5	Emily Paschkewitz, Grade 5

Best Scary

A.J. Yu, Grade 1

Caden Sheers,  Grade 6

Dear Churchil Families,

We hope everyone had a good weekend.  Ms. Pierson went to visit her family in Pennsylvania! The leaves were beautiful, but there were too many on the ground as well :-) 

We can now share FCPS will begin implementing a concurrent model of instruction beginning with our Kindergarten students the week of November 16, followed by grades 1 & 2 the week of November 30, and grades 3 – 6 the week of January 4, 2021.  These are tentative dates. We will be scheduling Community Conversations soon where more information will be shared with you. 

In July, you were asked to select a preference of virtual or in-person learning for your child.  If your July preference remains the same, there is nothing further you need to do.  If your family situation has changed since July, you will have the opportunity to communicate that change with us.  More general information regarding the concurrent model and directions on how to change your child’s preference will be sent out in an e-notify message tomorrow, Monday, October 26. 

Please know we are going to continue to support you and do everything we can to make this next step as easy as possible for you and our students.

Thank you again for all you do.

Sincerely,

Ms. Pierson and Ms. Niccolls

In This Week's Issue 

• Fall Spirit Week - October 26-30
• Action Items:  Complete Emergency Care Forms and go Paperless for Report Cards
• Playground Reminder
• Change to Grab and Go Meal Pickup the Week of November 2
• Calendar Reminders - Early Dismissal 10/30 and Teacher Workdays 11/2-11/3
• Important Dates
• CRS PTA News --  Pumpkin-carving contest and "Boo" your neighbors
• Quick Links

CRS Fall Spirit Week Begins Tomorrow!

Let's all show our Bobcat spirit for Fall Spirit Week.  There's something fun for every day of the week. Share your most spirited moments and upload any pictures or posts of Spirit Week to our school’s Padlet!

Action Items:  Emergency Care Forms and Paperless Report Cards

 

Update Emergency Care Forms via We Care
Many of you have yet to access “We Care” to ensure to ensure we have the correct information on your Emergency Care form.    Even though we are virtual at the moment, the Emergency Care Form is mandatory for all students for SY 20-21 and may be completed electronically in FCPS 24/7 Blackboard (weCare). Due 10/30/20.

Please CLICK HERE for instructions on accessing and updating your child's Emergency Care information online.

Go Paperless for Progress Reports
This is the first quarter that FCPS will offer a PDF version of the progress report and ES parents/guardians now have the option to “Go Paperless” for all report cards and progress reports.

This will not impact any other mailings from FCPS other than  progress reports. To activate the paperless option, parents and/or guardians will need to log into Parent View, then go to “My Account” and select "Go Paperless". Please note: All parents and/or guardians who live with the student and share the same address must have a SIS Parent View account and must select the paperless option to prevent mailing of the printed progress reports.

Please contact CRS registrar, Chris Redding, [email protected], if you need assistance obtaining a Parent View account.

Winston on Wheels a Big Hit!

Mrs. Warren and Mr. Kilpatrick checking out books to students.

Thank you to all the students and family members who came out to visit Winston on Wheels. It was so good to see all of you.  Mrs. Warren and Mr. Kilpatrick were excited to check out lots of mystery book bags to keep you reading. And Winston was so happy to see his favorite Bobcats. We can't wait to see even more of you soon. Winston and friends

Playground and School Grounds Reminder

We know that many of you have enjoyed visiting the school grounds during the summer and fall while out walking or exercising.  Our first small group of students returns to school tomorrow, October 26. As we transition back to in person learning for more and more of our students, we'd like to remind everyone that only in person students and staff may be on the school grounds Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Change to Grab & Go Meal Pickup the Week of November 2

Please note that there will be no grab and go meal pickup at Churchill Road on Tuesday, November 3. Individuals may pick up two days of grab and go meals on Monday, November 2 at the Churchill Road bus loop from 7:41-7:51 a.m. Normal weekday pickups will resume on Wednesday, November 4.

You may also use this link for other grab and go meals locations: https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/return-school/food. The serving times will be 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

Calendar Reminders

Please remember that:

• School will dismiss two hours early on Friday, October 30, at 1:20 p.m. 
• Monday and Tuesday, November 2 and 3, are teacher workdays.  There is no school for students. 

We look forward to resuming instruction on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:35 a.m.

Important Dates

• Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30, CRS Fall Spirit Week
• Friday, October 30, 2-Hour Early Release, 1:20 p.m.
• Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, Student Holidays
• Monday, November 11, 2-Hour Early Release, 1:20 p.m.
• Week of November 16 (Tentative), Kindergarteners Return to School
• Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Week of November 30 (Tentative), Grades 1 and 2 Return to School

Enter the Pumpkin Carving Contest!

Calling all CRS students - it's time to enter the Churchill Road Pumpkin Carving Contest! Awards go to the most creative pumpkin in these categories: Bobcat Spirit, Creative Design, Funny, Painted Pumpkin, and Scary. Also, the class with the most participation wins an award!

Post your pumpkin photo to our Padlet by October 28. Winners will be announced by October 30.

1. Click on the link: https://churchillroad.padlet.org/nfkilpatrick1/crsptapumpkin2020
2. Click on the pink + (plus) in the lower right corner of the Padlet
3. Upload your photo – feel free to use clever titles!

Boo Your Neighbors!

Have fun “booing” your neighbors! Leave a few small treats for a neighbor, along with the “I’ve Been Booed” sign (click button below). You can also leave them the page of instructions for what to do in case they want to spread the fun. Each person who gets “booed” leaves that sign on their door so they don’t get duplicate treats (!!) and then they “boo” other neighbors. It’s fun when the whole neighborhood sports “We’ve Been Booed!” signs. Get the Boo scoop!

Dear Churchill Road families,

Our Churchill students and teachers continue to remain committed to distance learning, and we could not be more proud of how our school community has worked together during this time. 

As you may have heard, some small student cohorts are beginning to return to schools in person. Our ESOL level 1 students will be the first cohort, starting back in the building the week of October 26.  The School Board and FCPS Leadership team are continuing to develop plans for our other cohorts of students. Once those details have been finalized and approved, we will share that information with our Churchill community. In the meantime, we will continue to be focused on supporting both you and your children in the virtual environment.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Niccolls or me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Ms. Pierson and Ms. Niccolls

In This Week's Issue 

• Winston on Wheels coming tomorrow, Monday, October 19
• Social Emotional Learning
• Breaks for Students during the Day
• Fall Spirit Week Coming October 26-30
• Important Dates
• CRS PTA News -- Spirit Wear Sale ends 10/18, Pumpkin-carving contest, "Boo" your neighbors, and Science Olympiad B orientation
• Quick Links

Join Winston as he visits Churchill Road students tomorrow afternoon, October 19, at some of our bus stops.   Winston and friends will be traveling via an FCPS bus and will stop at the five locations listed below.

Winston will have school supply packets for those who couldn't make our recent pickup. 

Mrs. Warren will have some special mystery book bags for students to check out.

Mr. Kilpatrick will be available to discuss any tech issues!

We can't wait to see you!

Winston on Wheels Locations

Lawton St. & Wemberly Wy.	12:00 Noon
Ridge Dr. & Heather Brook Ct.	12:30 PM
Shipman Ln.& Douglass Dr.	1:00 PM
Summit Rd. & Chelsea Rd.	1:30 PM
Churchill Road ES (Bus Loop)	2:00 PM

Social Emotional Learning at Churchill Road

This year, Social Emotional Learning is at the center of our work at Churchill Road. Each month, our whole school is focusing on an SEL theme. During October, we are teaching skills to regulate emotions. These skills are explicitly taught  during a counselor-led lesson and during morning meeting. We are also starting a Mindful Mondays class beginning tomorrow, Monday October 19. This class is open to everyone. You can access the class on the “All Students” page on Schoology. The 4th-6th grade class is 9:05-9:35 a.m. and K-3rd is 11:35 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Hope to see you there!

You can always see what the monthly topic is and find additional information in your student’s specialist agenda under Social Emotional Learning. There’s also a virtual calm down room to support emotional regulation in the virtual setting:  https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/churchill-road-calmdown/home

Save the Dates - Fall Spirit Week 10/26-10/30

Mark your calendars for CRS' Fall Spirit Week -- Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30.  Details to follow in a separate email next week.

Important Dates

• Monday, October 19, Winston on Wheels, 12:00 - 2:15 p.m.
• Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30, CRS Fall Spirit Week
• Friday, October 30, 2-Hour Early Dismissal, 1:20 p.m.
• Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, Student Holidays

Last Day to Order Churchill Spirit Wear

Place your orders for our new spirit items (including our newest items - a long sleeve t-shirt and a mask lanyard) or order any of our in-stock items - many are on sale. Orders close tonight Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 p.m. All spirit wear orders will be available for pickup at CRS on Monday 11/9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (or alternative arrangements can be made). Shop Spirit Wear

Have questions? Contact Karen at [email protected].

Enter the Pumpkin Carving Contest!

Calling all CRS students - it's time to enter the Churchill Road Pumpkin Carving Contest! Awards go to the most creative pumpkin in these categories: Bobcat Spirit, Creative Design, Funny, Painted Pumpkin, and Scary. Also, the class with the most participation wins an award!

Post your pumpkin photo to our Padlet by October 28. Winners will be announced by October 30.

1. Click on the link: https://churchillroad.padlet.org/nfkilpatrick1/crsptapumpkin2020
2. Click on the pink + (plus) in the lower right corner of the Padlet
3. Upload your photo – feel free to use clever titles!

Boo Your Neighbors!

Have fun “booing” your neighbors! Leave a few small treats for a neighbor, along with the “I’ve Been Booed” sign (click button below). You can also leave them the page of instructions for what to do in case they want to spread the fun. Each person who gets “booed” leaves that sign on their door so they don’t get duplicate treats (!!) and then they “boo” other neighbors. It’s fun when the whole neighborhood sports “We’ve Been Booed!” signs. Get the Boo scoop!

Science Olympiad B Orientation

Science Olympiad Division B is for CRS students in 5th or 6th grade and offers students the opportunity to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while working together in teams. Science Olympiad will be virtual this year. Interested students and parents should attend 1 of the orientation sessions:

• Tuesday, October 20, 6:00-6:45 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 21, 12:15-1:00 p.m.

The meeting links will be posted on the CRS PTA website.

Reminder, Tomorrow, Monday, October 12th

Just as a reminder, Monday, October 12th is a student holiday/teacher workday and there are no scheduled synchronous or asynchronous lessons..  We will see you in our virtual classrooms on Tuesday, October 13th. 

In This Week's Issue 

• Winston on Wheels coming October 19
• Library Mystery Bags Available Now
• FCPS/Fairfax County Public Library LEAP Program
• Action Item: Student Rights & Regulations (SR&R) Form Due
• Important Dates
• CRS PTA News -- Spirit Wear Sale and Reflections Art Contest
• Quick Links

Winston will be coming to a location near you on Monday afternoon, October 19.  More information on Winston's travel plans will be sent in a separate email this week.

LIBRARY MYSTERY BAGS!! - Let the fun begin!

Mrs. Warren is now offering special "Library Mystery Bags" for students.  Details for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-6 are below.

Grades K-2 “Library Mystery Bags”

Use this link to request a K-2 "Library Mystery Bag"  The "Mystery Bag “ will include 5 books selected by Mrs. Warren.  It may include a combination of Picture books, "I Can Read" books, Early Chapter books and/or Nonfiction books.

Grades 3-6  “Library Mystery Bags” 

Use this link to request a Grade 3-6 "Library Mystery Bag"   The "Mystery Bag “ will include 3 books selected by Mrs. Warren.

All students -- If you have specific requests, please log in to the Destiny catalog to place books on hold. You can watch this video for detailed instructions on Putting Holds in Destiny (you must be logged into your fcpsschools account to see the video). Please wait for an email before coming to CRS to pick up books.   Pick-up is on Mondays between 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. after you receive the email.

Questions?  Ask Mrs. Warren - @email

NEW - Public Library Equity Access Pass for FCPS Students Fairfax County Library and FCPS have partnered to provide FCPS PreK-12 students with public library checkout privileges for books automatically, without the need to register for a physical library card.  Families who do not wish to participate shall select the opt-out for LEAP in the 2020-21 SR&R document. Participating in the program provides the ability to check out up to three public library books at a time.  A virtual account exists and identification is not required. Lost or overdue books will not be charged a fine or replacement fee.  (Note: eBooks and public library digital resources cannot be accessed through this account.)

Action Item: SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form Due

Parents and guardians, we need your help.  We are still missing completed forms from almost 300 students. Please review the Student Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, fill out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form using this link we have provided.  The form must be filled out one time per student.

Printed copies of the Family Guide as well as the translated version of the document will not be available until later this month.

Important Dates

• Monday, October 12, Student Holiday
• Wednesday, October 14, PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 19, Winston on Wheels, 12:15- 2:00 p.m.
• Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, Student Holidays

CRS Spirit Wear

Our spirit wear store is open again - place your orders for our new spirit items (including our newest items - a long sleeve t-shirt and a mask lanyard) by Sunday, October 18 at 11:59 p.m. Plus you can also order any of our in-stock items - many are on sale! All spirit wear orders will be available for pickup at CRS on 11/9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  Shop spirit wear

PTA Reflections Art Contest

Please note all PTA Reflections art contest submissions this year are electronic.  We cannot accept any physical artwork or the like (digital memory sticks etc.).  All of the instructions for completing the online submission form and uploading either electronic files (for categories such as music, dance, video or literature) or photos of visual arts entries can be found on the PTA website: https://churchillroadpta.membershiptoolkit.com/reflections#gsc.tab=0.

Questions?  Please email @email

Share Your Learning Experiences

As the Churchill Road teachers and staff reflect on the first four weeks of school, we'd love to hear from our families about their experiences. We invite all of you to share with us some of the positive things, or "glows", you have observed and experienced, as well as some of your "wishes" for what things might enhance the virtual learning needs of your students.  Please share your thoughts with us at this link.  We look forward to hearing from all of you.

Supplies! Supplies! Supplies!
K-6 Supply Pickup Monday, October 5

All students in Grades K-6 have supplies waiting to be picked up tomorrow, Monday, October 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Churchill Road bus loop. Every grade level will receive whiteboards and markers, as well as art supplies from Mrs. Wallace and Ms. Crable that will help them create fabulous pieces of artwork. Some grade levels have also added in other items. Please note:

• No appointment is necessary.
• Please come at a time that is convenient for your family or feel free to send a friend or neighbor to pick up as well.
• Please have a sign with your child's name and grade in the car window for faster pickup and a staff member will bring the materials to your vehicle and place them safely in your trunk.

We hope to see you there!

Safe Routes to School Walking Wednesdays

Starting October 7, parents, students, neighbors are encouraged to walk the block before school starts. This will give students a chance to wake up their brains and fit in a little exercise before sitting down to a day of virtual school. Walks will be held weekly. October 7 is also Walk to School Day. Schools, neighborhoods or families can register to participate. For more information click here.

Grab & Go Meals for All FCPS Students

All students in FCPS are welcome to a free breakfast and lunch. FCPS has added a grab and go stop for meal pickup at the Churchill Road bus loop from 7:41-7:51 a.m. Monday through Friday.

You may also use this link for other grab and go meals locations: https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/return-school/food. The serving times will be 8:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

Tech Talk - Caring for Your Computer

The tech team has received a large number of requests for replacement laptops due to computer slowness. Please be mindful that FCPS laptops cannot be left on 24 hours a day. Our computers need rest, just like our students. Make sure to turn the laptop off at night. This will allow the battery to fully recharge and allow the laptop to install critical updates downloaded when the laptop is on but installed during the restart process. Please follow these simple steps to keep your computer running smoothly:

1. Please shut the laptop off overnight and then “Wake it back up” (turn it on) when your child wakes up in the morning.  
2. Then, while your child is preparing to start their day (eating breakfast, brushing teeth, getting dressed) the laptop will be on and getting ready for the school day as well and should be ready to use when your child is ready for school.

Save the Date for the 2020 CRS Book Fair!   Our virtual book fair will be held from November 5-23, 2020. Look for additional details coming soon.

Community Programs

Old Firehouse Teen Center

The Old Firehouse Center Learning Connection provides a supervised environment for 5th -10th grade students to complete their school led virtual instructions. Staff of the OFC will provide socially distant, recreation opportunities during their breaks as well as after the school day ends.

https://mcleancenter.org/calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2020/09/08/7629/204/old-firehouse-learning-connection

 

Girl Scout Troops Now Forming at Churchill Road Elementary School

Girls of all ages are welcome to join or form a troop with families from their community! Activities can be virtual or in-person. To learn more, contact: Sydney Sweeney, Membership Specialist, @email. Or, join the Interest List at https:/ /bit.ly/GS-McleanS0-6

(Fairfax County School District does not sponsor or endorse the individual or group providing this material, or any message contained herein.)

 Dear Churchill Road Families,

As we begin our fourth week together, we want you to know we continue to fine tune our lessons in order to create the most engaging and academic virtual environment for your children! Thank you for the many encouraging words to our teachers over the past few weeks. I am so proud of the commitment of each and every one of our teachers. The one thing they enjoy the most (and miss the most) are the moments between learning when they can smile and laugh together.  Our teachers care for your children, and we hope you see this coming through on a daily basis.  

Please know we are here for you as you support your children at home.  We welcome any questions and suggestions you might have. 

Have a wonderful week!

Cherith Pierson

In This Week's Issue 

• AAP Parent Information Session & Level IV Screening Updates
• Student Attendance
• Who to Contact with Questions
• Important Dates
• Quick Links

Advanced Academic Program
Parent Information Session &
Level IV Screening Updates

A parent information meeting about the AAP Levels of Service and the AAP Screening Process for Level IV services will be held online, Thursday, October 1, 2020 from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

How to Prepare for Parent Information Sessions

Step #1:  Review the voice-over presentation and the Power Point presentations beforehand to maximize time for Q & A.

• AAP Continuum of Services - AAP Continuum of Services Overview Video    
• AAP Screening Process - Power Point Presentation

Step #2:  Attend virtual information session on October 1, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.    Meeting Link

Level IV Referral Information

If you wish to submit a Level IV referral, please note that the Level IV referral deadline differs for students new to FCPS (enrolled January 1, 2020 or later) and those who enrolled prior to that date.

• Students New to FCPS (Grades 3-6) - Referral Deadline is October 8, 2020. New Students to FCPS are those enrolling January 1, 2020 or later.  The deadline for Level IV referrals by October 8, 2020.  Please view the AAP website for more specific information. Link for referral form.
• Students Enrolled in FCPS Prior to January 1, 2020 (Grades 2-6) -  Referral Deadline is December 1, 2020.  Link for referral form.   

For more information on Level IV screening and COVID updates, please visit the AAP website.

Please email all referral forms to Churchill Road’s Advance Academics Resource Teacher (AART), Esther Lee, [email protected]

Student Attendance

This is a reminder to please notify us if your child will be absent or late for their first synchronous session which begins Monday-Friday at 8:40 a.m.  If your child needs to participate in their academic day asynchronously please contact the school and provide the reason. We will have a “call-out” for any students who were absent and marked as unverified as the reason for absence each school day at approximately, 4:00 p.m. If you receive that call please contact our office the next day (via the attendance line or email). 

Here is how you may report your child’s absence, including tardies, and asynchronous participation:

Attendance Line | 703-288-8484

[email protected]

Or the online attendance form:

https://churchillroades.fcps.edu/attendance-form

More information about attendance is available on the FCPS website.

Who to Contact with Questions

• Chris Redding (Registrar), @email, for questions about registration, student records, copies of student health forms, enrollment certifications, parent SIS accounts.
• Angie Kim (Office Assistant), @email, for questions about student attendance, help logging in to Schoology, general questions about school procedures.
• Kim Moran (Administrative Assistant), @email, for financial questions, to schedule appointments with Ms. Pierson, newsletter items.
• Nick Kilpatrick (School Based Technology Specialist), @email, for all questions about student fcpsschools.net accounts, Schoology, laptop or charger replacement.

If you have questions about any items not addressed above, please call the CRS front office at 703-288-8400 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and we will be happy to help. 

Update Key Information and Forms via weCare

Emergency Care Form
The Emergency Care Form is mandatory for all students for SY 20-21 and may be completed electronically in FCPS 24/7 Blackboard (weCare). Due 10/1/20.

Click HERE for step by step directions to complete this process.

Go Paperless Progress Reports
Go Paperless to only receive online progress reports starting the first quarter of SY 20/21. This will not impact any other mailings from FCPS other than  progress reports. To activate the paperless option, parents and/or guardians will need to log into Parent View, then go to “My Account” and select "Go Paperless". Please note: All parents and/or guardians who live with the student and share the same address must have a SIS Parent View account and must select the paperless option to prevent mailing of the printed progress reports.

Please contact CRS registrar, Chris Redding, [email protected], if you need assistance obtaining a Parent View account.

Technology News

Accessing Monday Morning Specials Classes - New Video
We want all of our students to be able to easily participate in the classes offered by our specialists (Art, Music, PE, Spanish) on Monday mornings.   Please watch this short Accessing Optional Monday Specials video created by CRS technology specialist, Mr. Kilpatrick, so that you don't miss out.  Remember: students will be able to join these activities through their All Students: Churchill Road Elementary Schoology pages. Hope to see you Monday morning!

Student Online Learning Tools
We appreciate your support as we navigate online learning and new tools for students. Both the chat and microphone are tools exclusively for students to use during the learning process. While we do understand that you may have questions about helping your students with technology, we do ask that you email or call the teacher with any questions after the synchronous learning sessions are completed. Thank you for helping us keep the lessons flowing smoothly for our students.

Curbside Pickup is Here!

Please watch the video to learn how to put books on hold in Destiny Discover.  (You must be logged in as your student to see the video.)

Curbside pickup will take place on Mondays from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., beginning Monday 9/21/2020.  Parents and students will get an email when books are  available for pickup.   Please DO NOT come to the school until you receive an email that your books are ready.   Books will be held for 2 weeks and then placed back on the shelves.  Please only put books on hold if you are able to come pick them up. Please note that items you have outstanding may be returned when you come to school as well. Thank you.

Ebooks are available through MackinVIA, myON, and Tumblebooks.  Watch this video to learn more about MackinVIA.

Links can be found on the Library Schoology Course.

Welcome Back!

Week one is complete! We did it...TOGETHER!  Thank you to each one of you for your support, encouragement, and excitement for this first week.  One of my favorite “Principal” opportunities this week was to be in so many classes.  Interacting with your children this week has brought our entire staff such joy!  We know that during these few weeks of school your children will be building stamina to this new way of learning.  Our teachers are too.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions along the way. Thank you for entrusting your children to us during this time.  

Please be sure to take a moment to review the sections below on forms -- beginning of year, opt out, and SR&R -- as well as the Monday morning optional specials schedule.  

We especially want to thank so many of you who have joined the PTA.  Your support has enabled us to be able to have the technology, professional learning opportunities, and resources in order to create an engaging and focused learning environment for your children.  We are so grateful.

As we continue to work together, we are confident Churchill Road Elementary School will continue to be a school focused on supporting the growth of each and every student!

With gratitude,

Cherith Pierson

In This Week's Issue

• Welcome Back to School

• Thank You to the PTA! 

• Beginning of Year Forms
• Opt Out Forms
• Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Form
• Back to School Nights September 14 and 15
• Monday Morning Optional Specials Schedule
• Lost and Found and Last Year's School Items
• Virtual Children's Art Walk - Submissions through 9/20
• Important Dates
• Quick Links

Churchill Road Appreciates our PTA!

The week before school started, the Churchill Road PTA helped staff ease back into the new school year with a drive-through staff appreciation event, complete with a welcome committee, boxed lunch, and a brand new Churchill Road “One Team, One Community, Stronger Together”  t-shirt!  What a great way to start the year.

Behind the scenes, the PTA helped ensure that the virtual school year got off to a great start by funding new virtual learning platforms and resources for Churchill, and developing new programming to support all members of our community this year.  We are so grateful for this support. We truly are one community.

Beginning of Year Forms 

The Emergency Care Card  is mandatory for all students for SY 20-21 and may be completed electronically in FCPS 24/7 Blackboard.

Click HERE for step by step directions to complete this process

 

Other Beginning of the Year Forms (Only complete if they apply to you)

Optional Forms (Return ONLY if applicable).  These forms may be emailed as PDF documents to our registrar, Chris Redding, at @email,or dropped off at the school any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

• Health Information Form (if needed updates)
• Military Connected Form - Due by 10/8 if applicable
• Homeless Form- Due by 10/8 if applicable

Opt Out Forms

The following items require completed opt-out forms if families do not want a student to participate.  Completed opt-out forms should be emailed as PDFs to CRS registrar Chris Redding, @email. If you choose to have your child participate, you do not need to return any forms.

FCPS Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms - This booklet provides you with detailed information about your opt-out choices. (If you have no objection to the activities described in this booklet, do NOT sign or submit any of the forms.)  

Family Life Education Opt Out Forms - Please read and return the opt-out form for your child’s grade level ONLY if you do not want your child to participate.  Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Program questions may be addressed at our school by contacting our assistant principal, Jennifer Niccolls, @email . 

SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form

Parents and guardians, please review the Student Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, fill out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form using this link we have provided.  The form must be filled out one time per student.

Printed copies of the Family Guide as well as the translated version of the document will not be available until October.

Monday Morning Optional Specials Schedule

Please check out the Monday Morning Optional Specials schedule above! The specials teachers will be offering optional synchronous enrichment activities to the students during the morning. Note that there are two sessions for each grade level so you are able to attend multiple sessions. The students will be able to join these activities through their All Students: Churchill Road Elementary Schoology pages.   

Back to School Nights - September 14 and 15

These virtual parent-only events will provide classroom teachers the opportunity to share valuable information about the curriculum and an overview of our new virtual programs. Meeting links will be shared by classroom teachers the afternoon of Monday, September 14.

Monday, September 14 - Back to School Night for Grades K, 2,4,6 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15 - Back to School Night for Grades 1,3,5 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Lost and Found/Student Items from 2019-2020 School Year

Please check out our lost and found items. Items will be available to peruse this coming week, Monday - Friday, September 14-18, from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. outside by the main entrance. 

If you have not yet picked up your child's items from the last school year, these items will be available for pickup next week as well.  Just come to the front office window between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily and one of our office staff will get the items for you.  Any items not picked up by Friday, September 18 will be donated.

MPA Accepting Submissions for the Virtual Children's Art Walk!    McLean Project for the Arts will be hosting the 14th Annual MPAartfest Children’s Art Walk, virtually! The goal of this event is to give children the opportunity to showcase their artwork, gain recognition, and empower them as valued members of our community. Information about the Children's Art Walk can be found here:  https://mpaart.org/mpaartfest/ndwc_childrens_art_walk/ All submissions are being accepted online through September 20, 2020.

Important Dates

• Monday, September 14, Back to School Night, 6:00-7:00 PM, Grades K,2,4,6
• Tuesday, September 15, Back to School Night, 6:00-7:00 PM, Grades 1,3,5
• Monday, October 12, Student Holiday

In This Week's Issue

• First Day of School

• Required Student Forms 

• Technology Assistance
• Action Item: Consent for Digital Resources
• Back to School Nights September 14 and 15
• Important Dates
• Quick Links

First Day of School

• Tuesday, September 8 is the first day of school. Student login begins at 8:35 a.m.  Attendance is taken at 8:40 a.m.
• On Thursday (9/3), you should have received next week's agenda from your child's classroom teacher. This agenda highlights the learning activities for the first week of school. Going forward, these weekly agendas will be sent out on Friday afternoons for the upcoming week.

Required Student Forms

The Health Information Form and the Emergency Care Information form  provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. As the school year begins virtually, it is important to remember these forms are required for all students for SY 20-21 and are available for electronic submission by parents via their FCPS 24/7 (Blackboard) accounts within the weCare@school (weCare) module. 

Click HERE for step by step directions to complete this process

• Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE -71)
• Emergency Care Information form

Both forms are required/mandatory for all students for SY 20-21.

Please contact CRS registrar, Chris Redding, @email, in our front office if you need assistance obtaining a parent view account.

Technology Assistance

Should you need technical assistance the first week of school, we have a variety of ways to reach the technology team at Churchill Road ES; Nick Kilpatrick is our School Based Technology Specialists (SBTS).

• On this website link:  Google Meet - Available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Sept 8-10) from 8:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Call Nick Kilpatrick, SBTS, 703-288-8436
• Email Nick Kilpatrick, SBTS, @email
• FCPS  Parent Technology Help Desk at  1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS), which is staffed from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., seven days a week.

• FCPS has also set up a Parent and Student Technology Support portal at https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/ to allow older students and parents/guardians to request technology help directly

Action Item: Consent for Digital Resources

Many of the digital resources used this year by Churchill Road teachers require parental consent (See the announcement on our school website.)

• The enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year by completing the parental consent for digital resources form. 
• Please review the digital resources and privacy/security agreements for these items on the information page; this page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval and why we must request your consent before using certain tools. 

Please complete the parental consent for digital resources form as soon as possible, as your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.

Back to School Nights - September 14 and 15

Save the dates:

Monday, September 14 - Back to School Night for Grades K, 2,4,6 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15 - Back to School Night for Grades 1,3,5 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.

These virtual parent-only events will provide classroom teachers the opportunity to share valuable information about the curriculum and an overview of our new virtual programs.Teachers will review of attendance, schedules, procedures, and routines, as well as an explanation of grading and assessments. Meeting links will be shared by classroom teachers closer to the event.

Important Dates

• Tuesday, September 8 - First Day of School
• Wednesday, September 9, Virtual PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM
• Monday, September 14, Back to School Night, 6:00-7:00 PM, Grades K,2,4,6
• Tuesday, September 15, Back to School Night, 6:00-7:00 PM, Grades 1,3,5

One Team, One Community, Stronger Together

In This Week's Issue

• Registration Ongoing for Fall 2020
• Virtual School Orientation - September 1
• PTA Pre-ordered School Supply, Band/Strings and Square 1 Art Pickup
• Attendance
• Tech Support for Parents and Students
• Student Passwords
• Important Dates
• Quick Links

Registration Ongoing

If you, a neighbor, or friend have a child to register for Churchill Road this fall, please start here! 

Virtual School Orientation 

Mark your calendars! This Tuesday, September 1, all Churchill Road students will attend their class for a virtual orientation. Please read your class placement email for specific directions on how to access this session. Children will have an opportunity to meet and get to know their classmates at this time.

• 8:30-9:15 Kindergarten and 1st Grade
• 9:30-10:15 2nd and 3rd Grades
• 10:30-11:15 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades

Jumping for Joy to Start School

We continue to be grateful to the PTA for all that they do for our students and families.  Kindergarteners loved the chalking the driveway event. We are jumping for joy to meet all of our new students!

School Supplies, Spirit Wear and Band/Strings/Square 1 Art  Pickup

Pickup will be at Churchill Road on Wednesday, September 2, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and Thursday, September 3, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for PTA pre-ordered school supplies and spirit wear orders. (You can still order in-stock spirit wear for pickup until August 31.) Please have a sign with your child's name and grade for faster pickup. If neither of these times works for you, please coordinate delivery by contacting [email protected] for supplies orders or [email protected] for spirit orders.

CRS staff will also be distributing band/strings materials and Square 1 art orders from last year. In addition, families are encouraged to browse lost and found.

Attendance

Attendance is required for all students Monday – Friday.  Every homeroom classroom will have a live morning meeting each day where attendance will be taken for the day at 8:35 a.m.  Morning Meeting is an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically.  Please be sure your child is present for attendance.

Tech Support for Parents and Students

To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, FCPS has launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective Monday, August 24. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week. Parents or guardians can call this number for basic tech support with parent accounts, help with FCPS student devices and technical assistance with other FCPS applications.

FCPS has also set up a Parent and Student Technology Support portal at https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/ to allow older students and parents/guardians to request technology help directly.

Student Passwords

FCPS has shared that the students password from the 2019-2020 school year will be extended through the 2020-2021 school year. If your child does not remember his/her password, or needs it changed please first use the Student Password Reset Tool by clicking here. Remember, students usernames are the same as their student ID number. Except for Google apps, their username is their student id [email protected] ([email protected])  

All students should have and know their passwords by Tuesday, September 1 for our Virtual Orientation and to be ready for the first day of school on September 8, 2020.   Our School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS), Nick Kilpatrick is also available throughout the school year to assist you with technical questions at @email.

Churchill Road Teacher Joins Dr. Brabrand for Special Education Town Hall

Ms. Antonio pictured at right.

Churchill Road Special Education lead teacher Mikaela Antonio joined Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand this past week at a televised town hall highlighting special education.  Ms. Antonio answered parent questions and explained how teachers support students with disabilities, and discussed how to maximize student engagement in the virtual environment, and still provide specialized instruction. We are proud of Ms. Antonio for being chosen as an FCPS spokesperson!

Important Dates

• Tuesday, September 1, Virtual Orientation (Replaces Open House)

  • 8:30-9:15 Kindergarten and 1st Grade
  • 9:30-10:15 2nd and 3rd Grades
  • 10:30-11:15 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades
• Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m.-12 Noon, PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup and Strings, Band materials  and Square 1 art pickup 
• Thursday, September 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m., PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup and Strings, Band materials  and Square 1 art pickup 
• Tuesday, September 8 - First Day of School
• Monday, September 14, Back to School Night (More info to come)
• Tuesday, September 15, Back to School Night (More info to come)

Dear Churchill Road Elementary Families,

Welcome Back to the 2020-2021 School Year!

This past week  we welcomed back our incredible staff at our first meeting of the 2020-21 school year.  Although this is not the start to the school year to which we are accustomed, the possibilities are endless as we seek to engage our students in meaningful ways. To those students and parents who are new to Churchill Road, we extend an especially warm welcome and best wishes for a successful year in our school.  Our theme is “One Team, One Community, Stronger Together!”  We hope each of you experience this collaborative spirit by our staff and community throughout this school year.

We would like to welcome some of our new staff members, as well as note some staff changes. 

New to Fairfax County, Ms. Carly Pfaff will be in kindergarten, Ms. Sarah Chin, last year’s long term substitute for Mrs. Sue Lackey, will be in first grade. Ms. Candice Hillman, 4th grade, returns to elementary school after previously teaching at Cooper and Aldrin elementary.  Ms Jennifer Hight, 5th grade, returns to Fairfax County after previously teaching at Colvin Run elementary. Ms.Abby Pinder is our new special education teacher and Ms. Rahmelle Buchanan is our new special education instructional assistant. We also welcome Ms. Michelle Bantolino as Mrs. Dierman's long-term substitute. 

Ms. Lindsey Bross, general music teacher, Ms. Colleen Crable, art department, and Ms. Consuelo Sevilla, strings, join our Specialist team.

Some changes for the upcoming year include Ms. Cheryl Bamdad moving to the fifth grade team again after teaching on our second grade team for the past several years. Ms. Allison McCrumb, 6th grade, replaces Mr. Nick Kilpatrick, who is now our new School Based Technology Specialist.  Mr. Jordan Craig-Kuhn is still with us as our Technology Specialist.

We are excited for you and your children to meet each and every one of them. 

FCPS will be sending communication regarding updated attendance policies, as well as many other important items, so please take the time to review these communications when they are received. Also, please take time to read carefully through this email for important information regarding the beginning of the year activities.

The Churchill Road staff is committed to making this school year a great one!  And we so appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Cherith Pierson
Principal

In This Week's Issue

• Community Conversation this Tuesday, August 25
• Class Placement Information
• Virtual School Orientation - September 1
• Churchill Road 2020-2021 Virtual Instructional Schedule
• Technology Distribution August 24 and 27
• PTA Pre-ordered School Supply, Band/Strings and Square 1 Art Pickup
• Supply Lists and Virtual Toolkits
• Join the PTA
• Registration Ongoing
• Important Dates
• Quick Links

Community Conversation

On Tuesday, August 25 from 8:30-9:30 a.m., our school resource team will discuss how to set your child up for success in a digital classroom and create a positive socio-emotional environment for students.

For families who cannot join us, a recorded version of the presentation will be available Wednesday on the Churchill Road website.   (Link)

Class Placement Information

This year, you will be receiving an email from your child’s new teacher on Friday, August 28.  At this time your child’s teacher will provide you with more information regarding the upcoming school year as well as the virtual orientation. 

Placement decisions were first orchestrated, to the best of our ability, as a match to parent delivery model preference. In addition to meeting this preference, we have been working hard to make sure that there are balanced classrooms in order to best meet the needs of all of our students. We will continue to focus on meeting our students’ needs in a whole group, small group, and in an individual capacity. 

Please note that if your student's registration is incomplete (missing health forms, physical, deed, etc.), he or she will not be placed in a class until our registrar, Chris Spencer-Redding, receives the missing information.

In the event you do not receive an email on August 28, and your student's registration is complete, please reach out to Cherith Pierson.

Virtual School Orientation 

Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, September 1, all Churchill Road students will attend their class for a virtual orientation. The purpose of this orientation is to ensure all students can access virtual instruction prior to school starting and will help us identify and troubleshoot needs. This will also be a time when we can start to build relationships and classroom communities, provide information to students, and answer questions students and families may have. Below are the orientation start times. Your class placement email will provide you with more specific directions on how to access this session.

• 8:30-9:15 Kindergarten and 1st Grade
• 9:30-10:15 2nd and 3rd Grades
• 10:30-11:15 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades

2020-2021 Virtual Instructional Schedule

Please click on the following link to access the 2020-2021 Churchill Road Virtual Learning Schedules.  Please know that this schedule was built with student developmental stages in mind. Within the big blocks of instruction (language arts and math), teachers will utilize breaks and a wide variety of resources and activities to support students.  Teachers understand the importance of scheduling mini-breaks within longer sessions based on student need.  

Attendance and grading of synchronous and asynchronous work will take place this school year.  More details to follow from FCPS central office.

Monday's schedule, used for independent learning with some students identified for teacher-directed specialized instruction, will be coming out next week.

Technology Distribution

Technology distribution will take place on August 24 and August 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and August 27 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We are not assigning  pick-up times for specific time slots to provide flexibility for families. Busier times will likely be first thing in the morning and right before packing up for the day. The login and set-up process should take about 5-10 minutes.

When you arrive at Churchill, please park in one of the bus parking spots near the cafeteria; then a staff member will assist you. It will be helpful to come prepared with the following:

• Filled out and signed Student Laptop Agreement (download here). Be sure you have one completed form for each student in your family.
• Student(s) Username (which is their student ID number, except for Google apps, their username is their student id [email protected], e.g.,[email protected].
• Student(s) Password (will remain the same as last year). If your child does not remember their password, or needs it changed, please first use the Student Password Reset Tool by clicking here.

**Kindergarten students and new families will set their password up at pick-up**

Please remember that all parents and students must wear a mask and practice safe social distancing. Questions about technology distribution, user names or passwords? Contact Nick Kilpatrick, Technology Specialist, @email

School Supplies, Spirit Wear and Band/Strings/Square 1 Art  Pickup

Pickup will be at Churchill Road on Wednesday, September 2, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and Thursday, September 3, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for PTA pre-ordered school supplies and spirit wear orders. (You can still order in-stock spirit wear for pickup until August 31.) Please have a sign with your child's name and grade for faster pickup. If neither of these times works for you, please coordinate delivery by contacting [email protected] for supplies orders or [email protected] for spirit orders.

CRS staff will also be distributing band/strings materials and Square 1 art orders from last year. In addition, families are encouraged to browse lost and found.

Supply Lists and Virtual Toolkits

Our original school supply lists are located on our website here and match what is in the PTA pre-ordered supplies. Individual grade level teachers will be communicating with you before school starts which items will be needed for the virtual start if you did not purchase from the PTA. 

We also are preparing a separate virtual student toolkit for every Churchill Road student with additional school-provided instructional supplies. Due to the high demand and limited availability of these additional items, we anticipate scheduling safe drive-through pickups for these student toolkits in early-mid September.

Join the PTA

Registration for membership in our PTA will open next week, after the emails from your child's new teacher are sent out. Even though we cannot be together, there are so many ways for the Bobcat community to stay together throughout this coming school year! We encourage all families to join the PTA as well as contribute to the Bobcat Fund. Your commitment to join is particularly important this year because of the many unique needs our learning community is facing. Your PTA's funds have already been hard at work this summer, providing new virtual learning platforms and resources for all students: MusicPlayonline license (all students), No Red Ink (grades 5-6), Pear Deck (all students), and Padlet + (all students). Want to learn more about what your PTA has planned? Join us for this week's Evening Discussion on Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Registration Ongoing

If you, a neighbor, or friend have a child to register for Churchill Road this fall, please start here! 

Important Dates

• Monday, August 24, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Technology Pickup
• Tuesday, August 25, 8:30 a.m. Community Conversations:  Setting your child up for success in a digital classroom and creating a positive socio-emotional environment for students (Resource Team)
• Thursday, August 27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. AND 4:00-7:00 p.m. - Technology Pickup

• Tuesday, September 1, Virtual Orientation (Replaces Open House)

  • 8:30-9:15 Kindergarten and 1st Grade
  • 9:30-10:15 2nd and 3rd Grades
  • 10:30-11:15 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades
• Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m.-12 Noon, PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup and Strings, Band materials  and Square 1 art pickup 
• Thursday, September 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m., PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup and Strings, Band materials  and Square 1 art pickup 
• Tuesday, September 8 - First Day of School
• Monday, September 14, Back to School Night (More info to come)
• Tuesday, September 15, Back to School Night (More info to come)

Community Conversation

On Tuesday, August 18 from 8:30-9:30 a.m., Mr. Kilpatrick will be leading our conversation with a focus on introducing you to some of the digital tools our students will be using this year. For families who cannot join us, a recorded version of the presentation will be available Wednesday on the Churchill Road’s website.

 

Register Students Now for the Fall

As decisions are being made regarding the fall, it is vital we have all kindergartners and new students registered.  Important information will be emailed to parents of registered students and fall schedules will be determined based on the specific students in each class.  If you, a neighbor, or friend have a child to register for Churchill Road, please start here! 

Let’s have LUNCH!  Or a SNACK! Kindergarten is a BUNCH of fun!

Let’s have LUNCH! Or let's have a SNACK! Kindergarten is a BUNCH of fun!

We added an additional opportunity for Kindergarten students to interact with the Kindergarten teachers on Thursday, August 20.  Students and parents can choose either the Lunch Bunch at 12:30 pm or a Snack Chat at 4:00 pm.  Both sessions will be the same information just at different times. 

To join the lunch bunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m., use this lunch link. (Snack link below.)

If you would like to join us for a snack from 4:00-4:45 p.m., please join us at the snack link.

Technology Pick-up

Churchill Road will have an outdoor distribution for student laptops during the week of August 24.  Please carefully read through the schedule and all procedures listed below.

Laptop distribution will take place Monday, August 24, 2020  and Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Additionally, we will have an evening pick-up on Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  No appointment necessary. Please come at a time that is convenient for your family. We will do our best to process everyone as quickly as possible. 

Please follow the protocols listed below to ensure a safe and efficient pick-up of student laptops:

1. Prior to arrival, please fill out and print the Churchill Road  ES Student Computer/Device Program form for each child you have at Churchill Road ES.  If you have three (3) children at Churchill Road ES, you will need to bring three (3) forms with you when you come to pick-up laptops.  The form can be located Here.
2. This is a rain or shine event.  If it is raining, please plan to bring a bag or umbrella.  Laptop covers/cases are not provided. Laptop chargers are provided.
3. You may only pick-up laptops belonging to your child/children. Only one (1) parent per family. Please bring your child with you, or have them write down their username and password. You will need to log into the computer before leaving the Churchill Road parking lot. All staff and parents must wear a mask. Parents must practice social distancing of at least 6 feet while waiting in line.  Please bring your own pen.
4. When you arrive at Churchill, please park in one of the bus parking spots near the cafeteria; then a staff member will assist you.

Laptop Insurance

FCPS does not currently offer an option for families to purchase laptop insurance. For any damaged or lost School Board property, families are responsible for reimbursement in accordance with the SR&R and School Board regulations. Families may wish to check their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies for coverage options or search online for insurance companies which offer insurance policies exclusively for student laptops.

Families with FCPS Laptops

Families who already have a FCPS laptop at home should do the following once per week beginning in August:

• Plug the device into an outlet.
• Turn the device on and let it boot up.
• Ensure it is connected to the internet at that location.
• Let the device sit for 30 minutes. No additional logins or activities are required.
• If you are having issues with it, please contact our SBTS Nick Kilpatrick (@email) to troubleshoot or request a new one. 

Class Placement

Placement decisions will be finalized and sent out to parents during the week of August 24. Placement decisions were first orchestrated, to the best of our ability, as a match to parent delivery model preference (online vs. in-person) as well as teacher need/preference. We are trying to match as much as possible to prevent many changes if/when we transition back into the building. We will continue to focus on meeting our students’ needs in a whole group, small group, and in an individual capacity. 

FCPS Parent Center Resources and Supports

Tuesday, September 1: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Register Here)

Friday, September 11: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Survive and Thrive with Virtual Learning: Practical Strategies to Make At-Home Learning Work for You (10:00-11:30 a.m. - Register Here)

Friday, September 18: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: 10 Ways to Stop Power Struggles & Start Motivating Your Kids (10:00-11:30a.m. OR 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Register Here)

Thursday, September 24: FCPS Parent Resource Center Free Webinar: Encouraging Positive Behaviors at Home Series - Setting the Stage for Good Behavior: Routines, Procedures, & Expectations (10:00 - 11:30 a.m. OR 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Register Here)

Important Dates

• Thursday, August 20 - K Lunch Bunch @ 12:30 p.m. or Snack @ 4:00 p.m.
• Monday, August 24, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Technology Pickup
• Tuesday, August 25, 8:30 a.m. Community Conversations.  Setting your child up for success in a digital classroom and creating a positive socio-emotional environment for students (Resource Team)
• Thursday, August 27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. AND 4:00-7:00 p.m. - Technology Pickup
• Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m.-12 Noon, PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup
• Thursday, September 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m., PTA Pre-ordered School Supply Pickup
• Tuesday, September 8 - First Day of School

Dear Churchill Road Families,

As you have already heard, last Tuesday night the Fairfax County School Board supported Superintendent Brabrand’s recommendation to begin the 2020-21 school year with virtual learning for all students.  The online school year will begin as scheduled on September 8, 2020.  Our first priority is the health and safety of our students and staff.

Many of you have emailed questions about bell schedules, teaching schedules, online resources, and more. I understand your desire to want to know as much as possible right now. At this time, Fairfax County Public Schools is in the process of developing school year plans to ensure each of our students will continue to grow and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

While details of the 2020-21 school year are not finalized, the following previously conveyed information is still part of the school year plan:

• On-line learning will provide four days (Tuesday through Friday) of live, face-to-face instruction with teachers. 
• The elementary day will also consist of additional small group instruction, intervention supports, and independent learning activities assigned to students. 
• Student work will be graded and attendance is required. 
• Part of Monday’s schedule will include time for teacher planning. 

Over the past six weeks, I have continued to reflect upon the anecdotal responses received on the Distance Learning feedback form parents filled out in June, as well as conversations I have had with many of you this summer.  These responses have been organized into categories such as parent communication, student engagement,  technology, etc, and I have begun sharing this information with teacher groups. It has been extremely helpful to have your input and thoughts as we plan for this upcoming school year.  

As we focus on the return to school this fall, I can’t begin to tell you how many staff have emailed me to see what they can do to create a wonderful school year for your children. Our staff are eager to begin interacting with your children, and they are dedicated to spending the weeks before September 8 in preparation. Thank you for trusting us. 

We will communicate with you as quickly as possible when we have more information. We understand this is a difficult time and families may be feeling a variety of emotions around this change. We hope that you enjoy the rest of the summer and stay healthy.  

Please continue to reach out with any questions!

Sincerely,

Cherith Pierson
Principal

Registration is Underway for the Fall

As decisions are being made regarding the fall, it is vital we have all kindergartners and new students registered.  Important information will be emailed to parents of registered students and fall schedules will be determined based on the specific students in each class.  If you, a neighbor, or friend have a child to register for Churchill Road, please start here!