FCPS

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SVES Office Closed Over Winter Break

Sunrise Valley office will be closed over the winter break, December 23-January 3. We wish you and your family a wonderful winter break and those celebrating, Happy Holidays! We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, January 6, 2025. 

SOUTH LAKES HIGH SCHOOL - PARENT PROJECT

Our pyramid is offering a 10-week course designed to empower families and transform teens/preteens. In taking this course, parents will walk away with tools to learn (1) how to build a positive relationship with their child, (2) ways to prevent or intervene in alcohol and drug use, disruptive behavior at home and gang affiliation, and (3) ways to explore concrete solutions for active supervision. Classes are free, once a week-dinner and childcare provided.

This workshop was designed with the purpose to equip parents with the tools needed to help them raise their children with love and have less arguments.

RSVP: ENGLISH PARENT PROJECT WORKSHOP

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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Winter Break Approaches

It’s hard to believe we’re heading into our final week before winter break! Whether you’re staying close to home, taking a trip, or visiting family, we hope it’s a safe and joyful time. This will be our last bulletin until January 12, but we'll be in touch if anything important arises. Enjoy this special time with your family, and we look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, January 6!

Ashley Younger + Jody Delaney

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

• Dec. 18: Before School Enrichment
• Dec. 20: Last Day of School Before Winter Break
• Dec. 23–Jan. 3: Winter Break (No School)
• Jan. 6: Students Return from Winter Break

🎶 Jingle on the Lake

Our Chorus singers, led by Ms. Heather Smith and Dr. Phillip Kancianic, were exceptional! They guided us in a holiday sing-along, and despite the cold weather, there was so much warmth emanating from our singers! A big thank you to Ms. Smith and Dr. Kancianic for leading the program, and to all our families for supporting our music program at SVES and encouraging your students' participation.

❄️ SVES at Winterfest

Partnering with our amazing PTA, our sixth graders designed their own ornaments, which were proudly displayed at the 2nd Annual Reson Winterfest. I hope you and your family had a chance to join us and catch a glimpse of the SVES tree! A big thank you to Angeline Van Evera and Geetha Estep for organizing and decorating the SVES tree!

🌟 Recognize a SVES Staff Member

Consider recognizing a SVES staff member this holiday season. It’s a wonderful way to show your appreciation for the incredible team here at SVES!

All submission will be featured in our staff newsletter, The Sunrise, where we highlight the exceptional work of our colleagues. 

Fun and Free Events in 2025 from the Sunrise Valley PTA

The PTA Board wishes all Sunrise Valley families peace and happiness over winter break. We’re excited to return in 2025 with multiple FREE student enrichment events, including Skate Date, Family Science Night, Spelling Bee, and Show What You Know. Sign your students up now to participate, and check that off your list! Details below. These events are put on by families for our children. If you can help us check students in for skating, serve as a Spelling Bee judge, or staff hands-on exploration tables at Family Science Night, please volunteer.

⛸️ Skate Date @ Skatequest, Reston

Sunday, January 12, 3:10-5:10pm (doors 2:45 pm)

Hit the ice with our annual skating event! Sunrise Valley students skate FREE thanks to our generous PTA members and sponsors. Parents, siblings, and other guests can skate with a purchased ticket ($8 in advance/$10 at the door). All skaters must register as space is limited. We also need a few volunteers to check skaters in at the start and take photographs. Sign up to help here.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Glynn.

🔬 Family Science Night

Thursday, January 23, 6-7:30pm

Calling all science enthusiasts! All students, grades K-6, and their families are invited to this FREE, fun evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math exploration. The Children's Science Center Lab provides the activities, and we're asked to provide 30 volunteers to run the tables. Please sign up to help by January 10 here. No experience required! Great service opportunity for teens (age 16+) or local business employees.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Glynn.

🐝 Spelling Bee

Friday, February 7, 6-8pm

Students in grades K-6 are invited to participate in this FREE spelling competition. By inspiring the exploration of words, the Scripps National Spelling Bee illuminates pathways to lifelong curiosity, celebrates academic achievement, and enriches communities. Register your student by January 31.

Questions, or want to volunteer as a judge or helper? Contact Stephanie Kater.

👚 Design Contest: Show What You Know T-Shirt

Contest Design Deadline:  Friday, January 31

Show What You Know (SWYK) will take place on March 26. This beloved Sunrise Valley event allows students to showcase their learning and knowledge with other students and their parents. All participants receive a free shirt printed with a design chosen from student submissions. We're looking for student artists to submit designs for the tee-shirt! Take time over winter break to create your design and submit by January 31.  

• The contest is open to all students.
• The design should be on a white piece of paper with black ink and must include: “Sunrise Valley Elementary School", "Show What You Know" and "2025".
• Paper entries can be turned into the front office with the student's name, grade, and teacher on the back of the paper, or uploaded online.

Contact Jennifer Glynn with questions about the design contest. Registration for student SWYK participants will open in January.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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#FRIDAYSFORYOU 🎨☕

On Friday, we hosted our first #FRIDAYSFORYOU event, a new initiative focused on staff wellness and carving out time for self-care. This year, we’re hosting three sessions, each led by a staff member. Our first session, Paint & Sip, was led by our talented art teacher, Maria Claessen. We designed our own greeting cards while enjoying coffee, donut holes, and fruit.

It was a wonderful way to start the day and connect with each other in a fun, relaxing environment.

Special thanks to the Glynn, Varma, Bississo, Mulrean, and Keeffe families for providing the coffee, creamer, fruit, and donuts!

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

• Dec. 9: 3-Hour Early Release Monday / PTA Camps
• Dec. 11 & 18: Before School Enrichment
• Dec. 20: Last Day of School Before Winter Break
• Dec. 23–Jan. 3: Winter Break (No School)
• Jan. 6: Students Return from Winter Break

🧥 IMPORTANT: Lost Property 👟

Is your student missing a jacket, sweatshirt, or those must-have hats and gloves? Watch our fashion show video - you might spot a familiar missing item making its runway debut! Stop by the lost and found in the cafeteria to claim any missing items.

Please note: All unclaimed items will be donated to a local shelter after winter break.

Video Credit: Mr. Stewart and 4th Grade 

☕ Principal's Coffee: Math

Thank you to the families who joined me for our second Principal's Coffee this past Tuesday, which focused on math. Ms. Falkey, our math resource teacher, led an engaging and interactive session using the FCPS math framework. Together, we worked through a math task, reflected, and walked away with valuable resources.

If you couldn’t attend, don’t worry—we’ve included a link to the resources for you!

🗓️ This Monday, December 9: 3-Hour Early Release

Tomorrow is our next 3-hour early release Monday. You should have received an online notification on Tuesday confirming your child’s dismissal plan for this day.

We kindly ask all families to avoid making changes to your child’s schedule tomorrow. Last-minute adjustments can create disruptions and increase the potential for error. Ensuring student safety is always our top priority. Thank you for your understanding and support!

📸 School Pictures – Order Online

School pictures, including those taken on Make-up/Retake Day (Nov 19), are available for purchase online.  Visit vosphoto.com/uc (Online Code = Student ID).  For questions regarding school pictures, email Victor O’Neill Studios at [email protected]. 

Mark your calendars:  Spring Individual and Class Pictures will be March 11, 2025. 

Sunrise Valley's Skate Date

Sunday, January 12, 3:10pm

All Sunrise Valley students and their families are invited to our annual skating event on Sunday, January 12, from 3:10 to 5:10pm. 

Thanks to our generous PTA members and sponsors, this is a FREE event for all SVES students. Parents, siblings, and other guests are welcome to skate too, with a purchased ticket ($8 in advance/$10 at the door).

All skaters -- whether free or paid -- should pre-register as attendance is limited. Register your student and purchase additional tickets here. Complementary hot chocolate will be provided courtesy of Sunrise Valley PTA sponsor Northern Virginia Orthodontics. Questions? Contact Jennifer Glynn.

Spirit Store Holiday Pop-Up

Purchase swag now while supplies last!

Did you miss our spirit wear sale earlier this fall? Now's your chance to pick up Sunrise Valley merchandise before the holidays. 

Selected styles and sizes available while supplies last via our online Spirit Store. Items purchased will be distributed at school prior to winter break, just in time for the holidays!

Note that fulfillments will be paused between December 18 and January 7. Questions? Contact Karina Mondragon de Nica.

Sunrise Valley Staff: We have a special teacher discount offering for you. Stay tuned for more information from Karina!

Sunrise Valley PTA Membership

Check that off your list before the holidays, join us now and help reach our goal!

We're 93% of the way to our goal with only a couple more weeks to go. Here's five reasons why you should become a member:

1. Fund classroom field trips and mini grants. 
2. Support fun school events for your children throughout the year. 
3. Show staff we appreciate them. 
4. Fund school equipment and technology. 
5. Make connections! 

There's still time. Become a member by December 15th!

Questions? Contact Alexis Estep

📝 AAP Full-Time Referrals

Deadline for Submitting Referrals: December 15

The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!

To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Sara Balcanoff at [email protected] or in hard copy to the front office no later than December 15.

SEL Screener Parent Reports

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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We hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! I loved catching up with students in the hallways and at lunch to hear about their time off.

Here are a few quick reminders for the week ahead.

☕ Principal's Coffee is Tomorrow! 🗓️ Last Chance to Sign-up for the PTA 3-Hour Early Release Camps

The PTA camps for the upcoming 3-hour early release on December 9 closes TODAY! 

PTA is offering Chess and Art camps as an option for families who wish to participate from 1:05-4:05. There are no refunds. REGISTER HERE!

Keep an eye out tomorrow for our early release confirmation email! Any changes to your student(s) dismissal plans for Monday should be directed to the main office.

❄️ Reston Winterfest 2024

Sunrise Valley is proud to be featured at Reston Winterfest this weekend, December 5-7, from 5:00-9:00 p.m.! Our sixth graders designed unique ornaments that will be proudly displayed on the Sunrise Valley tree.

🎶 Jingle on the Lake

Join our Sunrise Valley chorus singers this Saturday at Lake Anne Plaza for the Annual Jingle on the Lake event!

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🧡THANKFUL 🤍 HEARTS🤎

The Sunrise Valley staff extends our heartfelt thanks for the beautiful and delicious Pie Bar! This delightful addition has quickly become a treat we all look forward to. A special thank you to Vanessa Varma, Holly Reynolds, Melissa DiLoreto, Colleen Hill and Shashin Singh, for their coordination and setup, as well as to all the families who generously donated. You’ve truly sweetened our day and the week leading into the holiday!

As we approach the upcoming break, we hope it brings time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the company of family and friends. We’re thankful for the incredible partnership and support from our families and look forward to welcoming students back after the break!

For those celebrating, have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

• Nov. 26: Pyramid Chorus Workshop 
• Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving Break, No School
• Dec. 3: Principal Coffee #2 at 9:30 a.m. (focus on Math)
• Dec. 4: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Dec 9: 3-Hour Early Release Monday

📌 SAVE-THE-DATE: Principals Coffee on Dec. 3 🗓️ Dec 9: 3 Hour Early Release Monday

Our next 3-Hour Early Release is on Monday, December 9. We’ll be using the survey responses submitted for the October Early Release, so no new survey will be sent. On Monday, December 2, you’ll receive an email confirming your selection for each child.

If your plans have changed, please contact the school to update your preference.

PTA will also continue to offer Chess and Art camps as an option for families who wish to participate from 1:05-4:05. 

Registration: Closes 10 days prior to a camp date (next deadline is Friday, November 29). There are no refunds. REGISTER HERE!

☕ Coffee and Breakfast Assistance Needed

Help with coffee and breakfast goodies for Sunrise Valley teachers and staff! 

Sunrise Valley is hosting three wellness sessions for teachers and staff called #FRIDAYSFORYOU. Their first one, a Paint & Sip, is on Friday, December 6, at 8:15am.

Principal Younger is asking for family assistance for coffee and breakfast treats for the teachers and staff for this event. Two items remain: fruit and donut holes! Sign up here and drop off items at the front office on Friday, December 6, at 8am.

Questions? Contact Melissa DiLoreto.

🏅 Sunrise Valley sponsors Math Olympiads Team

Sunrise Valley sponsors Math Olympiads Team

Register your 4th, 5th, or 6th grader now!

This year, the Sunrise Valley PTA is happy to sponsor a Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) team! MOEMS is a fun-filled global math competition program that fosters mathematical creativity by challenging students to use multiple strategies for out-of-the-box problem-solving.

• The team will consist of up to 35 students, open to students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades on a first come, first serve basis. 
• The competition includes five math contests. 
• Students must commit to participating in the five contests. 

The five contests and four practice sessions will be held in the cafeteria at 8:15am. See registration for specific dates. If school is delayed or canceled, the contest or practice session will be canceled and rescheduled.

Registration

• The cost to participate is $10 per student. The PTA is committed to access for all students. If this presents a financial hardship, please use the code QNMWX6UPW74N for free participation.
• For more information and to register: https://tinyurl.com/SVESPTAEnrichment
• Registration closes on Sunday, December 1, at 5pm or before if all spots are filled. There are no refunds. 

Questions? Contact PTA parent volunteers Josh Berman and Michelle Kimmel at [email protected].

❄️ Winter Weather

We will make every effort to provide students with outdoor time, even in colder weather. Students need this fresh air and time to run and play. Please ensure your child dresses appropriately in layers and consider labeling their clothing for easy identification.

Winter weather is coming! Watch this video to learn how FCPS makes weather closing decisions. Stay informed through the FCPS website, email, text, social media, and news stations. Update your contact info in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the website, and plan for childcare if needed.

📝 AAP Full-Time Referrals

Deadline for Submitting Referrals: December 15

The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!

To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Sara Balcanoff at [email protected] or in hard copy to the front office no later than December 15.

✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

• Nov. 19: Fall Picture Make-Ups
• Nov. 20: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Nov. 22: PTA Pie Bar for Staff & Kindergarten Grateful Gathering
• Nov. 26: Pyramid Chorus Workshop 
• Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving Break, No School
• Dec. 3: Principal Coffee #2 (focus on Math)
• Dec. 4: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Dec 9: 3-Hour Early Release Monday

❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙 Veterans Day Ceremony

Wow, what a beautiful ceremony we had on Friday as we gathered to honor the veterans and active-duty members of our military who have dedicated themselves to serving our country and others. Our 5th and 6th-grade chorus performed several tribute songs, heartfelt student thank-you notes were shared, and our entire school community joined in for several sing-alongs.

A special thank you to Colonel Brian Dryzga, USMC, for joining us as our guest speaker. His inspiring and heartfelt words focused on three important themes: gratitude, responsibility, and remembrance. Addressing students, Colonel Dryzga shared the important message: "Veterans don't look for glamour, veterans don't look for praise, veterans don't look for handouts, the best gift you can give a veteran, is to not forget them...[say thank you]!"

It was a meaningful day of recognition and appreciation for all who have served. To those who have worn the uniform, we extend our deepest gratitude. 

Visit our webpage to view the featured article, which includes the full video of the ceremony!

A special thank you to Karina Mondragon de Nica for building our new podium, which had its debut at our Veterans Day Ceremony.

🗓️ Dec 9: 3 Hour Early Release Monday

Our next 3-Hour Early Release is on Monday, December 9. We’ll be using the survey responses submitted for the October Early Release, so no new survey will be sent. During the week of December 2, you’ll receive an email confirming your selection for each child.

If your plans have changed, please contact the school to update your preference.

PTA will also continue to offer Chess and Art camps as an option for families who wish to participate from 1:05-4:05. 

Registration: Closes 10 days prior to a camp date (next deadline is Friday, November 29). There are no refunds. REGISTER HERE!

📸 Fall Picture Make-ups and Retakes: Tuesday, November 19

Victor O’Neill Studios will be here to photograph students who were absent or not yet enrolled on School Picture Day, September 17, or who are unhappy with their portrait and would like a retake.  Be sure to notify your child’s teacher if you would like a retake. 

If you didn’t get a chance to order Fall Pictures, there’s still time!  Visit vosphoto.com/uc (Online Code = Student ID).

Any questions about school pictures, email Victor O’Neill Studios.   

🏀 The 2nd Annual Late Nite at the Byrd is Back!

A welcoming event for the Boys and Girls basketball programs this year hosted by the South Lakes Athletic Leadership class. It is a free event but there will be a donation available. We invite members of the South Lakes community to join us to see: 3 Point Contest, Dunk Contest, Dance Team performance, Raffle Prizes and Contests for fans.

This is a chance for people to meet with teams, get autographs and take photos with the players!  The event is on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 8pm at the Wendell G. Byrd Gymnasium, following the boys basketball scrimmage. Please enter at door 4.

Every middle school and elementary school child must be accompanied by an adult. Boosters will have concessions and gear store open in gym lobby!

Any questions please email Mr. Cincinnati at [email protected]

☕ Coffee and Breakfast Assistance Needed

Help with coffee and breakfast goodies for Sunrise Valley teachers and staff!

Sunrise Valley is hosting three wellness sessions for teachers and staff called #FRIDAYSFORYOU. Their first one, a Paint & Sip, is on Friday, December 6, at 8:15am.

Principal Younger is asking for family assistance for coffee and breakfast treats for the teachers and staff for this event. Sign up here and drop off items at the front office on Friday, December 6, at 8am.

Questions? Contact Melissa DiLoreto.

🥧 Help Needed with PTA Pie Bar

Help with the Sunrise Valley teachers and staff pie bar! 

Back by popular demand, the PTA will be hosting a Pie Bar on Friday, November 22, for our teachers and staff.

We're still in need of a variety of sweet and savory pies, including quiches and some gluten free options. Sign up here to help! Please drop off items at the front desk on Friday, November 22, between 9:00-9:30am (or connect with Vanessa, contact information below, to arrange a different time).

Questions? Contact Vanessa Varma

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🗓️ Calendar Reminders

• Nov. 11: Veterans Day, No School
• Nov. 12: Grade 2 Field Trip
• Nov. 13: PTA Before School Enrichment & PTA Meeting at 9:30AM
• Nov. 14: Parent Workshop at 6:30 PM at SVES
• Nov. 15: Veterans Day Assembly - students are encouraged to wear Red, White & Blue
• Nov. 19: Fall Picture Make-Ups
• Nov. 20: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Nov. 21: PTA Pie Bar for Staff

👥 PARENT WORKSHOP: This Thursday!

We’re thrilled to welcome Mary Willcox Smith for our first 2024-25 Parent Series event! This is a wonderful chance to connect with other parents, gain new insights, and leave with valuable resources. Childcare will be available if needed.

Please RSVP and submit questions you may have in advance. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening! 

Nominate an OUTSTANDING Sunrise Valley Staff Member Today!

Nominations are now open for FCPS's Outstanding Employee Awards! All nominations are due TONIGHT, Sunday by 11:59PM. 

To submit a nomination for a Sunrise Valley Outstanding employee in one of the categories below, please click on the appropriate nomination title which is linked to a google page. You may nominate more than one employee across multiple categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a brief statement. If your candidate is chosen, we will contact you with more details. Additional information regarding each of these awards, as well as the criteria and considerations, are included within each link.

• Outstanding Teacher – a teacher or librarian with 3 or more years of experience
• Outstanding New Teacher– a teacher or librarian with less than 3 years of experience
• Outstanding New Principal – A school principal within the first 3 years of their assignment as principal in FCPS
• Outstanding Leader – an Assistant principal
• Outstanding Operational Employee – these positions could include administrative and office assistants, custodial staff, food service staff, Instructional Assistants, Public Health Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants
• Outstanding Professional Employee – These positions could include school-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading
  Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grade.

If you have any questions, please contact our Awards Liaison, Buki Peters.

📚 Changes in Literacy

At our Principal's Coffee on Tuesday, October 8, Ms. Carrie Brotemarkle shared updates on the new Virginia Literacy Act and the recently adopted curriculum, Benchmark Advance. For those who couldn't attend but would like to learn more, a voiceover PowerPoint has been created.

📝 Look for Fall Screener Score Reports in ParentVUE

• Kindergarten (VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS) by 11/15
• VALLSS Grade 1-3 by 10/25
• iReady Grade 1-6 - by 10/31

*Families that do not have ParentVUE will receive their reports by mail.

📸 Fall Picture Make-ups and Retakes: Tuesday, November 19

Victor O’Neill Studios will be here to photograph students who were absent or not yet enrolled on School Picture Day, September 17, or who are unhappy with their portrait and would like a retake.  Be sure to notify your child’s teacher if you would like a retake. 

If you didn’t get a chance to order Fall Pictures, there’s still time!  Visit vosphoto.com/uc (Online Code = Student ID).

Any questions about school pictures, email Victor O’Neill Studios.   

🎥 SLHS Movie Night: Nov. 12 🎬SLHS Theater Presents: Radium Girls

BUY TICKETS!

Based on a true story, Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory is about female dialpainters in the 1920s who were poisoned by their factory's radium-based paint. This shocking, heartbreaking story exposes the corporate greed and denial of their employer while also showcasing the insurmountable strength of the human spirit in the face of the bleakest circumstances.

Under the direction of Mr. Michael Viola, South Lakes Theatre Arts’ dedicated cast and crew bring this moving and thought-provoking story to life, honoring the courage and resilience of the women who stood up for justice against overwhelming odds.

Radium Girls Show Dates:

• Thu., Nov 14 - 7:30pm
• Fri., Nov 15 - 7:30pm
• Sat., Nov 16 - 2:00pm
• Sat., Nov 16 - 7:30pm

🗓️ PTA Meeting: Nov 13

Guest Speaker: Jennifer Savory, SVES School Counselor, special performance by our Sunrise Valley Chorus, and a display of student artwork!

Join us for our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, November 13, at 9:30 am in the school cafeteria. We’ll share programming updates, highlight upcoming events, and welcome School Counselor Jen Savory as our guest speaker. She’ll discuss her role at Sunrise Valley, share tips on managing anxiety, and more. Join us in person or virtually via Zoom! Questions? Contact Geetha Estep and Angeline Van Evera.

🥧 PTA Pie Bar for SVES Staff

Back by popular demand, the PTA will be hosting a Pie Bar on Friday, November 22, for our teachers and staff. Sign up here to help!

Questions? Contact Vanessa Varma

🫶 National Family Engagement Month

Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. 

The FCPS Family Academy was created to support the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.

📝 AAP Full-Time Referrals

Deadline for Submitting Referrals: December 15

The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!

To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Sara Balcanoff at [email protected] or in hard copy to the front office no later than December 15.

✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

📚 Literacy Resources for Families Webpage & Grading Updates

A new Literacy Resources for Families webpage is available to provide families with information about how to support their children with developing literacy knowledge and skills at home. It provides valuable information about the reading and writing resources to be used at home, the VALLSS, Reading Plans and training available through the Family Academy. 

Elementary Progress Report grades in English Language Arts may be impacted this year by our new curriculum, our new assessments, and the new 2024 ELA VDOE Standards of Learning. We now teach and assess all ELA standards in all quarters using rigorous on-grade level texts in relation to end of year expectations, which could result in lower grades earlier in the year as students work towards grade-level mastery. An update has been posted on the FCPS website.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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Sunrise Valley Employee Awards – 2024-2025

 

Nominations are now open for FCPS's Outstanding Employee Awards!

To submit a nomination for a Sunrise Valley Outstanding employee in one of the categories below, please click on the appropriate nomination title which is linked to a google page. You may nominate more than one employee across multiple categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a brief statement. If your candidate is chosen, we will contact you with more details. 

Additional information regarding each of these awards, as well as the criteria and considerations, are included within each link.

 

Outstanding Teacher – a teacher or librarian with 3 or more years of experience

 

Outstanding New Teacher– a teacher or librarian with less than 3 years of experience 

 

Outstanding New Principal – A school principal within the first 3 years of their assignment as principal in FCPS

 

Outstanding Leader – an Assistant principal

 

Outstanding Operational Employee – these positions could include administrative and office assistants, custodial staff, food service staff, Instructional Assistants, Public Health Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants

 

Outstanding Professional Employee – These positions could include school-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades

 

 

Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Thursday, November 7, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact our Awards Liaison, Buki Peters at [email protected]

 

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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October Highlights at SVES

October brought a vibrant mix of learning and connection to Sunrise Valley! Grade-level teams came together to review assessment data, allowing us to create meaningful plans to support each student’s growth. We also enjoyed several exciting field trips, each bringing our students' learning to life beyond the classroom.

Our first Principal’s Coffee focused on literacy updates, where we discussed the new Virginia Literacy Act and the Benchmark curriculum. This month also featured a 3-Hour Early Release Monday, giving teachers valuable planning time, and the PTA’s much-loved Annual Fall Festival, which brought plenty of smiles and family fun!

Before School Enrichment is now in full swing, offering activities like chess, intramurals, and coding. We also said farewell to Ms. Blomquist, a beloved teacher of over 17 years, and warmly welcomed Ms. Sam Cappellari to our SVES family. Here’s to all the learning, fun, and connections October has brought us!

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney

RULER, RISE & Responsive Classroom

At Sunrise Valley, we use RISE, Responsive Classroom, and RULER as part of our schoolwide framework to support students’ social and emotional needs and to set clear expectations for student behavior.

RISE 

RISE is our school pledge, guiding behavior in every setting—classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, bathrooms, and playground. Teachers model, and students practice, what it means to demonstrate Respect, Independence, Safety, and Empathy. Morning Meetings are used to reinforce RISE in these spaces, and Closing Circles provide an opportunity to reflect on how students showed RISE behaviors throughout the day.

Responsive Classroom

At Sunrise Valley, Responsive Classroom is a central part of our school culture, promoting a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. We focus on key practices such as Morning Meeting and Closing Circle to build community and help students start and end their day with a sense of belonging. Logical Consequences are used to encourage intrinsic motivation, helping students reflect on their choices and learn from them. Through intentional Teacher Language, we support positive behavior and foster a respectful, collaborative classroom atmosphere that nurtures social-emotional growth alongside academics.

RULER

The RULER approach, from Yale's Center for Emotional Intelligence, helps build emotional awareness and self-regulation skills to enhance student learning and well-being. At Sunrise Valley, classrooms have a class charter, collaboratively created by students and teachers, that outlines shared emotional goals to foster a supportive learning environment. Students are encouraged to use the Mood Meter—a tool that helps them recognize and label their emotions based on energy and pleasantness levels—enabling them to build self-awareness. Teachers also model strategies like taking a "meta moment," a pause to help students reflect and choose constructive responses, which supports thoughtful and respectful interactions.

IDEAS FOR HOME

• Use the Mood Meter: Encourage your child to identify and share their feelings using the Mood Meter colors. This will reinforce their ability to label emotions and discuss how they’re feeling.
• Model and Discuss RISE Behaviors: Use the principles of Respect, Independence, Safety, and Empathy (RISE) at home by discussing what each behavior might look like in different settings.
• Set Up a Family Charter: Create a family charter with shared emotional goals to build a supportive, respectful atmosphere at home.
• Encourage Meta Moments: When conflicts or challenging situations arise, practice "meta moments" by pausing to think before reacting, helping them learn to choose constructive responses.
• Reflect at the End of the Day: Have a Closing Circle or reflection time as a family to discuss how each person demonstrated positive behaviors and met their goals for the day.

Sentence Starters for Families

• "How are you feeling today? Can you show me where that would be on the Mood Meter?"
• "What does it look like to show respect and empathy at home and at school?"
• "Let’s take a ‘meta moment’ together. How could we handle this situation differently?"
• "Can you share one way you showed independence or safety today?"
• "What went well today, and what would you like to do differently tomorrow?"
• "Let’s come up with our own family charter. What feelings are important for us to have at home?"

FIELD TRIPS

We're so fortunate to have a generous PTA that provides enriching field trip opportunities for our students. Thanks to their support, including covering bus costs and portions of entrance fees, October was filled with exciting trips!

Kindergarten visited Great Country Farms, 5th grade explored the Walker Nature Center and had a guest speaker from Amazon Prime Air, and 6th grade ventured to the National Art Museum and George Mason's The EDGE.

5th Graders at Walker Nature Center

Our 5th graders had a great time at Walker Nature Center – this field trip offered students a hands-on opportunity to explore geology in a real-world context. It deepened their understanding of key concepts like rock formation, earth processes, and natural events, all while directly supporting essential standards from the Virginia SOLs.

Ms. Hansen's class had the exciting opportunity to meet with a software engineer from Amazon Prime Air via Zoom, supporting their Project-Based Learning (PBL). The students gained valuable insights into Amazon Prime Air, the role of an engineer, and the fascinating technology behind drones!

Kindergarten at Great Farms Pumpkin Patch

Kindergarten had the chance to go to Great Country Farm to learn all about pumpkins! We learned about different types of pumpkins, the life cycle of a pumpkin, how pumpkins grow, and had the chance to pick our own pumpkin to bring home!

6th Graders at the American Art Museum & George Mason's The EDGE

This month, our SVES 6th graders went on field trips to the Smithsonian's American Art Museum and George Mason's the EDGE. At the Art Museum, students explored the world of American art, while at the EDGE, they participated in team-based challenge courses centered on the 4 P's: Patience, Practice, Persistence, and Positivity. These challenges focused on building trust, strengthening teamwork, developing leadership, and enhancing communication skills.

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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📅 CALENDAR REMINDERS

Tomorrow, Monday, October 28, we have a 3-hour early release. You should have received confirmation on Friday regarding your student’s dismissal plan, either leaving at 1:05 p.m. or staying at SVES until 4:05 p.m. Coordinating these plans for each student is a significant effort, and we thank you for confirming with us.

Please avoid making changes to your child's dismissal plan unless absolutely necessary. Last-minute adjustments created confusion during the last dismissal, impacting students, teachers, and the office. Our priority is student safety, and your support helps keep the process smooth and secure on Monday.

Additional Calendar Reminders:

• Wednesday, October 30: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Thursday, October 31: 2-Hour Early Release (End of 1st Quarter)
• Friday, November 1: Holiday (Diwali, Dia de los Muertos, and All Saints Day)
• Monday, November 4: Student Holiday/School Planning Day
• Tuesday, November 5: Election Day: Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
• Wednesday, November 6: PTA Before School Enrichment
• Monday, November 11: Holiday (Veterans Day)

❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙❤️🤍💙 Veterans & Active-Duty Families are Invited!

On Friday, November 15 at 9:45 a.m., our students will be participating in a Veterans Day Assembly.

We are honoring Veterans in our SVES community and invite them to attend. 

We welcome all Honored attendees to join us for a breakfast reception at the conclusion of the assembly. Please RSVP using this link by Friday, November 8.

This performance will be recorded to be shared with all families.

🏅 Sunrise Valley Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for FCPS's Outstanding Employee Awards!

To submit a nomination for a Sunrise Valley Outstanding employee in one of the categories below, please click on the appropriate nomination title which is linked to a google page. You may nominate more than one employee across multiple categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a brief statement. If your candidate is chosen, we will contact you with more details. 

Additional information regarding each of these awards, as well as the criteria and considerations, are included within each link.

• Outstanding Teacher – a teacher or librarian with 3 or more years of experience
• Outstanding New Teacher– a teacher or librarian with less than 3 years of experience 
• Outstanding New Principal – A school principal within the first 3 years of their assignment as principal in FCPS
• Outstanding Leader – an Assistant principal
• Outstanding Operational Employee – these positions could include administrative and office assistants, custodial staff, food service staff, Instructional Assistants, Public Health Assistants, Public Health Training Assistants
• Outstanding Professional Employee – These positions could include school-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades

Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 5pm. If you have any questions, please contact our Awards Liaison, Buki Peters at [email protected]

🍂 LHMS: Fall Festival on Oct. 30 Meet Jennifer Savory, Sunrise Valley's School Counselor, at next month's PTA meeting

Our next PTA meeting will be Wednesday, November 13, at 9:30am in the school cafeteria. We'll share programming updates, cover upcoming events, and welcome special guest Jen Savory, School Counselor. She'll talk about her role at Sunrise Valley and provide some tips on anxiety and more. Join us in person or virtually via Zoom! Questions? Contact Geetha Estep and Angeline Van Evera.

Update from the Spirit Store, all orders were delivered to classrooms

Sunrise Valley swag was a big hit this fall! From the online store orders to the pop up store at the Fall Festival, the Sunrise Valley community was eager to show their school spirit. All orders that were placed online before the Fall Festival were delivered to the students in their classrooms last week. Ms. Day and Ms. DiPietro will receive free Sunrise Valley hoodies as their classrooms purchased the most spirit wear. We'll plan to open up another pop up shop soon, so stay tuned for more.

Didn't get your order? Need help with your order? Questions? Contact Karina Mondragón de Nica.

Support the Sunrise Valley PTA with Harris Teeter shopper's account

Link your Harris Teeter account (VIC card) to Sunrise Valley by entering our Together in Education program school code of 5046. Check out the steps below. You must re-register every year. Signing up is a quick way to support Sunrise Valley PTA at no cost to you!

• Enter email associated with your VIC account
• Enter the one-time passcode sent to your email
• Search for your school and click "add" to link (code 5046)

Questions? Contact Rachel Claremon.

📝 AAP Full-Time Referrals

Deadline for Submitting Referrals: December 15

The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!

To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Sara Balcanoff at [email protected] or in hard copy to the front office no later than December 15.

✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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Setting Students Up for Success

Helping our students start their day with a positive mindset and readiness behaviors is important for a strong beginning, and it all starts with arriving to school on time.

All students should be in their classrooms, seated, and ready to start the day by 9:20. Arriving early allows time to greet friends, organize belongings, and complete Morning Work before participating in the Morning Meeting, which helps build classroom community. Even a few extra minutes can make a big difference!

Let’s work together to ensure every student starts their day on a positive note! If you need support, our team is here to help—just reach out.

Support Team: Jen Savory, Counselor; Adrienne Burton, Family Liaison or April Bowman, Social Worker

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

October 23: PTA Morning Enrichment

October 28: 3-Hour Early Release 

October 29: Field Trip: 6th Grade (Huffer/Mandell) 

October 30: PTA Morning Enrichment & Field Trip: 6th Grade (Dziedzic/Elfin)

October 31: Two Hour Early Release

📣 Welcome Ms. Cappellari 🗓️ 3-Hour Early Release: Oct. 28

Our next 3-hour early release is Monday, October 28. Please fill out the SURVEY to confirm whether your child will leave at 1:05 p.m. or stay until 4:05 p.m.

We need a response for every student. We have responses for 300 students, and have 250 more to go! 

We expect most students to follow their usual routes home. If your family needs supervision on the day, instructional assistants, subs, and other staff will oversee students during this time.

The PTA is offering two camps on early release Mondays: Magnus Chess and Kids Create Studio, from 1:05-4:05 PM. Details and registration information found here. 

📌 SAVE-THE-DATE!

DON'T MISS THIS PARENT WORKSHOP!

RSVP for the Event & Submit Your Questions

📸 Fall Festival Photos

The PTA's Fall Festival, an annual favorite, took place this Friday. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying time together—whether playing games, spending time on the playground, enjoying a family dinner, dancing with special guest DJ Platts, or gearing up for the movie. If you have photos from the event, please be sure to Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox so we can stream them on the Main Office TV.

Federal Impact Aid Survey

The Federal Impact Aid Survey will be available in ParentVUE starting Monday October 21. Be on the look out for an eNotify message from FCPS on Monday October 21 for additional instructions.

The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:

• Military Families
• Federally connected families
• Families living on a military base

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the enrolling parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form. For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. If you would like access to ParentVUE please email [email protected].

📸 School Pictures – Victor O’Neill Studios

Photo packets from our September 17th picture day have arrived.  Be sure to check your child’s backpack if you ordered pictures. 

If you didn’t get a chance to order, there’s still time!  Student images are available online.  Visit vosphoto.com/underclass (online code = student ID#).   

For questions regarding school pictures, please email [email protected]. 

Picture Make-ups are the morning of Tuesday, November 19.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first Principal's Coffee! Our focus was on the new literacy curriculum and the Virginia Literacy Act. Ms. Carrie Brotemarkle, our Reading Specialist, led the session, covering the curriculum, assessment details, and student plans. A recording of the session will be sent out once it becomes available.

Thank you to Angeline Van Evera, Geetha Estep and the PTA for providing the coffee and breakfast items. 

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney 

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

October 14: No School, Indigenous Peoples' Day

October 15: Field Trips: Kindergarten & 6th Grade

October 16: PTA Morning Enrichment, Field Trip: 6th Grade (Dziedzic/Mandell), & FLE Parent Preview Night, 6:00PM via Zoom

October 17: Field Trip: 6th Grade (Elfin/Huffer)

October 18: PTA Fall Festival at 5:30PM

October 23: PTA Morning Enrichment

October 28: 3-Hour Early Release 

October 29: Field Trip: 6th Grade (Huffer/Mandell) 

October 30: PTA Morning Enrichment & Field Trip: 6th Grade (Dziedzic/Elfin)

October 31: Two Hour Early Release

🌟 SVES Shines!

As part of an FCPS initiative, we are gathering examples of how "SVES Shines" to highlight what makes our school great and share with the greater community. We want to hear from students, families, and staff! Please use this link to share one way you think "SVES Shines."

All responses are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 16.

📌 SAVE-THE-DATE! 📢 Advanced Academic Programs News and Notes

Ms. Sara Balcanoff hosted the AAP Information session on Thursday morning.  If you were not able to join us, but would like to review the slide deck and AAP Screening & Identification Timelines, that information can be accessed here.  

October 15th- All new FCPS students in grades 3-6 who are interested in applying for full-time advanced academic services to begin this school year should submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form no later than October 15th. Students who apply during our fall cycle will be screened for full-time AAP services in December, and if found eligible through the central selection screening process, placement would begin at the start of the third quarter. This screening cycle is only available for students new to Fairfax County.

December 15th- The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15th. To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Sara Balcanoff at [email protected] or in hard copy to the front office no later than December 15th.

Please reach out to Sara Balcanoff with any AAP questions you may have.

🧑‍🏫 Family Life Education

Family Life Education, Parent Preview Night & Opt-Out Procedures

This letter provides information about Family Life Education, Parent Preview Night and Opt-Out Procedures: FLE SVES 2024-2025.pdf ​​​​​​​

Join us on Wednesday at 6:00 PM for our FLE Parent Preview Night via Zoom!

📸 School Pictures – Victor O’Neill Studios

Photo packets from our September 17th picture day arrived this week.  Be sure to check your child’s backpack if you ordered pictures! 

If you didn’t get a chance to order, there’s still time!  Student images are available online.  Visit vosphoto.com/underclass (online code = student ID#).   

For questions regarding school pictures, please email [email protected]. 

🍂 Langston Hughes: Fall Festival Fall Festival + Movie Night: Pre-Order Tickets + Food by Tuesday!

Friday, October 18, 5:30pm Join us to celebrate fall with the Sunrise Valley community at this annual school-wide event for students and families, including:

• Food, beverages, games, music, costumes
• Special DJ Randy Platts
• A performance from Foley Academy of Irish Dance
• A showing of “Despicable Me 4” (PG) once it’s dark

Admission is $5/student in advance; $8 at the gate. Sunrise Valley students must have a ticket. Other family members may accompany them for free.  

Pre-order tickets and food now through Tuesday, October 15, 9pm → https://sves.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4993&form=6 

 

Questions? Contact Jennifer Glynn at [email protected]. This event raises money that supports PTA programming, and we want all students to attend. Please use the coupon code "FREEFALLTIX" if purchasing admission tickets is a financial hardship for your family.

Calling all Volunteers: Help with the Fall Festival!

Friday, October 18, 5:30pm The annual Fall Festival is put on by parents and guardians for our children. To make this event fun and successful requires many volunteers to collect tickets, sell concessions, oversee games, and clean up afterwards. Please help where you can! These also make great service opportunities for teens.  

Sign up to volunteer → https://sves.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=a2b62f4e-435f-4ffe-8725-8cd5cc6622d9~s.9223370310402407121 

All volunteers will receive a free popcorn! Questions? Contact Jennifer Glynn at [email protected].

Math is Everywhere! Talking to Your Children about Mathematics

Join the FCPS Elementary Math Team to discuss ways to engage your children in mathematics.  During our time together we will highlight books, games, and other materials that assist you in talking about mathematics with your child throughout the day. Teaching math to your children doesn’t have to be intimidating. This webinar will provide concrete examples for caregivers with ideas to spark math joy.

October 18, 2024, 10-11:30 A.M. Register Online  Yom Kippur/Evening-Only Observance Day

Friday, October 11, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. Classes will be held that day, but important events will not occur after school.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Staff Development Day

Monday, October 14, is a student holiday and staff development day for Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Upcoming Immunization Clinics

Does your child need school-required immunizations? If so, please check out the options below.

Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Tuesday, October 8, 3-7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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💕 A Bittersweet Farewell...

I’m excited to announce that Ms. Katie Blomquist has been promoted to Assistant Principal at Westbriar Elementary School. Ms. Blomquist has been a vital part of the SVES community for nearly 17 years, starting with FCPS in 2004. She has held roles such as Summer Site Director and FCPS Social Studies Lead, and was named Virginia History Teacher of the Year in 2012. Her greatest pride lies in the relationships she’s built with students, families, and colleagues.

Ms. Blomquist will officially begin her new role on October 15. Please join me in wishing her all the best in this next step of her journey!

🗣️ Reminder: AAP Info Session

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. To learn more about the Advanced Academic Program offerings in Fairfax County, join us for an information session on Thursday, October 10 at 8:15 a.m. in room 207, led by Sara Balcanoff, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART).

📅 SAVE-THE-Date

We are excited to offer our first Parent Session on November 14 with guest speaker Ms. Mary Smith, featured on "Great Day Washington," "WUSA9," and "Good Day DC." She will share insights on reducing parent stress and building stronger connections with our kids—an event you won’t want to miss! See below for details and RSVP information. Childcare will be available.

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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A successful classroom begins with strong routines and procedures, and our teachers and students have been busy establishing these while building meaningful connections. Now that most of our beginning-of-year testing is behind us, we’ve fully jumped into the curriculum—exploring both new and familiar content!

A highlight of the season is the South Lakes High School (SLHS) Homecoming parade. Watching all our pyramid schools, families, and community members come together to cheer on our high school students is such a powerful moment. Sunrise Valley had a large showing, proudly supporting our SLHS students. Thank you to Devin Hartnett for organizing our school's participation. It was wonderful to see the sea of blue and yellow spirit, and in true Seahawk fashion, they brought home a win!

Monday, September 23, marked our first Early Release Day, giving teachers valuable time for literacy training and collaborative planning. Our teachers work long hours, extending beyond the typical workday. These planning hours are impactful, allowing for team collaboration and professional development that directly impacts our students. We appreciate the time and the partnership with all of you that makes it possible.

Our student Patrols are off to a strong start as well. They had their first meeting led by the captains, and Mr. Palmer has been checking in to ensure everything is running smoothly. We love seeing our Patrols in action around the building —they truly take pride in their leadership roles!

We’re fortunate to have such an amazing staff here at Sunrise Valley. One great way to show your appreciation is by recognizing a staff member using this link! This link is also included in each of our bulletins under SVES Quick Links, Recognize a SVES Staff Member. Your kind words will be shared in our staff newsletter, and it’s a meaningful way to show your gratitude.

As we wrap up September and welcome October, a big thank you goes to the PTA and Vanessa Varma for refreshing our Teachers' Lounge. The fall decor and festive treats were a hit and enjoyed by all! September has been all about connection and routines—we can’t wait to see what October brings!

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney

MUSIC, PE & ART at Sunrise Valley

Each week, students receive music, PE, and art instruction as part of their specials program. Get to know the amazing teachers leading these programs, their current units of study, and how you can reinforce these skills at home!

PE with Ms. Allen & Mr. Palmer

The SVES PE teachers, Ms. Allen and Mr. Palmer, are inviting students to be a part of our “Sunrise Adventures” board! This initiative captures the core values of physical education: discovering a variety of enjoyable ways to stay healthy and active. In PE at the elementary level, we learn through movement, developing essential skills to participate in a variety of activities. Through practice and engaging games, our students are not just playing - they're building a foundation for a lifetime of fitness and fun!

We’re excited for our upcoming bike safety unit and for an awesome school year! Please remind your child to come prepared on days that they have PE - wearing sneakers so they can participate safely.

Whether it’s playing outside, riding bikes, or engaging in activities like jumping rope or tossing a ball, getting kids moving for at least 20-30 minutes a day reinforces their learning and keeps them active. Additionally, working with your child on specific skills they’re developing in PE - such as techniques with various types of equipment, and fitness related skills like balance, coordination, reaction time, power, speed, and agility - can make practice enjoyable and boost their confidence.

Music with Ms. Smith & Dr. Kancianic

Dr K’s 5th & 6th grade General Music students have begun work on Music Around the World projects, in which we are taking a year-long, virtual trip across the globe, studying music and cultures of countries and places of interest to our students and their families. Students will be sharing in their classes and some will serve as Teaching Assistants for lower grade levels. Parents/guardians/staff with an interest in guest speaking about one of our countries should contact Dr. K. See where we are headed on this map (must be logged into student Google account) -https://tinyurl.com/matw2425

Students in Mrs. Smith’s music classroom started the year with songs and games to help us get to know each other.  We also began instrument exploration with unpitched and pitched percussion instruments.  Classes are learning songs and games from Chile, Mexico and Spain as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.  Ask your student to teach you the Cho-co-la-te hand clapping game from Chile! Our 5/6 Chorus students, and all classes K-6 are busy learning our songs for the Veteran’s Day celebration in November. 

Art with Ms. Claessen & Ms. Hammond

6th graders are creating self-portraits in art using their fingerprints and ink pads to add shading, tones and different values.  This challenging art project requires the students to focus, problem-solve, and use their time effectively. These skills are important for developing the goal-directed and resilient mindset that Sunrise Valley Elementary values in our students. 

Witness the energy and excitement at SVES! Our students are actively engaged in learning, working together, and conquering new challenges. Our teachers inspire curiosity and foster a love of learning.

Sunrise Valley Meets Television!

Sunrise Valley is excited to launch Sunrise Valley Television (SVTV for short)! SVTV is our morning news program where students, staff, and community are informed of the goings on at SVES. We currently have an eight-student crew of 4-6th grade students who put on the show each day with the support of Mr. Stewart as producer. Students involved in SVTV learn about video production, public speaking, and the importance of working on a team. This fosters leadership, creativity, and critical thinking as students take on roles like scriptwriting, directing, and presenting. This program not only enhances communication skills but also builds a sense of community by keeping students informed and engaged with school events and initiatives. Each quarter, students can apply and will be selected by SVTV producers and SVES admin.

Mathematicians at Work

Our 4th graders have been learning about patterns within the base-10 number system. This means what we know about 2 and 3-digit numbers can help us think about larger numbers. Ms. Mathieu and Ms. Falkey, our 4th grade and Math Resource teachers, collaborated on a lesson that challenged students to analyze data from a table to compare and order 5-digit numbers. Students explored two strategies for comparing and ordering numbers: putting the numbers on a number line and writing them into a place value chart.

Benchmark Advance: Literacy in Action

Ms. DiPietro leads our first graders with the new Benchmark Advance curriculum, aligned with Science of Reading. Our teachers have been deeply engaged in this new literacy program, and a key factor to success is maintaining lesson momentum with quick, smooth transitions between components. Ms. DiPietro modeled this beautifully, incorporating Turn & Talk opportunities, essential vocabulary, sentence frames, explicit feedback, and clear expectations, resulting in high student engagement and a successful learning experience!

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

On Monday, we had our first 3-hour early release, and overall, it was a success! Teachers were able to focus on required literacy training and collaborate as grade-level teams to plan.

A huge thank you to Matt Stewart, Colleen Mac Murtrie, and Adrienne Burton for helping us achieve a 100% response rate, ensuring we knew the plan for every student. We also appreciate all our specialist teachers, IAs, Trisha Derr and Alexis Estep, who stepped in to supervise students who needed to remain onsite.

Thank you for your support and collaboration as we continue to improve our early release days!

Ashley Younger & Jody Delaney

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

• September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
• October 3-4: No School
• October 8: Principal's Coffee
• October 9: Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
• October 9: PTA Morning Enrichment Begins & PTA Evening Meeting 

🔊 Calendar Reminder: No School October 3-4

Thursday, October 3, is a holiday for all FCPS staff. Schools and offices will be closed for Rosh Hashanah. 

Friday, October 4, is a teacher workday and there will be no school for students. 

🎖️ Thank You, Military Families!

Sunrise Valley Recognizes Blue Star Welcome Week, a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. Sunrise Valley is proud to be home to many military families! 

☕ Principal's Coffee: October 8

We have four Principal's Coffees scheduled throughout the year:

• October 8
• December 3
• February 4
• April 8

Each coffee will be held from 9:30-10:30 in the cafeteria. The sessions will have a specific theme or focus, along with time for general Q&A. Our first coffee will focus on our new literacy program. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Oct. 8: Principal’s Coffee - Literacy Information Focus

Have you been curious about the changes to our literacy program?

The Virginia Literacy Act is the most comprehensive education law ever passed in Virginia. It went into effect this fall. Our reading specialist, Ms. Brotemarkle, will share information on the new literacy program in FCPS which is required as part of this law. You will also have the opportunity to view materials and find out how you can support your child at home. 

☀️ Sunrise Valley PTA Sponsors Morning Enrichment

Sponsored by the Sunrise Valley PTA, we’re thrilled to offer Sunrise Valley students three before-school enrichment programs this fall season. These programs will be held on Wednesdays from 8:15-9:00am. All students will enter through the cafeteria door. Make up dates are January 8 and January 15. 

Registration closesTuesday, October 8, at 11:59pm. There are no refunds. To request financial aid, contact Jennifer Savory.

Questions? Contact Shreema Dungarani. 

Additional details are below!

Celebrate Fall at the Sunrise Valley Fall Festival

Friday, October 18, 5:30pm

The Sunrise Valley PTA is delighted to sponsor this year's Sunrise Valley Fall Festival + Movie Night!

Join Sunrise Valley students and families for this family-friendly evening event, including food, games, costumes, special guest DJ Mr. Randy Platts, and a showing of Despicable Me 4 on the big screen. The event will take place outside from 5:30-8:30pm on Friday, October 18 (inside if it rains). All Sunrise Valley students and their families are invited.

Save money and pre-order tickets and food online here --> $5/student in advance, $8/gate.

Note: The Fall Festival raises money that supports the Sunrise Valley PTA programming throughout the year, but the PTA is committed to access for all students. If purchasing tickets is a financial hardship for your family, please use the code "FREEFALLTIX" to obtain free admission.

👟 Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day: Get together with your neighbors!

Wednesday, October 9, morning

National Bike & Roll to School Day is a national event that encourages health and caring for our environment. Children across the nation bike, walk, or scooter to school under their own power. To participate, have your child ride or walk to school. Stop at the table out front to sign our poster and enter a free gift raffle. 

This year, we're inviting Sunrise Valley students to travel together from their neighborhood in a group. To designate a meeting spot for your neighborhood or find a meet-up near you, check out this Neighborhood Connections file and add your neighborhood in if it's not already listed.  

Be safe! You can ride on sidewalks, just use care when passing walkers. If you don’t have a safe route, park close and walk/bike/roll the rest. A great spot is the parking lots near Barton Hill tennis courts.  

Questions? Need help planning a route? Need a bike? Contact Sasha Hafner.

✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 4: Equitable Access to Opportunities

FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. 

The fourth goal ensures all students have the same access to opportunities, no matter what school they attend. This includes academics and other programs that inspire and engage students and allow them to explore their passions and talents. See how Goal 4 is being put into practice.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

• September 15-October 15: Hispanic      Heritage Month
• September 23: 3-Hour Early Release
• October 3-4: No School
• October 8: Principal's Coffee
• October 9: Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
• October 9: PTA Morning Enrichment Begins & PTA Evening Meeting 

🔊 Calendar Reminder: 3-Hour Early Release

Tomorrow, Monday, September 23, students will be dismissed at 1:05 PM.

We have confirmed all students' plans for the afternoon. Students will follow their regular dismissal method unless you've emailed the dismissal mailbox to make a change.

Students remaining at SVES for supervision will be dismissed at 4:05 PM.

To ensure a smooth afternoon, please avoid changes to the selections you have made.

👣 Volunteers Needed for Sensory Pathway Project

During Covid, we purchased several stencils to create a sensory pathway, and now we’re ready to bring it to life! We have all the materials, but we need a few parent volunteers to help complete the project. The pathway will be located near the blacktop, by the entrance to the gym and cafeteria. If you're interested in lending a hand, please reach out to Ashley Younger. Thank you!

🚘 Kiss & Ride Procedures & Reminders

We have received community concerns regarding Kiss & Ride. Our priority is ensuring the safety of our students, families, and staff, while being respectful of our neighbors.

 

Arrival at Kiss & Ride
If driving up Cross School Rd. from Sunrise Valley Rd., the kiss and ride entrance is the third driveway entrance to the school. This is the only designated drop off and pick up area for car riders. Please do
not use the lower lot or drive into the bus loop.

• You may turn either right or left into the loop. The Kiss & Ride doors open at 9:00 AM.
• Drive to Door 9, where staff will guide you. Students must exit on the curb (right) side of the car, and drivers/passengers should remain inside.
• Please practice door opening/closing with younger students for smoother transitions.

Dismissal at Kiss & Ride

• Entrance is by right turn only during dismissal (see picture below).
• If you are driving up Cross School Road from Sunrise Valley Drive, you will pass the Kiss and Ride entrance and make a U-turn at Midsummer Drive (please do not use residential driveways to turn around or attempt to turn left at the cones).
• Traffic for entrance into Kiss and Ride will then queue on the right-hand side of Cross School Road.

Information Located in our Family Handbook, pg. 10

🏃 SLHS PTSA Food Pantry hosts its 7th Annual “Do It Your Way 0.5K.”

Please join our community on September 29, 2-4pm on Lake Anne Plaza as the SLHS PTSA Food Pantry hosts its 7th Annual “Do It Your Way 0.5K.”

Join our community for live music, pre-race warm-ups, sweet treats to put a little pep in your step, a raffle, prizes for most spirited and best dressed, all as part of the most rewarding 650 steps you’ll take all year.

Register online here or in person the day of the event. All proceeds go directly toward food, toiletries, and other necessities for SLHS pyramid families in need.

👟 Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day: Get together with your neighbors!

Wednesday, October 9, morning

National Bike & Roll to School Day is a celebration of health and the environment during which children across the nation bike, walk, or ride to school under their own power.

This year, we're inviting Sunrise Valley students to travel together from their neighborhood in a group. To designate a meeting spot for your neighborhood or find a meet-up near you, check out this Neighborhood Connections file.

We invite you to consider using the event as a starting point for a daily or weekly neighborhood walking group or "bike bus!" Don't see your neighborhood listed yet? Add it in! We'd also love a few folks to add local meeting spots like the Barton Hill tennis courts, etc.

Questions? Need help planning a route? Need a bike? Contact Sasha Hafner.

☀️ Sunrise Valley PTA Sponsors Morning Enrichment

Sponsored by the Sunrise Valley PTA, we’re thrilled to offer Sunrise Valley students three before-school enrichment programs this fall season. These programs will be held on Wednesdays from 8:15-9:00am. All students will enter through the cafeteria door. Make up dates are January 8 and January 15. 

Registration closes Tuesday, October 8, at 11:59pm. There are no refunds. To request financial aid, contact Jennifer Savory.

Questions? Contact Shreema Dungarani. 

Additional details are below!

👕 Don't forget to get your Sunrise Valley swag!

The spirit store is open. We’re excited to offer new designs and products. From t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, and more, get yours now. It’s only open a few times a year and quantities are limited. Order by Friday, September 27, and your swag will be delivered to your child’s classroom by the Fall Festival. Questions? Contact Karina Mondragón de Nica.

🌠Blue Star Welcome Week

Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. Fairfax County Public Schools will intentionally celebrate and acknowledge Blue Star Welcome Week.

Blue Star Welcome Week empowers military families to thrive as they serve. There are approximately 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in FCPS. Each year, one-third of our military families transition into or out of our district. Blue Star Welcome Week allows schools to welcome and connect with their military families. The goal is to create a sense of belonging and ensure our military families feel celebrated and welcomed into their school communities.

This week, be sure to check out the family displays in the hall near the main entrance! Thank you, Adrienne Burton for organizing and leading the efforts for Blue Star Military Week. 

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

• September 15-October 15: Hispanic      Heritage Month
• September 17: Fall Picture Day
• September 19: Bus Evacuation Drill
• September 23: 3-Hour Early Release
• October 8: Principal's Coffee

🎥 Outside Security Camera

Sunrise Valley was recipient of a grant to receive outside security cameras.  The installation is complete and cameras are now active. The security cameras are installed on the outside perimeter of our building. No indoor cameras were installed. Were excited to have an additional safety feature available. 

🏃 “Sunrise Adventures” Board

Please send in a picture of your child being active outside of school (rock climbing, dancing, playing sports, kayaking, walking the dog, taekwondo, etc). We will display it on the bulletin board in the gym for all to see. You can email it to Mr. Palmer or print it out and have your child bring it into the gym. Make sure that you have a copy of this picture because it will not be returned to you. This is a fun way for students to share some of the awesome ways they stay active and could even encourage someone to try a new activity!

Thanks,

The SVES PE team (Cody Palmer, Mythia Allen, Zahra Ahmadi)

🎶 Our School Song

Students are currently practicing our school song. Learn alongside your child and have siblings join in by accessing the lyrics on our website!

Here’s a throwback to last year’s 6th graders, proudly singing when they were in 4th grade! Watch the video.

🗓️ Save-the-Date: AAP Parent Information Session

Thursday, October 10 at 8:15 AM at Sunrise Valley ES

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs and focuses on matching services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have:

• Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.

Join us for a parent information session led by our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Sara Balcanoff.   

👕 Sunrise Valley Spirit Store: Get your swag today!

The spirit store is now open. We’re excited to offer new designs and products. From t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, and more, get yours now. It’s only open a few times a year and quantities are limited. Order by Friday, September 27, and your swag will be delivered to your child’s classroom by the Fall Festival. Questions? Contact Karina Mondragón de Nica.

🌍 Amazing Earth and 🎨Great Art: Take part in a fun way to be in your child's classroom!

We've welcomed hundreds of parents into the classroom with our beloved Amazing Earth and Great Art programs, and this year we invite all parents to witness their children's learning by volunteering at least once. Volunteer sign ups are emailed through PTBoard. There's no long-term commitment. Please make sure you're signed up on PTBoard and linked to your child’s classroom. Thanks for supporting additional learning and fun in the classroom. Questions? Contact the Amazing Earth or Great Art coordinators.

🔊 Sunrise Valley PTA: What's it all about? How can I get involved?

We're an active group of parent volunteers who enrich our children's education and support the families and staff that make Sunrise Valley such a special place.

We invite families to join us in three ways:

1. Stay in the know: Join our online community at sves.ptboard.com.
2. Become a member: A membership is a financial donation to the PTA. We're already more than half way to our goal for the year. Become a member today!
3. Engage with our community: Come to our PTA meetings (next one is Oct. 9!), volunteer, and attend events.

Questions about membership? Contact Alexis Estep. Questions about volunteering? Contact Geetha Estep and Angeline Van Evera.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.

🏫 On-Time Attendance Matters

Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. 

Top 5 benefits of students arriving on time to school:

1. Consistency with Routines: Students benefit from starting the day with established procedures, creating a sense of stability and readiness to learn.
2. Maximized Learning Time: No missed instructions or lessons which leads to better academic performance and outcomes.
3. Stronger Social Connections: Morning interactions help build friendships.
4. Positive Behavioral Development: Punctuality fosters responsibility and discipline.
5. Reduced Anxiety: Starting the day on time reduces stress.

SVES Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Family Handbook
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar!

• September 12: SLHS Homecoming Parade & Game
• September 17: Fall Picture Day
• September 23: 3-Hour Early Release

⏰ Early Release Mondays - Action Needed!

As we approach our first 3-hour early release, we expect that most students will follow their regular routes home. We need to account for each student to ensure their safety, please complete the survey to confirm your plans.

For families needing supervision due to hardship, instructional assistants, school monitors, staff, central office personnel, and volunteers will oversee students during this time. Please note that teachers will be engaged in professional development, so your child will not be with their teacher. Students will have time for independent reading, STMath, MyOn, and other supervised tasks.

The scheduled Early Release Mondays for this school year are: September 23, October 28, *December 9, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19. On these days, students will be dismissed at 1:05 PM.

*December 9 is now replacing the original November 25 date. Please update your calendars with this change.

📝 Important Beginning of Year (BOY) Information

Are you current with all your BOY forms? Take a moment to review the required list and update any forms needed.  Thank you! 

Beginning of Year (BOY) Information.pdf

📕 Family Handbook

Our SVES Family Handbook 2024-2025.pdf  is also a great resource for general school information and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Next week, our SVES Family Handbook will be moved to the Quick Links section and available weekly should you want to access. 

🖥️ SVES Assessment Hub

Throughout the academic year, our students participate in various assessments that provide valuable insights into their academic progress. Teachers use this data to tailor instruction, and assessment results are communicated either by the county or SVES. We've created the SVES Assessment Hub as a resource for families, where you can find assessment dates and details organized by grade level. To minimize disruptions, please consider these dates when planning family activities. If any changes to assessment dates occur, we will keep you informed. 

Browse the 2024-25 Assessment Hub (also available in our Quick Links section below)

📸 Mark Your Calendars! School Picture Day is Tuesday, September 17th

Victor O’Neill Studios will be at Sunrise Valley for fall portraits on September 17.  Images will be available to view and purchase online approximately two weeks later.  Pictures can be pre-ordered here.  For questions about your order, please email Victor O’Neill Studios.

If you’re interested in volunteering on picture day, please contact Melissa Simon in the school office.  Volunteers receive a $25 discount code from Victor O’Neill Studios.

✨ 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Foundation of Four Pillars

Dr. Reid discusses the 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Watch the video here.

 

While the five goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan focus on student success, the four pillars describe what FCPS must do well to reach our goals for all students:

• The first focus of the pillars is on teaching and learning. We want to make sure each and every student has access to excellent and inclusive learning environments, and that instruction meets students’ individual needs.
• The second pillar focuses on our connection with families and our communities. We cannot do this work alone. Strong partnerships are key to our students’ success.
• The third pillar is centered on our hiring and maintaining a world class, diverse workforce. We want to make sure our incredible employees have what they need to help our students thrive.
• The fourth and final pillar centers on how we bring this all together. We remain focused on creating a culture of equity, excellence, and accountability where data guides our decisions. 

School Board Representative, Melanie Meren, Welcomes Families to the 2024-25 School Year!

• YouTube (with English captions)
• YouTube (with Korean and Spanish subtitles)

🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.

Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

🧑‍⚕️ Virtual Mental Health Resources

FCPS high school students can receive virtual mental health therapy at no cost through Hazel Health. Previously, caregivers had to actively opt their students in to be eligible for referrals. Beginning this year, all students have access unless their parent has opted them out. 

Please note, caregivers will still need to provide consent with Hazel Health, and their student would need to be referred for services before an initial therapy appointment. Learn more on our teletherapy webpage.

Quick Links

• Sunrise Valley ES
• SVES Assessment Calendar
• FCPS School Year Calendar
• PTA Website
• 🌟Recognize a SVES Staff Member
• 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox

Follow Us! Twitter, YouTube & Instagram

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter

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

Welcome to "The Valley Connection," our monthly family newsletter! This communication will come out on the first Sunday of each month, replacing our typical "Need to Know" weekly bulletins. Each issue will feature a message from the admin team, school-home connections with tips for supporting your learners, and School Spotlights.

We've had a fantastic start to the school year! Students are adapting to their new routines, rekindling old friendships, and forming new ones. The excitement is evident as classrooms come to life with classroom commitments and students' personal touches through their artwork.

Thank you for joining us on Wednesday evening for Back-to-School Night. This event was just the beginning of many opportunities to connect with your child's teacher and engage with the classroom. We hope you visited our PTA table to learn about how you can get involved and discover the great support our PTA provides to the Sunrise Community.

Recognizing that the start of the school year can be busy, we hope you and your family enjoy the long weekend with some well-deserved rest and relaxation!

Ashley Younger, Principal & Jody Delaney, Assistant Principal 

A message from our Family Liaison, Adrienne Burton; School Counselor, Jen Savory; and School Social Worker, April Bowman.

Start The School Year Strong

Helping your students build a strong foundation for a great school year!

Big Feelings

Parents and children can feel anxious about going back to school. When children express anxiety about returning to school, don’t dismiss their feelings or say “everything will be fine”. Ask the child why they feel this way and allow them to talk about it. Being anxious about starting the school year is normal, but providing emotional validation helps students start the school year strong. You can think of a new school year as a fresh start, a time to embrace the “what-ifs” and potential for growth. Though new beginnings (new teachers, new classmates…) can be scary, we ask students to open their minds and look at the new year as an opportunity to approach change with a positive attitude!

Routine & Structure

Although they might protest, children need structure. Routines help children feel prepared and relaxed; they want to know what to expect. Elementary students can struggle with how to approach tasks in an organized fashion. Sometimes inside, they feel chaotic and need their environment to provide some much-needed structure. Building routines into your child’s daily schedule, like regular bedtimes-prioritizing 9-12 hours of sleep, designated areas to put their belongings, and a morning “getting ready” checklist, can help students know what to expect each day and help them start the new school year strong.

Communication and Partnership

Building positive relationships with teachers, classmates, and school staff is essential. Partnering with your child’s teacher and being involved in their learning is key to their wellness and academic success.  Building positive relationships with the people your student sees daily will give them a support system that’s invaluable throughout the school year.

Unplug from Technology

For parents, finding that tech balance may be having your children unplug for a while once they’re finished with their school day. Limiting video games and screen time (this includes us, the parents!) and getting outside to play is essential for elementary aged children. Walking the dog together can also be a great time to connect and chat with your child.

We know schedules are busy, but having meals as a family whenever possible and simply talking about your days can provide an opportunity for your child to share about their day and learn about yours! 

We kicked off the school year with our Annual Open House, and it was wonderful to see our students and families after the summer break! The smiles and energy were contagious!

Ms. Claessen, our art teacher, invited students to design a "patch" for the "You Belong Here" banner. At Sunrise Valley, we believe every student matters and strive to create a culture where each student feels seen, heard, and valued.

Our front entrance garden received a beautiful refresh, thanks to Maggie Booth and her family, who continue to care for this space and make Sunrise Valley a welcoming place for our community!

🌟 Recognize a Shining SVES Staff Member

At Sunrise Valley, we value celebrating our school community. In our staff newsletter, The Sunrise, we highlight the exceptional work of our colleagues. We invite you to contribute by using this form to shout out someone at our school. Send a note of appreciation and tell us how they’re AWESOME!

*This link will be added to the SVES Quick Links section in our weekly bulletins.

SVES Photos

Have photos to share from SVES or PTA events? 📸Submit SVES Photos via Dropbox and we will showcase these on our TV located in the Main Office.  

*This link will be added to the SVES Quick Links section in our weekly bulletins.

10824 Cross School Road Reston, VA 20191  | Main Office: 703-715-3800
Attendance: 703-715-3838 | Web | Twitter