Terra Centre Newsletter 02/16/2025
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All FCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, February 17.
Dear Families,
As we celebrate Presidents Day this upcoming Monday, February 17, we honor the leadership and history that shape our great nation. We hope students and families take this time to reflect and enjoy a long weekend.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our Roots and Rhythms Spirit Week from February 17-21! This week will be filled with spirit days, an assembly and school wide morning meeting that highlight the diversity and culture that make our school so special.
A huge thank you goes out to our 6th grade families and the PTA for their incredible generosity in hosting the recent staff luncheon. Your support is truly appreciated and makes a big difference in our school community.
Lastly, a quick reminder: Monday, February 24 is a 3-hour early release day for all K-6 students. Family responses are due tomorrow and our office staff will begin calling to confirm from families we have not heard from.
Thank you for your continued support! We look forward to a wonderful week ahead!
Please scroll below to read important reminders and calendar updates.
Rebecca Gidoni, Principal
Teresa Lewis, Assistant Principal
SCA Canned Soup Drive
Larger cans of soup, such as 18.5oz Campbell's Chunky or Progresso are preferred. Smaller soups, such as cream of chicken or cream of celery, are often not selected by those who use the ECHO service.
Spirit Week
Yearbook Orders
Mark Your CalendarBlack History Month
Career and Technical Education Month
Monday, February 17: No School: Holiday-Presidents Day
Wednesday, February 19: School Assembly, Multicultural Roots of American Music Show
Monday, February 24: 3 hour early release: K-6 students only
Friday, February 28: Ramadan begins at sundown (Evening-only O Day)
Tuesday, March 11: Spring pictures
Thursday, March 13: Spring Choral Concert, 6:00 pm-gym
Important Dates for Three-Hour Early Release:
Monday, February 24
Monday, March 17
Monday, April 28
Monday, May 19
PTA NewsWe've got some fun updates from the PTA:
- We've got two big spring events coming up! Contact the PTA if you're interested in helping with either--we can tailor volunteer roles to whatever availability and experience you have.
- Bingo Night is Thursday, March 20th! We'll have a range of prizes, with fun for the whole family. Stay tuned for further details.
- Save the Date for our Spring Fun Fair! This year's fair will be Saturday, April 26th from 3-6pm.
- Want to rep your school? Purchase a Terra Centre long-sleeve shirt--on sale for a limited time! You can order online here, and your shirt will be brought to your child's classroom. https://tcpta.ptboard.com/formvw?store=5158&form=10
- Our Winter Clubs are underway! As a friendly reminder, all parents should collect their children after the club. Students are not permitted to walk home on their own.
Terra Centre Elementary PTA Membership
Please consider joining the PTA. The number one reason to join the Parent Teacher Association is to benefit your child. In doing so, you also help your school. PTA Membership
FCPS UpdatesBreaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms
Did you know that more than 85% of FCPS’ budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based, more than neighboring school districts. We are in the middle of FCPS’ annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the proposed FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.
🏗️ FCPS’ Construction Projects Offer Community-Wide Benefits
The Fairfax County School Board approved the annual update to FCPS’ FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at their regular board meeting last week. A CIP is a working budget document that shows the timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools. Learn more about planned improvements. Fairfax County Public Schools’ updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the CIP. Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
🐻 It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.
✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
K-12 Mathematics Basal Public Review
Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Mathematics Instructional Resources for the 2025-2026 (secondary) and 2026-2027 (elementary) school years. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers will be meeting to review materials submitted by vendors. The public is also invited to review materials and provide comments.
Mathematics basal instructional resources may be accessed in-person and online from February 14, 2025 – March 21, 2025, for public feedback. Those reviewing instructional materials in-person or on-line will give feedback via a digital input form
Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at Willow Oaks Welcome Center Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Note: If review hours are needed outside of these hours please email [email protected]
FCPS Administrative Building
8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr., Suite 100
Falls Church, VA 22031
Electronic materials for public review will be available on the FCPS Mathematics web site.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before a vote at the School Board regular meeting in 2025.
Quick Links- Temporary Dismissal Change form
- All Parents Schoology Course-Terra Centre
- SIS ParentVUE
- 2024-2025 School Year Calendar
- Family Resource Center
- Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
- FCPS Cares
Families needing support (food assistance, school supplies, fee sponsored activities, mental health support, etc.) can reach out to a member of our clinical team. All requests are confidential. Our clinical team members are always available to support TC families with Fairfax County resource information.
David Lammon-school counselor
Laurel Hanlon-school social worker
Emily Oliver-school psychologist
Our family liaison, Michelle Sehwoerer Rodriguez, is also available to support families, answer questions, and connect families with FCPS information and resources to support their child academically and socially at school.
☎️ Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
6000 Burke Centre Parkway, Burke VA 22015 | Phone: 703.249.1400
Attendance: 703.249.1414 or [email protected]
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