RAVENS' NEST 03/21/2025
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Upcoming Events
Mar 31st – School Holiday, Eid at Fitr
April 1st - Kindergarten Orientation 3:00 – 4:15pm
April 1st - Teacher Workday- No school
Apr 2nd - Family Academy – Doing the Math – Library 06:30 pm
Apr 9th – Purple Up! Day
April 14-18th - Spring Break- No School
Link to 2024-2025 School Year Calendar 2024-25 FCPS School Year Calendar
Because of technical difficulties, if any link does not work, please copy, and paste it into your browser.
A Message from the Principal
The month of March has been a wonderful celebration of literacy, from the PTA Read for Ravensworth to our first Literacy Glow Night. Today our students had the opportunity to meet and hear from a local author, John Gallagher. Thank you to the Ravensworth PTA for sponsoring this event.
We know there is a lot of instablity in the world and in our own community right now. We have families worried about potential changes in our school boundaries, fear of a family member losing their job and potential impacts from changes in government practices.
We are here to support your family if you are experiencing a challenging time. If you or your child needs support, please reach out to any adult with whom you feel comfortable.
Sincerely,
Erika Aspuria
Principal
Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (one parent/guardian must be present), the student will be ready for the orientation to be held on April 1st, 3:00 pm at Ravensworth Elementary School. Read more about the registration process.
Try Online RegistrationOnline registration for the 2025-26 school year is open. Parents/caregivers may register their new student(s) online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
For additional information, please contact Teresa Dunbar, our school registrar, at (703) 426-3603.
Kindergarten Orientation, Tuesday April 1st
We are excited to welcome our rising Kindergarteners for the 2025-2026 school year. Kindergarten Orientation for incoming kindergarten students and their parents will be held on Tuesday, April 1st.
Details are in the works and more info to come. Please save the date and mark your calendars! If you have a child who will be age 5 on or before September 30, 2020, then it is time to register your child for the 2025-2026 school year.
We request that you begin the registration process as soon as possible.
Registration information and forms are available online at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration.
For questions, contact the Registrar, Teresa Dunbar at 703-426-3600 or [email protected]
Ravensworth Community Preschool Peer Program
Ravensworth Elementary is pleased to announce that we have openings for community peers in our preschool program. This year we had several preschoolers who lived in our neighborhood participate in integration activities with same age peers. This program involves teaching preschoolers with delays and without delays in the same classroom. It can provide young children with a more stimulating environment, teach skills for coping with different situations, and provide the opportunity to learn appropriate social skills.
Our program has a limited number of community preschoolers (1-2 per class), who are age 3 ½ -4 years, to participate in our daily preschool activities. The children from the community will have the opportunity to make new friends and share experiences with current early childhood special education students. Our students will, in turn, benefit from being with community peers who can model appropriate language, motor, and social skills.
If you are interested in enrolling your preschooler or know of someone who might be, please contact Sarah Minor, Preschool Teacher at [email protected] or MC Visger, Preschool Teacher at [email protected].
Addressing School Boundary Rumors
This information was shared in Rachna Sizemore-Heizer's newsletter:
First, I want to try to address rumors and misinformation circulating throughout the community regarding the Boundary Review Project.
Please understand there have been no formal discussions about scenarios, maps, or specific changes to any boundaries thus far. There are no secret maps nor are there imminent plans to change boundaries. The consultant, the Superintendent, and the Advisory Committee are still gathering information and community feedback and working through the process. I encourage you to share your thoughts and concerns and stay up-to-date on the project by signing up for the Boundary Project newsletter.
The project is still in the data collection/public engagement phase.
The tentative timeline is as follows:
- First round of draft scenarios by June, followed by additional public input on those draft scenarios.
- The consultant will then create updated draft scenarios taking into account that public input in the fall/early winter of 2025. These would be made publicly available.
- The board approval process would be completed in the spring of 2026.
- You can see the full consultant’s timeline (slide 5, page 11) and presentation.
No decisions have been made about potential changes, nor are any decisions imminent.
You can find more information about the process, the School Board policy guiding it, and opportunities for public engagement on the Boundary Project website.
FCPS is in a 42 year school renovation cycle, which is well beyond the best practices of 25 years and we need to maximize the use of our resources and minimize the use of trailers. This is the first time in four decades that boundaries have been looked at holistically across the county. We are hoping to address capacity concerns, shorten transportation times (and thus allow for better student sleep), keep neighborhoods together to promote student and family engagement, and improve access to programming. In addition, I hope this review will open the door to the possibilities of new programs and better access to educational opportunities and advancements.
The goal of this boundary review is not to undo changes of the past nor change boundaries just for the sake of changing boundaries. The purpose is to take a holistic and county wide look at school boundaries to best set us up for the future. We are committed to doing our best to minimize the impact on students, keep communities together, and work together and transparently with the community throughout this review process.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS on Monday, March 24, at Kings Park Elementary School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor and celebrate the resilience, courage, and contributions of FCPS military-connected children.
To show our support, FCPS will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Please note that this date has been adjusted to align with our spring break schedule. On this day, school staff and students are encouraged to wear purple, symbolizing unity and support for military families across all service branches.
Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration is available for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration began for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
Classroom Monitor Needed
Ravensworth is looking for a student monitor to help support students in the cafeteria and on the playground. The hours would be 11am-2 pm Tuesday through Thursday. Monitors are paid $16.48 per hour. If you are interested in this position, please forward your resume to Amy Heiman, Assistant Principal, at [email protected].
PTA Join the PTA
Hey Ravensworth Families!
We need YOU to make it even better! Join Rio the Raven and become a superhero by signing up for the PTA today.
As a superhero, you have the power to make a significant impact on the Ravensworth school community by joining the Ravensworth Elementary PTA! With the PTA's exciting calendar of events for the year, there's a perfect opportunity for you to get involved, share your talents, and help create a vibrant, supportive environment for all students. From fundraisers to fun school activities, your superhero energy will be a valuable asset in making this year unforgettable.
Join us and be part of something extraordinary!
PTA Read for Ravensworth
Ravensworth Elementary is running a 2025 Read for Ravensworth from March 1st to March 25th, 2025.
Read for Ravensworth is like a jog-a-thon, except your child will be reading books instead of running laps, and earning pledges based on how much they read. Everything is tracked online, which makes inviting sponsors and logging reading much easier!
Here are two videos that explain how to participate in the Read for Ravensworth:
- How to authorize your child's Read for Ravensworth account:
- How to become a sponsor and invite more sponsors:
Your child will receive a private online account at https://app.readafun.com/ where he/she will log reading. Parent and student instructions on how to use the website have been sent home. Your child will not be able to invite any sponsors without your authorization. Follow this link to view instructions on how to use your parent account:
https://app.readafun.com/guides/parent?d=797.
IMPORTANT: Readafun works best if you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox or Safari.
Unlike other fundraisers where we keep only 40-60% of each donation, our school keeps 80% of each donation using this program. We are excited to promote reading and help our school raise the necessary money for our ongoing needs.
Reading logins will be going out in Wednesday folders. You may log in to the site early, but please keep in mind that no minutes read, or money raised will count toward the school total until Saturday the 1st. And if you would like to get more involved, please contact the PTA at [email protected]. We would love extra help with prize distribution and packing, incentive ideas, and cheering the kids on online.
Thank you so much for your support!
Ravensworth Yearbooks!
Want to have all the memories the school year brings? The time has come to order your Ravensworth Elementary School Yearbooks. The price of the yearbook is $18.50. Take advantage of the savings and order your yearbook today!
Order site: Lifetouch.com
Yearbook ID Code: 4882625
School Name: Ravensworth Elementary School
Chess Club
For everyone in grades 2 - 6 interested in learning and playing chess
- All levels welcome!
- Chess Club meets every Friday after school in the cafeteria (Chess club will not be held on any days the school is closed or there is early release).
- $130/semester (includes one club T-shirt per year and snacks)
Players are grouped by ability, not age. We teach the rules to beginners and strategy to experienced players.
Chess teaches responsibility, discipline, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Chess players learn how to make the most of their opportunities and how to turn a bad situation to their advantage. They learn not to make excuses for their setbacks, and to win and lose graciously.
Chess Club is offered through our partnership with the U.S. Chess Center (https://chessctr.org). All instructors are certified chess coaches.
For more information, contact Ravensworth PTA at [email protected] or the U.S. Chess Center at [email protected]
Register at https://chessctr.org/ravensworth
Spirit Wear Fit for You
Did everyone outgrow their Spirit Wear this summer? The Ravensworth Spirit Wear Store has all the sizes you need to stay comfortable and keep your
Ravens Pride. You can also pick-up Spirit Wear at all August events from the PTA table. Get your gear and start the school year looking stylish.
Follow Ravensworth on Social Media
Are you connected to Ravensworth Elementary School and the Ravensworth PTA on social media? The PTA’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ravensworthelementarypta and the school’s accounts are https://www.facebook.com/RavensworthElementary
5411 Nutting Drive, Springfield, VA 22151 | Main Phone: 703.426.3600 | Attendance: 703.426.3636 | Web | Twitter