RAVENS' NEST 02/21/2025
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Upcoming Events
Feb 21st Family Traditions Night, cafeteria 6:00-7:00 pm
Mar 10th 3-Hour Early Release, 12:20 pm
Apr 2nd - Family Academy – Doing the Math
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.
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.
Virginia’s Student Assessment Summary for Families
This month, families of students who took any Standards of Learning (SOL) test between school years 2015-16 and 2023-24 will receive a Student Assessment Summary Report. The report shows a student’s state percentile ranking for each test. This allows families to see how their child ranked compared to all Virginia students who took the same test that year.
Reports are available now in SIS ParentVUE Documents. We will distribute them to students whose families do not have ParentVUE access. Learn how to access ParentVUE.
The report is intended to help families reflect on how their child performed across all tested subjects over the years. Our staff members are committed to working with families to help every student reach their highest potential. Learn more about student assessments in FCPS.
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.
VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
Required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The Magnet Program registration window will open Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and close Friday, April 4, 2025. No late applications are accepted.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:
- Hunters Woods Elementary, February 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
- Location is Hunters Woods Elementary School
- Bailey’s Primary Elementary School and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, February 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
- Location is at Bailey’s Primary Elementary School
This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of Friday February 28th. Ramadan is marked by personal and community prayer as well as fasting from dawn to sunset. If your child will be fasting, please let your child’s teacher know. We will be offering a space for students to go instead of the cafeteria if they plan to fast and want to be prepared. Thank you!
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28, 2025
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has issued a new, first-time waiver allowing students fasting during the school day from February 28 to March 28, 2025, to request take-home breakfast and lunch meal kits. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will provide meal kits reflecting the school menu. Meals will be kept cold and must be heated at home. Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day. If a student purchases breakfast or lunch at school, they cannot pick up a kit that day. Meal kits must be picked up by students at the end of the school day—adults cannot collect them. Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
- February 24, 2025, for February 28 and the week of March 3, 2025
- March 3, 2025, for the week of March 10, 2025
- March 10, 2025, for the week of March 17, 2025
- March 17, 2025, for the week of March 24, 2025
*Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
Author Visiting Ravensworth ES' Library
While we’re buzzing with book excitement, we wanted to share the news that award-winning artist and author, John Gallagher, is scheduled to visit our school on Friday, March 21st! He has written the “furr-osciously funny” Max Meow: Cat Crusader graphic novel series. You can read more about him and his books here. We ordered the series and will have it on display in our library soon! Be on the lookout for an announcement from me when they arrive.
According to his bio, John is an art teacher, art director, co-founder of “Kids Love Comics” (an organization that uses graphic novels to promote literacy) and leads workshops teaching kids how to create their own comics. He lives in Virginia with his family including a cat, Millie, and a dog, Cody (who appears in the Max Meow books). John learned to read with comics, so he is more than excited to share the magic of reading, fun, and imagination with the young readers of the world. We look forward to the fun, inspiration, and encouragement that lies ahead for our students in March.
Personal Items
Please remember to label clothing items, lunchboxes, water bottles, and whatever else you think your child may leave behind somewhere. If there's a name in it or on it, Ravensworth Staff will do their best to get it back to the owner. If not, it will go into the lost and found. Lost and found will be placed in the lobby of the school until February 25th for families to look for lost items. All items left after that date will be donated. Please make sure to check the Lost and Found frequently, especially as the seasons change. Thanks for your help in making sure all items return home to where they belong!
College and University Day
The Student Council Association is promoting college and university day next Friday. We want students to wear clothing representing any college or university. The SCA have been teaching a lesson to students on this throughout this week.
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!
Read Across America
The PTA is planning a Read-A-Thon fundraiser for the month of March to help bolster excitement for reading while also supporting the school. As part of the March reading fun, we are organizing theme days for Read Across America week from Monday 3/3- Friday 3/7. We hope you’ll join us in participating to share your own enthusiasm about reading with our students! They look up to us and we have the great opportunity to model our love of reading to them. We will also be working to coordinate mystery readers and trivia on the news show as we did last year for those competitive classrooms who enjoy a challenge. Looking forward to a month full of books and reading coming soon!
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 MediaAre 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