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Dranesville celebrates military connected children and families.
Save the Date
November 12th
First Quarter Progress Report Marks Available in Parent VUE
Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process - 9:30 am
Slides from this morning's Family Coffee
English | Spanish
November 13th
Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process - 6:00 pm
PTA Meeting - 7:00 pm
November 16th
IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair - 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Jackson Middle School.
November 21st
Thanksgiving Lunch and Family Math Day
Lunch and Family Math Activity Schedule
Yearbook Cover Contest Entries Due
November 27th - 29th
Thanksgiving Break No School - School and Office Closed
December 2nd
School Reopens - 15 Days of Spirit Begins
December 4th
Makeup & Retake Picture Day
Herndon Middle School 7th Grade Curriculum Night - 5:30 - 7:30 pm
English Flyer | Spanish Flyer
December 16th - December 20th
FLE Instruction (Grades 4 -6)
December 23rd - January 3rd
Winter Break School and Office Closed
January 6th
School Reopens for Students, Staff, and SACC
24-25 School Year Calendar
Spring 2025 SOL Assessment Dates
Dranesville Elementary School's Thanksgiving Lunch and Family Math Day is November 21st
We are delighted to invite you to our Third Annual Magnitude of Gratitude! This year's celebration will be on Thursday, November 21st and will include both Family Math activities and our Thanksgiving Luncheon!
To help us plan for your presence and to expedite the sign in line, please RSVP and purchase your meal in advance. Guest lunches are $4.75.
Thanksgiving Lunch and Family Math Schedule
51st Day of School Chronic Absentee Rate is 7.4% compared to 7.7% this time last year.
Thank you, Dranesville families, for supporting students' daily attendance. We appreciate your scheduling appointments early in the morning or late afternoon so that your children are able to be present for as much of the instructional day as possible. It is said that absences add up, which is true. We also know that all of the instruction that students are present for adds up and supports them in leveling up their learning and achievement.
Instructional Calendar Reminder
As we approach the winter holidays, please keep in mind that instruction including intervention and enrichment are planned for every school day. Our goal is for every student to be reading on or above grade level. Grade level instruction and specialized instruction is delivered every day.
Students identified for intervention based on VAALLS (K-3) or iReady (3-6) and have a reading plan, are receiving this intervention through December 20th. Student's reading plans are available in SIS Parent VUE. We appreciate all of your efforts to schedule appointments and vacations during school holidays so that students are present for instruction.
📈 Fall Student Testing Results
Screening Assessment Reports Available in SIS ParentVUE
Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.
- iReady reports in grades 1-8 and Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) reports in grades 1-3 are available in ParentVUE now.
- VALLSS and Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) reports for kindergarteners will be available by Friday, November 15, and for pre-K students by Friday, December 6.
Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.
Register for SIS ParentVUE Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account to easily access these reports and other helpful information about your child.
K-6 Language Arts Instruction
FCPS has adopted Benchmark Advance for the Language Arts basal resource. Benchmark Advance provides 9 common knowledge-building units across K-6. The units integrate social studies, science, and literary topics. There are multiple text sets per topic, including fiction and nonfiction.
Students who require additional support -- either intervention or extensions receive this differentiated instruction during small group time and during our WIN (What I Need) time during the instructional day.
Benchmark Overview for Families
Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report today, it might look different. Keep in mind that the skills that students are being taught are building as we progress through each unit and throughout the school year. You can find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
AAP Full-Time Referrals
Deadline for Submitting Referrals: December 15
The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time (formerly referred to as level IV) 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 Tracey Jenkins at [email protected] or submit a hard copy to the Main Office by Friday, December 13th at 4:30 pm.
Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process
English | Spanish
Advanced Academic Programs Full-Time AAP Services Referral Form
English | Spanish
Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
English | Spanish
Family Facing Curriculum: Overview of What Students are Learning Second Quarter
Instruction in Virginia's public schools is guided by the Standards of Learning (SOL). The standards describe the expectations for student learning, assessment, and achievement in grades K-12.
Pacing is the how and when teachers teach the standards. Each school division creates its own pacing. These pacing overviews are examples of how and when teachers organize and teach the curriculum. They are organized by quarter and by week.
Select your student’s grade level and content area to see detailed information.
IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair
Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require specialized services and support to access instruction that is typically presented visually and auditorily (by means of hearing). FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Visit the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website for Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessment Dates
2025 SOL Test Schedule
Grade 3 - Reading May 8 | Math May 15
Grade 4 - Reading May 8 | Math May 15
Grade 5 - Reading May 7 | Math May 14 | Science May 21
Grade 6 - Reading May 6 | Math May 13
Dranesville Student Newspaper
October Dragon's Spark
September Dragon's Spark
Dranesville CARES
Our school-wide agreements are grounded in Portrait of a Graduate attributes and skills that students need to succeed in school and life.
At Dranesville:
- We will consider the feelings of others when communicating by using respectful words.
- We will be responsible by taking ownership of our learning community.
- We will be caring by listening to, learning about, and valuing others.
Dranesville CARES about each other and the world.
Student Rights and Responsibilities Quick Guide
Join us for Coffee and Connection 2024-2025 Family Coffees
Each coffee will be from 9:30 - 10:30 am.
January 14
Understanding Assessments: WIDA and SOLs
January 28
Organizing Chaos: Practical Executive Functioning Tips for Parents
February 5
Using POG Attributes to Engage in a Socratic Seminar
February 11
Summer Learning Opportunities
March 11
Getting to Know Edu Futuro- Strengthening Families Information
April 8
School Readiness - Birth to 5 Programming
May 13
Family Reflection and Feedback
Dranesville Renovation
Thank you to the Dranesville families and community members who attended the Renovation Community Meeting on Tuesday, August 20th. Information from that meeting is available on the FCPS website. We are excited to grow with you!
Learn more about the Dranesville Elementary School renovation project.
1515 Powells Tavern Place, Herndon, VA 20170 | Main Office: 703-326-5200
Attendance: 703-326-5252 or [email protected]
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