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Lockdown Drill Today

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Every school in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan in place. Keeping students and staff safe is a priority. We practice a number of safety drills throughout the school year, including lockdown drills which helps us know what to do if there is a potentially violent intruder inside the school or on school property.

Today, our school conducted a lockdown drill and teachers talked to students to prepare them for the drill. As a part of our safety training we also show students a video regarding lockdown drills so students would know what a lockdown looks like in the school.

I am very proud of our students today. They listened to directions and the drill was conducted in a calm and orderly fashion. Our students did a great job, and I encourage you to discuss the drill with them.  Additional guidance on discussions with your child about lockdown drills can be found in the Parent/Guardian tip letter, as well as on the frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.

Our emergency preparedness plans have been developed in coordination with the FCPS Office of Safety and Security, local law enforcement, emergency management officials, and FCPS mental health professionals. The plans are regularly reviewed and updated and include procedures on how to respond to critical incidents such as fires, tornadoes, and other events. Students and staff regularly practice safety drills.

I will continue to keep you informed of safety and security measures in place at our school. If you have questions, please call or contact the school office.  I appreciate your continued support in these matters.

Sincerely,

Mrs. King

Assistant Principal

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

As always, we have some important announcements.  The most important is our farewell and congratulations to an awesome staff member.  Mrs. Ashya Otero, office assistant, will have her final day at Coates tomorrow.  Next week, she begins her new position as student information assistant at Daniel's Run ES.  We congratulate her on her promotion, but we are very sad to say goodbye.  Many of you have been helped by Mrs. Otero over the last 11 years.  She started as an instructional assistant in our autism program before moving to the front office, and she's added value to every team she's been on.  Congratulations, Mrs. Otero!

Laptop Charging at Home (2nd-6th Grades)

We thank you for taking care of your child's FCPS laptop at home each night.  Charging it at home ensures that it's ready to go for the next school day!

Interim Reports

On Thursday, Sept. 23 your child's teacher will be sending you an interim progress report for the first quarter of school.  Interims are not the official progress reports with quarterly grades.  They are actually a mid-point message that serves to let parents know who things are going so far.  If your child is needing improvement in a subject, there is still time to address the needs.  Look for interims via email, Talking Points, or Thursday Folders.  Feel free to ask your teachers questions so that you can help at home.

Necessary Form - Please Complete

If you have not already done so, please complete this digital resources parental consent form (link).  This allows us to use school-approved websites, programs, and tech equipment with your child at school.  If you do not complete this form, your child will lose access.

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS (AAP) ELEMENTARY CONTINUUM OF SERVICES

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners. 

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services rather than labeling students. 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.

Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level: 

Tier 1 Access to AAP Curriculum and Strategies, Grades K-6 (Level I) 

All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve. 

• All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
• Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.

Because Level I services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.

Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II) 

Some students are strong in one or more subject areas. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:

• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness
• Classroom teachers provide additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Level II Services are re-evaluated each year.

Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III) 

Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas. They need part-time AAP services. 

• Students work with students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.

Level III services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 (Level IV) 

Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science). 

Students eligible for full-time AAP services are cluster grouped on a full-time basis and receive:

• Full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, and social studies curriculum, and
• Mathematics curriculum with depth and complexity that is at least one year above grade level.

Level IV services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Screening for Levels II-IV

Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.

Eligibility decisions for Level II and Level III services are made by a committee at the local school

Screening for Level II and Level III services is ongoing throughout the school year. To refer for Level II or III services, submit the AAP School-Based Referral Form to the AART and the local school.

Eligibility decisions for full-time Level IV services are made by the countywide central selection committee.

Screening for Level IV services occurs during specific screening cycles:  

• Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.
• Fall referrals are due October 7, 2021
• Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student 
• The referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.

Referral forms for Levels II-IV are found at https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893. 

For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.  

Ability Testing

FCPS uses ability testing as one part of the holistic screening process for Levels II-IV services. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized in the holistic screening process.  

• All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT).
• All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). 
• NNAT and/or CogAT may be administered to students in Grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.  

Parents or guardians may request a one-time retest in grades 3-6 during the fall testing windows. Please contact the school testing coordinator Jessica King, jaking@fcps.edu no later than September 15 to request the CogAT or October 15 for the NNAT.

Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7 as there will be no referrals for Level IV screening accepted past the deadline.

Elementary Parent Information Meeting

A virtual parent information meeting will be held at Coates Elementary School on September 29, 2021 at 6:30 pm. The AART will provide information about levels of service and examples at Coates Elementary School, explain the screening processes, and answer questions about part-time school-based and full-time Level IV services.

Young Scholars

FCPS developed the Young Scholars Model to help identify students from historically underrepresented populations for AAP services. The model provides additional opportunity to nurture talent and build confidence so that students can meet their potential. 

Twice-Exceptional (2e)

Some gifted students also have learning disabilities. These twice-exceptional, or “2e” students need strengths-based instruction. Their learning challenges also must be supported. FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students. You can find these resources by going to www.fcps.edu and searching “2e.”

Middle and High School AAP

Additional information about middle and high school services may be found on the Advanced Academic Programs web page. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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Coates Families,

As we complete the third week of school, I’m proud of the work our teachers have done to accomplish so much in so little time with your children.  Classes have routines established, and we’re deep into the curriculum in all subjects!  We also appreciate your support of your child’s teacher.  Kids who were nervous about coming back to school are comfortable.  Kids who weren’t in the habit of working so hard are building stamina.  It’s working!

Thanks to the many parents who came to our Principal’s Coffee last week.  One of our main topics was our Home-School Compact, which is our partnership agreement between school and home.  Check it out here.  Our staff looks forward to doing our part and we hope that every parent will do theirs!  It’s really does take a village!

As always, please read through the important information below.  Lots to share!  Have a great weekend.

Jesse Kraft, Proud Principal

Jessica King, Proud Assistant Principal

Community Meeting

All parents and staff members are advised to check their emails from Tuesday.  You should have received an email from “Region 5 Office” that explained the process for selecting the next principal of Coates.  As you know, Mr. Kraft will begin his new job as executive principal for Region 3 on October 1, and FCPS must fill the position. 

To provide your input and ensure that Coates has a great new principal, we hope that everyone will attend the virtual meeting on September 14 (details below) and provide your written input on the link below.  As stated in the email, Coates Assistant Principal, Mrs. Jessica King will serve as acting principal between the time when Mr. Kraft departs and FCPS Region 5 finalizes the hire of a new principal.

Meeting Info:

Sept. 14 @ 4:30  (English) – Link to Meeting

Sept. 14 @ 5:30  (Spanish) – Link to Meeting

You are invited to share your input on what attributes you’d like to see in the next principal by Monday, September 20, 2021 to apmcgeehan@fcps.edu  or mail to: Adam McGeehan, Suite 1114, Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA   22042-1203​​​​​​​

Keep your child home from school with any symptoms that are COVID-like.

The most important way you can help as a parent/guardian is to keep your child(ren) home if they present with any illness or symptoms that are associated with COVID: runny nose, coughing, headache, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhea, etc. If you keep your child home, and they are feeling better the next day, then they do not need documentation from a medical provider to return. However, if your child comes to school and presents with symptoms, they will be placed in the Care Room and will be sent home. Your child must then be seen by a medical provider to return to school and you will be given a form to get completed by the doctor. 

Parents, caregivers, or guardians are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of infectious illness every day through a home-based symptom screening and students who are sick should not attend in-person instruction. Please consider the questions in the HealthScreeningQuestionnaire for 2021-2022.pdf each morning before sending your child to school. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions, please keep your child home. 

Response to COVID Cases

In the interest of transparency, FCPS updates a daily report of positive COVID-19 cases on its website, which any parent may access here.  You will notice that Coates has had more than one confirmed positive cases this week, and a separate community message will go out today, per FCPS and health department guidelines.

While the community message may be delayed from the day of the reported cases, we want to assure you that we do not delay in responding to positive cases.  We rapidly begin contact tracing and identifying potential close contacts.  We contact parents of close contacts immediately and pause in-person instruction where appropriate.  Obviously, students who test positive may not return until cleared by a medical professional.  We welcome any questions.

While there is no synchronous (live, virtual lesson) program for paused students at this time, Dr. Brabrand did outline ways to provide better connection to classroom learning at last night’s School Board meeting.  If your child is currently paused pending health department approval to return, look for a message from the teacher early next week with directions for connecting with class assignments.  We regret that we must send students home when they are considered close contacts and realize that this greatly impacts working families.

Thursday Folders

It’s important that parents check their children’s backpacks each evening to see if the teacher has sent home any important information.  On THURSDAYS, we often send home more graded student work, flyers, and school messages.  Please check your child’s folders for this information.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

At the end of the first quarter, we offer parent-teacher conferences to all families.  This is an important opportunity that we hope you will take advantage of.  Teachers will talk about your child’s classroom performance and grades.  Conferences also give you chance to create a stronger partnership with the teacher!

Watch your teacher’s messages in the coming weeks as they offer opportunities to conference with them at the end of October or beginning of November.   Conferences may be virtual or in-person depending on parent or teacher preference.

New Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener

This year, FCPS is introducing a new Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Universal Screener. We have attached the information to this email. Students in grades 3-12 will participate during the Fall, Winter, and Spring windows. K-2 will participate in the Winter and Spring. The Fall window is 10/12-10/22.

Options to opt out are also included in the attached flier and are requested no later than Friday, September 17th. For more information and additional translations, please use the following link https://www.fcps.edu/node/43941

21 22 screener

Mark Your Calendar

Sept. 10                Recognition of Sept. 11 on News Show

Sept. 23                Interim Grade Reports Sent Home to Parents

Sept. 23                Picture Day

Sept. 30                Mr. Kraft’s Final Day at Coates

Oct. 11                  Indigenous People Day – Student Holiday

Oct. 29                  End of First Quarter

Nov. 1&2              Student Holidays

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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Coates Families,

Congratulations!  We have completed the first two weeks of school.  That’s 9 days down, and about 170 more to go!  I’m thankful for your support of our staff as we came back strong with full-time, in-person school this year.  We’re taking our time building a sense of community in each classroom, teaching and re-teaching rules and good habits for school, and building stamina and skills in all subjects.  It takes a lot of time and attention to put the pieces back together.  I’m proud to say that we are succeeding!

Thanks for your great attendance (virtual and in-person) at Back to School Nights last week.  Thanks for your patience as we managed crowd size and acted responsibly as visitors.

Thanks to so many of you for joining the PTA already.  I hope more people do!  Go here for the membership forms and PayPal info!

Thanks for completing the student information forms you received last week (at BTSN or sent home) and sending them back to school.  Having updated health info and contact info for you is essential.

Thank you to so many parents for sending kind words of appreciation to our teachers.  It’s an active job, and they’re understandably tired.  Acts of appreciation go a long way!

Thanks for doing your part at the bus stops to supervise your kids and keep them safe and for being patient with the drivers.  We also appreciate our Kiss & Ride parents for learning our system and respecting it – even with so many cars this year, things are moving much more quickly compared to the first days of school! 

Thanks for erring on the side of caution and keeping your children home if they're sick.  Thanks for being honest with us about home illnesses, and getting tested and seeing doctors so quickly when there's been a need.  Basically, thanks for taking care of your children and considering everyone else's (and our staff too).

Finally, thanks for the kind words so many of you have sent me this week in regard to my promotion.  I appreciate your congratulations and understanding.  To be clear, I dread leaving Coates even while I’m excited about the next step in my career.  I’ll say more about the special-ness of our school in the weeks to come.  You still have me through September!

And speaking of that, watch for information soon about ways you can give your input into the principal selection process. Expect a virtual meeting that includes staff and families where FCPS  Region 5 leadership will ask you what Coates needs in its next principal.  Make your voice heard!

Please read the announcements below.  Follow our social media and read those Talking Points texts from teachers to stay up to date.  Enjoy the long weekend!

Jesse Kraft, Proud Principal

A New Homework Assignment for Grades 2-6

Beginning next week, teachers in 2nd through 6th grade will begin sending students’ laptops home with them each night.  Students are expected to charge their laptops at home and bring them back to school each day.  This new expectation accomplishes two things:

1. It ensures that all students have a fully-charged laptop each day at school.
2. If a student is absent or otherwise away from school, s/he can access some assignments on Schoology, our new online platform for assignments.

Please help your child make a space at home for laptop charging each night and remind him/her to bring the laptop back to school every day.

Birthday Treats

Before the pandemic, parents were permitted to send treats to school with their child on their birthday.  Often, parents sent cupcakes or cookies which the student distributed to his/her friends during lunch.  We cannot do that this year. If you wish to send in a birthday treat, you may so long as you follow these rules.  Birthday treats must be:

• individually-wrapped treats
• in a sealed package
• no nuts
• enough for the whole class

Please do not send in party favors or any other item.  Unfortunately, we are not allowing parent visitors during lunch, including birthdays.  We hope to return to an open-door policy for lunch once we get back to normal.  Parents are under no obligation to send in birthday treats.

Reading Routines at Home

Our new reading specialist, Mrs. Paula Cortes, gave parents great ideas a Back to School Night for promoting good reading habits at home. You can find the resources we shared on the Coates website as well.  We’ve created short videos and booklets that can give non-teachers exactly what they need to help kids read at their level.  Please check them out!  The best way you can support academics in elementary school is to promote reading at home.

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.  Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.  Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices.  If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle.  Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.

Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology.  Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.  Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media).  Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library.  Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.

*Please check your child's Thursday folder for grade specific opt-out forms. Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Carrie Reynolds, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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Dear Coates Staff & Families,

It is with mixed emotion that I tell you that my time as principal of Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School will be coming to an end soon.  Today, FCPS announced that effective October 1,  I will be serving as Executive Principal of Region 3 schools.  In this new role, I will have the opportunity to support 45 schools in another region of Fairfax County.  After 25 years of service and over 12 years as a principal, I feel ready for this next step in my career.

While I’m excited by a new professional challenge, I am saddened to leave Coates.  I’m immensely proud the of the work we’ve done together to make our school an awesome experience for all children.  In the past 5 years, we’ve raised test scores, narrowed achievement gaps, grown our PTA membership, increased minority placement in advanced academics, implemented the Positivity Project, built a home-school compact that brought staff and families together, developed a shared mission that resulted in our rigorous Ready to Shine learning opportunities for all kids, survived the pandemic shut-down and distance learning, achieved consistently high working conditions ratings, grew our awareness of bias and tools to combat it, taught kids to “talk like a boss”, and hired and retained the best staff in FCPS.  The list could go on!

I am most proud of playing my part in preserving the best thing about Coates – our warm, affirming culture.  Metaphorically, this place is one big hug.   In my first days here, I could observe the everyday acts of kindness, recognize the trust among everyone, and basically feel the warmth.  That won’t end when I go – it’s part of the Coates DNA.

I will explain myself to the students tomorrow at school.  I want them to understand how promotions work and to hear directly from me how much they mean to me and how much I will miss them when I go in a few weeks.

As I complete my final weeks at Coates, I am confident that our Region 5 Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Rebecca Baenig, will work tirelessly to ensure that Coates continues its path of excellence under highly capable leadership. The Region Office and FCPS Human Resources Department will begin the principal search process in the next few weeks. Ms. Baenig will be in touch very soon to share additional details on how you can learn more about the principal selection process and ways you can provide written input regarding the skills, experience and leadership characteristics needed for our school.

Sincerely,

Jesse Kraft

Proud Principal

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

Thanks for a great start to the school year!  As of now, we’ve completed all our Back to School Nights and worked out many of the arrival/dismissal challenges that come with the beginning of a new school year.  Thanks for your great support of our teachers and your cooperation with school rules related to arrival and dismissal.  Below are a few important reminders and information that all families should know.

Staying in Touch with the Teacher

All Coates teachers use the Talking Points app to send group and individual text messages to families.  This is the best way to stay connected to the class.  If you are not already on your teacher’s text group, please email him/her to be added.

Once you’re added, you can text the teacher directly when you want to share information or ask questions.  Please be aware that teachers do not have the capacity to reply instantly.  Teaching is an active, all-day job, and teachers should not be on their phones when they are supervising children.  Please allow up to 24 hours for replies.  Teachers are usually much faster!

Join PTA

Like most schools in FCPS, Coates has a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that plans and runs events for our community and raises money to benefit our school.  In the coming weeks, you’ll receive information from our new board.  For now, we invite all parents and teachers to join the PTA to become members.  The membership form was provided at Back to School Night and is available here along with PayPal information.

If you're looking to volunteer time to help with PTA events, more information will be coming soon.  Joining PTA and paying membership fees does not commit you to volunteering - it's a just a great way to support PTA.

Dismissal Time

On the first day of school, dismissal took a very long time.  Buses were late arriving.  The Kiss & Ride had a much longer-than-average line, and many parents were not sure where to pick up walking students.  By the end of Day 2 and today, all buses and Kiss & Ride students were gone by or about 4:20.  We expect that each day things will improve.  Even pre-covid, the dismissal process during the first week of school always had notable delays.  It always gets incrementally faster each day.

It’s important that all parents do their part to follow our dismissal procedures.  Please read below:

If your child is a walker…

At dismissal time, we route all walkers out Door 3, which is in the back of the school by the playground.  The door is supervised by staff and using this door helps us avoid crowding and bottlenecking inside the school at the end of the day.  If your child walks, and you wish to pick him/her up, please go to Door 3.

If your child uses Kiss & Ride for Dismissal…

You may NOT leave your car.  Staff will only release students to their cars when your car is close by the bench area.  Some parents have been leaving their cars in the lane and walking down the sidewalk to get their kids.  Since there is no passing lane at the back of Kiss & Ride, this does not save you time, and we will not permit you to pass due to the unsafe nature of such a maneuver.  It also slows down the process for every parent behind you. 

Obey the crossing guard and staff.  Move your car up as far as possible at the pick-up area.  Stopping short slows down the process for every parent behind you.  Move forward as the staff directs you.  Your child will come to you.

If you park your car somewhere and prefer to personally pick up your child…

Your child is considered a walker if you are picking them up this way.  Your child will be directed to dismiss from Door 3 (near playground behind school).  This removes the walkers and walking parents from the Kiss & Ride crowd and traffic. 

There is no option for parents to pick up walkers from any other door without approval from the principal.

No parent should ever be walking across the parking lot while buses are lining up or boarding students.

 

Be sure that your child’s teacher knows the way you want your child to dismiss every day.  If you have a change in plans and want your child to dismiss in a different way, please contact your teacher in writing and call the front office at 703-713-3000.

Thank You!

Our staff has enjoyed meeting you at Back to School Nights!  Please stay in touch with your teacher and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  We love when the family-teacher relationship is a partnership, and we look forward to a great year!

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Dear 2nd-6th Grade  Parents,

Tonight, our teachers are offering Back to School Night for 2nd & 3rd Graders only at 6:00 PM.  Tomorrow, Aug. 25, we are offering Back to School Night for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders only at 6:00 PM.  We hope to see you either virtually or in-person for this event.  Back to School Night is a time for you to hear from your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, and learn about our plans for Coates this year.

You may join us virtually or come in-person.  Details are below.

If you are joining us virtually, please watch for an email from your child’s teacher this afternoon with a link for you to join him/her at 6:15 on your appropriate night.  Please be patient if there is a wait since your teacher will be welcoming in-person students and parents to their class at that time and sharing info with both of you simultaneously.  Please mute your microphone when you join.

If you are joining us in-person, please come to school by 6:00 and check in at the table we have set up by Door 2 (near the Kiss & Ride parking lot).  We will start our event outside and then rotate groups of parents and students through sessions with their teachers in the classroom.  We will conclude by 7:30.

Please adhere to the following rules for tonight:

• Check in at the table near Door 2.
• Only 1 parent per family. You may bring your child.  Do not bring siblings.
• Masks are required for all when inside the school.

Part of your evening will be in the classroom with your child’s new teacher.  Part of it will be outside for a short presentation from the principals, reading specialist, counselors, and family liaison.  We want to get you ready and excited for the great year ahead!

When the evening is over, the principals will be stationed in front of the school to say goodbye and welcome any questions about safety or any topic.

Looking forward to seeing you tonight or tomorrow night!

Sincerely,

Coates Administration

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

We are looking forward to seeing all our students tomorrow for the first day of school at 9:00! Thanks to the many parents in kindergarten & 1st grade who’ve already met their child’s teacher at Back to School Night last week.  Everyone else, we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening (2nd & 3rd grades) or Wednesday evening (4th, 5th & 6th grades) at school at 6:00.

We thank our teachers for an incredibly busy preparation week.  They trained, they planned, they set up classrooms, and did countless other tasks that result in the safe and organized opening of school for 730 students.  That’s a lot!

Please read below so that both you and your child are prepared to have a great first week of school!  Information on breakfast, lunch, arrival & dismissal, safety, and other topics can be found below.

Jesse Kraft, Principal (jkraft@fcps.edu )

Jessica King, Ass’t Principal (jaking@fcps.edu )

Coming to School

We will not be allowing parents to escort their children to class this year.  If you are walking your child to school, please say goodbye to him/her outside the school.  If we allowed parents to come with our students into the school tomorrow, we’d have tightly packed hallways and sustained times where kids and adults would be in proximity.  We aim to avoid situations like this as much as possible.  Thank you for your understanding.  We will have many staff members positioned inside and outside the school to help students find their classrooms.

You can help by making sure your child knows the following:

• His/her grade level
• His/her teacher’s name
• How he/she is going home each day (bus, walker, Kiss & Ride, daycare van)

If you do not think your child can remember this information, please write it down and send it with your child and/or email/text your child’s teacher directly.  

Bus Riders

Please be patient with drivers and expect that bus stop times on your schedule are approximate.  Come to your stop early and be prepared to wait.  Northern Virginia traffic is always a challenge to our routes at the beginning of each year.  Also, there is a national bus driver shortage that is impacting FCPS, and some routes may take longer or experience delays as  the FCPS Office of Transportation works through the situation.

Kindergarten parents, please remember that your child must have someone meet him/her at the bus stop after school.  Our drivers will not release a kindergartner from the bus unless s/he has an adult or older sibling (older than elementary school) at the stop wait for him/her.

Kiss & Ride

Coates has a supervised Kiss & Ride lot where parents may drive their children to school and drop them off.  Parents who use Kiss & Ride must follow all rules including the following:

• Obey the crossing guard and staff
• Do NOT leave your car. Your child leaves the car when you drop off.   If you pick up your child in the afternoon, you will not leave your car.  Train your child to recognize your car, and our staff will help him/her find you.
• There is no passing lane at AM Kiss & Ride. All vehicles wait in line and move as one line.
• If you arrive early to Kiss & Ride (prior to 9:00) and there is no staff member present, please do NOT drop off your child. S/he would not be supervised.
• When driving, please do not text or use hands on your cell phone. This is dangerous to the many students nearby.

Walkers

Walking students may come in through Door 3 or the main entrance at arrival.  At dismissal time, we route all walkers out Door 3, which is in the back of the school by the playground.  The door is supervised by staff and using this door helps us avoid crowding and bottlenecking inside the school at the end of the day.  If your child walks, and you wish to pick him/her up, please go to Door 3.

Breakfast & Lunch

All students may receive one (1) no-cost breakfast and one (1) no-cost lunch meal each school day. The cost of an adult or a second student breakfast is $2.30. The cost of an adult or a second student lunch is $4.50

Menus, allergens, and nutrition information are all available online. School menus will be published weekly beginning a week before the first day of school.

You do not need to “sign up” for breakfast or lunch if you want your child to have it.  You may also send your child with a lunch from home any day.

Staying in Touch with the Teacher

If your teacher has not yet emailed you, please call the front office at (703) 713-3000 to get connected.  Our teachers use the Talking Points app to communicate with all parents via text messages.  Your teacher can tell you how to get these texts.

At the beginning of each week, all Coates teachers will send a group text to parents keeping you abreast of some important topics for the upcoming week.  You may also text your teacher outside of the group.

Please realize that a teacher’s daily schedule is intense, and s/he is actively teaching or supervising your child and the rest of the class with very little break time.  Allow up to 24 hours for responses to questions.

Lunch Time

As noted previously, lunch is a time when students may remove their masks to eat.  Most classes eat lunch in the cafeteria.  We have created a schedule that reduces seating to about 50 capacity at our tables (our tables have built-in seats for 10, and we will be seating 4-6 to each table).  When kids are finished eating, they will be required to pull their masks back up. 

We clean tables between classes and all hands are washed or sanitized before and after lunch time.

Accommodations for Lunch or Arrival

Some parents have requested to pick up their child at lunch time to take them out of school to eat with them.  This is a reasonable request, and we are happy to work with any parent who wishes to do this so long as they pick up their child at his/her scheduled lunch time and return on time.  If you wish to do this, please contact your teacher.  Someone from our office will confirm with you.

On a related note, some parents have requested to drop their child off a few minutes after the 9:15 bell to avoid the crowds at arrival.  This is also a reasonable request, and we are happy to work with any parent who wishes to bring their child to school between 9:20-9:30.  If you wish to do this, please contact your teacher.  Someone from our office will confirm with you.

Staff Vaccination Requirement

This week, Superintendent Brabrand announced that FCPS is requiring all staff members to be fully vaccinated or to submit routine negative COVID-19 tests beginning in October.  The vast majority of FCPS staff are already vaccinated.

FCPS continues to encourage vaccination for everyone, including students as soon as they are eligible. This summer, Fairfax County has seen vaccination rates for our young people soar. We have some of the highest vaccination rates across the country for this age group.

Among youth ages 12-15 in Fairfax County, 61.9% are fully vaccinated – up 24.2 points since July, while 75.3% have had one dose – up 19.4 points since July. Of 16-17-year-olds, 74.4% are fully vaccinated, while 84.8% have received one dose.

If you or your child would like to be vaccinated, vaccination opportunities can be accessed through the Fairfax County Health Department or Vaccines.gov. COVID-19 vaccines are accessible and free.

Important Forms

At Back to School night, you’ll be provided with paper copies of many important forms that need to be updated.  Watch for a separate News You Choose email with reminders and online access to some of these forms.

ParentVUE

The SIS (Student Information System) Parent Account is an online tool that parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, class schedule and performance, discipline incidents, health information, and more. If you registered in the past, your account is still active. If you have not, please create an account using this link. Please contact the Main Office if you have any questions or need support. 

Information parents will be able to access includes:

• Progress Reports
• Attendance
• Health information
• Significant Discipline incidents
• Name of Classroom Teacher
• Teachers’ email addresses
• FCPS calendar
• Student’s emergency contact information
• Transportation information including bus stops and times

Mark Your Calendars

Aug. 24:   Back to School Night for 2nd & 3rd Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 25:   Back to School Night for 4th, 5th & 6th Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 31:   Parent Coffee, 9:15-10:15 AM

Sept. 3:   Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 6:   Labor Day Holiday

Oct. 11:   Student Holiday

Expect more events to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Dear Kindergarten & 1st Grade Parents,

Tonight, our teachers are offering Back to School Night to you at 6:00 PM.  We hope to see you either virtually or in-person for this event.  Back to School Night is a time for you to hear from your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, and learn about our plans for Coates this year.

You may join us virtually or come in-person.  Details are below.

If you are joining us virtually, please watch for an email from your child’s teacher this afternoon with a link for you to join him/her at 6:15.  Please be patient if there is a wait since your teacher will be welcoming in-person students and parents to their class at that time and sharing info with both of you simultaneously.  Please mute your microphone when you join.

If you are joining us in-person, please come to school by 6:00 and check in at the table we have set up by Door 2 (near the Kiss & Ride parking lot).  We will start our event outside and then rotate groups of parents and students through sessions with their teachers in the classroom.  We will conclude by 7:30.

Please adhere to the following rules for tonight:

• Check in at the table near Door 2.
• Only 1 parent per family. You may bring your child.  Do not bring siblings.
• Masks are required for all when inside the school.

Part of your evening will be in the classroom with your child’s new teacher.  Part of it will be outside for a short presentation from the principals, reading specialist, counselors, and family liaison.  We want to get you ready and excited for the great year ahead!

When the evening is over, the principals will be stationed in front of the school to say goodbye and welcome any questions about safety or any topic.

Looking forward to seeing you tonight if you are a Kindergarten or 1st grade student or parent.

(Parents of 2nd-6th graders, please do not come tonight.  Your teachers will hold their Back to School Nights next week).

Sincerely,

Coates Administration

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

Tonight, many of you will have received an email from us telling you your child's new teacher and bus information.  The sender of the email is CoatesES@fcps.edu .  Please do not reply to this email.  Call the main office with inquiries.

If you are a Kindergarten or 1st grade parent, you will receive this email tomorrow (Wed.).  We regret this delay.  We've had several new registrations in these grade levels in recent days, which may affect our staffing.  If it does change our staffing (positively or negatively), we must to reconfigure our classes so that they are similarly sized, have an appropriate boy-girl ratio, and adhere to other factors that result in a great, heterogeneous classroom.  I expect that I will have this figured out with our staffing specialist early tomorrow and am confident that we will have our message to you in advance of Back to School Night on Thursday.  Your teacher is looking forward to meeting you and your child!

Returning to school is exciting and I know that you're waiting eagerly for this info.  Thank you for your patience.

Jesse Kraft, Principal ( jkraft@fcps.edu )

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

With the new school year almost upon us, we want to offer our newly enrolled families at any grade level the chance to visit Coates for a tour prior to August 23, our first day of school.  We also want to explain hour our Back to School Nights will work this year so that you know what to expect.  Please read these sections below.

You should watch your email on Monday or Tuesday for a message from Coates that shares your child’s teacher and provides bus information to those who need it.  That will be followed later in the week by an email from the teacher with a video introducing him/herself and some other relevant info.  Those emails will have different senders – the first email will come from CoatesES@fcps.edu and the second will come directly from your child’s new teacher.

We know that coming back to school is exciting for both parents and kids.  We also know that it’s an anxious time for many, especially now.  Our staff realizes this as well, and we want to assure you that we’re going to establish great relationships with you and your child, prioritize safety, and balance safety measures with engaging social and learning experiences.

Thanks for your understanding and thanks in advance for your partnership with us.

Jesse Kraft, Principal (jkraft@fcps.edu )

Jessica King, Ass’t Principal (jaking@fcps.edu )

School Tours for New Families

We have many families who are new to Coates this year! We know that if you’re in 2nd through 6th grade, your Back to School Night is after the first day of school.  Therefore, we’re offering an informal school tour to any new families on these dates:

Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 6-6:30 PM

Friday, Aug. 20 at 3-3:30 PM

To keep group size manageable and safe, we are requiring that each student be accompanied by one parent only.  Masks are required for both parent and student, even if vaccinated.  Your child’s teacher will not be available.  Our administration will be there to show your child where to go to class and to answer any questions.

If you cannot make it to our tour, please know that our staff is ready to get all students to the right class during the first week of school.  During the first week, we always have many staff member in various positions throughout the inside and outside of school ready to bring kids to the right classrooms.

Kindergarten & 1st grade families have Back to School Night on Thursday, Aug. 19.  On this night, your child will be coming to his/her classroom, so I advise you to treat that night as your tour.

Back to School Nights Back to School Nights

Back to School Nights (BTSN) are an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn about his/her classroom.  It is also a chance to learn about Coates in general.  This year, Coates is offering an in-person BTSN with a virtual option.  The student should come along with 1 parent.  It’s OK if only the parent comes.  Everyone must wear masks for the indoor sessions.

BTSN will have 3 main parts:

1) meet the teacher in his/her classroom and learn about his/her program

2) meet with our reading specialist to learn how to support reading at home

3) meet with our family liaison and counselors to learn how to best support your child at home.

 We want parents to hear all 3 parts, and we will make it so that group size in the classrooms is manageable and safe.  Weather permitting, some parts of the BTSN presentation will be held outside.

Please arrive at 6:00 and check in at the tables in front of the school with your child. 

If you choose to participate virtually, please join the virtual meeting link that your teacher sends you at 6:10.  Realize that your teacher will have parents physically in front of him/her while presenting and may not quickly respond to chat comments.

BTSN at Coates

Kindergarten & 1st Grade:   Thurs., Aug. 19   6-7:30

2nd & 3rd Grades:  Tues., Aug. 24   6-7:30

4th, 5th & 6th Grades:  Wed., Aug. 25  6-7:30

Back to School Nights (BTSN) are an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn about his/her classroom.  It is also a chance to learn about Coates in general.  This year, Coates is offering an in-person BTSN with a virtual option.  The student should come along with 1 parent.  It’s OK if only the parent comes.  Everyone must wear masks for the indoor sessions.

BTSN will have 3 main parts:

1) meet the teacher in his/her classroom and learn about his/her program

2) meet with our reading specialist to learn how to support reading at home

3) meet with our family liaison and counselors to learn how to best support your child at home.

 We want parents to hear all 3 parts, and we will make it so that group size in the classrooms is manageable and safe.  Weather permitting, some parts of the BTSN presentation will be held outside.

Please arrive at 6:00 and check in at the tables in front of the school with your child. 

If you choose to participate virtually, please join the virtual meeting link that your teacher sends you at 6:10.  Realize that your teacher will have parents physically in front of him/her while presenting and may not quickly respond to chat comments.

BTSN at Coates

Kindergarten & 1st Grade:   Thurs., Aug. 19   6-7:30

2nd & 3rd Grades:  Tues., Aug. 24   6-7:30

4th, 5th & 6th Grades:  Wed., Aug. 25  6-7:30

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

We are super excited for the new school year!  In fact, we made a short video for parents and students to explain some important beginning-of-the-year information.  Check us out on YouTube (link)!

The info from this video and more is explained below.  Let us know if you have any questions and PLEASE help us to get your kids excited about this new school year.

Jesse Kraft, Principal (jkraft@fcps.edu )

Jessica King, Assistant Principal (jaking@fcps.edu )

 

Important Dates

wk of Aug. 16:  Watch for an email with your child’s teacher assignment

Aug. 19:   Back to School Night for K & 1st Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 23:   FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for all students

Aug. 24:   Back to School Night for 2nd & 3rd Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 25:   Back to School Night for 4th, 5th & 6th Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 31:   Parent Coffee, 9:15-10:15 AM

Sept. 3:   Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 6:   Labor Day Holiday

Oct. 11:   Student Holiday

Safety

Currently, FCPS requires everyone (students, teachers, parents, visitors) to wear a mask indoors with exceptions only for eating or teacher-directed mask breaks with distancing. 

Students and staff may remove masks for outside recess, Physical education class, or other outside activities.  Vaccinated teachers may remove masks outside as well.

Though there is currently no rule for physical distancing in the cafeteria during lunch time, at Coates we will be filling cafeteria tables at half-capacity to allow for more space between students while eating together.  Our round cafeteria tables are built to seat 10 students.  We will seat 4-6 at each table during our supervised lunch periods in the cafeteria and related spaces.

Some parents have asked about how students will travel in the hallways.  At Coates, we do not have several “pass-through” times between periods like in middle and high school.  We may have a large group moving through the halls at arrival time, but it is a short, adult-supervised trek from the front door to most classrooms.  During the day, classes only travel the halls with their teachers, and each grade levels’ schedule is unique (e.g., 1st grade does not go to recess/lunch at the same time as 2nd grade, etc.).  This means that we rarely have several classes in the hallways at the same time.  At dismissal, we have always staggered our release of students to prevent crowding.

FCPS school buses will seat more than one student to a seat if needed.  This is like the bus experience for students last spring and during summer school.  Masks are required on the bus.

If a staff member observes a student displaying symptoms of COVID-19, s/he directs the child to our Care Room (separate from the Health Room, where kids get medications, band-aids, etc.) for care or parent pickup.  FCPS has protocols for our staff to follow when infections are known or suspected.

While we can never guarantee total student safety, we want to ensure all families that we have appropriate measures in place, and our staff takes them seriously.  We want all our kids to be healthy, and we want them to have a great school experience marked by lots of academic learning, appropriate social interactions, and fun.

Coates Bell Schedule for 2021-22

First Bell:  9:00

Late Bell:  9:15

Dismissal Bell:  4:00

 This is a return to our pre-pandemic bell schedule

Coates Supply Lists

This year, all major supplies for students (pencils, notebooks, folders, etc.) will be provided by us.  We ask that all students come to school with the following items:

• Backpack
• Water bottle
• 1 box of tissues
• 1 can of cleaning wipes

Any family that needs help with getting these supplies may contact our family liaison, Solangie McPherson at svmcpherson@fcps.edu .  Solangie provides reminders to families in need and those needing English to Spanish translation via the Remind app.  If you download Remind, you’ll get her text message updates (Sign up using Class Name: Coates ES4 ; Class Code: coateses4).

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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2021-22 Return to School Information

Coates Families,

The new school year will be starting soon, and we’re so happy to be back to a much more normal situation for parents, students, and teachers!  Please read  the important information below so that you can mark your calendars for key dates and know what to expect in about a month!  Important school info can always be referenced on the Coates website, and our social media (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) are great for keeping parents engaged.  We also hope that you’re subscribed to our News You Choose emails. 

Enjoy the remainder of the summer and get excited for the 2021-22 school year!

Jesse Kraft, Principal (jkraft@fcps.edu)

Jessica King, Ass’t Principal (jaking@fcps.edu )

 

Important Dates

Aug. 19:   Back to School Night for K & 1st Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 23:   FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for all students

Aug. 24:   Back to School Night for 2nd & 3rd Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 25:   Back to School Night for 4th, 5th & 6th Grade Families, 6-7:30 PM

Aug. 31:   Parent Coffee, 9:15-10:15 AM

Sept. 3:   Labor Day Holiday

Sept. 6:   Labor Day Holiday

Oct. 11:   Student Holiday

 

Coates  Bell Schedule for 2021-22

First Bell:  9:00

Late Bell:  9:15

Dismissal Bell:  4:00

 

This is a return to our pre-pandemic bell schedule

Coates Supply Lists

This year, all major supplies for students (pencils, notebooks, folders, etc.) will be provided by us.  We ask that all students come to school with the following items:

• Backpack
• Water bottle
• 1 box of tissues
• 1 can of cleaning wipes

Any family that needs help with getting these supplies may contact our parent liaison, Solangie McPherson at svmcpherson@fcps.edu .  Solangie provides reminders to families in need and those needing English to Spanish translation via the Remind app.  If you download Remind, you’ll get her text message updates (Sign up using Class Name: Coates ES4 ; Class Code: coateses4).

FCPS Returns to 5 Days in the Fall

We are excited to welcome back students for five full days in the fall.  FCPS has shared important updates for what fall will look like and reflections from parents who have already returned students to school.  We anticipate that students and staff will continue to be required to wear masks while inside the school and that hand-washing and reasonable distancing measures will be in effect.  FCPS works closely with the health department to develop safety measures, and these measures may be revised based on data.

Class Placements & Bus Schedules

All Coates parents will receive a message via email by Aug. 16 that will tell you your child’s teacher’s name and contact information and will provide you with your bus schedule.

If you don’t receive an email or other message with this information by 4:00 on Aug. 16, please contact the school office at (703) 713-3000.

No More BBCU or Google Classrooms – Now Using Schoology

FCPS will begin using Schoology as an online platform for many student assignments.  It has many similar features to Google Classroom, and students should be able to navigate it easily to find and submit assignments after their teachers show them how to use it in school. 

We anticipate continuing to use FCPS laptops in school for many assignments, especially in the upper grades.  However, being back to in-person school allows for the many important paper-and-pencil activities that support learning as well.

When it’s necessary to hold virtual meetings with parents or students, we will not use BBCU.  FCPS now uses Zoom (and, in some cases, Google Meet). 

Immunization Requirements

Effective July 1, 2021, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will require new school entry immunizations. All grade levels will be affected by these additional immunizations.  Please send any updated records to Ms. Marney in the Coates office.

Required for School Entry:

• A minimum of two doses of Hepatitis (A) vaccine are required: For SY 2021/2022, Kindergarten students must have two doses of Hepatitis A.
• A minimum of two doses of Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine are required: For SY 2021/2022, 7th grade students must have one dose and 12th grade students must have one dose. 
• A minimum of one dose of Rotavirus (RV) vaccine is required: One dose is required for students less than eight months of age.

Recommended but NOT REQUIRED for School Entry:

• A complete series of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended the minimum age for the initial dose is nine years.  The first dose is recommended for ALL (boys and girls) students entering 7th grade. The parent or guardian, at their sole discretion, may elect for the student not to receive the HPV series. Parent/guardian HPV opt-out documentation is not required.

Have You Moved?  Are you New?

If you recently moved outside of the Coates boundary, please register at the main office of your new school and let us know that you’ve moved!  Call 703-713-3000 or email ajmarney@fcps.edu .  Do this immediately.

If you or a neighbor are new to Coates, you must come to school to register.  To make the process easier, you can start on our website before coming.

It is critical that parents register or report moving to use immediately.  FCPS allocates staffing to each school based on enrollment projections.  Late registrations can balloon enrollment, causing school to hire more teachers late and re-assign students to new classes (this can happen through September).  Unexpectedly low enrollment may cause a teacher to lose his/her position at Coates and for his/her students to be reassigned.

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Families of Rising Kindergartners,

As advertised, we'll be holding our first playdate this week on Wednesday, July 14 from 5:00-6:00 PM on the Coates playground.  If it rains or is too hot, we will use the gym.  Please bring a mask for your child in case we are inside the gym.

Please note the adjusted time (5-6:00).  When you arrive, please walk around the school to the back where the playground is located.

These playdates for kindergartners are optional, unstructured events for our newest students and their parents.  There is no program or presentation.  This is simply a chance for kids to be at school, play, and make some friends.

Please check out the Coates website for other important dates for kindergartners!

Have a great day!

Jesse Kraft, Proud Principal

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
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Coates Families,

It’s been about a week since the last day of school, and I want to express appreciation and provide some guidance on summer and the (more-normal) school year ahead.

First, thanks to all of you for your work as co-teachers at home this year.  I’ve written a lot about this in the past, but it cannot be overstated.  I also commend our amazing staff, whether they taught virtually or in-person (or some mix of the two).  Everyone stepped up and turned lemons into lemonade.   Somehow, even with the massive challenges and constantly-changing landscape, we managed to give life to our Home-School Compact.  I’m proud be part of a community where the partnership between parents and teachers is real and so positive!

On a related note, thanks to the parents and teachers of our (former) 6th graders.  We LOVED the 6th grade promotion ceremony last week, and we were pleased to offer a concurrent ceremony and have so many kids and parents come in-person to our live event.  It was a beautiful program, and it was a pleasure to maintain this annual, special event that honors our oldest stars!  That big tent was pretty cool too!

I imagine you’re wondering what to expect next school year and what you might do to prepare your child, so here goes:  Next year, expect 5 days of in-person school with all subjects being taught each day.  The bell schedule returns to our normal, 9:00-4:00.  Will there be safety measures in place at school?  I expect there will be, and Coates will tightly implement them once FCPS and the health department determine the appropriate ones for fall.  I further expect that our staff will be ready to differentiate instruction in each classroom so that we can teach the grade level curriculum and more (we continue to have so many students in need of enrichment) and to work closely with students on skills that need to more teaching. 

If you’re worried about how the wide range of academic levels in each class impacts your child’s learning, let me say this:  Our teachers have always been skilled at managing different groups of students.  Coates has always had AAP students, English learners, special needs students, etc. sharing the same space.  There are social and academic benefits to having heterogeneous classes – it’s shaped the accepting culture at Coates for years.  Our staff is well-versed in using a workshop model that moves the grade level curricula forward each day and incorporates regular, small group instruction on each child’s level.  We’ve got this!

Expect that we’ll focus a lot on rebuilding social skills.  Communication skills is a major trait on the Coates Mission, and our teachers embrace teaching this life skill.  We expect that many students will need opportunities to practice after coming back to in-person school, and we’ll have lots of activities to accomplish this.

We’re also committed to promoting social-emotional learning and nurturing the wellness of all our kids as we get back to normal.  Expect regular lessons on managing stress, healthy self-concept, and opportunities to connect with classmates in positive ways.

It’ll be an interesting year with lots to teach and reteach, and it may take a little longer than usual to set the stage, but we’ll get it done.  The good news is that teaching works, and we have the best teachers.

 So, what can you do to prepare your child for next school year?  I propose the following:

1. READ all the time. Make sure your kids read.  You read to them.  We have a terrific, specific system for you on the Coates website so you can do this well at home.  Click here.
2. As August 23 approaches, say things to get your children excited about school. You may need to promote and sell the idea of school more than ever if your child has been off-site for a long time.  This can help minimize the separation anxiety that we may see in August.
3. Get your kids out of the house. Be active so they get exercise.  Be social so that any isolation they’ve been experiencing is lessened.  This will mentally prepare them for joining a new class of more than 20 students two months from now.

You could do a hundred other things as well.  But I’m keeping this list small on purpose because your kids need a summer too.  Enjoy it with them!

Sincerely,

Jesse Kraft, Proud Principal

 

Below are some other important announcements. 

Summer Office Hours

The main office continues to be open, but our hours are reduced, and some services are limited.  We are open Monday-Friday from 9:00-2:00 or by appointment.  Call the Coates office at 703-713-3000.

Registration for New Students

If you have new friends or neighbors who’ve moved into the Coates boundary, we need them to come to school to register.  The first step is to go to this page and get started.  Then Mrs. Marney will be in contact to set up an appointment to complete paperwork.

It’s important that new parents register ASAP.  Last-minute registrations suggest to FCPS that our enrollment is low and could result in the de-staffing of teachers.  Please spread the word and encourage registration!

New Kindergartners Playdates

Our new kindergartners are invited to the following events to see the school and make friends:

July 14                   Playdate on the Playground, 6-7:00 PM

July 21                   Playdate on the Playground, 6-7:00 PM

Aug. 11                 Read Aloud in the Library, 10-10:45

On a related note, we ask that new Kindergarten parents mark their calendars for the following:

August 19            Back to School Night for Kindergarten & 1st Grade Parents, 6-7:30

August 23            First Day of School

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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Coates Parents,

This is to inform you that electric power is out at Coates.  The problem is being addressed, but we have teachers working in the school who may not be able to access our internet connection to teach online.  If your child logs in and the teacher is not present, please log off and check again later.  We appreciate your patience.

 

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
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Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Coates Families,

First, THANKS to Coates PTA for putting together one of our best events in the five years I’ve been at Coates.  Tonight’s Popsicle Party (what a simple concept!) was a blast (see Coates social media for pics)!  So many families showed up to see friends, ride bikes, enjoy music, and remember what a great time we have together at Coates.  Loved seeing everyone’s smiling faces!

Now onto less joyful business.  At the end of each school year, we say farewell to some staff members.  Some retire.  Some move away.  Some transfer to other schools for new opportunities or to work closer to home.   We support our staff if they move on to new adventures, but we’re sad to say goodbye.  If you have had the pleasure of knowing or working with any of these stars, please extend your appreciation and best wishes.  Their email addresses can be found here.

Farewell and congratulations to the following retirees: Mrs. Joan Fotopoulos, ESOL teacher; Mrs. Marianne Pendlebury, speech teacher; Mrs. Carole Puckett, reading specialist; Sharon Satyshur, kindergarten assistant.

We wish all the best to Mrs. Suz Eisenbach, autism teacher (moving to new school), Mrs. Theresa Geissler, special education teacher (moving to middle school), Mrs. Josie Mani, advanced academics teacher (moving to a school closer to home), Mrs. Taylor McMahon, 2nd grade (moving out of state), Mr. Travis Smith, 3rd grade (moving to LCPS, closer to home).

We have been working hard to hire new teachers to fill in behind these great teachers, and I’m confident that the new faces on our staff in 2021-22 will fit our hard-working and caring school culture!

The final week is upon us!  Finish Strong.

Jesse Kraft, Principal

Jessica King, Ass’t Principal

Mark Your Calendars

June 7                   Final Monday Meetups (optional for students)

June 8                   Election Day, No In-Person Classes – All classes virtual

June 9                   6th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 2-3:00

June 11                 Final Day of School, Dismissal at 2:15

June 11                 Return Laptops & Chargers, 2:30-6:00

Library Books

Please return all library books to school ASAP.  We need to inventory our collection before closing school for the summer!

Returning Laptops & Chargers

On June 11, teachers of in-person students will collect their FCPS laptops and chargers.  Parents of virtual students must bring their child’s laptop & charger to school between 2:30-6:00 PM on June 11.  We expect that the laptop will have some wear-and-tear.  Please do not clean the laptop unless you have safe cleaning supplies that will not damage the device (when in doubt, do not clean).

Our laptop collection event will be a drive-though process with no appointment needed.  Use the Kiss & Ride parking lot.

If you are a virtual parent, and you cannot make it to school on June 11, we can give you an alternate appointment.  Please contact our tech specialist, Mr. Lucero at maluceroangu@fcps.edu .

Final Monday Meetups

Our staff will host our final virtual Monday Meetups for interested students on June 7.  Same schedule always!  Say goodbye to friends, share contact info, and have some social time!

 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th from 11 to 11:30   /   K, 1st, & 2nd from 11:30 to 12

Same links as always.  Teachers will share via Talking Points this weekend.

2480 River Birch Road, Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.713.3000 
Report Absence Online  |  Attendance Phone: 703.713.3030
Web | Facebook | Twitter