September 8, 2016

Volume 1, Issue 1

time to review this important infor-

mation. I want to thank our PTSO for

purchasing our agendas for your stu-

dents.

I am looking forward to a won-

derful school year. I look forward to

working with you throughout the

school year. Please feel free to con-

tact me should you have any concerns

or want to talk.

Bridget Outlaw

From the Principal:

Attendance:

Welcome back to school!

I am so excited for this school year.

Our teachers have been in the building

working to get the school up and run-

ning. The positive energy that we have

had is just invigorating. Our first week

of school was a great start. Everyone

had smiling faces!

Parent involvement is a key com-

ponent to our schools success. Please consider volunteering in your child’s

classroom, supporting our PTSO, at-

tending family events and keeping open

lines of communication with your child’s

teacher.

Our Teacher Parent Advisory

Council (TPAC) is another great way to

get involved with our school. This

group meets monthly during the year to

look at data and monitor progress on

our school improvement plans. We also

discuss the school budget. Parents are

welcome to attend our meetings. Keep an

eye out in our school calendar for dates.

Up to date contact information is

very important when sending your child to

school. Please make sure you keep your

information updated and inform us of any

changes.

As a reminder, we open our doors at

8:45 a.m. Students should not be

dropped off prior to that time. We do not have the staff available to watch our

students. This is a safety issue. Parents are

to stay with their children until 8:45. Stu-

dents are not to be released from cars until

an adult is out there to ensure they are be-

ing received safely into school.

Your students received agendas this

year to be use as a daily communication tool

between home and school. Please check

your agenda daily. Also, in the very front of

our agenda is a handbook explaining many of

our policies and procedures. Please take

FitzgeraldElementary School

We are collaborative, creative,

critical thinkers dedicated to success.

Regular and timely attendance to school is important for your child’s academic success and the success of our school. If your child is not here, we can not teach him. If you child is absent from school, please provide a written excuse upon his/her return for the absence to be excused. Absences will only be excused for the following reasons: personal illness, medical appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school time, death in the fami-ly, observance of a religious holiday, family emergencies, required court appearances, extenuating circumstances and prearranged absences in accordance with Regulation 724-1.

Absences will not be excused from a phone call. We must have a written excuse provided within 2 days of the student returning to school. Failure to provide a written excuse will result in an Unexcused Absence.

Our school instructional day begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Our doors open at 8:45 a.m. for student arrival. Students are considered tardy at 9:05 a.m.

Please refer to our School Board Attendance Regulation 724-1 for further information. This regulation can be found on the Prince William County website at www.pwcs.edu.

Thank you for your support and cooperation with our efforts.

Right to Special Programs/Services

PWC Policies and Regulations Lunch Lines:

disabilities. • Provide written notice of the School Division’s procedural safeguards to parents or guard-ians. If you suspect that your stu-dent may have a disability affecting your student’s devel-opment or academic perfor-mance, or may have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, please contact the Di-rector of Special Education at 703.791.7287 for further infor-mation.

The Prince William County Public Schools Divi-sion is required to inform the community of a student’s right to a free, appropriate public education and the availability of programs and services, including a special education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) are feder-al laws that give the School Division certain responsibilities with respect to providing such educational programs to students with disa-bilities. Under the IDEA and Section 504, the School Division has the responsibility to ac-tively and continuously identify, locate, and evaluate those children, infant to age 21, liv-ing in Prince William County who may be in need of special education and/or related ser-vices, or adaptations or accommodations to regular education services. These laws also require the School Division to: • Refer for possible evaluation any student of school age living in the School Division who a

school staff member suspects may be disabled. • Provide appropriate educational and school‐related opportunities to stu-dents with disabilities in an inclusive setting to the maximum extent appro-priate. • Provide notice of the availability of services and types and location of services to nearby private schools, pediatricians, and the Health Depart-ment. • Provide parents/guardians of stu-dents with disabilities with notice of their rights annually, and prior to their student’s evaluation and placement, or any significant change in their stu-dent’s placement. • Develop and implement procedural safeguards with respect to actions regarding the identification, evalua-tion, and placement of students with

Page 2 FitzgeraldElementary School

This year our student lunch prices are $2.45 per student. Please make

sure you keep your child’s lunch account up to date. You can either

send in a check with your child’s first and last name in the memo line or

pay through the www.mylunchmoney.com site. Menus are located

inside the Divisionwide Elementary Guide and Calendar. Please contact

the office if you would like a copy.

Free and Reduced meal applications were mailed by the Division to fami-

lies and a copy was sent home in your first day packets. If you did not

receive an application, please contact School Food and Nutrition Ser-

vices at 703.791.7314 or the school. You may also complete the applica-

tion electronically by going to http://pwcsnutrition.com/. You must re-

apply each year in order to qualify. If you are unsure of your

lunch status, please contact our Cafeteria Manager, Mrs.

Copeland.

The Policies and Regulations govern-ing Prince William County Public Schools may be accessed online at pwcs.edu.” Please look for the "Policies and Regulations" button on the left of the page. Here you will find a lot of important information.

School Nurse Moment with Mrs. Meade

Hello Fitzgerald students and families. Here are a few important reminders.

Medications

The use of all prescription medication must be authorized, in writing, by a licensed provider. This information is acceptable on a pre-

scription pad or physician’s letterhead that is attached to a PWCS authorization form.

Additionally, if your child’s unused medication was not picked up by the last day of school, it was disposed of by school personnel.

Remember that children are NOT allowed to carry medication at school; therefore, an adult must bring all medications into the

school.

Health Treatment Plans

The following information applies to ALL students, both returning and new, who have health conditions that may require medical assis-

tance during the school day.

Returning students that had Emergency/Procedure Treatment Plans, Diabetic Treatment Plans, Asthma Treatment Plans, Seizure

Treatment Plans, and Allergy Action Treatment Plans on file last year are required by Prince William County Schools to have a yearly

updated form on file. Last year’s plan cannot be utilized.

New and returning students that require a health treatment procedure, usually on a daily basis, in order to be maintained in the

school setting; e.g., catheterization or tube feeding, a health treatment plan must be completed and turned into the school

before your child will be allowed to start school. Please have all forms filled out and signed by your child’s doctor or nurse practi-

tioner and signed by a parent/guardian.

These forms should be returned before school starts or as soon as possible. This will give the nurse supervisor time to review and ap-

prove the plan. Once the plan is approved, the nurse will be able to instruct your child’s teacher in the care he/she may be required to

give your child during the school year. No procedure will be completed until this form has been approved.

*Please Note* All required forms for medications and health treatment plans are located on Fitzgerald’s website under the ‘Health

Information’ section. Once there, look at the right side of the page under ‘Department Links’. If you have any questions or concerns,

please contact the school nurse at 703-583-4195.

New Medication Regulation 757-4

Cough drops and throat lozenges

Cough drops and throat lozenges may be carried and used by students in kindergarten through grade 12 as needed, provided that

they are in the original container or packaging (Authorization for Medication Administration form is not required). Students must

not share cough drops or throat lozenges under any circumstances.

Non- medicated products.

Products used for cosmetic purposes and not for relief of symptoms are not regarded as medication. These products would include non

-prescription eye care products such as saline or contact lens solutions and skin care preparations such as petroleum jelly, Clearasil, lip

balm, hand lotion, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Students may carry and appropriately use non-medicated products. For the com-

fort and safety of others, spray or aerosol products are not to be used.

Change of Clothes in Backpacks

Parents of Kindergarten and First grade students please consider putting a full change of clothes (including socks and underwear) in your

child's backpack. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and a change of clothes may be needed during the course of a school day. The

clinic's supply of clothes is limited. An extra outfit will save you a trip to the school, and get your child back in class and feeling fresh in

no time.

Page 3 Volume , Issue

Student Safety:

If your check is returned for insufficient funds, we will electronically present it to your bank for the face value plus a $35 processing fee and any protest or bad check return fee charged by your financial institution. This action will be taken without further notice.

All returned checks referred for collection are subject to a $35 processing fee, any protest or bad check return fee charged by your financial institution, and all other charges, interest, and attorney's fees allowed by law.

We Accept Your Checks:

Parents and staff are asked to be cautious around school buses loading and unloading children at school and at bus stops. By law, motorists must stop when a school bus is stopped with its red lights blinking and stop sign extended, except when the bus is on the opposite side of a median strip. Motorists must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading children and the signal devices are not functioning properly. Passing a stopped school bus is considered reckless driving and carries a minimum fine of $250. Most fatalities and major injuries associated with pupil transportation occur when students are struck by motorists who are attempting to pass school buses while students are being loaded or discharged. Please be aware to ensure the safety of all our children.

Family Life Education

In the online Code of Behavior packet you have information regard-ing Family Life Education. Please take time to review this infor-mation. Objectives can be found on the Prince William County Web-site www.pwcs.edu or you may request a copy from the office. These objectives are taught throughout the school year. If you wish for your child to not participate in some or all of these objectives, please complete the opt out form and return it to school.

It’s Back to School Time in Adult Edu-

Adult Education classes, offered by Prince William County Public Schools,

serving residents of Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas

Park, will begin in September. Classes include: Adult Basic Education (for

reading, writing, and math improvement), GED Preparation, English for

Speakers of Other Languages, and the National External Diploma Program.

For more information call 703.791.2319.

Code Of Behavior:

This year, the Code of Behavior will be located on the Prince William County website. Parents are strongly encouraged to go to www.pwcs.edu and visit the Code of Behavior on line. There is a lot of important information in this document. When you sign your child’s emergency card, you are stating you have read the contents of this document. Should you require a paper copy, please contact our office at 703.583.4195.