McAuliffe Summer Challenger News
July 2023
Summer Updates
New Assistant Principal
County Bell Schedule
I hope you are enjoying the summer break. As we begin our preparation for the 2023-24 school year, I want to remind you that the bell schedule for our school will change to improve on-time school bus service. Effective on the first day of school, the bell schedule for (Name of School) for the 2023-24 school year follows: (insert your start and end time here.)
The updated bell schedule provides the following benefits:
· Makes transportation to and from school more consistent and reliable.
· Increases number of buses for schools and drivers available for substitute runs.
· Decreases route times and length of time waiting at bus stops.
· Eliminates scheduled double and triple runs.
· Improves student attendance.
· Reduces the chance of lost instructional time.
· Decreases the need for staff to stay after school dismissal for supervision.
· Reduces the number of students on each bus, resulting in fewer management challenges for drivers.
· Improves accuracy of the Here Comes the Bus app.
You may find more information about the change in bell schedule at https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/transportation/bell_schedule_2023-24
I appreciate your patience, understanding, and support. If you have any questions, please call the school office.
Rising Kindergarten Academy
Meet and Greet and Parent Meeting
At 9:00, parents and students will be dismissed to rooms. The "Meet and Greet" is set up as a time to meet your child's new teacher and drop off supplies. We ask that if you would like to have a conference with your child's teacher, to please schedule a meeting with them.
10:00- The " Meet and Greet" will be finished.
Attention to Attendance
Did you know attendance is the number one predictor of dropout and graduation rates? That’s why this year we are increasing communication to our parents and students around the importance of attendance- a critical indicator of success. Attending school every day helps our students build a solid foundation for their future in school and in life.
Our new strategy includes an attendance management system that carefully tracks attendance and ensures that parents are notified in a timely and consistent manner. Our goal is to connect with parents quickly so that we can remove any barriers that families face in getting students to school on time, every day.
You may receive a letter regarding your students’ attendance in the mail. Please understand that these notifications are to bring awareness on how much school has been missed this school year. We pledge to partner with you to find solutions and resources to support your student. If you feel that you have received the letter in error or have questions, please contact your school directly.
We understand there are unavoidable illnesses or other times when your child should remain at home. We also know that absences add up quickly, and that “showing up” is critical to your child’s success in school and in life.
We are committed to achieving our goals and supporting our Prince William County Public School families. Our students stand to benefit the most from this!
Together, let’s create a culture of showing up. Thank you for your continued support.
Back to School Night for Grades K, 2 and 4
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023, 05:30 PM
McAuliffe Elementary
Back to School Night for Grades 1,3 and 5
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023, 06:45 PM
McAuliffe Elementary School
Book Fair
Title I Opt Out
Parental Notification of Assessment Opt Out Policies under The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015
According to the Virginia Department of Education, "All students in tested grade levels and courses are expected to participate in Virginia's assessment program, unless specifically exempted by state or federal law or by Board of Education regulations." On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law. Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or division policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. The Commonwealth of Virginia does not currently have an Opt Out policy for SOL assessments. However, Section 22.1-253.13:3.C of the Code of Virginia states that, “The Board of Education shall not include in its calculation of the passage rate of a Standards of Learning assessment for the purposes of state accountability any student whose parent has decided to not have his child take such Standards of Learning assessment, unless such exclusions would result in the school's not meeting any required state or federal participation rate.” Prince William County Public Schools regulations state that, if a parent or guardian decides to not have a student take a state or local assessment, then the person making the request should be informed about the academic consequences that decision could have on the student.
If you would like to receive more information about this topic, please contact the principal.
SPANISH version:
Parent Right to Know
PARENTAL RIGHT TO INFORMATION ABOUT TEACHERS:
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, most recently reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act, states that parents in Title I schools have the right to request certain information about their child’s teachers. The information that you have a right to request about your child’s teacher is:
- Whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subjects the teacher is teaching.
- Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing has been waived.
- The baccalaureate degree major of certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
- Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
At McAuliffe Elemetnary we are extremely proud of our teachers and paraprofessionals, and are happy to provide you with any of the information above pertaining to your child’s teacher(s). If you have such a request, please call the school at 703.680.7270 and ask for the information you are interested in.
NOTIFICACIONES A LOS PADRES: REQUISITO DE LAS ESCUELAS DE TITULO I
Derechos de los Padres sobre los maestros/as
Según la ley de “Ningún Niño/a Se Quede Atrás” del 15 de Decembre del 2015, los padres de alumnos/as que asisten a las escuelas de Titulo I tienen derecho a solicitor información especifica de las maestras/os de sus hijos/as:
- Saber si la maestra/o de su hijo/a ha superado los requisitos establecidos por el Departamento de Educación para enseñar las materias que enseña.
- Saber si la maestra/o de su hijo/a está bajo licencia provisional o de emergencia o si las licencia para enseñar se le ha suspendido o ha cambiado.
- El grado de titulación de la maestra/o y las titulaciones adicionales a nivel académico o de discilpina que la maestra/o pueda tener.
- Si el alumno/a está recibiendo servicios de un paraprofessional y si es asi, de quien se trata y sus cualificaciones.
Aqui en la escuela ___________________ estamos muy orgullosos de nuestras maestras/os y de las asistentes y estamos deseosas de poder proveerles con la información que deseen de cualquiera de nuestras maestras/os. Si quisiera saber esta información, por favor llame al _______________________ y le ayudaremos en lo que desee.