TJ’s annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest is on. TJ students should share a photo by Wednesday, October 28th of their ghoulish gourd via google drive or email here! A video or slideshow presentation will be available on October 30th with all the entries. Distinguished judges will judge pumpkins. Please label your pumpkin with the category you would like it to be... READ MORE >
(Vea a continuación la traducción al español)Dear FCCPS Families, It has been another busy week full of outstanding online learning opportunities provided by our exceptional teachers and staff. I am so proud of all the hard work our students have put in over this quarter, despite the circumstances. This week’s message will be centered around our work for the... READ MORE >
Dr. Warren Pace passed away on Sunday, October 18 (1928-2020). He served as FCCPS Superintendent for 20 years, from 1971 to 1991. He is pictured above with former superintendents Mary Ellen Shaw left and Lois Berlin at a 2013 event at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. "Dr. Pace was one of the biggest of giants that helped FCCPS become the amazing system it... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Thank you so much for your continued support of our schools. I wanted to send a quick update today to ensure the communication continues to flow. There are a few items of note this week. Secondary Update Over the past couple of weeks, I have received quite a bit of feedback about getting our Henderson and Mason students back sooner than the... READ MORE >
The 2020-2021 TJ Yearbook needs your help capturing images of students and learning. You can download the Balfour Image Share app from your mobile device's app store. Create an account and enter project number 129802. There is no upload code. Leave that field blank. Include student names and tags to help organize the photos (grade and/or teacher name). Upload... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. Last week I sent you a very long email updating where we are with respect to reopening plans for our school division. This week’s promises to be shorter :). On Tuesday evening, I briefed the School Board about our updated measures and metrics and explained our students’ return Kindergarten -... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, It has been a couple of weeks since you have heard directly from me, and I feel like the time is right to update you on some of the many things that are happening across the state and in our school division. Let me start by saying thank you for your continued support of FCCPS and working so well with your kids. As a working parent of... READ MORE >
The FCCPS Parent University is a great resource for our parents. https://bit.ly/2QB8VsqIf you are looking for an online tutorial about Schoology from a parent's perspective, you'll many options in the section named HELPING YOUR STUDENT WITH ONLINE LEARNING available by this link: https://bit.ly/34Jc55M READ MORE >
FCCPS Transportation is preparing for that time when students return to school. The staff has been participating in training, cleaning buses, and addressing minor maintenance issues. All drivers will be performing their usual pre-trip inspections and driving bus routes approximately once each week. Diesel buses do not do well sitting for long periods of time, and... READ MORE >
At TJ, your student MUST log into Schoology at the following URL: fccps.schoology.com Your student is assigned a Google Account Name which is their computer network name PLUS "@student.fccps.org". For example: ao12345@student.fccps.org At MD last year, the adult logged into Schoology at the following URL: www.schoology.com and the adult email address, for... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Happy Friday, everyone. This was a big week for us in FCCPS as we welcomed our new staff and faculty to our system and began the onboarding process. Yesterday was the first official day back for all of our teachers and staff, and we are working diligently to make the best of a situation none of us had hoped for. This week’s version of the Road... READ MORE >
Falls Church City Public Schools is thrilled to welcome 28 new professional staff members to #TeamFCCPS this week. The annual new teacher and professional orientation began this morning and continues for most of this week. All staff return next week in preparation for the first day of school on August 24th. The 2020-21 Class of New Teachers and Professional... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Happy Friday. As we close in on the start of the 2020-21 school year we want to start focusing our next few editions of the Road to Reopening to what the day in the life of a student will look like when we open our virtual doors on August 24th. Please take a look at the videos below and the other information provided to help with your family’s... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Happy Friday, and I hope you had a nice lazy midsummer week. We continue to collectively put our best thinking, creativity, and small division focus on our reopening plans, and we are very excited to begin the school year on August 24th. We look forward to welcoming all of our students online. This takes time to plan and develop. We appreciate... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Over the past weeks, we have collectively put our best thinking, creativity, and small division focus on our reopening plans. All along, we’ve said we would be prepared for whatever the conditions presented us and make the appropriate adjustments to keep our students, staff, and families safe. Circumstances have changed in the last two weeks,... READ MORE >
FCCPS Community, As Virginia continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, and with the health and safety of our students, families, staff, and community foremost in mind, tomorrow evening, I will make a recommendation that the School Board adopt a fully virtual start to the FCCPS 2020-21 school year. The Board is expected to discuss and take action on the... READ MORE >
Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you have big plans for this weekend. This is the fourth installment of The Road to Reopening, and you can continue to expect it every Friday as we approach the start of school. Over the past week, we have seen some shifting in other school divisions in our region here in Northern Virginia. Please know we are watching this very... READ MORE >
Happy Friday everyone. I hope you have big plans for this weekend. This is the third installment of The Road to Reopening, and you can now expect it every Friday as we close in on the start of school August 24th. This issue is focused heavily on K-5 (MDES, TJES), and next week’s edition will be more Secondary focused again. However, please take a read through as... READ MORE >
The Falls Church School Board is beginning a process to consider whether to rename two of the division's schools; George Mason High and Thomas Jefferson Elementary schools. During a lengthy discussion Tuesday night, and following receipt of over 120 public comments in recent weeks, the Board reached a consensus that a thoughtful reconsideration of the schools'... READ MORE >
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable weekend. This is a new communication that I plan to send weekly to update you as we continue our plans for our reopening on August 24th. The intention is to send it on Fridays going forward but this week you will get two editions...today and Friday. This communication is to share quick clarifying... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families and Community, This has been an unprecedented year and I would like to begin by saying thank you. Your work as parents, dedication to your children’s education, and care were amplified at the end of the school year in a brilliant and beautiful way. Through your partnerships with our teachers and your efforts, our students in FCCPS were widely... READ MORE >
Versión en español a continuación Dear FCCPS Families and Staff, Well...what a school year it has been. This Friday Update will be the last I will send for the foreseeable future as the school year is officially coming to an end. However, do be on the lookout in the next several weeks for another community survey to help inform our reopening plans for... READ MORE >
May 29, 2020 Versión en español a continuación Friday Update Dear FCCPS Families and Staff, The end of the year is drawing near...this is the last Friday for our students. We are almost to the finish line, and I am so thankful to you - Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff - for making it happen for our students this spring. During unusual... READ MORE >
The Falls Church School Board unanimously approved the school division's Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget; a once-promising financial plan derailed by a global pandemic. The $52,191,532 revenue and spending plan represents a $2.4 million decrease over the School Board's pre-pandemic Advertised Budget. The adjustment eliminates salary improvements for staff but does not... READ MORE >
May 22, 2020 Versión en español a continuación This year, like all school years, has been marked by milestones and waypoints. However, this year’s waypoints have been very different...March 13th (Friday the 13th) - school closure, March 18th - the start of online learning, Spring Break, April 13th - the start of new instruction, and now we are at Memorial... READ MORE >
May 15, 2020 Versión en español a continuación This is longer than usual so get a cool drink, settle in, and read…:) Dear FCCPS Families and Staff, It has been another interesting week in FCCPS. Thank you all for your continued support of our schools. I mentioned in my weekly Wednesday @peternoonan Twitter message that we, as a... READ MORE >
May 8, 2020 Versión en español a continuación Dear FCCPS Families, Another week has come to a close here in our FCCPS learning community. This was a special time, as it was Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We are so grateful to our community for their thoughtful recognition and appreciation of our teachers and staff. The cards, emails, social... READ MORE >
Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) is proud to recognize Thomas Jefferson Elementary fifth-grade teacher Layton McCann as the Falls Church Education Foundation 2020 Teacher of the Year! McCann, one of ten teachers nominated this year, was selected by an anonymous panel of judges comprising past Teacher of the Year nominees from other school divisions.... READ MORE >
May 1, 2020 Versión en español a continuación Dear FCCPS Families and Staff, May 1st has arrived, and we are moving into the last full month of school. As you all know, every day, my family (though usually only the two adults) tries to take a long walk to maintain exercise and mental health. We spend this time reflecting on our current and collective situation.... READ MORE >
The Word Masters Challenge continues: during the first couple of weeks of QuaranTeaching, Ms. Lang introduced vocabulary words to participating students. Last week, they put their critical thinking skills to the test, taking the final challenge of the year. More than 100 students completed the challenge, which required them to complete analogies using 75 vocabulary... READ MORE >
Versión en español a continuación Dear FCCPS Families, I hope you and your family are doing well, are healthy, and safe. This has been another remarkable week in the Falls Church City Public Schools. Your students, our teachers, and you are making it happen, and for that, we are grateful. Last week, I sent you an article that described... READ MORE >
Versión en español a continuación We have finished up the first week of ‘new’ instruction, and the first full month of online instruction. It is amazing to reflect on how far we have come! Thank you again for all of your support during this time. Below you will find our latest updates on the many projects we are continuing to work on during the closure to keep... READ MORE >
Dear FCCPS Families, Welcome back to school! I hope you all had a great spring break, albeit different, and you and your students feel ready for the challenge of new material. This week marks a turning point for us in FCCPS insofar as we will begin to introduce new content to our students PK-12. As mentioned previously, we would much prefer to be face-to-face, but... READ MORE >
With the cancelation of Standards of Learning tests this year, modifications made to the upcoming International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement assessments, and the need to prepare for summer instruction, the Falls Church School Board is shortening the current school year by 13 days to June 4th for students and June 5th for teachers and staff. The change is... READ MORE >
Tuesday Update En español abajo Dear FCCPS Family, Happy last day of March. We are a week from the official Spring Break, and while we may not be able to do all the things we want during the holiday, it is my hope that during the break you can all feel some modicum of relief by not having to stay on your kids about getting their work done. We... READ MORE >
Please remember! If COVID-19 closures have resulted in a change in your family's income, you could be eligible for assistance through the National School Lunch program. FCCPS accepts applications for the Free Reduced Meals Program at all times. Please visit https://www.fccps.org/o/FCCPS/page/free-reduced-meals--14 to download the application for the FRM program.... READ MORE >
Friday Update March 27, 2020 En español abajo Dear FCCPS Family Thank you for your continued support of our schools. As Team FCCPS continues to meet, we have all reflected on how fortunate we are to work in a small school division where we can know our kids, our families, and each other in ways that support strong relationships and care. Congratulations to... READ MORE >
Yesterday (Monday, March 23rd) was an emotional and sad day for our school system. I understand your sadness, frustration, and concern about the decision. Regardless, I am confident that we will move forward in a way that continues to be supportive of our students. We are strong, we are together, and we are @FCCPS (#bettertogether). Last night, I joined School... READ MORE >
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced this afternoon, at his press conference, all public schools in the Commonwealth will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. The news is not what we were hoping for or expecting, but together we will get through this. It was only ten days ago we announced our closure due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).... READ MORE >
FCCPS Principals are sharing their schools' e-learning plans for the weeks ahead. In addition to sharing via email and Schoology, the plans are also found in the specific schools COVID-19 Information pages and in the FCCPS app. MD COVID-19 MEH COVID-19 gadellm@fccps.org. Speaking will be done via the call-in number. Thank you all for your continued... READ MORE >
TJ students participated in the MathCon competition last week. The event begins with school-based rounds, during which students take an online test of 32 challenging math problems. Those who score in the top 1% in the nation are invited to Chicago for the final round in May. The school-based results are now in, and they're fantastic! TJ had six fifth graders... READ MORE >
Fees for Summer Day Camp operated by the FCCPS Extended Day Care Program will rise two percent this summer. EDCP, which is self-supported, charge fees to recover costs. The Day Care Advisory Board approved the increase last week and, per current policy, the School Board signed off on it as well, Tuesday night. The program cites increases in staff wages, cost of... READ MORE >
The Virginia Department of Health announced there are 2 presumptive positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Northern Virginia; a Fort Belvoir resident and a City of Fairfax resident in his 80s both of whom recently traveled abroad. The Virginia Department of Health and Fairfax County Health Department held a press conference Sunday, March 8. With... READ MORE >
On Tuesday evening, the Falls Church School Board unanimously approved its Advertised Budget for the 2020-2021 school year. Reflecting an investment in our students, our staff, and our schools, the budget includes a step increase for eligible employees, and a 1% Cost of Living Adjustment for all FCCPS staff members. The $54.6 million budget, which now heads to the... READ MORE >
Chalk Chats, the parent discussion event at TJ, have been scheduled again this year. In Chalk Chats, Mr. Swanson will begin the discussion with a 3-5 minute overview of a program, event, or happening at TJ. The meeting will then become a town hall event, with parents being offered an opportunity to ask questions about any topic they wish. Chalk Chats are 45... READ MORE >
Falls Church City Public Schools announced 16 nominees for FCCPS Employee Awards on Wednesday, January 22. Colleagues, students, and parents made the nominations based on their exceptional dedication to the students and community of Falls Church. A "Prize Patrol" including Superintendent Peter Noonan, Chief Academic Officer William Bates, Chief Financial Officer... READ MORE >
STEAM is in the Air Join us for a free evening of minds-on STEAM activities combined with the opportunity for exploration and challenges. Come have fun with AR, circuits, Scratch coding and more! Thursday, February 13th, 20206:30pm - 8:00pm TJ gym, cafeteria, library, STEAM Room, and more! READ MORE >
Four years into Falls Church City Public School's Stop-Arm Camera program and it continues catching violators, and the fines continue to roll in. In 2019, a total of 1,082 citations were issued to drivers who passed a Falls Church school bus with its red lights flashing. For the first five months of the current fiscal year (July through November), the program... READ MORE >
FCCPS is offering free English classes for the parents and adult family members of FCCPS students with sessions beginning on January 14th. The beginner level (Nivel Principiante) will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and the intermediate level (Nivel Intermedio) will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Both sessions will be held in the Family Resource Center at... READ MORE >
Falls Church City Public Schools is thrilled to announce the new FCCPS app! It's everything FCCPS, in your pocket! With the new app, you can access staff directories, lunch menus, news updates, and even emergency notifications. Best of all, YOU control what notifications you receive! Download the app on Android: https://bit.ly/30xyIV5 or iPhone:... READ MORE >
Our websites have a new look! You will find most of the "content" or information that doesn't change in the "MENU" along the top. In the menus, select the small, white triangle to access further information. The arrow / triangle points down to show open this menu! The arrow / triangle points up to show close this menu! The "NEWS" section is below the... READ MORE >
The TJ SCA group is sponsoring a pajama drive for kids in foster care who sometimes don't have many things of their own. If you are able, we ask that you bring in new or very gently used pajamas the week of December 16 - 20, 2019. Collection boxes will be available by the office and room 318. Pajamas will be donated to a local community Sweet Dreams project.We... READ MORE >
Eighteen students represented Thomas Jefferson at Science Olympiad at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon on Sat, 11/23. Students squared off against teams from 18 other elementary schools from around the region as part of a competition that tests students’ understanding of a range of scientific disciplines through tests of knowledge and hands-on challenges . ... READ MORE >
Thank you in advance for your assistance as Falls Church City Public Schools works to improve how we serve our students, families, and community. We appreciate your time. Effective July 1, 2019, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing school divisions to start the school year up to 14 days before the September Labor Day holiday. Previously school... READ MORE >
We had a very successful food drive, and many families in our Little City will enjoy some great meals over the long weekend. Thanks again for all your support. From November 18 - 22, the SCA will be collecting food for Thanksgiving meals to our own families in need within Falls Church. Food items may be dropped off in front of the Main Office or by Room... READ MORE >
Award-nominating season is here! Recognize outstanding FCCPS employees by submitting a nomination for one of our awards: FCEF Teacher of the Year; Professional Specialist of the Year and Support Staff Employee of the Year. Nomination forms for all three awards are below. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, January 3. All nominees will be surprised in... READ MORE >
The Falls Church School Board received four options for the 2020-21 school calendar from its Ad Hoc Calendar Committee during its regular meeting last night. The options include two that would see school opening two weeks before Labor Day and two with the first day of school on the day after Labor Day. The Virginia General Assembly last year changed the law... READ MORE >
While Veterans Day is a regular school day this year at Falls Church City Public Schools, many of our students are honoring America's brave men and women in service to our country. George Mason High At George Mason High School, thanks go to Ms. Gurgo and Mr. Sheedy for creating a Veterans Day display left in the school's lobby, recognizing alumni and staff... READ MORE >
Reading fluency is coming along fast for these first graders (above). Students are improving their skills with a "reader's theater" where they work to combine fluency with an expression as each child reads their part of a story or play. The concept of Reader's Theater continues at TJ as many grades use it to build on skills, including these fourth-graders (below). READ MORE >
Last Friday, the Family Resource Center hosted an Open House to show off its new space. Erika Sequiera, third from left, runs the center for all of FCCPS from the area at TJ. She supports families with children in all the system's schools with a particular focus on support for non-English speakers. Visitors to the opening included city employees, administrators... READ MORE >
Would you like to see your artwork on the cover of the 2019-2020 TJ Yearbook?Then grab your crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc...and start designing!The Details:Cover must include these words, spelled correctly:Thomas Jefferson Elementary 2019 - 2020Entries must be turned in my 12/20/19 Only one entry per student will be acceptedDo not use glitter or make any... READ MORE >
Early bird TJ yearbook sales have started! If your family would like to buy a yearbook at the $20 rate, you may order online at: ybpay.lifetouch.com ID Code 11380120 The $20 early order discount ends in March. At that time, the cost of the yearbook will increase to $25. Should you have any questions about the yearbook, do not hesitate to contact Ms. Brooke... READ MORE >
Dismissal is at 1:15pm on most Wednesdays. Which Wednesdays have a full day of school? The general rule is that Wednesday is a full day of school when there are other days off school that week. Please be sure to check this schedule when making appointments and other plans on Wednesdays.The next full day Wednesday is on December 18th, because there early release... READ MORE >
The "Prize Patrol" had a very busy Wednesday! The Falls Church Education Foundation was out in the schools awarding Super Grant funds for 16 requests, totaling over $68,000 in Super Grants and over $19,000 in Advanced Training. Awards are in response to teacher and staff requests. It went to a wide variety of initiatives, including training, classroom libraries,... READ MORE >
Like other schools across the country, TJ is participating in Red Ribbon Week. We have chosen to take a more nuanced approach to the week, broadening our efforts to celebrate and promote a healthy lifestyle. These are the activities we are doing each day of next week: Monday: Team Logo Day Wear your favorite team jersey and "Team Up" to make healthy... READ MORE >
The Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools (IBMA) is recognizing stellar IB programme contributors with the IBMA Faculty Excellence Award at each of its quarterly meetings. Fifth-grade teachers, Torey Fay and Layton McCann, were the recent recipients for the Primary Years Programme. Mrs. Fay and Mrs. McCann were nominated for their work and dedication in... READ MORE >
In the small groups for guided reading in third grade, these students are learning to communicate without raising their hands. The class discussed how at home most of them don't raise their hands at the dinner table, but they still understand the structure and flow of conversation in a small group setting. They are practicing and applying those skills to the... READ MORE >
Thomas Jefferson Elementary is hosting the Math Kangaroo Competition again this year. We have made the testing site private. When you register, click on the “by invitation” tab and enter code: VAFALLS0004606@20MK Please go online to www.mathkangaroo.org and register your students if they would like to participate in this international mathematics competition... READ MORE >
The first TJ Student council meeting will be held Wednesday, October 16 in Ms. Hicks room -- 318 -- before school. This meeting was initially slated for October 9, but was pushed back a week In recognition of Yom Kippur. READ MORE >
It's time to sign up for Odyssey of the Mind again! In effort to go paper-less, we have an online sign-up form that can be accessed here - https://forms.gle/HR3HRvtpGf2nBkZd8. There is an interest meeting in Room 241 on Tuesday, October 22 from 5:30-6:30. Final registrations are due Friday, October 25. Please send any questions to tjesom@gmail.com. READ MORE >
Library and technology alternate weeks this year in the schedule's rotation at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. On library week, classes, including this third grade one, visit for 45 minutes. Students may check out up to 3 books at a time and they are due the following week. Since the start of the year, there are over 100 new titles on the shelves with more to... READ MORE >
Building Reading Stamina, One Page at a TimeFriday was National Read a Book Day, and these third graders took out their book bins for the first time. Each then found comfy places around the room to work on their reading stamina. Reading stamina is a child's ability to focus and read independently for long-ish periods of time without being distracted or without... READ MORE >
Look in the Tiger Links menu to find all the Extra-Curricular Music Programs information including Chorus, Strings, Beginning Band and the Advanced Band. TJ Strings Club will begin meeting on Wednesday, September 25 from 1:30 - 2:30pm for the introductory group (no previous experience) and from 2:30 - 3:30pm for students with some experience. See the Tiger Links... READ MORE >
NOTE: Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, students in Second Grade will attend Mt. Daniel Elementary School. Students in Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade will attend Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.Doors open at 8:40am. Classes begin at 8:50am. Please be on time. Dismissal is at 3:50pm. Wednesday dismissal is at 1:15pm. All car-riders should be dropped... READ MORE >
Dismissal is at 1:15pm on most Wednesdays. Which Wednesdays have a full day of school?The general rule is that Wednesday is a full day of school when there are other days off school that week. Please be sure to check this schedule when making appointments and other plans on Wednesdays.The last full day Wednesday is May 29th.Full Day Wednesdays:- October 16-... READ MORE >
All adult visitors to the classroom and field trips must fill out a Volunteer Form found in the Parents Info or Tiger Links menu.All visitors to the school must register at the security desk and wear a visitor sticker at all times. Bring your driver's license for a quick scan; you won't need to fill in as much information.You may join your child for lunch in the... READ MORE >
Per the School Board Policy 9.22, absences of 3 consecutive days or more must be approved by the principal.The request must be in writing as far in advance as possible but no less than three school days prior to the anticipated absence and must state the reason(s) for the absence. The principal will use professional judgment in making a decision.If you would like... READ MORE >
Falls Church City Public Schools is pleased to announce the opening of the Family Resource Center (FRC), "Casa Chica de la Familia," is now located at TJ in room 248. The FRC is open between 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and then from 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to support the needs of our familes. Ms. Siqueira (formerly Zeballos), the FRC liaison, speaks Spanish and will... READ MORE >
Beginning last school year, Schoology became the primary Parent Communication Tool for us here at TJ. Please check out the video more information (5:18 minutes) - https://vimeo.com/282406188 Also, to ensure you get notifications from Schoology this year, please review this video (2:30 minutes) - https://vimeo.com/295235031 Please contact our Director of Digital... READ MORE >