The Panda Periodical

Melissa Maestle, Principal

Shane Campbell, Assistant Principal

Frederick Douglass Elementary School

100 W. Cedarmeade Ave.

Winchester, Va 22655

ph. 540-662-7656

October

Week of October 5th - October 9th

10/09 - End of 1st Nine Weeks

10/09 - Movie On The Lawn Night

Week of October 12th - October 16th

10/12 - No School - Teacher Work Day

National School Lunch Week

Week of October 19th - October 23rd

10/22 - Parent Teacher Conferences

Week of October 26th - October 30th

10/26- Fall Picture Make-Up Day

10/30 - Book Character Dress Up Day

November

Week of November 2nd - November 6th

11/02-11/06 - Red Ribbon Week!

11/03 - No School - Election Day/Teacher PD Day

Week of November 9th - November 13th

11/10 - McEducator Night 5-7pm

Our family bingo night a couple of weeks ago was an absolute blast, even with the surprise weather! When the rain rolled in, our amazing community seamlessly moved the fun from the front lawn right into the cafeteria, proving that a little weather can't dampen our Panda pride.

A huge shoutout to our fantastic bingo callers, Ms. Boula and Ms. Cabrerizo, who kept the energy high and the numbers rolling all evening. It was wonderful seeing families gathered around the tables, using dried beans as bingo markers, while students eagerly scoped out the awesome spread of prizes.

Most importantly, the evening was a massive success for our 4th-grade team. Through the sale of delicious hotdog dinner packs and snacks, we raised essential funds for the students' highly anticipated spring trip to historic Williamsburg.

Thank you to everyone who came out to eat, play, and support our 4th graders!

At Frederick Douglass Elementary, the safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority. To further enhance our building's security, we are implementing a few important changes to our morning drop-off and visitor routines, starting Tuesday, October 13th.

We know that adjusting to new routines can take a little time, and we deeply appreciate your patience and partnership in keeping our school community safe!

🌅 Morning Drop-Off Changes (Starting Oct. 13th)

• Door Drop-Offs: To maintain a secure campus and foster student independence, parents will no longer be permitted to walk students to their classrooms in the mornings. Instead, we welcome you to drop your students off at the outside doors, where our staff will be ready to greet them and help them get to class!

• Arriving After 7:50 AM: If you arrive between 7:50 AM and the end of morning announcements, you will need to wait outside with your child until announcements have concluded.

• Late Sign-In Process: Once announcements are over, a staff member will come outside to escort your student into the vestibule. Parents will then be asked to sign in their child as tardy.

🏫 School Visits & Early Pick-Ups When visiting the school during the day, please remember our new entry procedures:

• Have your photo ID out and ready when you arrive at the door.

• State the purpose of your visit over the intercom to our office staff.

• If you are here for a meeting, please know the name of the staff member you are meeting with.

Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation. By working together, we can ensure FDES remains a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all our Pandas! 🐼💚

Pandas, get ready to make some noise! On Thursday, October 8th, FDES will be participating in the tenth annual Crunch Heard 'Round the Commonwealth. We will be joining students all across the state by taking a big bite out of delicious, #VirginiaGrown apples!

This fun event celebrates how #VAFarmtoSchool programs feed Virginia students and benefit our local economy, producers, and community partners. After we turn up the volume for the loudest crunch yet, keep an eye out for the special "I made noise" stickers your students will be proudly showing off when they come home!

(For our social media followers, keep an eye out for our posts using #VACrunch, #VirginiaGrown, #VAFarmtoSchool, and @VDOESCNP!)

When a student walks into class just ten minutes after the bell rings, it is easy to think they only missed the morning announcements. In reality, they are missing the most critical social transition of the entire school day.

Getting your FDES Panda to school on time protects their "Green Days" by ensuring they start their morning with confidence rather than chaos.

Here is what happens in those crucial first 20 minutes of the day:

• The Soft Landing: This is when students unpack, greet their friends, and participate in Morning Meeting. It is the time dedicated to transitioning their brains from "home mode" to "learning mode."

• Preventing the Anxiety Spike: Walking into a quiet classroom where everyone else is already seated and working creates an immediate spike in stress. Starting the day feeling behind makes tackling complex math and reading much harder.

• The Math of Minutes: Arriving just 10 minutes late each day adds up to 50 minutes a week. Over the course of the school year, that is nearly 30 hours of missed social-emotional connection and teacher guidance!

The Panda Challenge: This week, try shifting your morning routine up by just 10 minutes. Aim to be in the drop-off line slightly early so your student can walk into the building at their own pace, high-five their teacher, and conquer the day!

Every two years, Winchester Public Schools begins the important work of planning the academic calendars for the upcoming cycles. We are currently starting the drafting process for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years, and the Calendar Committee needs your feedback!

Your input as parents and guardians is incredibly valuable in ensuring the schedule works best for our students, staff, and families. Please take a few moments to share your preferences and priorities by filling out the official planning survey at the link below:

🔗 Complete the WPS Calendar Survey Here

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us build a schedule that supports our entire school community!

We’ve all been there: you ask your student, "How was school today?" and get a quick "Fine!" in return. At FDES, we know how important it is to connect with your child about their learning and social experiences, so our teachers have put together a fantastic new resource to help: 50 Questions To Ask Your Kids After School.

These conversation starters are designed to encourage deeper thinking, help students reflect on how they showed their Panda PRIDE, and give you a real window into their daily lives. We recommend picking just one or two questions a day on the ride home or around the dinner table. You might be surprised by the wonderful, detailed stories your child has to share!

You can view and download the handouts below:

We know your schedule is busy, so we’re making it easier to track WPS events. We have launched a live Division News page that captures school and community events in real-time.

Visit the WPS Division News Page

This link is your go-to for dates, deadlines, and division-wide announcements. Be on the lookout for the bi-weekly division newsletter for even deeper dives into community happenings!"

New school entry procedures are being implemented in Winchester Public Schools. Please allow extra time when you visit a school building to adjust to the new procedures.

• Have your photo ID out and ready when you arrive.
• Press the intercom and follow the directions from the office staff.
• Know the name of the person you are meeting with.
• Call ahead if you need to pick up your child unexpectedly so the office staff is aware.

We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to keep our school community safe.

Procedimientos de Ingreso Escolar

Se están implementando nuevos procedimientos de entrada en las Escuelas Públicas de Winchester. Por favor, dese tiempo adicional cuando visite un edificio escolar para adaptarse a los nuevos procedimientos.

• Tenga su documento de identidad con foto a mano y listo cuando llegue.
• Presione el interfono y siga las instrucciones del personal de la oficina.
• Conozca el nombre de la persona con la que se va a reunir.
• Si necesita recoger a su hijo(a) de forma inesperada, llame con anticipación para que el personal de la oficina esté al tanto.

Agradecemos su comprensión y colaboración mientras trabajamos juntos para mantener segura a nuestra comunidad escolar.

The holiday season will be here before we know it, and our Winchester community is blessed to have wonderful partners ready to support families who may need a little extra help this year.

WPS works closely with Bright Futures, and their application window is officially open from October 1st to October 15th (or until capacity is reached).

• Who is eligible: Students enrolled in Winchester Public Schools, as well as additional siblings under school age (0-5). Please note that household income guidelines do apply, and identified McKinney-Vento students receive first priority.

• How to apply: Simply contact the School Counselor here at FDES to request holiday assistance.

• Next Steps: Distribution information will be provided after your application is accepted.

Other Community Options:

In addition to Bright Futures, our area also offers assistance through:

• Angel Tree: In-person applications open October 12-16 for families with older children (13-17), and October 19-November 4 for everyone else.

• Toys for Tots: Online applications are open from October 1st through December 1, 2026.

⚠️ Important Note: Families must choose only one program for their children. All applicants will be screened with other community holiday partners for duplications.

Please review the attached flyer for full details on income guidelines, required documents (such as photo IDs and proof of address), and specific application steps for each program. We are here to help, so please don't hesitate to reach out to our counseling office if you need support getting signed up!

Securly Home App

We are excited to highlight the Securly Home App for parents/guardians of 3rd and 4th grade students. The Securly Home App is a powerful, free tool designed to give you visibility and control over your child's school-issued device outside of school hours.

With the Securly Home App, parents/guardians of 3rd/4th grade students can:

Monitor Activity: View a real-time Activity Feed of your child's online activity on WPS issued devices.

Manage Content: Use the "Rules" tab to block specific websites or toggle entire content categories on or off.

Pause the Internet: Temporarily disable internet access on your child’s WPS issued device at home.

Set Schedules: Create custom offline schedules to automatically disable the internet, helping your child take a healthy break from screens.

Securly Home will NOT override any division rules or policies. For example, all WPS-issued elementary Chromebooks are automatically locked from 9 PM to 6 AM.

Here are some link and guides to help you get started with the Securly Home App:

Securly Home App on Google Play

Securly Home App from Apple

Securly Home App Walkthrough (English)

Securly Home App Walkthrough (Spanish)

Securly Home App FAQs (English)

Securly Home App FAQs (Spanish)

When creating a Securly Home App account, please use the email address you provided in PowerSchool.

If you do not see the features listed above, please uninstall and reinstall the Securly Home App.

If you need assistance with setting up your Securly Home App, please contact Kelly Carey at carey@wps.k12.va.us.