The Chameleon Connection

GQES Vision: Thriving Literacy Community in a STEM School

GQES Mission: We BELIEVE!

Week 3: August 24-28, 2026

Dear GQES Chameleon Families,

We have had another great week at GQES as we have started the year strong focusing on academics, attendance and behavior! Just a reminder that we welcome students beginning at 7:20 a.m. Please do not drop off your child before 7:20 so we can keep the parking lot open and accessible for staff.

• When leaving the parking lot, you may either continue straight onto Cameron Street or turn right onto Southwerk Street.
• Reminder: Kent Street is closed when buses are loading and unloading as we do not have an off-street bus loop.

Also, we have received a lot of positive feedback from our new dismissal plan. This past week, we recorded that once we begin loading students, it takes approximately 10 minutes to complete the process. This is significantly less than our signed out students process from last year. Lately, the last car entering the parking lot has been between 2:31-2:34 p.m. Some are lining up before 1:30 p.m. to leave our parking lot at 2:24. If you do not have time to line up that early, you could join the line at approximately 2:30 and be pulling out of our parking lot by 2:40 p.m. We support you choosing a plan that works best for you.

Now, we have a request and need your help. Please enter our parking lot by turning right into our parking lot. That has been feedback we have received from our Dismissal Plan Feedback form. See the traffic flow photo below.

Safety Drill Notice: This past week, all students participated in our first fire drill. This week, we will have our first lock down drill for grades 1-4. These drills help us practice important safety procedures and ensure that our students and staff know what to do in an emergency. We appreciate your support as we work together to keep our school community safe and prepared.

🍧Division-Wide Fall Attendance Challenge!

The elementary school with the best weekly attendance will win a Kona Ice party for all students!

📅 Attendance Challenge Dates:

• Week 1: 8/20–8/26 ➝ Reward on 8/28

• Week 2: 8/27–9/9 ➝ Reward on 9/11

• Week 3: 9/10–9/16 ➝ Reward on 9/18

• Week 4: 9/17–9/23 ➝ Reward on 9/25

GQES International Night: We will be having our International Night on Thursday, September 17th! If you are interested in participating in our GQES International Night, please review this information and complete the interest form from the QR code. We are looking forward to an evening where we celebrate all cultures in our Quarles community!

Thank you for being such an important part of our Quarles community! If you have any questions, please contact the main office at 540-662-3575.

Jennifer DiMarco
Principal, Garland R. Quarles Elementary School

Erika Berry,

Assistant Principal, Garland R. Quarles Elementary School

Please enter our parking lot by turning right into our parking lot off Southwerk Street. Thank you for your help and support to ensure the safety of our students.

At Garland R. Quarles Elementary School, we use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to educate all children on appropriate social skills and to prevent inappropriate behavior by teaching and expecting all students to be kind, safe, and responsible. This defining, teaching, and supporting of appropriate student behavior creates a positive school environment for all. We believe in this process and its benefit for children and want to invite you to give us some feedback before the start of school. Please use this link to give us feedback. Thank you for supporting the start of a successful year!

Aug. 31 at 2:45: Musical Auditions (more information to come)

Sept. 2 at 2:45: Musical Auditions (more information to come)

Sept. 4: No School for Students (Professional Development Day)

Sept. 7: No School for Students (Administrative Offices Closed)

Sept. 8: 5-7 PM: GQES Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night at Apple Blossom Mall

Includes Dine-In, Mobile, Door Dash & Curbside Orders

Sept. 17: International Night (more information to come)

• Bus Rider
• Chameleon Convoy (Walkers) with four (4) location
• A: Kent/Whitlock
• B: Whitlock/South Loudoun
• C: South Loudoun/Southwerk
• D: Southwerk/Kent
• Car Rider

VERY IMPORTANT DISMISSAL UPDATES FOR ALL STUDENTS:

• No transportation changes after 1:30 p.m. (If you need to make a change to your child's afternoon dismissal plan, please call the main office at 540-662-3575 before 1:30 p.m. and talk to a front office staff member.)
• No students being signed out after 2 p.m. (If you need to sign your child out early, you need to do this before 2 p.m.)
• For safety and emergency purposes, our GQES parking lot will be close daily at 2 p.m. and will reopen at 2:20 p.m. to begin our car rider dismissal procedures.

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Please review the WPS Student & Parent Handbook.

As you make appointments and plans, please keep your child’s learning and attendance in mind by reviewing the WPS 2026-2027 Division Calendar.