The Chameleon Connection

Photo captured by Dr. Reames, WPS Gifted Teacher

GQES Vision: Thriving Literacy Community in a STEM School

GQES Mission: We BELIEVE!

Week 7: September 21-25, 2026

Dear GQES Chameleon Families,

There are truly no words to fully capture what our First International Night meant to our students, families, and Winchester community. Standing together on the Quarles front lawn under a beautiful sunset while taking in the cultural displays, traditional clothing, incredible performances, and delicious food was deeply moving. Thank you to all the families who generously shared their heritage and culture to help build such a warm sense of belonging for our school—we are so grateful for your partnership in making our very first International Night an unforgettable success! Thank you to everyone who participated by showing up or sending in donations. It was a JOYFUL evening and a reminder that we are better together.

School is COOL! WE did it! With your help, we showed up for week 3 of our division-wide elementary attendance challenge and GQES won the Kona Ice Truck! We have one more week of the challenge and we want to make every day count! Please send your child to school ready to learn by 7:50 a.m. daily, please.

🍱 Lunch on the Lawn – September 24 at 11:00 a.m. (Rain or Shine)
We’re excited to invite all GQES families (PreK–4) to our school-wide Lunch on the Lawn! Join us for a picnic-style lunch with your child.
✔️ If it rains, the event will move indoors on the same day (all visitors will need to sign in with a photo ID).
✔️ A school lunch will be provided for students. Parents, please bring your own lunch.
✔️ Don’t forget a blanket or towel to sit on!

🍧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 (Congratulations VACDES!)

• Week 2: 8/27–9/9 ➝ Reward on 9/11 (Congratulations FDES!)

• Week 3: 9/10–9/16 ➝ Reward on 9/18 (GQES WON!!! WOOHOO!!!)

• Week 4: 9/17–9/23 ➝ Reward on 9/25

🌟 Gifted Program Referrals Open
Winchester Public Schools is accepting referrals for gifted evaluation for students in grades 3 & 4.

📅 Referral Window: September 1-30, 2026

• Attached is a chart by Dr. Bertie Kingore highlighting characteristics of high-achieving, gifted, and creative students.

• If you believe your child demonstrates gifted characteristics, you may submit a referral for testing.

• Referral forms are available on the WPS website under: Departments → Gifted Education

❓ Questions? Contact GQES Gifted Chair, James Faint, at 540-662-3575.

📅 Save the Date: Parent Conferences: Parent Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 15th, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. Stay tuned for more details!

Standards Based Grading: Standards-based grading provides a clear picture of your child's learning by measuring their actual skill mastery rather than factors like behavior or homework submission. Report cards reflect where your child stands on each skill, using a 1–4 scale for Math, Science, and Social Studies (where 3 means fully meeting grade-level goals) and Proficient or Growing for English Language Arts. For more information, please review the following documents:

• WPS: Standards Based Grading (English Handout & Spanish Handout)

As always, thank you for being such an important part of our Quarles community! We value your partnership in your child's learning. 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

Sept. 17-23: Division-wide Fall Attendance Challenge Week 4 (Incentive on 9/25)

Sept. 1-30: Gifted Referral Window for Grades 3 & 4

Sept. 24 at 11 a.m.: Lunch on the GQES Front Lawn (weather permitting)

Sept. 25: Week 4 Attendance Challenge Reward for School with Best Attendance

Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.: GQES Showcase Presentation at the WPS School Board Meeting at CAO

Please LIKE us on Facebook and FOLLOW us for weekly posts!

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

A note from WPS school nurses: If possible, we are asking our families to please send some type of athletic shoe with their children for recess and gym. Although slides and flip-flops are popular footwear for our students, we are seeing an increase in serious injuries, including broken bones and severe sprains during physical activity. We appreciate your support as we strive to protect our students’ health and safety.

• 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.

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.