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Principal's Message
Greetings Tiger Families!
This morning, we held our annual Veterans Day Celebration, where we honored approximately 25 Veterans from our community and the approximately 90 military connected students at Twain. Our talented music program provided music for all to enjoy, our student government created patriotic signs and families and staff were able to connect in a brief reception in our library following a parade through our halls. In my remarks I shared a famous quote by our namesake, Mark Twain, and he said “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” We are grateful to serve the courageous military connected families that are an essential part of our Twain community and fortunate to have such positive role models for our young people amongst us. Each day we encourage our students to be courageous in their decisions – big and small, in order to better themselves and their school community. We all can learn a great deal from our Veterans.
We are thankful this Veterans Day and throughout the year, for the courage shown by those that choose to serve, and the families that serve alongside them.
Please have a happy and reflective Veterans Day on Monday. Monday is a holiday for students and staff and we look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, November 12th.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Matt
Weekly Schedule
Monday, November 11: Veterans Day - School Closed
Tuesday, November 12: Odd Day Schedule
Wednesday, November 13: Even Day Schedule
Thursday, November 14: Odd Day Schedule
Friday, November 15: Even Day Schedule
1st Quarter Report Cards
Today, we distributed 1st quarter report cards to students during 8th period and we hope it serves as a good conversation starter at home about how the first quarter of the school year went. We hope your student has experienced many successes through the first 9 weeks of school and hope they can build on that momentum going forward. If you and your student see areas where improvement is needed, consider having them stay after school to work with a teacher, use an agenda to write down important assignments and dates, and create a home/school calendar to better manage their time.
Grades are available through ParentVUE (there are temporary blackouts around grading periods), so please take advantage of this tool to help monitor how your child is doing in school. A printable copy of your child’s report card will also be available in SIS ParentVUE starting on November 18th. Here are some ways to make sure you are connected:
The Student Information System (SIS) Parent Account Access allows parents access to teacher grade books, attendance information, course history and other useful information.
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New Users: Please use the parent account registration page to register your account. You will need an activation key to log in for the first time. Please contact the school if you need a new activation key or are having issues logging onto your ParentVUE Account. Please include your name, email address, student's name, students ID number and a short description of what the issue is.
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Returning Users: Please go to https://sisparent.fcps.edu to log in to your ParentVUE Account.
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Trouble logging in? If you are unable to log into ParentVUE, contact the school to verify that your correct email has been added into SIS:
If you have never logged into ParentVUE: 1. Call the school to add your email into SIS – it takes at least 24 hours to update in SIS. 2. Once added into SIS, the school can send out an activation key to the email you have provided. This activation key will include your username, password, and directions for how to log in.
If you forgot your username: 1. Contact the school to verify your username.
If you forgot your password: 1. Reset your password using the “Forgot Password” button on the ParentVUE login screen
TJHSST Application Due Date is November 15
As a reminder, all Thomas Jefferson applications must be submitted by 4:00pm next Friday, November 15. Additionally, if your student has not yet begun their application, they must do so by Wednesday, November 13, at 4:00pm to allow for the 48-hour turnaround for math verification. All information about the application and admissions process can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson.
Lace Up for the 4th Annual Twain 5K Fun Run!
Get ready, Team Twain! On Saturday, November 16th, join us for an exciting morning filled with energy, team spirit, and unforgettable memories. Whether running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, this is your chance to connect, support, and celebrate as one big Twain community! We are excited to have a Final Lap Timing as a community sponsor for the event to track the race times better. All proceeds from the event support Twain’s Cross Country and Track team.
Event Details:
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Where: Meet in the front parking lot of Twain
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Time: Check in at 9:00 AM; race starts at 9:15 AM sharp!
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Dress Code: Wear your Team Twain colors and/or costumes! Let’s show our Tiger Pride!
How to Join:
- Sign up today by filling out the registration form (also available in the All Student Schoology Course).
- A $15 registration fee applies, payable through MySchool Bucks. Every dollar goes directly to our Twain Cross Country and Track and Field Teams, supporting their dedication and hard work!
Important for Parents: If a participant is under 18, a parent is required to sign a waiver on the morning of the event so the participant can join in the fun!
We can’t wait to see the entire Twain community coming together for a morning of fun, fitness, and friendship. Let’s make this the best 5K yet—see you there!
Theatre Arts Presents..
The Theatre Arts Department is proud to present the fall play, The Internet is Distract-Oh, Look a Kitten! and 9 Reasons Not to Be In A Play. Performances are on November 21, 22, and 23 at 7 PM. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door or directly at this link. If you have any questions, please e-mail Molly Rumberger at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!
PTA Updates
PTA General Membership Meeting
Join us for the next PTA meeting on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. All are welcome to attend! Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMocOurqTkrHtCJ7HPnLFzpyqhw9ZIGIEnf
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Mark Twain’s Birthday Celebration
Save the Date for Monday, November 25th! A fun tradition at Twain is the annual observance of Mark Twain’s birthday, where each and every student and staff members is given a complimentary cupcake during lunch. We asking for your help by donating homemade or store-bought cupcakes, helping to deliver cupcakes at lunch, and collecting cupcake donations in the Kiss N Ride. We are asking for regular sized cupcakes so that everyone gets the perfect size of cupcake (no minis). Allergen free cupcakes will also be provided.
Sign up to help out by clicking this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FACAF2DA6FB6-52871363-twain
Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This long overdue project will assess boundaries to better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs.
Community input is vital to this process. Our first set of boundary review meetings will begin in less than two weeks, with a community meeting scheduled in each of our six regions. We encourage participants to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.
National Junior Honor Society
Twain’s National Junior Honor Society Chapter is collecting supplies for Care Packages for Ronald McDonald House Charities. We are going to be collecting supplies to make care packages for families that are in need. Some items that we need are:
*Non-perishable Meals/Snacks (oatmeal packs, instant noodle cups, granola bars, juice boxes, etc.) *Toys (dolls, action figures, etc.) *Fun activities (coloring tools, books, puzzles, crafts, games)
We are collecting these items from Mon. Oct. 28-Fri. Nov. 22. We need your help to gather these items. Please allow your student to bring one of these items to school and put in our donation boxes in the cafeteria or you can purchase the items on our Amazon Wish List. Thank you for helping us support the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
November Is National Family Engagement Month
Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers.
The FCPS Family Academy was created to support the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships, reminds us to empower families through trusting partnerships that sustain a safe, inclusive culture for learning.
Family Orientation Seminar
This interactive orientation seminar provides information about FCPS, the links between family engagement and student achievement, school staff you should know, and programs and technology considerations for families. The orientation also includes a helpful discussion for families who are new to the United States.
Sessions in English will be held online on Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10, at 6 p.m.; and Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m. Register in advance.
Visit the Family Academy catalog page for dates this orientation will be offered in Korean and Spanish.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as a tutor. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource to families.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence, reminds us of our commitment to supporting each and every student and helping them meet or exceed high academic standards.
Families Reunite Workshops
Family and School Partnerships offers a course for Spanish-speaking immigrant families who are going through the reunification process. It is designed for parents/caregivers and children who have lived apart for at least one year and were recently reunited.
The six-hour Zoom course takes place over three consecutive weeks. Upcoming sessions include:
- Tuesdays, November 12, 19, and 26; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Mondays, December 2, 9, and 16; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
We encourage families to attend every session to fully benefit from the program. Register for Families Unite and learn more about FCPS’ Immigrant Family Reunification Program
4700 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA 22310 | Main: 703.313.3700
Attendance: 703.313.3737 | After-School Program: 703.313.3711
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