Gunston Gazette

Upcoming Dates & Reminders:

Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15th - October 15th
October 6th - October 10th: Gunston Book Fair
October 9th: AAP Elementary Family Information. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
October 13th: Teacher Workday - No Students
October 15th: 3-hr. Early Release Wednesday. 12:20 p.m. Early Dismissal
October 16th: PTA Meeting. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
October 22nd: PTA Spirit Night at Panera
October 29th: Donuts with Grownups. 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.
October 30th: Student School Pictures

AAP Elementary Family Information Meeting- Thursday, October 9, 2025

6-7 PM

A family information meeting will be held at Gunston Elementary School to discuss Advanced Academic Programs (AAP). At the meeting, the AART will:

●Provide information on the continuum of AAP services.

●Explain the screening processes.

●Answer questions about advanced academic services.

We hope you can make it. Please contact Kevin Fahy, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at kjfahy@fcps.edu with any questions. The link to the newsletter is below.

2025 Fall AAP Elementary Newsletter

Visitors During School Hours

Please remember to always bring your driver's license or passport with you when you visit the school.

Updated security protocols require all visitors to scan their license into the computer kiosk in our office during school hours. This includes attending lunch, volunteering, parent-teacher conferences during the school day, etc. Please also note that if you need to use a restroom to please use one of the adult restrooms in the front of the building. The office can assist you in finding the closest restroom.

If you don't have a driver's license, please bring a passport. Please note that we cannot scan military IDs, so we need a driver's license or passport as well.

Thank you for your cooperation and helping us keep everyone safe at school!

Outstanding FCPS Employee Awards Program

Please complete the nomination form for a Gunston ES Outstanding Employee linked on the website.

The nominations open on Monday, October 13, 2025! All that is required is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. You may nominate up to one employee per category.

Having Lunch with your Student?

Here are some lunch reminders for parents/ guardians who come and have lunch with

Sign in using your driver's license and visitor sticker is to be worn where visible
Please sit with your student at the assigned "Parent Table."
Friends are not permitted to join you and your student.
Birthday treats are not to be distributed during lunch.
Parents and young siblings needing to use the restroom during their visit are to use the bathroom in the teachers lounge or the clinic only.

Parent/Guardian Field Trip Volunteers

must be Fingerprinted

If you would like to get fingerprinted, you can do so for free at the Gatehouse Administration Building in Falls Church, and now there are also satellite locations that offer free fingerprinting for FCPS volunteers.

How to Register as a Volunteer

Review FCPS Volunteer Guidelines – All volunteers must read the FCPS Volunteer Protocols before getting started.
Register in the FCPS Volunteer Portal

Select “Schools”

Search for Gunston Elementary

To simplify the background check process, volunteers may use Fieldprint, allowing them to complete fingerprinting at nearby locations rather than traveling to Gatehouse or scheduling virtual appointments. Step-by-step directions for Fieldprint may be accessed here. Please note you must have completed the above action items, numbers 1 and 2, before using Fieldprint.

For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website

Wednesday, October 15th, 3-hr. Early Release at 12:20 p.m. Mark your calendars!

Weekly Attendance Report

September 29 – October 3, 2025

This week’s attendance percentages, which include both excused and unexcused absences, are listed below by grade level. The goal is to see which grade achieved the highest attendance rate for the week.