Arlington Science Focus School PTA

October 26th, 2022

Support the ASFS Fall 2022 No-Frills Fundraiser 

100% of your donation directly supports the ASFS PTA 

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the ASFS PTA can support our students, teachers, staff, school, community, and many programs and events that provide the best possible experience for our children. The ASFS PTA plans to spend $150 per student this year. Take a look at what this year's PTA funds will support: 2022-23 ASFS PTA Budget 

How You Can Help: Please donate and spread the word! All donations, including from family and friends, are greatly appreciated. No donation is too small or too big, and all donations are tax-deductible. Visit asfspta.com/nofrills to donate today:

You may also download the ASFS PTA No-Frills Fundraiser Donation Form to donate by cash/check (payable to ASFS PTA). You can also donate through Fidelity Charitable Electronic Funds Transfer and Benevity Causes Portal.

Employer Matching Gifts: If your workplace has a matching program, the ASFS PTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contact fundraising@asfspta.com for more information.

Please contact Olga Kasyan, ASFS PTA VP Fundraising, with any questions.

Thank you for supporting ASFS students!

Halloween Parade and Classroom Parties:  Monday, October 31 from 2:30-3:30

There will be a Halloween costume parade followed by parties in the classrooms. The parade will start outside on Lincoln Street (right outside of school), weather permitting at 2:30pm. All are welcome to watch!

Parents will be allowed to come into school this year for the Halloween party from 3:00-3:30 p.m, but are required to complete the volunteer screening process in advance (see below)*. This process typically takes a few days, and longer depending on the volume, so please plan accordingly. Keep an eye out for information from your class's room parents with details about classroom parties and how to help out!

*NO part of the costume is to be worn to school. All parts of the costume must be able to be put on by the student. Make-up, hair gel, swords, knives, lasers, sharp objects, artificial nails, high heels, or scary costumes are not permitted. Please call or email Ms. Begley if you have any questions

*If you do not want your child to participate, please inform his/her classroom teacher one week in advance and alternate activities will be provided. If your child participates and chooses to wear a costume, he/she/they must bring all components in a separate bag.

*As a reminder, we ask that all parents please complete the APS volunteer process (https://www.apsva.us/volunteers-partnerships/volunteer-application-form/) in order to be involved with ASFS class and school events. If you have any questions, please email our volunteer coordinator, Stacia Griffin at Stacia.griffin@apsva.us.

Lost and Found



Parents, as the weather changes, we are finding many pieces of outerwear lost at school.  

Please put your child's name inside their jackets and coats. 

The lost and found is in the Multipurpose Room--please come look and see if any of it belongs to you!

Volunteering at ASFS

You must register as a volunteer in order to attend the classroom Halloween parties and any classroom activities this year!

We love our parent volunteers and want you to get involved! There will be lots of opportunities all year.

 All volunteers must go through the APS volunteer application process.

• If you went through this process last year, you do NOT need to do it again. Approvals last for three years.
• If you are new to ASFS, you need to apply to be a volunteer through the APS website: https://www.apsva.us/volunteers-partnerships/volunteer-application-form/.
• Make sure to indicate ASFS on your application! After you complete it, you will get an email with further instructions.

Questions? Email Volunteer Coordinator Stacia Griffin at stacia.griffin@apsva.us.

Save the Date: ASFS Picture Day -- January 12, 2023

ASFS School Picture Day has changed to Thursday, January 12, 2023! 

All students will be photographed for the ASFS yearbook, and you may choose to order a photo package at mylifetouch.com (Picture Day ID: EVTPDQ7R8)

• If your student is absent on picture day, a make-up day will be held on Thursday, February 23rd. 
• More information will be distributed in the coming months.
• Please contact Angela Rakow, ASFS PTA Picture Day Lead, at angelarakow@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you!

Email Consent Form

The ASFS PTA is creating Classroom Distribution Lists for each class; these lists will be managed by ASFS PTA Room Parents. To provide the best communication throughout the year, we are collecting updated emails for each parent or guardian to communicate about class events, activities, parties, and volunteer opportunities. As a result of a number of federal and local privacy laws and regulations, Arlington Science Focus School is unable to provide parent or guardian information directly (including to the ASFS PTA or Room Parents). 

If you consent to sharing your contact information with your child’s ASFS PTA Room Parents, please fill out this form by October 26, 2022. If you have multiple children at ASFS, please fill out one form per child. Your email address will only be used for the purpose of communicating about class events, activities, and volunteer opportunities. 

The ASFS PTA encourages all families to opt into PTA Directory at (https://asfs.schoolhouse.directory/) through ParentVue (https://va-arl-psv.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx) to connect with ASFS families.

ASFS Yearbook Now Available to Pre-Order

The ASFS Yearbook is now available to pre-order!

• Click below, or visit ybpay.com (Yearbook ID Code: 13273623) to order yours today
• Get details and available packages: ASFS Yearbook Flier 2022-23 Flyer
• Order deadline: April 14, 2023

Visit kidsgiving.org to learn more, including our list of partners in the community, and make sure you like KidsGiving on Facebook and follow KidsGiving on Twitter.

Announcing ASFS Lebanese Taverna Night

Thursday, November 17th *Order by 11/17@ Noon*

Place your order for ASFS Lebanese Taverna Night on Thursday, November 17th! We are excited to partner with Lebanese Taverna to support Arlington Science Focus School, where you will have a chance to order and pick up your dinner right at ASFS! Place your order by Noon Thursday 11/17 and pick up your order between 5:30-6:00 pm at ASFS. Please contact Olga Kasyan with questions.

***Place Your Lebanese Taverna Online Order***

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Literary & Visual Arts Contest

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke up for people who were being treated unfairly. Dr. King explained that it is our responsibility to do something when we see someone being treated unfairly because of their race, skin color or other identity, even if those people are not like us. He believed we should care about fairness for everyone. In his renowned essay “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,”



All students K-12 are eligible to enter the MLK Literary and Visual Arts Contest.  For more information, please review the linked flier.  Entries are due November 6th.  

The ASFS PTA Electric News (EN) is a weekly newsletter that informs the ASFS community about school, PTA, and relevant APS and community news. Please send any newsletter submissions to newsletter@asfspta.com by 12pm on Wednesday for inclusion in Friday's EFF.