FA New Family Guide 2023-2024

NEW FAMILY GUIDE 2023-2024

3 4 5 6

MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE FA DIFFERENCE

KEY FACULTY & STAFF

GET INVOLVED

CHECKLIST SCHOOL CALENDAR

STAY INFORMED

DRESS GUIDELINES

9 10 11 12 7 8 13

STUDENT SUCCESS

KEY CONTACTS

CAMPUS & CARPOOL MAP

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

On a September day nearly 31 years ago, the dream of a group of committed parents was realized when Fredericksburg Academy opened its doors for its very first day of school. As we embark on another school year, the pioneering spirit of our founding families continues to drive us. And just like that first year, none of our students’ life-changing learning experiences would be possible without the support of the parents and others who give so generously of their time, talent, and treasure.

Like all independent schools, FA is proud of its strong tradition of parent partnership. This Welcome Guide is designed to help you understand the privileges and responsibilities of being an FA parent, a valued and integral member of our FAmily. We ask all parents to partner with us to ensure the school’s success, and this can be accomplished in many ways, from volunteering for a school event, making a donation to the Annual Fund, or helping to organize the annual auction. We are grateful that you have entrusted us with your children’s education, and we look forward to working with you!

GO FALCONS!

Karen Moschetto, Head of School

ACCREDITATION & MEMBERSHIPS

FA is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and is a member of:

OUR MISSION

Fredericksburg Academy is committed to creating an environment that promotes acceptance and openness, much of which relies on the belief that inclusivity and belonging are essential to a full and rich educational experience. We believe that diversity of thought and people inspire critical thinking and self-knowledge, and we value differences including but not limited to age, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity, learning styles, national origin, political views, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Our Most Complete Classroom Doesn’t Have Walls.

Decades of research has shown that the act of going outside has immense benefits to a child's education, but recess alone isn't enough. FA has become increasingly focused on the art of teaching outside and how the experience of learning in, around, and about nature can transform learning and life for our students.

Fredericksburg Academy’s 44-acre campus has a 5.5 mile trail system, spanning a portion of Deep Run Creek, and featuring a Story Walk, and mountain-bike, disc golf, and cross-country trails.

We inspire and empower our students to discover, to engage, and to imagine the limitless nature of themselves and the world.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

Patty Estes Head of Lower School

Chris Stec Director of Auxiliary Programs

Carmen Van Houtem School Nurse

Tony Durso Head of Upper School

Dana Clark School Counselor

Byron Odom Director of Technology

David Fischer Head of Middle School

Eyal Fierst Director of Athletics

Corey Fischer Director of College Counseling

NEW SCHOOL YEAR CHECKLIST

Here’s a checklist to get you started on your first school year.

Set Up Veracross Parent Portal. FA Student Information System, Veracross, will be your one-stop resource for all the tools and information you need from viewing your student’s grades to updating personal information. Your Admission Portal became your Parent Portal.

Submit your child’s health and immunization forms to the Magnus Health Portal. Health exam, immunization, and consent to treat forms are required for all students at FA and must be submitted before the start of the school year. The sports physical is also required yearly of all MS/US athletes. You can fill out and upload all the forms in your Parent Portal or download the Magnus Mobile app to your phone.

School Supplies. Visit your Parent Portal for supply lists. LS students can order supplies as a bundle and have them delivered to their classroom!

Complete Summer Assignments. Summer reading, math, and AP assignments are available on the Parent and Student (MS/US) Portals.

Need Bus Transportation? FA is pleased to offer three morning routes. Information on stops, pick-up times, and pricing can be found on your Parent Portal and on our websitefredericksburgacademy.org.

Register for Falcon Club. Before and after school care is available right on campus. Learn more on your Parent Portal and our websitefredericksburgacademy.org.

Start thinking about fall sports! Practices for Upper School fall sports often start before the school year begins. Find a complete list of teams and practice start dates on your Parent Portal. MS sports practices begin on our first day of school.

Place Pizza Friday order. You can order pizza lunches for your child weekly OR you can order ahead with the half or full-year options. Order online from your Parent Portal or on our websitefredericksburgacademy.org.

Set up your Yay! Lunch Account. Starting the Monday before the first day of school, you can schedule/order lunches from local restaurants Monday - Thursday. Set up an account at yaylunch.com.

Purchase Required Books. The Online Bookstore opened July 31 for purchase of MS/US textbooks and fees. No need to buy anything from the Online Bookstore for Lower School students.

Check Tech Requirements. Middle and Upper School students are required to bring laptops and chargers to school each day. Check out FA’s technology requirements on your Parent Portal. Every new Grade 7-12 student will need to attend an orientation with Director of Technology Byron Odom.

2023-2024 CALENDAR

Please note: All dates are subject to change. The school calendar, located on the Veracross Parent Portal, is the most current.

AUGUST

14 - Preseason Sports Practices Begin/Teacher Work Week Begins

21 - Orientations / Open Houses

23 - First Day of School

SEPTEMBER

4 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

14 - LS Back to School Evening

25-30 - Spirit Week/Homecoming

OCTOBER

5-6 - Fall Break (LS Conferences evening of 10/5 and all day 10/6)

31 - Halloween Parade 9:00 a.m.

NOVEMBER

1 - Teacher Work Day

22 - Early release for Thanksgiving / MS Day of Service

23-27 - Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER

13-15 - US Exams

19 - Early release for Holiday Break

20-Jan 2 - Holiday Break

JANUARY

3 - Return to campus from Holiday Break

15 - NO SCHOOL - MLK Day

FEBRUARY

19 - NO SCHOOL - President’s Day / Teacher Work Day (MS Conferences)

26-March1 - Winter Break

MARCH

11 - LS Conference Day/NO LS Classes - MS/US In-Sessions

29 - Early release for Spring Break

APRIL

1-5 - Spring Break

MAY

22 -All School Assembly 2:30 p.m. /US Convocation 7:00 p.m.

23 - US Optional Attendance / Lower School Field Day

24, 28, 29 - US Exams

24 - Commencement

27 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

30 - Grade 5 Reflection Ceremony / MS Convocation 7:00 p.m.

31 - Last Day of School / Early Dismissal

CampFA runs through Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break

For more information or to register:

fredericksburgacademy.org/camp-fa

STAY INFORMED

There are many great ways to stay in touch with all the latest FA news and happenings!

Student-Parent Handbook. The StudentParent Handbook will be emailed prior to the start of the school year and is your best point of reference for policies and procedures.

Teacher Newsletters. Lower School teachers have classroom newsletters. Some are posted as blogs and others are emailed. Teachers will let you know how to subscribe as the school year begins.

Parent Portal. The Parent Portal will enable you to view your child’s report card, schedule, and attendance. You can also access the student and faculty directories and update your household profile here.

FA Weekly. Our school wide newsletter is sent with all of the information that you need for the upcoming week. Keep an eye out for the email every Thursday afternoon.

Important School Updates. Important School Updates and weather-related closures and delays will be sent via text . Be sure that your phone number is up to date! Reach out to Marnie Schattgen, mschattgen@fredericksburgacademy.org, if you need help updating your household information in the Parent Portal.

Sync Your Calendar. In your Parent Portal, on the right side under calendar links, you can subscribe to several different calendars, if you click on “Subscribe”. Falcon’s athletic and academic schedules are found here. *Be sure to select Google or Ical before connecting!

Social Media. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube!

facebook.com/FredericksburgAcademy

DRESS GUIDELINES

For complete school dress guidelines, please consult the Student-Parent Handbook.

Dress Guidelines. Fredericksburg Academy expects a high standard of neatness and cleanliness at all times and requires that all students show moderation and sensitivity. This set of expectations forms the basis of the FA Dress Guidelines. Guidelines have been set with age-appropriateness in mind and vary slightly from division to division. Parents are asked to be aware of what is and what is not permissible to wear during the school day.

Lower School. Students will follow the regular FA dress guidelines as outlined in the Parent-Student handbook with the following suggestions:

Students in all grades are encouraged to come to school in comfortable clothes for indoor and outdoor instructional and play time.

Denim may be worn every day in all Lower School grades. The dress guidelines for our youngest children are based on concern for safety, independence, and modesty.

Middle and Upper School. These guidelines provide the expectation for school-appropriate student dress that supports the learning process for all students and support FA’s missions and beliefs. More specifically, these guidelines place a preeminence on learning, safety, community, and inclusivity while allowing for self-expression. Although a planned activity may allow or require students to dress differently, they are expected to always follow the minumum expectation of clean and respectful dress. The guidelines apply equally to all students unless accommodations are approved by the appropriate division head.

On a typical school day, Middle and Upper School student dress should adhere to the following guidelines: to be school appropriate, clothing must allow a student to participate fully in the variety of activities that take place. School appropriate is defined as shirts, pants, and shoes or their equivalents that are clean and respectful, season appropriate, dressy or casual, non-military, and have no text or image that is discriminatory, offensive, ostentatious, or portrays violence, alcohol, tobacco or tobacco-related products, drugs, or sex. As long as it adheres to the definition of school appropriate, an article of clothing may be solid color or patterned, be denim of any color, display graphics or text, be fashionably but not excessively frayed or ripped, and contain camouflage.

The responsibility for a student’s dress resides primarily with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s) but the school is responsible for determining if student dress meets these guidelines. To start the year, students are expected to follow the regular dress guidelines Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Fridays will be Athletic Attire Days.

Special Dress Days. Special dress days happen frequently throughout the school year and will be announced to the students by the school administration in advance. On Dress Up Days, students are required to come to school in appropriate dressy attire. On Comfy Days, students may wear school appropriate but more casual clothing, including pajama pants and slippers. On Athletic Attire Days, students may wear athletic clothing, including yoga pants and Crocs. On Theme Days, students may dress based on the announced theme or holiday, such as FA school colors or Halloween. Recommendations for footwear may also be made depending on any activities planned for the day. Except for Dress Up Days, which are required, students choosing not to dress according to the announced special day must follow the regular dress guidelines.

Fredericksburg Academy is set apart from other schools because of our people, our philosophy, and our program.

A safe and compassionate community is our foundation. Teaching must be thoughtful, persistent, respectful, and passionate. Diversity of thought and people inspires critical thinking and self-knowledge. Each student's intellectual, ethical, emotional, social, and physical development is essential. Strength and resilience are cultivated through achievement and mistakes, joy and disappointment. Mastery requires mentorship, application, and reflection. Through opportunities in academics, the arts, athletics, leadership, and citizenship, students define their paths.

ARTS ATHLETICS

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OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS * 53

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GET INVOLVED

The Parent-Faculty Association. The PFA works to support the school community through a variety of activities and events, including faculty appreciation lunches, Fall Carnival, Holiday Breakfast, Pizza Fridays, and more. All FA parents and guardians are automatically members of the PFA. No registration or fees are needed and all are welcome!

Volunteer. Parents are welcome on campus during school hours. Please come volunteer at any PFA-sponsored event. Just check in at Reception, located in the Lower School, with your driver’s license each time you visit campus.

Support FA. Giving today transforms tomorrow.

FA has a long-standing tradition of philanthropy that unites and engages our entire community. We remain the region’s leader in college preparatory education because of our exceptional students, world-class faculty, and generous parents, grandparents, alumni, and parents of alumni.

Our Development Office works closely with School and volunteer leaders to advance the mission of the Academy. Together, we are focused on supporting an extraordinary education for all students.

Some of our longstanding traditions include:

Annual Fund

Celebrate FA!

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Falcon Golf Tournament

Learn more or give online at fredericksburgacademy.org/philanthropy.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Fredericksburg Academy is dedicated to your child’s success and has a number of experiences to help you and your student along the way.

Student-Led Conferences. Nothing says empowerment, accountability, and leadership quite like a student-led conference, and during Student-Led Conferences, Fredericksburg Academy Middle School students portray all these and so much more to their parents! FA students are innately more invested in their learning because they get to showcase their successes, identify opportunities to improve, and share future hopes and dreams - instead of being merely a topic of conversation in the traditional parent-teacher conference model.

Counselor. Fredericksburg Academy’s full-time School Counselor supports students' emotional and mental health and wellness.

Resource. Our Resource Team partners with faculty in all divisions to provide additional academic support to students with documented needs.

Lower School Responsive Classrooms. All classrooms in our Lower School use this research-based teaching approach, which is based on the idea that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills. Responsive Classroom's guiding principle is that knowing the children we teach is as important as knowing the content we teach. Each class activity helps children learn the skills of cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.

Exhibit. Exhibit provides an avenue for students to independently explore an interest, gain invaluable experience, and sharpen skill sets. Through Exhibit, a capstone project in tenth and eleventh grades, students equip themselves with an array of tools to help them make the most of their lives – greater self-awareness; efficient time management; clear, confident communication; and effective organization.

Talon Tutoring. Talon Tutoring evolved in 2018 to leverage FA's unmatched teacher talent and inspirational learning environment to take a wider number of students from good to great. Whether your child is struggling in a subject, seeking mastery - or anywhere in between - Talon Tutoring exists to help them reach their goal.

College Counseling. The purpose of FA's College Counseling Office is to help students find the college or university that is a perfect fit for their interests and aspirations. Parents in all divisions are encouraged to contact the College Counseling Office anytime and are invited to attend parent nights and admission panels throughout the year.

KEY CONTACTS

Where to go for help:

TOPIC CONTACT

Absences (Lower School)

Absences (Middle & Upper School)

Academics

Admissions

Athletics

Bus Service

Business Office College Counseling

Continuous Enrollment

Course Scheduling (Middle & Upper School)

Disciplinary Actions

Enrichment

Falcon Club

Falcons Nest

FACTS

Illness/First Aid

Indexed Tuition

Lower School Questions

Magnus Health

Middle School Questions

Parent-Faculty Association

Philanthropy

Student Records

Summer Camp

Technology

Textbooks (Middle & Upper School)

Upper School Questions

Parent Portal Questions

Visitors to School

Email Teacher and receptionist@fredericksburgacademy.org

msusattendance@fredericksburgacademy.org

Division Head - Patty Estes (LS), David Fischer (MS), Tony Durso (US)

Marnie Schattgen

Eyal Fierst

Brian Skinner

Debra Mauro

Corey Fischer

Marnie Schattgen

David Fischer (MS) / Tony Durso (US)

Division Head - Patty Estes (LS), David Fischer (MS), Tony Durso (US)

Chris Stec

Melissa Schwartz

Nora Wilson

Marnie Schattgen

Carmen Van Houtem

Marnie Schattgen

Patty Estes

Carmen Van Houtem

David Fischer

PFA@fredericksburgacademy.org

Karen Moschetto

Lisa Walsh

Kylie McKeen

Byron Odom

Nora Wilson

Tony Durso

Byron Odom

Lower School Reception

CAMPUS & CARPOOL MAP

Carpool Rules:

The speed limit on campus is 10 mph. ● Mobile phones are not to be used in carpool lines. ● When a car is stopped to drop off or pick up children in the carpool line, other cars are not permitted to pass unless directed to do so by school personnel. ● Please obey all instructions from the faculty as they control the flow of traffic on campus. ● Teachers will not buckle students into car seats or booster seats. Parents are urged to help their child learn to buckle their own seat belt. If a child has not mastered this skill, parents are asked to please buckle the belt for their child as quickly and efficiently as possible. ● All students must be dropped off and picked up in the designated carpool line unless other arrangements have been made with school personnel.

Lower School • PK and JK will drop off/pick up in the Lower School parking lot. • Kindergarten through grade 5 will drop off/pick up in the traffic circle on Academy Drive. Middle School • All Middle School students will be dropped off at the traffic circle on Academy Drive and picked up at the MS doors if not participating in after school activities (the door that faces the fire station on Falcon Drive). Upper School • All Upper School students will be dropped off and picked up by the corner of the US Arts and Sciences building near the parking lot.