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The Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School community would like to welcome you to our school. We are in the process of applying for the Purple Star Designation through the Virginia Department of Education, and will submit our application in September of 2024.
The Drew family is honored to support you and your children. This website page includes information you may find helpful in transitioning into our community. Your children will join more than 77,000 students in Virginia’s public school systems. Our staff wants to support you whether this PCS makes Arlington your new home, if a member of your household is deploying, or if you have been a part of our school family and are now planning to move. Please feel welcome to contact us with any questions. The Point of Contacts will be listed with the sections below.
Our Principal is Ms. Tracy Gaither and our Assistant Principal is Mr. James Welch. Both administrators would love to meet and share our school with you. If you would like to visit Dr. Charles R. Drew, talk with the principal, and take a tour of our building, please contact our main office at 703-228-5825. Drew Elementary has two lead Purple Star Point of Contacts. They are Dora Sue Black and Toni Moseley. Please feel free to reach out to them with questions.
Planning your move to Arlington and Arlington Public Schools: When planning your move to Virginia, you may want to refer to the following websites.
Arlington County has a New Resident Welcome Kit with information. This may be helpful to you.
The next is the Virginia Department of Education’s Military Families page. This site shares rights and resources.
Arlington Public Schools Military Families page has links about school registration, special services, community support, extra-curricular activities, academic planning and withdrawing from APS.
Some of the key links from the APS website are:
School Registration Dr. Charles R. Drew is a neighborhood elementary school and has ongoing enrollment registration. Our school registrar is Darnice Samuels. She can be contacted at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary during school hours, 8:30-12:00 at 703-228-5825. Her email is darnice.samuels@apsva.us. To register online, please use the link.
Optional Choices of Schools Arlington offers alternative schools to the neighborhood schools. The link will lead you to the descriptions and timelines.
Required Registration Documents This link explains all of the documentation you will need when enrolling your student(s). This includes the registration form, proof of Arlington County Residency, proof of student’s age and legal name, proof of parent’s identification and relationship to the student, any additional educational documents and health records. A list of immunizations required can be found in this link.
When it is time to leave APS https://www.apsva.us/registration/preparing-to-move-from-aps/
We will miss you when it is time for you to leave. This link will lead you to the APS webpage that shares how to withdraw and how to request documents.
The Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School Family
Our school is a diverse neighborhood school that takes pride in celebrating everyone’s culture and background. We strive to support and challenge our students to be their best everyday!
Our day begins with asking that all children be in their class by 9:00 a.m. Doors open at 8:40 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:50 p.m. If you need before school or after school care, this would be our Extended Day Program. We start the day with Responsive Classroom which the company describes the morning meeting as “students and their teachers building community, practice social and academic skills, and prepare for a successful school.” There is also a Morning News program anchored by 4th and 5th graders. The day is filled with meaningful learning in all of the core areas of math, language arts, science, social studies, music, art, p.e., and library times. We are a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineer, Arts, and Math) school. Our STEAM lead teacher collaborates with our teachers and leads learning times in our STEAM lab.
Special Education
APS has information of Special Services for our Military Families. Drew’s Student Support Coordinator is Carlette Bryan. She is available to discuss all of the I.E.P. questions.
Under Article V of the Interstate Compact, we will provide comparable services for any current Individualized Educational Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, should your student have one. We may conduct additional evaluations to update the student’s current educational needs.
There is also a Parent Resource Center in Arlington to support families of students with disabilities and unique learning needs as they work with the school system to identify and meet their child’s needs; but all families are welcome to access our supports, resources and services.
VDOE has a link for Information for Special Education Families. On that page VDOE has posted a Guidance for Military Families with Students in Special Education.
This page also has information about The Family Engagement Network . FEN has created four new resources for military-connected families of students with disabilities. These three one-page resources, as well as a video, all containing valuable information are linked below.
- Military Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services: Things to Know When Moving to Virginia School Systems
- Military Families of Exceptional Family Members – Birth to 5 Years: Things to Know When Moving to Virginia
- Are You a Military Family Relocating to Virginia with a Child Who Has a Disability? Check Out These Helpful Hints and Resources
- Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families (Video)
Communication is very important. Most communication is done through our ParentSquare. Please make sure you sign up for this to stay up to date with Ms. Gaither’s Principal Messages, teacher’s communications, messages from the other teachers your children work with, and the school system’s information. This also allows you to reach out to the staff with questions.
Teachers send home an electronic monthly newsletter. This will included information about the class, dates to remember, and more.
Please check your student’s backpacks. Sometimes materials and information will go home through the backpacks.
Drew’s PTA (Parent-Teacher-Association) https://drewpta.com/contact/
We have an active PTA that works in supporting the teachers and developing programs and activities for our families. We highly encourage our parents to join and be a part of the PTA.
Military Interstate Compact
Arlington Public Schools as all of the Virginia schools participates with the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. The link https://www.dodea.edu/education/partnership-and-resources/military-interstate-compact shares toolkits with rights and resources for military families.
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) provides information to military families that may prove useful in navigating transitions from one assignment to another, as well as resources around educational rights and resources. Visit the MIC3 website (www.mic3.net) or download a copy of the MIC3 “A Military Family’s Guide to School Transitions.”
Drew’s Purple Star Activities
Drew plans to have a Purple Star Student Ambassadors to connect with our new Military Students and Families. This group of Purple Star and Friends Students will welcome and help new students navigate their new school, make friends, and answer questions.
There will be at least one family event per semester. Last year was a dinner on April 19th, Purple Star Day. This is still in the planning for the 2024-2025 school year.
We hope to connect our Purple Star Families to our PTA. Mrs. Black plans to contact each new family and to check in and answer any questions.
If a new family has suggestions, please share these with Mrs. Black.
Contacts:
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School Contacts:
Tracy Gaither, Principal, 703-228-5825, Tracy.Gaither@apsva.us
Dora Sue Black, Purple Star Liaison and Drew Librarian, 703-228-5825, Dorasue.Black@apsva.us
Ms. Toni, Purple Star Liaison and Kindergarten Assistant, 703-228-5825
Darnice Samuels, Registrar, 703-228-5825, Darnice.Samuels@apsva.us
Arlington Public School Contacts:
Chris Wilmore, Arlington Public Schools Director of Secondary Education. Chris.Wilmore@apsva.us
For the State of Virginia
Dan Dunham, Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120, (804) 923-0958
Resources:
Blue Star Families – https://bluestarfam.org/
Military Child Educational Coalition – https://militarychild.org