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We are a family.
We are capable.
We are caring.
We all belong!
 Students at Bren Mar Park jump right back into learning!
Monday, Aug. 26 9:00 a.m. First day of school for ECCB/PreK
Friday, Aug. 30 HOLIDAY: No School for Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 2 HOLIDAY: No School for Labor Day
Thursday, Sept. 5 6:30 p.m. Back to School Night
Saturday, Sept. 7 Playground Playdates
Monday, Sept. 16 3 Hour Early Release; School Ends at 1:00 p.m.
I am excited to share that the Annandale Pyramid Math Teachers recently came together to align and strengthen math instruction from kindergarten through 12th grade. After two years of dedicated work, including extensive observations of math instruction across our schools, pyramid principals and math leaders have crafted a unified vision statement to guide this work:
In the Annandale Pyramid, mathematics teaching and learning focuses on developing an understanding of concepts and procedures through problem-solving, reasoning, and discourse.
Our Pyramid Math Kickoff provided every math teacher in our pyramid (Braddock ES, Weyanoke ES, Annandale Terrace ES Columbia ES, Bren Mar Park ES, North Springfield ES, Holmes MS, Poe MS, and Annandale HS) the opportunity to plan the first unit of the year together. They also were able to attend sessions tailored to their interests, with topics ranging from lesson planning and building a classroom community, to increasing student discourse and ensuring that every student can access mathematics.
The feedback from these sessions was overwhelmingly positive. Here are just a few reflections from our educators:
- “I got goosebumps hearing the references to the FCPS Vision of Excellence in Mathematics. I truly believe that the work we launched today and the work I know we will continue to do throughout the year is going to help students.”
- "Thanks for a great learning session! Do this again with upcoming content."
- "It was great to be around new faces and get a better understanding of how to plan for student-centered discourse."
- "I loved this! It was wonderful to connect with former colleagues and align our thinking as a pyramid."
- "The unpacking portion was really helpful. It’s nice to get takeaways from colleagues outside of my school team."
- "This was great! Thanks for a quick and informative PD!"
I am proud of the collaborative spirit that has brought us this far and excited about the path ahead. Together, as a pyramid, we are not just teaching math—we are building a strong foundation for our students' success.
-Principal Williams
There will be no school on Friday, August 30 or Monday, September 2 in recognition of Labor Day. The front office will also be closed on these days. We look forward to welcoming our Mustangs back on Tuesday, September 3 at 9:00 a.m.
Bren Mar Park has a long tradition of welcoming family members to bring lunch and eat alongside their child during the school day. This is not a set day, however families should wait until October 1 before making a plan for this to allow our students to settle in to routines and expectations of the new school year and grade level expectations. In addition, these other guidelines must also be followed:
- The adult must report to the main office and sign in through the visitor system; be sure to bring a valid, government-issued ID
- The adult may choose to bring food for his/her child ONLY; due to student allergies, do not bring or share food with other students
- This is only for lunch time; adults may not attend recess or return to the classroom with students
- Door Dash or other food delivery programs are not permitted
Successfully Completing Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade
Helping students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade is part of our FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.
Passing Algebra 1 earlier allows for students to take more advanced classes like Dual Enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These advanced courses help students succeed in college. A recent study from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that completing Algebra 1 by grade eight led to 30% more ninth graders and 16% more 11th graders taking advanced courses.
Students Reading on Level by the Third Grade
FCPS has continued to improve its approach to reading over the last several years through our Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) plan. Reading by third grade is also one of the measures of Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence in our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
By focusing on foundational skills for our young readers and literacy intervention for upper grades, FCPS has made significant progress toward narrowing the achievement gaps in this critical skill. Visit the Strategic Plan webpage for more information.
Parents/caregivers can submit full-day absences through FCPS’ SIS ParentVUE platform. This will make reporting and tracking absences easier for our school.
Parents/caregivers may report absences by using ParentVUE or by contacting the front office. Please find important details below:
If you need to set up a ParentVUE account or have questions, please contact our front office at 703-914-7203. Ms. Camargo will provide you with an “activation key” and instructions to create a ParentVUE account.
FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.
Please help us plan for the early release Mondays by watching your email for a short BMP survey asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.
We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers.
Early release Mondays for our school include:
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
Learn more about Early-Release Mondays.
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked with an orange “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
Note: Some holidays and observances, such as Eid al-Fitr, may shift and the calendar may be adjusted.
 Alexandria
4700 King St., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 571.665.6599
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Annandale
7617 Little River Tpke., Suite 850
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 571.665.6636
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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