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We are a family.
We are capable.
We are caring.
We all belong!
 Second graders read Balloons Over Broadway and recreated the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade!
Dec. 23 - Jan. 03 No School - Winter Break
Jan. 06 School back in session, doors open at 9:00 a.m.
Jan. 20 No School - MLK, Jr. Holiday
Jan. 29 No School - Teacher Workday
Jan. 30 Title 1 Family Night: Celebrating Cultural Stories, 6:00 p.m.
Bren Mar Park artists have been working hard in the art room. Kindergarten artists had their first experience with clay making pinch pots. 1st grade artists have been making dream house paintings and will soon create “blue prints” of the houses using ink. 2nd grade artists learned the drawing technique of overlapping by creating a portrait of themselves and a friend. 3rd grade artists have been creating a portrait reflecting their culture. 4th grade artists are creating a narrative collage series. 5th grade artists are mixing colors to create a dreamscape painting. Multiage artists have been painting and printing with objects. Ms. Radke’s classes have completed their first clay unit and are about to glaze their creations.
We are so proud of our BMP artists and each and every one of them is so creative and has amazing ideas! Well done, Mustangs!
Each quarter, we give the classes a choice day with stations so they can create what they like. If you have any random art supplies such as stickers, beads, ribbon, yarn, google eyes or anything else we can add (especially to the puppet station), please drop it off at school. All donations are welcome and the kids are so happy to see unique materials to use on their quarterly choice day.
Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
A limited number of classes in grades 3-6 will be selected to participate. However, all students in participating grades, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey in selected classes during the school day between Monday, December 2, and Friday, December 13. Any student may take the survey at home, if preferred. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
For the safety and security of our students for pick up during or immediately at the end of the school day, please always arrive with a government-issued ID. Checking identification helps us make sure a child is going home with the correct caregiver. Even if your child has been a part of the Bren Mar Park community for several years, staff may request to check government-issued ID to verify identification. Thank you!
Bren Mar Park partners with Capitol Area Food Bank and Trader Joe's to host this event each month to ensure that food insecurities within our BMP community are addressed. Many BMP staff volunteer, and we welcome all community members to volunteer, including high school students who are seeking to complete community service hours. This wonderful event is from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Volunteer opportunities and contacts are below:
- 8:15 - 9:00 a.m. - We need 2 people with a van or truck who can drive to the new Trader Joe's in Springfield to pick up and deliver to Bren Mar Park the donations they provide (2 needed); contact Nora Joy at nljoy@fcps.edu
- 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. We need 2-3 people to help set up the donated food items for the Family Market in the cafeteria; contact Belle Arze at bbarze@fcps.edu
- 4:15 - 6:00 p.m. We need people to distribute food items or help with other tasks during the Family Market; contact Belle Arze at bbarze@fcps.edu
We are excited that the Bren Mar Park renovations will begin soon! Estimated start is January 2025. The School Board will be reviewing and finalizing the next step of the process at the School Board meeting on December 5, 2024. An informational meeting for families will be made available in January.
The renovation, with the addition of a 2-story building, will bring the future building area to approximately 111,580 square feet and is anticipated to increase our school's capacity to 800.
Learn more at https://www.fcps.edu/bren-mar-park-elementary-capital-project
Join the News You Choose Email List to get updates at GovDelivery
The FCPS winter break is from December 23, 2024 - January 3, 2025. There is no school for students during winter break. School is back in session for students starting Monday, January 6, 2025. Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
During winter break, the office is open the public for these dates and times:
Monday, December 23 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 24 - 27 Closed to the Public
Monday, December 30 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 31- Wednesday, January 1 Closed to the Public
Thursday, January 2 - 3 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to AART Yetta Williams no later than December 15, 2024.
The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Yetta Williams at yfwilliams@fcps.edu
Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
When bad weather occur, it may be necessary for FCPS to cancel, delay, or close schools early. Please have a plan in place in the event of these emergency situations. Children need to know where to go or what to do if a family member would not be home.
The safety of students and staff is the priority when FCPS makes a decision about school closures and delays.
Throughout the winter weather, FCPS and Bren Mar Park ES monitor the weather for very low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Students do continue to participate in outdoor recess during the cold weather months. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and/or other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors.
Exceptions to outdoor recess are when there is a warning for unsafe temperature conditions or clothing doesn't support safe play. You can get more information on National Weather Service website, which includes tips on staying safe during cold weather
 Wind Chill Chart from the National Weather Service.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing our Nora Joy, social worker at nljoy@fcps.edu can assist you. You can also call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. The multilingual staff can assist with any challenges, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and healthcare.
Fairfax County Public Schools is undergoing a comprehensive boundary review. This review will assess the boundaries across our district to better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, student health and wellness, and evolving community needs.
Boundary Review Committee Meetings begin next week. The Region 6 meeting will be held at Annandale High School on Thursday, December 12, 2024, beginning at 6:45 p.m. Other meeting dates and locations can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/maps/2024-2026-boundary-review
Viviane Doan, 3rd Grade Teacher
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Hello! I am so excited to be teaching at Bren Mar Park this year. This will be my first year in FCPS and my third-year teaching 3rd grade.
I am from the Chantilly area and graduated from Christopher Newport University with my bachelor’s and master’s degree.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends.
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