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Dear Beech Tree Families:
As we work in communication with the Fairfax County Health Department we have noticed an increase in respiratory illnesses at our school. These illnesses can cause symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose (congestion), sneezing, and feeling very tired. They can be caused by different germs, including COVID-19 and influenza (flu).
The Health Department recommends the following:
- Monitor your child and keep them home if sick. Watch for signs of illness in your child. If your child has a fever or severe cough, keep them home. They should stay home, except for medical visits, until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication, feel better overall, and are able to participate in school activities. After they return to school, parents may choose to have them wear a mask at school and during other indoor activities for 5 days after symptoms improve. This will further reduce the chance that they may spread illness to someone else.
- Get your child tested. Consider getting your child tested for respiratory illness if they are sick. You can get COVID-19 tests to use at home, and testing for flu can be done by your healthcare provider.
- Teach your child to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Have your child use a tissue to cover their mouth and nose when they cough and sneeze. Throw tissues in the trash after use. If they do not have a tissue, they should cover coughs and sneezes with their upper sleeve.
- Remind your child to avoid touching their face, like eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Improve your air quality at home. If it’s not too cold, open doors and windows or move activities outside to get fresh air.
- Get vaccinated. Vaccines are highly recommended to protect your child from COVID-19 and the flu. Updated vaccines available each fall are needed for the best protection to prevent serious illness.
- Talk to a healthcare provider about treatment. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns, especially if they have a chronic illness or take long-term medications.
Please follow these recommendations to help keep your child healthy and to prevent others from getting sick. If you have questions, please contact your healthcare provider or the School Public Health Nurse, Mariae Beck 703-531-2610.
Thank you for your partnership in education.
With appreciation,
Principal Clarke
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Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools — Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Primary, and Bailey’s Upper — provide enhanced learning programs in science, technology, and performing arts.
Registration for the 2025-26 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 4, through Friday, April 4. Learn more about the programs on the Elementary Magnet Schools page and information on the magnet lottery on our Registration page.
Countywide lottery registration for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program for first graders in the 2025-26 school year is open through Thursday, February 13, at 4 p.m. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program through Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Interested parents/caregivers may attend an informational meeting at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.
Get more details on the DLI Program webpage.
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation and any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process. For additional information, please contact Sandra Merino, our school registrar.
💻 Try Online Registration
Online registration for the 2025-26 school year is open for parents/caregivers who would like to enroll their child in FCPS for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account.
The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information.
At the event, FCPS students are invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities.
Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, February 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions.
✨ Centering student voice is part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
 The Fairfax County School Board discussed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.
The School Board also held a public hearing on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget on Tuesday, February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the budget.
On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the Fairfax County School Board will hold a work session on the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View FCPS’ Budget Development Calendar.
Breaking Down the Budget
More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff. The majority of the budget increase is dedicated to that proposed 7% pay increase.
Our families want their children in high-quality schools with the best teachers who provide rigorous academic experiences. We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.
The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage. Visit the Budget webpage for more information.
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Beech Tree Elementary School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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At the conclusion of 2024 summer camp season, the Rec-PAC program joined with Camp Fairfax! Both the Rec-PAC and Camp Fairfax programs have long had shared missions and overlapping responsibilities serving the community. This new realignment of Rec-PAC under Camp Fairfax (administered by the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services) will maximize the expertise and resources of both organizations to provide a cohesive and comprehensive experience for Fairfax County families.
Camp Fairfax welcomes rising 1st - 7th grade children for a weekly summer camp located in public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. Each weekly session offers the opportunity for children to explore their creativity and develop their talents and skills. Camp Fairfax also provides opportunities for children to develop friendships, enjoy time outdoors, and participate in field trips. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are provided. A sliding fee scale is available.
NOTE: 2025 Summer Camp Fairfax Registration begins in March! Registration dates are alphabetical by the Camp Fairfax elementary school and/or community center name. Select "Enrollment" below for more information.
 Dear Beech Tree Families,
We are excited to share our upcoming PTA events with you:
💬 PTA Meeting
Join us for our virtual PTA Meeting on February 13 at 6:30 PM. Special Education teachers from Beech Tree will be presenting classroom updates and important information. We welcome all families to share their thoughts, ideas and get involved in planning future PTA events. A Zoom link will be shared 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
🎤 Beech Tree Talent Show Prepare for an evening of outstanding talent and creativity at our Talent Show on Thursday, February 27 at 6:30 PM in the Beech Tree Gym. It promises to be a fun and inspiring night for everyone!
🎪 Fun Fair Save the date for our Fun Fair on Saturday, March 22 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM—an event you won’t want to miss! We are looking for volunteers to join the Fun Fair Planning Committee. Your support will help us create a memorable day for our students and families. Volunteer Meeting Dates:
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Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30 PM (virtual)
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Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 PM (virtual)
If you are interested in helping out, please sign up here: Volunteer Sign-Up.
📅 Save the Date: Restaurant Night
Join us for Restaurant Night at Chipotle on Tuesday, March 4 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More details will be shared soon.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at these events! If you have any questions or feedback, please contact the PTA at PTABeechTree@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Beech Tree PTA Team
Contact the PTA at PTABeechTree@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @beechtreepta
Hours: 9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:05 a.m. for arrival)
Attendance Line: 703-531-2626
Attendance Email: BeechTreeElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
School Registrar: Sandra Merino (703) 531-2620
Parent Liaison: Mariangeles Quinto (703) 531-2692
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