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To read this newsletter in other languages, please click on the link below.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, haga clic en el enlace a continuación y elija su idioma.
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English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | Français | Русский
 Our Dance Around the World was a wonderful celebration of the diversity that makes Fort Hunt such a wonderful learning community. The pride you see in the photo above with our families from Ethiopia was felt throughout the entire event. Thank you to our PTA and all the presenters for sharing their time and efforts.
News from the Fox Den
February 14, 2025
A Message from Ms. Consolla
The groundhog warned us: Winter is not over, even though we might be wishing it away. Thank you to all the families who rearranged schedules to ensure students arrived home safely on Tuesday during the early release. We happy to share that all staff and students were able to get home safely before road conditions became unsafe. Thank you for also continuing to send your children to school on days that are impacted by changes in schedule. Regular attendance, even on short days, makes a big difference in your child's learning.
On Thursday morning, I greeted students coming back from the snow day on Wednesday. I asked them how they enjoyed their snow day, and student after student shared mixed feelings about the day. While the snow was fun, most students shared that they missed school and were ready to be with their friends and teachers.
This coming Monday is a holiday, and the building will be closed for staff and students. We are crossing fingers that the weather will cooperate, and we will have four full days of learning next week. We are all hopeful and excited for a regular routine.
As always, thank you for your partnership with us in your child's education at Fort Hunt.
Jean
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Presidents Day Holiday: Monday, February 17
School will be closed for all staff & students on Monday, February 17 for Presidents Day. If you've never been up the road to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, this is a good day to do so. Free admission is available to early arrivals.
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FCPS 2025-26 Budget
The Budget Breakdown
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 Budget Process
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.
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day during Eid between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student. To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
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Save the Date: Kindergarten Orientation Wed, April 2 4pm
If you have a child who will be turning 5 by September 30, please join us on Wednesday, April 2 at 4pm to learn about our kindergarten program and next steps for registration. This event is for both the parent and the rising kindergarten student. Please share with neighbors.
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A New Way to Check the Lost & Found
Our rack is overflowing with jackets and coats. But it's now organized by COLOR! This makes it easier to locate a missing item. We know that parents may not be able to get to the cafeteria to check it. If you know the color, brand, size of the missing jacket, you can email the description to Ms.Consolla at jtconsolla@fcps.edu, and she'll check for you and/or send a photo.
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What's For Lunch?
If you're looking for what's on the menu, visit the menu here . More information about meals in FCPS can be found here. Families can add money to their child's account at My School Bucks.
Families may join their child for lunch on Fridays. You can read about it in our handbook.
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Important Times
Arrive on campus: 8:30am
Kiss & Ride: 8:35-8:55am
Doors Open: 8:35am Tardy Bell: 8:55am
Dismissal Bell: 3:40pm
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
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Important Dates
Monday, February 17 | Presidents Day: No school for students & staff
Friday, February 21 | Grade 3 Field Trip to the Kennedy Center
Friday, February 21 | Spelling Bee 5pm Grades 1-2 & 7pm Grades 3-6
Monday, March 10 | 3-hour Early Release at 12:40pm
Friday, March 28 | End of Quarter 3
Monday, March 31 | School closed for all staff & students Eid-al-Fitr holiday
Wednesday, April 2 | Kindergarten Orientation 4pm
You can access the full 2024-2025 calendar here.
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Get Involved with your PTA
Consider becoming a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Fort Hunt. It's a great way to connect with other parents, learn about how to support your child and to have fun at their amazing community events! There are many ways where you can share your voice, talents and time. Everyone working together makes this a great community. Check out the PTA website for more information.
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Parent/Guardian Handbook
Do you have questions about attendance or food/drink at school or what students can wear? If so, please check out our Parent/Guardian Handbook on our Fort Hunt website. It's available with translations. Click here to access it. Of course, if you have a question about a situation that is not listed, reach out to your child's teacher or an administrator.
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Your Partners in Education
We are honored to work with your family this year and will work everyday to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. We can't do it alone. Please contact us when there is a question or concern, especially related to bullying. As a parent, you will often hear about something before staff might. Thank you for all your support.
Jean Consolla, Principal
jtconsolla@fcps.edu
Patty Settel, Assistant Principal
pasettel@fcps.edu
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