WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FOREST - 2/28/25

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Mar 3-7 - Read Across America Week

Thu, Mar 6 - PTA Meeting, 7pm


Ms. Walden on ABC 7 Tonight!

 

This morning, Mrs. Walden, 2nd grade Teacher, gave a special interview to Jay Korff of ABC 7 and her feature will be on the news tonight at 4:45pm! Check her out as she discusses her relation to Frederick Douglass and how his legacy has impacted her life and how she teaches her students.

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Read Across America 2025

🌲 It’s FREE Tree Time! 🌲

Newington Forest Elementary is excited to be partnering with Neighborhood Forest to provide free trees for kids to plant during Earth Week. 🌎

Parents/guardians, sign your child up for a free tree by March 15th! Sign up using this link: https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/parent-registration/?school=127953.

Trees are set to arrive in time for Earth Day 2025. We will be in touch with you regarding when your trees are ready to take home! 💚 #EarthDay2025


Seeking Parent Volunteer for Friday Lunch

Lunchtime can get a little hectic on Fridays - pizza day! If you are a parent interested in volunteering your time to help with lunch at NFES on Fridays, please contact Patty Helms at phelms1@fcps.edu.


Not Too Late for Picture Orders!

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There is still time to order your individual or class pictures!

Order online at https://www.strawbridge.net

Code for Group Pictures: 459112

Code for Individual Pictures: 459113


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 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.


Free GMU Men’s Basketball Team Student Tickets

Parents can register to receive free student tickets for the final two regular season games on February 26 and March 5. Feel free to share with your families and enjoy the game!  


📖 Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third Grade

The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan

Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation. 

The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time. 

Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards. 

Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students' reading.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date.


🗣️ Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication

Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. How do you connect with your children and really know what's going on in their lives? How can you become “unskippable”?

Effective communication can build trust and understanding, but it takes thought, planning, and effort. 

The latest Healthy Minds Blog offers practical strategies to improve communication and build strong, lasting relationships:

  • Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
  • Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree.
  • Ask "how" questions instead of "what" questions to get them talking about their experiences.

For more tips and techniques, read the full article on the Healthy Minds Blog, which shares information related to youth mental health and wellness.

For support on talking with your teen about difficult subjects like fentanyl, discover how to Become Unskippable.


🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun

Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.

E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes. 

For more information, see the Summer Learning page.


2025 Family Summit - Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging! (an Extension of the Special Education Conference)

Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit: Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.

This event will feature: 

  • Opening Session: Julie Causton and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak — best-selling authors, motivational speakers, and advocates for inclusion — will share practical tools and evidence-based strategies to empower and assist all families, with a special emphasis on parents of students with individual education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
  • Breakout Sessions: Learn more about special education and global topics that benefit all families.
  • Student Showcase: FCPS students will share their efforts in fostering inclusivity through posters, essays, videos, songs, art, and other mediums.
  • Exhibitor Hall: Discover valuable resources and services in the community to support families.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with other families, staff, and community partners.

Childcare will be provided. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs. You may sign up for childcare during the registration process

Learn more about this event and register today! Contact FamilySummit@fcps.edu for more information.


FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, 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 our Newington Forest staff members.

FCPS Cares

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FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

  • Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
  • Supporting Academic Growth 
  • Preparing for Tough Conversations With Your Child

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.