McNair Elementary School Weekly Newsletter, March 2, 2025

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The Mustang Weekly Newsletter

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Greetings McNair Students and Families,

Another great week of learning and fun is in the books at McNair!  As we look forward to the upcoming week, we will be celebrating our LOVE for LITERACY in honor of Read Across America Week!  We encourage all students and staff to show their spirit and participate in the various activities we have planned to commemorate this special week. More details can be found in this newsletter.  We cannot wait to see your spirit, Mustangs!

As we look ahead, please mark your calendars for the following:

  • March 3-7: Read Across America Week! Let's ignite a love for reading and show off that incredible Mustang spirit! We can't wait to see all the creative ways our students celebrate the magic of literacy.
  • March 3-7: National School Social Worker Week! We're so grateful for Ms. Neverdon and the incredible support she provides to our students and families. Her dedication makes a real difference.

Looking further ahead:

  • March 17: 3 Hour Early Release Day, Dismissal at 12:30pm. (We want to ensure all families are supported; student supervision will be available for those who need it, and SACC will operate as usual for enrolled students.)
  • March 19: Annual PTA Meeting at McNair ES at 6:30pm. Your voice matters! Please join us as we work together to support our wonderful school.

In addition, please note that Kindergarten Registration is here! Please help us by spreading the word to your family, friends, and neighbors with incoming kindergarteners so they can register as soon as possible. We appreciate your assistance!

Your unwavering support makes a real difference in our students' lives. Together, we're unlocking their potential and empowering them to achieve their dreams. We hope you have a fantastic week ahead. 

We are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Mustangs!

 

All the best,

Mrs. Watson and Mrs. O'Bryant

Lifelong Learners Grow Here! 

 

Please contact us with any questions!

Principal: Elizabeth Watson, evwatson@fcps.edu

Assistant Principal: Brandy O'Bryant, bmobryant@fcps.edu 


🐻 It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. 

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Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.

✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

 

💻 Try Online Registration

Online registration for the 2025-26 school year is open. Parents/caregivers may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process

When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.


McNair Mustangs Celebrate Read Across America Week!

Let's see your spirit, Mustangs!

Read Across America is March 3rd-7th and to celebrate we will have spirit days and activities around reading! You can participate at home by reading together as a family some old favorites or try something new!  Happy Reading, Mustang community!

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🗓️Attendance Matters

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🙋Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

Parents/guardians have a huge influence on students when it comes to attendance.  Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help students do well in high school, college, and at work.

School Year Routines

  • Maintain regular bed time and morning routines to help your child develop a habit of on-time attendance.  
  • Talk to your child about why going to school everyday is important unless they are sick.
  • Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick.
  • If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him feel comfortable and excited about learning. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
  • When possible, avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
  • Reach out to your child’s teacher or school counselor if you are experiencing tough times such as unstable housing, transportation or health problems.  

Yearbook Orders!

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It's already that time of year again where we are beginning to collect yearbook orders!  Parents/guardians, please click on the following link to order your child a yearbook today: https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/search/YB30171

 


Advanced Academics Programming (AAP) Community Newsletter

AAP March Newsletter

In March we celebrate Women’s History Month. How can your child use the Decisions and Outcomes strategy to invent something new like Mary Anderson? Check out the latest edition of the McNair AAP Community Newsletter published by Mrs. Janofsky and Mrs. Burg. In this edition you will find ways you can support the Decisions and Outcomes strategy, at home Portrait of a Graduate skills connections, as well as an AAP spring screening notification.

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In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year. Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Subject Specific and Part-Time) Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) by April 15, annually. Check out our newsletter for a link to the referral form.

March AAP Community Newsletter

 


🚀 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.

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.

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.

National School Social Work Week

March 3-7 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.

Our AMAZING school social worker is Dena Neverdon! She supports students and families at both McNair Elementary School as well as McNair Upper Elementary School.  Her impact on our school community is immeasurable, and we want to express our deepest gratitude for her incredible dedication to the well-being and success of all of our students.

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We are hopeful that students and families this week will take a moment to share their appreciation with Ms. Neverdon by writing her a letter or drawing her a picture.  Your kind words and encouragement will undoubtedly mean a lot!!


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Breaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms

Did you know that more than 85% of FCPS’ budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based, more than neighboring school districts. We are in the middle of FCPS’ annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the proposed FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.

 


🗺️ Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration

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.

 


🧲 Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools

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.

 


Snacks for the McNair ES and McNair Upper Staffs!

We would love the help of our McNair families to stock both of our school's teacher workrooms with snacks, treats, and drinks for our hard working staff members to enjoy while they plan engaging lessons and activities for our Mustangs. 

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If you are able to do so, please consider donating something. We will have an updated link coming soon!  Your support is greatly appreciated as we are very low on donations at the moment. 

Donations can be dropped off to the designated school's main office each school day between the hours of 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. 

Thank you in advance for your support!

 

All the best,

Mrs. Goddin & Mrs. Watson 


📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

 

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Volunteer at McNair!

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Are you interested in Volunteering at McNair? 

As our community knows, teamwork makes the dream work!  We are looking for parent volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our main office at 703-793-4800.

 


PTA Updates

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Get Involved with the PTA!

Join the McNair PTA today! 

The PTA supports our schools through help from our community. One way we do that is through the help of our wonderful volunteers! Whether you're available for an hour a year or an hour a week to pitch in - we have opportunities that meet everyone's busy schedule!

For more information or to apply, please reach out to  our PTA  at board@mcnairespta.org

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Our PTA Is Now on Facebook!

Please like & follow to get the latest updates.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567288287981

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Harris Teeter Together In Education- Fundraiser

Harris Teeter’s Together In Education Program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands.  A percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn.

Instruction for Families

Option 1: Please use the annual sign up form for the TIE program from Harris Teeter using the following link: McNair Harris Teeter

**Note: You need to re-register every year for this program.**

Option 2: You can also sign up in-person at the counter using our school code: 5090

 

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Community Resources

Buy Nothing Facebook Group Herndon: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/d5K39SGGSU2eRZQU/

 

PTA Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers to be Event Coordinators for the following Events:

  • Financial Committee (3 volunteers needed!)
  • Movie Night
  • Bingo Night
  • Kids vs. Adults Sports Tournament
  • 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony

What Does an Event Coordinator Do?

Event Coordinators act as the main organizer and point of contact for their chosen event; lead a team of volunteers, brainstorm ideas, and make sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event.

We're also looking for friendly Coaches and volunteers to host events like Science Olympiad Division B, ACSL, Odyssey of the Mind and Reflections. 

Please click on the link to join the volunteer group: 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/JZ4KRYb4mYh5N2Qt6NJOKu


✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan

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FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. 

 


Ramadan

Ramadan begins at sundown on Friday, February 28. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school. See the complete school year calendar.

Ramadan graphic

Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their child’s principal, Mrs. Watson at evwatson@fcps.edu regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.

 

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.


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


Follow McNair on Social Media!

👍❤️ Follow Our School on Social Media!

Want to see more photos and videos of what’s going on at McNair Elementary School? Follow us on social media!

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Twitter   Facebook   Instagram  

 


Be Sure To Stay In Touch, McNair!

Please stay in touch with us by...


Friendly Reminders

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Mark your calendars!

As we navigate through our school year together, please mark the upcoming important dates on your calendar. 

 

February 28: Ramadan Begins at Sundown

March 3-7: McNair ES Celebrates Read Across America Week

March 8: FCPS Job Fair at Lake Braddock Secondary School

March 17: 3 Hour Early Release Day, Dismissal will be at 12:30pm  (Student supervision will be available for families who require it. SACC will be available for students that already participate in SACC programming.) 

March 19: Annual PTA Meeting at 6:30pm at McNair ES

March 31: Holiday- Eid; No School For Students

April 1: Teacher Workday; No School For Students

April 10: Family Engagement Earth Day Event; 4:30-6:00pm at McNair ES

April 14-18: Spring Break; No School For Students

April 28: 3 Hour Early Release Day, Dismissal will be at 12:30pm  (Student supervision will be available for families who require it. SACC will be available for students that already participate in SACC programming.) 

May 19: 3 Hour Early Release Day, Dismissal will be at 12:30pm  (Student supervision will be available for families who require it. SACC will be available for students that already participate in SACC programming.) 

May 26: Holiday- Memorial Day; All schools and offices closed

June 11: 2 Hour Early Release; Last Day of School for Students

 

2025 Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival begins at 8:35am. The school day begins at 8:45am.

Dismissal begins at 3:30 pm. 

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Thank you for your partnership as we gallop together in supporting our Mustangs!

#BloomingTogether #McNairCARES


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