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In This Issue
☕️ Employment and Transition Parent Coffee
This event is for parents of students with special education services in the 7th or 8th grade.
Join us on Thursday, February 27th from 9:30-10:30AM, to meet our Herndon Middle School Employment and Transition Representative (ETR), who can help you and your family navigate the transition to high school.
Topics to be covered:
- Graduation Requirements and Options
- Self-Advocacy and Student Involvement
- Course Selection and Career Pathways
- Transitioning from Middle School to High School
- Planning for Life After High School
- High School Support Services
Interpreters will be available.
RSVP by Friday, February 21st. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Questions? Please email Aimee Conrad, Special Education Department Chair, at amconrad@fcps.edu.
🥗 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.
📊 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.
🏗️ FCPS’ Construction Projects Offer Community-Wide Benefits
The Fairfax County School Board approved the annual update to FCPS’ FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at their regular board meeting last week. A CIP is a working budget document that shows the timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools. Learn more about planned improvements. Fairfax County Public Schools’ updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the CIP. Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
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Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
✨ 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.
📖 Author Gale Galligan Visits Herndon MS
We are excited to offer our Herndon Middle School students an incredible opportunity on Friday, February 28! Gale Galligan, a best-selling author and Herndon alum, will be visiting to speak with our students. Gale’s latest book, Fresh Start, is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel about a girl who starts middle school in a new town, with her parents deciding to buy a home so she can finish school in one place—no more fresh starts! The novel also features artwork that includes Herndon Middle School. Gale has kindly offered to return to her alma mater and share her story with our students. She will also be speaking at the public library on Saturday, March 1 (a paid event).
To accommodate this special visit, we will follow an assembly bell schedule on Friday, February 28, with homeroom extended until 8:35 am. Other class periods will be shortened to fit in the assembly.
Students may purchase a book in advance for signing by visiting the Barnes & Noble in Reston between February 24 and 27.
- Mention to the cashier that this is part of the Herndon MS author visit for a 10% discount.
- This is the best option for Babysitter’s Club; B&N will have many copies of all the books;
- Students may bring the book to school on Friday, February 28, to be signed.
📐 Breaking Down the Budget
Supporting Academic Growth and Algebra by Eighth Grade
The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.
Since the 2023-24 school year, FCPS has seen a 9.5% increase in eighth graders taking Algebra I or more advanced math and a 6.8% increase in fifth graders in advanced math.
Studies show that students who complete algebra in middle school have more opportunities to take advanced math and science courses in high school. This can open up new academic paths for students! Watch a video that shows why eighth grade algebra matters.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget.
💉 VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
🗣️ Become Unskippable
Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens About Fentanyl
Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. But young people die from fentanyl overdoses in Fairfax County each year — so it's important to have short, impactful talks with your teen, whether or not you think they’re at risk.
As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to become “unskippable” and talk with your teen in a way they will listen.
See our tips for talking with your teen about fentanyl and other difficult subjects. Watch this video to learn more about becoming unskippable.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. 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.
❄️ Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings
Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform.
🏀 The Goods Basketball Camp
The Goods Basketball is a premiere basketball training and development brand in Northern Virginia, committed to enhancing players' skills, mindset, and techniques on the court!
We offer programs for all ages, starting at 4 years old and extending through high school, as well as college and pro levels. With expert coaching and training, we’ll help your player(s) elevate their game and reach the next level in every aspect!
If you are interested in signing up your child for the Spring Break Basketball Camp, please register here!
👷♂️ Rosendin Foundation Summer Camp
The Rosendin Foundation is hosting a summer camp for students in grades 6-8, offering a hands-on introduction to skilled trades. Each day will focus on a different trade, with exciting activities such as building a lamp, constructing and painting dog houses to donate to a local charity, and operating heavy equipment. We are currently accepting applications for 8 boys and 8 girls. The camp will be held at our office, and the best part—it's completely free!
🔬 TJHSST Techstravaganza 2025
The leadership of Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), invites you and your student to this years Techstravaganza!
Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, they have hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Their exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and their own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, they will be holding the 21st annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 17 from 10 AM-4 PM at TJHSST.
If your student is interested, please register here! Admission is free and there will be food will be for sale.
For more information about the event please visit their website at tjpartnershipfund.org/techstravaganza/.
⚾ Herndon Reston Youth Baseball
Herndon Reston Youth Baseball is a proud member club in the Cal Ripken Baseball Organization, committed to our kids, our communities, and promoting a love of the game. We welcome ALL players with or without experience who desire to have fun and develop skills.
All division ages are determined by the players' age as of April 30 and we welcome boys and girls between the ages of 3-12 years old. We’d love you to be part of our fun community!
Majors
The majors are geared for players who can properly apply fielding, throwing, and hitting fundamentals most of the time. Development focuses on more advanced base running, pitching, and situational skills. Unique to Cal Ripken, our upper tier for our most experienced players introduces 70-foot base paths and a 50-foot pitching distance.
No other house program in Western and Northern Fairfax County offers 50-70 in house baseball!
Benefits
- A smoother transition to the larger 90-foot field
- Runners are allowed to lead off
- Stealing is permitted
- Pitchers get to work on "pitching from the stretch" -- a technique to shorten the pitching motion to give base runners less time to steal a base
- Catchers gain experience on throwing runners out at bases
- Fielders are exposed to constant changing circumstances as runners change positions
Buddy Ball (Spring Only: one hour on Sunday mornings in April and May)
Buddy Ball is a free program that pairs 5-15 year old girls and boys who have developmental or physical disabilities with high school or adult buddies to have fun, build confidence and self-esteem, and learn sportsmanship and love of the game. Practice/games combine elements of tee ball, coach pitch and kid pitch to accommodate children of varying skill levels.
If you are interested, please visit herndonbaseball.com to register!
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February
Black History Month
27 | Parent Coffee for Special Education Parents at 9:30AM
27 | Band Pre-Assessment Concert at 7:00PM at Herndon High School
27 | Choir Pre-Assessment Concert at 7:00PM
27 | Parent Project at 6:00PM
28 | Ramadan Begins at Sundown
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Public Schools Week
Public Schools Week runs from February 24-28, which is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents & community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools.
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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.
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their child’s school counselor regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
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FCPS Cares
The FCPS CARES Program 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 FCPS employees.
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