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March 10th: 3 hour early release-1:05 PM
March 18th: Chick-Fil-A Restaurant Night
March 20th: 3rd Quarter Family Book Club 8:15 am
Family Math and Literacy Night 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer below)
March 28th: End of Quarter 3
March 31st: Eid-al-Fitr- Student Holiday
April 1st Teacher Workday- Student Holiday
April 7th: Kindergarten Orientation 5:00 PM
April 14th-18th: Spring Break- Student Holiday
April 21st: 3 hour early release-1:05 PM
Please bookmark the FCPS School Calendar to stay informed about school holidays, breaks, and observances.
 3rd graders kicked off their soil unit in science with outdoor learning, taking full advantage of the sunshine!
 5th Graders had a fun-filled and educational experience at the Natural History Museum this week!
Dear CWES Families,
We've had a beautiful week with spring-like weather, and our students have been making the most of it!
We want to express our sincere gratitude to our PTA and all our volunteers for your incredible support in making our Bingo night last Friday such a resounding success! We were absolutely thrilled with the fantastic turnout, and it was truly heartwarming to see so many families and community members come together for an evening of fun and laughter.
Get ready for a day of learning and fun on March 20th! First, we'll kick off the morning before school with our 3rd Quarter Family Book Club. Please sign up using the link in the calendar above so we know you're coming. Then, in the evening, we're excited to host our Family Math and Literacy Night! This will be a wonderful opportunity for families to learn and play together, discovering simple and effective math and literacy games they can use at home. We know from last year's family engagement survey that many families were looking for ways to support their children's learning at home, and we think this will be a great way to do just that! We hope to see you at both events.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Leslie Malkowski, Kristi McGeehan, and Mindy Milliron
CWES Administrative Team
 The 2025 Spring SOL testing schedule runs throughout the month of May. Please make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments or absences on the days your child is testing.
 Read Across America Day was established by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 to help get kids excited about reading. Learn more about Equitable Access to Literacy in this video.
 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.
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their child’s principal regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open!
🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
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. Please contact Amy Decatur our school registrar to schedule an appointment.
- Kindergarten Orientation is scheduled for Monday, April 7th. No need to wait until then to register, you can register now!
💻 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.
Woodson SGA/Sports Leadership Mulch Sale
The annual Woodson Mulch Sale has arrived. Freshen up your flower beds and support the Woodson High School Leadership and Sports Leadership Classes at the same time. The Leadership Classes are once again offering high quality shredded hardwood mulch for purchase.
Orders for 3-cubic foot bags of mulch must be received by Thursday, March 13, for pick-up at Woodson or delivery to your home on Sunday, March 23. When placing an order for 10 or more bags, delivery is an option. All mulch will be delivered on Sunday, March 23, beginning at 8:30 AM. The proceeds benefit the Woodson High School Leadership and Sports Leadership Classes and support their activities. For more details or for an order form, please check out our web link.
This year you can also order and pay on-line at MySchoolBucks.
Need more info? Send an email to DJSchaefer@fcps.edu
Woodson High School Movie Night
📖 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 emphasized the science of reading. 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:
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Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
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Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree.
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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.
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