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Dear Dolphin Families,
We’ve had a fun-filled week at Lake Anne, and there’s even more excitement ahead! As we welcome a new month and head into spring, it’s a great time for fresh starts, new beginnings, and renewed energy for learning and growth. We also want to recognize that Ramadan begins this evening, and we send warm wishes to our families who celebrate this special time.
We’d also like to take a moment to appreciate our incredible school social worker, Ms. Sarah Goswick, as we celebrate National School Social Work Week (March 2-8). She has a crucial role in supporting students' social, emotional, and behavioral well-being, helping to remove barriers to learning and we are grateful for all that Ms. Goswick does for our school community!
Looking ahead, we invite all families to Dolphin Academy: Math & Reading Night on Thursday, March 6, from 6:00-7:30 PM! This fun, interactive event will build students' confidence through engaging learning activities. Plus, enjoy pizza from 6:00-6:30 PM before diving into the fun! RSVP HERE.
Our Daily Attendance Challenge is making waves! Congratulations to our top grade levels this week for having the highest percent of daily and on-time attendance:
- 🥇 4th Grade – 96% attendance rate for the week
- 🥈 6th Grade
- 🥉 3rd Grade
We’re keeping the excitement going with a March Madness Attendance Challenge—full of surprises, but students must be here to win! Help your Dolphin’s grade level rise to the top by ensuring they are at school and on time each day.
Let’s dive into this new month with enthusiasm and keep riding the wave of success together!
Have a great weekend.
Jill D. Stewart, principal
Melanie N. Porter, assistant principal
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 National Women’s History Month
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.
March- National Women's Month / Youth Art Month / Ramadan Continues
2- Read Across America Day (Observed Monday, March 3)
2-8 National Social Worker Week
5- Ash Wednesday
9- Daylight Saving Time Begins (Spring Forward)
20- Nowruz
28 - End of 3rd Quarter / Eid al-Fitr / NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS
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March 5, 2025 - Ash Wednesday
On March 5th, we recognize those in our community observing Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is observed as a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It marks the beginning of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving leading up to Easter. Many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services, at which churchgoers receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of penance. #OurFCPS
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We want to prepare the Edible Garden to be ready for the spring. Our focus would be garden clean up, placing double layer of weed barrier, placing mulch, painting garden bench, fixing other structures, and work in the courtyard, if that is needed too.
If you have questions, contact Sra.Bachelet: cabachelet@fcps.edu
Please review the available slots (link) and click on the button to sign up.
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🚲Join us for Walk & Roll on Friday, March 7th
We can't wait to see our families and friends at our March Walk & Roll. As every first Friday of the month, we will come together as a community from 8:00-8:30am at Hook Road Park. See you there.!
📅Save the Date! PTA Meeting March 13th
Our next In-person PTA Meeting will be Thursday, March 13 from 6:00-7:30pm. The agenda will include forming a Nominating Committee for next year and a few budget adjustments for this year. More details coming soon!
🚀 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.
📖 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.
Dolphin Academy News:
Math Night at Lake Anne!
Join us for Dolphin Academy, on Thursday, March 6th from 6:00-7:30pm for a fun, interactive event for students and their families! Discover your inner Super Learner with hands-on math and reading activities that build skills, boost confidence, and make learning an adventure! Pizza will be served from 6:00-6:30pm. Please RSVP HERE. We hope to see you there!
 
 FCPS District News
💗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 Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
Check out the FY 2026 Budget Toolkit for additional newsletter content, social media posts, and other resources.
This week, which Lake Anne Elementary staff member(s) did you see making a SPLASH doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way?! Please help us in recognizing their outstanding contributions by submitting an FCPS CARES for them.
For questions, please email employeeawards@fcps.edu.
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