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Bailey’s Upper Families,
What a milestone! Our 10-year anniversary celebration was nothing short of incredible, and it’s all because of you—our students, families, staff, and community partners. As we look back on a decade of learning, growth, and creativity, we are filled with immense gratitude for the support, dedication, and love that make Bailey’s Upper such a special (and talented!!) place.
A special highlight of the afternoon was the opportunity to honor our founding principal, Marie Lemmon. Her vision, leadership, and unwavering belief in what Bailey’s Upper could become laid the foundation for all that we are today. It was only fitting that we unveiled a beautiful mural, a student created piece of art that tells the story of our school. This mural is more than just paint on a wall—it’s a reflection of our community, a celebration of our diversity, and a symbol of our creativity and passion.
To everyone who has been part of our journey, whether from the very beginning or just recently, thank you. Thank you for believing in our mission, for embracing the arts and sciences, for fostering a love of learning, and for making Bailey’s Upper a place where every child shines.
Here’s to the next ten years of excellence, creativity, and community!
P.S. If you are interested in seeing the video of the performances, please visit our Facebook Page.
With gratitude,
Bailey’s Upper Administrative Team
🐯 Holly Dowling
🧡 Tricia Wayland
💙 Christie Fuller
Attendance Line: Phone: 703-503-2727
or email: baileysupperelem@fcps.edu
Kiss and Ride Drop Off/Pick Up Schedule For Upper
8:25-8:35 a.m. and 3:25-3:35 p.m.
This is a reminder that Bailey’s Upper will have a three-hour early dismissal on Monday, April 21st at 12:25 p.m. to accommodate teacher training in the afternoon.
You will receive a message from Bailey’s Upper on Monday reminding you that your child is scheduled to either go home at 12:25 p.m. or stay due to childcare difficulties or BUAE practice.
Please contact the office by April 11th to update your child’s status.
Bailey’s Upper welcomes current 2nd-grade families to our Rising 3rd Grade Parent Coffee on Friday, April 11th. This is a great opportunity to connect with our school community and prepare for the transition to 3rd grade!
Join us in the Bailey’s Upper Cafeteria for one of our sessions:
☕ Morning Session: 9:15–10:30 a.m. (with the 3rd grade teaching team)
🌙 Evening Session: 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Meet our principal, Ms. Holly Dowling, get to know the 3rd grade teaching team (morning session only), and learn helpful tips for a smooth transition. We’ll also provide guidance on setting up important school communications.
Spring has arrived and Earth Day is just around the corner. Earth Day is April 22, but we will celebrate the whole week! Beginning on Monday April 21st, each day will have an environment-related theme.
Monday: wear blue 💙 for Watershed Day
Tuesday: wear green 💚 to celebrate Earth Day
Wednesday: pack a zero-waste lunch and wear white for Zero Waste Day
Thursday: wear red ❤️for Climate Day
Friday: wear a nature print for Wildlife Day 🏞️
iReady and SOL assessments for all grades for Reading and Math are still a few weeks away but to help with planning purposes the dates for testing are below. Please note that all 5th grade students have an additional SOL for Science.
Spring iReady Assessment Dates:
Reading iReady Dates
- 3rd grade – Thursday, May 1st
- 4th grade – Wednesday, April 30th
- 5th Grade – Friday, May 2nd
Math iReady Dates:
- 3rd grade – Tuesday, May 20th
- 4th grade – Wednesday, May 28th
- 5th Grade – Thursday, May 22nd
Spring Non-Writing SOL Assessment Dates:
SOL parent notification letters for testing were sent in last week’s Thursday folder for grades 3 and 4. The notification for all 5th grade SOLs was sent a few weeks ago prior to their IRW SOL.
Reading SOL Dates:
- 3rd grade – Tuesday, May 5th
- 4th grade – Wednesday, May 7th
- 5th Grade – Thursday, May 8th
Math SOL Dates:
- 3rd grade – Thursday, May 15th
- 4th grade – Wednesday, May 14th
- 5th Grade – Tuesday, May 13th
5th Grade Only Science SOL Date:
- 5th Grade – Friday May 16th
If you have any questions regarding past, current, or upcoming assessments, please contact Nicole Cassidy or Mary Iannicola our School Testing Coordinators at 703-503-2700
Each week we highlight a staff member for our Staff Star of the Week Program. With this recognition, our staff is featured in our weekly staff newsletter and receives a $5 Starbucks gift card.
If you are interested in donating $5 Starbucks gift cards to our school to help us continue our Staff Star of the Week Program, please drop them off in the main office.
Fairfax County residents believe in the value of a strong public school system. Residents live here because of the excellence of Fairfax County Public Schools, even our community members with grown children. Excellence in FCPS comes from its people — dedicated teachers and support staff who make sure that our students are ready to learn. Today, that excellence is at a crossroads.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will finalize the budget on Tuesday, May 6, and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million.
Now is the time. Do we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS?
Do you believe in the power and promise of public education? Go to fcps.edu/crossroads.
FCPS would like to hear from all families on the possibility of adjusting school start times across the division. Please check your email for a survey link from Fairfax County Public Schools. It was also sent to staff as well as to students in grades 5-12. The confidential survey will be open through Saturday, April 12.
FCPS welcomes all of our new and returning military-connected families throughout the year! Whether your family is moving permanently to the school district or living here for a short time, our schools and support staff welcome you and will be able to assist with your transition into and/or out of our district.
Visit the FCPS Military Families webpage and sign up to receive the Military Families newsletter. Follow FCPS Military Families accounts on Facebook and Instagram for support and resources throughout the year. If you have any questions, please email the FCPS Family and School Partnerships team.
Purple Up! Day
To show our support for all our military-connected families, we are inviting our school community to “Purple Up!” on Wednesday, April 9, for military children. Why purple? Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and Space Force blue.
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.
Justice High School boys' volleyball team is hosting a volleyball clinic for 3rd-5th grade students at Justice High School on April 1st, 2nd and 3rd from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. The clinic will focus on teaching fundamental volleyball skills in a supportive and engaging environment, led by their boys volleyball team members and staff.
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Reid wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS. Click on one of the dates below to register. Registration is not required but is encouraged for planning purposes.
Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Employee Conversations
Community Conversations
Interpreter services will be provided for all events.
Feel free to submit questions anytime on the Superintendent’s webpage or by emailing Superintendent@fcps.edu.
Discover summer learning and activities available in Fairfax County!
Attend the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School and get a jump on summer learning. At this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
Activities will include student performances, story time, a moon bounce, and face painting. For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
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